Chapter 161
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Every ninja village has its own unique will.
The Third Raikage undoubtedly embodied the Will of Lightning of Kumogakure.
However, will can determine success or failure, but sometimes, cannot decide everything.
For instance, now.
Kyomu's Dragon Armor bore the scars of battle as a badge of honor. He strode forward with the posture of a victor, while the Third Raikage, once radiant with will, was now nothing more than a shriveled husk devoid of energy, carried back to camp by Dodai.
It wasn't that the shattering of space had obliterated the Third Raikage completely; the loss of energy in his body fragments was due to his previous desperate outburst.
"He died a fitting death, and his end was quite glorious. But in my case, I might just become the leader for all the Cloud ninja..."
Mid-thought, a cheer erupted from the camp, loud enough to blast a hole through the clouds covering the moon.
"Lord Kyomu, victorious forever!"
"Lord Kyomu, unbeatable!"
"Swear to follow Lord Kyomu to the death!"
The cheers were unified, not just repetitive anymore, but added two more lines, cycling through the three chants.
The Uchiha ninja at the forefront looked around—left, right, forward, back—wanting to cheer but ultimately holding it back.
They acknowledged Kyomu's strength, but did that stop them from cheering? Watching the tsundere expressions on the faces of the Uchiha ninjas, Kyomu nudged Fugaku with his shoulder.
"You're not giving face."
Fugaku's expression soured further. Before he could open his mouth to speak, the Uchiha clan members already joined in, their voices standing out amidst the cries of the younger ones.
Wait, I haven't even said anything yet!
The cheering Uchiha ninjas just needed a step down; after all, Kyomu was truly strong and deserved their respect and attention.
But Fugaku originally wanted the clan members to give a perfunctory cheer, not to go all out.
"Lord Kyomu, victorious forever!"
The chant from the Uchiha ninjas was distinct, but they only willingly shouted that much. "Unbeatable" and "swear to follow to the death" seemed unnecessary to them.
Wait till I activate my Mangekyō Sharingan; I'll be no weaker than you!
Just giving you face for now since the situation demands, especially since Kyomu has helped them considerably.
And the Uchiha ninjas couldn't help but wish that their Genin would cheer for them like that.
It's been many years since they've been cheered on.
"Thank you all for your support." Kyomu was modest for once, "It's nothing, just shattered space with a single slash and cut down the strongest Kage in the ninja world."
He chuckled.
Fugaku found everything about Kyomu disagreeable. "The strongest Kage in the ninja world? Do you get to decide that?"
"Of course." Kyomu's gaze swept the surroundings defiantly. "Now, the name Aragami Kyomu is known across the battlefields of the Sand and Cloud, and it will soon echo through the Stone and Mist.
My friends, watch!
Follow me, assist me, witness with me, step by step, as I carve out the greatest reputation in the ninja world with my blade in hand!"
Applause thundered through the air, a group of Genin around seven years old, their hands red from clapping, not even aware of the pain.
Kyomu glanced at Fugaku and gestured with his hand to quiet the crowd.
"Of course, the name Uchiha will also rise to the pinnacle of the ninja world anew, in my era, in your era, which will surely come!
My friends, let us strive together!"
To cheer or not to cheer?
The Uchiha ninjas looked to Fugaku. The speech was so stirring that not responding seemed inappropriate.
Fugaku was about to speak.
"Strive together with Lord Kyomu!" The Uchiha ninjas' shouts were deafening, just over seventy people.
Fugaku glared at his clan members, wanting to say they had it all wrong.
The order should be Uchiha first, then Kyomu. Can't you distinguish, or do you not understand?
Clearly, Fugaku's pride was still intact; he did not want to be subordinate to Kyomu.
A true man should not...
Glancing at Kyomu, then at the sword in his hand, Fugaku pinned his hopes on the next generation.
He might not catch up in this lifetime, but his son surely could!
For now, let Kyomu have his moment; the tables would turn in the future.
Kyomu couldn't guess what Fugaku was thinking, but from his expression and the standoffish behavior of his fellow clan members, he could guess most of it.
The feelings of the Uchiha were written all over their faces, especially when they were most contrary, it indicated something.
Once again raising his hand to quiet the crowd, Kyomu faintly heard roars of anger from the direction of the Cloud ninja.
