章節 77: The Exploding Public Opinion Environment

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The ninja world was in turmoil, tensions high between the great villages.

The aftermath of Sunagakure and Otogakure's combined assault on Konoha hadn't settled, even ten days later. With the Third Hokage's death and no successor appointed, Konoha remained vulnerable. The lack of clear signals from the Leaf only intensified the attention of other Hidden Villages, each watching the weakened village with hostile intent.

Kumogakure was no exception. Years before, during the infamous "Hyūga Affair," tensions between Konoha and Kumo had nearly ignited a war. Hiruzen Sarutobi's diplomatic efforts forced Kumo to withdraw, though reluctantly. Cautious of Konoha's might and the threat from Iwagakure nearby, the Cloud had retreated.

Now, a decade of peace later, Kumo was stronger than ever. The Fourth Raikage, A, saw this as a chance to challenge Konoha's dominance—and perhaps shift the balance of power across the ninja world.

With the Third Hokage gone, the Nine-Tails missing, and many of Konoha's finest fallen, Kumogakure sensed an opportunity. None felt this more keenly than the fiery Fourth Raikage.

Though known for his temper, A was far from reckless. Every action was calculated, every risk weighed. And at the top of his list was finding the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—Menma Uzumaki.

For A, Konoha itself was secondary. The Nine-Tails was a prize even greater than Kumo's own Eight-Tails.

Yet ten days had passed, and his intelligence unit still hadn't provided any solid leads. This inaction grated on him.

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The Land of Lightning

In the easternmost region of the Land of Lightning lay Kumogakure, its buildings standing high atop majestic cliffs. Inside the tallest structure, tension filled the Raikage's office.

Bang!

Raikage A slammed his fist onto his desk, splintering the wood beneath his hand.

Crack!

The desk, barely a few months old, was now in pieces. His subordinates were used to this—Raikage-sama's temper was legendary, as was the frequent replacement of his office furniture. Few desks lasted longer than six months.

"What's taking so long?!" A roared, his voice echoing through the office. "It's been ten days! I don't need exact coordinates, but I need something! What is our reconnaissance team doing?!"

Despite the intensity of his anger, the shinobi in the room remained calm. They were Kumo's elite—his most trusted advisors. Among them were Dodai, a veteran strategist who had served the Third Raikage, and Darui, a promising talent many considered A's likely successor. Also present were Mabui, the level-headed secretary, and Samui, another reliable aide, both of whom stayed composed amidst A's fury.

"Raikage-sama," Dodai began in a measured tone, "Menma is with Orochimaru. Tracking him will take time, especially given the limited information we have."

"Hmph! We must have something! This is a rare opportunity. Konoha has shown weakness, and we can't afford to miss it. Iwagakure is probably thinking the same!"

A's impatience was evident; he was eager to exploit Konoha's disarray.

"We should proceed carefully," Dodai advised. "Menma is the son of the Fourth Hokage. He may not return to Konoha after defecting, but we shouldn't underestimate his potential. He's only twelve, still impressionable. If we can sway him to our side, we may not need to resort to force."

A scowled but stayed silent. Dodai had suggested a diplomatic approach to Menma since news of his defection reached them, but A was wary of anyone not raised in Kumo.

His instinct was to capture Menma, extract the Nine-Tails, and seal it into one of Kumo's finest shinobi. Yet Dodai's logic held weight.

Darui, the voice of reason, spoke up. "I agree with Dodai. Menma's anger toward Konoha will likely grow after his defection. This could be our chance. If we handle it carefully, he might come to us willingly. And that way, we avoid a direct confrontation with the Nine-Tails."

A's expression tightened. He knew the destruction a Tailed Beast could cause. His father, the Third Raikage, had once held the Eight-Tails in a stalemate. But the Nine-Tails was on a different level, and A knew he was not yet his father's equal.

"I understand the risks," A growled. "But first, we need to find him. What's the latest from Konoha?"

"Konoha remains in disarray," Mabui reported calmly. "They've reinforced their northern border, but there have been no significant deployments."

"No Hokage yet?" A asked, voice gruff.

"Not yet, Raikage-sama. Reports suggest Jiraiya of the Sannin may be the prime candidate," Mabui replied.

"Hmph. Jiraiya…" A muttered, his expression darkening.

A had encountered Jiraiya during both the Second and Third Shinobi Wars. He respected the Sannin's reputation, but Konoha's current state made him doubtful of any leadership transition.

Turning to his advisors, he issued a command. "I want every piece of intel, no matter how minor. Darui!" A's voice took on a commanding edge. "Head south. If the opportunity arises, act decisively. You have my full authority."

Darui straightened. "Understood, Raikage-sama."

His eyes burned with determination. "This chance won't come again."

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In Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Onoki took a different stance. Unlike the impulsive Fourth Raikage, Onoki remained cautious, understanding the risks of overextending his forces, even with Konoha's instability.

Addressing his advisors, Onoki said, "No need to rush. Let others make the first move. When the time comes, we'll act."

While monitoring Konoha and Menma, Iwagakure maintained a balanced stance. Onoki wasn't one to gamble his village's stability.

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Meanwhile, Sunagakure was on the brink of collapse. With the Kazekage dead, Gaara's capture, and significant losses in Konoha, the village was left shattered. Only through the efforts of elders Chiyo and Ebizo did Suna hold together, albeit precariously.

Yet, the situation was dire. Without resolving their conflict with Konoha and rescuing Gaara and their captured shinobi, Sunagakure's position weakened by the day.

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In stark contrast, Kirigakure remained silent. Despite the upheavals across the shinobi world, they made no significant moves. Their silence went unnoticed by none.

But all eyes remained on Konoha—and the revelation of Menma Uzumaki's identity.

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News of Menma Uzumaki's heritage—his identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and son of the Fourth Hokage—spread quickly. Across the nations, it was a revelation that stirred shock, outrage, and disbelief.

In Konoha, the atmosphere was tense. The boy many had once despised and rejected was now known to be the son of a revered hero.

"The demon fox… the Fourth Hokage's son?"

"Is he Naruto's… brother?"

"How could this be? What have we done?"

For some villagers, regret began to creep in. The realization of how they'd treated the Fourth Hokage's son was a bitter pill to swallow.

Others, however, clung to their prejudice. "This has to be a mistake! Menma's just a monster. He betrayed us, didn't he? There's no way he's the Yondaime's son!"

"Exactly! The Fourth Hokage would never leave someone like that behind. This has to be a lie."

The village was deeply divided. Many sought answers, but some remained firm in their distrust. And for now, Konoha's leadership stayed silent.

But they knew the silence couldn't last forever.

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