Chapter 354: The Gathering Storm
Kotoamatsukami was such a terrifying dojutsu that even Nagato couldn't claim to have no interest in it.
However, with his current power, he had no real need for Kotoamatsukami. He simply wanted one of the eyes for research—just in case.
"Of course."
White Zetsu Variant crouched down and gouged out both of Shisui's eyes.
"Ah—!"
Shisui let out a scream of agony and suddenly regained consciousness. His eye sockets were now nothing but two bloody holes, fresh blood gushing down his face and staining the ground beneath him.
White Zetsu Variant looked at the freshly plucked eyes in his hands. Instead of finishing Shisui off immediately, he handed one of the Sharingan to Nagato.
"I'd like to keep him for cloning."
"As you wish."
Nagato nodded indifferently, taking the Sharingan before walking away.
Left alone, White Zetsu Variant gazed at Shisui's body with an eerie smile.
Compared to the other clones, one with Kotoamatsukami would be far more valuable.
And with this eye, he could finally control that man.
…
While White Zetsu Variant was meeting with Kaguya to test Kotoamatsukami, elsewhere, Tsunade had finally run out of patience.
After repeatedly requesting a meeting and being refused outright by Raikage, she gave up trying to meet him directly. Instead, she contacted a high-ranking elder of the Land of Lightning under Mabui's name, managing to connect with Raikage via video call.
The moment she saw Raikage's composed expression, she glared and immediately demanded,
"Raikage, Shisui of the Body Flicker has disappeared. Do you have anything to say about that?"
Raikage remained expressionless. "The disappearance of Uchiha Shisui has nothing to do with the Land of Lightning."
"Then provide proof that you're uninvolved—and explain why your delegation is still in Konoha."
"No comment."
"You—!"
Seeing Raikage's completely unbothered expression, Tsunade's fury erupted. She glared at him through the screen, barely holding herself back from reaching through to grab him by the collar.
"Don't think staying silent will absolve you of suspicion!"
She forced herself to remain calm, but her voice still trembled with anger. "Shisui is an important member of Konoha. Based on the current evidence, there is no way his disappearance has nothing to do with the Land of Lightning! You've kept your delegation in Konoha, refused to meet me, and now you're acting like this. Are you trying to start a war?"
Raikage's face remained cold as he replied, "I've already said that Shisui's disappearance has nothing to do with me. As for the delegation staying in Konoha, that is simply diplomatic courtesy. If you have evidence linking us to this, feel free to present it. If you don't, then stop making baseless accusations."
Tsunade took a deep breath.
She had never seen someone so shameless!
"Fine. Very well."
She let out a cold laugh. "Since you refuse to cooperate, don't blame me for being unkind. As Hokage, I am officially demanding an explanation from the Land of Lightning. If you do not provide a reasonable account and surrender the responsible individuals within three days, Konoha will take all necessary actions—including military force—to pursue the matter."
For the first time, Raikage's expression flickered slightly. "Hokage, are you threatening me?"
"This isn't a threat. It's a warning." Tsunade's tone was unyielding. "Konoha does not wish to start a war, especially not one between allies. But if you insist on this path, then be prepared to face the consequences."
With that, she cut the call.
She slammed her hand down on the desk, sending documents scattering to the floor.
Her fury mixed with frustration, making her feel suffocated.
When had Raikage become like this? Was Killer Bee's death really affecting him that deeply?
"Shikaku, what do you think?" Tsunade turned to Shikaku, her voice carrying traces of exhaustion.
"Lady Tsunade, something is off about Raikage. He was far too composed." Shikaku frowned. "If this wasn't an attempt to escalate tensions, then it must be for…"
…
Raikage ended the call and turned to an elder who had been secretly communicating with him.
"Spread my conversation with Tsunade to the leaders of every major nation."
"This…"
The elder hesitated.
"Do you have a different opinion?"
Raikage's gaze turned sharp, and the elder shivered.
"N-No, I have no objections, Lord Raikage!"
Not daring to linger any longer, the elder quickly left, afraid of being held accountable later.
As he stepped out of the conference room, he sighed.
Lately, Raikage's presence had become colder and more intimidating.
If only Lord Killer Bee were still here…
…
"The Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire are clashing?"
In the Snow Country, Tobirama looked at Hyuga Fuji with surprise as he took the intelligence report. "What happened?"
Recently, he had been focusing on Madara and had neglected intelligence updates.
Hyuga Fuji answered, "Shisui of the Body Flicker disappeared. The Land of Fire suspects the Land of Lightning."
"And the truth?"
"They are indeed involved—or rather, it's connected to White Zetsu Variant and Akatsuki."
"You're leaving yourself out of that." Tobirama snorted, noticing Kotoamatsukami mentioned in the report. "With a dojutsu as unique as Shisui's, there's no reason it would be exposed unless you leaked it. You marked this intel yourself, didn't you?"
Hyuga Fuji didn't deny it, nodding. "Yes, I directed White Zetsu Variant's attention toward him."
That was the beginning, after all.
Tobirama's eye twitched as he carefully read through the report. "Has the Land of Lightning aligned with Akatsuki? If that's the case, then their conflict with the Land of Fire…"
"Won't lead to war."
Hyuga Fuji finished his sentence. "The other nations won't allow it. Even if they have to intervene and take a few blows, they will prevent the situation from escalating. As a result, most countries will be forced to align with the Land of Lightning."
With the Land of Earth half-crippled, any politically savvy leader understood that if the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire—two of the alliance's strongest members—went to war, the alliance itself would collapse.
That meant that the moment Raikage leaked the conversation, war was no longer an option.
Tobirama nodded, then hesitated. "That may be true, but Tsunade has a fiery personality. If things truly come to the brink of war, she might not hold back."
"Don't jump to conclusions." Hyuga Fuji smirked. "This isn't the only intelligence I want you to see—here's another report."
He handed Tobirama a new file. "Tsunade-senpai is more calculating than you think."
Tobirama's eyes briefly paused on the name of the intelligence source—Yuyashiro Homura—before he quickly skimmed through it.
It was a survey and graph tracking Tsunade's reputation in different regions of the Land of Fire.
The data clearly showed that over the past month, negative public opinion about Tsunade had been steadily rising.
As a former Hokage skilled in handling public sentiment, Tobirama's expression turned complicated.
Judging by this, Tsunade hadn't suppressed these rumors at all.
In fact, she was fanning the flames.
"I see… She's forcing everyone to make a choice. Did someone on Raikage's side notice this and react accordingly?"
With this report in hand, Tobirama was certain.
No matter how angry she was, once Tsunade fully grasped Raikage's intentions, she would endure—and might even cooperate with his next move.
This was an all-or-nothing gamble.
And for the Land of Fire, it was the best possible play.
A storm was coming…
(End of Chapter)