Uzumaki Raiden looked at Rasa with a sincere expression and couldn't help but mutter in his heart.
He hadn't expected such a change in the Chunin Exam this time. Initially, he had been wondering what Sand Ninja and Otonin would do to attack Konoha after he had secretly imprisoned Orochimaru. But before long, just after Orochimaru was captured, Kazekage Rasa delivered a backstab to Otonin.
Moreover, Rasa had not died at Orochimaru's hands, which surprised Raiden. It seemed that with his presence, many things had changed significantly.
At the same time, Uzumaki Raiden began to question the truth behind Rasa's words. According to Rasa, the culprit behind Gekko Hayate's death was actually the Jonin standing behind him.
Uzumaki Raiden sat up straight, reached for the scroll on the table, and unrolled it to check its contents. As Rasa had stated, the scroll contained an alliance treaty signed between Otonin and Sand Ninja, with the basis of the agreement being their joint attack on Konoha. The scroll even included detailed plans related to the attack.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Raiden immediately activated his Kagura Eye, expanding his perception to cover the entire Konoha Village. Sure enough, there were numerous chakra signatures with strong reactions scattered throughout the village. More importantly, their distribution followed a pattern, seemingly encircling key locations in Konoha.
As Uzumaki Raiden focused on the scroll, Rasa remained silent before speaking:
"In order to avoid suspicion, our Sand Ninja entered Konoha with Otonin, as planned."
"If necessary, I can immediately order my subordinates to cooperate with Konoha's forces and wipe out Otonin!"
A strong murderous intent emanated from Rasa as he spoke, and Uzumaki Raiden had no doubt about his determination.
"Rasa, what do you want?"
"Revealing such a plan to me... you must have a better alternative. Tell me, what is it that you want?"
Uzumaki Raiden was not swayed by Rasa's words. He closed the scroll and asked in a low voice.
"As expected of you," Rasa said approvingly before stating outright:
"Our Sand Ninja and your Konoha will always be allies!"
"Anyone who dares to destroy the friendship between our two nations must be eradicated!"
"I request Konoha's cooperation in destroying Otonin Village!"
Rasa finally revealed his true intention. Initially, when Otonin had sought an alliance with Sand Ninja, Rasa had been tempted by the proposal. However, considering Konoha's current strength, he had quickly suppressed the idea. Instead, he began making plans against Otonin.
Life had not been easy for Sand Ninja in recent years. Due to the long-standing peace and alliance between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, the Wind Daimyo had grown indifferent to the necessity of Sand Ninja Village. Viewing it as nothing more than a financial burden, he began reducing its funding.
As a result, Sand Ninja's struggles intensified. Their geographic location was already disadvantageous, and their business and tourism industries were weak. With the daimyo cutting funding, the village had no choice but to rely on mission commissions and Rasa's ability to generate gold for survival.
But this was not a long-term solution. So when Otonin approached Sand Ninja for an alliance, Rasa set his sights on them.
Rather than opposing the now-powerful Konoha, it was better to erase Otonin Village from the map entirely. Doing so would strengthen Sand Ninja's ties with Konoha and, by leading a victorious campaign, remind the Wind Daimyo of Sand Ninja's importance.
After all, a ninja village's value is only fully recognized when a nation faces war.
"So that's it... you're planning to use Konoha as a spear!"
Uzumaki Raiden understood now. He tapped the table lightly, his expression slightly displeased.
"You misunderstand. It's not about using Konoha as a weapon."
"For the mission to destroy Otonin, Konoha only needs to send a symbolic force. We will handle the actual battle."
Rasa shook his head and explained. Since his goal was to prove Sand Ninja's importance to the Wind Daimyo, he didn't need Konoha to intervene. Moreover, with Sand Ninja's current financial struggles, conquering Otonin—a small but resourceful nation—would alleviate some of the burden.
For Konoha, there was no cost involved beyond showing their anger at being betrayed by Otonin. In fact, once Otonin was destroyed, most of their missions would naturally be redirected to Konoha, making them a beneficiary of the situation.
"It seems you've already made up your mind."
