At the same time, Iwagakure received some disturbing news.
"This came from that man, Hanzo?" Ohnoki's face was filled with barely-contained fury as he processed the message.
"Yes," Akatsuchi confirmed, relaying the information. "Lord Senganzuchi was killed by a ninja from Kumogakure. The fatal wound was a lightning-infused kunai to the forehead—one of Kumogakure's signature techniques. Several other bodies bore traces of lightning-style attacks."
"Kumogakure…" Ohnoki's anger intensified. Their goal had been to prevent an alliance between Konoha and Amegakure, yet the mission had failed, and they'd suffered heavy casualties in the process.
"The Rain lost only a few genin, Konoha's losses were zero, but Kumogakure… they lost six chunin and even Gulal, the Third Raikage's second son," Akatsuchi continued, worry clear in his voice. "Lord Tsuchikage, I suggest we prepare in advance. Hidden Cloud Village will not take this lightly."
Ohnoki grunted. "They lost people, but so did we. If Kumogakure's forces dare set foot on our land, they shouldn't expect to return," he said with cold finality.
With his Dust Release and the new generation of skilled Iwagakure ninjas, Ohnoki felt confident. There was no reason to fear an attack from Kumogakure; even if war broke out, Iwagakure would be prepared.
Akatsuchi hesitated, concerned by his father's firm stance, but knowing his stubbornness, he kept silent and left to prepare the village for any potential threats.
---
The turmoil across the ninja world, though, felt distant to Konoha. They knew that, should war arise, Konoha would inevitably be pulled in. But for now, life continued peacefully. At this moment, Reiki found himself at Kakashi's house.
"So that's the mission you were just on?" Kakashi, Obito, and Guy listened with excitement. To every young ninja, leaving the village for a mission was the ultimate proof of strength and trust, something they all longed for.
"We're not ready for frontline missions," Reiki replied seriously. "Without the guidance of a jonin, it's far too risky for us to leave the village."
"Did you hear that, Kakashi?" Hatake Sakumo entered the room with a smile, catching his son's intense training recently, which was all in the hopes of becoming a genin and taking on missions like Reiki. "Reiki's right. It's not about you being ready or not—it's about staying safe until your skills are fully developed."
"Uncle Sakumo, why don't you give us some training today?" Reiki asked with a grin. It was a rare weekend, and with no pressing village duties, Hatake Sakumo was at home.
"No, I'll make dinner. Afterward, we'll all have time to relax and chat," Sakumo replied, placing a bowl of fruit down and heading to the kitchen. "Pushing yourself without rest isn't always productive, Kakashi."
Kakashi sighed, still eager to prove himself. "Dad is just too careful sometimes. I could pass the genin exam right now, no problem!"
The group laughed and continued their conversation until dinner, discussing training techniques and what missions outside the village were like. After a hearty meal and some practice, they all lay down, exhausted.
Sakumo, watching them with a chuckle, walked over to Reiki. "You have something you'd like to ask me, don't you?" he said, noticing Reiki's intent gaze.
"Uncle Sakumo, I'd like to ask for your support of Lord Orochimaru as the next Hokage," Reiki said, coming straight to the point.
"Orochimaru?" Sakumo raised a brow, surprised. His impression of Orochimaru had always been mixed; the man's methods and his often-cold demeanor clashed with Sakumo's values.
"Because my teacher, Lady Tsunade, supports him," Reiki replied simply. He knew a child's reasoning might not sway Sakumo, but he didn't overthink it.
"Lady Tsunade?" Sakumo repeated thoughtfully. He knew Tsunade was one of the legendary Sannin, as was Jiraiya, though the latter spent his time traveling and writing. Orochimaru, though brilliant, carried an air of secrecy and intensity that made Sakumo cautious.
After a moment, he nodded. "Alright. I'll give my vote to Lord Orochimaru."
Reiki grinned, his confidence shining. "Thank you, Uncle Sakumo! I'll leave you now—I need to tend to their bruises." Reiki said, gesturing toward the others, who were still groaning from their sparring session.
Watching Reiki go, Sakumo couldn't help but murmur to himself, "That boy will grow to be a powerful guardian one day…"
---
Back at Tsunade's house, Reiki reported his success.
"Uncle Sakumo has agreed," Reiki said. "And I believe Jiraiya's support won't be hard to secure either. Now it's just up to Lord Orochimaru to manage his side."
Tsunade looked at Reiki, her heart warmed. Originally, she'd taken him on as her disciple because of his medical potential, but over time, he'd become invaluable. He'd helped her see Kato Dan's true nature, respected her wishes, and even worked to secure Orochimaru's position for her.
"Thank you, Reiki," she said with genuine gratitude.
Reiki nodded. "Of course, teacher."
The month passed quickly, and soon the day of the Hokage candidate election arrived.
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Gimme Power stones I'm Poor