HTP: Ch. 41

Hiruzen flipped through the files. Only two matters stood out as important.

First, a report from the intelligence division: The Raikage's corpse was of little value. His brain had been scorched and carbonized by lightning, no information could be extracted.

Second, the Kumo ninjas were still preparing for war, claiming revenge for the Fourth Raikage. They were gathering massive troops and resources along the border.

Muscle-heads were really troublesome.

Clearly used by Akatsuki as pawns, yet they refused to let go of their hatred for Konoha. This kind of "vengeful army" attitude was the hardest to deal with.

With a sigh, he was about to issue orders to deploy troops to the border with the Land of Fire. Just then, new intel arrived from the ANBU: The jinchūriki of the Two-Tails had gone missing.

He laughed heartily. He immediately ordered that the troops heading to the Fire-Lightning border be halved, basic defensive preparations would suffice.

In a great mood, he decided to leave the rest of the paperwork for tomorrow.

A knock came at the door. It was Saru.

"Hokage-sama. The envoy delegation from Iwa has arrived in Konoha and requests an audience."

Hiruzen picked up his pipe and rubbed his temples, beginning to think, What is Ōnoki up to?

Arriving in Konoha without any prior warning at such a time… It meant he had dispatched envoys the moment the Fourth Raikage died.

Lighting his pipe, he asked, "Who is leading the Iwa delegation?"

"It's Kitsuchi, a jonin from Iwa."

A person of weight, someone who can make decisions on the spot. About on par with Konoha sending out Jiraiya or Kakashi as envoys.

Hiruzen puffed out some smoke and nodded. "Have Shikaku meet with him first. Say that I'm busy with government affairs and can't get away for now."

Gotta establish dominance first. If they came rushing over like this, they clearly want something from me.

Saru accepted the order and left.

Hiruzen resumed stamping the backlog of documents.

Soon after, another knock came.

It was Kitsu, with a slightly surprised tone.

"Hokage-sama. The envoy delegation from Kiri has arrived in Konoha and requests an audience."

Kiri? What a coincidence.

Hiruzen set down the Hokage's seal and asked, "Who's leading the Kiri delegation?"

"A female jonin who introduced herself as Terumi Mei."

The future Fifth Mizukage. He knew her too.

After a moment of thought, he told, "Take them to the reception room next to Iwa's. Tell them I'm busy with official duties and can't leave for now. Then let Shikaku know, after finishing talks with Kitsuchi, proceed to negotiate with Mei Terumi."

---

In the Land of Lightning, Kumo sat atop high mountains, completely different in style from Konoha, if anything, it resembled Thunder Bluff.

In the Raikage's office, Darui, now clad in the Raikage's cloak, had officially become the Fifth Raikage.

At this moment, he was speaking with his secretary. "A massive deployment at the border should be enough to put pressure on Konoha."

Old replaced with new, Mabui's expression was clearly tinged with sorrow. "Yes, Raikage-sama. We've gathered our elites at the border. After flexing our muscles, we'll need to seek peace with Konoha."

Darui shook his head. "Just call me Darui. Calling me Raikage all of a sudden feels weird."

"You'll get used to it," Mabui said softly, interrupting. "Because now… you are the Raikage."

Darui fell silent.

Yes, he had to get used to it, to suppress his anger, to weigh gains and losses. Even though the intel from Konoha confirmed that all of this was orchestrated by Akatsuki, the one who personally beheaded the Fourth Raikage was still Kakashi.

He had etched that into his heart. But revenge was something he might seek, not something the Fifth Raikage should pursue. Even if they were to fight, now was not the time, not when so many elite ninjas had already died in the Land of Fire.

"We must avenge big bro!"

The office door was kicked open with a bang, it was Killer B.

He marched straight up to the Raikage's desk and ripped apart the intelligence scroll lying open on top of it, it was the one from Konoha detailing Akatsuki's conspiracy behind everything.

Under his hands, the scroll was torn to shreds.

"Gather the troops and march on Konoha! Take the head of that silver-haired guy to honor big bro's spirit!"

He glared at the Fifth Raikage and said, "The entire shinobi world is saying it was Kakashi who beheaded the Raikage."

Mabui stepped in front of Killer B, trying to stop him. "Please wait—"

Killer B shoved her aside and stared directly at Darui. "And you? You're just going to sit there?"

Darui kept his head lowered, his eyes shadowed, his expression unreadable. He spoke in a deep voice, "I am the Raikage now. B, my order to you is: stay put, recover, and maintain the peace."

"Bullshit!" Killer B's fist trembled, he was about to strike Darui in the face.

Darui looked up and met his eyes without flinching. In the end, the punch smashed into the wall next to him.

Killer B suddenly grabbed Darui by the collar of the Raikage cloak. Eight-Tails chakra surged violently around him.

"He trusted you like a brother! He trained you with everything he had! He even gave you the Raikage, passed down through the generations!"

Mabui moved to intervene, but Darui raised a hand, signaling her to stay back.

"Now his body isn't even cold..." Killer B shoved Darui back violently, sending him stumbling into the Raikage's chair. "And you're already wearing his cloak, his hat, and mouthing off like some damn politician?"

Darui took a deep breath, trying to steady his tone. "B... Now is not the right time…"

But there was no point saying more. Killer B pulled out a bloodstained bandage from his chest, the same one A had used to bind his injuries.

He tore off a long strip and tied it around his forehead.

"If you won't avenge him today, who will still acknowledge you as Raikage tomorrow?" He slammed the rest of the bloodied bandage down on the desk. "I'm gathering the others. All who will follow me to strike Konoha, wear this mourning cloth!"

Before Darui could speak again, Killer B turned and walked to the door. As he stepped over the threshold, he shouted out a rap:

"Yo yo~ Kumo men in white stand tall~
Till Konoha falls, we won't withdraw!"

Darui shot to his feet and shouted, "B!"

BANG!

The door to the Raikage's office was shattered.

---

The next day, the morning mist had not yet lifted. A dozen Kumo ninjas stood silently like a funeral procession, all wearing white sashes on their heads and mourning robes on their shoulders, ready to follow Killer B into battle.

At the front stood he, ready to lead the charge.

"Kakashi killed our Raikage." Killer B shouted, "If we don't do anything, what's left of Kumo?"

The others beat their chests with their fists and roared in unison: "Fight!"

A bolt of lightning suddenly struck down.

It was Darui. His face was grim as thunder. He shouted, "That's enough!"

Killer B ignored him and prepared to lead his troops forward.

Darui's voice, full of suppressed fury, rang out, "Yugito has been attacked. The Two-Tails has been captured."

He took off his Raikage hat, his forehead now also bound with the same bloodstained bandage.

"Akatsuki…"