They don't even have Lightning Release ninjutsu.
Come to Kumogakure, and not only will you learn Lightning Release techniques, but the position of Fifth Raikage will be yours."
"Hey, hey, hey! What's the meaning of this?" Tsunade glared at him. "This is Konoha's territory! Are you trying to poach our talent right under our noses?"
"Ahem, the Lightning Release Armor is out of the question unless he joins our Ninja Village. However, if he has any questions, I'd be willing to offer guidance."
"Deal! Kakashi, you'll be with him for the next few days," Tsunade agreed readily.
"Meow!" Raj responded, signaling his agreement.
He extended a paw toward Kakashi, then pointed to the large crater in the ground.
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade! Thank you, Raj! Thank you, Lord Raikage!" Kakashi bowed repeatedly, then promptly used Earth Release to fill the crater Raj had created during their fight.
The Third Raikage stroked his beard, feeling like he'd been tricked.
Konoha truly lacked skilled Lightning Release users.
Looking back through history, the strongest practitioner was likely Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake.
However, Sakumo's primary strength lay in his swordsmanship, not Lightning Release.
In the current era, who could rival the Third Raikage in Lightning Release mastery?
Kakashi receiving guidance from him was an invaluable opportunity, while for the Third Raikage, offering a few pointers was hardly a significant matter.
"Third Raikage..." Yugito's voice was urgent.
'Teaching Kakashi Lightning Release would be arming their enemy!'
The Third Raikage waved his hand dismissively.
"It's just guidance. Nothing more."
He had mentored countless individuals in Kumogakure.
While this was his first time instructing an outsider, the exhilarating battle earlier made him inclined to offer some advice.
It also provided a chance to gather intelligence on Konoha's next generation.
However, as he glanced at the gradually stabilizing crater Kakashi had created, he couldn't help but sigh.
'What a pity. That Rasengan... Tsunade had stopped it. He wondered if it could have seriously injured him had it landed...' the Third Raikage mused inwardly.
"By the way, I don't know if you've heard, but I heard Hanzo has declared neutrality. A large group of Iwa Ninja are using Rain Country as a passage to attack Konoha."
The Third Raikage stretched his limbs and suddenly mentioned intelligence he had received recently.
This was a secret report from Kumogakure's spies in Amegakure.
"What?" Tsunade froze, then took a deep breath.
'Hanzo neutral? How could this be?'
After careful consideration, she shook her head.
"Impossible."
Hanzo had no reason to remain neutral.
Konoha's fall would be disastrous for him.
With Konoha's existence, the Five Great Nations could maintain a fragile peace, giving smaller countries and villages a chance to develop.
Once Konoha fell, the Ninja World would descend into chaos.
In that scenario, annexation wars and invasions would erupt one after another, and Amegakure would inevitably be swallowed by other nations.
What good was being a Demigod?
He was old now, no longer possessing the strength of his prime.
Moreover, no matter how powerful he was, he was still just one man.
Hanzo wasn't that foolish.
"You're quite confident... So this is a trap, then? Tsk, Konoha truly produces talent generation after generation. Even with Danzo dead, they have a successor ready. Let's hope the shorty doesn't get killed."
The Third Raikage couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Such a cunning scheme, executed by someone fit to lead Konoha's Anbu, was precisely what made Konoha so feared by other villages.
Their ninja system was too robust, with talent emerging in every generation.
In comparison, the other villages were gradually declining.
Take Sunagakure, for example.
Each generation was weaker than the last.
After all these years, their top experts remained Chiyo and Ebizo, with no hope for the next generation in sight.
It wasn't that they didn't want to adopt Konoha's system, but Konoha's system required immense financial resources that few could afford.
After a moment of contemplation, the Third Raikage steeled his resolve and pushed aside further thoughts.
Overthinking was pointless.
Regardless, Kumogakure had lost.
Defeat meant acknowledging defeat and accepting the consequences.
He was willing to fight and willing to own up to his losses, refusing to go back on his word.
This included mentoring Kakashi in Lightning Release training.
Raj, however, wanted no part in this.
Having already found Kakashi a Lightning Release teacher, he felt he had done enough.
Once Kakashi mastered the technique, he planned to recruit the orange cat from Ninja Cat Castle.
That fat orange tabby was a rare Lightning-Fire attribute Ninja Cat.
Raj lacked the expertise to teach it himself, so he figured Kakashi could serve as its mentor.
'Perfect.'
Raj's plans were as clear as a bell, and he had no fear of Kakashi reneging on their agreement.
After all, Kakashi couldn't defeat him.
As for the Third Raikage, Raj saw no issues there.
"Alright, everyone, return to your posts. Raikage, you're responsible for compensating for the damage to this forest."
"What?!"
The Third Raikage wanted to punch someone.
'I've already agreed to train your kid, and now you're trying to squeeze more out of me over some petty matter? Is that fair?'
Beside him, Yugito also bristled with anger on behalf of Kumogakure.
Seeing his strong reaction, Tsunade realized she had gone too far with the fleecing.
She quickly apologized, "Sorry, sorry, it's just a habit. Kakashi, you can continue filling the soil.
Raj, come with me, I have an important mission for you."
"Meow!" Raj responded obediently.
Lingering here any longer, who knew if the Third Raikage might decide to fight him again?
Tsunade's summons provided the perfect opportunity to slip away.
'Perfect.'
Raj gave Tsunade a mental thumbs-up.
It seemed they were truly on the same wavelength, thinking alike.
Given the ongoing war involving Konoha, both the Third Raikage and Yugito needed to avoid any appearance of bias.
This was especially true for Yugito, who had no desire to return to being watched day and night by four burly men.
For the sake of her hard-earned freedom, staying by the Raikage's side was the wisest course.
After arriving at the main camp, Tsunade finally revealed her true purpose: "While I suspect Hanzo's forces might be a trap set by Orochimaru, the western front is undoubtedly under heavy pressure. We need to end this war quickly."
"Meow?"
Raj understood this meant Tsunade wanted him to intervene.
'But where? Had Shikuro's team not departed yet?'
"Shikuro's team only left recently, but Minato is with them. If you want to join them, just use Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique seal as your coordinates," Tsunade explained.
'Minato...'
Raj pondered for a moment, then extended a
Raj raised a paw.
Tsunade paused, puzzled.