This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 203 Killer Bee's Guidance (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Because of its small population, Sunagakure has the fewest ninja personnel among the five great ninja villages.

Leaving aside long-time genin or recent graduates, the main force at the chunin level and above numbers around six thousand.

During the Third Shinobi World War, after the Allied Shinobi Forces attacked Sunagakure, accepted the mission from the Land of Iron to attack Amegakure, defended the coastline against Kirigakure's invasion, and carried out a large-scale purge to prevent internal strife, fewer than 3500 people remained.

After half a year of rest and recuperation, about 500 more genin were promoted to chunin.

After being betrayed by Iwagakure, Kumogakure still had about 6,000 fresh troops left. After half a year of recuperation, they recovered to 7,500.

In terms of sheer numbers, Kumogakure is nearly twice the size of Sunagakure.

Not only in terms of quantity, but also in terms of the individual elites, the Raikage was confident that Kumogakure would not lose to anyone, not even Sunagakure, which was known for its individual elites.

However, the puppeteers of Sunagakure are skilled at outnumbering their opponents, and with the addition of those five thousand autonomous puppets, their actual troop strength is actually at a disadvantage.

Furthermore, since Sunagakure built its floating city earlier, it is definitely better adapted to the high-altitude environment than Kumogakure. If a high-altitude boarding battle were to take place, Kumogakure would have an over 80% chance of losing.

Therefore, after saying "Kumakunobi will win," the Raikage immediately added, "Although we can win, the price we pay will be very high."

"It seems the Raikage is very confident in the strength of his village!" White Zetsu praised.

Black Zetsu, however, disagreed. "While I don't know where the Raikage's confidence comes from, I don't believe that Kumogakure can defeat Sunagakure just because they have Sky Castle. So, they should consider forming a military alliance with the other three ninja villages!"

"I am not against alliances, but Iwagakure must be excluded."

The Raikage said firmly, "You should also know that Iwagakure and Kusagakure betrayed us half a year ago. If you want us to ally with Iwagakure in the blink of an eye, I would rather watch Sunagakure unify the ninja world."

"Why would the Raikage do this?"

Black Zetsu advised, "From the Warring States period to now, the ninja world has been in turmoil for hundreds of years. Various forces have formed alliances and betrayed each other for their own interests. This phenomenon has long been the norm. As the Kage of a village, you should prioritize your own interests."

Upon hearing this, the Raikage glared at him and asked unhappily, "Are you trying to teach me how to be the Raikage?"

"I was just stating common sense in the ninja world. If the Raikage finds this offensive, I apologize."

Black Zetsu's submissive attitude made the Raikage scoff in displeasure.

He strode back to his desk, sat down, took a deep breath, and then said, "Normally, I wouldn't be so stubborn, but their betrayal killed my father."

"Wasn't the Third Raikage killed by Minato Namikaze?" White Zetsu asked curiously.

The Raikage slammed his fist on the table and stood up, shouting in a loud voice, "But the instigator of this was the backstabbing by Iwagakure and Kurokusa. Judging from their style of doing things, it was probably that old bastard Onoki who did it."

As a ninja, the Fourth Raikage learned one thing from a young age: to kill is to be prepared to be killed.

Therefore, although Minato Namikaze was the murderer who killed his own father, he defeated his opponent honorably on the battlefield, so the Fourth Raikage did not hate him.

On the contrary, he harbored deep resentment towards the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Grass Village who stabbed him in the back.

"This is a real headache!" Black Zetsu sighed helplessly.

The mutual distrust among the major forces in the ninja world is the result of his years of hard work and also the phenomenon he hoped to see.

But now he needs all the major powers to unite to deal with Sunagakure, or rather, to deal with Ryuji Ayaki.

If we can't stop Ryuji Ayaki's progress, then the Eye of the Moon plan will probably be difficult to implement.

"I don't know how to advise you, but the power of Iwagakure and Kumogakure is essential. Raikage, please reconsider. I'll go and make contact with the Kage of the other three ninja villages. I hope you can let go of your hatred then!"

After saying that, Black Zetsu ignored Raikage's reaction and gradually melted into the ceiling, disappearing from the office.

The Raikage did not stop him.

After two attempts, he knew it would be difficult to keep this mysterious guy.

He was considering Black Zetsu's proposal.

Torn between hatred and the interests of the village, his dual identity as a son and the Raikage left him caught between these two choices.

Suddenly, a strange rapping voice rang out from in front of the desk, "Hey, bro, what are you thinking about?"

The Raikage looked up and saw Killer Bee, carrying eight short swords on his back, wriggling his body like octopus legs.

Instantly, a row of black lines appeared on his forehead.

"Hey bro, you look upset. Want me to play a song to cheer you up?"

It was still that strange rapping style, which made the Fourth Raikage sigh deeply. "Bee, I'm already annoyed, don't bother me!"

Tell me your thoughts, maybe I can make a decision!

"Can you take it...?"

Halfway through his sentence, Raikage suddenly remembered that although his sworn brother was usually unreliable, he was actually a very reliable person, with first-rate strength and intelligence. He immediately changed his tune and told Raikage everything that had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Killer Bee laughed and rapped, "Dude, you're such an idiot! You still need to think about this? Raikage, you're unqualified!"

"Bi, what did you say?"

The Raikage slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his body erupting with chakra and crackling with electricity, his bull-like eyes glaring at Killer Bee.

Killer Bee leaned back, looking terrified.

Seeing this, Raikage sighed and sat back down in his chair. "I was really something, actually expecting you to give me a serious answer."

"Idiot, idiot, big brother is an idiot!" Killer Bee rapped as he twisted his body, "What's there to hesitate about? Agree to the alliance, and when it's almost successful, stab Iwagakure in the back to avenge the past."

Towards the end of the rap, he switched to a normal speaking tone and sounded disappointed in the other person.

Upon hearing this, Raikage was stunned.

Yes, Iwagakure is a treacherous villain who stabs people in the back, so why should I talk about morality with them?

We should treat them the same way they treat us.

Although this famous saying doesn't exist in the ninja world, the Raikage felt exactly that way at that moment, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, and he laughed heartily with sudden enlightenment.

"Hahaha... Compared to you, my good brother, you're definitely smarter, hahahaha!!!"

……

The city of government offices.

The battlefield cleanup is complete, and Ryuji is meeting with the survivors of the Uzumaki clan.

There were seventeen people in total.

Because adults created escape routes for children and women, more women and children survived.

Six men and eleven women, five young people and nine children.

The woman who was meeting with Ryuji on behalf of him was a young woman around twenty-five years old.

(End of this chapter)