The news exploded across the Ninja World like a thunderclap:
> "The Akatsuki Ninja Village forms a Special Military Negotiation Team—accompanied by an official ultimatum!"
The declaration shook every nation. Some feared it, others mocked it, but everyone paid attention.
---
The Land of Lightning – Hidden Cloud Village
Inside the Raikage's office, raucous laughter echoed through the walls.
"Hahahahaha!"
The First Raikage slammed his hand on the desk, laughing until tears gathered in his eyes.
"They've finally run out of tricks! A Special Military Negotiation Team, huh? The Akatsuki Ninja Village sure knows how to act. Looks like Konoha and those red-clouded clowns finally realized that intimidation and blackmail won't scare my Hidden Cloud!"
He leaned back in his massive chair, arms crossed, grin wide.
"Before, they were all arrogance and threats. But now? Hah! Public pressure must be crushing them. They're desperate to save face! Sending a 'delegation for peace'—what a joke! They probably even invented this fancy name just to make it sound impressive!"
The Raikage's advisors exchanged uncertain glances.
"Raikage-sama," one finally ventured, "should we begin peace talks with this Akatsuki delegation? The situation's been dragging on too long. Everyone in the world is watching…"
"Peace talks?" The Raikage barked a laugh. "Don't make me laugh again!"
He slammed his palm down, shaking the table.
"Do they think my Hidden Cloud is made of clay? Hmph! No, no—we'll play with them first. I'm not letting them off that easily! When their little delegation arrives, don't roll out the red carpet. Make them wait. Tell them Konoha needs to show up personally if they want to talk peace!"
The advisors hesitated.
One of them frowned. "But, Raikage-sama… what if the Akatsuki really isn't bluffing this time? What if they—"
"Hahahahaha!"
The Raikage's laughter drowned him out again.
"Go to war? Over this little spat? Don't be ridiculous! For such a small matter, would they really dare wage war against me—the Hidden Cloud Village?"
His confidence was absolute. Arrogant. Unshakable.
---
Meanwhile – Border of the Land of Lightning
Several hundred li away, hidden within a valley camp, tents fluttered in the cool wind.
Inside one, Uchiha Makoto sat on a small wooden stool, surrounded by his elite officers.
Before him stood over 3,600 Akatsuki ninja, ready for orders. Their headbands gleamed faintly under the torches.
Makoto's tone was calm, but his words sharp as kunai.
"Remember," he said, voice steady, "we are not here to start a war. We are here to seek justice for our fallen comrades. That's all."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly.
"It's just… we brought a tiny bit too many people."
The crowd chuckled quietly.
Across from him, Vortex Shinji licked an ice cream cone, eyebrows raised.
"Makoto, don't you think this is a little absurd?" he muttered. "We're basically knocking on their front door with an army, and you're still worried about… diplomacy?"
The ice cream melted slightly down his fingers.
It was strange—seeing soldiers standing ready for battle while one casually enjoyed a cone of vanilla. But that was the Akatsuki: powerful, eccentric, terrifyingly organized… and strangely well-fed.
"Of course it's not absurd."
Makoto's eyes gleamed with a confident smile.
"We're not here for war. The Akatsuki Ninja Village is a peace-loving nation. We came to talk, not fight. Whoever throws the first kunai will bear the blame for everything that follows."
He raised a finger.
"I'll say it again: We are here to negotiate."
Shinji sighed. "You've brought enough ninja to conquer the Land of Lightning, and you're calling this a negotiation?"
Makoto ignored him and continued, issuing crisp commands.
"First," he said, "dispatch several small teams to harass the Cloud border outposts. Be subtle. Poke them, tease them, but remember—do not throw the first kunai. Do not cast the first jutsu. You must provoke them into attacking us first. Only then will we defend ourselves."
He leaned back, smirking.
"The Akatsuki has prepared recording equipment. You all know what movies are, right?"
A few ninja nodded awkwardly.
"Good. Because everything that happens today will be recorded and remembered by history. When people see the footage, they'll know—The Hidden Cloud attacked first."
The room erupted in murmurs.
Even in this era, the Ninja World had developed a bizarre "tech tree." Movie theaters existed, albeit for the rich. Pirates distributed cheap copies to the masses. Criminals filmed crude "short reels," though their interests… varied.
In short, the Ninja World's cinematic technology was unpredictable—but undeniably useful.
Makoto had already realized its potential long ago.
> "Movies shape nations," he thought. "If we can master both jutsu and media, we control not just the battlefield—but the world's perception."
He had plans—grand ones—to one day produce Akatsuki propaganda films, starring handsome men and beautiful kunoichi, to broadcast their ideology across nations.
But for now, there was a simpler mission.
"Once the Hidden Cloud throws the first strike," Makoto said, voice turning icy, "you know what to do."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"Detonate every explosive tag you've got. Launch the signal flare. Then the main force will advance."
He smiled coldly. "Simple."
Shinji nearly choked on his ice cream.
The surrounding captains burst out laughing, admiration and amusement mixed in their eyes.
> "The Kage-sama is truly wise… and utterly ruthless."
Makoto just waved them off, taking an ice cream cone of his own.
"Come on," he said lightly, licking it once. "If we're going to be accused of warmongering, we might as well enjoy dessert first."
The officers chuckled. Despite the tension, their morale was unshakable.
After all, this was how the Akatsuki operated—calm, confident, and frighteningly efficient.
Outside the tent, torches flickered. The red clouds on their cloaks shimmered in the night breeze. The scent of cold steel and melting sugar filled the air.
War—or negotiation—was coming.
And somewhere far away, the Raikage was still laughing.
---
Elsewhere – Raikage's Office
The advisor who'd spoken earlier couldn't shake the chill crawling up his spine.
"Raikage-sama," he said again softly, "I still think we should be cautious. That Uchiha Makoto isn't someone to underestimate. Reports say his army moves faster than any we've ever seen. Even Konoha—"
"Enough!" the Raikage roared, cutting him off.
He slammed his hand down once more. "I refuse to believe some upstart rogue village could ever challenge us! The Hidden Cloud has weathered three wars! Let them come!"
He stood abruptly, lightning crackling faintly across his shoulders.
"If they dare cross our borders, I'll personally crush them!"
His words filled the chamber with heat, but outside, dark clouds gathered in the sky.
---
Back at the Border
Night descended.
The Akatsuki camp glowed faintly under the moon.
Makoto stood at the edge of a cliff, looking toward the mountains of the Land of Lightning.
Somewhere out there, the Hidden Cloud's sentinels watched—and waited.
"Peace," he murmured under his breath. "They'll never believe it. But one day… they'll understand what true peace looks like."
A faint smirk crossed his lips.
Behind him, thousands of ninja prepared silently, like shadows waiting for dawn.
The ice cream in his hand had already melted, dripping onto the grass.
He didn't notice. His eyes were fixed forward—cold, determined, ready.
> "Remember this," he said quietly to himself,
"The Akatsuki Ninja Village will never fire the first kunai."
And with that, the wind carried his words into the night—toward destiny, diplomacy, and the inevitable chaos that followed both.
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