Three days later, in the Hidden Cloud Village.
"I wonder when Lord Raikage will return from this expedition."
"I'm not really concerned about that. I just want to know where he plans to strike next."
Two shinobi from the village stood idly by, chatting to pass the time.
"I doubt he ventured too far. Just taking a bit more territory would be enough."
"Be bold!"
One of the shinobi chuckled:
"Lord Raikage brought three thousand elite troops. He might have even managed to strike directly at Konoha."
"Is that even possible?" the other responded, not very convincingly.
"Wait! Who is that?!"
Suddenly, the first stood up, his gaze fixed on the figures approaching from the distance.
Two dark-skinned men—one carrying the other—were limping toward the Hidden Cloud Village.
"That's Lord Raikage... and Lord Bee!"
As the two drew closer, their identities became clear.
The two shinobi were shaken.
"What the hell happened? Why are only Lord Raikage and Bee returning? What about the others?!"
Soon, inside the Raikage Building...
"What?! The army of three thousand was completely annihilated?!"
Dodai looked at the weakened Fourth Raikage in disbelief.
He had served as an aide since the era of the Third Raikage and was now second only to the Fourth himself in status.
"Lord Raikage... is this true?"
Dodai's voice trembled.
Minutes ago, a patrol reported that the Raikage and Killer Bee had returned—alone.
Even more shocking was that after carrying Bee back to the village gates, the Fourth Raikage collapsed, exhausted.
"..."
The Raikage opened his mouth, but no words came.
After the Tailed Beast Bomb was reflected back, Killer Bee barely survived by transforming into the Eight-Tails and shielding himself. He fell unconscious afterward.
The Eight-Tails Gyūki had severed one of his own tentacles as a decoy, then fled with Bee in tow—passing through the Land of Fire, the Land of Fields, and the Land of the Moon.
For three whole days, the grievously injured Fourth Raikage ran nonstop.
Only after reaching the safety of Hidden Cloud did his body finally give out.
"Everyone else is dead."
Seeing the Raikage's expression, Dodai understood.
He was momentarily dazed.
Not one of the nearly three thousand shinobi had returned.
"What about Yugito Nii? The Two-Tails Jinchūriki?"
Dodai cut himself off, unable to finish the thought.
If both Jinchūriki were lost in one blow—alongside an entire force—it would be a catastrophic blow to the village.
"I'm not sure... Yugito was knocked unconscious by that bastard Naraku and didn't get back up. Then the Tailed Beast Bomb exploded. I don't know if she survived."
"So... there's still a chance she's alive?"
Dodai let out a sigh of relief.
If she was alive, she might still return.
Even in defeat, Konoha's Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen likely wouldn't dare to detain their Jinchūriki.
"But something's wrong. How did Konoha respond so quickly? What about Hiruzen? Could he have ordered this counterattack so swiftly?"
"I don't know about that old man... but their ninja flew in—on massive birds."
The Fourth Raikage's voice was heavy.
Suddenly, a Cloud ANBU burst into the room.
"Lord Raikage! The Third Hokage of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, has appeared—alone—outside the village!"
"What?!"
The Fourth Raikage slammed the table, splitting it in two.
"Does he think he's Naraku?! Coming here alone?!"
With a furious growl, the Raikage shattered the window and leapt out, racing toward the village gates.
"Lord Raikage, I heard... is it true that no one returned from the expedition?"
"Is that just a rumor? How could no one come back?!"
"Lord Raikage...?!"
Villagers crowded around him, asking with fearful expressions.
Their words only stoked his rage.
How could he possibly explain this disaster?
Not pausing, the Raikage pushed forward until he spotted Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly speaking with some shinobi at the gates.
"You old bastard! You dare show your face in Hidden Cloud?!"
The Raikage threw a punch in pure fury.
"Lord Raikage—urgh!"
Hiruzen, still reeling from his escape, was struck hard and sent flying.
Blood spurted from his mouth.
"Wait! Lord Raikage, it's a misunderstanding!"
Nearby shinobi rushed to intervene.
If they didn't stop him, Hiruzen might actually be killed.
Moments later...
"You're saying... you defected?"
The Fourth Raikage and his advisors exchanged bewildered looks.
Today had become stranger by the moment.
First, their entire assault force was wiped out.
Now, they were being told that Konoha's Hokage had defected.
Were they dreaming?
Or trapped in a genjutsu?
"It's true," Hiruzen said grimly.
He had fled for three days without rest.
His plan had been to seek revenge on Naraku using Hidden Cloud's power.
Instead, he was nearly beaten to death.
"What happened in Konoha?" Dodai asked, now completely confused.
If Hiruzen had defected, who was leading the forces that defeated Cloud?
Hiruzen sighed and told them everything.
When he finished, the room fell silent.
"So, Hyuga Naraku, along with the major clan heads, ousted you, imprisoned you, and forced your resignation—so you defected?"
Dodai summarized.
Even though Hiruzen's version painted him in a better light, Dodai could see through it.
Hiruzen gave a dark nod.
"Why didn't you kill him?! That bastard Naraku!" the Raikage roared.
"Do you think I didn't try?! No one could kill him!"
"What about the Caged Bird Seal?! Isn't he from the Hyuga branch family?! You could've killed him with that!"
"I tried! It didn't work!"
"Then what good are you, old man?!"
The Raikage punched Hiruzen in the face again.
"You couldn't control your own village, couldn't stop Naraku, and now your entire force wanted you gone. Why are you even alive?!"
Punch after punch rained down.
Though both had fled for three days, the Raikage was naturally stronger and had managed a brief rest.
Hiruzen, exhausted and starving, could barely stand.
"Lord Raikage, please! You'll kill him!"
Cloud shinobi intervened to stop the brutal beating.
"Where is the rest of your vanguard?!" Hiruzen rasped.
He had fled to Cloud to exact revenge on Naraku and Konoha.
But now... where was that army?
He realized something was wrong.
Hadn't the Raikage personally led the assault?
Why was he here now?
The moment the question was asked, everyone's eyes darkened.
"You dare ask that?! If you'd killed Naraku when you had the chance, our three thousand would still be alive!"
The Raikage's voice shook with fury.
Hiruzen stood frozen.
All dead?
That couldn't be...
By his calculations, Konoha wouldn't have had time to organize a response, especially without a Hokage.
"Cloud's assault force... was completely annihilated?!"
He asked, stunned.
"You bastard! Are you trying to mock us?!"
The Raikage struck him again.
This time, no one stopped him.
Some even seemed eager to join in.
"Lord Raikage!"
An ANBU rushed in.
"We've detected a large number of chakra signatures—approaching fast on strange giant birds!"
"What?!"
The Raikage's eyes widened.
"They're coming... to attack us... here?!"