Seeing Minato suddenly fired up with passion, Hoshiyomi felt a bit overwhelmed. He patted Minato's shoulder, signaling him to calm down before speaking:
"Minato, there's no need to be so tense. Konoha today is by no means weaker than those villages. All we need to do is respond calmly to whatever comes.
But the Chunin Exams do need proper preparation—after all, Naruto and the others are very likely to participate this year.
How about this: on the surface, Kimimaro, Haku, and the two Orochimaru-trained kids—Shin and Kabuto—are all still just Konoha genin. I'll have them participate in this year's exams as well. Whether they become chunin doesn't matter; the main goal is preventing any sneaky tricks from being pulled."
Minato's eyes lit up instantly. He looked at Hoshiyomi with full admiration:
"Sensei, I really am far inferior compared to you. I understand now.
If I openly make preparations, it'll alert them. Our efforts would end up wasted.
So instead, we should move everything underground—present weakness on the surface, and only strike once they reveal their intentions.
If we catch them red-handed, we can deal them a devastating blow and crush their ambitions to invade Konoha or even start a war at the root!"
Seeing the sparkly admiration in Minato's eyes, Hoshiyomi rubbed the back of his head awkwardly:
"Ehehe… yes, yes, Minato, that's exactly right. I'm glad you're thinking this way. Um… I've got other things to do, so I'll get going."
With that, Hoshiyomi slipped out of the Hokage's office somewhat embarrassed.
He couldn't stay there any longer—if he did, he'd eventually expose himself.
Over-interpretation… truly deadly.
...
While Hoshiyomi and Minato were discussing the Chūnin Exams, in the distant office of the Kazekage in Sunagakure, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was also discussing the relevant matters with his trusted subordinate, Baki.
"Baki… tell me, was I right or wrong to agree to Kumogakure's proposal to use the Chunin Exams as a cover to destroy Konoha?
I don't know why, but I feel an odd sense of unease."
Seeing Rasa's troubled expression, Baki thought for a moment before replying:
"Kazekage-sama, your concerns are shared by the entire Suna leadership. I believe there won't be any issues.
And besides, Konoha is not what it once was. Gekko Hoshiyomi has been missing for years with no news—he's most likely dead.
The old pillars of the Third Great Ninja War either died on the night of the Nine-Tails attack, or are now pushing fifty and no longer at their prime.
I believe this truly is a good opportunity.
During the exam, I'll take Gaara and the others to closely investigate Konoha's internal situation.
If we find that Konoha is still strong, we lose nothing by holding back.
But if we find a chance worth exploiting, I'll send the information out immediately.
At that time, you and the upper ranks of Kumogakure can launch a surprise attack. Even if we can't take Konoha in one strike, we can heavily injure them.
Afterward, we'll join forces with Kumo again in a prolonged assault. There's no way Konoha could withstand that."
By the end, excitement gleamed in Baki's eyes.
He had personally lived through the darkest period of Sunagakure. After Gekko Hoshiyomi crippled the Third Kazekage, Suna had never recovered.
During the Third War, they had been forced to swallow their pride and beg their greatest enemy—Konoha—to help maintain the village's survival.
The humiliation Hoshiyomi inflicted on Rasa that day was etched not only in Rasa's heart, but in Baki's as well.
In Baki's view, he felt no gratitude toward Konoha.
Konoha helping Suna back then was merely to stabilize the war—they did it to protect their own interests.
Now Suna and Kumo preparing to attack Konoha was also for the sake of their own interests.
There was nothing shameful about it.
Seeing Baki so full of determination, Rasa fell silent for a moment before nodding:
"I understand. You may leave."
Only after Baki respectfully exited did Rasa look out over the sand-filled horizon of Sunagakure and let out a long sigh.
He understood everything Baki said.
But for some reason, the unease in his heart would not go away.
As for that so-called "unanimous agreement from the Suna leadership," he knew that was nothing but nonsense.
They only agreed because he had eliminated every voice that opposed him—just like he once did with Pakura.
Thinking about the things he had done back then, Rasa couldn't help but sigh.
In order to secure the position of Kazekage, in order to shake off the reputation of "the weakest Kazekage," he had done countless things similar to what happened to Pakura.
In his youth, he believed it was a good thing for all of Sunagakure to be under his control.
But now, the older he grew, the more he felt the consequences of his past impulses.
The entire Sunagakure had become his personal echo chamber. Even Chiyo and Ebizō had resigned from the Elder Council out of disappointment, leaving only sycophants around him.
With only flattery in his ears, he could no longer make objective judgments.
The older he got, the more clearly he saw his own shortcomings. Compared to previous Kazekage, he truly lacked judgment.
And yet, he couldn't change anything—because all the alternatives, all the potential successors, had already been eliminated by his own hand.
Sunagakure suffered a huge talent gap because of his purges. Even if he wanted to step down, he had no qualified successor to pass his mantle to.
Originally, Gaara had the talent to take the position, but because of Shukaku and…
Thinking that far, Rasa rubbed his temples, unwilling to dwell on it any longer.
All he could do was hope this operation would go smoothly.
With himself as Kazekage plus the One-Tail, and with the other side agreeing to dispatch their own jinchūriki and top leadership—along with mobilizing a force of three thousand shinobi—
their pincer attack should go just as Baki predicted.
...
Kumogakure— Valley of Clouds and Lightning
Twelve years ago, because of the fallout between the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, Killer B, the Valley of Clouds and Lightning had been abandoned.
Its constant thunder and lightning made it a forbidden zone among Kumogakure shinobi.
But today, this forbidden place welcomed a mysterious visitor.
Jingle, jingle.
The bells hanging from the traveler's straw hat chimed with every step.
The black cloak patterned with red clouds revealed his identity immediately.
He was a member of the Akatsuki, the organization that had risen to prominence over the past two years.
Ignoring the lightning splitting the sky, the figure walked deeper into the valley.
In the shrine at the valley's deepest point, someone was already waiting quietly.
Hearing the bells approaching, the waiting man smiled and slowly turned around.
If any Kumo shinobi had been present, they would have recognized him at once—he was none other than their respected Fourth Raikage.
But at this moment, their Raikage looked quite different from his usual self.
Seeing the approaching figure, A spoke with a faint smile:
"You finally made it. I was getting impatient… Black Zetsu."
His voice was slightly sharp—completely unlike his normal tone.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning lit up the interior of the shrine, illuminating A's face from the shadows.
On his massive, dark-skinned body… sat a pale, mocking face.
...
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