Uzumaki Raiden looked up at Rasa, a little surprised. His plan was thorough, and from Konoha's perspective, there was little reason to object. Konoha wouldn't need to take any major action, yet they would gain access to a neighboring country's mission resources for free—an enticing prospect.
"Have you considered the reactions of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning?"
"If you plan to attack Otonin, you'll have to go by sea. The naval routes are controlled by the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth. They will notice your movements and may intervene, making your plan far less certain."
Uzumaki Raiden expressed his concerns. But Rasa seemed to have anticipated the question and replied:
"Otonin has mobilized its entire force for this attack on Konoha."
"After eliminating Otonin's forces in the Land of Fire, I plan to reach Otonin through Konoha's borders."
"With their current defenses, the battle will be over in a single day!"
Rasa's eyes gleamed as he envisioned the outcome.
"Excuse me?"
"Rasa, I agree. But excuse me, I want to personally oversee this!"
"As it happens, I also have business in the Land of Rain. I'll accompany you!"
Uzumaki Raiden put away the scroll and smiled. When Rasa heard him mention going to the Land of Rain, his expression stiffened.
"Going to the Land of Rain? That's just an excuse!"
"The real purpose is to keep an eye on us. If we make any wrong moves, Konoha's thunder will strike Sand Ninja immediately!"
Rasa's face shifted between uncertainty and understanding. He recalled how Uzumaki Raiden had once stormed into Sand Ninja and captured Ebizo, forcing them into an alliance.
But soon, Rasa regained his composure and smiled.
"Then tonight, I will have my forces attack Otonin. We will move quickly toward Otonin Village."
"Then I'll take my leave!"
After confirming Uzumaki Raiden's stance, Rasa wasted no time. He signaled to Baki and the others before leaving Raiden's house.
Once they were gone, Uzumaki Raiden immediately summoned Kisame and ordered him to inform Namikaze Minato of the plan to destroy Otonin. It wasn't a discussion—it was simply a notification.
When Minato heard the news, he remained silent for a long time before strengthening security for the night. His only hope was that the battle between Sand Ninja and Otonin wouldn't endanger Konoha's civilians.
By evening, Uzumaki Raiden had begun his preparations. That night, he and Kisame secretly made their way to the Uchiha Clan to find Uchiha Fugaku.
After explaining everything about Akatsuki, Fugaku frowned.
"You mean, you want to secretly infiltrate the Land of Rain?"
"If Akatsuki's strength is really as you described, then the Land of Rain is a true den of dragons and tigers. Entering recklessly is far too dangerous!"
"Raiden, do you really need to take such a risk?"
In the study, Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uzumaki Raiden in surprise. His tone carried a hint of concern—he didn't want his friend to put himself in danger.
"I must. Akatsuki's power is expanding rapidly, and even now, I can't fully grasp the extent of their influence."
"I need to see it for myself and confirm the threat they pose."
"I came to see you because I want you to go with me. There are Uchiha members in Akatsuki, and I'm still wary of the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"I need to rely on your strength."
"This mission is a covert infiltration—just you, me, and Kisame. If things go well, the three of us will destroy Akatsuki directly. If they don't, I'll make sure we return to Konoha safely."
"Of course, I won't force you. This is extremely dangerous. If you don't want to go, I understand."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned at Uzumaki Raiden's words and snapped, "What kind of nonsense is that?! Even if you hadn't asked, I would still go with you!"
"I can't let you take this risk alone. At least with me there, you'll have someone to watch your back!"
"When do we leave?"
Fugaku didn't hesitate; he asked directly.
"Tonight."
Seeing Fugaku's unwavering resolve, Uzumaki Raiden felt a warmth in his heart. Despite the years that had made Fugaku calmer, he was still the same passionate friend Raiden had always known.
"Alright! I'll handle the arrangements at the police force and meet you later."
"Have you told Minato and Kushina about your trip to the Land of Rain?" Fugaku asked after nodding in agreement.
"No. Kushina will give Minato my letter early tomorrow morning, and he'll help conceal my whereabouts from my sister."
"I don't want her to worry."
Fugaku sighed and shook his head. He understood his friend's reasoning but didn't necessarily agree with it. Still, trying to change Uzumaki Raiden's mind was futile.
