I am the new Hokage of Konoha.

I don't know if it's because he's naturally incompatible with Konoha.

If it were a different time, or a different opponent, even if it were one of those four Kage, Obito believed that the final winner would most likely be Akatsuki.

Pity!

Obito shook his head and asked, "What should we do with these two? Will we need them in the upcoming battle?"

"Forget it. In the unprecedented Shinobi World War that's about to begin, the two of them won't be of much use. Let's save them for capturing the Tailed Beasts."

Madara said listlessly, "Obito, go and tell them that if they are of no use in the future, then they will have no place in the New World. I don't keep useless subordinates."

"Madara, aren't you going?" Obito asked, puzzled.

“I’ll use this time to build up some White Zetsu legions,” Ban said calmly. “After all, we need to be prepared for both our enemies and our allies.”

Chapter 228 The Cloud Ninja's Opportunity

Hidden Cloud Village.

The Cloud Village, which once rivaled Konoha by a hair's breadth and possessed the second-ranked military strength in the ninja world, suffered heavy losses and was burdened with a heavy debt after a battle with Konoha more than five years ago. Since then, it has never recovered and has become the bottom of the five great ninja villages.

Although the village has recovered some of its vitality, it still has a long way to go compared to its peak.

However, with the Fourth Shinobi World War about to begin, the timeline will undoubtedly be further delayed, and even the energy that has been recovered will be lost.

War, especially a war called the Ninja World War, always comes at a heavy price, regardless of whether the victor or the vanquished.

For the other four villages, which have been recuperating and rebuilding for many years and are now strong and well-equipped again, these costs may be bearable.

But for the Hidden Cloud Village, whose old wounds have not yet healed, this is undoubtedly adding new injuries.

However, when survival is at stake, there are some things that must be done, even if they seem impossible.

Raikage's office.

The Fourth Raikage, A, who had rushed back from his journey, immediately convened a meeting to announce the arrival of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Besides the Fourth Raikage A, Daruin, and Shi, those present also included Raikage Tsuchishiro, Secretary Azaburo, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito, and other high-ranking officials from the village.

After hearing Ai's announcement, unlike the exhilarating atmosphere of the war against Konoha more than five years ago, the meeting room was now somewhat somber.

This is not only because they know their own situation, but also because the target of the battle is still Konoha.

The painful memories left by the last war are too deep.

It's worth noting that Hijiri, Yugito, and others present, as well as Killer Bee who wasn't even there, had all been captured by Konoha.

In particular, the two Jinchūriki were taken to Konoha Village and imprisoned for many years.

Even now, many villagers in Konoha still recognize them.

It would be impossible to say that I felt absolutely no apprehension.

"Fortunately, Madara Uchiha was able to keep the Fourth Hokage occupied."

Tsuchishiro let out a slight sigh of relief and spoke first, somewhat thankfully.

"really."

With Tsuchishiro setting an example, the others finally became more active as well.

"I never expected that Madara Uchiha would still be alive!"

"He actually defeated four Kage so easily! Is his individual strength really that great?"

"I've witnessed the might of Thousand Hands Cloud Court back then."

A high-ranking member of the Yun Ninja clan, who had personally witnessed Yun Ting's display of power back then, said with a hint of lingering fear.

"It's good that Madara Uchiha is alive, at least he can keep the Fourth Hokage in check. I don't want to experience the crushing defeat of five years ago again."

"We can't be careless! Who knows if Madara Uchiha, who has been silent for so many years, might have some kind of conspiracy after suddenly appearing at this moment?" someone warned.

“Even if he has a conspiracy, so what? The current situation is that the four-nation...five-nation alliance really needs him. Even if it's like dealing with a tiger, we have to go through with it,” another person said.

"It would be great if Madara Uchiha and Yoru Senju could have died together." This opinion was echoed by many others.

However, most people can only dream about such a good thing.

"No matter what, if we can wipe out the Konoha ninjas in one fell swoop, then when we turn around, whether it's Senju Kumo-tei or Uchiha Madara, I don't believe we can't take them down with the combined forces of all the ninjas from the five countries."

"The idea is good, but we must be clear about one thing: the Cloud Ninja's current resources are weaker than other forces. We must not waste too much strength on a major war. Otherwise, even if we win the war, the Cloud Ninja, having suffered heavy losses, will most likely be kicked out of the new ninja world order. I believe that old man Onoki would be more than willing to do this."

"......"

The discussion in Raikage's office was in full swing.

With the Five Nations Alliance already formed, the Cloud Ninja were no longer discussing whether or not to participate in the war, but rather how to profit from it, and most importantly, how to protect themselves.

However, at that moment, a clear, cold voice instantly silenced the conference room.

"Didn't you... consider that the Cloud Ninja would be the first to be eliminated? The Leaf Village should know very well the principle of picking on the weak first."

The person who said this was Yugito, the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails.

Having always been belligerent, she returned to a much quieter state after years of imprisonment abroad.

Although Konoha did not mistreat her, her strength was always sealed, and she could only live as an ordinary person. Although she did not say anything on the surface and did not cause a lot of trouble in Konoha like Killer Bee, she was still very humiliated in her heart.

It was precisely because of this humiliation that she had been carefully considering everything about Konoha during the years she was unable to exert her strength, wanting to learn from their experience of how to become powerful and then tell her own village about it when she returned.

However, the more she looked at her, the more alarmed she became, and the more she thought about it, the more powerless she felt.

This is simply because Konoha's development has been too rapid.

If the major ninja villages are developing like walking, then Konoha, having integrated all the resources of the Land of Fire, is moving forward at full speed like a train.

