Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

No matter what, the Rinnegan is still in my hands, and the overall situation is in my hands.

The advantage is mine!

……

The land of thunder.

Yunyin Village.

Nestled amidst towering mountains and white clouds, Yunyin Village stands tall.

Although the unique environment of the Land of Lightning is better than that of the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Water, it is still far inferior to the prosperous Land of Fire and Konoha Village.

Because of the surrounding mountains, Kumogakure is extremely lacking in many resources. Therefore, what the Raikage of each generation has always wanted to do is to expand their territory and acquire more resources.

Konoha has always been the target that Kumogakure most desires!

This is why Kumogakure not only instigated the Third Shinobi World War, but also immediately sent troops to attack Konoha after learning of the Nine-Tails' attack.

They need supplies, land, and expansion to provide a more favorable living environment for the people of Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning.

Unfortunately, they seem to run into obstacles every time they try to attack, and this time is no exception.

"What?! The frontline troops have been attacked, and Kirabi is wounded?!"

Inside the Raikage's office.

A fist the size of a sandbag slammed into the desk in front of him, the terrifying force shattering the desk into pieces, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

The incredibly burly Fourth Raikage stared at the Anbu member in front of him, his face filled with disbelief.

Killer Bee is no longer the same person he was during World War III.

After returning from his training in the Cloud Thunder Gorge, Killer Bee's strength has greatly improved, and his cooperation with the Eight-Tails has become more and more perfect. His combat power can even be compared with that of the Fourth Raikage.

With three thousand elite troops also present, the Hidden Cloud Village was determined to directly invade Konoha this time.

With Konoha now less than a tenth of its former strength, what can they use to stop them? What makes Killer Bee think he can lose?

"This is the information that Lord Tsuchidae sent. Lord Killer Bee said in person that the reason he was defeated was because he encountered the mysterious organization from last time."

The Cloud Hidden Anbu whispered, "Also..."

"The frontline commander of Konoha this time, Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan, has revealed his Mangekyou Sharingan..."

"what?!"

The Fourth Raikage snatched the intelligence scroll and began to read it seriously.

The intelligence provided by Tsuchidae recorded the changes on the battlefield in great detail during this period. In the early stages of the war, as predicted, they decisively defeated the front-line troops led by Danzo and launched a major offensive.

However, after being attacked by an unknown organization, the three thousand elite troops suffered heavy losses, and Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, was defeated by the Legendary Sannin Tsunade and fled with his tail cut off.

After that, although the members of the mysterious organization, including Tsunade, did not reappear, Fugaku Uchiha activated his Mangekyou Sharingan and launched a counterattack on the main battlefield...

"Mangekyo Sharingan..."

The Fourth Raikage frowned.

He didn't know much about those eyes, but judging from Tsuchida's battle report, they put tremendous pressure on the frontline ninjas.

"Summon the advisors and elders to discuss the battle at the front!"

"Yes, Lord Raikage."

The secret agents vanished in an instant, and a short while later, a knock sounded on the door.

Five elderly, dark-skinned athletes entered Lei Ying's office. Although all five had white hair, their muscles were extremely strong.

They were all old-timers from the founding era of the village, having followed the First and Second Raikage. Although they were not as strong as the Raikage, only at the level of elite Jonin, their status in Kumogakure was quite high.

The situation is similar in every ninja village. Apart from the Kage, almost every village has a group of senior members.

For example, Chiyo Ebizo of Sunagakure, Genshi of Kirigakure, and Mitokado Homura of Konoha are all similar individuals.

However, due to the special status of A, who is comparable to Kirigakure in terms of strength, these old guys are basically just mascots, and at most they are called over by the Raikage to ask some questions.

"How's the situation at the front, Yongdaimei?"

"Why are you so flustered? Did you say something wrong?"

"What could possibly happen? With our current combined strength, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi personally went to the front lines, he couldn't stop that kid Killer Bee."

"That's right..."

The old men were all smiles, seemingly without any pressure, but when they saw the Fourth Raikage's serious face, they sensed something was amiss, and their voices gradually faded away.

