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The Second Hokage and his six disciples took about ten days to reach the Land of Lightning, where the Hidden Cloud Village was located. Towering mountains pierced the sky, their peaks disappearing into the clouds. Nestled halfway up those mountains was the village itself—huge buildings scattered across the slopes. At the base, roaring rivers ran endlessly into the sea, forming winding shorelines that made the whole scene stunningly beautiful.
Just then, a few figures appeared midway up the mountain, walking toward them. Everyone tensed up as a squad of Cloud Anbu approached the Second Hokage and asked, "Are you the Second Hokage?"
The Second Hokage glanced at the gathered Cloud shinobi and gave a calm nod. "That's right. Is this how the Second Raikage welcomes his guests?"
"Hahaha! Tobirama Senju! I just wanted to show off our Cloud shinobi's strength a bit. What do you think?" boomed a loud voice from the clouds.
A tall, lean man came dropping down from the sky, landing in front of the Second Hokage with a crash that kicked up dust and left a crater behind. The man's figure was hidden in the dust, but his voice rang out, "Even if our nations are forming an alliance, I still want you to understand—us Cloud shinobi are just as strong as you Leaf guys!"
The Second Hokage gave a proud smile. "I don't think our Konoha shinobi would ever lose to you."
As the dust cleared, a dark-skinned, muscular man appeared before them. Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Second Raikage…"
Though quiet, everyone heard him. The Second Raikage looked at Sarutobi and chuckled. "You're one of the few who's managed to block one of my strikes. Be proud! Not many can say that—less than ten in the whole world, in fact! Huh?"
The Raikage scanned the group behind Tobirama. "Where's that kid from last time?"
Tobirama replied, "Thanks to you, he's become the head of the Uchiha clan. He didn't have time to come. What, is this how you plan to welcome us?"
The Second Raikage laughed. "You're the first non-Cloud shinobi to ever visit our village hidden in the sea of clouds. Don't you want to enjoy the scenery first?"
Tobirama smirked. "Sounds like you can't control your people. What, you won't even let us into the village?"
The Raikage quickly countered, "Who said that? I just thought you'd like to enjoy the view. But if not, fine—follow me."
He turned around and led them into the village. Meanwhile, on a house built into the mountainside, a few Cloud shinobi watched them and said, "The plan is in motion."
In a forest near the Hidden Cloud Village, Uchiha Mine placed an unconscious Cloud ninja in front of Uchiha Aki. He looked at Aki and said, "This guy was on a mission yesterday. There's no sealing technique on his brain, so you can read his memories easily. But are you really going into the Cloud Village yourself? I think the Second Raikage is definitely gonna die. From all our dealings with Ginkaku and Kinkaku, it's pretty clear the ones trying to break the alliance want him dead too. You don't have to take this risk, sir."
Aki didn't reply right away. He closed his eyes and started reading the Cloud ninja's memories with genjutsu. A while later, he opened his eyes and said quietly, "My hatred doesn't come from the fact that the Second Raikage killed my father—it comes from not being able to avenge him myself. I don't hate others—I hate how useless I was. If I can't kill him with my own hands, I don't think I'll ever grow stronger as a shinobi. I'm too narrow-minded."
Then Aki turned to face the direction of the Cloud Village. "Where are Uchiha Rain and the four others?"
"They're hiding in a village not far from here," Mine answered. "Ready to back you up at any time."
Aki nodded. "We might not even need backup. If you're right and the Cloud shinobi really do want the Raikage dead, I'll act from the shadows. I want a good talk with the Raikage. You go regroup with Rain and wait for my signal."
With that, Aki headed toward the Cloud Village, and Mine vanished using a space-time jutsu.
At sunrise the next day, the Second Hokage and his six disciples, guided by Cloud shinobi, entered a grand hall. The symbol of the Hidden Cloud Village loomed above, and the Second Raikage stood waiting beneath it.
He smiled and said, "This hall is sacred to us. Every Cloud ninja comes here when they're officially recognized. I think signing the Thunder-Fire Alliance here shows the proper respect."
Tobirama nodded. "Let's go with the version we agreed on before. That's our goal—peace."
The Raikage agreed. "Same here. I'd have loved for you to stay longer, but we've got internal issues to handle. Let's sign this and get it done." He tossed over the treaty.
Tobirama read it carefully and then said, "All right. Everything's here. This is what we can do for peace right now."
The two leaders signed their names, exchanged copies, and then the Raikage extended his hand. "With this, Cloud and Leaf will be at peace forever."
Tobirama shook his hand. "Let's share a peaceful future together."
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the village. A Cloud Anbu burst into the hall and shouted, "Sir! Ginkaku and Kinkaku are leading a large force toward the village!"
The Raikage roared, "What the hell are the patrols doing?! Mobilize immediately! I'll be right behind you!"
He turned to Tobirama. "Looks like I won't even have time to see you off. Forget staying the night—leave now with this Anbu. I'll deal with those two myself!"
Tobirama nodded. "Then we'll take our leave." He and his disciples quickly followed the Anbu into a hidden escape tunnel.
The Raikage, along with a dozen Anbu, exited the hall and spotted Ginkaku and Kinkaku charging toward them. He immediately unleashed Lightning Style: False Darkness, spitting a huge bolt of lightning toward Ginkaku.
Kinkaku blocked the attack with a gust from his Bashōsen (Banana Fan), then barked, "Make it quick! Ginkaku's squad, go after the Second Hokage! We'll handle this!"
