Chapter 266 : Startled!

"The alliance ceremony between Kumogakure and Konoha officially begins!"

With a resounding shout, the second Raikage stood up solemnly, mirroring Senju Tobirama on the opposite side. Both walked toward the wooden high platform, surrounded by their respective entourages.

Upon reaching the center of the high platform, Kumogakure, tasked with reading the covenant, stepped forward. He held the covenant scroll high and began to read it aloud.

Countless flags adorned with symbols of Konoha and Kumogakure fluttered high in the venue, delighting the spectators below. Ai and Tobirama finally breathed sighs of relief.

"It's finally over."

They believed that Iwagakure and Kirigakure had also ceased hostilities, paving the way for decades of precious peace.

The impassioned tone of the ninja reading the covenant spoke of the historical friendship between the two nations, even praising the "righteousness" of the first Hokage who assigned the tailed beast. Yet, beneath the surface of camaraderie, there lingered an undercurrent of hatred.

Fortunately, despite the ninja's seemingly nonsensical rhetoric, those below, including the two Kage, maintained a facade of agreement.

After an hour of reading, just as the embarrassment was about to peak, the reading concluded. The two sides then began to sign a series of complicated agreements.

Tobirama and Ai remained on the high platform, while Sarutobi and the other five disciples busied themselves with Cloud Shinobi on the opposite side.

Once the work was completed, both sides formed rows and shook hands. A dozen Anbu from Konoha remained vigilant. Thankfully, C was absent, sparing the ceremony further awkwardness.

Amidst the warm applause, Danzo snorted coldly, silently signing his name. At the ceremony's end, a Cloud Ninja raised the lengthy agreement to the high platform. Tobirama and Ai exchanged glances, simultaneously signing their names.

"Huh——"

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the assembly as the complex ceremony finally concluded!

"It seems the golden horn and the silver horn have accepted their fate. They know their situation is over," Ai remarked with a rare smile, extending her hand toward Tobirama.

Tobirama reciprocated the gesture, and the two shook hands, sealing the peace.

Yet, at that moment, while Ai still smiled, an overwhelming sense of threat emerged. Tobirama's expression shifted abruptly, and he withdrew his hand!

A colossal and tyrannical force, as if breaking through some seal, unleashed a heart-pounding wave of aura fluctuations.

"Tobirama, you—"

Ai was startled, his expression changing drastically. A tremendous explosion erupted, and the terrifying shockwave obliterated the smiling Cloud Ninja who had read the agreement.

Together with the peace treaty symbolizing harmony, they were consumed by flames!

Unexpectedly, the crisis originated from the elevated platform beneath them!

"Hooho————!!"

The thunderous roar echoed, and two dark-red figures emerged from the swirling sawdust, each wielding their nine tails as they attacked the duo!

The shockwave sent many bystanders flying like leaves in the wind.

In the face of this sudden upheaval, chaos erupted among a group of Cloud Ninjas, with a few turning against their comrades and launching deadly assaults!

"It's finally begun!"

Takeshi's blood-red serpent-like eyes gleamed with excitement. The once tranquil valley, extensively explored by Tobirama, now pulsated with the presence of countless ninja swiftly converging towards them!

"It's the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn! How is this possible?!"

Watching the two monstrous beings approaching, Ai was initially stunned, then fled in a fury.

"Tobirama, come with me—"

Ai was swiftly enveloped in Lightning Release Chakra Mode, grappling with the Golden Horn adorned in the nine-tailed coat. The immense power elicited a groan from him. On the other side, the Silver Horn had already lunged at Tobirama, mouth agape with a Tailed Beast Ball!

"Damn traitor! How dare you conspire against me!"

Tobirama countered the sudden explosion, his emotions shifting from reason to anger, disappointment, and distrust at the scene unfolding before him!

What kind of absurd peace negotiations were these? They aimed to assassinate him?!

"Ai, you shameless scoundrel, I'll remember this!"

"Wait a moment..."

Facing the impending explosion of the Silver Horn, Tobirama snorted disdainfully and vanished!

"Protect Hokage-sama!"

Tobirama materialized amidst the disciples, their eyes all sharing a crimson hue. They erupted into action without apparent surprise, ready for combat.

"Silver Horn! Take out Tobirama first!"

Seeing Tobirama disappear, Jin Jiao exulted, rushing to confront Ai directly, denying him an escape.

"Gaga, old man, we've tolerated you for far too long, and today is your day of reckoning!"

"I'm furious! Golden Horn! Why are you here?!"

"Consider that as you meet your demise!"

Tobirama vanished, and Silver Horn unleashed the Tailed Beast Ball that had been building momentum on the panicking Ai!

Simultaneously, the Golden Horn gritted its teeth, entwining Ai with its tail, and a scarlet light erupted directly on Ai's chest!

"No—!!"

"Boom——!!!"

A colossal mushroom cloud ascended, the devastating shockwave leveling the elevated platform and surrounding structures. The once adorned venue crumbled instantaneously!

"What? No!"

Tobirama, who had been fleeing with everyone, suddenly awoke. He turned his head and revealed a shocked expression.

"Teacher..."

Danzo swiftly slashed Kumogakure, who approached without understanding the gravity of the situation. The surroundings were chaotic. They initially believed they were the targets, only to be embarrassed as they realized no one cared about them.

"Oops, the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn... It seems the game just got serious. Ai is in danger!"

Watching the mushroom cloud gradually dissipate, Tobirama's face darkened completely.

Cautious as always, faced with such an unexpected situation, his first thought was to protect himself. As the Hokage, the pillar of Senju clan, he must not die here.

This time, he decided to give the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn one final chance!

"Jie Jie Jie, I didn't expect the renowned Senju Tobirama of the ninja world to flee in haste when confronted by our brothers!"

As the smoke cleared, a dark red figure emerged, laughing and gazing at Tobirama's group in the distance.

The dark red chakra receded, turning into a translucent state, revealing the Silver Horn with a crazed smile.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama, for your cooperation, but well..."

Behind him, the panting Golden Horn dragged Ai like a lifeless body. Ai's chest bled profusely, and he seemed near death, unable to resist the fatal attack of the two brothers.

Ai was tightly bound by the golden rope. Although its function was to separate words and spirits from the body, it was indestructible as a Six Paths ninja tool.

"Incheon... it was you... idiot!"

Ai was enraged but extremely weak.

"You two...!"

A Cloud Ninja's words shocked everyone. Before he could say more, he was pierced by another Kumogakure from behind.

"Incheon! Are you insane? Did your clan collude with the Golden Horn and Silver Horn?"

The strength of the surrounding Kumogakure was weak. Faced with the chaotic situation, everyone was in danger.

"Hahaha! Once Ai is dead, our brothers will take the Raikage position, and the commander-in-chief of the Kumogakure army will belong to the head of the Incheon clan!"

Silver Horn exclaimed loudly.

"You lunatics!"

"You will be punished, and C will avenge Raikage-sama!"

"If you provoke Hokage, our Land of Lightning will suffer!"

Some around shouted and cursed, but they dared not make a move.

Tobirama glared at the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn, and at Ai, who had suddenly become a lifeless figure. His expression showed anger.

Perhaps this is the opportunity to eliminate these two ignorant individuals?

"Provoking Tobirama? Starting a war? A calamity is imminent?"

Silver Horn looked arrogantly at Tobirama, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! What's this? Now that we've angered Tobirama, if we don't want Konoha's revenge, killing them is the only way!" 

The nine tails on Silver Horn's body flared again, heedless of consequences!