Chapter 90: Becoming the Second Kaguya? Setting Out to Fight the Hidden Cloud

"What do you mean, ’It really is me’?"

Reiji was completely confused.

He had already been able to sense that Jiraiya harbored a latent hostility toward him.

However, Reiji hadn’t thought too much about it.

After all, he had killed Jiraiya’s teacher, caused Sarutobi Hiruzen’s reputation to be utterly ruined and reviled for generations, and even controlled Uchiha Itachi into exterminating the Sarutobi clan.

It was normal for someone like Jiraiya to have a grudge against him.

But this "It really is you" left Reiji completely baffled.

Across from him, Jiraiya had no intention of explaining.

His mind was rapidly turning over everything he had just heard.

Using strength to suppress everyone, becoming the one and only god, and establishing order.

Wasn’t that exactly what Kaguya, the Rabbit Goddess mentioned in the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy, had done?

But what had happened in the end?

Kaguya, who possessed absolute status and absolute power, had ultimately wanted to destroy the entire shinobi world!

If Uchiha Reiji became a "god" like Kaguya, then presumably the outcome wouldn’t be much better.

No wonder the Great Toad Sage believed Uchiha Reiji would do the same thing as Kaguya.

Just as the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy had said:

Terrifying eyes overlooking the entire shinobi world!

Endless flames of war spreading across the entire shinobi world and destroying everything that currently existed!

Wasn’t that exactly what Uchiha Reiji was planning to do now?

The First Hokage had ended the era of chaos and established the system of one country, one village, and one village leader.

And now Reiji intended to abolish it so easily!

He had to be stopped!

If Uchiha Reiji really did that, the shinobi world would simply welcome a second Kaguya!

"Uchiha Reiji, don’t overestimate what one person can accomplish."

Although he was wary of Reiji, Jiraiya still tried to persuade him.

"There are limits to what a single person can do."

"As you said, establishing order through the strength of one person and bringing peace to the entire shinobi world—how could that possibly be done?"

Even though Reiji was still young enough to have killed his teacher, Jiraiya still didn’t believe that he possessed the strength to suppress the entire shinobi world!

Did Reiji really think he was someone like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha?

"That’s my problem."

"If I ultimately fail to gain that kind of strength, then naturally everything I said before will become nothing more than a joke."

Reiji spoke indifferently.

Hearing this, Jiraiya became even more frustrated.

That wasn’t what he meant!

He was clearly saying that a single person could only accomplish so much and that Reiji should use love and understanding to win over more people.

How had Uchiha Reiji somehow interpreted that as meaning he should simply become stronger?!

Jiraiya immediately said in an annoyed tone:

"Coincidentally, the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone Villages have mobilized large numbers of shinobi, and they may invade the Land of Fire next."

"If you believe that your strength is sufficient to bring peace to the entire shinobi world, then set out and at least deal with one of them!"

This was actually one thing Jiraiya had managed to accomplish after returning.

With the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone acting simultaneously, Konoha would need to send at least two forces to thwart their advances.

"I’ll deal with the Hidden Cloud."

Reiji answered without hesitation.

He had been eyeing the Hidden Cloud’s Lightning Release Armor for a long time.

This time, if he could fight the Fourth Raikage, he should be able to learn something from him and perhaps advance his own Lightning Release to another level.

Hearing this, Jiraiya became even more annoyed.

Fine.

He would let Uchiha Reiji experience for himself that casually claiming he could bring peace to the shinobi world wasn’t something that could be said so easily.

Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the Hidden Cloud’s overall strength was firmly ranked second.

The combination of the Fourth Raikage and his sworn younger brother, Killer B—the famous A-B duo—was so powerful that even Minato back then had been unable to deal with both of them simultaneously despite possessing the Flying Thunder God Technique!

Afterward.

Reiji, Kakashi, and Jiraiya went directly to the meeting room in the Hokage Building.

The communications unit had already delivered the intelligence Jiraiya had brought back to all the jonin in the village.

Upon learning that the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone might simultaneously invade the Land of Fire, everyone in the meeting room was on edge.

It was as though the Fourth Great Ninja War were about to begin!

After seeing Jiraiya arrive, many people felt somewhat reassured.

As one of the Legendary Sannin who had participated in both the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, Jiraiya was familiar to most of Konoha’s jonin.

"Everyone should already understand the situation."

Jiraiya immediately declined to exchange pleasantries with his acquaintances and spoke solemnly:

"We’re short on time. We need to mobilize the village’s shinobi immediately and intercept the forces of the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone."

