Outside Konoha.
The ninja dispatched to Kumogakure had already assembled. Though not numerous, they were all elite shinobi from Konoha. Besides Obito's team, Shindai recognized several familiar faces among the group.
This mission was conducted using teams of three ninja, and naturally, Shindai, Pakura, and Hikaku Uchiha formed one unit.
Shindai gave a dry cough, striking an authoritative pose. "Ahem, looks like I'll have to step up as team leader then. You two better listen to me during this mission!"
Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with an indescribable gleam before answering in unison, "Sure, no problem at all!"
The overall squad captain was Sarutobi Tetsuya, an elite ninja from Konoha who had proven himself as a capable commander during the Third Great Ninja War.
Everyone then set off toward Kumogakure.
Minato Namikaze didn't send his message right away to allow enough time for Shindai's team to reach the Land of Lightning's border.
Meanwhile, the Cloud ninja expelled from Konoha returned earlier to Kumogakure and reported the incident to Raikage A.
Raikage A was furious—they had sent so many ninja to Konoha just to acquire a Byakugan, yet still ended up failing.
Enraged, Raikage A growled, "Send an immediate message to Konoha! Tell them we approached with sincerity to form an alliance, yet Konoha dares to kill our ninja? Let Minato Namikaze give us an explanation and offer compensation! Otherwise, we will go to war!"
Just a day after sending his own letter, Raikage A received Minato's reply.
After reading the letter filled with accusations from Minato Namikaze demanding Kumogakure provide explanations, Raikage A burst into bitter laughter. "When did Kumogakure ever have to answer to Konoha?! We're not afraid of starting a war!"
One of Kumogakure's higher-ups expressed concern, "But Raikage-sama, Konoha these days…"
Raikage A naturally knew how powerful Konoha had recently become, having formed Alliance Contracts with both Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
Kumogakure, on the other hand, hadn't allied with any other hidden villages. If they really went to war against Konoha, they would gain nothing favorable.
"I understand your worries," Raikage A said confidently. "Rest assured, Konoha won't dare to start a war. As long as we stand stronger than them, they'll ultimately choose reconciliation. Didn't Konoha seek peace even when they held the advantage during the Third Great Ninja War? Those Konoha ninjas are just softies.
So, I predict next, Konoha will try to negotiate with us. If we maintain a firm stance, we might even directly demand a pair of Byakugans. Once we possess the Byakugan, Kumogakure's strategic power will see a tremendous boost."
Raikage A felt extremely confident because this was exactly the impression Konoha left him with—despite holding the upper hand, they'd still choose peace rather than fighting. In his eyes, that kind of move was pure stupidity.
If they had such an advantage back then, they would've fought to the bitter end without missing a single opportunity.
Raikage A was now awaiting Minato Namikaze's response, anticipating that Konoha would yield.
Three more days passed.
Shindai and his team had already reached the border of the Land of Lightning and were effectively concealed.
They only needed to wait for orders. If Kumogakure issued instructions, they would retreat. Otherwise, they would launch an immediate assault—it was as straightforward as that.
Minato Namikaze from Konoha had also received Raikage A's reply.
When Minato read the Raikage's letter, even he, known for his composure, couldn't help but curse aloud.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others heard Minato's outburst; they all flinched slightly, realizing that this battle seemed unavoidable.
A vein on Minato Namikaze's forehead throbbed violently: "He actually shifted the blame onto us, claiming to seek alliance in good faith while accusing us of murdering their ninja. He even threatened war unless we compensate them! That's taking it way too far! What does that Raikage take Konoha for—a pushover?"
Minato declared, "Next, I will dispatch messenger frogs to inform Tetsuya immediately. He'll lead a team straight into the Land of Lightning for flexible operations. Meanwhile, I'll have him send summoned beasts to deliver our stance to the Raikage—if he truly seeks war, we're ready to begin immediately. However, if he wants negotiations, he must personally demonstrate sincerity by appointing witnesses before any talks can commence. As far as we're concerned, the Raikage has lost all moral standing!
"Additionally, Konoha will begin full mobilization of its ninja forces. We'll notify both the Tsuchikage and Kazekage, advising them against rash actions. As for Kirigakure, we'll assign some of our ninja to patrol the border regions to prevent surprise attacks from Kiri shinobi."
"Yes sir!"
...
At that moment, stationed at the Land of Lightning's border, Shindai felt a chill crawl up his spine.
The reason for this eerie feeling came from Pakura's and Hikaku Uchiha's gazes directed at him.
Over these past few days, Shindai constantly sensed Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha watching him with piercing, unsettling eyes and speaking cryptic, ambiguous words.
"Naruto is such a good kid."
"If it weren't for Naruto, we really wouldn't have known the truth."
"Yeah, unlike certain people whose minds are just dirty."
These mocking comments from Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha sent chills racing down Shindai's spine.
More than once, Shindai urged them to speak plainly, but it was pointless. Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha refused to be direct—they only continued making veiled jabs, leaving Shindai perpetually on edge.
Shindai couldn't figure out exactly what Naruto had said to make Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha treat him this way.
Come to think of it, even before this, during previous nights when Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha returned home from work, they always spoke to him mockingly.
But… if what Naruto said truly enraged Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha, surely they would've initiated disciplinary actions by now—without hesitation.
Shindai thought it would have been better if Pakura Uchiha and Hikaku Uchiha had just beaten him up. This current situation instead made Shindai feel extremely uncomfortable.
Pakura Uchiha and Hikaku Uchiha's exact intention was to make Shindai suffer mentally, as they had discovered he'd gotten used to physical punishment, so it didn't work anymore.
So the two of them took a different approach—staying silent and acting weird around him all the time, which could keep him unsettled for a long time.
The reason Pakura Uchiha and Hikaku Uchiha were doing this was because earlier, Naruto had teasingly asked them questions implying Shindai believed they had feelings for each other, asking what she meant by "forbidden romance."
Upon hearing that, Pakura Uchiha and Hikaku Uchiha had been furious—they'd even planned how they would keep Shindai completely under their thumb.
But Hikaku Uchiha felt that simply beating up Shindai would be far too easy on him. She proposed to Pakura that they leave him confused and let him figure it out on his own, torturing him mentally instead—which led to their current strategy.
Feeling the malicious gazes from Pakura Uchiha and Hikaku Uchiha, Shindai shivered involuntarily.
Are they freaking lunatics?
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ **4 bonus chapters** this weekend if I get kind comments.
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>