While Konoha boiled over from Kushina's earth-shaking spectacle, far away in cloud-ringed Kumogakure—
The Raikage's office pulsed with confidence, pride, and naked ambition.
A sat on his throne of paperwork and power, muscles like forged steel—one of the fastest shinobi alive, a presence that intimidated by existing.
Before him stood his trusted secretary and several Cloud jonin.
"Raikage-sama," a jonin reported, "Troy has contacted Hyuga's clan head, Hiashi, and attended their banquet. Word is Hiashi's stance has softened. It's highly likely Troy will find an opening tonight."
A's rough face curved into a pleased grin.
"Good. Very good."
"Just as I expected," he scoffed. "Without the Fourth, Konoha turned into a paper tiger—thin on top-tier forces. And even if Namikaze somehow crawled back from the dead by some underhanded trick—so what?"
"After the Kyubi chaos, after cleansing Danzo and the elders, Konoha is hollow and jittery. What they need most now is stability—peace."
"They need years to rebuild and raise new elites. Even now, they haven't fully recovered. They won't dare, and can't afford, to fight the Cloud."
Nods circled the room.
"Raikage-sama is wise!"
"Even if Namikaze lives, his power's got to be diminished. He fears us most right now!"
"As soon as Troy brings back the Hyuga bloodline, our Byakugan program begins. Then Konoha loses its edge!"
Greed and optimism thickened the air.
A's mood soared; he even weighed bolder demands for the peace table—return of Cloud prisoners, shared sealing and medical research. Konoha, desperate for quiet, would surely agree.
He stepped to the floor-to-ceiling window, drinking in his village with a smile that gave his ambition away.
"Once we grasp Byakugan, the next is Uchiha's Sharingan. We'll take every bloodline Konoha prizes—cooperate or be conquered. This world speaks in strength."
He savored his vision.
No one noticed the slightest wrinkle in the air at the office's center—like a pebble into still water.
A thread of gold flickered.
Gone.
As if nothing had happened.
Then—
Killing intent colder than winter pressed on A's spine. Every muscle contracted to the limit.
Something metal, hard and chill, rested against his throat.
That presence—he could never forget it. A nightmare behind him.
Long ago, on a two-man mission with Bee, the Golden Flash had faced them two-on-one and didn't even look tense. If not for compromise, A and Bee might never have come home.
Old terror surged. A's mind raced. If they'd used Daburu Rariatto (Double Lariat) back then—would it have mattered?
Impossible.
His brain stalled.
This office was the best-guarded point in Kumogakure: sensory barriers outside, squads of ANBU and guards in layers.
How could anyone appear behind him—without a sound?
Instinct snapped first: explode.
"Raiton no Yoroi (Lightning Release Armor)!"
Chakra roared through him—
And died.
A pressure without element or edge, sovereign and inexorable, poured off the man at his back. Under that weight, A's lightning scattered like mist, his chakra stream shattered like a creek against the sea.
His vaunted taijutsu and steel sinew froze. Movements lagged.
It wasn't a man behind him.
It was the world's palm on his throat—death itself.
Sweat burst from brow and spine, soaking the Raikage cloak.
Around them, Cloud jonin reacted fast—and still late. Their eyes jerked to the intruder:
A blond man, somehow already at A's back.
A white haori fluttered, the kanji for "Fourth" blazing on it.
His smile was gentle. His ocean-blue eyes were winter cold.
In his hand—a three-pronged kunai, its tip kissing the Raikage's carotid.
"Th—the Fourth Hokage…"
"Namikaze… Minato…"
A jonin's voice cracked around the name.
Silence fell like a guillotine.
No one moved. No one breathed.
The man who had nearly suppressed an era stood among them. Who could stop him?
How had he even entered?
Minato spoke at last—calm, almost polite, and all the more terrifying for it.
"Good evening, Raikage."
The kunai pressed a fraction closer—enough to sting, to bead a single line of blood.
"You've been busy—peace envoys, banquet speeches, 'programs.' I just came from Konoha's gate. Your envoy is… on display. He attempted to abduct Hinata, Hyuga's main-house daughter."
A's jaw locked. A ripple of rage sparked—and died under that crushing presence.
Minato's eyes didn't blink.
"You and I both move quickly. So let's be quick."
A spasm flickered through the room as half a dozen Cloud jonin twitched toward their weapons.
Minato didn't look at them.
The kunai rotated half a degree; the air rang with displaced space.
Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique).
A blink later, a paper tag rested on the ceiling beam, another on the office wall, a third under the desk—no one saw him plant them.
Minato went on, voice level.
"Kumogakure will withdraw its envoy and issue a formal apology for the attempted abduction. Troy will remain where he is for three days as notice to the world: Konoha does not negotiate with kidnappers."
"The Cloud will permanently cease all operations targeting Byakugan and Sharingan—overt or covert."
"You will return every Konoha citizen and bloodline subject taken in your custody within seven days."
"And if any Cloud shinobi—any—touches a single Konoha child again…"
For the first time, warmth left the voice entirely.
"I will come back. Not to talk."
A swallowed. The room groaned under a terror that had no chakra signature and no shape.
At last, Minato drew the kunai back the smallest breath.
"Answer me, Raikage."
A's lips worked. Pride warred with survival—and with a memory of a young man in a white cloak who never missed.
"…Kumogakure," he managed, each word ground from stone, "will… observe the terms."
Minato inclined his head a millimeter—acknowledgment, not thanks.
"Good. Then keep your dogs leashed."
His figure blurred.
A golden afterimage touched the ceiling tag, then the wall, then vanished into nothing—space itself yielding with a faint chime.
The office exhaled as one.
Only then did A realize his legs had nearly buckled—and that three Hiraishin marks now sang in the walls of his sanctum like quiet bells the Fourth could ring whenever he pleased.
Outside, thunder rumbled through the mountains.
Inside, no one spoke of conquest.
For the first time that night, A tasted what Konoha had poured over the world:
Fear.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]