Cloud Village Frontline
Just as the Fourth Kazekage Rasa had predicted, after the Third Raikage personally struck down Danzo, crippling him and forcing the Konoha forces into retreat, Kumo's morale had only grown stronger by the day.
But the moment Dodai delivered intelligence on Garp to the Third Raikage, the thunderous confidence that had allowed Kumo to wage war on three fronts against three Great Villages slowly drowned beneath a suffocating gloom.
"Lord Raikage, please, withdraw our troops."
For the tenth time since Garp had reemerged into the world, Dodai stepped before the Third Raikage to persuade him.
"How many times must I repeat myself before you understand?
I already crushed Danzo. I'm on the verge of breaching Konoha's defensive line, and now, at this critical moment, you dare tell me again and again to retreat?
How am I supposed to face the Cloud shinobi who died here?
Why should I surrender the victory won by the blood of our shinobis?"
With a roar, the Third Raikage slammed his fist into the table before him, shattering it.
"Because he is Garp."
Dodai ignored the Raikage's fury entirely.
"So, what if he's a hero?
He's just one man, an old shinobi at that. A relic of a bygone era.
I am A. Why would I fear some leftover fossil from the Warring States Period?"
Lightning exploded across the Third Raikage's body. His immense chakra burst outward, reducing everything inside the tent to debris.
"Lord Raikage, I'm not asking you to abandon our gains entirely.
Only to temporarily halt our assault on Konoha.
Whatever losses we suffer here, we can reclaim them from Suna or Iwa."
Dodai pleaded earnestly.
"I am not that coward, Onoki. When faced with a decrepit old man, his son dies and he doesn't even dare let out a fart, he goes straight to surrender.
You want me to withdraw? Fine. Tell him to come ask me himself.
Hmph. I will use the strongest spear and the strongest shield to show him, to show you, to show every Cloud shinobi one thing.
Relics of the old era deserve to be discarded."
The Third Raikage finished, then blasted Dodai clean out of the tent before he could speak again.
"A…"
Standing at the entrance, Dodai let out a long sigh.
He understood, the Raikage had completely steeled his heart. There were only two possible outcomes now:
Either the Third Raikage was beaten into submission…Or Garp died in battle.
There was no third path.
In the past, Dodai admired this unshakeable resolve, the willingness to face death head on and fight anyone who stood before him.
But now that Garp had returned to the world, and with old legends long buried resurfacing before the Five Great Villages, Dodai finally understood.
If Garp came in person, the one tasting defeat wouldn't be Garp.
It would be the Raikage, beaten senseless even if he refused.
…
While the Third Raikage stubbornly refused to retreat, instead deciding to intensify the offensive and crush Danzo's Konoha forces before Garp arrived.
Deep beneath the Land of Earth, in a cavern where life clung by a thread, the withered and near dead Uchiha Madara listened to White Zetsu's report.
"Hahaha…. Garp, are you finally ready to dance?
I knew it. A man like you would never simply die quietly, nor would you live out your life in obscurity."
Still tethered to the Gedo Statue by tubes embedded throughout his body, Madara suddenly rose.
His eyes were hollow, his body decrepit and broken, yet the aura erupting from him swept through the entire cavern, eclipsing even the Third Raikage's presence.
"Lord Madara, don't celebrate too soon. Garp has survived, and now that he's emerged again, he might interfere with your plans."
Black Zetsu rose from the ground at Madara's feet like a plant sprouting from the earth.
"So what?
I am Uchiha Madara. In all my life, I have never been inferior to anyone.
He's come out again. Even better.
My Rinnegan finally has a worthy opponent, it won't be a wasted performance."
Madara's expression was proud, his tone dripping with confidence.
Back in the Warring States Period, he had always been overshadowed by Garp. It was something he still couldn't stomach.
But now, Garp had returned. Madara was thrilled that his old rival still lived… and even more excited to challenge him once more.
"Lord Madara… but you don't have your eyes."
The moment White Zetsu said this, Madara's laughter stopped cold.
"Go. Dig the eyes out of that brat Nagato and bring them back to me."
Madara's voice turned icy.
He no longer cared about anything else. All other matters could wait.
At this moment, he wanted only one thing. His eyes back, so he could fight Garp.
"Lord Madara… you're old."
Before White Zetsu could speak, Black Zetsu cut in.
"Isn't Garp old too?"
Madara frowned at the tubes of the Gedo Statue connected to his body.
"A true monster among shinobi is different. He may have aged, but his body isn't affected by age at all.
Just half a day ago, one of my clones saw him in the Land of Earth, lifting a massive boulder as large as your full body Susanoo like it was nothing."
White Zetsu spread his hands helplessly.
"I almost forgot, Garp's strength and body aren't limited by age."
Madara's overheated mind finally cooled.
Clearly, like Tobirama, he understood exactly what kind of freak Garp was.
Though he longed to rush out and challenge Garp immediately, the wisdom he regained reminded him of reality.
With these worn-out arms and legs, even with the Rinnegan, he would only relive the humiliation of the Warring States Period…
When Garp had beaten him so badly he couldn't get out of bed for a month.