Actually, the situation wasn't quite as dire as it seemed. Mitokado Homura simply questioned Tetsumaru in detail about his previous encounter with the Raikage before dismissing him to rest. There was no immediate scenario where they "sold him out" or hand-delivered him to the Raikage.
However, the situation was objectively grim. Tetsumaru had overheard Nara Shikato's proposal: use Tetsumaru as bait to lure the Raikage into a trap, concentrate Konoha's combat power, and attempt a decisive "encirclement and suppression."
It was a strategy perfectly in line with the shinobi mindset of warfare. If it succeeded, the war would essentially be over.
But for Tetsumaru, the "bait," this tactic was incredibly unfriendly. For an uninformed decoy, it was a certain death sentence. But even knowing the full scope of the plan, what could he do?
His "boss" would never allow him to prepare Shadow Clones in advance, and given the Raikage's speed, dodging was out of the question. In other words, he would have to tank a direct hit from the Raikage just to earn a chance at survival.
Yet the real problem wasn't surviving the first hit; the problem was that a group of Jonin, no matter how elite, couldn't actually kill the Third Raikage. The Third's defense was vastly superior even to the Fourth's. For all intents and purposes, no one below the level of the Six Paths could kill him in a direct exchange—he could only be exhausted to death.
Sending a group of high-profile Jonin to besiege the Raikage was the perfect recipe for giving the man a massive kill-streak. Tetsumaru honestly couldn't see how this was going to end well.
As for warning the strategists and Homura that the Raikage's defense was "invincible" and that they wouldn't be able to break his guard? He decided to keep his mouth shut.
How would those arrogant Konoha Jonin react?
Old-timers like Nara Shikato and Homura would think: Where did this silly child come from? How could anyone's defense be "invincible"?
The Uchiha would think: There is nothing a Great Fireball cannot solve. If there is, we just add another one. Even if it's the Lightning Chakra Mode, we'll just drown him in flames.
The Hyuga would think: The Gentle Fist is peerless; it ignores external defense. As long as I land all Sixty-Four Palms, the Raikage is a dead man.
And once the battle was over, what then? If they somehow killed the Raikage, everyone would just laugh it off and spread rumors about Tetsumaru being a coward. But if they failed—if the Raikage lived and a large number of Konoha Jonin died—what would happen to the "prophet of doom" who warned them?
Tetsumaru could see it clearly: the Hokage would personally prepare the "black pot" of blame, Homura would be the one to toss it onto his back, and Danzo would be waiting in the shadows with his black-ops gloves to finish the job.
So, Tetsumaru feigned ignorance and focused on checking his gear.
Fortunately, luck was on his side.
Because he had been mind-numbingly bored lately, one of his Shadow Clones had "flexed" by building a spare set of Attached Insect Limbs Bio-Armor. It was originally meant to be a collector's item, but now it was a life-saving necessity.
From now on, I will always keep a spare set of Bio-Armor ready, no matter how ugly it is, and regardless of whether the next generation is almost finished.
Retreating to a deserted corner, Tetsumaru secretly summoned the Bio-Armor and equipped it. He followed his usual protocol: using a Transformation Jutsu to project a "hologram" of himself at 2.07 meters tall to mask the actual 3.6-meter-high, monstrous suit of armor.
Though he had initially built it as a replica for his collection, he had instinctively made several improvements.
First, the height had increased slightly, but the weight had dropped by a fifth. This was thanks to the application of chitin and carbon-fiber materials, which replaced many of the heavier, high-metal-content components.
The number of "Attached Insects" making up the suit had dropped from forty-nine to thirty-four. This reduction was primarily because one higher-functioning specialized insect could now replace several older models.
The suit's strength had been boosted to six tons. The wrist weapons remained twin high-frequency vibration serrated blades. The shoulder-mounted launch pods, however, had replaced the old Flight-Locusts with Acid-Exploding Beetles—a variety custom-bred by Aburame Hiro from the Giant Insect Squadron.
The acid-spraying insects in the palms had been upgraded; the firing mechanism had shifted from simple muscular compression to an explosive chemical propulsion.
The "Jumping Insects" in the shins had evolved from "one-use-only" to being capable of five leaps before expiring, though they required a four-and-a-half-minute cooling period between jumps.
