"Lord Fourth Raikage, I think we should have a good talk with Lady Yugito, as well as Mabui and Samui," Dodai suggested.
Hearing Dodai's words, the Fourth Raikage pondered for a moment before asking:
"What are you thinking?"
Dodai shook his head and said, "Right now, the ones in our village who know the most about the Flying Thunder God user Shishou are Lady Yugito, followed by Mabui and Samui."
"And since the three of them are about to learn sage techniques from Shishou, they might know things that we don't."
Dodai's point was clear: they should gather information about Shishou from Yugito, Mabui, and Samui, and then devise a strategy based on what they learn.
"I'll send someone to call Mabui and Samui back. As for Yugito, let her continue accompanying the Flying Thunder God user," the Fourth Raikage nodded, then instructed a nearby Cloud Village Anbu to find and bring back the two women.
After doing this, the Fourth Raikage dismissed the elders who had been planning to use their daughters to curry favor with Shishou.
He had initially hoped they would provide useful suggestions, but they turned out to be a bunch of old fools trying to exchange their daughters for longevity.
Since they were useless, the Fourth Raikage saw no need to be polite with them.
Meanwhile, at a high-end restaurant in the Cloud Village, Shishou was dining with Yugito, Mabui, and Samui.
Mabui, while eating, looked curiously at Shishou and asked, "Shishou, is your fertilizer really that magical? Can it really double food production?"
"Yes, it's true. I've tested it many times, and it's already being used extensively in the Land of Demons. Next, I'll be promoting it in the Land of Water," Shishou replied without looking up from his food.
He had to admit, the food in the Cloud Village was delicious.
Hearing that Shishou would soon be heading to the Land of Water, Yugito frowned.
She had heard rumors about Shishou and the Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village.
"If your fertilizer is proven to be effective, the five great nations will quickly replicate it."
"Why are you doing something so thankless?" Samui asked, putting down her chopsticks and looking at Shishou.
Fertilizer that could increase food production would be quickly replicated by the five great nations once its effectiveness was confirmed. Shishou might not even recoup his investment, let alone profit from it. She couldn't believe he hadn't considered this.
"Isn't that even better?" Shishou laughed. If that happened, it would actually make things easier for him.
"Huh?" Mabui and Samui were both stunned and asked, "Why?"
"Because my goal is simply to promote the fertilizer, increase food production across the ninja world, and allow the common people to benefit from the advancements in ninja technology, rather than suffer from it," Shishou said, smiling as he ate a piece of meat Yugito had offered him.
To allow the common people to benefit from the advancements in ninja technology, rather than suffer from it...
Hearing this, Mabui and Samui fell silent.
In the ninja world, every village first developed technologies for warfare. Even medical ninjutsu was invented because it was advantageous in war.
Technologies like Shishou's fertilizer, purely developed for the benefit of common people, were rare.
"Shishou, why are you willing to do these things for the common people, even trading the sage techniques of the three great sacred lands?" Yugito asked, looking at Shishou in a daze.
"Helping the weak doesn't require a reason for me. It's just to have a clear conscience," Shishou replied, glancing at the three women.
Helping the weak doesn't require a reason, just a clear conscience...
Hearing this, Yugito, Mabui, and Samui were deeply moved, their gazes filled with admiration for Shishou.
"I'll help you," Yugito said, holding Shishou's hand and smiling brightly.
At that moment, she finally realized that her man was a hero who aimed to save the world.
Shishou grinned.
"Good."
"But your strength is too weak, so I've made an Ultra Kage plan for you."
The strength of the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki is too weak...
Hearing Shishou's words, Yugito, Mabui, and Samui were all struck by a sense of inadequacy.
...
Half an hour later.
Mabui and Samui, having just finished their meal with Shishou, were summoned to the Raikage's office by the Cloud Village Anbu.
Yugito was thrilled by the Raikage's order.
She wanted to spend time alone with her beloved, and having her two friends around as third wheels was frustrating.
So, as soon as she received the Raikage's order, she promptly sent Mabui and Samui away and dragged Shishou off to explore.
Mabui and Samui were also relieved. Being single and watching the affectionate Shishou and Yugito was quite stressful.
"Lord Raikage, why did you call for us?" Mabui asked upon entering the office where the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, and Dodai were waiting.
The Fourth Raikage glanced at Dodai, who understood and addressed Mabui and Samui:
"What do you know about the Flying Thunder God user Shishou?"
"Anything about his preferences, personality, or upcoming plans. Tell us whatever you know."
"Given his immense strength, the Hidden Cloud Village needs to understand him better to adjust our approach and strategy."
"You two, as the Raikage's secretary and the head of the intelligence division, should understand this."
Mabui and Samui nodded in unison, "We understand."
As high-ranking members of the Cloud Village, they understood the pressure a powerful individual like Shishou could put on the five great ninja villages.
Especially after Shishou demonstrated his ability to potentially destroy the five great villages, no village could ignore or not fear him, or even consider eliminating him.
"Go ahead," the Fourth Raikage urged.
Mabui glanced at Samui before speaking first:
"Shishou has shown immense strength, as you already know."
"However, despite his power, he is not someone who acts recklessly. In fact, he has a certain universal compassion and wants to do something for the common people affected by war."
"The development and promotion of his fertilizer to increase food production is primarily for this reason."
"Additionally, his other purpose for coming to the Cloud Village is to create a plan to enhance Yugito's strength, aiming for her to reach at least the Ultra Kage level."
These details were gleaned from their recent meal and conversation with Shishou.
Hearing Mabui's last sentence, the Fourth Raikage and the others were taken aback.
"Ultra Kage?"
**********
This fanfiction is complete on my Patreon. If you want to read it, you can find it at patreon.com/Betek.