Chapter 360: The Secret Envoy
On the first day of cultivating Sage Mode, the Third Raikage failed to perceive any Natural Energy.
Trapped motionless inside the "burial mound," he felt nothing as time passed—except, eventually, a faint urge to use the restroom.
Even though, in the eyes of Dana and Ichikishimahime, the Natural Energy surrounding the Third Raikage was dense enough to almost overflow, he remained oblivious.
Ultimately, as night fell, the first attempt was terminated because the Third Raikage simply couldn't hold it any longer.
"It's alright. Even for me, it took quite some time to first sense it," Dana consoled.
In the original timeline, even a certain blond "cheater" had to spend a significant amount of time before he could finally feel Natural Energy. This step wasn't as easy as people imagined. Even in a world filled with supernatural chakra, if someone suddenly tells you that the air you breathe, the water you drink, and everything around you is filled with a substance you've never noticed—and then tells you to find it—most people would be completely lost.
This type of perception had nothing to do with standard chakra-based sensory skills; it was an entirely different system. It was like how someone might be a natural at football but have no talent for basketball. Even a master sensor like Kayo might not necessarily be better at this than anyone else.
There was only one exception: the child in Natsu's womb.
As Dana's descendant, this child—whose gender was still unknown—would likely be born with an innate sensitivity to Natural Energy, much like the descendants of the Three Great Sage Regions like Ichikishimahime or Fukasaku. Even a "later generation" descendant like Gamabunta possessed Senjutsu chakra naturally within his body [1].
Thinking of the bizarre-looking toads of Mount Myoboku, Dana offered a silent prayer that his offspring wouldn't have their "visual style" go off the rails.
As for how much his child would inherit—including whether the Takemikazuchi bloodline would pass down—that remained an unknown variable.
Dana's own training in Inorganic Reincarnation wasn't going very smoothly either. His Sage Lightning Chakra was far more violent and restless than conventional, non-attribute Senjutsu chakra. The only reason he could control it like an extension of his own arm was due to his cheat-like control over Lightning Release.
However, Inorganic Reincarnation required using Senjutsu chakra to influence inanimate objects. The change occurred outside Dana's body, and the unique nature of Lightning Senjutsu chakra made it difficult to coexist with other matter.
Once the "not-so-good, not-so-bad" session ended, Dana rejected Ichikishimahime's request to stay in Cloud City and sent her back to Ryuchi Cave. As compensation, he gave her a massive pile of snacks and candies.
The girl was easy to bribe. Although she was centuries old, a formidable fighter, and called him "Husband" the moment they met—and rumors said she ate humans (though she swore she hadn't)—she was still a naive girl at heart. A few bags of snacks left her completely satisfied.
The next day, just as Dana and the Third Raikage were preparing to resume their training, they received unexpected news.
A secret envoy had arrived in Cloud City.
Several hours earlier.
A carriage rattled slowly toward the main gates of Cloud City.
The carriage was surrounded by several guards, attracting the attention of the gatekeepers from a distance.
As a massive metropolis, Cloud City's gates were no longer as strictly monitored as they were during the hidden village era. However, the guards could tell from a distance that these were not ordinary people, but ninja.
The guards stepped forward to inquire, though they weren't overly tense. Cloud City saw countless merchants and travelers daily, many with ninja escorts—more than half of whom were the Cloud's own people. Usually, it was just a matter of registration.
However, these men wore no forehead protectors. They seemed to be neither Cloud nor Konoha ninja, appearing to be mercenaries.
The guards didn't register. Instead, they produced a letter and secretly showed it to the sentry.
The sentry glanced at it and saw it bore the official seal of the Third Raikage. However, the content was confusing—something about a shipping invoice or an outgoing order list. He was momentarily stunned.
"Who are you people?"
"This letter is proof enough that we harbor no ill intent," the guard replied politely but firmly. "There are reasons for our arrival. Please inform your high command: an old friend has come to visit."
