Born in Sunagakure, dedicated to antagonizing Konoha for decades

As the abbreviated Nara Big Head said, during World War I, the Second Raikage, following Hozuki Gengetsu, took advantage of Iwagakure's election of a leader to steal two outer towers. During World War II, the Third Raikage secretly led an infiltration into the Land of Earth, reportedly collaborating with Shiki to make a fortune. So it wasn't just Shiki; the Hidden Cloud Village was equally experienced.

So... here's the problem!

This is ridiculous! He thought he was out of the loop, but it turns out he's back to square one, and he still doesn't know who the killer is...

This gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a huge headache. If this matter wasn't handled properly, Konoha would truly become someone else's backyard!

"Lord Hokage, news has come from the border that several villages there have been plundered again!"

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was having a headache, a subordinate from the Anbu suddenly appeared beside him and said something.

"What?! They just left and they're back again? Is it the same group? (⊙_⊙)"

Not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi surprised, but even the smaller, big-headed guy who was about to leave was completely bewildered. He had guessed that the group hadn't made a move for a while and should have already left. How could another group have arrived? Did they really think the Land of Fire was their backyard?!

534. At least you took down several.

"...This is never going to end. Tell Shin-hong to go with him and investigate."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious, but helpless. He had just returned from the border, and something had immediately happened there. If it weren't for the fact that it was a shonen anime, he would have thought he was watching a spy movie. Did he have a mole among his men...?

Based on his own observation, Nara's brain, with an intelligence point consumption of 98.5, is indeed quite something. Apart from his relatively short time in the industry and a lack of experience, there is really nothing wrong with it.

He sent the smaller Nara Big Head with Shinku, hoping to give him some experience. He had always felt that Nara Shika and the others had retired too early. Although they had reached the legal retirement age, Shika was a brainy player with a longer career span than many others, so there was no need for them to retire so early. However, since the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were going through thick and thin together, he couldn't say anything.

However, Minato's outstanding performance in the fight against the Iwa ninja impressed him. At the same time, the fact that the Aburame clan chief, due to her advanced age, was nearly ambushed by Onoki's son made him change his mind. The village's leadership is indeed aging, and while it's undeniable that the issue of generational change must be considered, ten years ago, if Onoki's son had tried to ambush the Aburame chief, he would have been discovered and killed by her insects. But if it weren't for Minato, who knows what might have happened...

......

"You too, if you can't drink, then don't drink. Now look at you, all wrapped up like Ebizo. Seriously, you really don't remember what happened that day?"

In the Sunagakure Hospital, Sasori's father woke up.

Actually, it's nothing serious, just excessive blood loss. If he had been brought back late, it might have been fatal, but if he was brought back in time, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

"I'm sitting next to Sasori's dad, who's wrapped up like a mummy," Masato asked curiously.

The reason was that when handsome Scorpion's father woke up, he was even more surprised than him. He was confused as to how he ended up in the hospital. He had forgotten everything that had happened there. Even when Masato told him that he had been drunk and was playing with his underlings' three broken swords, he had no recollection of it at all.

And judging from his expression, he didn't seem to be lying, which surprised him.

"...I had no choice. I was in a hurry to come back that day because I didn't want to bother Hanzo the Salamander. But as soon as I entered the Land of Rain, he came out to greet me. Judging from his attitude, he wouldn't let us leave unless we had a few drinks. I really don't remember what happened after we drank. Bro, am I really that bad? o(╯□╰)o"

"Handsome Scorpion's dad said with a bewildered expression."

Having a super genius as a son is more stressful than having a father who is the First Kazekage. He finally managed to make some name for himself during World War II and set a good example for his son, but a few cups of poisoned horse urine ruined everything. In the middle, he was fighting the enemy hand-to-hand with three broken swords.

Isn't this the same as a high-ranking mage carrying a fire poker and trying to fight a warrior in melee combat?

"...It's not too bad, at least you took down several...Once your injuries heal, take some time each day to practice swordsmanship with me. You won't always be this lucky."

Zhen Dou babbled on, looking at the frustrated little expression on Handsome Scorpion's father's face, and could only forcibly add a few heads to comfort his wounded heart.

