CHAPTER 14

c14: Doing Extraordinary Things in Extraordinary Times

Sunagakure was once a dominant force. At its founding, it stood second only to Konohagakure among the Five Great Shinobi Nations. That early strength and prestige were reflected in their acquisition of a tailed beast: Shukaku, the One-Tail.

Unlike the others Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri which acquired two tailed beasts apiece during the First Great Ninja War via the Hidden Stone-brokered distribution by Hashirama Senju, Sunagakure opted for just one. This was not due to a lack of ambition, but confidence in their ability to compete. After all, tailed beasts were strategic deterrents. Had Sunagakure been significantly weaker, they would have done anything, even purchased more, to level the field Takigakure would never have kept Chōmei, the Seven-Tails, under such a reality.

However, Sunagakure's fortunes waned sharply. The First and Second Great Ninja Wars drained its strength, and the mysterious disappearance of the Third Kazekage their most powerful leader plunged the village into a crisis. Civil unrest followed, weakening them further. Then came the prolonged attrition of the Third Great Ninja War, which depleted their manpower and morale.

Facing Tsunade's frontline medic-nin and tactical brilliance, the Suna forces faltered badly. They stood no chance when assaulted simultaneously by two Konoha divisions in a coordinated ambush an operation devoid of hesitation or mercy.

Sunagakure suffered a crushing defeat. With no options left, senior advisors Chiyo and Ebizō had no choice but to negotiate a peace treaty bitter and humiliating though it was. The most severe term dictated that Sunagakure relinquish 30% of its mission allocation to Konoha, a devastating economic blow.

In the aftermath, the Daimyō of the Land of Wind unimpressed and disillusioned by Suna's military failures slashed their funding further. This financial punishment exacerbated the village's decision to adopt an "elite-only" policy, which drastically reduced their shinobi numbers and left them, ironically, the weakest among the five major villages.

Their hatred for Konoha smoldered but their contempt for Iwagakure ran even deeper.

Chiyo and Ebizō weren't naive. They saw through Onoki's ploy: using Konoha as a hammer to weaken Sunagakure, only to sweep in and reap the benefits. But it was too late. Iwa had already brokered their peace, gained their breathing room, and left Suna exposed. What could Sunagakure do? Retaliation was unthinkable in their condition.

Someone had to bear the blame.

When Rasa the Fourth Kazekage ascended to power, both Chiyo and Ebizō stepped down as elders. While not completely reclusive like in the later timeline, they shifted into semi-retirement, no longer involved in active governance.

Within half a month, both Iwagakure and Sunagakure formally withdrew from the war. The tide of battle turned with dizzying speed, reshaping the political landscape before most could adapt.

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Land of Water Kirigakure Village, Mizukage Tower

In the Mizukage's office, Yagura Karatachi sat behind his desk. His green hair and distinct violet eyes accented by the suture-like scar beneath the left gave him a striking appearance. In his hands was the latest intelligence report.

"Iwagakure and Sunagakure… pathetic cowards," he muttered.

He tossed the scroll onto his desk, seething with frustration.

With Iwa and Suna gone, only Kumogakure and Kirigakure remained on the offensive. They were now expected to carry the war effort against Konoha from the north and south, respectively. The advantage of a multi-front siege was crumbling. Konoha's reinforcements would soon bolster their defenses and once that happened, Kirigakure's odds of success would drop sharply.

Should they be pushed back, not only would they lose the hard-won gains in the Land of Fire, but the status quo in the Land of Whirlpools currently split between Konoha and Kiri would likely return to a tense stalemate.

That region was too strategic to concede. Whichever side held the Land of Whirlpools could launch attacks or establish a buffer zone. Konoha would use Uzushiogakure's ruins to threaten Kirigakure. Conversely, Kiri needed it to pressure Konoha. Neither could afford to relinquish it. Nor would the other great villages tolerate one faction growing too dominant.

To lose now, after so much bloodshed, would be unforgivable.

"Mizukage-sama," said a masked Kirigakure Anbu kneeling before him. "Urgent intelligence. Please review."

Yagura accepted the scroll, broke the seal, and unrolled it. His expression shifted.

"The Three-Tails… we've located it?" he asked with genuine surprise. "Excellent. You've done well."

"Mizukage-sama, the situation demands boldness. I believe we must act with the urgency this war demands."

"Our Seven Ninja Swordsmen have taken grievous losses. The clan heads of the Kaguya and Hozuki lines have been stalled by Konoha's own bloodline elites. On the front lines, we've gained little."

