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As the Raikage's expression grew darker, a particularly stingy elder changed tactics, dropping to one knee.
"My clan—has no spare cash. At most, we can donate fifty thousand ryō to the Raikage Tower! But tomorrow, I will have my clansn sell their pots and pans! We must contribute sothing to the Raikage Tower's cause!"
The other elders stared.
'You shaless old fox! We donated at least five figures, and you dare offer a four-figure sum? Do you really believe the Raikage wouldn't kill you?'
Another elder stepped forward. "Lord Raikage, our Ranto clan can only muster sixty thousand ryō—However, we are willing to rent out our unused carriages and houses at low prices, donating all proceeds to the Raikage Tower!"
The stock price—soared higher and higher. The donations—dwindled lower and lower.
A, disheartened, sat slumped in his seat, watching the elders, who should have shared Kumogakure's hardship, haggle over paltry sums.
Finally, when the crowd dispersed, the total amount collected was fifteen million ryō, along with a pile of empty promises to "sell pots and pans."
This sum, while seemingly large—was only enough to purchase five thousand exploding tags, not even enough to equip every Shinobi with one.
Were the elders really this poor?
These elders would rather let Konoha conquer their village than contribute another ryō, than offer the Raikage Tower even a sliver of hope for victory in this war.
The salaries paid by the Raikage Tower were low, yes, but these were Shinobi families who had run businesses for generations!
Kumogakure's streets were lined with their shops!
Even the grey market industries—the Raikage Tower usually turned a blind eye, allowing the clans to profit. Even with the recent economic downturn, surely they possessed so savings!
How could they possibly have no money?!
Faced with internal strife and external threats, even as Raikage, even filled with rage, he couldn't execute them without cause. At least, they outwardly proclaid their loyalty, offering to "sell pots and pans for the war effort."
If he acted now, future histories would undoubtedly vilify him.
Just then, Mabui quietly entered, approaching the Raikage. She produced a storage scroll and presented it to him.
A looked up, puzzled. "Mabui, what is this?"
"Lord Raikage, this is the money I've saved from completing missions over the years. Two million ryō in total."
Hearing this figure, the Raikage's eyes reddened.
Whether from anger at the elders or gratitude for Mabui's loyalty, he couldn't say.
In that mont, A even considered naming Mabui the Fifth Raikage.
Ultimately, the funds begrudgingly scraped together by the powerful Shinobi clans amounted to only twice what this single kunoichi offered...
Absurd!
Shaful!
The Raikage opened his mouth, but before he could offer words of encouragent, Mabui spoke first.
"I've been—feeling weary lately—I hope Lord Raikage can grant leave."
"Before I go on leave, I will complete my final mission. Samui has contacted . Minato Namikaze requests that you honor your secret agreent and open the Falls of Truth. They need to arrange for the completion of a jinchuriki's training."
"Lord Raikage, according to Anbu intelligence, the Fourth Hokage, along with Fugaku Uchiha, Tsunade, Yugito Nii—have all entered the Falls of Truth!"
——
Unseen currents surged beneath the surface; the Shinobi World churned with hidden turmoil.
The Raikage, his expression stern, adjusted the Raikage hat atop his head, his gaze fixed on a crooked tree outside the Raikage Tower, silent.
He watched it stand firm against the howling wind, unyielding.
This crooked tree... wasn't it much like him?
Facing the temptations of the Shinobi World, facing Kumogakure's internal and external crises, yet steadfastly following the path he believed to be right!
He stood at a turning point in history!
According to reliable intelligence, Konoha's strongest forces—the "Yellow Flash" Minato Namikaze, the "Silver Thunder" Fugaku Uchiha, the legendary Sannin Tsunade... had all left the village!
Their purpose: to escort the pregnant Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, to the Falls of Truth for childbirth.
Yes, childbirth!
Not the "jinchuriki training" excuse Konoha had offered.