It was really hard to bring himself to hurt him. According to Tian Yuan's testimony, this guy was brave enough. His indomitable spirit and ability to hold off thousands of enemies amazed Tian Yuan and the others. However, he was killed before he could even show off for two minutes after charging into the crowd. He didn't get a single kill. If it weren't for his underlings being afraid of being punished when they came back, they would have risked their lives to save him. This guy would have gone to join his dead father.

"Practicing swordsmanship? Forget it. I'm already this old, and I have so many things to do. I don't have the time. Besides, I don't plan to drink anymore...-_-||"

Handsome Scorpion's father was speechless. This experience was unforgettable; he would never dare to do it again. Besides, he completely agreed with his brother's last sentence: luck doesn't always work...

"Oh well... whatever you want..."

Seeing Sasori's father's expression, Shinto didn't force the issue. Forced relationships don't work out, and besides, the kid wouldn't have much time after recovering from his injuries. He figured Ebizo would send him to the Hokage Building for an internship after he was discharged, which would mean even less time, just like Ebizo's 9-to-5 schedule. After all, the kid's fate was rather unlucky. People who survive great calamities are said to have good fortune later, but this kid's fate was different. He didn't die on the battlefield with Yusaori during World War II, but he didn't have the legendary good fortune either; instead, he suffered a series of misfortunes. Perhaps this was a consequence of his changed fate. Now, his genius son is a spendthrift, and now he's drunk and been attacked, and he even has intermittent amnesia, forgetting everything that happened that night, not even knowing who the killer was.

So it's best if Sasori's dad goes to work at the Hokage Building. Although there might be some unlucky things in the future, it's better than getting drunk and killed again at some point.

.....

"Lord Kazekage, Lord Haicang, news has come from the border that a group of people are causing havoc on the border of the Land of Fire. Our people suspect that they are the same group that attacked Lord Jie."

Since Handsome Scorpion's father returned, Sandawa and Ebizo have been constantly busy at Fengying Tower. They have to keep a close eye on whether there is any news of the group that ambushed Jie near the border, and they also have to take stock of the supplies that Jie and his group brought back. They were shocked by what they found. No wonder Jie was so careful on his way back and took such a long detour. They had found so many resources, including all kinds of copper and iron ore.

This was something the Land of Wind had never done before. When they saw the bundles of explosive tags, they were shocked. The quantity was enormous, exceeding their combined orders from the Land of Craftsmen and the Land of Iron. These tags were currently a scarce commodity in the ninja world, sold out everywhere, and impossible to obtain. Moreover, their orders had to wait until the 42nd year of the Sand Village's reign. Add to that production and shipping time, and given the increasingly chaotic state of the ninja world, who knew when another war would break out? Their village's military strength had shrunk by more than half after the massive layoffs. If war were to break out, the Land of Wind's geographical location wouldn't allow them to remain uninvolved. Therefore, considering the Cloud Ninja's previous use of explosive tags, these were a crucial safeguard for their post-transformation efforts!

535. The true first person in the history of the Land of Lightning

However, good things come in pairs. Before they could even finish taking inventory, the underlings from the Dark Guard brought them another piece of good news: those bastards who attacked Jie had finally made a move!

Just as Ebizo predicted, the deployment of so many people at once couldn't have been without a follow-up, just to ambush Jie and his group.

"Notify Manato...".

"Lord Kazekage, Lord Kaizou, news has come from our people in the Land of Lightning that a group of people have wreaked havoc on the border of the Land of Lightning!"

Before Sunagawa could finish speaking to Ebizo, another ANBU underling appeared in the office to report.

"(⊙_⊙)?...You mean there are people causing trouble on the border of the Land of Lightning?"

Sunagawa and Ebizo were dumbfounded. Based on their guesses, they immediately thought that the two groups must be the same group. But it was one thing to cause trouble in the Land of Fire, which was a wealthy country that everyone wanted to kill. But why did they go to the Land of Lightning to cause trouble? Who was so powerful as to provoke two major ninja villages at once?

"...Don't notify Shinto yet. Check what's going on in the Land of Water and the Land of Earth. Send more troops to the border. I think this matter is not simple."

