Chapter 139: Isn't This a Kind of Talent?

"What the heck is this news?"

Inside Soup Country, in the command room of the Cloud Village base, the Fourth Raikage stared at the information in his hand, his already darkened face now even blacker.

Cloud Village had already reached the base, and their troops had clashed with Leaf Village.

Cloud Village was puzzled by Leaf Village's swift response, but now they were too lazy to argue about it.

The moment the two sides met, they immediately abandoned the idea of 'oral gymnastics' and launched straight into a heated debate of pros and cons!

In just a few days, as the valiant heroes of Cloud Village and Leaf Village converged, Soup Country became a hot land teeming with life.

The Fourth Raikage was in high spirits; he planned to go to the front lines himself to meet Ziraiye and see if he could force that guy's disciple out.

But before he could do any of that, he received a shocking piece of news.

Rock Village, already on its knees?

Moreover, the way Rock Village was forced to kneel was absurd; according to intel, all they knew was that a massive giant had lifted it.

As for any other news, he had no way of knowing.

"Has it resurfaced? It's already been three years,"

"This"

Perhaps because neither side ever signed a ceasefire, and over the years whenever they met during missions, it always turned into a fierce battle.

Ziraiye could read the information; he was among the first to notice that this report lacked the word 'suspected.'

"Lord Ziraiye, Cloud Village is unlikely to stay calm; they may form a strike force, which would make our defense difficult."

In front of the base, a Nara Clan ninja said to Ziraiye with some worry,

"Understood, Raikage, I'll arrange it right away."

Just as he was pondering, a young Cloud Ninja respectfully approached and whispered,

However, the Fourth Raikage wasn't planning to act yet; besides redeploying troops and selecting suitable participants for the raid, he still needed to do one more thing.

He was now wondering whether this was Leaf Village's self‑produced drama or Rock Village deliberately staging it.

But he couldn't make a precise judgment, since there were far too few sources feeding him intel.

"What on earth is happening?"

If they were allowed to charge in, they could use their robust bodies and superb taijutsu to inflict massive casualties.

As Raikage, he naturally possessed plenty of data.

"A chakra giant—could it be a Uchiha?"

It seemed that a single individual had shattered Rock Village's entire army, and even Great Field Tree fell into Leaf Village's hands.

This filled everyone with anger, especially Leaf Village, which couldn't forget being framed by Cloud Village and dragged into the war for no reason.

His mind was flooded with the earlier intel, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"Moreover, no matter how we attack, they can hold the line; it seems they're prepared to fight to the death. What should we do now?"

But his brows soon knit, his expression hardened, and he let out a cold snort.

Cloud Village fears no defense; their specialty is surprise attacks and breaking through.

Ziraiye truly hadn't forgotten everything that happened three years ago; back then he doubted those people, and their later actions in Mist Village proved it.

"Lord Raikage, Leaf Village has gone fully defensive; we've provoked them several times these days, yet received no response each time,"

Consequently, each of them harbors a strong desire to fight; under these circumstances, the fact that Soup Country hasn't been reduced to wasteland is already the best outcome.

But now Ziraiye seemed somewhat careless; the noisy wind tossed his hair into disarray, and though his gaze was forward, his eyes appeared unusually distant.

"No matter who you are, I'm not that half‑dead old man Great Field Tree. If you dare come here, I'll definitely kill you!"

——

On Soup Country's battlefield, the noisy wind continued to howl.

The Nara Clan has long proven its worth, so their presence can be seen on every battlefield and in every civilian post.

Although the Fourth Raikage was burdened with worries, he knew during wartime he must focus his energy on the current matters.

Yet in this area only some wind‑swayed weeds were visible; the trees had long since broken.

Although the battle had not lasted long, both sides' firepower was exceptionally fierce.

"Contact Rock Village, ask how they're doing now, and what exactly happened to them. Got it?"

They'd been silent for three years, as if they'd become honest, but when they resurfaced they caused a huge uproar!

Some matters aren't his to handle, so he naturally couldn't argue; provoking the Raikage's displeasure would be a loss.

This shows one thing: that guy's identity has been confirmed 100%!

"Let them defend as long as they like; we'll gather troops and be ready, and I'll personally lead the assault!"

