Chapter 143: Dan and the Raikage

At the entrance of Konoha, a group of over fifty ninjas appeared.

These individuals all had bronze skin, were physically fit, and carried ninja blades. They were alert and watchful as they moved.

From the headbands they wore, it was easy to deduce that this was the Cloud Village team that had come to participate in the Chunin Exams.

At the forefront of the group...

There was a muscular man nearly two meters tall, striding confidently.

He sported a pair of whiskers, wore a large white cloak that revealed his full chest muscles and distinct abs. A golden belt was tied around his waist, and his arms were adorned with heavy golden bracers, as if he was wearing a pair of dumbbells on his arms.

Most striking was the man's hat, on which was written the character for "thunder."

He was the Fourth Raikage of the Cloud Village, exuding a big brother-like aura that could be summed up in two words:

Reliable.

Beside the Raikage were his guards and secretaries, Samui, Darui, Mabui, Omoi, Karui... all young talents personally nurtured by the Fourth Raikage.

Like stars surrounding the moon, they flanked the imposing Raikage.

Wherever they went...

Upon being recognized by the ninjas and villagers of Konoha, everyone stepped aside, moving to the sides of the street to clear a path for them.

This was due to...the incident three years ago when the Cloud Village delegation kidnapped Hinata Hyuga.

Even though the Cloud Village was at fault, the result was Konoha admitting guilt and the Hyuga clan had to hand over the body of Hizashi Hyuga as an apology.

Since then...

In front of the Cloud Village, the ninjas and villagers of Konoha felt inferior, which was why they now kept their distance, not daring to provoke them in any way.

Seeing the gloomy state of Konoha...

"It seems the defeat in the war has left Konoha's morale quite low," the Fourth Raikage said in his deep voice.

Darui, with his hands behind his head and a toothpick in his mouth, lazily added:

"After all, they lost an army of three thousand ninjas overnight."

There was a hint of schadenfreude in his tone.

"Looking at this situation, the Chunin Exams probably can't be held. We didn't come all this way for nothing, did we?"

Samui also joked, a smile on his face.

He was a handsome man with fair skin, quite different from the other Cloud Village ninjas, and was a versatile ninja.

Along with Darui, they were known as the right and left hands of the Fourth Raikage.

The Fourth Raikage shook his head at Samui's words:

"No matter, the Chunin Exams were just an excuse. Our real purpose for this trip is to probe Konoha's strength."

Hearing the Raikage's unabashed loud voice...

Mabui helplessly slapped his forehead, rolled his eyes, and silently complained:

The Raikage really doesn't bother to hide his intentions, but is it really okay to say it out loud like this?

Just then...

Two Konoha Anbu appeared in a hurry, saluted the Fourth Raikage, and informed him that the Third Hokage had been waiting in the reception room for some time.

"Lead the way."

The Raikage waved his hand.

And so...

The impressive group from the Cloud Village, under the watchful eyes of the Konoha villagers, marched down the main street and arrived in front of the Hokage building.

"You guys go rest at the hotel first."

The Raikage instructed Mabui and the others, then, taking only Samui and Darui with him, he strode into the Hokage building.

In the reception room...

As soon as the Raikage entered, he saw the Third Hokage, dressed in his Hokage robe, his gaze deep and his demeanor dignified.

But his gaze quickly shifted from the Third Hokage to a short-haired man standing behind him.

The man was nearly as tall as the Raikage, and his imposing figure seemed even more robust. He wore a high-collared blue robe, giving off a powerful oppressive aura.

The Fourth Raikage's heart tightened, thinking to himself:

So this is Uchiha Dan. The real person is indeed more impressive than the photos, and his aura is much stronger.

As the Raikage was sizing up Dan...

"Welcome, Fourth Raikage."

The Third Hokage stepped forward, a friendly smile on his face, and shook hands with the Raikage.

Then...

He turned his palm upwards, fingers together, pointing towards Dan, and introduced him to the Raikage:

"This is my assistant, Uchiha Dan."

"I've heard a lot about you."

The Fourth Raikage looked intently at Dan, extending a large hand towards him.

Seeing this, Dan also stepped forward and shook hands with the Raikage.

Suddenly...

The Raikage's gaze sharpened, and he exerted a great deal of force with his hand, his arm's veins bulging.

He wanted to test Dan's mettle.

Faced with the Raikage's challenge, Dan remained expressionless, but also increased his grip strength, his sleeve bulging with the muscles of his arm.

Hmm?