Sunagawa began to ponder. He felt that these people's motives seemed to be more than they appeared. The Land of Fire had stirred things up, and now the Land of Lightning had stirred things up as well, reminding him of the Land of Earth and the Land of Water, especially the Land of Water. Ever since that wild Uchiha powerhouse appeared in the Land of Water and fought with Shinto, the Land of Water had truly closed itself off. Outsiders couldn't get in, and those inside couldn't get out. They had already isolated themselves from the spies within the Land of Water and had no intention of sending anyone to investigate. Shimura Danzo was a prime example. If it weren't for Sakumo Hatake's intervention, Shimura Danzo would have been finished. It was clear that Kirigakure, which hadn't participated in World War II, had maintained its strength very well. Almost all of Shimura Danzo's underlings, whom he had trained over the years, had been wiped out.

So even though the Land of Water is closed off, what he cares about most is Kirigakure.

.......

"boom!"

"Which bastard did this?! Bastard! How dare they cause trouble on my turf!"

In Kumogakure, the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning, a loud crash was heard, leaving a large hole in the Raikage Tower. The guards below simply dodged the falling bricks and pebbles with a few serpentine movements before returning to their posts as if nothing had happened. The passing villagers glanced up at the dilapidated Raikage Tower, which had been patched up for three years, with slight surprise, before continuing with their own business, not giving it a second thought.

Everyone knows that Raikage has a terrible temper; it's common for him to bang on doors and smash walls at the drop of a hat. So, the guards and villagers who pass by are used to it. It would be strange if the Raikage's house were quiet and silent one day.

Moreover, each time they heard the loud noise from the Raikage Tower, they felt a strange sense of peace, knowing that their tall, majestic Raikage was still alive...

"Those damn bastards! (「▼皿▼)"

Meanwhile, the Raikage, who had brought peace of mind to the villagers of Kumogakure, was enraged, and physical methods could not extinguish the fire in his heart.

For over twenty years, since he rectified the chaos and ended the coup, apart from the Eight-Tails' rampage, no outsider has ever dared to cause trouble on his territory. He can now watch his son and Killer Bee, this duo, grow up in a few years, and he can finally settle down in the Land of Lightning and become the first person in history to do so.

Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, who merely shouted slogans, the Third Raikage's title as the greatest figure in the history of the Land of Lightning was a genuine one, chosen by the villagers of Kumogakure by a single vote. The First Raikage died young, and aside from following the trend of Konoha and participating in the first Five Kage Summit, he made little contribution. The Second Raikage's reign was also relatively short, and he was killed by a traitor. Although a hero, in a place like Kumogakure that reveres strength, the Second Raikage's historical status wouldn't be very high. But the Third Raikage was different. He displayed his formidable strength from the moment he ended the coup, and later, during the Eight-Tails' rampage, he even engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Eight-Tails. These were all witnessed by his subordinates. Moreover, the Third Raikage's achievements over the years far surpassed those of the First and Second Raikage. Whether it was ending the coup, encouraging population growth and economic development, or ensuring the stable development of Kumogakure over the years, all of this was thanks to the Third Raikage's powerful fist. Therefore, he has consistently topped the polls for the greatest figure in history for many years.

Just when he was thinking that he could make a name for himself in history after a few more years, his underling told him that they had been attacked on the border. Wasn't this a slap in the face to him? Did they think that he was too old and his fists weren't as big as before?

He used to be the one messing with others, but now he dares to act recklessly on his turf! He's got a death wish!

"...Those guys just caused destruction? They didn't do anything else?"

The Third Raikage had a fiery temper, but the big-headed Azabu beside him was very calm, frowning as he asked his underling across from him something.

"They just cause destruction. Wherever they go, they wreak havoc, and then they leave, just like... just like carrying out demolitions!"

The Cloud Ninja junior brother recalled.

What came to mind?

When Raikage saw the big-headed guy in the burlap sack start stroking his chin and tapping the table, he knew from their years of getting to know each other that the guy was thinking of something. But he hadn't figured it out yet, so Raikage suppressed his temper and told him to say it so they could all think of it together.

That's the good thing about the Third Raikage; he's not one of those brainless musclemen. While his intelligence might not be the highest, his immense strength and powerful self-control allow him to easily control his temper. It's hard for someone like that not to succeed...

