"Red Eye has always pushed for attacking Kirigakure. This must be retaliation from Mist!"
"But weren't they getting pretty cozy with Sunagakure recently?"
"Other ninjutsu could be fake, but the Hydrification Technique belongs to the Hozuki Clan's kekkei genkai. Do you really think someone could forge that?"
"I still don't think this fits Kiri's style. Haven't they always valued secrecy..."
"Secretive, my foot! Look at the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist—each one strutted across the ninja world with a massive sword strapped to their back like some kind of showoff. When have they ever been secretive?"
"Can you guys stop jumping to conclusions already? Do any of you have brains behind those biceps? We've been targeting..."
"Shut up!"
Whoosh—
Raikage A's lightning-wreathed form descended like a deus ex machina from above, crashing straight into the center of the gathering.
As his voice rang out, the ongoing argument among the leadership immediately fell silent.
When the Second Raikage died unexpectedly during Kinkaku and Ginkaku's rebellion, the Third Raikage seized power by force.
Over more than twenty years, he had already subdued every faction in the village through sheer strength, an iron fist, and undeniable charisma.
Decades of built-up authority made him the natural choice as leader the moment he arrived.
Kei Yamanaka watched this unfold from a distance.
He had to admit—Hiruzen Sarutobi just couldn't compare when it came to sheer presence and influence.
"Stand down the village alarm! Anbu Unit One, secure this location immediately. All squads without assignments must secure and inspect every water source in the village!"
"Dodai, send a message to Mist—ask their Mizukage if they're looking for war. Send it as soon as it's written."
"Immediately evacuate all ninjas and civilians! The security forces will maintain order—make sure there's no unnecessary panic!"
After listening to his subordinates' reports, Raikage A forcefully suppressed his rage and issued three sharp orders in succession.
Today early morning, he'd gone to Cloud Lightning Canyon to visit his son and B.
He hadn't even made it halfway back when he spotted the chaos erupting in the village from miles away.
Mist's brazen assassination attempt… those warmongers stirring trouble within the village… some leaders playing politics for personal gain...
All of it enraged him.
I wasn't even gone!
Not dead!
His piercing green eyes swept over every village leader present.
Some avoided his gaze and remained silent, some feigned calm while keeping their heads bowed in thought, while others burned with outrage.
Yet none dared to meet his gaze head-on.
"Hmph… I'll be waiting for you all in the meeting room. Use this time to figure out what exactly you're going to say to me."
Raikage A snorted coldly, suddenly pushed off hard with his feet, and shot straight into the sky.
Flashing through blinding bursts of lightning, bouncing across rocky pillars, his form vanished from sight in moments.
"Tch—Third Raikage, still as fierce as ever!"
Kei Yamanaka sighed to himself, gazing at where Raikage A disappeared.
This old man truly lived up to his reputation—who else could wrestle the Eight-Tails barehanded or fight ten thousand Earth Release ninjas non-stop for three days and three nights?
These little skill listings get under my skin, you know!
...
Name: A
Occupation: Kage
Skill Listings: [Unbreakable Spear] (Red), [Flawless Shield] (Purple), [Thunderstorm] (Purple), [Herculean Strength] (Purple), [Tempestuous Thunder] (Purple), [Accumulated Might] (Blue), [Receptive to Advice] (Green), [Parental Love] (White).
....
Hiruzen... again, Hiruzen!
You went and lost again, didn't you?
Guided by the security forces, Kei Yamanaka began to move away with the dispersing crowd.
He assessed the aura that A had radiated upon his appearance and decided to elevate his assessment of the Raikage's strength slightly.
According to his guess.
At the very least, the Third Raikage should have originally possessed two Red Skill Listings.
[Unbreakable Spear], [Flawless Shield]!
After all, that guy's physical resilience — even Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken only left minor scratches.
Had his right chest not been pierced by Kei's One-Man-Army Palm technique, creating a "weak point," then he'd definitely have full Red-tier skills!
Unparalleled offense, unparalleled defense.
Under the influence of [Thunderstorm], continuously improving physical attributes, lightning release mastery, and electric armor defense.
Stacking [Herculean Strength] further enhanced his innate power, while [Tempestuous Thunder] provided combat skills and unyielding willpower...
