The people of Kumogakure were not fools. There was no way they would place all their hopes on a single negotiation.
If talks failed, what then?
Even a careless guess would make it obvious that Kumogakure had already prepared a backup plan, ready to be activated the moment diplomacy broke down. The few shinobi standing at the village entrance were nothing more than a surface display of strength.
"Hokage-sama, do not lower your guard. They must have hidden forces waiting in the shadows," Nara Suzaku said in a low voice.
Ryūjin gave a slight nod. He fully agreed.
Without hesitation, he entered Sage Mode and extended his perception across the entirety of Kumogakure and its surroundings.
"What is this?"
Almost immediately, something unexpected caught his attention.
There were no ambush formations, no concealed troops lying in wait like he had anticipated. Instead, deep within the southeastern part of the village, he sensed an overwhelmingly powerful chakra fluctuation.
It was terrifying.
Even Ryūjin felt a faint sense of pressure from it. If that chakra were to erupt, it could easily wipe the entire village off the map.
"What exactly is that?"
He frowned slightly, analyzing it carefully.
The structure of the chakra made one thing clear. It did not belong to a human, a Tailed Beast, or any living being. It felt more like a massive reserve, something stored and waiting to be unleashed.
"A weapon prepared specifically for me?"
The thought crossed his mind, but even with his knowledge, he could not immediately identify it.
After a brief pause, Ryūjin made his move.
Using Magnet Release, Gold Dust gathered and condensed into a tiny eye at the location of that chakra source.
The moment he saw it, everything became clear.
"So it's a Chakra Cannon… and it's already fully charged."
A cold sneer appeared on his lips.
In terms of raw destructive power, the Chakra Cannon could indeed threaten him. But in an actual fight, it was practically useless.
With Flying Thunder God, he could vanish the instant danger appeared. With Kamui's phasing ability, the attack would not even touch him.
The real problem was collateral damage.
If that weapon were fired, every Konoha shinobi present besides him would be annihilated.
Unfortunately for Kumogakure, their trump card had already been exposed.
"...Obito is here too?"
Ryūjin's attention shifted.
Within his sensory range, he detected a familiar presence, Uchiha Obito.
Since the Nine-Tails incident, after Ryūjin indirectly exposed the tampering of the Naka Shrine tablet, Obito had vanished without a trace. Whether he had realized the truth or was still chasing the Eye of the Moon Plan was unknown.
At this point, it did not matter.
To Ryūjin, Obito was no longer worth his attention. His presence here was nothing more than a minor curiosity.
He withdrew his perception.
"Fifth Hokage, what exactly is your intention in bringing so many Konoha shinobi into our village?"
Dodai's voice rang out, heavy and cautious.
Ryūjin glanced at him. "You're in charge here? You can speak for Kumogakure?"
"For now, yes," Dodai replied seriously. "Whatever you want to say, say it to me."
"Good."
Ryūjin's tone remained casual, as if discussing something insignificant.
"I'll give you two choices."
"First, Kumogakure submits to Konoha. From today onward, this village becomes subordinate to Konoha."
"Second, you resist. I kill everyone who resists, and then I take the village anyway."
"The outcome is the same. The only difference is how much trouble I have to go through. Your choice."
Silence.
Then shock.
Dodai, Samui, and the Kumogakure shinobi stared at him in disbelief. Their fists clenched as anger surged through them.
Arrogant.
This was beyond arrogance.
Ryūjin did not even bother to dress his intentions in diplomacy. He openly declared his plan to conquer Kumogakure in front of everyone.
Ōnoki, Yagura Karatachi, and Rasa were equally stunned.
Even Konoha's own shinobi, including Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hizashi, felt their hearts stir at Ryūjin's sheer dominance.
It was outrageous.
And yet, undeniably stirring.
"Hokage, we are aware of the conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure," Ōnoki stepped forward. "The Mizukage, Kazekage, and I came here to mediate. Perhaps we should talk first."
"No need."
Ryūjin shook his head.
"I've already decided. Kumogakure will fall today."
Ōnoki's expression darkened.
"You won't even consider negotiation?" Yagura frowned.
"There's nothing to discuss," Ryūjin replied flatly. "I'm not letting Kumogakure go. Don't waste my time."
The three Kage's faces turned grim.
This was not just disrespect. Ryūjin did not take them seriously at all.
"If every village acted like you," Rasa said coldly, "the entire ninja world would fall into chaos."
Ryūjin looked at him indifferently.
"What others do has nothing to do with me."
"This is how I do things."
Rasa was left speechless, his chest rising with suppressed anger.
The other Kage felt the same.
At the same time, unease crept into their hearts.
If Ryūjin could destroy Kumogakure today, what would stop him from targeting their villages tomorrow?
This precedent could not be allowed.
They exchanged glances, resolve forming silently between them.
"Hokage," Ōnoki said firmly, "we will not stand by and watch you destroy the balance of the ninja world."
"That's right," Yagura added. "We have a responsibility to maintain peace."
"You may be strong," Rasa continued, "but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."
Dodai quickly followed, "Kumogakure is willing to offer compensation. Let's resolve this peacefully."
Ryūjin ignored him completely.
Instead, his gaze locked onto the three Kage.
"This is your first and last warning."
"Stay out of Konoha's business."
"Otherwise… don't expect mercy."
Their expressions changed instantly.
"Hokage, if you insist on this," Ōnoki said through clenched teeth, "then you are declaring war on four great villages at once."
"Against all of us," Rasa added, "you would be standing against the entire ninja world."
Ryūjin smirked slightly.
"And?"
The single word hit like a hammer.
Everyone froze.
"I've said enough," he continued, his tone turning colder. "I'll count to three."
"If you don't surrender, I'll kill you."
His gaze swept across Kumogakure's forces, then shifted to the Kage.
"And if you're still here… you die too."
The air grew heavy.
"Bluffing," they all thought.
He would not dare.
"One."
The pressure intensified.
"Two."
Sweat began to form on several foreheads.
"Three."
Silence.
No one moved.
They refused to believe he would actually act.
Ryūjin's lips curled slightly.
"Then don't blame me."
His eyes shifted instantly, transforming into the Tenseigan.
A Truth Seeking Orb appeared, rapidly reshaping into a golden blade.
Without hesitation, Ryūjin swung it forward, aiming directly at everyone before him.
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews
(Leave a review/comment)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100
Power Stones.
◇ Read 80 | 100 chapters ahead on [email protected]/_Zeph