Chapter 79: 4 vs 20,000 (Part 1)
Dodai, as the Raikage's retainer, was the first to object. "A ridiculous strategy like that is out of the question! Do you think we're afraid to die, Lord Raikage?! If we follow the original plan, we can minimize our losses, even against the Dust Release!"
They had already devised a plan to deal with the flying, Dust Release-wielding Onoki, just as they had a plan for Konoha's White Fang. But Onoki was a much more difficult opponent than Sakumo Hatake. He had almost no weaknesses, and the margin for error was extremely low.
"Even the smallest loss is still a loss," the Raikage said. "And a meaningless one at that. This is not the first time I've faced Onoki. I know what I'm doing. His Dust Release cannot hit me, and the other Stone ninja are no threat to me."
Onoki was a difficult opponent because he could fly and because his attacks were a one-hit kill. Any encounter with him on the battlefield would result in dozens of casualties, and escape was difficult. Konoha knew this well.
Arashi stepped forward. "Father," he said, "let me go with you. My Lightning Release Chakra Mode is not as refined as yours, but I can protect myself."
"Are you two kidding me?!" Dana shouted. "The Stone has over ten thousand, almost twenty thousand men! Are you trying to get yourselves killed?!"
The Third Raikage shook his head. "Dana," he said, "a ninja succeeds by planning amidst a thousand dangers. What seems dangerous is not always truly dangerous. I am very confident. As for you, Arashi, your courage is commendable, but it would be best for you to go with the others and attack Konoha."
"Then according to you, Dad," Dana sneered, "all you need is speed. Well, I happen to be a little confident in my speed as well."
"Absolutely not!" the Raikage and Arashi roared in unison.
It was no secret how important Dana was to the Yotsuki clan. He was finally approaching the age where he could produce heirs. They couldn't let him take such a risk.
"If I can't go," Dana challenged, "then your claim that speed can counter Dust Release is just nonsense!"
"I can go, you can't," the Raikage said, his resolve unshakable.
"I'll go with Dad! You stay here, Dana!" Arashi had suddenly switched sides.
"If I don't go, neither of you are going," Dana said with a sneer. "And it's not like any of you can stop me."
Just as the three of them were about to continue their argument...
"Go! Go to hell, all of you! Are you kidding me?!" Dodai roared, smashing the desk in front of him with a single punch. He was breathing heavily, and he looked like steam was about to come out of his ears.
The Raikage, Arashi, and Dana all fell silent.
"Have any of you thought about what would happen to the Hidden Cloud if the three of you died out there?! Would we just disband?!" Dodai bellowed.
The Third Raikage looked at the cursing Dodai and suddenly burst out laughing. He clapped him on the shoulder. "I hadn't considered that," he said. "But Dodai, even for me, every battle could be my last. I could be poisoned. Without my chakra cloak, I might not be able to withstand a sword. A direct hit from the Dust Release would probably kill me. But so what?!"
His voice grew louder.
"The young me could have died. The me of today could die. And in the future, I am destined to die. But from the time I was a boy, there has never been a battle that has made me waver. We are ninja, not gods. We believe in our own bodies and minds, and we fight for our beliefs in the face of a thousand difficulties. That is what it means to be a ninja. Those who always hope to fight without any risk are just cowards who have mastered chakra. Do you think the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, went into every battle thinking he was immortal?"
Dodai was speechless.
"Believe in me! Believe in your Kage!" the Third Raikage boomed, waving his hand. "Go and show those Konoha bastards what a real fight is! I will hold off the Stone for you!"
"OSU!" a thunderous roar erupted from the crowd. The ninja were filled with a burning fighting spirit.
"The Cloud is supreme! The Raikage is supreme! Waaaaa!" An old, gray-haired ninja even tore off his shirt.
In the midst of the chaos, the Raikage took the opportunity to put his arm around Dodai. "It's just to hold them off," he said reassuringly. "Don't worry. Maybe Onoki won't even attack. And you can come and support me after you've dealt with Konoha."
Dodai was at a loss for words.
"Dad," Dana said, "that was a very convincing speech. 'Succeed by planning amidst a thousand dangers,' eh? Then let's do it together."
Before the Raikage could refuse, Dana interrupted him.
"Don't be so quick to say no. I have a reason for going. I can prepare a Reverse Summoning. My presence will be a safety net."
"And," he added, "in this situation, I think we'll need some help. I'm sure some people wouldn't refuse such a... historic opportunity."
Present Day
Three figures stood on a cliff, looking down at the Stone's main camp.
One was a muscular man with a rugged, mature face. Another was a muscular man with a rugged, young face. The last was a slightly shorter, slender figure with sharp eyes and a handsome face.
"Even though we're standing right at their doorstep," Dana said, "I still can't believe I'm doing something this crazy. Does the Cloud just have a 'berserker' buff or something?"
The Third Raikage laughed heartily. "If I ever say, 'I've done crazier things'," he said, "I'll be talking about this. Hahaha!"
"Are you talking about attacking the Stone's main camp?" Arashi asked curiously.
"No. I'm talking about attacking the Stone's main camp with my only two sons."
"...?!"
Dana's head snapped around. "Attack? What attack? I thought we were just holding them off!"
"First, we hold them off," the Raikage said seriously. "If they don't know what's good for them, then we attack."
Just then, a deep, powerful voice came from nearby.
"Thank you, Lord Raikage, for inviting me to participate in such a grand undertaking."
A tall figure with a steel respirator jumped down from a large boulder.
Hanzo of the Salamander has entered the battle!
He was still unsure how to act around the Third Raikage. On the one hand, he was the leader of a great village, and this was their first meeting as allies. He should be humble. But his pride was a difficult thing to swallow.
Before he could decide, the Third Raikage swung a thick arm towards him. Hanzo instinctively raised his own arm to meet it. The two arms clasped in mid-air in a unique handshake.
CRACK!
"You have courage to come here," the Third Raikage, A, said with a laugh.
Such a bold and powerful personality. Hanzo was beginning to understand why the Cloud ninja were so loyal, why they so rarely had traitors. Because they had a hero as their Kage.
He looked at Dana. This young genius, Mada, was the Raikage's son? "Mada" must have been an alias. But that didn't matter now. He was curious to see what this boy could do, to be a part of such an operation.
Just as Dana was about to greet him, a figure shot up from the Stone's camp. It was the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
He looked at the four figures before him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Third Raikage! Hanzo of the Salamander! What are you doing here?!"