He then looked directly toward Nara Shikaku.

Most of the people in the meeting room did the same.

Nara Shikaku, the head of the Nara clan of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio and the leader of Konoha’s Jonin Commander Team, was known as Konoha’s genius military strategist.

Shikaku had already given the matter some thought before speaking:

"Let’s first analyze the situation of the two villages."

"The Hidden Stone Village specializes in Earth Release. More importantly, it has the largest number of shinobi among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. The number of Hidden Stone shinobi sent this time may also be enormous."

"The Hidden Cloud doesn’t have as many shinobi as the Hidden Stone, but the overall quality of its shinobi is higher."

"Moreover, Hidden Cloud shinobi specialize in Lightning Release Ninjutsu and physical techniques, so we also need shinobi skilled in taijutsu to confront them."

"Therefore, my suggestion is that the village send part of its elite forces to deal with the Hidden Cloud’s invasion as quickly as possible."

"As for the Hidden Stone, we should focus on holding them back while continuously mobilizing shinobi from the rear to reinforce the battlefield."

"Once the Hidden Cloud has been repelled, we can then launch our full strength against the Hidden Stone and eliminate their forces!"

His explanation was straightforward and easy to understand, and most people in the meeting room immediately grasped the strategy.

The way they looked at Nara Shikaku was filled with admiration.

As expected of the genius military strategist of Konoha!

Shikaku paused for breath before continuing:

"Besides that, there’s another problem—the top-level combatants."

"The Hidden Stone generally won’t deploy its jinchūriki easily. The main high-level combatant we need to be concerned about is the Third Tsuchikage."

"As for the Hidden Cloud, they have the famous A-B duo. The Raikage’s sworn younger brother, Killer B, is a perfect jinchūriki who can enter the battlefield without worrying about losing control."

"We need someone capable of holding these two back, or even better, defeating or driving them away as quickly as possible."

"I’ll handle the Hidden Cloud."

Reiji spoke directly.

Jiraiya then stepped forward and took responsibility for leading the force against the Hidden Stone.

As for the rest, the remaining jonin combat forces were distributed accordingly.

Basically, those skilled in Lightning Release were assigned to fight the Hidden Stone, while those skilled in Wind Release were assigned to fight the Hidden Cloud.

This was based on elemental advantages and disadvantages.

After that, a group of shinobi specializing in taijutsu was assigned to fight the Hidden Cloud as well.

"Our Hyūga clan will go and intercept the Hidden Cloud."

Hiashi Hyūga spoke indifferently.

Everyone immediately understood.

The Hyūga clan and the Hidden Cloud had a deep grudge between them.

No wonder Hiashi Hyūga would volunteer for this assignment.

Before long, the deployment of forces was completed.

The people in the meeting room finally breathed a sigh of relief, but many couldn’t help harboring some resentment in their hearts.

If the Uchiha clan hadn’t killed Sarutobi Hiruzen and then wiped out the entire Sarutobi clan, the village wouldn’t have been invaded now.

Of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen was also to blame, but he was already dead.

The Uchiha clan, however, was still here!

For a moment, the Konoha shinobi in the meeting room all looked at the Uchiha clan with hostility.

"What are you looking at us like that for?"

Reiji immediately shot back without the slightest courtesy.

"An enemy is invading, yet instead of blaming the invaders, you turn around and blame your own people?"

"Besides, if I hadn’t killed Sarutobi Hiruzen and allowed the Uchiha clan to be exterminated, the next clan to be wiped out could have been yours!"

Sure enough, deciding not to become Hokage had been the right choice!

These ungrateful bastards had still been celebrating the fact that he killed Sarutobi Hiruzen just a few days ago, and now they were already resenting him again.

If he became Hokage and had to risk his life protecting people like this, he would probably anger himself to death!

The Konoha shinobi withdrew their gazes, but they were still unconvinced.

What was he so proud of?

Wasn’t it just killing an elderly and physically weakened Sarutobi Hiruzen who hadn’t even been going to the battlefield?

Sarutobi Hiruzen was known as the Strongest Hokage, but how much substance was there behind that title?

The students at the Ninja Academy might not know, but how could these jonin not understand?

Uchiha Reiji should first think about how he was going to deal with the Hidden Cloud’s A-B duo.

If he wasn’t careful, it was entirely possible that this genius would never grow to his peak and would instead die prematurely.

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