Without even considering how Hiruzen Sarutobi would fare against such a monster,
Even Kei Yamanaka, whose Skill Listings currently surpassed those of the Third Raikage, would still feel uneasy if truly facing off against him.
Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, which had an elemental advantage, barely affected him.
His own Water Release: Rasengan probably wouldn't do much better either.
Genjutsu and clan secret techniques could certainly make the Third Raikage run around in circles, but actually defeating or killing him might require relying on Gengetsu Hozuki's [Shōhiganbi no Chikara] to grind down his health.
The only viable path to victory.
Might be during his usage of the One-Man-Army Palm technique — using genjutsu or clan techniques to replicate Naruto's strategy.
Make him impale himself?
"If I fully master the Spirit Transformation Technique, maybe I can try using my spirit form? The problem is protecting my physical body — that's really troublesome. Hmm… Should I copy the Third Raikage's [Unbreakable Spear] as well..."
Kei Yamanaka scratched his chin thoughtfully, feeling like it was still somewhat unreliable.
The Third Raikage's strength came from stacking all his skill listings toward a single direction.
It was that of a heavily specialized powerhouse tank-type fighter.
If he simply copied one listing without matching foundational physical strength, he wouldn't be able to fully harness the optimal effect of that Skill Listing.
"Uncle, can I come find you at your place tomorrow?"
As they were about to part ways, Yugito Nii fidgeted nervously, rubbing her small hands together and lowering her head as she softly asked.
"Uh... Tomorrow morning I'll be reporting to the mission center, and after that I probably won't have anything else going on? At Cloud Pillar 36, Room 1701."
Kei Yamanaka gave the address of this body's home.
But inwardly, he was already dreading what would happen to Yugito Nii.
If she found out he was actually an infiltrator, this girl might just break down entirely!
Should he stage a fake "incident" before completing this mission?
Hmm... those two Anbu probably won't last long against his genjutsu. If things go south, should I secretly give that little girl a parting gift Pakura-style?
Wait—is your Two-Tails Jinchuriki actually staying at your place because she's mine?
The Raikage would probably die laughing!
I'm seriously way too kindhearted!
"Alright!"
Nii's sparkling big eyes shone with excitement.
With a delighted expression, she dashed forward a few steps, turned around, and energetically waved at Kei Yamanaka before spinning again and sprinting into the house.
"Dad, is she my stepmom's daughter, or is she…my stepmom?"
A disgruntled teenager's voice came from behind.
Smack!
Kei Yamanaka's cheek twitched. Without hesitation, he turned and smacked the boy's head.
A father disciplining his son? Totally justified.
Well, even if this kid wasn't really his son, since he was borrowing this body, Kei had no guilt whatsoever about giving him a slap.
Just listen to the crap coming out of this punk's mouth!
There are still two Anbu agents stuck on that cliff wall!
Don't you care even a little that Dad might get dragged in for questioning by Anbu and ruin his reputation?
Besides—
He's not some alchemist!
Doesn't he understand what can be done and what absolutely cannot?
"Musai! If you don't need your eyes, just donate them!"
"Ow! Dad, your hand's way too heavy! That hurt! I saw the girl holding onto your sleeve the whole way here—you're still gonna deny it?"
"We're heading to the hospital tomorrow to sign the donation agreement!"
"??? You're really my real dad?!"
Smack!
"Forget being a ninja altogether—switch careers and start raising pigs instead. We've got a booming livestock industry around here. Wild boars are easy to raise and fetch a good price. Tomorrow I'll take you to submit your retirement papers."
"??? Dad! Are you serious?!"
Smack!
"You heard me—and your eyesight's worse than someone with an actual eye condition. If you don't raise pigs, you're just asking to die somewhere alone."
"…I came upstairs to say one thing and ended up getting smacked three times and forced into retirement?"
"What else do you expect?"
The Anbu squad leader responsible for monitoring the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and stuck on the cliff couldn't help but laugh as the father and son walked away.
Such a loving father and dutiful son.
Another Anbu agent beside him bit back a chuckle.
That Musai kid must genuinely have some eye problems.
This *is* Yugito Nii!
The Two-Tails Jinchuriki!
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