The guard was well-mannered, standing quietly after speaking without rushing the sentry.
Relieved, the sentry realized there might indeed be a significant secret matter. He reported the arrival along with the strange document.
While waiting, the sentry noticed there was only one person inside the carriage. Judging by the sound of breathing, it was an elderly man—and a civilian at that. He wondered what kind of important figure would carry a document stamped by the Third Raikage.
Even if it was just a trade invoice... he didn't have the authority to verify its authenticity. As long as these people didn't force their way in or try to flee, it was fine.
Before long, a high-ranking official arrived. It was the Vice-Consul of the Administrative Headquarters, Dodai.
Upon receiving the report, Dodai rushed over personally and sent word to find the Consul.
The document handed to him was a secret trade order.
And the other party in that trade... was Kirigakure.
Arriving at the gate, the polite guard invited Dodai into the carriage for a talk.
Dodai peered through the window, realized the passenger's identity, and boarded.
The man inside was the Elder of the Mist, a perennial fixture of their political scene: Genji.
"Forgive the intrusion, Dodai-dono. To visit your village—or rather, your Federation—in such a manner is quite irregular."
Dodai replied, "If Elder Genji is being this cautious, there must be urgent matters to discuss. Please follow me into the city. I have already sent word to the Consul."
Dodai didn't dismount. He sat in the carriage as the guards escorted it into Cloud City.
Although the carriage windows were low, obscuring the view of the towering Cloud Spire and the massive "Will of the Cloud" statue, the dense rows of shops on either side allowed the passenger to feel the city's prosperity.
Genji marveled, "The Cloud is truly a place of miracles... I never expected such a transformation."
Dodai was surprised. "Elder Genji has visited the Cloud Village before?"
Genji smiled. "To be honest, over twenty years ago during the First Great Ninja War, I came to the Cloud as a secret envoy in much the same way. I met with the Second Raikage-dono seeking an alliance, hoping the Cloud and Mist could join forces against Iwagakure."
Dodai sighed with emotion. "I didn't know such history existed..."
"It failed in the end. The Second Raikage wanted to end the senseless war. Shortly after I left, news came that the Second Raikage and the Second Hokage were holding peace talks in the Cloud. I believe you know what happened after that."
Dodai nodded. Genji was an old fox; he naturally wouldn't point out the Cloud's painful history—the rebellion of the Gold and Silver Brothers went unsaid.
Half an hour later, they reached the foot of the Cloud Spire. Only after stepping out of the carriage did Genji have the chance to look up at the spire piercing the heavens.
The closer one got to the base, the more magnificent it appeared.
The Cloud Spire had multiple entrances, each serving a different purpose. Its massive base was almost integrated with the center of the Old Cloud Village. Dodai led Genji through one of the more discreet entrances.
Entering the squared-off space, Genji looked around like a young child, curious about everything.
"This is a Chakra-powered lift."
The lift reached the top floor. There, Genji finally met the Consul of the Cloud-Thunder Federation, Yotsuki Dana.
Dana led Genji to the reception room, and the two exchanged pleasantries.
"Elder Genji, you should have notified us in advance. I would have arranged a proper welcome."
Usually, an envoy of Genji's caliber would give prior notice to facilitate a reception and register upon crossing the border.
"Consul-sama, please forgive me. Due to the circumstances, I had to travel in secret. I have come today for two matters I wish to discuss with you."
"Please, speak."
"First, on behalf of the Mizukage-sama, I wish to discuss the feasibility of Kirigakure joining the Federation."
Genji's opening statement was a bombshell.
It caught Dana completely off guard. He hadn't expected this elder, who was normally known for being steady and cautious and held power equal to the Mizukage, to be so blunt.
"And the second matter," Genji continued, "is that our village's Mizukage was recently subjected to a Genjutsu attack by an unknown individual..."
[1] Note: Referring to the nature of Tailed Beast chakra and its connection to Senjutsu.