The heavy wooden doors of the council chamber groaned as they were pushed open, allowing the Third Raikage to step out first. His towering frame cast an imposing shadow against the dimly lit corridor. Behind him, Ay, his son, followed with his arms crossed, his eyes reflecting a quiet storm of thoughts.
The murmurs of Kumogakure's elders and clan heads still lingered in the chamber, faint echoes of a meeting that had decided the course of war. Ay glanced back momentarily, catching the gaze of a few clan heads who whispered among themselves before bowing their heads in respect.
They walked in silence through the fortress-like halls of the Raikage's Tower, the torches flickering against the stone walls, casting elongated shadows as if the very air whispered the coming storm of war. The crisp mountain wind slipped through the cracks of the high windows, carrying with it the scent of rain and steel.
"You're quiet," A rumbled.
As they descended into the streets of Kumogakure, Ay spoke, his voice measured but tinged with hesitation.
"Father… do you really think provoking Konoha outright is the best move?"
A's lips twitched beneath his beard. His son's caution was unexpected—a flicker of restraint in a soul usually ablaze with fury.
'Growth,' he thought. 'Or doubt?'
The Raikage did not stop walking, but Ay felt the weight of his father's attention shift toward him. It was rare for him to question his father so openly, but despite his usual headstrong nature, this war felt different.
"Hmph," the Third Raikage grunted, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I never thought I'd see the day when you of all people hesitated at the thought of war." His deep, rumbling voice carried both amusement and scrutiny.
Ay furrowed his brows. "It's not hesitation," he defended, his fists tightening at his sides. "I just—Konoha is different. It's not like the other villages. And with Hiruzen as Hokage, we won't catch them off guard."
A chuckle rumbled from the Raikage's throat. "Good. I'd be worried if you didn't consider your enemies carefully," he admitted, his steps never faltering.
"But make no mistake, Konoha has always meddled where it doesn't belong. They act as though they are the righteous ones, the guardians of balance, yet they expect the world to bow to them. That is why this war is necessary, not just for Kumogakure but for the future of its leader."
Ay stiffened at the implication. His father never explicitly said it, but it was an open secret that he was being groomed to be the Fourth Raikage. Even the village's strongest warriors knew that his father's shoes were meant for him to fill one day.
The Third Raikage's voice dropped lower, turning more serious. "A Raikage must not just be strong, Ay. He must forge a path for his people, even if it means walking through blood and fire. This is not just about our past conflicts with Konoha—it's about securing our future. We don't fear the storm. We become it."
"I'll remember that." Ay nodded, absorbing every word. Though still young, he knew that his father spoke not just as a warrior but as a leader who had built Kumogakure into what it was.
The Third Raikage suddenly smirked and glanced sideways at his son. "But who said you were going to be the next Raikage?"
Ay stopped mid-step, his face twitching in disbelief. "Wha—Father!"
The Raikage let out a booming laugh as they continued their path, leaving Ay grumbling under his breath. He knew he had to cherish these few fleeting moments.
Soon, they reached the outskirts of Kumogakure, where the dense fog that clung to the village's mountain peaks began to thin out, revealing a seemingly abandoned, dingy building. It was an unimpressive structure, squat and nondescript, with wooden panels worn by time and reinforced with seals that shimmered faintly under the moonlight.
"This is it," the Raikage said, stepping forward.
Ay wrinkled his nose. "The only research facility we have in the village, and it looks like this?"
His father ignored the comment and knocked twice on the wooden door. A moment later, a faint rustling was heard from within, followed by the soft click of a lock being undone. The door creaked open, revealing a man hunched over a table inside, his eyes flickering with intrigue.
"Sakiko," the Raikage greeted as they entered.
The man straightened, pushing up his round glasses with thin, bony fingers. His face was lined with age, but his sharp eyes betrayed his intelligence. "Raikage-sama," Sakiko bowed, "and Ay-sama. A pleasure."
Ay nodded stiffly, his gaze already scanning the dimly lit laboratory. The walls were lined with shelves of scrolls, jars of preserved organs, and intricate sealing diagrams. The air smelled of ink and something metallic, like freshly spilt blood.
The Third Raikage wasted no time. "How is the progress?"
Sakiko's lips curled into a thin smile. "Better than expected," he said, gesturing for them to follow. He led them into a deeper chamber reinforced with seals, the air inside feeling heavy, charged with chakra.
At the centre of the room was a small crib, and inside it, a blonde-haired baby girl lay sleeping. The air around her shimmered faintly with blue chakra, flickering like an ethereal flame.
"This is Yugito," Sakiko said, his voice laced with satisfaction. "The transfer is proceeding smoothly. Matatabi has shown remarkable compatibility with her. Unlike Gyūki, Matatabi is cooperative, making her the perfect subject to refine our Jinchūriki binding process."
Ay frowned, watching the faint traces of chakra ripple across the infant's tiny frame. "So, it's possible to create a Jinchūriki from birth?"
Sakiko nodded. "The younger the vessel, the better their chances of full synchronization. If the transfer is successful, Yugito will not just control Matatabi—she will become one with the beast in ways that adult Jinchūriki never could."
The Raikage's expression remained unreadable as he observed the baby. "Good," he finally said. "Kumogakure will need strong Jinchūriki in the coming years."
Ay let out a low breath. "A pity we can't do the same with Killer Bee," he muttered.
Sakiko sighed, shaking his head. "Gyūki is different. Unlike Matatabi, the Eight-Tails is aggressive, stubborn. If we force a transfer, we risk turning him into a liability."
The Raikage nodded in agreement. "Then we must ensure he remains on a leash. He will be a key asset in this war, but if he cannot be controlled, he will become a threat to Kumogakure itself."
A tense silence filled the chamber. Ay glanced at Yugito once more, watching the flickering chakra swirl around her tiny form. War was coming, and every piece had to be in place before the storm arrived.
The Third Raikage turned toward the exit. "Ensure the process continues smoothly, Sakiko. We cannot afford failure."
The war had already begun taking shape in the shadows. It was only a matter of time before blood was spilled in the light.
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