A Few Dozen Miles Away
A massive mushroom cloud soared into the sky.
The storm howled, thunder crashed, and thick dark clouds over the Kikyo Mountains were shattered by the shockwave of the explosion, forming a giant vortex.
The roar echoed through the land, accompanied by a deafening sound of the explosion that could shatter mountain rocks. Bright orange flames shot up into the sky, mixed with thick black smoke, releasing a cloud of dust that obscured the sun for dozens of miles.
A large amount of scalding gas scorched the nearby forests, leaving only a nearly charred black land behind.
"Lord Sogetsu, the operation was successful."
Elephant knelt respectfully, his eyes filled with admiration for the young man before him.
It was he who devised a nearly perfect strategic plan, disguising a death row inmate as a jinchuriki. Then, with the help of the Eight-Tails controlled by Sharingan, they infiltrated the Cloud Ninja's main forces and used 'Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags' to eliminate a large number of Cloud Ninja soldiers!
As a result, the Cloud Ninja suffered heavy losses and were severely weakened.
The situation was instantly reversed, and now it was their Konoha side that held the advantage.
"Should we pursue the victory, Lord Sogetsu?" Elephant asked with excitement, calming his chaotic thoughts. "The Cloud Ninja's formation and morale have been completely destroyed."
Uchiha Sogetsu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the area shrouded in thick smoke and dust. He replied calmly, "Don't be so hasty, Elephant. The most crucial person hasn't been dealt with yet. We've lost enough people already, and I don't want to lose any more comrades from the village."
What a gentle person he is. Even with victory in sight, his first thought is for the villagers.
Perhaps he is the one truly suited to bear the title of Hokage and inherit the will of the First Hokage. The moment that thought emerged, Elephant himself was taken aback.
Yet once the thought sprouted, it spread and grew in his mind like roots drawing nutrients, taking deep root in his heart.
Uchiha Sogetsu is more suitable than Shimura Danzo and even Sarutobi Hiruzen! But the name 'Uchiha' is the biggest obstacle preventing him from becoming Hokage.
He wasn't lacking in political insight. After being beside the Third Hokage for so long, he understood that the Third Hokage always held wariness towards the Uchiha clan.
If the Third Hokage was dead... No, no! He couldn't think any further!
Elephant's body trembled slightly, unsure if it was from his daring thought or the terrifying idea of wanting to act on it.
"Elephant, what's wrong?"
Uchiha Sogetsu's gaze narrowed as he watched the trembling man kneeling before him.
"It's nothing, Lord Sogetsu."
Elephant took a deep breath, suppressing that crazy and frightening thought.
"If you're feeling unwell, you should rest for a while."
Uchiha Sogetsu said gently, "You don't have to stay by my side all the time; it's safe here."
"Please forgive me, but I must decline, Lord Sogetsu."
Elephant shook his head, speaking earnestly. "My duty is to protect the Hokage, and right now... you are the Hokage!"
If Danzo heard this, he would probably be so furious he might just commit suicide.
During his time as acting Hokage, Elephant and other direct members of the Anbu had never said such a thing. In fact, they often wished to stay far away from him.
"Okay."
Uchiha Sogetsu didn't dwell on it and agreed to Elephant's request.
"Uchiha Sogetsu—!!!"
A roar filled with anger, accompanied by deafening thunder, tore through the swirling smoke.
In the next moment, Raikage Ai charged toward them alone.
"Protect the Hokage!"
Elephant's expression changed instantly, and he shouted.
Perhaps even he didn't realize that just a moment ago, he had referred to Uchiha Sogetsu as the Hokage! Strangely, no one refuted him.
It seemed that in the eyes of all the former Third Hokage's direct Anbu, Uchiha Sogetsu was the true Hokage, someone worth risking their lives to protect.
As the guard team was about to stop the Raikage, Uchiha Sogetsu raised a hand to halt them.
"Lord Sogetsu, please step back!" Elephant said, for the first time defying his orders. "Our mission is to protect the Hokage, and we cannot allow anyone to harm you!"
"No, Elephant, you're mistaken."
Uchiha Sogetsu shook his head and said gently, "Your mission is to protect our comrades in the village. To me, they are more important than I am!"
"But..."
Elephant felt moved but still wanted to argue.
"There's no need to say more, Elephant."
Uchiha Sogetsu waved his hand to interrupt him, his gaze shifting slightly. "Protecting our comrades in the village is your true mission. As for the Raikage, let me handle it!"
Before Elephant could agree, he used a Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from the spot.
In mid-air, a sudden collision caused violent airwaves to roll, and the sound boom ripped through the sky.
Watching Uchiha Sogetsu already fighting the Raikage, Elephant couldn't help but feel a headache. "Really, Lord Sogetsu, sometimes you're just too stubborn!"
"But... it's precisely because of this that Lord Sogetsu can earn everyone's recognition, isn't it?"
Another Anbu looked at that figure with deep admiration. "I believe no one in the village is as gentle as Lord Sogetsu."
"Yeah... that's just Lord Sogetsu."
Elephant said from the heart, "I see the pure will of fire in him."
On the other side.
The nearly thousand-member Cloud Ninja army lost over half of their forces in one blow.
If it weren't for the critical moment when Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails again to protect some of the ninjas, the Cloud Ninja army would have been completely wiped out.
The Raikage, A, had never been this angry before. New grudges piled on top of old ones, and he seemed to go mad, disregarding defense as he threw punch after punch at Uchiha Sogetsu.
Each punch was filled with killing intent and contained his full power, as if he was venting his inner resentment.
"Your Lightning Armor is too weak compared to your father."
Uchiha Sogetsu easily dodged each attack and mockingly said, "If this is all you've got, there's no way you can take revenge for your father, Fourth Raikage."
"Shut up!!!"
A's eyes turned bloodshot from anger. He raised his leg like a sharp axe and brought it down with a heavy sound, shouting, "Lightning Release Thunder Axe!"
His speed was indeed fast, but in front of Uchiha Sogetsu, who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, every movement was clearly visible. As Sogetsu sidestepped, he seized the moment Ai was momentarily stiff and slapped him with a backhand.
Smack!!!
The Raikage received a slap to the face and was sent flying.
He rolled on the ground for over ten meters, lifted his head, and glared at Sogetsu, half of his face swollen. "How dare you!!!"
"Your speed is too slow."
Uchiha Sogetsu walked slowly toward the Raikage, his hands hanging by his sides. He said calmly, "Lightning Armor? Pathetic. Is this the son of the Third? You've disappointed me."
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