Seeing the fury on his beloved's face, Kazuyama Gekkō smiled faintly, his voice calm—so calm that every word carried the weight of killing intent.
"Don't worry. No matter how the higher-ups look at this, I will go to Kumo for an answer. They dared steal my daughter… seems the Fourth Raikage no longer wants peace."
Angry? No. His anger was already gone.
Since it had happened, being angry was pointless. The only thing that mattered now was revenge.
Those two simple sentences were enough to cool Pakura's temper.
After all these years, she knew Kazuyama Gekkō was a man of action. For him to speak with such resolve meant one thing—
The retaliation had already begun.
Of course, Kazuyama Gekkō knew Minato Namikaze would try to stop him.
As Hokage, Minato had to put the village first. Kazuyama trusted that he wouldn't let Kumo off lightly,
but this was a matter between nations—acting on his own was far more convenient.
Did anyone really think he sent Black Mamba to Kumo for nothing?
From the moment his daughter was taken, Kazuyama Gekkō had been planning his payback.
War wasn't an option right now, but Kazuyama Gekkō wasn't a man who lacked ways to crush an enemy—or even an entire village.
He had already decided. Kumo would pay a heavy price.
And the curse technique was only the beginning.
...
Far away in Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage was training as usual, lifting massive dumbbells to build strength.
Before him stood the one-armed Dodai, the two clearly in the middle of a discussion.
"I wonder how Tōkaku is doing? Dodai, what were you thinking, sending him out?"
"Hehehe, Lord Raikage, you know Tōkaku's background."
"Hmph, of course I know. Kinkaku and Ginkaku's disciple. We never held him accountable back then, even made him a Jōnin, and now we've given him the title of squad leader."
Dodai caught his puzzled look and let out a low laugh, his next words cold.
"Exactly because he's their disciple, he's never trusted. Remember, their actions cost not only the Second Hokage his life, but also dragged down the Second Raikage."
"Keeping him serves no purpose. Better to put him to use."
"And with his ties to Kinkaku and Ginkaku, even if he isn't valued, the title of leader still carries weight."
"If he dies in Konoha, or at the hands of his target, we'll have just cause to denounce Konoha."
Tōkaku's mission was clear—seize Kazuyama Gekkō's Kekkei Genkai.
It was a plan devised by the Fourth Raikage and Dodai. Whether he succeeded or failed, Kumo would benefit either way.
"You're right. For now, we'll just wait for news."
"Dodai, come on—let's train?"
At his words, the Raikage's mood lightened. He hefted the enormous dumbbell in his hand and offered it.
Normally, no one but him could use it. The fact that he made an exception showed how good his mood was.
Dodai glanced at his missing arm, sighed, and shook his head.
"Forget it. In my condition…"
The Raikage looked at his trusted aide, at a loss for how to comfort him. Then, on impulse, he suddenly hurled the massive dumbbell straight at him.
Startled, Dodai reacted instinctively.
"Lava Release: Rubber Ball!"
A sphere of rubber formed instantly, his Kekkei Genkai wrapping him in protection.
Thud!
The dumbbell struck and bounced right back.
The Raikage scowled at his reflex, but before the thought was even finished, the dumbbell rebounded toward him.
"Huh?"
Normally, nothing within his sight—be it a weapon or an attack—could catch him off guard.
But this time, he stumbled, crashing into the table in front of him.
His hardened muscles shattered the table to splinters, wood chips flying across his face.
In that split second of distraction, the dumbbell was already upon him.
Duang!
"Bastard! Son of a—!"
His curses erupted as lightning flared through the room. The dumbbell shattered into scraps of metal, while a massive swelling rose on his head, throbbing with pain.
The curse technique of drawing a circle was impossible to defend against—it would last until the effect wore off.
And the Raikage's misfortune had only just begun.
...
Back at the Gekkō household.
Hizashi Hyūga's expression was grave as he looked at Kazuyama Gekkō. His attitude toward him felt entirely justified.
After all, his home had been raided. If he could still hold back, that would have been strange.
"Kazuyama, rest assured. Hyūga will stand with you."
"We too are victims. Those three bastards may be dead, but the truth doesn't change."
They were all his friends. Without Kazuyama Gekkō, the Hyūga might have suffered losses themselves.
"Hmph. Looks like Kumo just wants to reignite war."
"As if we'd fear them!"
"Kazuyama, you did the right thing. If Michihito hadn't been at my place today, he might have been caught up in this disaster too."
"They dare touch our people? Do they really think this old man can't lift a blade anymore?"
Sakumo Hatake's voice was sharp and forceful. Though he had stepped down from the front lines, his aura was as imposing as ever.
Rage boiled from him, killing intent pouring off his body.
Beside him, Kakashi said nothing, but the single eye visible above his mask was ice-cold.
"Kazuyama-sensei…"
"It was my mistake. I completely missed Tōkaku's departure."
"So if you go to Kumo for revenge, take me with you. I'll use my blade to redeem myself."
Kakashi's squad had been stationed to monitor Kumo's residence, yet Tōkaku had slipped away right under their noses.
He blamed himself heavily, and now his urge for retribution was burning.
"Heh. Don't worry, everyone. Within three days, there will be news."
The image of the Raikage's miserable state flashed through Kazuyama Gekkō's mind, and he sneered. The curse still had plenty of time left to run.
He had all the time he needed.
The counterattack against Kumo had only just begun.