After a brief moment of silence, white-haired elderly Madara spoke up, his voice filled with curiosity.
"According to your information, wasn't the son of the Third Raikage killed?"
Tobi, the white Zetsu, chuckled and replied, "Oh, yes! It was quite a sight. That sword and those flames... pierced through A's stomach in an instant, and the high-temperature flames even burned the wound. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. As for being alive, only bloodline successor ninjas could achieve such a feat."
The elderly Madara nodded in understanding, saying, "Indeed, if someone possessed Hashirama's regenerative abilities or the healing abilities of a tailed beast's chakra, there might be a chance of survival. But for ordinary individuals, it's nearly impossible."
White Zetsu chimed in, "He's most likely going to die tonight, hehe~"
"He must have fought recklessly. After all, those Cloud Shinobi are known for their impulsiveness and hot-headedness," the elderly Madara remarked, more interested in the overall battlefield situation than Tatsuya's strength.
In his view, a non-bloodline successor ninja reaching Tobirama's level was already at the limit of their potential. Once he was successfully resurrected, there would be little to fear.
"We can use that fool to put some pressure on Konoha, as for that girl protected by the Hatake family. She'll be with him for a while, but she's not a person that should be on the battlefield," the elderly Madara stated confidently.
He believed that even if he and Senju Hashirama were alive, they couldn't guarantee the safety of a Chūnin girl in a war.
"Do you intend to use that? This is a major move," White Zetsu questioned.
"It's just a drop in the bucket," the elderly Madara replied, his demeanour unwavering even in his partially buried state. As the man who survived and dominated the Sengoku era, his will remained strong.
...
...
In a small town in Yuno Kuni, which was under the occupation of the Cloud Shinobi forces, there stood the Cloud Shinobi's main base.
Inside the infirmary, several medical ninjas wearing masks emerged from a room.
"How's the big brother?"
Killer B, who was waiting outside, rushed over and asked, momentarily forgetting his habit of rapping.
"Big Brother..."
The lead medical ninja hesitated and didn't dare meet Killer B's gaze. Reluctantly, he replied, "This... this is truly beyond our abilities."
The medical ninja wore a pained expression as he admitted their helplessness.
When A was brought back from the front lines, it was nothing short of a miracle that he hadn't died on the spot.
Even if Tsunade, the world's foremost medical ninja, had been present, the outcome would likely have been the same.
Bang!
In a fit of anger, Killer B, known for his carefree and humorous nature, punched the nearby wall. His strike caused a gaping hole in the wall, and the entire building trembled.
"My Lord, please calm down! There are other patients here!" pleaded the Cloud Shinobi who had quickly rushed to soothe the situation.
Later, when the elite Jōnin of the Cloud Shinobi, Toroi, received the news, he furrowed his brows tightly. After a few seconds, he turned to his subordinates and ordered, "Immediately convey this information to Master Raikage through a reverse summoning."
...
...
"Boom!!!"
On the northeast border of the Land of Wind, another Cloud Shinobi battlefield was engulfed in a violent thunderstorm. The deafening thunderclap tore the main camp's tent into shreds.
Cloud Shinobi scattered across the various camps were shocked and sent sprawling to the ground.
"That's Master Raikage's—"
"What's happening? Master Raikage seems furious."
"There are few things that can make Raikage truly angry..."
Amid the camp reduced to ruins, Dodai, an assistant to the Raikage, hurriedly stepped forward to try and pacify the situation.
"Please, Lord Raikage, calm yourself!"
However, even Dadoi struggled to quell the Third Raikage's raging fury. Gritting his teeth, he declared, "I'm going to kill that bastard, Tatsuya, and I'll take Konoha down along with me!"
The information scrolls in his hand crumbled into ashes due to the intense heat of the Lightning Style coursing through it. The scroll contained crucial information concerning the death of his son, A.
After a moment, the Lightning Style Chakra armour surrounding the Third Raikage slowly faded, but his anger remained unyielding.
With a stern wave of his hand, he commanded, "Regroup and retreat. Change our marching route to the northern part of the Land of Fire, and rendezvous with them!"
The Third Raikage intended to shift his strategy, join forces with Killer B, and launch an attack on the northern sector of the Land of Fire.
More importantly, he sought vengeance against Hatake Tatsuya for his son's death.
"Master Raikage, please, calm yourself. Our immediate concern should be minimizing our losses!"
Despite the imminent danger of Third Raikage's wrath, Dodai rushed forward, blocking him and shouting.
The Third Raikage's eyes suddenly narrowed, and lightning began to crackle on his steel-like skin.
Other Cloud Shinobi Jōnin in the vicinity broke into cold sweats, fearing that the Third Raikage might lash out, even at the ground itself.
Dodai continued, "At present, Kumogakure has suffered a tragedy. If the same fate befalls B as A, Cloud Shinobi Village will be left without a suitable successor."
"Our current priority is to establish a rear guard and have B return to the village to secure our back up plan."
While Cloud Shinobi possessed considerable military strength, they had fewer geniuses compared to Konoha. Originally, there were only three Kage-level shinobi: the Third Raikage, A, and Killer B.
The two-tailed Jinchūriki housed within a Yugito Nii showed promise but was still a child of less than ten years. It would be at least a decade before they could assume a leadership role effectively.
Should something happen to Killer B now, Cloud Shinobi Village would face a big crisis.
Dodai's words had a calming effect on the Third Raikage, though his anger at losing his son still smouldered beneath the surface.
"Master Raikage, someone has requested an audience with you."
At that moment, another trembling Cloud Shinobi Jōnin interjected.
"Now? Who is it?" the Third Raikage inquired with a stern tone.
"He identifies himself as 'Yagura' and wears the forehead protector of Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist, from the Land of Water."
The Cloud Shinobi Jōnin relayed the information.
"What!?"
This revelation sent shockwaves through the expressions of Cloud Shinobi, including the Third Raikage and Dodai.
Kirigakure? One of the five hidden villages that remained neutral against Konoha in the last Great Ninja War? Rather Mizukage and Tsukikage hated each other's guts. In the end, both battled till death and died together.
From across the sea, what had brought them to request an audience with Cloud Shinobi at this critical moment?
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