The biggest change, however, was aesthetic. The two massive compound eyes were now covered by a full-wrap, helmet-style visor that looked like tactical sunglasses. Most of the obvious insectoid spikes, antennae, and cilia had been removed. It finally looked less like a horror movie monster and more like a sleek, albeit giant, warrior.
However, this "beautification" came at a cost. His overall sensory capabilities had dipped; while his vision was fine, his sense of touch and hearing—which relied on those missing antennae and cilia—had been halved.
I just need to tank a few hits, he told himself. This is a test of defense, not sensory finesse.
That evening, Nara Shikato found Tetsumaru. He laid out the entire plan, attempting to convince Tetsumaru to accept the role of the decoy.
This level of transparency made Tetsumaru feel significantly better. Even though he realistically couldn't refuse, the strategist's respectful attitude influenced his level of effort. It was the difference between working hard and "laying flat" on the job.
As a veteran of the workplace, Tetsumaru knew how to look like he was working hard while doing the bare minimum. Since the administration's attitude was respectful, he was satisfied—but that didn't stop him from haggling.
Could we bump up the mission pay? Maybe toss in a little more Sealing Jutsu knowledge as a bonus?
What? No?
Come on, don't just say "no" immediately. Everything is a negotiation.
After a dozen rounds of back-and-forth, they settled on a price.
Nara Shikato, representing the high command, made the proper gestures and provided enough capital and knowledge. Naturally, Tetsumaru didn't mind putting in a bit of real effort to earn that pay honestly.
So what if he had to be bait? He was confident he could survive at least one solid blow from the Raikage.
Over the next few days, Tetsumaru began leading his swarms along the front lines, thwarting several Cloud raiding parties.
The Third Raikage looked over the intelligence reports regarding Tetsumaru and couldn't help but marvel. "Splendid. Konoha has taken the bait."
He reached out and slapped a heavy hand onto the shoulder of a young ninja nearby, nearly buckling the boy's knees. The ninja wore a peculiar, tall hat.
"Well done. Now Konoha will group their Jonin together on their own," the Raikage said with a cruel, predatory smile. "It's better this way. I'll kill them all at once rather than wasting time hunting them down across the border. It's a huge hassle."
"Tutai, you're a Jonin now. You'll be participating in this operation."
"Yes, Lord Raikage. It is an honor," Tutai replied.
"If you distinguish yourself, I'll promote you to be my personal strategist. Work hard."
The Raikage stood up. He was surrounded by Cloud ninjas—some sitting, some standing. Among them were B, several long-established Jonin, and a few unfamiliar faces that drew frequent glances from the others.
The Raikage spoke nonchalantly, "This is the new Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails. Remember his face. He won't be participating in this battle, but I can't say the same for the future. If you run into him, keep your distance—the Hachibi's state is currently unstable."
"Now, we will proceed according to Tutai's plan."
"Those fools in Konoha actually think such an obvious trap could fool me. Let's give them a lesson they'll never forget."
"This time, we decide the location. We decide the time. We're going to take out at least fifty Konoha Jonin in one go."
"After this battle, the Leaf's defense will be shattered. We'll march straight to the Fire Capital. By then, the entire Land of Fire will be in Kumo's grasp, and we will take whatever we want from Konoha."
"YEAH!!" The Cloud ninjas erupted in a thunderous cheer.
"Get ready."
"YES, SIR!!"
Tetsumaru had been feeling a sense of impending doom for the past few days. The Raikage's continued absence made him absolutely certain: Kumo had a counter-plot.
Nara Shikato and several other senior strategists shared his concern. If the Raikage had struck within two days, the plan would have been proceeding smoothly. But five days had passed, and the man hadn't appeared. The strategists worried that Kumo was operating on a hidden schedule; waiting for an enemy's unknown plan to ripen was a dangerous game.
Homura Mitokado held a Jonin meeting according to protocol. Nara Shikato explained his worries and convinced many of the Jonin, but since they had already invested so much time and manpower, the proposal to terminate the mission was voted down. They decided to persist for three more days.
The following dawn, Tetsumaru began his patrol as planned. Shortly after setting out, his Secret Technique: Domain Field Barrier picked up that flamboyant, unmistakable chakra signature.
But he couldn't immediately fire the distress signal. First, the strategists had specifically ordered him not to; they worried about scaring the Raikage off before the encirclement was complete. Second, Tetsumaru had never told anyone about the existence of his Domain Field—though he suspected Orochimaru had guessed something.
