The Third Kazekage frowned.
Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law had both been killed by Konoha ninja, so Chiyo had always hated Konoha to the bone. He understood that much.
But bringing raw emotion into a discussion that concerned the fate of a shinobi village was simply unreasonable.
Even without the Uchiha clan, Konoha still had Kage-level powerhouses like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, and Hatake Sakumo.
Attacking Konoha would be nothing but a losing trade.
With that in mind, the Third Kazekage said evenly, "Anything involving Konoha requires long-term planning. I'll send someone to the Land of Rice Fields."
"Whether by incentives or pressure, we must do everything we can to win over the Uchiha clan."
"Until then, no one causes trouble."
Sensing the gunpowder between the Third Kazekage and Chiyo, Ebizo quickly said, "Then it's settled."
"Sister, let's go back. Otherwise, that child Sasori will forget to eat again."
At the mention of Sasori, Chiyo finally stood.
Konoha's ninja... sooner or later, I'll make you pay.
Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
The Third Raikage summoned A and Killer Bee into his office.
"A, the Uchiha clan is stationed in the Land of Rice Fields. Take a team and go."
"Go do what?"
"Ask if they're willing to live in Kumogakure. If they're not, find a chance to capture a few Uchiha and bring them back."
"Kumogakure needs more Kekkai Genkai."
Then he extended a fist toward Killer Bee at his side. "Bee, this time I'm taking you out of the village for some fun."
Killer Bee danced in place. "If you wanna keep up with big bro's pace, train those legs, don't stop for a second—I'm not just talkin', and when the Uchiha see my Eight-Tails, they'll scream like they've seen a ghost."
"Yo~ bakayaro, konoyaro!"
After finishing his verse, Killer Bee bumped fists with A.
The two of them walked out of the Raikage Building side by side.
Once they were gone, a dark-skinned man with white hair beside the Third Raikage asked, "Raikage-sama, shouldn't we try to win them over first?"
The Third Raikage snorted. "We'll see what they're worth. Weaklings don't get to stand in front of me."
If they could take, they'd take. If they couldn't, then they'd talk.
That was Kumogakure's way.
Land of Earth.
Iwagakure.
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki stared at the intelligence report on his desk, lost in thought for a long while before he finally said, "Kitsuchi, do you think this is Konoha's scheme?"
Then he laughed at himself.
If Konoha truly planned to accomplish something with a method like this, he would have to question the Third Hokage's intelligence.
Unlike the short Onoki, the burly Kitsuchi answered in a heavy voice, "Father, what do you plan to do?"
Onoki thought for a moment, then said in a low tone, "Go make contact with the Uchiha and see whether they're willing to live in Iwagakure."
"If they are, we can offer them some benefits."
"Remember—don't come into conflict with them."
Land of Water.
Kirigakure.
In a dim office, Yagura Karatachi opened an intelligence scroll and glanced at it.
Then he tossed it aside.
The Uchiha clan defected from Konoha?
As expected—these shinobi clans with Kekkai Genkai were the most detestable of all.
If not for clans like them, Kirigakure wouldn't be so hard to control.
Sooner or later, he'd sweep up every one of Kirigakure's Kekkai Genkai clans in a single net!
"Big Bro Yuzuru, don't train me anymore."
"Can't you let me rest for one day?"
Yuzuru snorted at Obito's pleading. "No one succeeds that easily. If you don't work for it, what right do you have to power?"
Obito shot back, "Then why don't I ever see you training hard?"
"Me?"
Yuzuru crossed his arms and said calmly, "I've met a lot of geniuses. They all call me a genius."
"And you?"
"You've met plenty of dead-lasts, and they all call you dead last."
"That's the difference."
It didn't just kill— it stabbed straight into the heart.
Obito felt like he might as well die and be done with it.
Big Bro Yuzuru was the worst. Couldn't he have put it a little more tactfully?
Still, Obito couldn't help asking, "Big Bro Yuzuru, is it really good to chase power so obsessively?"
"Back at the ninja academy, the teacher said the shinobi world has seen so many conflicts and tragedies because people rely too much on power."