"A while ago, Onoki and Hiruzen Sarutobi fought on the border of the Land of Wind. According to the intelligence that came back, it was because Iwagakure's spy in Sunagakure kidnapped Hashirama Senju's grandson. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but now that I think about it carefully, the more I think about it, the more something seems off. Putting aside Shiki's strength, even within Sunagakure, there were the Kazekage, Chiyo, that genius puppeteer couple, and Tsunade who went to Sunagakure. All of these people were in Sunagakure at the time. Logically speaking, even if Onoki could fly, he couldn't possibly escape from Sunagakure with Hashirama Senju's grandson. Yet two Jonin were able to capture him right under the noses of so many powerful figures and escape from Sunagakure. Now that I think about it, this might be a conspiracy by Sunagakure..."

Azabu, with his big head, slowly analyzed the situation. Previously, his focus had been on the large-scale live-action PK show between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Onoki. He had even considered sending someone to clear some territory while the two sides were fighting, but then decided against it. What their village needed now was to play it safe and secure a victory; there was no need to take that risk. Moreover, he also realized that the fight between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Onoki wouldn't be a life-or-death struggle and wouldn't last long. Sending someone to Onoki wouldn't yield any results in a short time, so he didn't bother to notice these small details.

536. A true villain beneath a bold exterior.

However, when he heard his subordinate report that something was going on at the border, a thought flashed through his mind: Could it be... that Sunagakure was planning the same thing he had done back then?

Then, the various questions that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Onoki had about fighting over the information about Hashirama Senju's grandson began to surface in his mind. He also realized that if this was part of Sunagakure's plan, then all the mysteries would be solved. If Sunagakure originally intended to raid Konoha, and Tsunade and her brother were in Sunagakure, then it would be very simple if they wanted to do so. It would also explain why two insignificant Iwa ninja were able to escape with so many powerful people. It was clearly a deliberate act to let them leave. They devised the plan, and they could control the timing perfectly. When the Iwa ninja and Konoha started fighting, a group of people could flank Konoha, or even, given Shiki's appetite, potentially launch a raid on the Iwa ninja. At that time, everyone's attention would be on the Iwa ninja and Konoha, and no one would pay attention to the secondary Sunagakure!

If Shindou knew what Azabu was thinking, he would be absolutely amazed. This highly intelligent clan is truly remarkable; they even managed to reconstruct every step of their plan.

"You mean these bastards are from Sunagakure?"

The Third Raikage frowned. He understood what the big-headed Azabu had said and agreed with his old friend's assessment. From his friend's perspective, the fight between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Onoki was definitely the work of Sunagakure. The effeminate woman from Sunagakure and Ebizo might not have thought of such a sinister plan, but he had met Shiki many times. Shiki was a true villain hidden beneath a bold exterior, and it was entirely possible that he was capable of such a despicable scheme.

"It shouldn't be. My reason for making this inference about the conflict between Konoha and Iwa is based on Sunagakure's ability to gain benefits from both Konoha and Iwa. Moreover, Raikage, you know Shiki's methods. His actions are orderly, clean, and efficient, without any unnecessary delays. He doesn't cause destruction to seize resources. In his words, only in this way can resources be repeatedly farmed. But this time, these people give me the feeling that they are purely there to cause destruction... Based on my understanding of Shiki, there is no point in him doing this. Could it be that he wants to muddy the waters?"

Mabu Big Head said he was confused because this kind of operation should not be the work of Golden Lion. Given the current situation in the ninja world, he really couldn't figure out where these people came from. If they came to farm, then they could farm, but there was no need to cause trouble. Causing trouble would be meaningless to those people. Did they receive benefits from the demolition company?

This is also why he suspected it wasn't Sunagakure. Sunagakure isn't short of money; what they lack are resources. But if it were really as he suspected, it would be even less likely to be Sunagakure. They've already messed with Konoha and Iwagakure; Sunagakure isn't arrogant enough to provoke three clans at the same time...

"...Tsuchitai, you go with Aya and Killer Bee to investigate who they are. If they resist, no matter who they are, just kill them! (▼he▼メ)"

Azabu-da-Nao's words were rather convoluted, and he didn't quite understand them, but he got the gist: Azabu-da-Nao wasn't sure if Sunagakure was behind it either. It seemed quite complicated. The Raikage, not wanting to wait for him to figure it out, directly told the earthen platform beside him to have his underling take his son and Killer Bee there, mainly to train their Cloud Village's AB duo. To be honest, although his son's Lightning Release chakra mode was different from his own, focusing more on speed, his overall strength was still quite good, just lacking a bit of experience. In his words, he had too much fighting experience, especially in life-or-death situations. The two had been training on Turtle Island all along, and even when they sparred, they only went so far as to stop. Killer Bee didn't dare to use too much force, lest he stimulate the Eight-Tails inside his stomach and accidentally kill his sworn brother.