As long as we carve a breach, they'll be finished.

"Rock Village, already lost? And lost to Madara Uchiha?"

The more he looked, the more puzzled and uneasy he became.

The young Cloud Ninja didn't know the details, but after thinking he gave a sincere nod.

After they left, the Fourth Raikage picked up the document again and examined it carefully.

Having said that, he turned and left the command room, leaving only the Fourth Raikage sitting inside.

Moreover, he hadn't forgotten what happened when he snuck up on the Third Hokage of Leaf Village three or four years ago.

"Hmph, that turtle Ziraiye is truly boring."

This terrifying combat power is no less than the surprise attack Mist Village suffered three years ago, even more frightening than back then!

Mist Village indeed launched a sneak attack, fighting in the village center, causing anyone to hold back a bit.

Moreover, the troops needed to evacuate civilians, so the battle couldn't be overly reckless.

But now it's different; this time they directly struck a war zone on high alert, changing the nature and circumstances entirely!

And from the information he received, Rock Village was utterly crushed.

"What exactly are these people trying to do, and who are they really? Could they actually be a tailed beast?"

Ziraiye's mind was filled with doubt and unease, to the point that he could hardly focus at all right now.

"Sir, Sir Ziraiye?"

But just as his mind drifted, the Nara ninja beside him couldn't help but offer a suggestion.

"Should we continue to set up defenses now, placing traps so the enemy can't come over easily?"

"Hmm?"

Ziraiye was snapped back to his senses by those repeated calls; he involuntarily rubbed his messy hair before reluctantly speaking.

"You handle the arrangements, and also inform Leaf Village to make sure they watch Kushina's safety, finally."

"Fine, that's it, you go quickly."

"This... is, Sir Ziraiye."

The Nara ninja wore a bewildered expression; he didn't know how Ziraiye could still be concerned about Leaf Village while on the front lines.

After pondering, he thought it best to focus on his own duties; asking too many questions about some matters was pointless.

"Hope nothing goes wrong."

Ziraiye watched the Nara ninja's departing back, let out a slight sigh, then drew a kunai, and finally gave a wry smile.

"This world is truly getting more chaotic."

"Never imagined things would become so fantastical."

Kakashi walked toward the Police Department, arms wrapped around his head, and said helplessly.

"I really never expected that back then I might have encountered someone from the future."

"Maybe you even got a lesson from those future people; after all, your personality can be quite harsh at times."

Yuzhi recalled that that kid Dahe had punched young Kakashi in the head, and he couldn't help but laugh as he said.

But his carefree chatter made Kakashi roll his Byakugan, and behind him, Zhi Shui and Hikari couldn't help but purse their lips.

This guy, when he talks nonsense, is truly unreliable.

"Tch, to call his attitude harsh, you'd probably be even harsher, right?"

Kakashi reflexively retorted, but after thinking he realized that Yuzhi seemed only harsh toward enemies, while being utterly unreliable toward his own comrades.

Otherwise he wouldn't have so many friends, nor so many girls who like him.

"Such a pity."

Glancing at Hikari, Kakashi felt he should not say too much; after all, a childhood sweetheart can't help it.

But feelings aren't about who came first; this guy isn't married, and for a great clan, marriage doesn't matter—having a few more children is still a good thing.

"By the way, what are your thoughts on dealing with Cloud Village?"

"I have no particular ideas; the specifics will have to be discussed on the front lines. Speaking of which, are you ready?"

Yuzhi didn't know what Kakashi was thinking; after pondering, he spoke.

"Moreover, the front‑line commander is Ziraiye; he has experience and ability, and I can at most offer some advice."

"Indeed, but it's been a long time since we fought side by side."

Kakashi's exposed eye curved into a crescent moon, and he smiled brightly.

"It's not just me; Akai, Aoba, and the others—all of them, knowing you're going up, are especially eager."

"What's so eager about that? Besides, we might not even be together then."

Yuzhi shrugged; he said casually, uninterested.

"After all, everyone's strength is so high; perhaps by then each will need to lead their own team, and we can't be like before."

"If Akai hears this, he'll probably have his mindset explode."

Kakashi naturally understood this: powerful ninja naturally need to lead teams, handle more affairs, and bear corresponding responsibilities.

