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Chapter 305-Double it!
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 16:00:15 +0000 UTCThe Raikage’s office, a grand chamber perched atop the highest tower in Kumogakure, radiated authority. The room was a fortress within a fortress, even if it didn't need to be since its occupant didn't really need the protection. Its walls were adorned with intricate carvings of lightning storms that symbolized the raw power of the Land of Lightning.
Outside, distant thunder rolled through the mountains, a fitting backdrop for the intense meeting taking place within. The polished stone floor gleamed under the dim, flickering light of chakra-powered lanterns, casting long shadows that danced across the room.
A, the third Raikage, sat at the head of a massive table carved from the heartwood of an ancient oak, his hulking frame filling the chair as if it were barely sufficient to contain him. His sharp eyes, glowing faintly under his imposing brow, scrutinized his son, Ay, the head of Kumogakure’s ANBU.
{Author: Decided to change A's name to Ay so that we could differentiate who was who in this chapter.}
Ay stood stiffly before the table, his muscular frame rigid, his face partially shadowed by the sharp light from above.
To the side of the table, Blue B, the Raikage’s advisor and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, leaned casually against the wall. His presence was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere—calm and steady, his eyes half-lidded as though perpetually unbothered. He tapped his fingers on the hilt of his blade, the soft rhythm the only sound in the heavy silence that followed Ay’s report.
“We found them,” Ay began, his voice low but steady. “Spies. Three of them. We believe they were from Konoha.”
The Raikage’s sharp gaze narrowed. The air seemed to crackle around him, a testament to his immense power barely held in check. “Go on.”
Ay nodded and continued, his tone professional despite the tension visibly tightening his shoulders. “They were operating near the northern borders, gathering intelligence. We tracked them for several days and confirmed their movements. Then, a retrieval team, probably from Konoha’s ANBU, arrived to extract them.”
Blue B’s eyebrows rose slightly, though his demeanour remained calm. “And how did you handle it?”
A leaned forward in his chair, his fingers interlaced as his intense gaze bore into his son. He didn’t speak, but the expectation in his posture demanded an answer.
“We intercepted them,” Ay replied, his jaw tightening. “Most of them didn’t make it out alive. I personally ensured that the strongest among them and the spies themselves were eliminated.”
The Raikage’s fingers tightened, and the wood beneath them groaned faintly. “But?”
Ay’s eyes flickered downward, a momentary lapse before he forced himself to meet his father’s gaze. “Two escaped. A summon carried them off—a flying creature, likely an eagle. It used Lightning Release.”
The room fell silent. The distant rumble of thunder seemed to grow louder, as if the mountains themselves were displeased.
The Raikage’s expression darkened. He rose slowly from his chair, his massive frame casting a shadow over Ay. His voice was a low growl, resonating with a weight that seemed to press down on the room. “Careless.”
Ay flinched but stood his ground, his fists clenching at his sides.
“You let them escape?” the Raikage continued, his voice rising like the thunder outside. “Do you understand what this means? Konoha might know what we're planning. They’ll retaliate!”
Ay’s mouth opened as if to explain, but he faltered under the sheer force of his father’s glare.
The Raikage’s chakra flared, an almost tangible wave of energy that rippled through the room. The air grew heavy, charged with electricity, and the carvings on the walls seemed to shimmer as if alive. Ay staggered back a step, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Even Blue B, calm as ever, straightened and raised a placating hand.
“Raikage-sama,” Blue B said evenly, his voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. “Getting angry won’t change the situation. Let’s focus on what’s next.”
The Raikage exhaled sharply, his aura receding, though the tension in the room remained palpable. He turned to Ay, his expression hard but controlled. “How did they escape?”
Ay swallowed and squared his shoulders. “They used a distraction—a decoy jutsu that split my focus. By the time we realized, they were already airborne. The eagle… it was fast and skilled. Lightning-based techniques supported its retreat.”
Blue B’s eyes glinted with curiosity. “A lightning-using summon from Konoha? That’s… unusual.”
The Raikage’s brows furrowed as he considered this information. “What did the escapees look like?”
“They wore masks,” Ay replied. “But one had grey hair, the other dark. The dark-haired one had a Sharingan.”
The Raikage’s eyes widened ever so slightly. His reaction was mirrored by Blue B, who tilted his head in thought.
“A Sharingan,” the Raikage murmured, his tone heavy with contemplation. “An Uchiha in Konoha’s ANBU? Our spies reported strained relations between the Uchiha and Konoha’s leadership. This… complicates things.”
Blue B crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “We couldn’t retrieve their bodies or fully thwart their mission. But we need to respond. Leaving this unanswered will embolden them.”
The Raikage’s fists clenched, and his gaze turned to the horizon visible through the room’s wide windows. The storm clouds seemed to mirror his brooding thoughts. “Yes. Retaliation is necessary. But the question is… where to strike?”
Blue B stepped forward and placed a scroll on the table. He unrolled it, revealing detailed profiles of Konoha’s most promising shinobi. The Raikage scanned the names, his eyes landing on two in particular before he chose one of them after reading their information.
“Renjiro,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying an unmistakable weight. “The Uzumaki boy the Uchiha took in?”
Blue B nodded. “Yes. He’s the youngest to reach jōnin rank, second only to Kakashi. He’s a rising star—strong, capable, and a symbol of Konoha’s future.”
The Raikage’s eyes narrowed. “Does he have a bounty?”
“He does,” Blue B replied. “It started at thirty million ryō and has risen steadily. It’s now at forty-five million.”
The Raikage leaned back, stroking his long beard as he considered this. After a moment, he spoke, his voice decisive. “Double it.”
Ay and Blue B exchanged surprised glances.
“Double it?” Ay repeated, his tone incredulous. “That would make him—”
“Eighty million,” Blue B interjected, his tone laced with both awe and caution. “That’s enough to fund a minor shinobi village for a year.”
The Raikage shook his head. “No. Make it one hundred and twenty million.”
The room fell into stunned silence. Even Blue B, who rarely showed strong reactions, raised an eyebrow.
“That’s an absurd amount,” Ay said, unable to hide his shock.
The Raikage’s gaze was unyielding. “Renjiro is no ordinary shinobi. He carries the potential of both the Uzumaki and Uchiha clans. If Konoha values him, and I am sure Hiruzen does, then targeting him will send a clear message. And raising his bounty will elevate his threat level in the eyes of every other village, be it major or minor. Let them see him as a danger. Let them all hunt him.”
Blue B’s lips curled into a faint smile, impressed by the Raikage’s cunning. “A bold move. It will put immense pressure on Konoha—and on the boy himself.”
The Raikage turned to Ay, his expression firm. “Form a team. Use the fact that he wields Wind Release as our justification. Kumo’s shinobi are trained to overcome their elemental weaknesses but they don't need to know that.”
Ay nodded, though his mind raced with the implications of the task. “Yes, Father.”
As Ay left the room to carry out his orders, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Blue B remained, his calm presence a counterpoint to the storm brewing outside.
“Raikage-sama,” Blue B said after a moment of silence. “Do you think Ay is ready to succeed you?”
The Raikage stroked his beard thoughtfully, his gaze distant. “Not yet. He still lacks the discipline and foresight required to lead. But if war comes…” His voice trailed off, heavy with meaning.
Blue B nodded, his respect for the Raikage evident. “War has a way of forging leaders. Let’s hope he rises to the occasion.”
The Raikage’s eyes gleamed as he stared into the storm, his thoughts unreadable. “If he doesn’t, Kumogakure will find someone who will.”
The distant thunder rumbled louder, as if informing them that Renjiro was the same person that recently escaped their grasp.
