Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Kumogakure is situated among towering mountain peaks, perpetually surrounded by thunder and clouds. Decorations symbolizing lightning can be seen everywhere.
The shadow of war also looms here. On the streets, ninja squads occasionally rush by, heading to the mission center or the hospital. The air is thick with tension and oppression.
At the center of Kumogakure, inside the tallest Raikage office building.
The top floor, the Raikage's office.
An extremely burly and robust man stood with his back to the door, before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire village.
He had a thick black beard, reminiscent of a fierce warrior. His skin was dark, his muscles bulging. Just standing there, he emitted a terrifying aura as heavy as a mountain and as violent as thunder.
He was the Third Raikage, A.
Renowned throughout the shinobi world for his incredibly strong physique, lightning-fast speed, his "Strongest Spear" technique, Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite, and his "Strongest Shield", the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He was truly one of the strongest standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
At this moment, he had just returned briefly from the front lines of the battle against Iwagakure.
"Bang!"
The office door was pushed open, and a figure walked in quickly.
The newcomer was around thirty years old, wearing the standard Kumogakure jonin vest. His face was composed, and he wore a strange dark hat.
He was Muchi, the Third Raikage's capable right-hand man and strategist. He possessed the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, was powerful, and was deeply trusted by the Raikage for his cool head and excellent analytical skills.
"Lord Raikage." Muchi's voice carried a note of heaviness.
The Third Raikage did not turn around. His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"It's you, Muchi. The pressure on the front lines has eased a bit for now. This old man came back to catch his breath. Is anything happening in the village? Is there a problem with the 'Thunder Blast' unit's plan? Or movement from Kiri?"
His first thoughts were still about the war.
Muchi walked to the Raikage's side, slightly bowed his head, and reported with a grave tone.
"It's about the 'Raven' unit."
"The 'Raven' unit?"
The Third Raikage finally turned around, his thick black eyebrows furrowing.
"Weren't they ordered to clear out the Konoha rats spying on the 'Thunder Blast' supply lines? Did the operation fail?"
Muchi took a deep breath and replied.
"It's more than just a failure..."
"The Raven unit's third squad, dispatched to the southeast valley supply point for the clearing operation, consisted of twelve members in total. They encountered a four-man Konoha Anbu squad. During the pursuit... only two returned. The other ten... are all confirmed dead."
"What?!"
The Third Raikage's eyes widened sharply. A terrifying surge of chakra erupted uncontrollably from him.
"Twelve against four! Ten dead? Only two escaped? What about Black Crow? He was an elite jonin!"
"Who did Konoha send? One of the Sannin? Or did that old fool Sarutobi Hiruzen come himself?!"
The Raikage's voice was filled with furious disbelief. In his mind, such heavy losses could only be inflicted by encountering Konoha's absolute top-tier fighters.
Muchi shook his head, his expression equally grim.
"The two who escaped were the two jonin pursuing the enemy squad leader. They reported that the overall strength of the opposing squad wasn't particularly outstanding. With their numerical advantage, they had suppressed them, but..."
He paused, glancing at the Raikage's increasingly darkening expression, then continued.
"But one of the Anbu wearing a Green Snake mask was recognized by Black Crow as that Konoha ninja involved in the incident with Lord Toroi at the Land of Wind border over half a year ago."
"Green Snake?!"
The Third Raikage's fist instantly clenched. A frightening killing intent erupted from his eyes.
"That brat! This old man remembers him! Toroi's grudge is not yet avenged! He dares to show up in the Land of Lightning?!"
Toroi was not only an elite jonin of the village but also his trusted aide. His death had enraged the Third Raikage immensely, and he had long ago placed "Green Snake" on his must-kill list.
Muchi quickened his pace of speech.
"After Black Crow confirmed the target, he decided to prioritize capturing 'Green Snake'. He personally led five team members to pursue 'Green Snake', while the remaining six split up to pursue the other three Konoha Anbu."
"The group pursuing the other three encountered Konoha's elite jonin, Namikaze Minato, and suffered heavy losses. But the most critical point is..."
"The six-man squad led personally by Black Crow in pursuit of 'Green Snake'... was completely annihilated. Not a single survivor."
A deathly silence fell over the office.
The Third Raikage's chest heaved violently, clearly trying with immense effort to suppress his towering rage.
An elite jonin, two jonin, and three special jonin. A crack squad assembled to pursue a Konoha Anbu member who was at most special jonin level, was completely annihilated?
This was simply unbelievable!
"What exactly happened?!"
The Raikage's voice was frighteningly low, like the calm before a storm.
"Was it those water-playing scum from Kiri interfering? That area is close to the coastline, the most likely place for them to cause trouble!"
Although furious, he hadn't completely lost his reason. His first suspicion was interference from another village, especially Kirigakure, which was also hostile to the Land of Fire and specialized in aquatic ambushes.
Muchi shook his head again.
"The escaping team members reported no trace of any Kiri-nin at the time. Moreover, the battle seemed to have ended extremely quickly... At the final moment, Black Crow forcibly transmitted extremely limited information using a secret technique."
"What information?" The Raikage pressed immediately.
Muchi spread open his palm, as if that intangible information lay within it.
"Only two words. 'Azure Dragon'."
"Azure Dragon?"
The Third Raikage repeated the term, his eyes filled with confusion and savagery.
"What does this mean? Some kind of code name? A jutsu? A summon? Or... referring to some unit from Kiri?"
The information was too scant to interpret at all.
The term "Azure Dragon" had no specific meaning in the shinobi world, making it particularly mysterious.
Muchi then swiftly reported the countermeasures he had taken, saying.
"This subordinate has already issued orders to activate the spies embedded within Konoha. They are to investigate, at all costs, detailed intelligence on the Anbu codenamed 'Green Snake', especially any possible connection to the words 'Azure Dragon'."
"Simultaneously, people have also been dispatched to secretly investigate Kirigakure, to see if there have been any unusual movements recently or secret operations related to 'Azure Dragon'."
He paused, then added.
"But judging from the minimal chakra traces left at the scene and the scale of the battle, it doesn't seem like a large-scale ambush. It seems more like... they encountered an overwhelmingly powerful opponent and were swiftly defeated."
The Third Raikage fell silent for a moment, breathing heavily.
The pressure of the war and the anger over his subordinates' deaths intertwined, making him wish he could personally seek out that "Green Snake" and tear him apart.
But he was, after all, the Raikage. He needed to oversee the overall situation!
Although he had a violent temper and believed in the supremacy of strength, someone who could ascend to the position of Raikage was no thoughtless brute.
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