- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 401
The Village Hidden in the Clouds (Kumogakure) has many differences compared to the other four major ninja villages. This village upholds the value of martial prowess and believes in the supremacy of strength. They despise schemes and plots and are generally straightforward in nature.
As a result, they seldom engage in power struggles like other villages.
The village doesn’t have many clans, except for the Yotsuki clan, which reigns supreme and governs the village with an iron grip.
Moreover, every Raikage has always been named A, and every Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails has been called B. A and B have always been the best of brothers.
In this village, where martial valor reigns supreme, from its foundation until now, there hasn’t been a single rogue ninja, except for the Golden and Silver Brothers during the First Great Ninja War. However, strictly speaking, they cannot be considered rogue ninjas. Known as the Twin Lights of the Clouds, they were revered as heroes by the entire village. They simply couldn’t accept the Second Raikage’s decision to declare war on the Leaf Village only to end it by signing a peace treaty after surrendering.
After all, by that point, too many Cloud Village ninjas had perished at the hands of Leaf ninjas, and the hatred ran deep.
They never betrayed their village; they merely wanted to keep fighting, to avenge the fallen ninjas, and to elevate Kumogakure even higher.
Look at the other four villages, even in the Leaf Village, which has the best living conditions, there have been many defectors, and they were all high-caliber ninjas.
Most of their top fighters didn’t die at the hands of outsiders, but by the hands of their own comrades.
The Leaf, which had the best start, ended up in total chaos.
By contrast, over the years, the Hidden Cloud Village has thrived. Even though they didn’t have the same resources or environment as the Leaf, their overall strength has now subtly surpassed that of the Leaf.
Even the Jinchūriki, who are often feared and ostracized in other villages, are revered in the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Don’t worry, hold your position here. I’ll go to the Cloud ninjas’ camp to speak with their Raikage,”
After hearing Jiraiya’s report, Leo nodded.
Jiraiya, however, hesitated for a moment.
“Fifth Hokage, their Raikage is quite hot-tempered. If you plan to negotiate, let me accompany you.”
Since the Cloud Village declared war on the Leaf, Jiraiya had led the ninja forces to the northeast front. He was unaware of the events that had recently transpired in the village or how Leo had dealt with the Mist Village.
His understanding of Leo’s strength was still based on the information he had received from the Third Hokage after Leo failed to bring Tsunade back to the village.
So, although Jiraiya knew Leo was powerful, he thought it was too risky for him to go alone to the Cloud camp, where many elite ninjas were gathered, to negotiate.
If the two villages’ leaders were to negotiate, a time and place should be arranged, and both sides should send their top fighters to ensure the safety of the talks.
“No need. I’m quite good at persuading others with virtue. Trust me, after I talk with their Raikage, they’ll give up on this invasion.”
Leo smiled slightly, and in a flash, his figure disappeared from the spot.
Jiraiya was left standing there, bewildered, mumbling to himself:
“Persuade with virtue?”
However, he quickly snapped back to reality and shouted orders outside the tent:
“Everyone, assemble! Prepare for battle!”
He believed that even if the negotiations failed, with Leo’s strength, he wouldn’t be easily defeated. If a fight broke out, there would definitely be a lot of commotion.
When that happened, he would immediately lead the first unit of ninjas to assist.
Meanwhile, Leo had already used his teleportation jutsu to arrive at the Cloud ninjas’ camp. Without any disguise, he boldly landed in the middle of the camp.
“Where is the Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village? I, Leo, the Fifth Hokage of the Leaf, have come to pay a visit!”
“The Fifth Hokage of the Leaf, Leo, how bold of you to show up here alone!”
The Fourth Raikage, A, accompanied by his brother Killer B, looked at the surrounded Leo, who showed no signs of fear, and walked forward, speaking in an admiring tone.
He was surprised to see the Fifth Hokage suddenly appear in the Cloud Village’s main camp and even suspected that Leo had some kind of scheme.
So, instead of attacking immediately, he decided to understand the situation first.
Leo ignored the surrounding Cloud ninjas and walked up to the tall and muscular Fourth Raikage with a smile.
“I came here to ask if Lord Raikage would be willing to stop the invasion and maintain the peace we once had.”
“That’s impossible. Although I don’t want to start a war, the ninja world has always been about the survival of the fittest. I cannot agree to your proposal at this moment.”
The Raikage crossed his arms and flatly rejected Leo’s offer without hesitation.
In truth, he didn’t like war because he had lost his father and many other loved ones in previous conflicts.
But as Raikage, he couldn’t make decisions based on his personal feelings; he had to consider the interests of the entire village.
The Rain Village had started this war, followed by the Stone Village, and even the Sand Village was now involved. If the Cloud Village did nothing, the village that emerged victorious would grow stronger, and Kumogakure would be at a disadvantage.
Being dragged into the war was inevitable. It was better to act proactively for the sake of the village’s future.
Even his brother Killer B, the person he least wanted to endanger, was already on the battlefield. There was no way that a few words from the Fifth Hokage could end the conflict.
Even if he agreed, the Cloud ninjas, who sought revenge for their fallen comrades and wanted to make Kumogakure the strongest village, would never agree.
“Lord Raikage, are you sure you won’t reconsider?”
Leo asked again.
The Fourth Raikage nodded firmly.
“Absolutely not!”
“Then there’s no other choice. Today, I, Leo, the Fifth Hokage, will end all of you.”
Leo shook his head with a look of regret.
The Fourth Raikage burst into laughter at his words:
“You, alone, plan to defeat our fifteen thousand Cloud ninjas?”
Even his father, the Third Raikage, who was known as the “strongest spear” and “strongest shield,” could only hold off ten thousand Stone ninjas before he fought for three days and nights until he died of exhaustion.
And that was because none of the ten thousand Stone ninjas were real elites like Ōnoki.
For this unremarkable Fifth Hokage to think he could single-handedly defeat the fifteen thousand Cloud ninjas, including himself, Killer B, and the elite soldiers, was laughable.
“Idiot! Fool! The Fifth Hokage from the Leaf sure talks big, yo, yo!”
Killer B added an impromptu rap.
“Yes, just me.”
Leo suddenly raised his head and formed a lotus hand seal:
“The Six Paths of Samsara, life and death in a cycle, above and below, I reign supreme!”
In the eyes of the surrounding Cloud ninjas, the Fifth Hokage disappeared, and in his place, a majestic golden Buddha appeared.
(End of Chapter)