"Where's the Raikage? I'm talking about the big Raikage!"
Watching the ninja from the vanguard unit who had just returned from the front lines, Nozomi, the Third-in-command of the village, with the main force of over three thousand troops, just arrived at the border of the Land of Lightning, was filled with questions.
"What happened on the front lines?" Suppressing the unease in his heart, Nozomi, watching the visibly demoralized ninja from the village, tried to maintain a calm tone as he asked.
"We lost... we all lost. The enemy was too strong, the Raikage couldn't handle it, everyone... Everyone died!" Eyes devoid of spirit, covered in a disheveled appearance, the retreating ninja spoke in a confused manner.
"You bastard! What are you saying?" Before Nozomi could speak, a senior ninja standing beside him, with an excited expression, rushed forward, grabbing the collar of the retreating ninja and angrily interrogating him.
"Let go!" With a cold voice, Nozomi, as the highest-ranking person on the scene, forced himself to remain calm and continued, "How many people came from Konoha?"
Hearing the question, the retreating ninja, trembling, looked at Nozomi, revealing a fearful smile. "One, there's only one enemy!"
"Are you out of your mind? What nonsense are you talking about?" Hearing the response, the senior ninja who had just spoken out loudly in disbelief shouted, "The Raikage is the strongest ninja in the ninja world, how could he lose to some punk from Konoha?"
"Silence!" Shouting loudly, equally unable to accept this information, Nozomi's expression became extremely serious.
After the words fell, the scene became quiet. Under the gaze of many eyes, Nozomi took a step forward and approached the retreating village ninja.
"It's safe now; don't be afraid, calm down." Easing his tone, Nozomi, in order to gather more information, gently said while using genjutsu to soothe the mental state of the retreating ninja.
After a few tens of seconds, the terrified emotions of this retreating ninja finally dissipated somewhat, and his rationality gradually returned.
"No... Nozomi-sama, we followed the Raikage and arrived at the border of the Land of Fire. Konoha's ninja discovered our traces. After confirming the exposure, the Raikage gave the order for us to launch a direct attack. Just as we had gathered and entered the territory of the Land of Fire, we were intercepted by the enemy. There was truly only one enemy, the Konoha ninja who attacked the village last time, Shimura Kizaru!"
Speaking up to this point, this retreating ninja recalled the scene of the team being slaughtered by Hashirama, revealing a terrified expression.
"That person, no... I should say, that monster! That monster possesses a genjutsu that can create illusions and conceal his presence. He played with the Raikage using genjutsu, then infiltrated our team and started the slaughter. He used the light sword he used in the last attack on the village, and that dense light ball. None of us were his match; everyone suffered heavy casualties!"
Bloodshot eyes, tears of despair streaming down, this ninja looked at Nozomi, speaking with a crying voice, "We were no match at all. The Raikage stopped him and ordered us to retreat."
"What about Blue Mu?" Nozomi urgently asked.
"Blue Mu-sama led us out of the battlefield, ordered us to retreat. After informing you of the information, he returned to the battlefield to support the Raikage."
Unable to maintain a calm expression any longer, showing a worried expression, Nozomi turned his head to look at the senior ninja who had just excitedly asked questions.
"Tetsu, inform everyone to accelerate the march; we need to go support the Raikage!"
"Understood!" Knowing the urgency of the situation, the senior ninja from the Kumogakure, Tetsu, immediately responded.
After giving the orders, Nozomi looked back at the retreating ninja in front of him and commanded, "You immediately return to the village and report the information to the elders!"
"Yes... yes, sir!" Nodding hurriedly, the retreating ninja, without any hesitation, ran towards the direction of the village.
Withdrawing his gaze from the departing ninja, Nozomi, with a solemn expression, looked towards the direction of the Land of Fire.
Raikage, you must not be in danger!
Carrying a deep concern for the Third Raikage, as soon as Tetsu returned with the conveyed orders, Nozomi led the large force and started a rapid march.
In order to support the Raikage as quickly as possible, the main force of the Kumogakure, without any concealment, and without waiting for the scattered ninjas, advanced at full speed.
Rushing all the way, it took just over an hour for Nozomi to lead the large force to the border of the Land of Fire.
At this moment, the Kumogakure force of over three thousand ninjas was reduced to just over two thousand.
Guided by the information from the retreating vanguard unit ninja encountered along the way, Nozomi, leading the ninja force, arrived at the location where the Raikage was fighting with Kizaru.
Coming to a gradual stop, Nozomi, as a sensory ninja, felt the weakened chakra of the Third Raikage.
His face, which had been tense all along, showed a joyful expression. Nozomi immediately used sensory ninjutsu, attempting to lock onto the location of the Raikage.
"Found him!"
Opening his eyes, Nozomi looked towards the 3 o'clock direction.
"Where's the Raikage?" Tetsu, standing beside him, asked anxiously.
"There might be a Jinchuriki on the enemy's side. Everyone, be prepared for battle and follow me." Sensing four chakras next to the Third Raikage, two of them particularly powerful, one being the Two-Tails and the other an unidentified tailed beast, Nozomi gave orders.
Upon hearing Nozomi's words, the people present relayed the message while drawing their weapons, preparing for battle.
Led by Nozomi, they entered the battlefield filled with rubble and large craters. After advancing a few hundred meters, they finally saw the enemy.
On an open space in front of the forest, there was a tall chair created with Earth Release. Kizaru sat with his legs crossed, right foot resting on the left knee, cradling a blue-flamed kitten in his arms.
"Bastard, this is the only time, you hear me?" Lying in Kizaru's left hand on his thigh, the Two-Tails, Matatabi, complained in a low voice, displeased.
"Appreciate it, Matatabi!" Scratching the cat's head, Kizaru said with a smile.
"Hmph!" With a snort, Matatabi raised his head, letting Kizaru toy with his neck and chin.
While playing with the cat, Kizaru, who sensed the arrival of enemies, lifted his head.
Behind Kizaru's seat, Kakuzu and Nagayasu stood like guards on his left and right.
On the right side of Kizaru's seat, the Third Raikage, bound by chains of light, watched the Kumogakure forces and the village's Third-in-command, Nozomi, appear with a calm expression that changed when he saw them.
"Kizaru, spare them." Lowering his head to the left, the Third Raikage said in a low voice.
"Lord Raikage, don't you want the village's ninjas to be completely wiped out?" Scratching the cat, Kizaru raised his head, smiling.
"I'll cooperate with you!" Bowed by necessity, the Third Raikage immediately replied.
"That's great!"
After speaking, Kizaru looked back at the approaching Kumogakure forces.
"You bastard, let go of the Raikage!" Shouting loudly, seeing the bound Third Raikage, Tetsu, standing beside Nozomi, wielding a large blade, rushed out of the team and approached Kizaru.
"Tetsu, step back!" Shouting loudly, the Third Raikage told the approaching upper ninja, Tetsu.
"How scary!" Scratching the cat with both hands, Kizaru, sitting in his position, faced the falling large blade without moving, speaking in a sneaky and vulgar tone.
While Kizaru remained still, the one standing behind him, Kakuzu, took action.
Raising his right hand into a fist, it separated from the wrist under the control of a secret art, flew out at high speed, and accurately hit Tetsu, who was jumping in the air, piercing his chest directly.