Around twenty shinobi split off to pursue Tobirama. The Raikage ordered his Anbu to intercept them and leapt toward the brothers, shouting, "You'd destroy this alliance?! You want to drag the village into war?!"
Ginkaku sneered, "You'll never understand us. War is the only way to make Cloud greater. First, we kill you—then we hunt the Hokage!"
With that, Ginkaku transformed into a tailed beast state and fired two Tailed Beast Bombs at the Raikage. The Raikage roared, "You bastards! I'll end you right here! Four-Fingered Thrust!"
He shot forward like a bolt of black lightning, blasting through the bombs and arriving right in front of Ginkaku in an instant.
Kinkaku waved the Bashōsen wildly, sending violent winds toward him, while Ginkaku's tails slashed like blades. The Raikage suddenly coughed up blood—he'd been struck and slammed into the mountain.
Panting, he growled, "Poison?! You bastards poisoned me! So the council really is backing you!"
Ginkaku laughed. "You dying just makes the village stronger. They're only doing what needs to be done."
The Raikage sat down, forcing his body to recover. "You're just tools to them. They'll toss you aside once you're no longer useful. You really think you'll be made Raikage?"
Kinkaku barked a laugh. "We're doing this for the village—even if it means going to hell!"
Ginkaku added, "Killing you is step one to putting Cloud on top of the world!"
The Raikage stood up shakily. "You two used to be heroes—the pride of the village. I was wrong about you. But this isn't the time for war. I won't let you chase the Hokage!"
Then his whole body exploded with dark lightning as he glared at them. "You're both dying here!"
The deafening sounds of battle from the village told Aki that the time for revenge had come. He dashed forward, his heart screaming:
"This time, I'll do it—I'll finally kill the Second Raikage! Father, I'll bring you his head!"
The Cloud Anbu led Tobirama and his team through the tunnel into a forest.
"This is as far as I can go," the Anbu said, pointing ahead. "The Second Raikage is fighting Ginkaku and Kinkaku. I need to go back to help. Head this way, and in two days you'll be outside our territory."
Tobirama nodded. "We'll handle ourselves. Go."
The Anbu disappeared into the tunnel. Danzo turned to Tobirama and said, "Sensei… isn't this a bit too easy? What if it's a trap to lure us in?"
Tobirama shook his head. "The Second Raikage isn't that kind of man. Let's get moving and talk later."
Ginkaku panted. "Damn, old man's tougher than I thought. That poison should've stopped your chakra in five hours. How are you still standing?"
The Raikage glared coldly. "I've lived twenty years longer than you. You think that was for nothing? I'm the Second Raikage—Cloud's strongest! You think a little poison can bring me down?"
Ginkaku charged again, with Kinkaku wielding his fan and Seven Star Sword right behind him.
The Raikage grinned. "Let me show you what true strength looks like—huh?"
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance. The Raikage locked eyes with him—and instantly found himself trapped in a void.
He was bound to a cross. A man in a black cloak stood before him, repeating, "I said I'd kill you… I said I'd kill you…"
The Raikage gritted his teeth. "Genjutsu?! So Ginkaku and Kinkaku teamed up with outsiders too? Kid, you—!!"
The cloaked man removed his hood. It was Uchiha Aki.
"Only a few months have passed, and you've already forgotten me, Raikage? How disappointing," Aki sneered—and stabbed a long blade into his chest.
The Raikage grinned through the pain. "You think this hurts? Uchiha brat, I should've killed you back then. A little genjutsu? Please."
He bit his tongue clean off. The shock broke the illusion.
As he snapped back to reality, Ginkaku and Kinkaku were already on him. He blocked Kinkaku's Seven Star Sword with his hand—but the lightning around him faded. Kinkaku sliced off his arm. Then Ginkaku's punch sent him flying.
Poisoned, mute, and paralyzed, the Raikage knelt weakly on the ground and gave a bitter smile.
"So it wasn't just them being used… Even the whole village danced in the palm of that Uchiha boy. Tobirama… you've produced quite the genius. I don't know if that's good or bad. First Raikage… I did my best to protect our beautiful village. And this is how it ends."
Suddenly, he remembered his white-haired student.
"He's the future of Cloud… Ginkaku, Kinkaku—you were supposed to be, too. You just chose the wrong path."
Just then, Kinkaku stabbed the Raikage from behind, and Ginkaku drove three tails through his chest from the front.
"All that heroism… all that sacrifice… and in the end, it was all for nothing."
The Raikage collapsed on the mountainside, his eyes landing on Aki, who stood smirking in the distance.
"Such talent… Why does Konoha always produce geniuses… Damn you, gods… You favor them too much…"
And with that, he closed his eyes for the last time.
Ginkaku raised his hand to take the Raikage's head, but Kinkaku stopped him.
"He was still a hero. Our conflict was about ideals, not revenge. Let's leave him intact."
Ginkaku nodded, deactivating his tailed beast mode. "We respect you… You never let the village suffer, but we hate you too—for standing in our way."
With that, they left to chase the Hokage.
Kinkaku looked down at the fallen Raikage. "You were a great leader. But we chose different paths."
Then he turned and followed his brother.
Once they were gone, Aki appeared beside the Raikage's corpse. "I didn't land the killing blow—but I helped. And now I'll take your head."
He sliced it off—but suddenly, a furious roar echoed above.
"You dare desecrate the Second Raikage's body?! You're dead!"
A white-haired, burly man charged at Aki from the sky. Aki quickly finished severing the head and vanished using space-time ninjutsu, leaving the man behind, howling in rage.
"....."