Chapter 398: Chapter 398: The First Phase of Revenge
Since there was no stopping Kushina, everyone chose to turn a blind eye. Out of sight, out of mind.
Shinki supported Kushina's quest for revenge, and even Tsunade, despite her reservations, knew she couldn't hold Kushina back. If she tried, Kushina might carry resentment for a lifetime.
With Kushina's strength, Shinki's summoned beasts, and the puppets she carried, Tsunade believed that nothing too disastrous would happen.
As for whether Kushina would be discovered…
This was a matter of revenge. If her identity was exposed, it wouldn't change much except to make the Third Hokage uncomfortable.
After all, retaliating right after forming an alliance with the Cloud Village was undeniably awkward. But between the interests of the village and Kushina's personal vendetta, Shinki made his choice: he would stand by Kushina without hesitation.
Leaving Konoha, Kushina's mood was far more somber than during her previous ventures. This wasn't an exciting outing—it was personal. Her heart was heavy as she rushed toward the southeastern coastline of the Fire Nation, where she planned to meet with Jinya and launch her first strike.
"Kushina, we can't be reckless."
Kurama's deep voice echoed in her mind. While the Nine-Tails wasn't afraid to go down with Kushina in a blaze of glory—knowing he'd resurrect eventually—he urged caution. A single misstep could spark conflicts between Konoha, the Cloud Village, and the Mist Village.
What's more, the Cloud Village and Konoha were allies now. If her actions were exposed, it could put Shinki, Tsunade, and even Konoha itself in a precarious position.
Kushina understood. While her anger burned hot, she didn't want to create problems for those she cared about. She clenched her fists. "Don't worry, fox. I won't act recklessly. Let's start the first phase of the plan."
Racing along the coastline, Kushina summoned Jinya, who arrived swiftly from the sea.
"Jinya, from today, we'll fight together," she declared.
Jinya, thrilled to finally have a companion, wagged his massive tail. "Of course, Kushina!"
Unlike Kushina, who had clear objectives, Jinya lived for the thrill of battle. Shinki rarely gave him opportunities to fight, so he eagerly embraced this mission.
With Kushina perched on his head, she pointed toward the vast ocean. "Let's go!"
In the waters near the Uzushio trade route, a merchant ship flying the Thunder Country's flag sailed south, laden with goods destined for smaller nations. This trade route was vital to the Cloud Village, providing significant revenue by exporting unique products to other countries.
Suddenly, the calm sea churned violently as a massive whirlpool formed beneath the ship.
"Captain! A huge whirlpool has appeared! The ship is losing power!"
"What? How can a whirlpool form in this region? Deploy the ninjas to investigate!"
Before they could react, the bow of the ship tipped downward, pulled inexorably into the vortex. Crates of goods slid across the deck, tumbling into the water. The entire vessel, along with its cargo and most of the crew, was swallowed by the sea.
Only a few ninjas managed to escape onto the surface of the water, but their relief was short-lived.
A dark shadow streaked through the water toward them.
"Not good!" the leader shouted. "Retreat!"
But it was too late. Jinya burst from the depths, his massive jaws snapping shut around those who couldn't flee in time. The monstrous summon disappeared into the ocean, leaving behind nothing but drifting debris and shattered wood.
The destruction of this merchant ship was only the beginning. Over the next several days, numerous ships belonging to the Cloud and Mist Villages were mysteriously attacked. Merchant vessels vanished without a trace, patrol warships were ambushed, and no survivors were left to tell the tale.
The sudden surge in attacks quickly drew the attention of both villages.
In the Cloud Village, Dodai laid a report on the desk of the Third Raikage. "Raikage-sama, multiple merchant ships and patrol vessels have been lost in the southeastern seas. The village's trade routes are suffering major disruptions."
The Third Raikage, usually busy with his intense training regimen, paused to review the report.
"It seems someone has decided to act," he muttered, his brow furrowing.
Given the long-standing rivalry between the Cloud and Mist Villages over sea routes, the Raikage naturally assumed the Mist Village was responsible for the attacks.
"If the Mist Village is behind this, we'll need to respond. Allowing this to continue would damage our economy and reputation."
"I've also received intelligence suggesting the internal struggles within the Mist Village have ended," Dodai added.
"And?"
"The Mist Village has solidified leadership under Yagura."
The Third Raikage leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "Yagura, huh? If he's behind these attacks, it seems the Mist Village is already flexing its muscles. We'll need to remind them of their place."
The tension between the two villages simmered, but little did they know, the true culprit was someone they hadn't considered: a young red-haired kunoichi fueled by vengeance, riding the waves with her summoned beast.
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