That batch of them had all become Chunin long ago, and as time passed, people like Yuzhi and Kakashi had become Jonin.

Jonin are valuable resources, so they naturally must take charge of leading and commanding; they can't be kept in teams just because of personal feelings.

Having them lead also allows protection of weaker ninja.

"Akai will understand; after all, they're Jonin."

Yuzhi smiled, then curiously looked at Kakashi.

"But speaking of that, aren't you in the ANBU, why also join?"

"I applied voluntarily; after finishing the handover with the Police Department today, I'm waiting to go to the front lines with you. Someone will naturally take over ANBU duties."

"Staying in Leaf Village would be better; at least you could protect Lin."

"Lin will be safe under Tsunade's care, and besides, she still has our Flying Thunder God."

Chatting idly with Kakashi, they soon arrived at the gates of the Police Department.

After Yuzhi officially became director, the Police Department underwent renovations; now the whole building looks grand and solemn, and everyone who passes by feels a respectful awe.

Kakashi, Yuzhi, and Hikari waved, then followed Zhi Shui to handle the handover.

Yuzhi then took Hikari, directly using the Flying Thunder God, back to the Uchiha Clan and arrived at the laboratory hidden beneath the clan.

"Sir."

Dou, busy with his experiment, immediately stood and bowed respectfully at the sight of Yuzhi and Hikari.

"Alright, don't be so tense; relax a bit."

Yuzhi smiled and shook his head; after three years, Dou seemed unchanged, and he still held Yuzhi in high regard.

"This time I'm coming just to ask what you're still lacking; you know I'm heading to the battlefield soon, so I can conveniently address whatever you need."

Sir, I've made a list; I think this will be more convenient.

Kabuto quickly produced a scroll; this kid is really smart, obviously he had guessed Yuzhi's thoughts, so he prepared in advance.

Over three years, Kabuto has been pushing the research forward; now his progress is stuck due to material issues, but the results he obtained are promising.

The Hyuga's power and Kaguya's power intertwine; this is a very difficult experiment, even harder than merging Uchiha and Senju powers.

Yuzhi and the other two merging with White Zetsu is simple, because they are merging with White Zetsu itself.

This power has been weakened and adjusted, making it more suitable for people to use, but the Hyuga and Kaguya are different.

They have no equivalent like Indra and Asura; the extent of their differences needs slow adaptation and observation.

Moreover, Yuzhi only gave one main house Byakugan; there's nothing else.

But Kabuto, after obtaining Yuzhi's permission, forcibly extracted some special cells from the Byakugan and then fused and observed them with Kimimaro's blood.

Although the current samples are too few and the results too few, Yuzhi believes that given time there will definitely be a good outcome!

However, you still need quite a few things, and your demands are rather high, right?

Looking at the scroll in his hand, looking at the scroll in his hand, Yuzhi was at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.

Although Hizashi Hyuga is on the front line, it's not easy to take what's on his person.

Sir, only by obtaining the best can I make better attempts.

Kabuto blinked, then he laughed and continued.

Of course, we can also switch to another person.

Who?

Hinata Hyuga?

Forget it, let's stick with Hizashi Hyuga.

The name Hinata Hyuga appearing still makes Yuzhi a bit moved; this little girl, if not mistaken, possesses a perfect Byakugan.

Moreover, her sister, the yet‑unborn Hanabi Hyuga, is the same.

After thinking it over, Yuzhi decided against it; Hinata had already been frightened by the Cloud Village incident, and now attacking her would really be unjustifiable.

Masquerading as Obito that lunatic inside the village also makes Yuzhi feel weary.

Being able to produce Hinata Hyuga and Hanabi Hyuga, Hizashi Hyuga would also be a good choice; Yuzhi needn't go far out of his way to stir up trouble.

If it really doesn't work, I'll just go to the moon and capture that Toneri Otsutsuki!

Whether the people on the moon are all dead, Yuzhi isn't entirely clear, but he knows Toneri Otsutsuki is absolutely a suitable candidate.

Setting aside other matters, he can easily wield the Rinnegan, which others cannot bear or control.

Although he was born without eyes, this is also a unique talent.

