Chapter 53: Unworthy
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat across from Nara Shikaku in discussion.
"Kumogakure's move is clearly probing our strength," Shikaku tapped the table with his fingertip, brow furrowed. "If we refuse directly, I'm afraid it might..."
"Make us look guilty?" Tsunade snorted coldly. "Those barbarians..."
Just then, crisp knocking interrupted their conversation.
"Enter."
An ANBU kunoichi silently pushed open the door, quickly approaching Tsunade's side to whisper in her ear.
With each word transmitted, Tsunade's expression gradually deepened.
When she heard the phrase "Konoha doesn't need to prove anything," her lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.
"I understand." Tsunade nodded slightly.
The ANBU ninja immediately bowed and withdrew, her figure dissolving like smoke.
Shikaku watched this scene thoughtfully: "That person's opinion?"
Tsunade gazed toward the distant Hokage Monument, sunlight gilding her profile.
She suddenly chuckled softly, her slender fingers tapping the desk: "Interesting." A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes. "Then we'll do as he says—reply to Kumogakure that they're unworthy of negotiating with Konoha..."
Hearing this, Shikaku frowned, his pen pausing slightly: "Lord Hokage, isn't this attitude rather too..."
"Harsh?" Tsunade smiled, interrupting him. "Shikaku, you don't understand that person's true strength."
She walked to the window, continuing with her back to Shikaku: "This move is meant to anger Kumogakure, making them think Konoha is supremely confident. But if they instead conclude Konoha is all bark and no bite..." She turned around, her lips curving in a dangerous arc. "Even better."
Shikaku's pupils contracted as he suddenly understood: "You mean... making an example of them?"
"You were there that day, weren't you?" Tsunade asked meaningfully.
Shikaku's mind immediately conjured that terrifying scene—the youth standing alone in the center of ruins, surrounded by severed limbs and flesh, casually overwhelming numerous jonin, single-handedly suppressing all of Konoha.
His throat unconsciously bobbed: "...Understood."
In Kumogakure's Raikage office,
A's thick fingers crushed the reply letter from Konoha, veins bulging on his bronze forehead.
The word "unworthy" on the paper was so glaring it made him want to tear it apart.
"What audacity, Konoha!" The Raikage's voice thundered through the room like muffled thunder. "Even when Senju Hashirama was alive, he wouldn't dare be so arrogant toward other villages!"
He spun toward the messenger kneeling on the ground, lightning flickering in his eyes: "What else did they say?"
The messenger pressed his forehead to the floor: "Reporting to Lord Raikage, that was... that was all..."
A paced back and forth in his office, his heavy footsteps making the floor vibrate.
As Raikage, he would never let Kumogakure miss any opportunity to grow stronger; but this reply's attitude was truly suspicious.
Either Konoha had become arrogantly extreme, or... they truly possessed the confidence to despise Kumogakure.
The Uchiha internal strife and split, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans expelled from Konoha—the current Konoha should be severely weakened...
Why would that woman Tsunade still dare be so arrogant?
He spun around sharply: "Darui! Immediately deploy additional reconnaissance teams! I want to know all of Konoha's recent movements!"
"Yes!" Darui accepted the order and left, unable to resist glancing back—Lord Raikage's figure by the window seemed somewhat... hesitant?
A stood with hands behind his back.
Years of combat instinct warned him this matter was far from simple.
Several days later, in the Raikage's office, A's tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
He repeatedly examined the intelligence scrolls submitted by spies, his bronze face gradually showing confident satisfaction.
"As expected..." He sneered, slamming the scroll heavily on the desk. "Apart from expelling the Sarutobi and Shimura, Konoha has had virtually no personnel movement in half a year."
What this meant was crystal clear—Konoha had indeed ruthlessly abandoned two major clans, and their current strength must be greatly diminished.
A stood up, his massive frame casting an enormous shadow by the window.
"A bluff..." His rough fingers stroked that arrogant reply letter, lightning flickering in his eyes. "What an empty fortress strategy."
In that case... A's lips curved in a dangerous arc.
He turned to Darui, who had been waiting: "Notify all divisions, proceed according to the original plan." His voice carried unquestionable determination. "In three days, I'll personally meet this 'supremely confident' Fifth Hokage."
Lightning struck outside the window, illuminating his resolute features.
This time, Kumogakure would never miss this opportunity—let Konoha pay the price for their arrogance!
Kumogakure was renowned for swift action, their efficiency honed on this barren, treacherous land ranking among the ninja world's finest.
Less than half a day after the Raikage's orders, the entire village operated like a precise war machine.
On the training grounds, Kumogakure's elite conducted final combat preparations.
Kunai gleamed in the sunlight while lightning-style chakra crackled through the air.
This time, Kumogakure was deploying almost everything—from elite jonin skilled in lightning-style taijutsu to special forces proficient in combination jutsu. Everyone was eager to tear a piece of flesh from Konoha.
In the Raikage's tent, A slammed that arrogant reply on the table: "Look at Konoha's attitude!"
The jonin passed around the letter as fury spread rapidly through the tent.
"Outrageous!" Samui crushed the teacup in her hand, her voluptuous form trembling with anger.
"We must teach them a lesson!" Darui rarely abandoned his lazy expression.
Even the usually calm Dodai frowned tightly: "This is indeed... too much."
The Raikage watched his indignant subordinates with satisfaction, his fist crackling with blinding lightning: "In three days, make Konoha pay for their arrogance!"
"Yes, make Konoha pay!"
"Make Konoha pay!"
Just as everyone's fighting spirit peaked, an inappropriate rap suddenly shattered the murderous atmosphere:
"Yo~ Big bro listen to me yo~
War ain't a good idea yo~
Konoha's waters run deep don't test yo~
Careful you don't kick an iron plate yo~"
Killer Bee hung upside down from the window wearing sunglasses, his improvised rap instantly silencing the meeting room.
Veins bulged at the Raikage's temples as he chopped Bee's head: "Shut up! Morale is at its peak right now!"
Killer Bee rubbed his head, muttering: "Honest words hurt yo~" But seeing the room full of murderous colleagues, he wisely made a zipping motion across his mouth.
Outside the tent, storm clouds gathered with rolling thunder.
Kumogakure ninja stood in neat formation, each pair of eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Having grown up on this barren land, they knew all too well how to seize fleeting opportunities.