The death of the Third Raikage, especially after embodying the Will of Lightning, provided a morale boost to the Cloud side, a negative multiplied by a negative to give a positive, off the charts.
A grieving army is destined to win?
Perhaps.
But Kyomu knew that from now on, life would not be easy.
Even if he had Dimensional Slash as a deterrent, the chakra stored in his armor was nearly depleted, with only three uses left.
He suddenly felt a kinship with Fugaku.
Fortunately for Kyomu, besides his trump card, he had other battle tactics. With the Third Raikage gone, he could handle what came.
"Listen." Kyomu turned towards the direction of the Cloud camp. "They're desperate."
As some overly naïve Genin were about to laugh out loud, Kyomu suddenly sterned his face.
"Man to man, general to general, as a commander, I first cut down the Third Raikage of the Cloud, and you haven't achieved anything yet. Do you feel proud?"
Kyomu glared at the Genin, "You are the worst batch I have ever led, without a doubt!
And the slogans you shouted earlier only made me feel ashamed.
What kind of ninjas did I use to lead?
Even the lowest Chunin could take any of you like slaughtering pigs!
You're not qualified.
So, what are you waiting for? Rest up, we'll have extra training tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, we'll take to the battlefield to let some air out, bury you on the spot if you die!"
Startled by Kyomu's sudden outburst, the less than a thousand Leaf Genin scattered dispiritedly, leaving only the Uchiha ninjas.
"I don't want to say much else, you know the situation with the Cloud ninja. They'll come at us desperately tomorrow, there will be no surprises." Kyomu scanned the Uchiha ninjas, "Those kids, they admire you, they genuinely see you as role models and team leaders."
He bowed deeply, "My friends, I ask for your help!" Straightening up, "I can't take care of everyone, so it's time for the Cloud ninja to remember the fear they once had of the Uchiha."
A chilling aura lingered, the Uchiha clansmen unconsciously activated their Sharingan, their eyes glowing crimson in the night.
Their presence was intimidating, their combat readiness even more so!
Among them, there was no Uchiha with less than a two-tomoe Sharingan.
Clearly, Uchiha with only one tomoe, and those who hadn't activated their Sharingan, were not brought to the battlefield by Fugaku.
"Rest assured, Lord Kyomu!"
In a formal and serious occasion, Fugaku naturally used honorifics, as was customary.
"The Uchiha will remind the Cloud ninja of the fear they once knew."
Fugaku gestured grandly, "Rest well, prepare for battle at dawn!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh.
The Uchiha ninjas disbanded, each returning to their tents to sleep, and it quieted down soon. The sleepless Leaf Genin also tried to force themselves to sleep in such a somber atmosphere.
Fugaku and Kyomu still stood in place.
"Tomorrow, Dodai and other elites might not all appear." Kyomu shared his reasoning, "Before his death, the Third Raikage unleashed the ultimate form of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and this legacy needs time to be absorbed."
"What about the Jinchūriki?"
"Killer Bee won't, but Yugito should."
"Leave her to me."
Kyomu shook his head, "You lead the forces head-on, retreat as you fight. I still prefer the feeling of being surrounded."
"You are even more arrogant and conceited than the Uchiha." Fugaku scowled again.
"That's because I have the strength." Kyomu did not deny it, "If you had a pair of eyes that didn't consume Dōjutsu power, you'd probably be laughing and taking on eight thousand by now."
Fugaku indeed thought so but wouldn't admit it.
"I'll take the first half of the night."
"Then I'll sleep first."
Kyomu unapologetically turned and walked away, while Fugaku firmly stayed put, vigilantly watching his surroundings.
Yet, his mind was also occupied with thoughts of Kyomu.
Allying with the Senju clan was a turning point for the Uchiha clan, not necessarily good or bad, but the outcome was not ideal.
But this alliance with Kyomu, Fugaku saw a different glorious future for the Uchiha clan.
Unconsciously, a tear of blood trickled from his right eye; he had used his right eye's Dōjutsu once more.
Peeking into a corner of the future was the ability of Fugaku's right eye, similar to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
But the future isn't constant; what you see today may not be what you see tomorrow.
Yet Fugaku firmly believed that Kyomu was the future of the Uchiha clan.
