"Is Minato planning to cut through along the border of Grass Country to strike Ōnoki from behind?"
Kyōichi pondered thoughtfully.
They hadn't borrowed a path through Takigakure.
Because Takigakure was the only village outside the Five Great Nations that possessed a jinchūriki. At this point, requesting passage from them would not only be denied but might also leak their plans.
After just a brief consideration, he understood Minato's reasoning.
After thinking for a moment longer…
He said, "Should we launch a surprise attack on Kusagakure to divert their attention and cover Minato's team's movement?"
"..."
The Sandaime remained silent for a moment before replying, "You just want an excuse to beat up the Kusa ninja, don't you?"
"As expected of you, Hokage-sama—your wisdom sees right through me."
Kyōichi grinned.
The Sandaime felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint what.
Still, he didn't dwell on it.
After a pause, the Sandaime nodded. "But you're not wrong. Beating up the Kusa ninja is the best way to divert attention."
"We have a legitimate reason to attack Kusagakure, so Ōnoki won't suspect anything. Of course, we need the right timing… Kōsuke, return and inform Minato that we'll launch our assault on a cloudy day. Tell them to stay hidden and wait."
Kyōichi didn't deliberate for long.
The toad Kōsuke glanced between Kyōichi and the Sandaime, as if deciding whose orders to follow. After a moment, it asked, "Why wait for a cloudy day?"
"Because on a cloudy day, we can unleash an extremely powerful Lightning Release ninjutsu—one that will make Ōnoki hesitate to engage recklessly."
Kyōichi gave a simple explanation.
He was confident Minato would understand his intentions immediately.
The toad returned to Mount Myōboku.
The Sandaime hadn't fully made up his mind yet, but since he'd already agreed to attack Kusagakure…
He naturally didn't object now.
Everything was ready—
All they needed was a cloudy day.
...
Eastern Grass Country.
Namikaze Minato and eleven others lay hidden in the mountain forests.
Including Minato, they made up three elite squads—the weakest among them was an elite chūnin like Kakashi, while the strongest were jōnin like Hakuza Asama and Aburame Shibi.
"Minato-senpai, should we summon a toad to check the situation?"
"Wait a little longer."
Minato worried that if he summoned the toad mid-report, it might cause complications.
If only someone else knew Flying Thunder God…
He thought to himself.
After a long while, he performed the Summoning Technique, bringing Toad Kōsuke back.
"Well?"
"The silver-haired one said you need to wait for a cloudy day. That's when he'll be able to use a powerful Lightning Release technique to deter Ōnoki."
Kōsuke explained.
"A cloudy day?"
Minato pondered, then immediately asked, "Did he also mention attacking Kusagakure?"
"Yes! I was just about to say that—"
Kōsuke nodded repeatedly.
Minato ignored the latter half of its sentence, said "Thanks", and sent it back to Mount Myōboku.
Nearby, Kakashi seemed deep in thought.
"Kakashi, what are you thinking?"
"That 'powerful Lightning Release technique'—if it requires a cloudy day, it's likely something that generates and guides natural lightning…"
To master his sword techniques, Kakashi had recently focused all his efforts on studying Lightning Release, so his understanding had improved rapidly.
He quickly grasped part of the possibility.
Soon—
The jōnin present had mostly figured it out as well.
"The Hokage-sama and the others have already clashed with Ōnoki once, using this technique to intimidate Iwagakure. Even Kusagakure must know of it. So, on a cloudy day, all attention will be on the western camp!"
Minato's eyes lit up.
No wonder!
So that was why they needed a cloudy day.
He took a deep breath and turned to the others. "Any questions?"
"None."
"Hizashi-san, I'll need your help later."
"Since I've joined this squad, I'll give it my all."
Hyūga Hizashi nodded.
Though Aburame Shibi was present, his insects needed to return to relay intel. The Byakugan, however, could see directly and report enemy positions in real time.
Thus—
He was the squad's strongest eyes."
With Kyōichi's plan clarified, everyone felt more at ease. Weather like a cloudy day didn't require intel transmission—just looking at the sky would be enough.
It was the perfect signal.
Days passed.
Waiting for bad weather was agonizing, but shinobi were a patient lot. They knew how to suppress their restlessness.
Finally—
A week later, the weather arrived.
It was a rainy day.
No technique was needed—twisting lightning already streaked across the sky.
"This weather…"
Ōnoki frowned as he looked up.
Though it was morning, thunder rumbled, bringing back unpleasant memories—he still hadn't figured out how to counter that technique from days ago.
"Tsuchikage-sama, we should heighten our alert. The Konoha shinobi might attack."
"I've already warned everyone. All sensory-specialized shinobi will act as Iwagakure's eyes, monitoring Konoha's forces."
"Hn."
Ōnoki nodded.
Just as he was about to return to strategizing, an Iwa-nin emerged from the ground.
"Tsuchikage-sama! Konoha's forces are moving, but they don't seem to be targeting us—they're going after Kusagakure."