The Raikage's face changed instantly, feeling as if Dan's hand was a vise, tightening continuously, the immense force threatening to crush his palm.

After a few seconds of stalemate...

Boom!

The Fourth Raikage's body suddenly erupted with blue lightning chakra, and the floor beneath his feet cracked with a "crack" sound.

"Raikage, what is this?" The Third Hokage looked surprised at this sight.

At this moment... Dan suddenly released his grip, ending the handshake without a word.

The Fourth Raikage looked shocked.

His handshake with Dan was originally a pure test of physical strength, but he was at a disadvantage and was forced to use chakra first so he lost.

However, the Raikage was never a sore loser, so he laughed heartily and graciously admitted: "Sorry, I got carried away and couldn't resist testing my strength against Dan. I didn't control myself."

Samui and Darui looked at each other.

The idea that there was someone stronger than the Raikage in this world was simply inconceivable.

The Third Hokage glanced at the Raikage's hand, seeing the clear imprint of Dan's fingers, and immediately understood what had happened.

After all, he had just been gripped by Dan not long ago, and now seeing that the Raikage was also no match for Dan, he felt a sudden sense of balance.

At the same time...

The Third Hokage was also secretly relieved, glad that he had called Dan over at the last minute to help maintain order.

With just one move, Dan had put the Raikage in his place.

Thinking about this...

"Hehe."

The Third Hokage laughed and smoothed things over, letting the matter pass.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they sat down at the conference table and officially began their meeting.

Right off the bat, the

Third Hokage revealed a bitter smile and said to the Raikage:

"I apologize, as I'm sure you've seen the current state of Konoha. I'm afraid we may have to cancel the Chunin Exams this time, causing you all..."

"It was a wasted trip."

The Chunin Exams are usually a rare grand event.

Especially for the host village, it attracts a large number of tourists and generates substantial income through the sale of exam venue tickets.

But at the moment, Konoha had just suffered a major defeat and was constantly under the threat of enemy invasion.

In such an atmosphere, the public was in constant fear, and there was no mood to watch the Chunin Exams.

Unexpectedly...

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Raikage waved his hand and responded with great vigor:

"Don't worry, if Rain invades Konoha, we of Cloud will not stand by. We will extend our help. I heard that the leader of Akatsuki, Pain, wiped out three thousand of Konoha's forces, proclaiming himself as a god. I'd like to have a match with this god to see how strong he really is!"

The Raikage indicated that Pain could be left to him when the time comes.

Moreover, if Konoha is short-handed, the tens of thousands of troops from Cloud are ready to march south at any time to join forces with Konoha to defeat Rain.

Hearing the Raikage's enthusiastic words, the Third Hokage's face turned sour.

If he agreed to the Raikage, he feared that once the Cloud's forces arrived, they would stay in Konoha indefinitely.

Facing the Raikage's aggressive approach...

The Third Hokage was walking on thin ice, he could only force a smile and tactfully refuse, trying his best to negotiate with the Raikage.

During this time...

On the issue of the Chunin Exams, the Third Hokage found it impossible to refuse, so he had to promise the Raikage that the exams would be held as scheduled.

Of course...

This time the exam would be conducted low-key, it would not be publicized, and the participating Genin from the two major ninja villages would symbolically exchange views and that would be it.

The meeting lasted for nearly half an hour and finally ended.

In the end, the Third Hokage said to the Raikage: "You've had a long journey, why not rest for a couple of days before we start the Chunin Exams."

"Alright."

The Fourth Raikage readily agreed, which was exactly what he wanted.

Before he got up to leave, he suddenly looked at Dan again.

During the meeting just now, although Dan sat with the Third Hokage, he kept his arms crossed and remained silent, as if he was an outsider watching a play.

This confirmed the information Samui had sent back to Cloud.

There was indeed a serious disagreement between Dan and the Third Hokage, the Uchiha and the Konoha high-level.

He realized that this was an opportunity for Cloud.

So... the Fourth Raikage smiled and asked Dan:

"I heard that you opened a famous gym in Konoha called the Body Modification Department. Coincidentally, my biggest hobby is muscle training, what do you think... of my training?"

After speaking, he even bent his arm to show Dan his bulging biceps.

Dan glanced at the Raikage's arm lines, chest muscles, and abs, then commented lightly:

"Not bad. The width is not big enough, the thickness is a bit lacking, and the shape and lines of the muscles need to be improved..."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Raikage's face stiffened.

He wasn't angry, but laughed again:

"Truly professional. I want to take some time to visit the Uchiha Body Modification Department to ask you about fitness issues, would you welcome that?"

