A sudden emergency from the Land of Lightning threw the other villages into disarray. Under orders from the Third Hokage, Konoha assembled an emergency conference.
Soon after, a raiding force of six high-rank shinobi departed for Lightning Country: Uchiha Setsuna leading the squad; the three clan heads of the Ino–Shika–Chō; the Hyūga branch leader Hyūga Ashikaga; and Inuzuka Jin — a compact, elite team of Kage-level operatives racing toward Lightning.
Konoha's clans could smell opportunity. Finally — a legitimate purge mission. The two minor Hidden Villages in the Land of Lightning weren't Konoha, but their secrets and techniques were tempting. Outside the Senju and the Uchiha, many clans were quietly eager.
Even if Cloud's mystical body-art or bloodline techniques didn't match other families' jutsu systems, simply possessing them as clan relics held value. Such techniques weren't created in a season; centuries of heritage produced arts that could one day be fused into something new if a genius emerged.
Soon, two Elementary Academy headmasters would gather with eighteen shinobi clan jōnin, each with chūnin squads acting as logistics and support. The headmasters' mission: hunt for talent and refill the academy's ranks. The rest would do what shinobi always did — strip an area clean of anything valuable.
"In terms of route," the Hokage briefed, "the Land of Lightning sits northeast of the Land of Fire, via the Land of Hot Water and the Land of the Moon. Once Principal Setsuna reaches Lightning, he'll send a messenger-cat. I'll teleport there using the Flying Thunder God Technique."
From his office, Uchiha Soren watched the Kage-class team leave the village as new squads gathered at the main gate. He cracked his neck, feeling the familiar hunger stirring.
He'd gone too long without a true battle.
Smiling, he said, "When the time comes, wipe out Kinkaku & Ginkaku, take care of Third Raikage Ai, and clean up those two messy Hidden Villages. Let Cloud in the Land of Lightning become a thing of the past. It'll be a clean answer for those who died in Konoha's earlier battles."
Uzumaki Mito sat composed, though unease rippled beneath her serenity. The One Village per Country system Hashirama had once established had now been broken by Konoha's Third Hokage in less than twenty years — ironic, or progress, she couldn't tell.
"If Cloud Village disappears, other forces will rise in Lightning sooner or later," she warned.
"Then Konoha will rule Lightning." Soren's tone allowed no argument.
Mito frowned. "Lightning is far. Even an upper-ranked shinobi takes three or four days on foot. Direct governance means splitting our manpower to maintain garrisons — weakening us and inviting infiltration from other villages disguised as rogue ninja."
"If the garrison is weak, we're swallowed. If it's too strong, we draw hostility and turn the country into a meat grinder between Konoha and the other three villages."
Land, wealth — they drew predators. Humans died for profit; birds died for food.
"I have a solution," Soren said, producing a Flying Thunder God kunai. "I've studied the spatial seals. Soon I can create a stable space-transfer array allowing Konoha shinobi to reach Lightning instantly."
"That solves garrisoning and support. And the early-warning seals you asked me to prepare? Nearly done — we can plant them in a day or two."
Mito, who had tried and failed to grasp the mysteries of time-space ninjutsu, felt envy flicker inside her. The gap between understanding and mastering such arts was a chasm few could cross.
"Mito, you truly are a sealing master," Soren said — polite praise, though calculated. "This confirms another thought I've had."
Chaos, he believed, bred strength. Turmoil forged heroes.
The young Hokage turned, smiling — a polite expression hiding a demon's grin.
"There are many ways to govern. I'll make Lightning a land of disorder — a graduation trial for Konoha's Advanced Academy, and a testing ground for weapons development."
Mito stared, shocked. Soren poured himself tea and set the cup down with calm finality.
"People scramble for profit," he said. "Lightning's territory is no smaller than Konoha's. We can't guard every inch. Complex borders, long coastlines — blocking outsiders is impossible. If we can't prevent intrusion, then let them enter openly."
He waited until Mito processed the thought, then continued:
"Invite the other villages to send shinobi below Kage-level to garrison it. The spoils of a lawless land will lie bare before them. Whether they form alliances or fight alone — let them claw for it."
"The winners take everything; the losers are dust."
Under Soren's plan, chaos would be contained to shinobi battlefields.
"Civilians won't be affected," he assured. "The battleground belongs to shinobi. It will temper the next generation from the Advanced Academy with blood and fire — they'll grow into chūnin, jōnin, even the pillars Konoha needs."
Mito's hand trembled. "Will too many die?"
"Not civilians. Only shinobi." Soren's voice was flat steel. "If anyone breaks the rules, we cut them down. If anyone refuses to submit, we show them who truly runs the shinobi world. One swing of Susanoo will remind them who gives them the right to stay alive."
His characteristic Uchiha bluntness left Mito uneasy — and disturbingly exhilarated. The simplicity of strike whoever displeases you clawed at the part of her that had always obeyed rules — the thrill was intoxicating.
"Since the Hokage has decided, I'll draft the decree," she said, finally yielding.
She glanced at the empty meeting chairs and sighed. "Minako could endure it… but if Princess Kaori sees you like this, she'll be frightened."
"Kaori isn't weak," Soren replied. "I was thinking of giving her the Two-Tails as a gift."
He shrugged. "I never hide who I am from my people. Good or bad — they will follow me for life."
Mito picked up her brush and began to write, resigned.
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