After Raiden left, Fugaku called Shisui and Itachi to give them instructions. He then discreetly gathered some trusted subordinates from the police force to hand over his responsibilities.
Once everything was settled, he packed lightly and departed from the Uchiha compound.
Night fell over Konoha, the autumn wind howled, and the air carried a growing chill. The streets, usually bustling, were now quiet and empty.
In the woods outside the village, Uzumaki Raiden sat perched on a thick tree branch, gazing silently toward Konoha's entrance. At the same time, his Kagura perception covered the entire village, observing everyone's movements. Leaning against the trunk, he rested with his eyes closed.
Before long, Uchiha Fugaku emerged from Konoha. Guided by Raiden's instructions, he quickly located Raiden and Kisame waiting in the shadows of the forest.
The three of them remained silent, waiting.
As the night deepened, a faint scent of blood lingered in the air above Konoha. Kisame twitched his nose, a fascinated glint in his eyes, before shifting his gaze toward the village entrance.
Before long, flickering figures appeared near the gate. In an open clearing a short distance from Konoha's entrance, a battalion of ninjas gathered swiftly. Their gray vests distinguished them from Konoha's shinobi. A closer look revealed that these weren't Leaf Village ninjas at all.
And yet, the guards at Konoha's entrance did nothing. They didn't seem to notice them at all.
The Sand Ninja forces had mobilized quickly. Before long, a near 300-strong ninja army had assembled. Uzumaki Raiden, alongside Fugaku and Kisame, slowly stepped out of the forest, observing the force.
"They're brimming with killing intent… true elites. Rasa is serious about this," Uzumaki Raiden thought to himself.
As he contemplated the scene, one of the Sand Ninja stepped forward—it was Baki, whom Raiden had met before. He bowed slightly before speaking.
"Lord Raiden, our Sand Ninja unit is assembled and ready."
"Go ahead. I have my own matters to handle—I won't be watching your every move."
"But understand this: if I wanted to, I could overthrow Sand Ninja by myself."
"Don't do anything unnecessary, and don't entertain thoughts you shouldn't have."
Uzumaki Raiden's tone was calm, but his words carried an unmistakable warning. With a wave of his hand, he turned and left.
Baki knew better than to challenge Raiden's authority. Any ninja of his generation had heard of Uzumaki Raiden's feats. His words weren't empty threats. After relaying final orders to the troops, he followed Raiden's departure.
The massive army, nearly 300 strong, moved swiftly and vanished into the night.
Once the forces were gone, two figures emerged from Konoha's gate.
Uzumaki Kushina clutched a letter in her hands, her eyes filled with worry as she stared in the direction Raiden had disappeared. Beside her, Namikaze Minato gently supported her shoulder, offering quiet reassurance.
"Kushina, don't worry. With Raiden's strength, he will return safely," Minato said.
Kushina's hands tightened around the letter, her knuckles turning white. Though concern filled her expression, she spoke with an angry resolve.
"When that brat gets back, I'll make him regret sneaking off like this!"
Uzumaki Raiden had assumed Minato wouldn't learn of his journey until the following morning. He never anticipated that Minato had already found out—nor that Kushina knew as well.
What's more, Raiden had never expected Uchiha Fugaku, of all people, to sell him out.
Uzumaki Raiden led the Sand Ninja forces on a long journey. After several days, they reached the border of the Land of Fire. There, Raiden briefly conversed with the Konoha border patrol before parting ways with the Sand Ninja army. He, Fugaku, and Kisame then set off toward the Land of Rain.
With their immense strength, the trio moved swiftly. Once separated from the Sand Ninja, their speed increased significantly. Within a few days, they had crossed the Fire Country's border and arrived in the Land of Rain.
From that point, they deliberately slowed their pace.
In the constant drizzle, Uzumaki Raiden, Fugaku, and Kisame wore black raincoats and wide-brimmed bamboo hats, blending into their surroundings as they walked along a secluded forest path.
As they moved forward, a sprawling cityscape gradually appeared in the distance.
"Rain Ninja Village has changed a lot over the years," Uzumaki Raiden remarked, tilting his hat slightly as he gazed at the cyberpunk-like skyline.
(End of the chapter)