Chapter 209

The Land of Lightning, as described in official records, is established on towering peaks shrouded in clouds and perpetually echoing with thunder.

It is home to the ninja village of Kumogakure, known for its bandit-like militant practices.

Why call them bandits? Their track record is simply too extensive. This village sees something valuable and wants to take it, and they don't just want to—they act on it.

For example, they sneaked into Konoha to abduct Naruto's mother, and during peace talks, they tried to kidnap Naruto's future wife. Not only did they kidnap, but they also framed Konoha to extort them.

Then there's the anime filler where they tried to strengthen their village by stealing secret techniques from other villages, only to get caught by mercenary ninjas and have Tsunade help them.

Given all this, Shinji began to suspect that many of Kumogakure's bloodline clans were actually stolen by successive Raikages. For instance, the Magnet Release technique.

Since a certain Kazekage admitted to learning Magnet Release from Shukaku, how did Kumogakure end up with a reanimated Magnet Release user? Wasn't he stolen?

And Lava Release, which is supposed to be a specialty of Iwagakure, why does Kumogakure seem to have Lava Release users too?

Of course, this was just Shinji's wild speculation. To him, there was only a fifty percent chance that Kumogakure had stolen them. The other fifty percent? Forty-nine percent might have been "lured" instead of stolen, and one percent was uncertain.

While not particularly interested in delving into these matters, Shinji did feel a bit sorry for Naruto regarding another event in the original series—Naruto kneeling to beg for Sasuke's life.

After all, they had tried to kidnap his mother and future wife, yet he knelt to them for a man? How much did he love Sasuke?

As Shinji pondered these thoughts, he successfully entered Kumogakure, located atop high peaks, through the main gate, openly and without fuss!

Judging by the many Kumogakure ninjas hurrying around with tense expressions, it was clear that Kumogakure was not as secure as it seemed. The atmosphere was just as strained as in Konoha.

Causing trouble… messing with the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki was out of the question. Although he knew the location was in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, the risk was too high.

Mental manipulation and mental corruption might work, but the Valley of Clouds and Lightning was sparsely populated, so causing trouble wouldn't result in many casualties. Besides, if his brother was harmed, the hot-tempered Raikage might go mad and pull the entire ninja world into a vendetta for his brother.

Thus, after careful consideration, Shinji decided to find Matatabi, the Two-Tails. After all, petting cats was something most people enjoyed.

He was doing this for the Raikage's sake. Petting a cat could calm someone down, making them feel peaceful and easing their worries.

Of course, the prerequisite was that the cat would let you pet it.

With the Raikage's build... it shouldn't be a problem!

Shinji was confident.

...

Three days later.

In the Raikage's office, the Fourth Raikage A, who had taken office less than a year ago, was grinding his teeth as he read the report.

That damn Fifth Hokage Tsunade!

Despite the chaos of the Nine-Tails attack and losing the Fourth Hokage and many ninjas, she still dared to be so defiant!

He had merely flexed his muscles at the end of the war, bullying Konoha a little to get some benefits. And she wanted to use the entire nation's power to go against him?

Impossible! He couldn't swallow this insult!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, the more he felt he was being wronged!

Bang!!

"Damn Tsunade!" The Fourth Raikage A crushed the report into tiny pieces and smashed his thick wooden desk with his fist. "If she wants to fight, then I…"

"Raikage-sama! Please calm down!"

Mabui, the newly appointed secretary with black skin and white hair, who had been personally chosen by the Raikage, hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

Small skirmishes were one thing, but mobilizing the entire nation for a full-scale war against Konoha might lead to victory or even decimate the enemy...

But the aftermath for Kumogakure would be just as devastating!

"Damn it! Where are the envoys we sent? Have any reached Konoha?"

"No," Mabui shook her head. "We haven't received any reports from our spies around Konoha."

"Regardless, we can't let their envoy reach Kumogakure alive! Keep a close watch around the village! Continue sending our envoys!"

"Yes, understood."

As the Raikage tried to suppress his anger, a thunderous roar followed by a massive explosion shook the village.

Boom!!

Crash!

"What's happening?! What's Yugito up to?!"

Looking at the shattered glass and the trembling ground, the Fourth Raikage A roared, eyebrows raised in fury.

Mabui, who had fallen from the violent tremor, quickly got up and replied, "I don't know! She should have just returned from a reconnaissance mission!"

Bang bang!

"Raikage-sama!"

The urgent and chaotic footsteps, the frantic knocking, and the panicked shouts came almost simultaneously!

"Shut up!"

After cursing, the Raikage didn't wait for the messenger to enter but instead jumped out the window! Not a moment to lose!

"Mabui! Just in case, fetch the Amber Purifying Pot!"

Seeing the giant blue cat rampaging in the village, the Fourth Raikage, though frustrated, rushed towards it immediately.

