"Lord Raikage! Uchiha Kenya has launched an attack! Enemy strength is roughly one thousand!"
Samui reported urgently to the Fourth Raikage.
But this wasn't in the Raikage's office back in the Hidden Cloud Village—it was on the frontlines.
A week earlier, the Fourth Raikage had secretly rushed to the battlefield, determined to personally slay Kenya once the mystery of his genjutsu was revealed.
Hearing Samui's words, the Raikage's expression darkened. "Is that man leading them himself?!"
Samui shook her head. "No, the army is commanded by the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei."
"The Fifth Mizukage, hm?" The Raikage cracked his neck, rising with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I've yet to cross blades with her. Let's see if she's truly worthy of the title Kage."
Just as he was about to storm out, Tutai quickly held him back.
"Lord Raikage, your primary opponent is Uchiha Kenya. He is a cunning man, always plotting several moves ahead. If you expose yourself too early, it could be part of his trap. Please, remain in command. Unless absolutely necessary, it's better that you avoid the battlefield."
The Raikage froze for a moment, then reluctantly sat back down, fists clenched.
Tutai turned to another. "Darui—it's your turn."
"…Understood."
Darui gave a lazy nod, then walked out swiftly to lead the army.
Soon, the Cloud Shinobi under Darui clashed with the coalition led by Terumi Mei.
For over half a month, Cloud's cat-and-mouse harassment had hardly qualified as battles. This was the second true confrontation between the armies.
Darui scratched the back of his head with a weary look. "How boring. So Uchiha Kenya won't show himself?"
Terumi Mei placed a hand on her hip, touching her lips with the other in mockery. "Oh? Were you hoping he'd appear? You should be grateful that monster isn't here."
Darui pulled his cleaver-like weapon from his back, eyes narrowing. "Tch. I hate troublesome things. Best to deal with the most troublesome one first… so I can get some proper rest."
He vanished in a blur, blade slicing down toward Terumi Mei.
Clang!
Sparks flew as his strike was intercepted. Darui's eyes widened when he saw the grinning face of Ghost Lantern Mangetsu blocking him with his twin blades.
"Don't worry," Mangetsu sneered, "you'll get your rest soon enough—in the afterlife."
Steel clashed again, the shockwave forcing both to separate.
"The Ghost Lantern clan, huh?" Darui muttered, recognizing Mangetsu's liquid-like body. He formed hand seals without hesitation. "Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
Crackling thunder surged from his hands, forming a roaring black panther that charged forward.
Mangetsu's pupils shrank. His body moved instinctively, hands flying into his own seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A roaring water dragon collided with the thunder beast in midair, sparks scattering as lightning coursed along the water's path toward Mangetsu.
But before it struck, the attack was neutralized—cut off by a strange, viscous mist.
Darui's gaze flicked aside. Terumi Mei stood there, lips curved as she brushed her fingers against them.
"Lightning Release is too dangerous for your clan, isn't it, Mangetsu?" she teased, a thin mist escaping her lips.
Mangetsu grimaced. His body could liquefy to evade physical attacks—but against lightning, he would be paralyzed and helpless. That was the Ghost Lantern clan's fatal weakness.
"Haah…"
Terumi Mei exhaled again, a faint white mist curling around her. In seconds, it thickened into a suffocating fog.
Boil Release after Lava Release. The battlefield was hers to command.
Another half month passed. The Allied Shinobi Forces and Cloud Shinobi traded victories and defeats, but overall casualties were light. Neither side could claim overwhelming advantage.
The true reason? Cloud Shinobi avoided decisive battles. Whether winning or losing, they always retreated before either side could seal victory.
A war that should have been short was dragged into a grinding stalemate.
And through it all—Uchiha Kenya never set foot on the battlefield.
Instead, he spent his days in the system's training ground, unlocking power at a slower pace than real combat would provide. But he wasn't concerned.
Even without fighting personally, the souls of the countless war dead continued to pour into the Hōgyoku, feeding it.
And adapting to Hōgyoku's power required time. Time he now had.
"Kenya-kun, Cloud is on the move again."
Terumi Mei strode into the command tent, one hand on her hip, the other brushing her waterfall-like hair from her face. Her eyes glimmered with curiosity.
"I really can't understand them. With Raikage's temper, I thought he'd force a conclusion quickly. For him to drag things out like this… he must have some plan."
Kenya, facing away from her, slowly drew the radiant Hōgyoku back into his body.
"Don't worry, Mei. This war isn't one we can lose."
He turned, smiling faintly. "Who's leading their forces this time?"
Terumi Mei tapped her lips in thought. "From what I've heard… Darui, the wielder of Storm Release—and likely the next Raikage. Along with Nozomi, a phantom-style shinobi skilled in illusions. Their force numbers about five hundred."
"Perfect." Kenya's smile deepened. "Then let Cloud learn—no matter what strategy they use, it won't matter."
He stepped past her, leaving the tent.
Terumi Mei's eyes lingered on his back, her expression softening with something close to infatuation. Yet curiosity burned beneath it.
"After a month, you're finally moving yourself?"
"Yes," Kenya replied calmly. "The fusion is complete. There's no point wasting more time."
Terumi Mei didn't fully understand his words.
But Kenya wasn't talking about the war.
He was referring to the countless souls the Hōgyoku had already consumed.