Rasa did not hesitate for too long before signing the treaty.
But he also raised an unavoidable question.
"With just our two villages, can we really withstand attacks from Earth, Lightning, and Water?"
Rasa was worried that once Konoha angered the daimyō and triggered a siege, they might be attacked jointly by Kumogakure and Kirigakure. In that case, could Konoha spare troops to support Sunagakure?
After all, with only Sunagakure's strength, facing Ōnoki alone would be very difficult.
"Don't worry. Our Fourth Raikage likely has no energy left to deal with matters on our side. As for Ōnoki, I've already arranged something to keep him busy."
Takeshi, with a confident look, gave Rasa some reassurance.
"Then let me sincerely wish you can soon drop the word 'Acting' from your title."
Rasa took the initiative to extend his hand.
Those words carried genuine feeling. Only if Takeshi shed the word "Acting" and truly became the Fifth Hokage could Rasa feel at ease cooperating with Konoha.
Who knew if the next Hokage might not be someone who supported the daimyō?
"Relax. Even as Acting Hokage, my rule is quite secure."
Takeshi clasped his hand in return, the corners of his lips slightly curved.
Thinking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' current infamy across the ninja world, Rasa nodded in agreement.
...
Just as Takeshi had said, at this very moment the Fourth Raikage was facing a series of problems.
First, a rumor suddenly spread through the village: that the Raikage clan's rule was based on hereditary bloodline succession, a desecration of the Hidden Village system, and that this authority must return to all shinobi.
When this rumor reached A, the Fourth Raikage, he smashed a desk in fury.
Before he could even order a thorough investigation into the source, the other high-ranking officials suddenly launched a joint attack, rejecting the Raikage's newly proposed plan to plunder kekkei genkai.
The last time they had tried to plunder kekkei genkai, it led to Konoha's army pressing down upon them, and the Fourth Raikage was carried back in disgrace.
Meanwhile, the reconstruction of bases and the compensation for fallen shinobi had already pushed the village's finances into dangerous waters.
They wanted the Raikage to suspend the development of scientific ninja tools, ease Kumogakure's relations with surrounding nations, and focus on internal governance.
"Fools, utterly fools!"
The Raikage smashed another desk in front of him.
Staring at the indifferent advisors, he roared at their shortsightedness.
"If military funds aren't enough, just demand more from the daimyō! If Kumogakure doesn't continue projecting a strong stance outward, then all those nations we once plundered will rise against us at once!"
Beneath his rugged exterior, the Raikage understood Kumogakure's plight better than anyone.
Their early expansionist policies had already driven relations with neighboring countries to the freezing point.
If Kumogakure showed any sign of weakness now, those countries would surely swarm upon them seeking revenge.
"This will only make things worse, trapping us in a vicious cycle!"
One of the senior officials slammed the table in return. Unlike the Raikage, his strength wasn't enough to break it, and the table held after a dull thud.
"Demand money from the daimyō? Hmph. Yes, isn't it the Yotsuki clan's cozy ties with the daimyō's court that have allowed them to monopolize the Raikage's seat for so long?"
Another senior official's tone dripped with sarcasm.
"You all..."
The Raikage suddenly sensed something was wrong.
The attitude of the high-ranking officials was bolder than ever—so bold that he barely recognized them.
Dodai too noticed the strange atmosphere. He was just about to smooth things over when the next words left him utterly stunned.
"Fourth Raikage-sama, in light of your repeated unwise decisions while in office, we have unanimously decided to abolish your position as Raikage. Until a Fifth Raikage is elected, the affairs of the village will be handled by the Kumogakure Ninja Committee."
"What did you say?!"
The Raikage was both shocked and furious, at a loss for words.
A coup. This was an outright coup.
"At the same time, our committee unanimously nominates Dodai-sama as one of the candidates for the Fifth Raikage."
Dodai was dumbfounded.
He had no idea how he suddenly became a candidate.
The Raikage, however, believed Dodai had long sided with the other officials. In his rage, he nearly struck him down.
"I absolutely do not acknowledge this!"
"Fourth Raikage-sama, if you wish to plunge us into a full-blown civil war, then by all means, strike. But know that most of the shinobi in the village already stand with us."
Just as the Raikage was about to lash out, those words forced him to calm down again.
If civil war broke out now, the only one who would suffer was Kumogakure itself.
Bearing the title of Kage, A naturally could not allow Kumogakure to collapse in his hands.
The senior officials were also tense.
They knew full well that Killer B, the Eight-Tails jinchūriki, would undoubtedly stand with A. They had hoped to secure Yugito's support, but since she left the village for training, she had never returned.
They were gambling—gambling that A would not drag Kumogakure into ruin for the sake of power.
After a long silence, A finally calmed down. He cast a cold glance at Dodai not far away, his eyes filled with killing intent.
But in the end, he did not make a move. He simply rose in silence and walked out, his back lonely and desolate.
Unlike Sunagakure's secret maneuvering, the news of Kumogakure's Ninja Committee spread quickly across the ninja world.
The daimyō of the Land of Lightning, enraged, was about to send envoys to question Kumogakure's intentions—only to receive reports that Kumogakure's shinobi had already seized control of the trade routes and checkpoints around the village with astonishing speed, driving out the local nobility.
Almost at the same time, Sunagakure and Konoha jointly announced their signed mutual defense treaty. From this day forth, they would be an unshakable alliance.
The sudden shift in the situation caught both Iwagakure and Kirigakure completely off guard.
Especially Kirigakure. Just as they had begun to step out of the Bloody Mist's shadow, Yagura Karatachi was preparing to send envoys to reach out to the outside world—only to see the ninja world change like this, leaving his young face full of question marks.
Genshi too was left utterly speechless.
Who were they supposed to reach out to now?
Looking around at the nearest villages—one had just formed a Ninja Committee, the other had cemented an unbreakable alliance with Sunagakure—Yagura thought it over carefully and finally decided to temporarily slow down external contact.
"That Fourth Raikage fool, to lose his power so easily... truly laughable."
Ōnoki snorted in disdain as he flipped through the intelligence in his hand.
Throughout the entire ninja world, among all the Kage, the Fourth Raikage was the very first to be overthrown by his own people.
But leaving Kumogakure aside, what worried Ōnoki far more was Sunagakure's alliance with Konoha.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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