Ominous shapes appeared in the raging waters of the Lightning country and loomed like vast demons of destruction, ready to unleash the furies of their weapons. Inside the largest of the six destroyers, Katsu sat alone in a small spherical room. A single shaft of light gleamed on his Raikage hat as he sat motionless in his raised chamber. As Hajime approached, the sphere opened slowly, the upper half lifting like a jagged-toothed mechanical jaw.

To Hajime, the massive figure seated inside the mouth like cocoon hardly seemed alive, though a powerful aura of sheer brute force emanated from him, sending a chill through Hajime. Hajime took a step forward. He had a message to deliver but felt prepared to wait for hours if necessary rather than disturb Katsu's meditation.

But Katsu spoke immediately."What is it, Hajime?"

"Katsu." Hajime replied, choosing each word with care, "the fleet is moving. Our scans have detected an energy barrier protecting an area of the Water country in their island system. The barrier is strong enough to deflect any bombardment."

Katsu stood, rising to his full two-meter height, his cloak swaying against the floor. "So, the Water country scum are alerted now."

Furious, he clenched his hands into fists.

"Our fleet came out of their place a little too quickly."

"Who ordered it?"

"Hisoka Uchiha. He felt surprise was to our benefit-"

"Where is he?" Katsu asked, voice nearly cutting with anger.

"He left with Setsuna and some others. They weren't satisfied. Hisoka said there's greener pastures."

"He's as foolish as he is reckless." Katsu cut in, breathing heavily. "A bombardment is impossible through their energy barrier. We'll have to prepare for a ground attack."

With precision, Hajime turned and marched out of the meditation room, leaving behind an enraged Katsu.

The mammoth destroyer occupied a position of deadly prominence in Kumogakure's fleet. The sleekly elongated ship was larger and even more ominous than the wedge-shaped destroyers guarding it. Together these six vessels were the most dreaded and devastating warships in the Elemental Nations, capable of reducing to scrap anything that strayed too close to their coastlines. Flanking the destroyers were a number of smaller fighter ships and, darting about this great armada, were the infamous wedged fighters. Supreme confidence reigned in the heart of every crew member in this death squadron, especially among the personnel on the monstrous central destroyer.

But something also blazed within their souls. Respect—respect of merely the sound of the familiar heavy footsteps as they echoed through the enormous ship. Crew members revered these footfalls and shuddered whenever they were heard approaching, bringing their much feared, but much respected leader. Towering above them in his white cloak and concealing headgear with the kanji for Lightning on it, Katsu Yotsuki, Second Raikage of Kumogakure, entered the main control deck, and the men around him fell silent. In what seemed to be an endless moment, no sounds except those from the ship's control boards and the loud wheezes coming from the ships' hearts of fire were to be heard.

As Katsu watched the endless array of stars, Koizuki rushed across the wide bridge of the ship, carrying a message for the tall, conniving Hajime Hageshii, who was stationed on the bridge.

"I think we've found something, Hajime." He announced steadily, looking from Hajime to the Raikage.

"Yes, Koizuki?" Hajime was a supremely confident man.

"The report we have is only a fragment of a scroll, from the Sarutobi and Hyuga. But it's the best lead we've had in a while when it comes to those-"

"We have had thousands of scouts searching mainland." Hajime broke in angrily. "We need proof. There's enough we deal with on the coastlines. I don't intend to continue to chase around from one side of Kumogakure to the next these rabble..."

Abruptly, Katsu approached the two and interrupted.

"You found something?" he asked, his voice deep and menacing.

Koizuki respectfully gazed at the Raikage, who loomed above him.

"Yes, Raikage." He said slowly, choosing his words with caution. "We have visuals. The area is supposed to be devoid of humans..."

But Katsu was no longer listening to the Koizuki. His face turned toward an image beamed into his view—an image of a small squadron of Water country rabble streaking above the hot white fields of explosions.

"That's it!" Katsu boomed without further deliberation.

"Katsu, we can't afford it." Hajime protested. "There are so many uncharted settlements right now. It could be a band of rogue and ronin-"

"That is the one boat!" Katsu insisted, clenching a fist. "Bring in the patrol ships, and set your course for the Water country. Send a message to the countries along the way that wants to stand against us or pay us for our services."

Katsu looked toward a Hageshii wearing a headband of kumogakure.

"Prepare..." Katsu addressed him. "Prepare your men."

As soon as Katsu had spoken, his men set about to launch his fearful plan.

The sailing boat raised a large sail from its front head and those gathered on it sent out a piercing scream. They had reacted to a chakra force hidden behind a great mountain of debris, and noted the appearance of a brown head and the sound of a deep grunt. Swords and explosives had been built into the boat took aim at the slender man. Before the men on the boat had a chance to fire, a red beam of lightning exploded from behind the boat and tore its darkly finished hulls in pieces.

As he ducked behind a mountain, Takehito noticed Koizuki still hidden, and then watched as everyone on that boat spun around in midair to face him.

So far the ruse was working and now he was the target. Takehito had barely moved out of range as the people fired, blasting chunks of snow from the edge of his mountain. Koziuki and Takehito fired again, hitting them square on with the blade of their weapons. Then they heard a high-pitched shriek coming from the deadly boat, and in an instant the whole thing burst into flaming pieces.

"I'm afraid there's not much left..." Takehito said as he concluded his report to the Raikage.

Katsu and Hajime were still going through their plan.

"What was it?" Katsu asked.

"A fast boat of some kind." Hajime answered. "Those on board must have used their chakra as an explosion."

Katsu paused as he considered the unwelcome piece of information. "A kamikaze attack?!"

"If it was." Hajime warned. "The Water damiyo surely knows we're ready with our own fleet."

Katsu shook his head slowly. "We'd better start to evacuate this location as well."

"What are we going to do about the amalgamation and Konoha?"

Katsu regarded Koizuki with a serious gaze. "Hashirama and the Amalgamation stopped us from killing each other. For now, Hashirama is going to be third in our priorities. The amalgamation is the second"

"With the Water damiyo being the first?"

Katsu grunted. "Naturally."

"What of Hisoka and Setsuna?"

"Let them leave. We don't need another incident after all."

"What of loyalty Katsu?" Hajime asked.

Katsu merely grunted.

He couldn't worry about two Uchiha.

There were Uchiha looking to him for orders and a place to live.

Kumogakure's security was paramount.