Lei Ying took a deep breath and handed over the intelligence scroll in his hand. The advisors and elders carefully examined it, and the more they looked, the more solemn their expressions became.

When they finally saw the words 'Mangekyou Sharingan', the advisors and elders looked as if they had seen something extremely terrifying, and their expressions changed drastically!

"Retreat! We must retreat!"

Without the slightest hesitation, and disregarding even the proper etiquette between the advisor and the Raikage, an elderly advisor pressed his hands on the Raikage's damaged desk and hurriedly said, "Fourth Hokage, we must withdraw our troops. This war cannot continue!"

Withdraw?

The Fourth Raikage frowned.

Although the situation at the front was beyond his expectations, it was not yet at the point of retreating.

Putting aside other factors, the three thousand elite soldiers plus the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki only represent a small portion of the Cloud Village's current fighting force. Including the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and himself, the Cloud Village still has plenty of top-tier powerhouses and elite troops to offer.

And what about Konoha?

He's just Uchiha Fugaku!

Even if there are still those Shinigami from Seireitei, does Kumogakure have no one left?

Putting everything else aside, the Fourth Raikage has stated that they can definitely bring Onoki over, and the worst-case scenario would be the start of the Fourth Shinobi World War, just like in the later stages of the Third Shinobi World War.

Despite knowing all this, the advisor elder still directly stated that the troops should be withdrawn...

The Fourth Raikage then turned his gaze to the other advisors.

Although the other advisors did not speak, the expressions on their faces made it clear to the Fourth Raikage what they were thinking.

Withdraw the troops!

This piqued the Fourth Raikage's curiosity.

Getting such a group of stubborn old men to agree is no easy task. Could it be because of that so-called Mangekyou Sharingan?

If I remember correctly, the Mangekyou Sharingan was something that Madara Uchiha, the Asura of the ninja world, relied on when he dominated the ninja world decades ago, before the ninja villages were even established.

"Tell me everything you know about the Mangekyou Sharingan!"

A group of consultants immediately started talking all at once.

What about those incredibly bizarre instantaneous eye techniques, the Susanoo that's almost invincible in both offense and defense, which's like a god or demon, and that terrifying genjutsu that can easily control tailed beasts...?

For these old guys who survived from the founding era, nothing in this world is more memorable than Madara Uchiha, the Asura of the Shinobi World, and Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.

That was a power deeply imprinted in the hearts of all of them, an indelible mark of fear, even though they had been gone for decades.

"We must evacuate, Fourth Hokage. Killer Bee hasn't made contact with Fugaku Uchiha yet. Once they do, or even fight, there's a possibility that we in Kumogakure might lose the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!"

The advisor elder who had slammed his fist on the table earlier said with a serious expression, "I don't know if a perfect Jinchuriki can withstand the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan, but we can't take such a risk!"

"That's right. Killer Bee may be a bit noisy, but we in Kumogakure can't do without him!"

"Once the Eight-Tails is controlled by Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan..."

"Our losses aren't significant. If we withdraw now, Kumogakure will still be the most powerful force in the ninja world overall. We..."

"That's right……"

Withdraw! Withdraw! Withdraw!

The advisors and elders chattered amongst themselves, their words filled with the implication of retreat, which made the hot-tempered Fourth Raikage's forehead veins bulge and his anger burn.

Since the death of the Third Raikage, when he took over as Raikage, he has had a guiding principle in his heart.

That is to expand the territory of Kumogakure and bring a better living environment and more resources to the people of Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning!

As a result, during the later stages of the Third Shinobi World War, he thought he had seized an opportunity and ordered his troops to join the war, but in the end, it ended in a disappointing failure.

Now that Konoha's fighting strength has been reduced to less than one-tenth due to the Nine-Tails' attack, and he has seized the opportunity again, is he going to repeat the fizzle-out performance of the Third Shinobi World War?!

"I don't know!"

The fourth-generation Ai slapped the desk again, completely destroying the already dilapidated desk.

"Why are you all discussing how powerful the Mangekyou Sharingan is, as if this war is already doomed for us?"