Yukito strongly advocated starting the war as soon as possible.

However, one point must be made clear: how could the high-ranking officials who led Konoha to such a development not understand the strategic disadvantage of the Land of Fire as a battleground for four warring states?

If you want to avoid being attacked from all sides, the best way to break the deadlock is to concentrate your strength and eliminate one side first.

Clearly, the weakest of the Cloud Ninja is the most likely candidate.

Upon hearing Yugito reveal this potentially disastrous situation for the Cloud Ninja, many of the Cloud Ninja's high-ranking members who hadn't anticipated this change in expression.

"No...no way? With the Five Nations Alliance mobilizing all its forces, at least 60,000 troops are attacking Konoha. Konoha may be strong, but they shouldn't have the resources to deal with us in this situation, right?" someone said in disbelief.

Yugito shook his head: "Since Konoha dares to fight against the five nations on its own, it must have the confidence to do so."

“We absolutely must pay attention to this,” Tsuchishiro agreed. “We can’t put our fate in the hands of others. The Cloud Ninja must also have their own trump cards.”

At this point, Tsuchishiro looked intently at the Fourth Raikage, A, and said, "Raikage-sama, the plan can begin."

"Oh, have you found the location of that thing?" Ai asked in surprise.

"While you, Raikage, were attending the Four Kage Summit, Killer Bee had already located the object and was now waiting for news of his actions," Raikage's secretary, Mabui, explained.

"Then let's act immediately. Hempen Cloth, use the Heavenly Delivery Technique to give the order to Bi now," Ai said excitedly. "With that thing, the safety of Kumogakure can be truly guaranteed."

"Yes!" Mabu-i replied and immediately turned to leave.

The Cloud Ninja high-ranking members watched in stunned silence, completely unaware of what the Raikage, Tsuchishiro, and Azaburo were up to.

Soon, Yugito asked directly, "Lord Raikage, what are you talking about?"

She had previously wondered why Killer Bee, who was also a Jinchūriki, wasn't present.

It now appears that the other party was assigned to complete an important task.

But what exactly is it that makes Lord Raikage and Lord Tsuchishiro so eager to know?

Yukito was very puzzled.

Faced with Yukito's doubts, Ai no longer concealed anything. After all, everyone present was the person he trusted most, and besides, that thing was already in the final stages, so there was no harm in talking about it now.

He got straight to the point: "The Box of Bliss is a legendary ninja tool used by the Sage of Six Paths. In ancient historical records, the Hidden Grass Village almost ruled the entire ninja world with this Sage's tool. That's exactly what I'm having Killer Bee find. With it, the Hidden Cloud Village will undoubtedly be better able to protect itself in the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War."

"The Box of Bliss? The Six Paths Ninja Tools? Ruling the Ninja World? It sounds like a rumor. How can a box have the power to rule the Ninja World?" Yugito asked skeptically.

The so-called Sage of Six Paths ninja tools were not unheard of in Kumogakure.

For example, the amber bottle that still exists today, as well as the golden rope, the seven-star sword, the banana leaf fan, and the red gourd that were once owned by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, can all be considered Six Paths Ninja Tools.

While these Six Paths Ninja Tools are indeed incredibly powerful, it would be far too much to imagine them ruling the ninja world.

At this moment, Tsuchishiro explained:

"The matter of the Box of Bliss is indeed true, and it is located in the Land of Grass. Don't be fooled by the timid appearance of the Hidden Grass Village; there is a hidden force within that village that controls the Box of Bliss. Their goal is to reopen the Box of Bliss, thereby allowing the Hidden Grass Village to once again rule the entire ninja world."

"Hozuki Castle, which imprisons wanted ninjas from various countries, is the hiding place of the Chest of Bliss. The reason why Kusagakure built this prison was to use the prisoners inside as expendable resources so that the Chest of Bliss could absorb enough chakra to open it."

"The village learned of this information a year ago and sent people to investigate. Now that we've reaped the rewards, it's time to reap the benefits!"

Although the Cloud Ninja had their backs broken by Konoha, their greedy and ruthless nature remained unchanged.

Especially with the Fourth Shinobi World War approaching and Hozuki Castle being a dangerous place to hide, they sent out the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki to deliver the final blow.

"Regardless of whether the Box of Bliss has the rumored ability to conquer the entire ninja world, it is undoubtedly an extremely powerful weapon. For the upcoming Fourth Shinobi World War, for the future of the Cloud Ninja, we must obtain it!"

Finally, the Fourth Raikage, A, addressed the crowd with unwavering resolve.

He himself was unsure whether the Box of Elysium was as powerful as rumored.

But the fact that the people of Kusagakure have been offering sacrifices to it for decades suggests that it is no fake.

Having the power to conquer the ninja world would naturally be the best.

Even if he couldn't achieve that, if it could enhance the power of the Cloud Ninja, even to the point of being able to fight against Senju Kumo-tei or even Uchiha Madara, he would pay any price to obtain it.

It's no wonder that Ai is currently pinning his hopes on a ninja tool that is merely a legend.

This is because the current situation in the ninja world is too complicated.

The incredibly powerful Senju Kumo-tei and Konoha; the suddenly appearing Uchiha Madara, who clearly has his own intentions; and the allies who are currently on the same side but whose future is uncertain.

Given all these circumstances, the pressure on A, the leader of the weakest party in the Hidden Cloud Village, is unimaginable.

Therefore, he must seize any opportunity, no matter how small.

Right now, the Box of Bliss is undoubtedly the Cloud Ninja's greatest opportunity.

He absolutely must get it!