What's more, Moon Yuzhi is bound to go; he seems to be seeing if he can use the power of the Reincarnation Eye to trigger a Sharingan resonance, thereby helping Hikari bring Shisui along to go further.

"It all comes down to your luck......"

——

"Sure enough, that's how it is!"

In the Land of Water, inside the Mist Village office.

Black Absolute looked at the silent Obito before him, and he too fell into silence for a moment.

Obito had already recounted everything they had encountered, especially the details of his battle with Madara Uchiha, and after also saying everything that this guy had to say.

Black Absolute immediately concluded, this person is damn Madara Uchiha!

White Absolute's earlier words had already left him half-believing, half-doubting; he just hadn't encountered them, but that kind of power was extremely similar.

He could only use 'suspected' to make an inference, while also guessing whether these people might be from the future or something.

Now Obito has met someone and even seen the power that guy displayed; this basically allows Black Absolute to make a decision.

"Fifth-stage Storm God, such a vicious personality, definitely Madara Uchiha without a doubt!"

Black Absolute had followed who knows how many Indra reincarnations, and he basically remembered the personality of almost every one.

Madara Uchiha was the cream of the crop among them; his twisted personality is still fresh in his memory!

But after figuring all this out, he became even more puzzled: how did this group end up here?

"Besides, are they from another world or from the future?"

The changes in the Storm God's color made Black Absolute's head buzz, and especially their attitude toward Obito was also quite shocking.

The fifth-stage Storm God has been unleashed—this is basically a rhythm to wipe everyone out!

"Although, given Madara Uchiha's twisted personality, he might also have the thought 'I do my thing, you guys can live if you can run, die if you can't,' but

But he really can't figure it out—this kind of person is too weird and too hard to deal with!

"What should we do now, what exactly do those people mean?"

Obito wore his mask; his gaze was icy yet still carried a hint of dazedness, as if he hadn't come to his senses at all.

It's only natural to think that—after three years of arduous training, mastering Wood Release and enhancing his use of Kamui, the moment he stepped out he got his hand broken again by something called a 'Uchiha Mirror'?

Three years ago it was like this, three years later it's still like this—damn, did I just waste three years of training?

Moreover, this group hit him with a heavy punch; if he hadn't mastered Izanagi, he would already be dead!

That kind of move that directly burns his mental energy is truly deadly, and afterward Madara Uchiha's heavens-covering Storm God only made him feel chilled to the core.

This, is this really the true Madara Uchiha?

Then what about that old geezer who, on his last breath, ripped out his oxygen tube and rode off westward on a crane?

"Perhaps there's some misunderstanding in here?"

Black Absolute also had a headache; facing Obito's problem, he could only adopt the one-word strategy 'drag'.

"Misunderstanding?"

Obito couldn't help but burst out laughing upon hearing that!

"What misunderstanding? You're literally trying to kill me—this is called a misunderstanding?"

"Aren't you doing the same thing to others?"

"Heijue really wants to snap at Obito: 'Aren't you being double‑standard too?'"

"But considering Obito's current broken state, he decided to hold back, and after a moment he finally spoke softly."

"'These people might truly have serious problems, but we still need to observe the situation first. I have a suggestion.'"

"'Speak.'"

"'Next time we encounter those guys, I'd like to observe them up close, you know, I'm the embodiment of Madara's will.'"

"Heijue said this without any hint of blushing; outwardly that's what he says, whether others believe it or not doesn't matter, he believes it."

"He wants to meet that Madara Uchiha from another world, so he can clarify some matters."

"Of course, he thinks he still needs to be careful, because according to his plan, that Madara Uchiha is bound to die."

"He's still alive and kicking—does that mean something's gone wrong?"

"'We must increase the speed a bit; at the very least we need to gain more power.'"

"Just as Heijue was pondering, Obito suddenly spoke again."

"'This world has become so chaotic and bizarre; I must obtain more power.'"

"'The power of the Sharingan is the best fit for me; perhaps we should strike at the Uchiha Clan.'"

"'Huh?!'"

"Heijue, who had been thinking about 'Madara Uchiha', wasn't listening at all, but when he suddenly heard Obito's words clearly, his complexion changed instantly."

