Late at night.
Hidden Cloud Village.
Towering peaks pierced the clouds, their Aura like a rainbow.
Clouds floated halfway up the mountains, and the entire Village seemed shrouded in a black mist, making it difficult to discern clearly.
At the highest point in the center of the Village, the door of an ancient house was tightly shut.
The Third Raikage sat cross-legged, refining his Chakra with closed eyes.
A gentle breeze blew, and a voice broke the night's tranquility, exploding in the Third Raikage's ear: "The night is truly beautiful tonight."
Boom!
As soon as the words fell, the Third Raikage's fist had already shattered the window along with the wall.
However, the target of the attack seemed unaffected, standing still in the Moonlight.
"You are Uchiha Yuzuru?"
Looking at those crimson, uniquely patterned Sharingan, the Third Raikage said coldly.
Uchiha Yuzuru nodded: "That's right."
Just then, dozens of Lightning Release Ninjutsu instantly engulfed Uchiha Yuzuru.
Immediately after, four massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, surrounding Uchiha Yuzuru.
The lightning circling the stone pillars interconnected, forming a lightning cage that trapped Uchiha Yuzuru inside.
Dozens of Kumogakure Ninja slowly emerged from the darkness, continuously channeling Chakra into the stone pillars.
But to their astonishment, Uchiha Yuzuru, like an illusion, simply stepped out of the lightning pillar Seal with a simple stride.
"Don't be nervous, I just came to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."
"Heart-to-heart talk?"
The Third Raikage sneered: "I think you're afraid of our Hidden Cloud Village attacking your Uchiha Clan, aren't you?"
"Although I'm very surprised that you could defeat A and Killer Bee, that's all it is."
"If our Hidden Cloud Village sends troops, you won't be able to protect the Uchiha."
Uchiha Yuzuru shrugged noncommittally and said indifferently: "Similarly, if I were to attack your Hidden Cloud Village, you wouldn't be able to protect the other Ninja of Hidden Cloud Village."
"A, Killer Bee, the young Geniuses who haven't grown up yet, the old, weak, sick, and disabled..."
Uchiha Yuzuru seemed a little troubled as he rubbed his chin: "If war starts, who do you think I should target first?"
"Oh, and if I use these eyes to control a Tailed Beast, I won't have to agonize over so many choices."
Hearing this, the Third Raikage's pupils constricted: "Are you threatening me?"
"What do you think?"
The Third Raikage fell silent.
If Uchiha Yuzuru was just simply strong, he wouldn't be afraid at all.
From the Village's founding until now, Hidden Cloud Village had never feared anyone.
But Uchiha Yuzuru's abilities were too bizarre.
Not only did he possess the power to defeat A, but he could also pass through Hidden Cloud Village's barrier without being noticed.
Even he, the Raikage, only became aware of the other party's presence after he spoke first.
Physical attacks were ineffective, and Sealing Ninjutsu didn't work either... The most terrifying thing was, just as Uchiha Yuzuru himself said, the Mangekyo Sharingan possessed the power to control Tailed Beasts.
If he really allowed the other party to control the Two-Tails or Eight-Tails, a few Tailed Beast Balls would probably turn Hidden Cloud Village into a ruin, wouldn't it?
Upon reflection, the Third Raikage felt a tremendous pressure spreading in his heart, and cold sweat began to continuously pour from his body.
He would rather experience another Ninja World War than provoke such an enemy.
"That..."
"Perhaps we really should have a good heart-to-heart talk."
"The night tonight is indeed beautiful, ha, haha, hahahahaha..."
Looking at the smile on the Third Raikage's face, Uchiha Yuzuru also smiled.
He had anticipated this outcome.
Facing a ghost who could launch a fatal blow to the Village at any time, unless one chose mutual destruction, it would simply be more trouble than it was worth.
And the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Hidden Cloud Village was far from tense to that extent.
Watching the Third Raikage and Uchiha Yuzuru chatting and laughing, all the Kumogakure Ninja present were stunned as if they had gone mad.
Who in the entire Hidden Cloud Village didn't know that the Third Raikage was a stubborn hothead, someone who dared to clash head-on with the Eight-Tails in human form?
Anyone who dared to defy his ideas would be met with a direct blow.
Facing any problem, this Third Raikage was incredibly assertive, as if the word 'compromise' didn't exist in his dictionary.
Yet, such a person was now compromising?
And even laughing with the invading enemy?
Everything felt like a dream.
But no matter how unbelievable the Ninja of Hidden Cloud Village found it, facts were facts.
At the Third Raikage's invitation, Uchiha Yuzuru walked side-by-side with him into the Raikage Building.
------
"Truly a Genius from a young age; besides my son, I've never seen such an outstanding young man like you."
"Yuzuru, right? The past events were all misunderstandings, I hope you don't mind."
Uchiha Yuzuru was somewhat surprised by the Third Raikage's proactive gesture of goodwill.
He had originally thought that all of Hidden Cloud Village were brainless hotheads, but he hadn't expected this side to them.
However, Uchiha Yuzuru didn't put on airs and smiled, saying: "Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, I shall take my leave."
"Wait a moment."
The Third Raikage suddenly called out to Uchiha Yuzuru and asked: "Yuzuru, now that your Uchiha Clan has left Konoha, do you really plan to stay in the Land of Rice Fields forever?"
"Such a small country has nothing, and a prestigious Ninja Clan like the Uchiha being confined there is simply a waste of talent."
"Moreover, Konoha has branded you as rogue Ninja and will certainly not let it go."
"Other Ninja Villages will also covet your Sharingan, constantly watching your every move."
"Even for you, trying to contend with the entire Ninja World is a bit unrealistic, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuzuru said indifferently: "Not long ago, Kitsuchi from Iwagakure came to talk with us, and they offered us many generous conditions."
"Iwagakure?"
The Third Raikage's expression changed, and a sense of crisis suddenly arose.
Hidden Cloud Village and Iwagakure were sworn enemies!
If Uchiha Yuzuru really led the Uchiha Clan to join Iwagakure, then their Hidden Cloud Village would be in danger!
If war broke out, just one Uchiha Yuzuru could make them extremely uncomfortable, couldn't he?
Thinking of this, the Third Raikage immediately said: "Yuzuru, no matter what Ōnoki, that old geezer, promised you, our Hidden Cloud Village is willing to offer double!"
Uchiha Yuzuru's lips curled slightly.
He finally fell for it.
"If we join Iwagakure, Ōnoki will provide land and some industries to help our Uchiha Clan settle and develop, and he will also allow our Uchiha Clan a certain degree of autonomy, permitting us to participate in Iwagakure's core decision-making."
After Uchiha Yuzuru finished speaking, the Third Raikage was silent for a moment, then said: "No problem, our Hidden Cloud Village can also agree to these conditions."
"It's just..." The Third Raikage stared intently at Uchiha Yuzuru, "How can we ensure that the Uchiha Clan is truly settling in Hidden Cloud Village?"