It was common knowledge that a jinchuriki was most vulnerable during childbirth, unable to access the Tailed Beast's power. Konoha's excuse was only a ploy to deter Kumogakure, to make them hesitate.
This was a Heaven-sent opportunity for Kumogakure!
Look at Konoha now, what remained?
Advisor Gojo Kaigetsu held the fort. The retired Sannin Orochimaru, the retired Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Hyūga clan's Shinobi force.
Konoha's defenses were at their weakest point in history.
A bold idea ford in the Raikage's mind—"Extre House Swap."
Kumogakure's current situation was dire—external blockades, internal resource shortages, a bankrupt governnt... The Land of Lightning was a burning wreck.
Taking charge ant inheriting Kumogakure's slow demise. Refusing ant opposing the Daimyo, losing legitimacy.
This internal and external pressure had emboldened the Daimyo's faction within Kumogakure, especially the comprador class...
How to break this deadlock?
The answer, naturally, was the "Extre House Swap."
The core principle: divide and conquer. If our ho is lost, we take yours.
The Land of Lightning was ravaged, overrun by bandits... Fine, abandon it!
Gather Kumogakure's remaining strength, launch a decisive strike against the Land of Fire!
Establish a new Land of Lightning governnt within their borders, seize Konoha's hard-earned prosperity!
Kumogakure would find a new ho in the fertile lands of the Land of Fire!
Advance through Mount Kikyō, seize Otogakure, welco back the Daimyo, establish a foothold.
Finally, unite the four villages and crush Konoha.
This plan served the interests of the provisional Land of Lightning governnt and satisfied the demands of the comprador elders.
Building a mansion was difficult; evicting the occupants and moving in was much easier.
Build? Why build when you can take?
That fool Minato Namikaze, prioritizing his jinchuriki wife's safety, had abandoned his duties as Hokage, sending the village's strongest forces deep into the Land of Lightning, leaving Konoha undefended. Even if Konoha faced disaster, they wouldn't be able to return in ti to aid the main battlefield.
Minato Namikaze could traverse space, but doing so consud vast amounts of chakra—the curse of space-ti ninjutsu.
Even if you possessed the strongest space-ti ninjutsu in the Shinobi World, traveling from the Falls of Truth to Konoha ant crossing nearly half the continent.
The Raikage had faced Minato Namikaze before; he knew his chakra reserves. Even if Minato teleported back across half the Shinobi World, exhausted, he would be no match for him!
At full strength, they were evenly matched. With depleted chakra, if they were still evenly matched, what was the point of being Raikage?
A muttered to himself, "That foolish Minato Namikaze... thought I'd break the secret treaty, lead my Shinobi to surround the Falls of Truth, attack the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki during her weakest mont. That's why he brought so many powerful guards."
"He never considered... that I might simply abandon Kumogakure and launch a direct assault on Konoha itself."
The Extre House Swap plan promised imnse wealth for the Cloud Shinobi but carried enormous risks.
Kumogakure had to launch a blitzkrieg, striking before the Fourth Hokage and Konoha's leadership could react, seizing Otogakure at the very least. Otherwise, they would face enemies on both fronts, cut off, unable to return ho.
"What to do? Strike now? Today?"
"Then... let's gamble everything!"
"A battle that will reshape the Shinobi World!"
The Raikage stood tall, facing the Land of Fire, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
He adjusted his Raikage hat. "Atsui!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage!" Atsui, newly promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin, knelt, head bowed low. Outside the Raikage Tower, storm clouds gathered, the air thick with unspoken tension.
The Raikage, his imposing figure silhouetted against the window, commanded, "Relay my orders. Summon all elders for a closed-door eting!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage..." Atsui hesitated. "Should we inform the provisional governnt?"
"No. Keep them out of it."
Politicians ruined nations!
Unlike Shinobi, the ministers' roots were firmly planted in the Land of Lightning. If they learned of his plan, they would undoubtedly obstruct it.
No... perhaps he should keep even the elders in the dark. By the ti they realized what was happening, the house swap with Konoha would be complete.
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