Lin Yu emerged from the finance department, a massive sack slung over his shoulder. He hadn't bothered to count, but he knew it contained at least a few hundred million ryo.
"Ah, one shouldn't harvest all the leeks at once. Ohno-ki, we'll meet again!"
A flicker, and Lin Yu vanished, a shadow dissolving into the air.
"Lord Tsuchikage, who was that? How could they have done this to you!" The approaching Bun'ya surveyed the surroundings with a grave expression, ever vigilant against attacks from the black-robed figure.
Ohno-ki, hunched over and spitting out curses, gritted his teeth. "The opponent was a ninja proficient in Lightning Release, at least Elite Jonin level. Their speed was incredible! You all need to be careful."
Ohno-ki kept quiet about the possibility of it being a Cloud Village ninja. He still had to consider the higher probability that someone was trying to frame them.
Suddenly, a Stone Ninja looked up at the sky, a questioning tone in his voice, "Everyone, quickly, look! What is that?"
Ohno-ki casually glanced upwards. Initially, he paid it no mind, but that one glance made his eyeballs nearly pop out. He let out a string of expletives.
"Damn you, Cloud Village! Everyone, defend! It's a Tailed Beast Bomb!"
"A Tailed Beast Bomb?!"
The Stone Village also possessed two Jinchuriki. They understood the terrifying power of a Tailed Beast Bomb, a force capable of destroying a mountain in a single blow. If a Tailed Beast Bomb were to fall upon their village, half of the Stone Village would be annihilated!
Bun'ya rallied the Stone Ninja, shouting, "Everyone, gather your chakra and use Earth Style to block it!"
"Leave it to us!"
"Earth Style: Million Stone River Wall!"
A wall, seemingly soaring into the clouds, erupted from the ground, directly facing the Tailed Beast Bomb descending from the sky.
"Not enough! Earth Style: Heavy Rock Jutsu!"
Ohno-ki, his back hunched, ignored the pain in his waist. He floated beside the wall, pressing his hands against it, increasing its weight and resilience.
*Boom!*
A medium-sized Tailed Beast Bomb slammed directly into the colossal Earth Wall. A violent collision echoed, and the wall, unable to withstand such concentrated chakra energy, began to crumble.
"Everyone, increase chakra output!"
"Yes!"
The Stone Ninja, who had been arriving one after another, joined the effort to maintain the Earth Wall. As the wall was repeatedly destroyed and repaired, the shockwave from the Tailed Beast Bomb's explosion was finally offset. Smoke and dust billowed everywhere. A building vanished without a trace, leaving only a sign hanging from a damaged wire, on which the character "土" (Earth) was faintly visible.
"Did we block it?"
Bun'ya, covered in dust, looked at the utterly ruined Earth Wall and the vanished Tailed Beast Bomb with a sense of relief. They had blocked it!
At that moment, a pained cry came from beside them. "Damn it! My Tsuchikage's office is gone!"
Ohno-ki clutched his back and collapsed to the ground, his face a mask of fury. The target was his Tsuchikage's office! This was a direct insult to him, Ohno-ki!
He could no longer tolerate this. He would declare war on the Cloud Village!
Previously, Ohno-ki had been unsure if the Cloud Village was responsible, but now, with the appearance of the Tailed Beast Bomb, he had his target!
It absolutely had to be Ay and Killer B from the Cloud Village!
A ninja wielding Lightning Chakra Mode and suspected to possess the strongest Lightning Armor, along with that Tailed Beast Bomb just now!
Only Jinchuriki could wield a Tailed Beast Bomb; this was undeniable! And the closest and most suspicious targets were Ay and B. They had heard that these two had been making a name for themselves in the ninja world recently, and now they dared to attack his Land of Earth!
Third Raikage! You raised your son well!
Hmph! Ohno-ki would absolutely not swallow this insult. He coldly said, "Mu, where is Mu? Call him over!"
The "honest" medical ninja beside him stepped forward. "To Lord Tsuchikage, Mu is currently being rescued. However, he should not die so easily!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Ohno-ki's eyes instantly bloodshot. Damn Cloud Village! Not only did they destroy his Tsuchikage's office, but they also crippled him and his son! Anyone would find this unbearable!
"Bun'ya, go and increase the bounty on the Third Raikage in the black market! I want compensation! No! Tenfold! I want the bounty on the Third Raikage increased tenfold!"
Bun'ya stepped forward to remind him. "Lord Tsuchikage, the Third Raikage's bounty is already 80 million ryo. If it's increased tenfold, that would be 800 million ryo! Our village was attacked today and suffered heavy losses..."
"Do as I say! This attack was orchestrated by the Cloud Village! I will make them pay with blood!"
Ohno-ki, his son Mu's life hanging in the balance, had lost his usual composure. He roared at Bun'ya.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
Bun'ya bowed and retreated. If this attack was indeed the Cloud Village's doing, then the Tsuchikage's anger was understandable. After all, the Stone Village and the Cloud Village were nominal allies. What was the meaning of this surprise attack? Did they think they could fight all four villages like the Leaf Village?
Ohno-ki ordered the Stone Ninja to clear the battlefield and then lay down on a stretcher. He was going to the hospital to see his son, Mu, and to get his old back treated. He felt his old back could still be salvaged!
"Ouch! Damn Third Raikage, I will never let you go!"
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rice, the Third Raikage sneezed. He touched his nose with some confusion, wondering, "How could my body catch a cold? Could it be that someone misses me? Is it Ay?"
A smile flickered across the Third Raikage's fierce face. "I wonder how Ay is doing. The taste of defeat must not be pleasant. Hahaha!"
The Third Raikage considered Ay and Killer B's defeat a good thing. Life couldn't always be smooth sailing. True men often had to endure stormy blows and awaken in despair before becoming true powerhouses.
He believed Ay and Killer B would not disappoint him. The only one to be wary of was that insidious little man, Ohno-ki.
The Third Raikage muttered to himself, "Ohno-ki, don't play with fire and get yourself burned. Our enemy is the Leaf Village right now. Don't pull any tricks. If Ay and Bi's lives are in danger, I will definitely show you what a true man who can fight for three days and three nights looks like!"
...
On the other side, Lin Yu put down the heavy sack and began to inventory his spoils.
"525 million ryo in bank notes, seven Earth Style ninjutsu scrolls, a list of Fire Country spies, a handbook of Stone Village widows, a list of Stone Village's most beautiful courtesans... what is going on?"
Lin Yu gritted his teeth. "What does that old man Ohno-ki want with these lists? Could he still be showing off his prowess? But with his height... tsk tsk tsk!"
"Truly shameless in his old age! Pfft!"
"Ah, let me see if there are any pretty girls, hehehe!"