"'What the hell, are you crazy?'"

"Heijue admits that if they could get the eyes of Uchiha Haori and the other two, perhaps Obito could indeed receive a massive boost."

"He doesn't know what abilities those three eyes possess, but such eyes would be a huge supplement for the Uchiha."

"He could even try to fuse their eyes together, see if Obito's eyes could become an Eternal Eye!"

"But do you think others are fools? Would they easily let you snatch their eyes?"

"Snap out of it, okay, Obito Uchiha!"

"'Let's go.'"

"But Obito gave Heijue no room for rebuttal; he stood up and spoke softly to Heijue."

"'Let's go to Hot‑Spring Country and see; maybe Uchiha Haori is there, so we can see how long their eyes can still hold up!'"

"'If they lose their protection, the Uchiha are just a bunch of trash.'"

"'But in others' eyes, you're no different from trash.'"

"Heijue truly had no strength to retort; looking at Obito, he felt as if he'd returned three years ago."

"That feeling of being dominated by a worthless person truly made his heart race with fear."

"'But, fine, let's take a look.'"

"After a while, Heijue could only comfort himself with that sentence."

"'It's been so many years; perhaps their eyes can't hold up any longer.'"

"Heijue really doesn't know if they can endure, but he knows he'll still go along this time."

"Madara Uchiha has already appeared over at Rock Village; maybe they'll show up here too, and he also feels Obito is truly pitiful."

"Three years of arduous cultivation ended up like this; anyone's mindset would develop some issues."

"And look at this guy's résumé: ever since entering ninja school he's had to face a life of failure."

"The girl he likes likes the person he despises most; the whole world forgets him, yet the person he hates subconsciously asks him a question."

"And now he's sinking deeper into failure, while the person he hates has become a winner in life, constantly teasing him."

"Yet under these circumstances he can still hold on, keep his original intention— isn't that a display of genius?"

"Exactly, this genius is just a bit too tragic."

"'Kid, you finally arrived.'"

"Hot‑Spring Country, inside the Leaf Village camp."

"Although Ziraiye still had Madara Uchiha on his mind, when he saw Haori and the others arrive he warmly welcomed them."

"These past days Ziraiye hasn't been very happy; besides fearing that the suspected Madara‑like lunatic might suddenly show up, he also has to deal with Cloud Village's trouble."

"Cloud Village's offensive is getting stronger, especially since, through the Hyuga Clan, he learned they're forming a special strike team, which makes his scalp tingle."

"He isn't afraid of meeting the Fourth Raikage; for a ninja, whatever enemy appears, you just counter the move."

"But what about the others?"

"And shift troops here to prevent a breakout—what about elsewhere?"

"Ziraiye has become quite withdrawn, but he must also consider morale and such."

"Being a turtle constantly beaten by others, even if they can retaliate appropriately, over time Leaf Village's morale can't endure."

"It was fine before because of the Rock Village crisis, but now Rock Village has been swept clean by that Madara Uchiha; staying hidden here is no longer acceptable, right?"

"Fortunately, Uchiha Haori has arrived now, which can greatly relieve his pressure, so he's naturally pleased."

"'By the way, where is the main force now?'"

"Seeing Hikari, Zhi Shui and Kakashi behind Haori, Ziraiye couldn't help but ask curiously."

"'Actually, I think just bringing Hikari and Zhi Shui is enough.'"

"Haori muttered a quiet complaint in his mind, but he still spoke with a serious tone."

"'For now it's just us here; moving the main force takes time, especially since they just returned from Grass Country to Land of Fire, so we can't rush.'"

"'Indeed, but having you all here is good; this also makes it convenient for me to redeploy.'"

"Ziraiye stroked his chin, then simply nodded."

The offensive over at Cloud Village is truly too fierce right now; if this continues, even if we can block it, I'm afraid—.

Don't worry, this time we should be able to end the war.

Yuzhi let out a light laugh, showing that he was still relatively optimistic about the current situation.

After the battle in Grass Country, his confidence in himself has grown enormously.

He isn't overly arrogant, and he will certainly be careful enough, but he also knows roughly how far he can go.

Even without the dragon vein chakra enhancement or the tailed‑beast chakra assistance, his power would drop by at least half, perhaps even more.

