They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 175 The Ninja World Turmoil & Eastward Advance! Eastward Advance!

In the Cloud Kingdom, a small country near the Land of Lightning, lies a hidden village in a secluded valley.

Judging from the scale, style and layout of the buildings, it should be a gathering place for a small ninja clan.

"Father, how are you?"

Kawata Masamaru looked at his father with excitement, wanting to know the outcome of his trip to Konoha to seek help.

However, he quickly deduced something from the silent expression on his father's face.

"What, do they not want to send troops?"

Kawata Masamaru looked at his father with an incredulous expression.

"The Hidden Cloud Village has wiped out three small ninja villages around us in the past two months without warning. According to the order, it should be our turn soon."

"If Konoha doesn't send troops, are they just going to stand by and watch us get swallowed up and Kumogakure's strength increase?"

Since the peace and truce meeting held in Kirigakure, things have become much calmer among the five major powers, but tensions continue to rise among the smaller nations.

In the past two months, Kumogakure has frequently taken action against surrounding small ninja villages and clans, eliminating them under various inexplicable pretexts and abducting their property, secret techniques, and personnel.

The Kawada clan has lived in this Land of Clouds for generations, for over a hundred years. Their clan has inherited the secret arts of clouds and mist, and is quite skilled in illusion, earning them a small reputation in the area.

Back when the "one country, one village" system was first established, the Kawata clan had considered leaving the mountains to join the Great Ninja Village, but ultimately decided to wait and see before making a decision, given the uncertain future.

However, this period of observation led to the First Shinobi World War, which terrified them with its far more brutal conflict than that of the Warring States period. They then returned to their clan's territory without looking back, refusing to communicate with the outside world and becoming cowards.

Unfortunately, after decades of peaceful life, they are now facing a life-or-death situation due to the actions of the Hidden Cloud Village.

"Not just Konoha."

Kawada Masagos sighed, and after glancing at the land where his family had lived for a hundred years, a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.

"After being rejected by Konoha, I went to Iwagakure and Sunagakure to ask for help. But it was as if all three of them had agreed to refuse our request."

"I didn't believe it when I heard that the other major ninja villages were also annexing surrounding smaller forces, but now it seems they're all in cahoots!"

"Could it be that the heavens are truly determined to destroy my Kawata clan?"

He never imagined that while he was watching the four great nations fight like madmen in the mountains, they were still laughing at him, and when they heard that a peace conference was being held in Kirigakure, they were still lamenting why these guys had stopped.

However, two months later, the situation changed dramatically. The meeting held in Kirigakure did indeed mediate the war, but it only mediated the war between the five great nations. The other great nations that stopped fighting began to have designs on them!

"...If that's the case, then we'll have no choice but to relocate."

After remaining silent for a long time, Kawata Masamaru finally made a suggestion to his father.

"Migrate? Where can we migrate to?"

Kawata Masagos gave a bitter laugh, glanced at his son, and said, "The entire ninja world is under the rule of the Five Great Nations. Even if we escape the clutches of the Land of Lightning, we're just jumping into another abyss. What's the point?"

"Unless we can escape to the legendary eastern continent across the sea... but there are natural barriers separating the two continents, how can we possibly escape there when we've never even seen the sea?"

However, what he didn't expect was that after pondering for a while, his son suddenly said with a resolute expression:

"Let's go to Kirigakure!"

"Hidden Mist Village?"

"good!"

Kawata Masamaru gritted his teeth and pulled out a letter from behind him. "This is the 'recruitment notice' that Kirigakure issued to the outside world some time ago. The letter uses the Uzumaki clan and the Tsuchigumo clan as examples, claiming that there is no distinction between foreign and local ninja clans in Kirigakure, and that they are recruiting ninja clans from the ninja world with high salaries."

"Recruit ninja clans from the entire ninja world?"

Kawada Masagos was surprised. If that's the case, then he really should think about it.

After all, staying here means being wiped out and incorporated into Kumogakure, while voluntarily joining Kirigakure allows one to retain their ninja clan identity as a whole. The difference between the two is significant.

"And that's not all! Look at this recruitment notice, it clearly states that if you do not wish to settle in Kirigakure, you can choose a place to settle near the Land of Water. As long as you abide by the relevant regulations, Kirigakure guarantees that it will not take action against any forces near the Land of Water."

"We even joined their so-called 'Ocean-wide Ninja Alliance,' and Kirigakure even proactively sent money to support our development!"

"Could Kirigakure really be that kind?"

Upon hearing this, Kawada Masagos accepted the recruitment notice with some skepticism and began to examine it carefully.

As Kawata Masamaru had said, it was indeed written above, only more detailed, listing out the terms of funding for Kirigakure and the countries where they could settle.

"Father, let's move! Staying here means certain death, moving might offer a chance to survive!"

"Now we have no choice but to trust Kirigakure's reputation!"

Upon hearing this, Kawata Masagos thought of Hozuki Shingetsu's reputation in the ninja world in recent years, Kirigakure's initiative to mediate the war instead of participating in the Second Shinobi World War, and the fact that Kirigakure was the only village that had not attacked a small country in the past two months. He finally made up his mind.

"move!"

With this order given, the Kawata clan, a small ninja clan that had been living near the Land of Clouds for hundreds of years, sprang into action. After packing their belongings, they embarked on an unknown journey to the east.

This scenario was not an isolated case. Under the pressure of the four great ninja villages, many ninja clans embarked on the road to the east of the continent.

-

"What? You're saying that several factions within our territory have started relocating out?"

The Third Raikage was enraged upon seeing his subordinates' report.

"What are you all good for? How could you let someone get away when they're all grown up?"

"That's right, Lord Raikage. We didn't know at first, and by the time we received the news and reacted, they had already reached the vicinity of the Land of Water... In order to avoid conflict, we didn't pursue them."

The Yun ninjas who came to report lowered their heads and trembled as they reported to their leader.

They naturally knew that given the Third Raikage's temperament, he would certainly not forgive them for such a huge mistake.

Therefore, he quickly revealed another piece of information in an attempt to mitigate his guilt.

"According to intelligence, not only from our side, but also from the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth, many ninja clans and villages have gone to Kirigakure. And the culprit behind all this might be this!"

"A recruitment notice?"

The Third Raikage squinted and took the leaflet from the Cloud Ninja's hand.

(End of this chapter)