"We should learn to use love to move everything."
Yuzuru slapped Obito on the head and said coldly, "It's precisely because conflicts can't be erased that power is needed even more."
"Without power, you can't do anything—and you can't protect anything."
"The moment you place your hope in someone else, tragedy begins."
"From now on, forget all that messy nonsense from the ninja academy."
"Oh. Got it..."
While they were talking, Uchiha Yakumi came running over in a rush. "Lord Yuzuru, someone's come to our door!"
Yuzuru never expected that the first to come knocking would be Sunagakure—the shinobi village farthest from the Land of Rice Fields.
Staring at the dozens of Sunagakure ninja up ahead, Yuzuru walked forward at an unhurried pace.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku's ugly expression, Yuzuru asked, puzzled.
Fugaku pointed toward the Sunagakure ninja at the front and said grimly, "These bastards are being far too arrogant."
"Oh?"
Yuzuru lifted an eyebrow and addressed the ninja Fugaku indicated. "Sunagakure ninja—state your purpose."
The lead shinobi spoke. "My name is Koi Shuji. You're the one calling the shots for the Uchiha clan?"
When Yuzuru nodded, Koi Shuji immediately said, "Our Kazekage-sama heard you've defected from Konoha, so he's decided to take you in."
"From now on, are you willing to serve Sunagakure?"
"Your attitude?"
Koi Shuji burst into laughter. "You're nothing but a pack of homeless dogs. Sunagakure is willing to take you in—you should be grateful."
"Hand over all your ninjutsu scrolls and supplies, and Sunagakure will protect you..."
Before he could finish, his mind went strangely foggy.
By the time he came to, Yuzuru had him lifted by the throat.
Staring into those scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan eyes, Koi Shuji struggled out, "What are you trying to do?"
"I suggest you think carefully about the consequences of laying hands on me. Sunagakure's wrath is more than you can bear!"
"Apologize."
"What?"
"I said..."
Yuzuru's fingers slowly tightened. "Apologize for what you just said."
Blood rushed to Koi Shuji's head, and his breathing grew harder and harder.
He could feel it. This man—someone who attacked at the slightest provocation—really did intend to kill him.
"I... I apologize."
In the face of death, Koi Shuji made his choice without hesitation. "I'm sorry. I was too rude."
The pressure on his throat increased again.
Koi Shuji's eyes widened in disbelief.
Why?
He'd already apologized, hadn't he?
As if reading the confusion on Koi Shuji's face, Yuzuru spoke without expression. "I told you to apologize. I never said I'd spare you."
Crack!
With a crisp snap of breaking bone, Koi Shuji's head lolled to the side, and Yuzuru tossed him onto the ground like a dead dog.
At the sight, the remaining Sunagakure ninja erupted in shock and fury.
"You damn Uchiha! You dare kill a Sunagakure shinobi—this will never be forgiven!"
"We'll kill you and avenge our comrade!"
"You'll face Kazekage-sama's wrath! Uchiha clan, just wait to be wiped out!"
In their eyes, the Uchiha clan was nothing more than a group of stray dogs with nowhere to stand—anyone passing by could stomp them.
So what if they were a great clan?
In front of a shinobi village, they were nothing.
The fact that Sunagakure hadn't simply taken everything by force was mercy enough.
But now...
These lunatics had killed without a second thought.
It was outrageous!
Facing their rage, Yuzuru's lips curled slightly. "The shinobi world hasn't sung the Uchiha clan's name in far too long."
"Today, we'll use the lives of these Sunagakure shinobi to tell the entire shinobi world..."
"The Uchiha—once the shinobi world's number one great clan, possessors of the strongest Kekkai Genkai..."
"Are back."
After Yuzuru finished, the Uchiha behind him all wore excited expressions.
Some with weaker nerves trembled outright, their bodies quivering with anticipation.
A fight.
Finally.
"A bunch of maniacs..."
Under the gaze of those scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan, the Sunagakure ninja felt a fear that rose from the depths of their souls.
Their formation this time wasn't weak. Including Koi Shuji, there had been five Jonin leading the group.
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