So what of it?

He originally intended to differentiate himself from Madara Uchiha's alias, and he has already grasped the deterrent power of the fifth‑stage Susano.

It's like the Gundam he saw in his past life; you let a group of people wield wooden sticks against a strong assault, and—.

Of course, the gap isn't that huge; the Fourth Raikage and Qilabi can still pose a threat to him.

"But the current Fourth Raikage hasn't reached the peak state of the original work; according to intelligence, Qilabi hasn't come this time either, so—"

Then what is Yuzhi afraid of? He's especially grateful that he used Madara Uchiha's alias to stir up trouble in Rock Village...

Otherwise, going there in his true form, even if he's not scared, he'd probably be made rather constrained by Da Ye Mu.

"You really are confident."

Ziraiye watched Yuzhi's confidence, thought for a moment, and ultimately shook his head without refuting much.

He guessed that Yuzhi was now eager to prove himself, after all, the appearance of Madara Uchiha must have had a huge impact on the kid, right?

It's not that he doesn't want to comfort him, but after thinking it over, he felt it was better not to say much.

Uchiha personalities are rather odd; even though Yuzhi is a perfectly normal person, are others also Clan Leaders of the Uchiha?

Clan Leader, have some dignity; although that Madara Uchiha seemed to have once been a Clan Leader as well.

"Then you all rest first; those friends of yours know you're coming, and each of them is very excited."

Ziraiye simply smiled, patted Yuzhi's shoulder, and then whispered.

"But I think you should still be careful; no one knows whether those mysterious Uchiha will return, and then they might need your power."

"Don't worry, I'm ready."

Yuzhi nodded, though he felt a bit awkward inside; whether those people come or not is up to him.

"Hey, here's this time's mission assignment for you."

After a brief chat with Ziraiye, the guy then handed over the mission divisions to them.

"It's yours; I trust you can handle it."

"You really trust us, huh."

Yuzhi unfurled the scroll; Hikari, Zhisui, and Kakashi immediately peeked over, and they realized their duties were far from ordinary.

They are all Jonin, so naturally they must shoulder such responsibilities, though their circumstances are somewhat special.

Hikari glanced at the scroll and muttered softly, "This splits us up, huh."

"And the authority is way too big," Zhisui was stunned for a moment: "We have to be responsible for an entire sector's defense?"

"There's nothing wrong with it; just do it your way."

Ziraiye shrugged, gave a mischievous grin, and pointed at Yuzhi.

"You should know, back then he almost became a commander."

"But Kakashi is being way too comfortable, just staying right by your side?"

Yuzhi glanced at Kakashi, then at Ziraiye beside him, and asked oddly.

"Am I an ANBU? So it's fine to stay by Lord Ziraiye's side?"

"Alright, kid, you all should hurry and check the areas you manage."

Ziraiye patted Yuzhi's shoulder again, then opened with a mischievous grin.

"Your bunch of good friends are basically in your sector; they've been waiting for you."

"Also, I haven't completely separated you; as commanders, you each have your own housing."

At that point, Ziraiye paused briefly, then his mischievous grin deepened.

"But you should also be a bit careful; this is a battlefield, you know."

——

"Sir, the strike team has been assembled."

Inside the Cloud Village camp, the Fourth Raikage was looking at the documents in his hand when a Cloud Ninja suddenly approached and whispered.

"Oh?"

The Fourth Raikage perked up; several days had passed since he issued the order.

Forming the strike team wasn't that simple; he needed the best people to join him in achieving the breakthrough.

Besides that, their operation also required the support of a large force.

Even the Fourth Raikage, however confident, wouldn't foolishly think he could withstand a mob of Leaf Village on his own.

He still vividly remembers how his father was killed by a wheel.

Moreover, Tudi repeatedly warned him against acting rashly, and he can still take those words to heart.

Thus, when they act, the main force must follow up from behind!

"Has the order already been transmitted?"

"Yes, sir, all unit commanders know what they need to do; they're just waiting for your move."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Raikage nodded satisfactorily, then after a moment of thought asked.

"Any movement on the Leaf Village side? Have the few people of Uchiha Haori arrived yet?"