So, although his son's strength was decent, he was definitely the best among all the second-generation ninjas in the ninja world. Onoki's son was not bad, but he couldn't compare to his son. Hiruzen Sarutobi's son was also okay, but he still couldn't compare to his son. The Mizukage and Kazekage were just two single dogs. But his son couldn't do without fighting experience. Experience is something that can't be seen or touched, but it really exists and has a great impact. If he had fought more with the previous Hyuga clan leader, he wouldn't have been released by that bastard Orochimaru!

He was still furious as he thought about it. A tough guy like him had been poisoned by a dead snake...

As for the rest of Killer Bee, they were just there for show. The kid's personality was too lively. If his son came out while he was still inside, who knows what would happen? Now he's no longer at his peak, and fighting the Eight-Tails hand-to-hand is no longer an option. The more this is the case, the more he values ​​Killer Bee as the perfect Jinchūriki.

If Killer Bee runs out of the village, that wouldn't be good. If he runs into Shiki, that would be even worse. You know, Shiki is extremely sensitive to tailed beasts. He just beat up the Four-Tails not long ago.

.....

"Lord Kazekage, Lord Kaizou, according to our investigation, the Land of Water is currently peaceful and there are no incidents. The borders of the Land of Earth are also calm..."

Meanwhile, in Sunagakure, at the Kazekage Tower, the supplies that Sasaki and Umekawa Naito brought back from the Land of Earth, along with the supplies that Sasori's father had brought from the Land of Fire, had been inventoried and distributed. They were waiting for news from their ANBU underlings, who were quite efficient and didn't keep them waiting too long.

"What? There's not a sound from either side?"

Sunagawa and Ebizo were both dumbfounded. When they heard that the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning had been sabotaged, Sunagawa immediately sent his underlings to find out what was going on in the Land of Earth and the Land of Water. He suspected that someone wanted to shift the blame to Sunagakure in the same way they had shifted the blame to Onoki.

If someone really wants to shift the blame to Sunagakure, then not only the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, but also the Land of Water and the Land of Earth will definitely send people there to cause trouble. At that time, four of the five great ninja villages will be in trouble, and only Sunagakure will be unharmed. Then they will have no way to defend themselves, and even if they are not guilty, they will still be guilty.

After hearing Sunagawa's concerns, Ebizo agreed that his worries were very reasonable and plausible, given the sheer number of people who resent the wealthy these days! So, for the past few days, they'd been unable to eat or sleep, anxiously waiting for news at the Kazekage-ro. It seemed they were both single and unambitious, with no family conflicts whatsoever...

But now the Land of Water and the Land of Earth are completely unaffected, which has left the two of them dumbfounded. Could it really be that terrorists are deliberately causing trouble because they dislike Konoha and Kumogakure?

537. Lord Tsuchikage, we've crashed into an iceberg!

"These little rascals are working pretty hard. What's going on with Purple and Firelight? Haven't they reached the Land of Water yet...? ヾ(^?^)?"

Onoki has been in a good mood lately. The civil engineering task force hasn't yet found out who's behind the raids on their Land of Earth, but looking at the numerous reports of successes on his desk—his son and Wenya raided a village in the Land of Fire the day before yesterday, and his nephew Kurajiro conquered a town in the Land of Lightning yesterday—though their methods were clumsy, the damage was significant, and the impact wasn't great, it didn't matter, since it wasn't their Land of Earth after all...ヾ(^Д^*)/

Although the special task force on the earthworks hasn't found the culprit yet, Onoki is certain it's one of them. Casting a wide net like this is definitely the right thing to do. He's already planned it out. Once the good news from Hikari and Yukari arrives, he'll immediately spread the news of the destruction of their Land of Earth. At that time, four of the five great ninja villages will be targeted, while only Sunagakure will remain unscathed. Then, that sissy Sunagakure will be in serious trouble, and Iwagakure will not only be able to stay out of it but also reap the benefits.