Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 182 An Early Meeting, Sparks Between Clouds and Mist

A moment later.

At the horizon, an outline appeared.

The outline rapidly expanded, became clearer, and eventually transformed into a fleet that was equally massive, even more imposing.

They broke through the waves, charging straight towards us with an arrogant and unreasonable attitude.

The lead warship, with its broad hull and menacing ram, resembled a charging steel rhinoceros.

Above the bow of the ship, the iconic flag of Kumogakure, representing thunderclouds, fluttered.

The style of the entire fleet was completely different from that of the Ghost Fleet of Kirigakure.

If the Kirigakure's warships are venomous snakes lurking in the deep sea, then the Kumogakure's fleet is a thunder beast galloping across the wilderness, full of undisguised violent aesthetics.

"Oh?"

Bored out of her mind, Hozuki Shio was the first to spot the other person, and her eyes lit up instantly.

"Here it comes!"

She excitedly patted the gunwale and shouted to her brother, who was wiping his knife beside her.

"Brother! Look! It's a ship from Kumogakure!"

"Seriously, this is way too easy to spot..."

Hozuki Kaigetsu raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the menacing fleet. His expression remained unchanged, but his grip on the hilt of his sword tightened unconsciously.

The relaxed atmosphere on the deck vanished instantly.

All the Hidden Mist ninjas stood up straight, their gazes fixed on the approaching Cloud Village fleet, a silent hostility filling the air.

Kaguya Soranosuke slowly stood up.

His pale face flushed with an unhealthy red from excessive excitement, and his joints cracked and popped.

"They've finally arrived..."

He licked his lips, his scarlet eyes burning with undisguised fighting spirit.

Yukinojo still leaned gracefully against the ship's railing, but his object of admiration had changed from the broken waves to the rugged fleet.

"It's truly... utterly devoid of any aesthetic appeal."

He shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of disdain for brute force.

Just when the two fleets were no more than a hundred meters apart.

A loud, thunderous voice, filled with arrogance, came from the flagship of Cloud Hidden and echoed across the sea.

"Hahaha--!"

"You guys from Kirigakure, your speed is as slow as a snail on land!!"

On the bow of the Cloud Hidden flagship, a towering figure stood with his hands behind his back—it was none other than the Third Raikage, A.

Bare-chested, his bronze muscles gleamed in the sunlight, and his long black hair danced wildly in the wind behind him, exuding an aura of domineering authority.

Beside him stood the village's strategist, Tudai, who wore a single eye patch.

And then there's Gourai Sōgetsu, who fought Hozuki Kaigetsu at the pass.

The Third Raikage's blatant mockery instantly stirred up a massive wave within the Kirigakure fleet.

The ninjas from Kirigakure's side instantly turned grim.

"What did you say?"

Kaguya Soranosuke's face instantly darkened, and a violent killing intent erupted from his body.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and fine bone spurs began to emerge uncontrollably from his back.

"Are you looking for death?!"

With one step, the ironwood deck beneath his feet groaned under the weight, and his chakra began to boil, as if he were about to ride the waves and reason with the arrogant Raikage with his bones.

"Hey, Soryu, don't get so angry."

A languid yet elegant voice rang out.

Yukinojo had appeared beside him without him noticing, and with a long, slender hand, he gently pressed down on Kaguya Soranosuke's shoulder, which was as hard as a rock.

"It is very inelegant to let a few words affect your mood."

Yukinojo had a faint smile on his face, as if he were watching an interesting drama.

On the opposite Cloud Hidden warship, Zuo Yue heard Kaguya Sonosuke's roar. He grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth, and took a step forward, provocatively beckoning with his finger.

"Oh?"

"Hey you with the white hair over there, wanna have a little practice?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense and hostile.

The ninjas on both fleets instinctively placed their hands on their ninja tool pouches, staring at each other with hostile eyes, the air thick with tension.

"Let's fight! Let's fight!"

Hozuki Shio, seemingly eager to stir up trouble, waved her little fists excitedly.

"Bang!"

A sharp flick on the forehead landed precisely on her forehead once again.

"it hurts!"

Hozuki Shio covered her head, glaring angrily at her brother who had appeared behind her at some unknown time.

Haiyue gave her a cold glance, her eyes seeming to say, "Try saying one more word."

"Hmm..."

Hozuki Shio pouted in grievance and dared not utter another sound.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The Third Raikage didn't seem to care at all; his laughter shook the sea.

"The sooner we conquer the Land of Whirlpools, the sooner we can obtain the sealing technique."

He looked at Hozuki Kaigetsu, his voice carrying a strange tone.

"Hey Hozuki over there, where's your Mizukage? Is he staying in the village dealing with paperwork?"

Just then.

The flagship's door opened, and the third-generation Mizukage Kengetsu slowly walked out.

She was still wearing the sacred robe embroidered with water ripples, a gentle smile on her face, as if she didn't care at all about the teasing remark.

He climbed to the bow of the ship and gazed at the Third Raikage, who was a hundred meters away.

"Lord Raikage, you're quite impatient."