"Even if allying with you means that my Uchiha clan has prematurely and irreversibly stood on the opposite side of the Leaf's upper echelons, wasn't the situation already bad? Is there a better strategy?"
Fugaku clenched his fist, "Lord Kyomu, like me, you're not disappointed in this village but in those people.
If so, then let's fight together, fight until dawn!"
—
"That's almost dawn, and you call that taking the first half of the night?"
Awakened by Fugaku, Kyomu looked toward the horizon, immediately complaining.
"I said I'd take the first half of the night, and I did." Fugaku said sternly, "Move aside, I need to rest."
Such a tsundere.
Kyomu made way, stepping into the light of the first dawn, standing at the forefront of the camp, looking towards the distant Cloud camp.
Dodai hadn't slept all night.
His brother-in-arms for decades had died at the hands of Kyomu.
He wanted to fight desperately, but there were still things undone.
The ultimate mode of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he had to pass it on.
"Wait for the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, and the outstanding successors to master it, then it will be the day for our relentless battle."
Turning around, Dodai gave up the act of looking towards the Leaf camp, finding Ai with reddened eyes, also sleepless.
The name "A" was a legacy name, meant for succession.
"Ai." Dodai looked at the Fourth Raikage, "His death is not an excuse for your cowardice."
"I'm not!"
"Then hold that anger, inherit all of his, and complete that final thrust he didn't manage to deliver fully!"
Dodai patted the Fourth Raikage's shoulder, "He's already paved a way for you and the village's future. Work hard, don't let down your current name, Ai!"
Seeing the Fourth Raikage nod firmly, Dodai sought out Killer Bee and other outstanding Cloud ninja.
"Kyomu is strong, but he dared to call the late Third Raikage the strongest Kage in the ninja world!" Dodai rallied before the battle, "I accept that title, but Kyomu isn't qualified to say that. It's a disgrace!
His disgrace! My disgrace! Your disgrace!"
"Wash it away!"
"Wash it away!"
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
Dodai suddenly raised his hand, and the shouting stopped abruptly, "Aragami Kyomu's strongest move met the Third Raikage's strongest move, he won, but also revealed his weakness.
Even so, I am issuing an order.
In any mission, if you encounter Kyomu, you can unilaterally abandon the mission. In small conflicts, Kyomu can kill any of you.
But in large-scale direct combat, Kyomu can't overpower us all.
In the upcoming revenge operation, everyone remember, maintain a distance of twenty meters from each other, don't help each other if Kyomu is nearby, to prevent him from slaughtering opportunistically.
His spatial ability is strong, true, able to crush all life and non-life within ten meters, but he has a limit, his own limit.
What we need to do is to bypass Kyomu, let him intercept within twenty meters, those he can't stop, deal with the Leaf ninja, those he stops, drain him.
Death, I'm not afraid, are you?"
"Not afraid!"
"Not afraid!"
"Not afraid!"
Dodai raised his hand again, "Yugito!"
"Lord Dodai!" The Yugito stepped forward.
"Delay Kyomu and block his other large-scale attacks, can you do it?"
"Yes!"
Dodai nodded, still somewhat unsure, "Just delay, don't be reckless, just limit his ability to act freely."
"Lord Dodai, rest assured, I can!"
Only then did Dodai relax, after a few more arrangements, he then turned and led the army out.
He didn't bring too many people, just two thousand Cloud ninja.
It must be said, Dodai was smart. This number was just at a critical point; any more, and Kyomu and Fugaku would consider unleashing a 'map cannon,' using powerful moves to prevent severe losses on their side.
But leading just twice the troops, Kyomu and Fugaku's first consideration was to train their forces.
Some just graduated from the Ninja Academy, training was necessary.
But at the same time, Dodai was also buying time, waiting until he could learn and further complete the ultimate Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
"My brother, that final thrust you couldn't complete, I'll try it for you. If it doesn't work, then like you, I'll leave something behind for the kids."
Dodai was also training troops, but his were for the future of Kumogakure, while the Leaf's F4 were burning the candle at both ends.
It's tough to compare people.
"Aragami Kyomu!" Yugito's challenge echoed before the battle lines, "Come and fight me!"
Kyomu chuckled, loving nothing more than to crush his opponents.
Bring it on!
(End of Chapter)
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