"If Konoha receives reinforcements particularly Namikaze Minato we'll have no path to victory."

Yagura folded his hands beneath his chin, thinking. "So what do you propose?"

The Anbu leaned forward.

"We capture and seal Isobu—the Three-Tails. Then, we find an opportunity to seal it within a Konoha ninja."

"If we manipulate that shinobi into returning to Konoha, and release the seal inside the village, Isobu will rampage. It will devastate Konoha's inner defenses and morale."

"If that happens, Konoha could fall. Even if it survives, it will be wounded enough for Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and perhaps even Iwagakure or Sunagakure to resume the offensive."

"It may fracture the Fire Country's power and create an opening for the other four great nations to divide its resources. We Kirigakure will take the lion's share."

"Even if Konoha survives, its supremacy ends. At the very least, we will freeze the current balance."

Yagura stared into the distance, the gears of cruelty and strategy already turning.

Extraordinary times, after all, required extraordinary measures.

Yagura was immediately intrigued upon hearing the proposal. This plan could indeed disrupt the balance of the battlefield and plunge the shinobi world back into chaos.

"Hirotada, why haven't you come up with something this devious before?" he asked, a rare smirk appearing. "If this succeeds, I'll personally name you the next head of the Anbu."

"How could I not grow under Mizukage-sama's guidance?" Hirotada replied with deep reverence. "I would gladly give my life for you."

The masked ANBU, known as Hirotada, dropped to one knee in solemn oath.

"Good," Yagura said, nodding in approval. "Move forward immediately. If necessary, I'll take personal command."

"Yes, Mizukage-sama!"

As Hirotada bowed low, Yagura turned his gaze away missing the moment when a pair of scarlet, three-tomoe Sharingan flickered beneath the ANBU's mask.

…

At the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water, a large command tent stood at the heart of Kumogakure's encampment. Inside, the sound of splintering wood cracked through the air, followed by a furious outburst.

"Iwagakure and Sunagakure are worthless cowards!"

"Oh man, big bro, you smashed another table," came a slow, rhyming response. "You need to learn from me—calm is key, ya see."

A loud thud interrupted the rap as a body was flung from the tent, sliding ten meters through the dirt. The figure stood up, dusted off his shoulders, and strolled back inside with casual defiance.

With his dark skin, pale blond hair, black sunglasses, dual swords on his back, and a carefree rhythm to his step, he was unmistakably Killer Bee the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.

Inside stood his elder brother: the Fourth Raikage, A. Towering and broad-shouldered, with dark skin, light blond hair, and a muscular frame encased in thick armor. A large white cloak flowed behind him, bearing the green "雷" (lightning) symbol.

"Brother, what's our next move for Kumogakure?"

Bee's tone turned serious, his usual levity set aside.

"I want to launch another raid," A said bluntly.

"Another one?" Bee blinked. "The last time we hit Konoha's gates, we didn't exactly win. Konoha's sensory division isn't slackin', ya feel me?"

"I know," A replied, "but this time, we change tactics."

"I'll divide our forces. The main division will act as a decoy draw Konoha's attention. You and I, along with our sensor unit, will form the real strike team."

"If we break through to the village itself, unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb with Gyūki. Target the Hokage if possible."

"If we can't reach the village, we'll swing around and hit Konoha's rear line in the battlefield near the River Country border hit their supply and med-nin base hard."

"…That's brutal, bro."

"If they retaliate with the Nine-Tails, Hachibi and Yukito might not hold up."

Bee's face tightened with rare concern.

"It doesn't matter," A said flatly. "If Gyūki can't handle it, I'll back you up. Kumogakure's elite will be with us. You think one Nine-Tails can topple all of us?"

"And besides your bond with Gyūki is stable. But Konoha's Jinchūriki? That boy is volatile. Sarutobi Hiruzen won't dare risk Naruto losing control of the Nine-Tails. He won't release him lightly."

"These are desperate times, Bee. If we don't gamble now, once Konoha regroups and their reinforcements arrive, we'll never get another chance."

"Orochimaru's defenses are razor-sharp. It took years of fighting just to find a single opening."

"And if I fail?" Bee asked, low and serious.

"Withdraw most of our force. But leave a 1,000-man unit behind."

"Use them to harass Konoha's lines slow their recovery. Keep them bleeding, make them cautious. And at the same time, forge our younger shinobi in the fire of real combat."

Among the Five Great Nations, Kumogakure had suffered the least in the Third Great Ninja War. That endurance was earned not by luck but by the iron will and sacrifice of the Third Raikage, whose legendary last stand bought the village its edge in the current conflict.

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