It wasn't until the Raikage closed the distance at high speed, cresting a small hill and appearing in Tetsumaru's visual range, that he finally released the signal.
The Raikage's figure came to a sudden halt, startling Tetsumaru, who had been braced for a collision.
Looking up at the signal flare in the sky, the Raikage burst into a booming laugh. Then, without a word, he lunged.
He's too close!
BOOM!
In a cloud of white smoke, a massive figure was blasted back. The Raikage, having failed to land a killing blow, looked at the strange humanoid figure in surprise. He finally blurted out in shock:
"What the hell is that thing?!"
Tetsumaru looked down at the shattered armor on his chest and sucked in a breath. That was a four-finger-thick insect carapace, and it had been pulverized by a single short-range strike. Without this protection, he would have been shattered like glass.
At that moment, seven figures flickered into existence, surrounding the Raikage. The lead ninja, Uchiha Setsuna, laughed maniacally. "Hahaha! We finally have you, Raikage!"
"Today, I, Setsuna Uchiha, shall take your head and add another spark of glory to the Uchiha name!" With that, he drew his blade and slashed at the Raikage's neck with blinding speed.
CLANG!
The blade snapped against the side of the Raikage's neck. Setsuna stood there dumbfounded, yet he still managed to dodge the Raikage's follow-up strike. As expected of an Uchiha elite.
"The Raikage's reputation is well-earned. I am no match for you alone," Setsuna said, jumping back. "But today isn't about a duel; it's a war."
Setsuna raised his hand and swept it down. "Don't just stand there! The battle has begun!"
Dozens of figures descended upon the battlefield, launching a full-scale assault on the Raikage.
Tetsumaru's mission was over. He quickly retreated into the nearby forest, swapping out his damaged armor plates while monitoring the situation.
He watched as the Raikage blurred through the field. In a single dash, a Nara Jonin was sent flying, coughing up blood; his Shadow Possession Jutsu had been broken by the Raikage through sheer brute force.
Gasps of shock echoed through the field. The Uchiha, in particular, stared at the Third Raikage—wrapped in his crackling Lightning Chakra Mode—with eyes full of greedy longing. The defense and power granted by that mode were staggering. They truly wanted it for themselves.
Surrounded by over sixty Jonin, the Raikage let out a thunderous roar. Lightning flickered, blood sprayed, and his lunges began to destabilize the entire encirclement.
In just two minutes, seven Konoha Jonin were either severely wounded or dead. Watching from a distance, Mitokado Homura and Nara Shikato were speechless.
This was a different kind of strength than the Hokage's massive Five-Element combo ninjutsu. This was pure, unadulterated violence—a raw display of power that struck terror into the heart.
"What... what do we do?" Homura was beginning to panic. Aside from Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, he couldn't imagine anyone who could provide enough combat power to threaten the Raikage.
Two more Jonin fell in the encirclement. The others rained down a torrent of blades, kunai, senbon, Kikaichu, and ninjutsu, but aside from occasionally shielding his eyes with his hands, the Raikage ignored the attacks completely, focusing solely on hunting the Leaf ninjas.
The Raikage set his sights on a civilian Jonin—a veteran of countless battles who managed to dodge his attacks by a hair's breadth time and again.
"Slippery brat. I'm out of patience for this house-playing game."
The Raikage extended his right hand, four fingers tucked in and his thumb curled.
Hell Stab: Four-Finger Nukite!
The Raikage turned into a bolt of lightning. Before anyone could react, his hand pierced through the target's chest. He flicked his hand, discarding the Konoha Jonin like a broken doll.
The tiny glimmer of hope that had remained was snuffed out. Homura Mitokado was in a total panic. He no longer cared about the Hokage's previous warnings and shouted to his subordinates:
"Report to the Hokage immediately! We need Sakumo Hatake! We need the White Fang, the ninja who can cut through anything!"
Observing this, a mental image flashed through Tetsumaru's mind. He saw a middle-aged man in royal robes crawling out from under a desk, raising his hand, and screaming at the top of his lungs: "Quickly, go to the West and invite the Buddha!"
Since Sakumo Hatake was currently in the Northwest with Orochimaru, Tetsumaru couldn't help but think of a hilarious nickname: The Tathagata White Fang. Or maybe Buddha Sakumo?
Tetsumaru chuckled to himself. Honestly, things weren't that bad. Mitokado Homura was just a coward.
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