Chapter 54: Kumogakure's Actions Are Not For You to Judge
Since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, Kumogakure had never mobilized forces on such a scale.
Raikage A stood on the high cliff at the village entrance, overlooking troops advancing like a long dragon on the winding mountain path—elite jonin led the vanguard, chunin forces provided middle support, while medical and logistics units brought up the rear.
"This time..." A's fists clenched with audible pops, lightning flickering in his eyes, "we'll make Konoha pay the price!"
Darui watched the Raikage's back, recalling the last time he'd seen such a formation was when he'd just become a jonin.
On the mountain road, Samui was sternly organizing formations: "Stay alert! Don't give Konoha any opening!"
Even Killer Bee, who usually sang contrarian songs, now silently followed beside the Raikage.
Everyone understood—this wasn't merely a military operation, but Kumogakure's moment to declare its strength to the entire ninja world.
In Konoha's Hokage office.
Tsunade leaned lazily by the window, steam rising from her teacup.
Seven days had passed since sending that provocatively challenging letter, yet Kumogakure remained unusually quiet.
"Strange..." She sipped her tea lightly, glancing at the calendar on the wall. "With the Raikage's hot temper, he shouldn't be able to contain himself like this."
Shizune entered carrying documents, seeing the Hokage distracted again and sighing: "Lady Tsunade, here are today's border reports."
Tsunade took the documents and casually browsed them, suddenly pausing—the report recorded unusual chakra fluctuations at the Fire Country border.
Her red lips curved slightly as she set her teacup heavily on the windowsill with a crisp collision.
"Finally coming..." Her golden eyes flashed with fighting spirit as she turned to Shizune: "Tell Shikaku to prepare according to plan."
A piercing alarm suddenly shattered Konoha's tranquility as broadcast speakers throughout the village activated simultaneously:
"Attention all residents! This is not a drill! Please proceed immediately to designated shelters!"
The previously bustling morning market instantly erupted in chaos.
"Quick! The underground shelter is this way!"
"Elder, let me carry you!"
Shop shutters rolled down with rattling sounds one after another as Ichiraku Ramen's sign was hastily extinguished.
Teachers at the ninja academy were organizing orderly student evacuations, with Naruko gripping Sasuko's hand tightly as both girls were protected in the middle of their group.
"Everyone stay calm!" Shikaku commanded from the plaza below the Hokage Monument. "Follow the drill routes for evacuation!"
Ninja moved like black lightning across various rooftops:
"Southeast district evacuation complete!"
"Medical teams in position!"
"All students confirmed safely evacuated!"
Outside Konoha Hospital, medical teams had erected temporary tents; the Hyuga clan's Byakugan were fully activated, monitoring movements outside the village; Sharingan from the Uchiha compound also began glowing.
On a rooftop, Yu quietly observed everything, a trace of coldness flashing in his dark eyes.
Space suddenly distorted as Yu's figure faded from the air.
The next second, he appeared at the crowded shelter entrance.
"Yu!"
Sasuko's dark eyes immediately brightened as she broke free from her teacher's hand and rushed toward that familiar figure. Naruko followed closely behind, her twin tails dancing in the air.
Yu opened his arms, steadily catching both little girls. Sasuko buried her small face in his embrace, her previous forced composure melting into complete dependence: "What took you so long..."
"Sorry, I'm late." Yu ruffled Sasuko's hair, then looked at Naruko who was gazing at him expectantly. "Were you scared?"
Under the shelter's dim lighting, both girls shook their heads simultaneously.
Surrounding parents cast surprised glances—who was this suddenly appearing youth? Why could he instantly make that proud Uchiha girl so docile? But with the current crisis, no one asked questions.
Yu brought the two girls to a corner, crouching to meet their eyes, his voice unusually serious: "Stay here, listen to your teachers, don't wander off."
Sasuko rarely refrained from arguing, only gripping Yu's clothes tightly. Naruko nodded vigorously, her azure eyes full of trust.
Space rippled subtly again, and when parents next looked toward that corner, the black-haired youth had vanished, leaving only two girls sitting quietly.
In the desolate sandy wasteland, scorching sunlight baked the sand grains until they burned.
Kumogakure's great army was advancing rapidly through this no-man's land, kicking up clouds of dust.
Suddenly—
Space rippled as a slender figure appeared from thin air directly in front of the formation.
Black hair flew in the hot wind, his expression indifferent.
"Halt!"
Raikage A raised his hand sharply, causing the entire Kumogakure force to stop abruptly like an emergency brake, raising dust clouds like a small sandstorm.
Everyone unconsciously tensed—this youth who could silently breach Kumogakure's perimeter was no ordinary person.
"Who are you?" A narrowed his eyes, lightning crackling faintly on his thick arms.
The youth stood quietly on the sand dune, his robes billowing in the hot wind.
He neither formed seals nor assumed a combat stance, only slowly surveying the Kumogakure crowd with calm eyes.
That gaze was like looking down at ants, making battle-hardened ninja unconsciously tighten their grips on weapons.
"Go back." Yu's voice was light yet reached everyone's ears clearly, as if resonating directly in their minds.
Behind his sunglasses, Killer Bee's pupils contracted sharply as the Eight-Tails within him issued warning growls.
"Bee, this guy is dangerous! Stay away from him!"
But other Kumogakure ninja lacked such keen perception.
Though the youth's appearance was mysteriously abnormal, they had over a thousand elite here, plus Lord Raikage commanding—how could they retreat from one brat's words?
"Hey, kid," a Kumogakure jonin scoffed, "just because you're alone, you dare..."
"Shut up!" A roared to stop him.
The Raikage's expression was uncertain. As a village leader, he naturally couldn't retreat shamefully from one person's words.
But instincts honed through years of warfare frantically warned him of this youth's danger.
"Brat," A said in a low voice, lightning blazing around his body, "Kumogakure's actions are not for you to judge." He deliberately raised his volume, both making a statement and boosting his side's morale.
Darui keenly noticed that despite Lord Raikage's harsh tone, he never issued an attack order—a first in his memory.
Even stranger, though they vastly outnumbered the opposition, all the oppressive atmosphere came from that lone youth facing them.
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