In the current ninja world, Konoha had only just emerged from internal turmoil.
The Third Hokage had fallen, and the Fifth Hokage had only recently taken office.
Although the Fifth Hokage was Tsunade—the granddaughter of the First Hokage and one of the legendary Sannin, whose name resounded throughout the ninja world—Konoha's overall influence had still declined.
This was not because Konoha lacked powerful ninja.
Rather, its internal strife had weakened its cohesion and authority.
On the surface, Kumogakure now appeared to possess the greatest military strength among the Five Great Nations.
But after today's battle, that perception had quietly changed.
The Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee, the perfect Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails—two of Kumogakure's strongest combatants—had joined forces.
Yet even together, they were no match for the Mizukage of Kirigakure.
And Shigure was only an acting Mizukage.
That fact alone was enough to send shockwaves through the entire ninja world.
From this day onward, when dealing with the Hidden Mist Village, the Hidden Cloud Village would undoubtedly have to proceed with far greater caution.
Inside the conference room.
Shigure calmly signed his name.
From this moment on, the maritime territories were officially redivided.
Not only did Kirigakure reclaim the sea regions that had once belonged to it—
Shigure also seized several strategically important sea areas that had long been controlled by Kumogakure.
The Fourth Raikage was a man who honored his word.
Having accepted defeat, he did not attempt to obstruct Shigure any further.
However, just as Shigure was preparing to depart and return to the Hidden Mist Village, the Raikage spoke once more—his voice low and resolute.
"Mizukage!"
"I, the Hidden Cloud Village, will one day personally reclaim everything that belongs to us!"
At the entrance to Kumogakure, Shigure paused.
He turned his head and looked back at the Fourth Raikage, who was staring at him with a solemn expression.
A faint smile appeared on Shigure's face.
"I'll be waiting."
The next instant, water chakra surged.
Under the astonished gazes of countless Kumogakure ninja, a massive Water Dragon condensed beneath Shigure's feet.
Together with his two companions, Shigure stepped onto its head.
With a roar, the Water Dragon soared into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, they swept toward the distant mountains.
Moments later, they vanished beyond the horizon.
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists tightly.
This was the greatest humiliation he had suffered since becoming the Raikage—
No, since becoming a ninja.
Never before had he felt such unwillingness gnawing at his heart.
"…Come to think of it," he muttered, "it's been a long time since I trained seriously."
Darui, standing beside him, was momentarily stunned.
With the Raikage's strength, training shouldn't even be necessary—at least, that was what most people believed.
"I don't know when I lost that feeling," the Raikage continued. "But it seems I need to pick it up again."
Darui hesitated, then said carefully,
"Lord Raikage… if you were free from the burdens of your position, your strength would surely grow even further."
The Raikage was not merely a symbol of power.
He was a symbol of responsibility.
Every day, countless affairs demanded his attention.
Under such pressure, finding time for true training was almost impossible.
And yet—
After today, the Fourth Raikage understood something clearly.
If he did not grow stronger—
The next time Kumogakure faced the Hidden Mist Village, the outcome might be even worse.
Thinking of this, the Fourth Raikage suddenly felt a wave of irritation—and helplessness.
He turned his head to look at Darui, and a grin abruptly spread across his face.
"From today onward," the Raikage declared, "you will serve as Acting Raikage, handling all village affairs on my behalf!"
"I'm going to train seriously—and surpass that brat!"
"…Huh?"
Darui froze.
How did things suddenly end up like this?
But the Raikage wasn't asking for his opinion.
He was issuing an order.
Standing nearby, Mabui could only sigh helplessly.
"Lord Raikage," she said, "I'm afraid it won't be long before the details of today's battle spread throughout the entire ninja world. By then… the Hidden Mist Village will become famous."
Hearing this, the Raikage's expression shifted slightly.
"It doesn't matter."
"There's no way to keep something like this hidden anyway," he said bluntly. "Besides, if the whole ninja world starts focusing on how terrifying the Hidden Mist Village is, then fewer eyes will be on Kumogakure."
Only three hours after the battle ended—
Although the news had not yet spread everywhere, all major ninja villages had already received intelligence reports.
Konohagakure
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade and Nara Shikaku wore grave expressions.
"Lady Tsunade," Shikaku said slowly, "Shigure… he grows stronger every single day. He controlled three Tailed Beasts on his own and fought the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode head-on—defeating him outright."
Shikaku couldn't help but feel bitter.
A ninja like that should have belonged to Konoha…
Tsunade nodded.
"And it wasn't just the Raikage," she added. "The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki joined the fight as well—and was still completely suppressed."
Shikaku hesitated, then said,
"Lady Tsunade… should we try to recall Shigure to Konoha?"
Recall him?
Tsunade raised her head and looked at Shikaku calmly.
"Do you think that's possible?"
Shikaku frowned. "It's not entirely impossible. Back then, he was sent to the Hidden Mist Village because of Danzō."
"Now that Danzō's issue has been resolved, we could—"
Tsunade smiled faintly and set the documents in her hand aside.
"Back then, Danzō sent Shigure away because he feared Shigure would become an obstacle to his ambition of becoming Hokage."
"But regardless of the reason," she continued, her tone steady, "Shigure was still driven out of Konoha."
"And at the time," she said, turning to Shikaku, "no one stopped it."
Shikaku fell silent.
"So now," Tsunade asked quietly, "after he's grown this powerful… do you really think there's even the slightest chance he'd come back?"
No one had stopped it back then.
Trying to recall him now would be nothing more than self-humiliation.
More importantly—
Tsunade knew better than anyone that Shigure's feelings for Konoha had already been exhausted.
Iwagakure
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, stared at the intelligence report in his hands.
"A mere brat actually managed to overpower the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode…" he muttered.
"That's unexpected. But controlling three Tailed Beasts at the same time? With that kind of power, it's not surprising."
Akatsuchi scratched his head.
"Lord Tsuchikage, people are already calling him the Strongest Mizukage in History."
Ōnoki snorted.
"Strongest Mizukage? Hmph! Does a greenhorn really deserve such a title?"
Yet despite his words, his expression was unusually serious.
Orochimaru's Hideout
Inside the dim underground base, Sasuke had just finished training when Jūgo spoke.
"Shigure defeated both the Raikage and the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki," Jūgo said. "The Hidden Mist Village gained massive advantages from the confrontation."
Sasuke ignored the latter part.
Only the first sentence mattered.
"…As expected of you, Shigure."
He clenched his fist lightly.
If Shigure could already defeat the Fourth Raikage now—
Then in the future, he might not only be the Strongest Mizukage in History.
But the strongest in the entire ninja world?
Tch.
"I won't lose to you that easily either."
Mount Myōboku
Naruto turned toward Jiraiya, his face filled with excitement.
"Perverted Sage! Did I do it?!"
Jiraiya stared at him speechlessly.
Damn it… is this kid's talent really that ridiculous?
It took me years—more than half a year of serious effort—to truly master Sage Mode…
And this brat managed it in less than a month.
Jiraiya suddenly thought of Shigure and Sasuke.
Those three monsters.
"…How the hell did three freak geniuses end up on the same team?"
...
TN:
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