"Lord Raikage, the strategy we previously settled on is no longer suitable."
Dodai's expression grew even more solemn. Their plans for the upcoming Great Ninja War had already been laid out, and heavy sacrifices were inevitable.
But now, with the emergence of those firearms, they had a better option.
"Indeed. It's no longer suitable."
The Third Raikage understood this clearly. The strategy had to change.
"Moreover, the requirements to use those weapons are extremely low. Anyone who can refine even a small amount of chakra can operate them. With sufficient resources and manpower, they can be mass-produced.
"I'm afraid the daimyō's court will start having… ideas."
Dodai stopped there.
This was no longer a matter he could decide on his own—it required the Raikage's judgment.
The Third Raikage's expression grew increasingly grave as he weighed the pros and cons. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Back then, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha founded the Hidden Leaf with absolute strength, ushering in the age of hidden villages.
"Our own Land of Lightning daimyō supported the founding of Kumogakure only out of necessity. Deep down, they've always been wary of us."
As he spoke of the past, the Third Raikage's expression turned complex.
He had lived through the Warring States Era and personally witnessed the birth of the hidden village system. He also understood better than most the inherent tension between the villages and the daimyō courts.
To be honest, even now he couldn't understand why the First Hokage had created such an awkward system—one that placed the villages and the daimyō in constant mutual discomfort and suspicion.
Back then, both Hashirama and Madara possessed godlike power. Hashirama was even revered as the God of Shinobi. Had the two joined forces, they could have swept across the world, unified the entire shinobi continent, and ended war forever.
The fact that the Four Great Villages only dared to initiate the Ninja Wars after Hashirama's death already proved how flawed the system was.
Now, signs of the Second Great Ninja War had begun to surface—and there would surely be more in the future.
Endless wars, on an ever-expanding scale, were bringing suffering that in some ways surpassed even that of the Warring States Era.
Although conflicts between villages played a role, the daimyō courts were far from innocent—they frequently fanned the flames from the shadows.
If given the chance, many daimyō and nobles would gladly see the ninja and their villages wiped out entirely.
The Third Raikage knew this well.
In the past, the daimyō's court had kept village funding on a tight leash precisely to prevent the ninja villages from growing too powerful.
Both sides were trapped in an awkward stalemate, wary of one another.
The system itself had already taken shape and reached a balance neither side could easily overturn.
But now—
They had seen an opportunity.
An opportunity that could not be missed.
"If only one of the two—the daimyō's court or the ninja villages—can exist,"
the Third Raikage said slowly, his voice firm,
"then I would choose the village to be the sole surviving jewel."
By the end of his words, his expression had become resolute.
He was the Raikage of Kumogakure.
He stood on the side of the village—this was his fundamental stance, and it would never change.
Dodai was not surprised by this decision.
This was exactly the Third Raikage he knew.
"Then the development of those firearms must be kept under even stricter secrecy," Dodai said.
"Keeping them within the village is too risky. They should be moved to Turtle Island. The personnel involved must be absolutely trustworthy—quality over quantity."
He proposed relocating the research to Turtle Island.
Turtle Island, formed by a massive living turtle, could freely roam the seas and even submerge underwater. It was extremely concealed—perfect for research of the highest secrecy.
"You handle it."
The Third Raikage approved the suggestion.
This matter demanded absolute confidentiality—no leaks, not even the slightest.
"Also, many of the concepts he proposed won't be easy to realize. They'll require extensive support from sealing techniques."
Dodai continued, referring to the weapons' development. Kumogakure's current foundations alone were insufficient—especially in this field.
"Then we increase our investment in the Uzumaki Country plan. I'll lead the operation personally."
The Third Raikage nodded in agreement. He knew Dodai was referring to the Uzumaki clan of the Land of Whirlpools.
They had already intended to move against Uzumaki Country—their goal being high-level sealing techniques to complete the jinchūriki program.
The First Great Ninja War had ended largely due to the First Hokage's wife, who—as a jinchūriki—had displayed destructive power rivaling Hashirama himself.
After witnessing the might of a jinchūriki, all the major villages had begun harboring similar ambitions.
Although they had purchased tailed beasts from Konoha at the First Five Kage Summit, the beasts were impossible to tame, let alone use effectively.
Instead, they had to divert enormous manpower just to keep them contained—and any rampage would cause catastrophic losses.
They had been stuck in this dilemma for years.
The First Hokage's wife had shown them a path.
So that was how tailed beasts could be used.
But long-term, stable sealing of a tailed beast was no simple matter—it required top-tier sealing techniques. In the entire shinobi world, none surpassed those of the Uzumaki clan.
The First Hokage's wife herself was an Uzumaki—and the strongest among them. If she could control even the Nine-Tails, the power of Uzumaki sealing techniques needed no further proof.
"According to our intelligence," Dodai continued,
"the Third Hokage has already sent emissaries three times to invite the Uzumaki clan to join Konoha. The First Hokage's wife is advanced in age now—suppressing the Nine-Tails must be extremely taxing. His patience should be wearing thin."
This intelligence opened up new possibilities for their plans regarding Uzumaki Country.
The Third Raikage remained silent, waiting for Dodai to finish.
Dodai didn't keep him in suspense.
"Sealing jutsus are difficult to learn and even harder to apply. Most high-level Uzumaki techniques are tailored to their own clan traits, and their chakra consumption is enormous.
"If we want to truly make use of sealing techniques, we need the Uzumaki clan themselves. And to obtain them, we must find an opportunity to sever their ties with Konoha.
"This may be achievable by leveraging the identity of your disciple."
Originally, they had only sought a sealing method suitable for the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails.
Now, with greater ambitions and broader needs, their objectives naturally expanded.
"You handle it."
The Third Raikage understood and delegated the matter to Dodai.
Though young, Dodai was exceptionally sharp-minded and one of his most trusted aides—perfect for such delicate operations.
"Do you think these firearm concepts have any connection to Danzō Shimura or Konoha?"
The Third Raikage suddenly asked. Some things had to be guarded against.
If this were all part of Konoha's scheme—if they already possessed advanced firearms in large numbers—then the coming war would be a disaster for Kumogakure.
"The likelihood is low," Dodai replied, shaking his head.
"Neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Danzō Shimura has that kind of resolve. Besides, we only need to monitor steel circulation across the continent to confirm it."
He had studied intelligence on Konoha's leadership. Aside from Danzō's comparatively radical ideology, the others were all fundamentally conservative.
And Konoha itself was far from stable internally.
"Then it seems Kumogakure has struck gold."
The Third Raikage laughed again—this time heartily.
"Danzō Shimura really is a good man."