"Before the war began, we were full of confidence and vowed to march towards Konoha, determined to crush Konoha and unify the two kingdoms of Raiho and Naga."

"After the war began, wherever my Cloud Village army went, the Konoha ninja were all routed. Danzo's troops from the Dark Village of Ninja were defeated and fled in disarray. My army advanced rapidly and was invincible. That vibrant and flourishing state is still vivid in my mind."

"In just a few short days, the entire situation changed so drastically because of a pair of kaleidoscopes that it became our burial ground?"

"No matter how you look at it, Kumogakure still has me and Yugito, while Konoha only has a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan!"

"Three to one, the advantage is on my side!"

The Fourth Raikage, A, spoke loudly, his words brimming with self-confidence, but these words made the old advisors extremely anxious.

"No, we absolutely cannot fight! We must withdraw our troops!"

"Even if the Fourth Hokage and Yugito are there, how far are you from the battlefield? It's too late to get there now!"

"Yes, the most urgent task is to use reverse psychic abilities to get the frontline soldiers to retreat."

"Fourth Hokage, we absolutely cannot let you continue to act recklessly today. We must withdraw our troops!"

"If you don't withdraw your troops today, I'll smash my old bones right here and die!"

The old men became more and more agitated as they talked, even threatening to kill themselves. After much persuasion, they finally managed to calm the Fourth Raikage down.

The ambitious Raikage remained silent for a long time before finally closing his eyes and speaking.

"Very well, let's withdraw the troops..."

Chapter 171 Clash of the Three Sannin, Tsunade's Shikai!

The next day.

As usual, Fugaku Uchiha delivered a passionate and inspiring speech, which not only ignited the passion of all the Konoha ninjas but also enhanced his own prestige.

No longer concealing his strength, Fugaku Uchiha, after fully revealing his Mangekyou Sharingan, possessed combat power beyond imagination. Even though the number and quality of ninjas on Konoha's side were inferior to those on Kumogaku's side, when Fugaku appeared on the battlefield and activated his Susanoo, it was as if he had the terrifying power of an army formed by one person.

Once or twice.

As the war continued, Fugaku Uchiha became increasingly popular.

High-ranking ninjas like Jonin greatly acknowledged Fugaku's strength, while Chunin and Genin, in addition to being convinced of Fugaku's power, were also constantly changing their views on the Uchiha clan.

These seemingly cold, ill-tempered, and arrogant people with a penchant for being irrational can sometimes be quite reliable.

"Clan... Lord Fugaku, the Cloud Village has begun to continuously withdraw its forces, and a small force has even retreated."

Standing atop a massive tree trunk, Fugaku Uchiha listened to Inagi Uchiha's intelligence report: "The enemy is very likely plotting something, perhaps planning to launch a surprise attack and crush us!"

Fugaku remained noncommittal, and asked in a deep voice, "Have you found any trace of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"not yet."

The war has continued until now. Fugaku Uchiha has been using his Mangekyou Sharingan to his advantage, and the chakra blades of his Susanoo are almost stained red. However, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, who is the highest combat power on the front line of Kumogakure, has been missing since his clash with Tsunade. This makes Fugaku wonder.

The crimson three-tomoe Sharingan gazed into the distance. Although the Sharingan's perception ability was not as good as the Byakugan, it could still see the trees and lush grass in front of it.

Beyond this jungle lies a vast plain, and the Cloud Village's headquarters is located on the other side of the plain.

In this environment, the ninjas' various special fighting methods, such as walking on water and climbing trees, will lose their advantage. Once a large-scale collision occurs between the two sides, it will inevitably be a head-on collision.

If the Hidden Cloud Village begins to consolidate its forces, then the Hidden Leaf Village will be on the offensive.

Putting aside the countless traps and barriers, encountering the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's outburst in such an environment would be fatal for Konoha ninjas.

"It seems that the next battle will still have to be fought by me."

Fugaku Uchiha murmured, his eyes filled with confidence.

As the war progressed, he could clearly feel the changes in how he and the Uchiha clan were perceived by the common ninjas of Konoha.

In the past, people looked at them with fear and dread.