Iwagakure had been defeated, and the Third Tsuchikage formally announced their surrender, sending shockwaves across the entire shinobi world.
This surrender marked the end of the three-year war between Konoha and Iwagakure, and it signaled that the Third Great Ninja War had entered its final phase.
Now, only the Land of Lightning remained.
Four nations had stood against one, and with three already surrendering, many began to wonder whether Kumogakure would eventually yield under the pressure.
But before the situation could fully settle, another piece of shocking news spread across the world and captured everyone's attention.
The Third Raikage had died on the battlefield in the Land of Earth.
At first, many people thought they had misheard, confusing "Tsuchikage" with "Raikage." After repeated confirmations, however, the truth became undeniable.
The Third Raikage was dead.
There was, however, disagreement about how he died.
Iwagakure claimed he fell to Konoha's Lightning Flash, while Konoha insisted he was killed by Dust Release.
In reality, both statements held some truth.
Because of this, rumors quickly spread. Some claimed that the Third Tsuchikage had invited the Raikage to fight Konoha together, only to secretly cooperate with Konoha's Lightning Flash and eliminate him. Others speculated that Iwagakure had already planned to surrender and had reached an agreement with the Third Hokage, using the war as a trap to lure the Raikage.
This theory, filled with suspicion and intrigue, spread rapidly throughout the shinobi world.
Soon, it became a dominant topic of discussion, rivaling the earlier invasion of Kirigakure and the fall of the so-called "Demigod."
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Dodai stood quietly in the mourning hall, staring at a photograph of the Third Raikage.
With the Raikage's death, a heavy grief settled over the village. Fear began to spread among the people.
The war was still ongoing, and without their leader, uncertainty loomed over Kumogakure's future.
Despite their strong military and previous advantage against Konoha, the atmosphere had shifted. A sense of instability crept in.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
Dodai turned as a tall figure appeared at the entrance.
It was A, the son of the Third Raikage, the man destined to become the Fourth Raikage.
Dodai said nothing as A slammed the door open in anger. He simply narrowed his eyes, watching in silence.
Three days had passed since the Third Raikage's death. A major battle had also taken place in the Land of Hot Springs, which delayed the news reaching A. Only after the battle concluded was he informed and called back.
It was clear he had rushed back without rest.
His clothes were stained with blood, worn and torn from battle.
A stepped inside slowly, his breathing heavy, his lips dry. He had suffered injuries from fighting Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya, wounds far more serious than they appeared.
Yet he ignored them completely.
"Where is the body?" he asked.
"In Konoha's hands," Dodai replied quietly.
A inhaled deeply and placed his hand over the photograph, as if speaking to his father.
"The night before he left for the Land of Earth, the old man wrote me a letter. He said that if he died in battle, I should become the Fourth Raikage, take care of B, and protect the village."
His voice tightened.
"He also said that if the situation changed, I should retreat immediately. Not surrender, not negotiate, just stall Konoha."
A paused, his throat tightening.
"When I read it, I even mocked him. I asked how someone like him could possibly die…"
His voice broke slightly.
"If I had defeated Konoha sooner, he wouldn't have died…"
A had always been a man of few words, both as a child and as a commander. But today, he spoke more than ever before.
He turned sharply.
"Who killed my father?"
"Konoha's Lightning Flash," Dodai answered.
"Did the Third Tsuchikage interfere?"
Dodai hesitated briefly. "Yes. According to intelligence, half of Lord Raikage's body was erased by Dust Release. However…"
"There is no 'however'!" A's voice turned rough. "I know what you're implying. Even if Dust Release dealt the final blow, it was Konoha's Lightning Flash that led to his death. That is enough."
His fist clenched tightly.
"Neither Ōnoki nor Uchiha Hayashi will escape this."
He pulled out the letter, crushing it in his palm until it turned to powder and scattered to the floor.
"I received your letter… but there are things in it I cannot follow."
Dodai opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped. In the end, he remained silent.
The room fell quiet.
One man faced the photograph. Another stood with his back turned.
Time passed.
Half an hour later, a young man wearing sunglasses entered.
It was B.
He looked even worse than A, covered in blood and exhaustion.
He glanced at the photograph and fell silent for a moment.
"Where is Big Brother? Here, or somewhere else?" he asked in his usual rhythmic tone, though his voice lacked its usual energy.
Dodai sighed.
"He broke through the wall and went outside. Follow the path and you'll find him."
B nodded. "I'll go."
He walked through several rooms until he reached the balcony.
There, he saw A standing alone, facing the distance.
With the sunlight behind him, A's body trembled slightly, though he made no sound.
"Pull yourself together, Big Brother," B said. "From today, you are the Fourth Raikage."
"I know!" A's voice cracked. "We're still at war. As Raikage, I have to protect this village and this country. That was his will."
He took a breath, steadying himself.
"B, from today onward, you will train in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. Focus on mastering the Tailed Beast Bomb. You will not fight on the front lines anymore."
"What about our Lariat?" B asked.
"You won't use it again," A said firmly. "If enemies attack the village, you stay inside and strike from a distance with the Tailed Beast Bomb."
His voice hardened.
"I forbid you from leaving the village again."
A stared into the distance, silent for a long time.
B stood beside him, equally quiet.
Autumn had arrived in Kumogakure, bringing unease with it.
But worse days were still ahead.
When frost settles, the weak fall first.
And in war, many more shinobi would die.
Suddenly, A turned his head. Tears streamed down his face.
"B… I didn't want him to die. I wanted him to see the village again… even once more would have been enough."
B said nothing.
Instead, he stood on his toes and patted A on the shoulder.
The moment felt both awkward and deeply tragic.