"So far there's no concrete news, but Leaf Village's main force has already withdrawn from Grass Country; it seems something really happened in Rock Village."

The Cloud Ninja said helplessly, the incident at Rock Village really isn't good news for them.

It was originally a two‑against‑one, but now they can only let the Cloud Ninja face it alone, which inevitably adds to their pressure.

"Hmph, it's no surprise that Rock Village is unreliable; we'll just handle it on our own."

The Fourth Raikage snorted coldly, though in his heart he still had some doubts.

No reply came when they sent a message to Rock Village for inquiries, and Ooyagi was nowhere to be found.

He was even speculating whether Ooyagi had been captured or what.

But regardless, the arrow is already on the string and must be released; hesitating now would only put them in a disadvantageous position.

"I still don't believe it; you Leaf Village folks are really that hard to deal with!"

Although he thought that, the Fourth Raikage couldn't help but recall Minato Namikaze and the two Uchiha they met when they intercepted the Third's target last time.

Minato Namikaze needs no introduction, and those two fellows' power seemed to erupt on the battlefield, making them exceptionally terrifying.

But that's irrelevant; the Fourth Raikage firmly believes every technique has a way to be countered.

Moreover, last time he hadn't even given his all!

"Send the orders down: act tomorrow morning, the assault team with me, the rest of the troops launch a frontal assault."

The Fourth Raikage thought for a moment, then spoke in a resonant voice.

"We'll set out at dawn to raid the Leaf Village position; I want to see how strong they really are!"

"Yes! Lord Raikage!"

——

At daybreak, Yuzhi yawned and left the room; the crisp morning breeze gave everyone a shiver.

A good night's rest felt extremely comfortable, especially since Ziraiye's arrangement was still decent for him.

"Ziraiye, that damned lunatic!"

Hikari, walking behind Yuzhi, also stepped out; she had been cursing Ziraiye all night last night, yet she still couldn't help it.

She only realized when she returned to the room last night what Ziraiye's earlier words actually meant.

But will Yuzhi, who only knows about 'abstaining from alcohol,' pay attention to it?

"Please, I'm not doing anything wrong, don't look at me with that expression."

"But how would others see you, idiot."

Hikari had been with Yuzhi all night, so she naturally knew he was honest, but how does that look in others' eyes?

Hikari cared a lot about Yuzhi's image; that pervert can just know it himself, she didn't want others to find out too much.

"Alright, it's no big deal."

Yuzhi gave a casual smile, then spoke.

"Sigh, we have to go to our own sector again; shall I escort you there?"

"No need, I can go by myself," Hikari shook her head: "Things are fine over there, I don't need to manage much."

"It's the same for me, except I'm overly enthusiastic." Yuzhi thought of yesterday's events and couldn't help but shake his head.

After receiving the mission, they each went to their respective sectors for a check.

Although Ziraiye had warned them, when Yuzhi actually went over, he realized it was more than just 'basic'; almost everyone who had gone to the battlefield was there!

Besides Akai, Aoba and the others who chose to come up early, the strangest thing for Yuzhi was that Asma had actually shown up.

Moreover, the person serving as Yuzhi's second‑in‑command in that area turned out to be Asma's older brother.

"So, Muyu Wan's father?"

It was truly Yuzhi's first time meeting Asma's older brother; the original work gave little information about him, only that he died young.

If one had to say what impression he left, it was probably from some pre‑transmigration fan‑fiction where he was a 'Leaf Eight‑Color' or something.

But it must be said, the guy is very polite and sunny, with a personality similar to Asma's.

However, unlike the future Asma, he didn't sport a full beard, looking very clean, somewhat resembling the future Muyu Wan.

This group was unusually enthusiastic, almost leaving Yuzhi there for a 'drink‑and‑chat'.

Fortunately, he's abstaining from alcohol.

But their defensive works were all well‑executed, which saved them a lot of trouble.

Buzz—

However, while the two were chatting idly, a bright, deep horn blast suddenly rang through the main camp.

Hearing the sound, Yuzhi and Hikari froze for a moment; the next instant their faces changed as they realized what had happened!

"Looks like the Cloud Ninja really isn't easygoing!"

"Yeah, but that's also good, because…"

"The war can be resolved even sooner!"