"Kusagakure?"
Ōnoki's brow furrowed.
Konoha attacking Kusagakure was…
Unexpected.
"Father, what are they doing? You once said Sarutobi Hiruzen is usually indecisive and kind-hearted. This doesn't sound like his decision."
Tsuchikage's son, Tsuchi, was puzzled.
This didn't match the Sandaime Hokage's image as Ōnoki had described.
Ōnoki scowled. "Brat, I also said that when it counts, he takes responsibility. So this isn't his call—he's just covering for someone else."
"Oh."
"Konoha's youth…"
Ōnoki had already realized.
The current Konoha wasn't being led by the Sandaime—the helm was held by a young man, that jōnin Kanda Kyōichi.
Yet—
Iwagakure still lacked worthy successors.
He sighed, feeling helpless, but then smirked. "Youngsters don't know how to restrain their emotions. Though fence-sitters are annoying, uprooting them will only make the other grasses uneasy."
"Then we…?"
"We'll observe from a distance—just the two of us."
Ōnoki suspected Konoha's technique couldn't precisely target enemies. Otherwise, the second lightning strike days ago would have landed on him—that would've been most advantageous for Konoha.
Today was the perfect chance to test his theory.
...
"Will Ōnoki come?"
"He will. That old fox won't miss this opportunity."
Hiruzen agreed with Kyōichi's assessment.
Ōnoki would come—
Because he wouldn't pass up the chance to observe Kirin in action.
Meanwhile—
Kyōichi strode far ahead, his physical and mental energies refining into chakra, accelerating his speed.
Soon, he reached Grass Country's border.
The Kusakage had already received word.
"Asama-sama, Konoha's forces are coming. You should flee."
"Do I have a choice?"
Asama Naruki sighed.
Kusagakure hadn't sided with Konoha, so they'd lost their alliance.
Now—
If they fled, they'd lose Iwagakure's "alliance" and their homeland.
He was lost.
Kusagakure's survival tactics no longer worked. Perhaps they needed a new path—but he hadn't found it yet.
A figure emerged from the forest.
He recognized him—
Konoha jōnin, Kanda Kyōichi.
"Asama Naruki? If I recall correctly, that's your name."
Kyōichi studied the two, unsure what to say.
Yes—
Only two Kusa-nin had come. They stood armed, ready to die.
"Heh. I'm surprised Konoha's rising leader remembers my name. Should I be honored?"
He smiled bitterly.
"I'm also surprised that out of all of Kusagakure, only two have spine—while the rest watch their leader march to his death from afar."
Kyōichi's gaze shifted behind Asama.
The forest appeared empty.
But—
He knew hidden Kusa-nin lurked in the distance—some had even fled already.
"More deaths would be meaningless. The fault lies with me alone…"
Asama said calmly.
"Then what are you doing? Hoping your death will earn Konoha's forgiveness? You overestimate your worth."
Kyōichi's tone was icy.
As he spoke, he fired a signal flare into the distance.
Asama stared in shock—then saw dozens of figures emerge from the trees behind Kyōichi.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha's Lightning Release specialists.
The Sandaime held twin blades, white lightning arcing skyward.
The storm made even Fire Release unnecessary.
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning split the skies. Before it struck, the Lightning Release users channeled chakra into the blades.
Then—
The Sandaime guided the lightning with his swords—and slashed forward.
BOOM!
The Kusa-nin witnessed the terrifying technique that had forced Iwagakure back.
Annihilating thunder descended diagonally, crashing into the distant woods.
Asama whirled around, eyes fixed on the impact site.
It wasn't close to Kusagakure's main forces.
But—
This was a storm.
Rainwater conducted the lightning's devastation—even where Asama stood, silver currents snaked across the ground.
He gaped, then turned back to Kyōichi's cold expression.
"These people aren't worth dying for. Train a new generation with real courage—that might be Kusagakure's answer."
With that, Kyōichi left.
He had no intention of killing Asama.
Not for any gain—
But because…
Right now, neither Konoha, Iwagakure, Amegakure, nor Takigakure could swallow Grass Country whole.
Killing Asama would leave Kusagakure leaderless, pushing them fully into Ōnoki's grasp.
That would only make things worse.
Leaving him alive meant that after the war, this Kusakage would know where to turn.
Of course—
This assumed Nagato had followed through on his end.
A small-nation alliance between Fire and Earth Countries would reduce future conflicts.
As for that alliance—
Such coalitions were inherently fragile.
If their core collapsed, the entire bloc would crumble.
As for Asama Naruki—
He stared at the ruined forest, the wailing survivors, and felt all defiance leave him.
A technique this terrifying…
Konoha could obliterate them effortlessly. Kusagakure stood no chance.
He regretted it now.
Abandoning Konoha was his worst decision as Kusakage. Had they stayed loyal, perhaps Konoha would've granted them aid—
The Sandaime Hokage treated allies well.
Provided—
They were truly committed.
But…
That was just fantasy. He knew Kusagakure's nature too well.