This had happened once before when Orochimaru released the Eight-Tails, causing significant damage to Kumogakure. So, this was likely another man-made disaster!

Though impulsive, the Raikage wasn't foolish. He immediately suspected it was sabotage but couldn't determine which village's ninja was responsible.

...

Compared to the previous incident when the Eight-Tails was unleashed by Orochimaru, this time Kumogakure's losses were less than half.

The casualties among elite ninjas and the village's destruction were far less, as Matatabi hadn't been fully released.

Even so, the Raikage was furious. Standing in the ruins, he lashed out at the gatekeepers, blaming them entirely for the breach!

Scolding wasn't enough; he even beat them up!

How could they not notice an intruder? Useless bunch!

"Raikage-sama, it's over. Yugito has calmed down! The seal is intact; it seems it wasn't broken but that both Yugito and Matatabi were simultaneously put under a genjutsu, causing them to go into a berserk state!"

The medical ninja checking on the heavily beaten Yugito reported promptly.

"Keep her secured! Everyone else, investigate who has entered and left Kumogakure recently! Check our own people as well!"

"Raikage-sama, um…"

Mabui approached hesitantly.

"Speak!"

"Yes!" Frightened, Mabui straightened up and continued, "Actually, just now, the Amber Purifying Pot was reported missing…"

"What?!"

Her words were like pouring gasoline on a fire, further inflaming the Raikage's already uncontainable rage. Not only had they controlled Yugito, causing her to lose control and wreck the village, but they also had the audacity to steal from him?

The whole ninja world knew that Kumogakure was the thief… ahem, the one who always took from others. Now someone had turned the tables?

"Inform all Kumogakure ninjas! Within today, I want this matter resolved!"

"Raikage-sama, we found a Konoha forehead protector here!"

Seeing that one of his subordinates had discovered a Konoha forehead protector in an obvious spot right after he finished speaking, the Raikage was speechless.

"Damn Konoha! Repeating the same trick!"

A filthy and injured Kumogakure jonin cursed Konoha for their underhanded tactics, using the same method again!

The other Kumogakure ninjas also condemned Konoha, their hatred for the village skyrocketing in a short time.

Seeing these dimwits, the Raikage's anger surged even more, roaring, "Are you all brainless?! Can't you see this obvious setup?! Have you ever seen a ninja accidentally drop their forehead protector?"

"But what if they left in a hurry? I sometimes drop things when I rush."

"Rush, my ass!"

The Raikage was ready to kill. How did these fools become ninjas? Who promoted them? Some big idiot?

Konoha wouldn't pull this stunt; they understood the consequences of war better than anyone. So, now he had to consider the other three villages.

Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure… who was it?

...

Late at night.

With a thunderous explosion, the Raikage's office was blown up!

Pushing aside a large stone from the rubble, the Raikage emerged with a terrifyingly dark expression. Underneath, Mabui, whom he had protected, also survived unscathed.

"Damn it!!"

"Raikage-sama!"

As the dust settled, the sharp-eyed Mabui immediately spotted a kunai among the debris.

"It's a Konoha-style kunai!"

"Mabui…" The Raikage was exasperated. How could they not see through such an obvious setup?

"No, Raikage-sama! I wasn't suspecting Konoha; I meant the person framing Konoha to incite war between our nations is nearby! The priority is to check everyone who entered the Raikage building today!"

"Hmm." The Raikage, recognizing her insight, nodded. "Do it quickly; I want results immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

Unbeknownst to them, the culprit behind controlling Yugito and bombing the Raikage building had already left Kumogakure.

Initially, Shinji had considered a third attack, following the Raikage home to blow it up for good measure. However, he decided against it, thinking two strikes were enough.

Satisfied with the chaos, Shinji believed in moderation.

Plus, since they had gifted him the Amber Purifying Pot, it was time to stop.

...

Three days later, while the Raikage furiously investigated the incident, Shinji had already sailed to the Land of Iron.

The Land of Samurai, our country has been called this for… ahem, wrong line.

Seeing the samurai-filled streets, Shinji couldn't help but recall a manga he often revisited and enjoyed.

The Land of Iron, a nation without ninjas, had avoided nearly all of the ninja world's wars. The official explanation was that long ago, the ninja agreed not to attack this country, making it a neutral ground.

Of course, Shinji doubted this. In the ninja world, peace treaties signed today could be torn up by nightfall. How had this agreement remained unbroken?

Maybe this country was too poor to be worth involving in wars, or perhaps it offered benefits too great for the Five Great Nations to refuse.

What could it be?

Listening to the continuous clanging from the shops on both sides of the street, Shinji found himself puzzled but decided not to dwell on it.

Two jokes: A neutral samurai country.

Recommending a book: "The Tale of Naruto by Gintama Cast."

Fans of Gintama might enjoy this.