"The Body Modification Department always opens its doors to every

fitness enthusiast," Dan replied calmly.

"Great!"

The Fourth Raikage immediately made an appointment with Dan for the next morning, then turned and strode away with his guards.

Seeing the passionate exchange between the two, the Third Hokage's face changed.

Why did he feel that the Fourth Raikage and Dan seemed to have a kindred spirit at first sight?

Moreover...

When the Raikage spoke with him, the Third Hokage, he always had a dominant attitude, but when he communicated with Dan, he treated him as an equal.

It made it seem as if Dan was the Hokage.

"I'm going back too," Dan said, standing up to leave.

Watching Dan's retreating figure, the Third Hokage narrowed his eyes, feeling a deep sense of crisis.

If the Uchiha clan were to collude with the forces of Cloud, it would be...

A big problem for Konoha.

Sigh.

He wondered how Jiraiya was doing.

...

Inside a high tower in Rain Village.

"Konoha has switched to full defense, all the ninjas have retreated to their homeland. Nagato, it seems your move has scared the leading village of the Five Great Ninja Villages."

Konan reported the situation to Nagato in the wheelchair, showing a faint smile.

"What about the Uchiha, any movements?"

Nagato asked.

The only thing he cared about in Konoha was the Uchiha clan, especially those Sharingan of the Uchiha, which were the biggest threat in his eyes.

Konan's expression was a bit strange:

"You might not believe it, but the Uchiha clan is very afraid of your Rinnegan. There are rumors that once you descend on Konoha, Uchiha Dan will lead the entire clan to surrender to you, because they believe you are the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths, destined to unify the ninja world."

Nagato was somewhat surprised at this:

"I have to say, only the Uchiha clan in the entire ninja world truly recognizes my power and made the most correct choice. However, this could also be a deliberate show of weakness by the other side, trying to lure me into risking an attack on Konoha."

He did not let down his guard.

Although the Six Paths of Pain were invincible, Nagato's own body was a weakness. Once he left Rain Village, he would face risks.

Konan also nodded in agreement:

"With Rain's forces, a counterattack on Konoha is not realistic. And during this process, we also have to watch out for the movements of other ninja villages, as well as that guy, Obito."

Nagato pondered for a moment.

He hadn't forgotten that his real goal was to collect all the Tailed Beasts and use the power of the Gedo Statue to create the ultimate weapon.

So...he intimidated Konoha with this war, and also intimidated the entire ninja world. It was time to stop when things were going well.

"Should we send an envoy to start negotiations with Konoha? The Third Hokage is now in a difficult position, and he must be eager to sign a ceasefire agreement with us."

Konan suggested.

Nagato, however, shook his head: "No need, Konoha's envoy has already arrived first, I let Pain go and talk to him."

Just now, his Rain Tiger at Will technique sensed a very strong chakra.

"Who is it?" Konan asked curiously.

"Jiraiya-sensei."

...

Somewhere on a river surface in Rain Village.

"Ribbit."

With a croak, a blue frog poked its head out of the water. It seemed quite intelligent, looking around until it confirmed that no one was around.

Then it opened its mouth wide.

A surprising scene occurred.

A hand stretched out from the frog's mouth, followed by a head, torso, legs... Finally, a full-grown man crawled out of this small frog.

"Successfully infiltrated, surprisingly simple."

Jiraiya muttered to himself, then stepped on the water surface, heading towards a nearby sewer pipe.

However...what Jiraiya didn't expect was that someone was already waiting for him there.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Six figures wearing Akatsuki cloaks descended from the sky, instantly surrounding Jiraiya.

"Yahiko..."

Jiraiya looked solemnly at the orange-haired young man with metal studs on his face, then corrected himself, "No, I should call you Nagato, right?"

At this moment, he was prepared for a desperate fight.

"Relax, Jiraiya-sensei. You're lucky, today is not your day to die."

Yahiko, or Tendo Pain, walked towards Jiraiya while saying, "I want to cease fire with Konoha and sign a peace agreement. You should be able to make that decision, right?"

"What?"

Jiraiya was stunned, his mouth agape in surprise.

A few hours later...

In a well in Konoha, a frog emerged from the water, was discovered by Konoha's intelligence department, and a document was retrieved from its mouth.

This document was immediately sent to the Hokage Building and landed on the Third Hokage's desk.

Afterward...the Hokage Building issued an announcement, declaring that Konoha and Rain had signed a ceasefire agreement!

The news quickly spread throughout the village.