Chapter 49 : Duel Arena

Everyone had gathered at the old familiar location, still nestled within the forest they knew so well.

The remnants of the explosion still lingered, and the dark-red earth bore the faint stains of soaked blood.

The once lush forest was now a landscape of shattered branches and leaves, with hardly a single intact tree in sight.

Upon Kazuhiko's arrival, the ninjas stood facing each other, with Mist Shinobi on one side and their counterparts on the other. 

Neither side uttered a word, just locking eyes in a bid to prevent any hidden traps that could disrupt the impending showdown.

Third Mizukage and his group had arrived slightly earlier than Kazuhiko. As they faced each other, silence prevailed.

Third Mizukage gazed at the quietly seated Kazuhiko beside him, curiosity piquing his thoughts.

"Is this kid simply fearless, or does he truly lack the capability to act? Perhaps the Uzumaki clan possesses some ancient ninja tools passed down through generations?"

"To be so composed in such a situation at such a young age, he must possess remarkable courage."

"Unfortunately, he's not from our Kirigakure..."

Meanwhile, Raikage and his entourage had already settled in. Raikage had exchanged a few words with Mizukage beforehand.

However, the Cloud Shinobi following them had yet to find their footing. They had immediately followed when Raikage turned around and headed to the location.

"I've been waiting impatiently! When are we starting?" Raikage's usual style was to announce his presence before actually arriving, and he approached the gathering directly.

Mist Shinobi had long been aware of Raikage's return, so his arrival did not ruffle any feathers. However, the situation was different for the Uzumaki clan.

Upon witnessing Raikage's sudden appearance, the expressions of the clan's leader and elder underwent a dramatic change. 

Even the clan head, Uzumaki Kiyoshi, unintentionally tugged at his goatee, emitting an awkward sound as he grasped a few beard hairs. The pain made him bare his teeth.

However, they had more pressing matters to attend to. Kiyoshi asked anxiously, "Why has Third Raikage come here, and why have you arrived with Mist Shinobi?"

Kiyoshi's brow furrowed as he posed the question with a sense of urgency.

"We've heard rumors that there might be Cloud Shinobi involvement behind Mist Shinobi's assault on the Land of Whirlpools. Is this true?" The elders also appeared surprised, their eyes betraying their unease.

"What do we do now? Should we proceed with the duel? With Third Raikage's presence, it's a risky situation..."

The faces of those present darkened, indicating their shared understanding of the unresolved dilemma: if Cloud Shinobi and Mist Shinobi simultaneously attacked the Land of Whirlpools, the nation would face dire consequences.

All eyes turned to Kazuhiko, who sat calmly, his expression remaining unchanged. He exuded neither anxiety nor distress. 

The panic that had gripped their hearts earlier began to dissipate; as long as they saw Kazuhiko, they felt reassured. Their confidence in him was unwavering.

Kiyoshi regained his composure and halted his frantic thoughts. "Kazuhiko, what's your take on this?"

Kazuhiko had been silently observing and listening to everyone's reactions. Raikage's sudden appearance had thrown them into momentary disarray, but now they had regained their footing.

Kazuhiko waved his hand and spoke calmly, "I had received reliable information earlier indicating that Cloud Shinobi Village is indeed involved in this matter."

Kiyoshi's brow furrowed deeper, "What does this mean?"

"Yeah, Kazuhiko, Cloud Shinobi Village is much more powerful than Mist Shinobi. If they're truly involved, we..."

Kiyoshi and the elders were visibly distressed.

Kazuhiko rolled his eyes and retorted, "Hmph, why are you all panicking? Cloud Shinobi and the others will merely contribute to some extent; they won't get deeply involved!"

"Consider this: they won't risk a full-scale attack. After all, even Konoha wouldn't stand idly by if Cloud Shinobi gathered such a formidable ninja force."

"That could spark an all-out war!"

"So, Cloud Shinobi will likely send only a small contingent, much like Mist Shinobi's vanguard, just to pad their numbers. Konoha won't take notice of that."

"Mist Shinobi is the real driving force here. Moreover, their main force has been disoriented by our explosion."

"It's unlikely Mist Shinobi will continue the fight. For the sake of the Land of Whirlpools, they'll see it's not worth it. If they lose so many people and continue the assault, even if they win, it's not worth the cost!"

"So, without Mist Shinobi as the primary force, Cloud Shinobi is merely here for appearances!"

Listening to Kazuhiko's meticulous analysis, everyone present felt a sense of relief.

"Kazuhiko, it's reassuring to hear you put it that way! If Cloud Shinobi indeed sends a significant number of ninjas here, Konoha won't stay silent."

Kiyoshi patted his head and gazed at Kazuhiko with admiration.

"Yeah, why didn't we think of that?"

"It's the intelligence of our Kazuhiko-sama. He grasps the situation's intricacies instantly."

The other elders nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of pride in having such a brilliant young leader in the Uzumaki clan. They remembered the earlier panic, but now they were left somewhat embarrassed.

However, having lived for so many years, they were masters at concealing their emotions. They turned their attention to admiring the foresight of Kazuhiko.

Despite the flattery, Kazuhiko knew that now wasn't the time for compliments.

"Alright, let's settle matters with the Third Mizukage first! We must conclude this duel before discussing anything else."

"We can talk about other issues later."

Kazuhiko decisively set the tone, appearing even more authoritative than the actual clan leader.

Everyone accepted this decision readily, including Kiyoshi.

Without further ado, Kazuhiko cast his gaze toward the sun.

He turned and walked toward the center of the open space—the duel was about to begin.

"Third Mizukage, how do you wish to conduct this duel?"

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