"Do you think Kumogakure can defeat the Great Katsuyu Sage?"
Upon hearing Yugito's question, the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, and Dodai were all taken aback.
Since Yugito, Samui, and Mabui had all been training in Sage Jutsu using Katsuyu clones, the Fourth Raikage and the others had conducted an investigation into the Great Katsuyu Sage. They learned from the Eight-Tails that her size was almost as large as Turtle Island, and her strength was comparable to the Sage of Six Paths.
If a user of the Flying Thunder God technique could fully summon the Great Katsuyu Sage, just one Great Katsuyu Sage could annihilate Kumogakure.
'This Flying Thunder God user even has such an outrageous contract with a summoning beast!'
The Fourth Raikage cursed inwardly, his expression growing even darker.
He then looked at Yugito and asked, "And how do you think you compare to the leader of the Akatsuki?"
"Shishou told me I can't beat the Akatsuki leader," Yugito shook her head.
Shishou had informed her that the Akatsuki leader was on the verge of reaching the Six Paths level and had repeatedly warned her that if the Akatsuki leader ever came, she should use the Flying Thunder God seal Shishou left her to escape immediately and notify him.
Although Yugito's strength had reached the super-Kage level, she still couldn't defeat a Six Paths-level Nagato.
Hearing that Yugito couldn't even beat the Akatsuki leader, the Fourth Raikage's face grew even grimmer.
He had thought that the Flying Thunder God user was the only significant threat to Kumogakure, but now another threat in the form of the Akatsuki leader had emerged.
Mabui, seeing the Fourth Raikage's troubled expression, quickly stepped forward and said:
"Raikage-sama, you don't need to worry about the Akatsuki coming after us."
"Shishou made an agreement with the Akatsuki leader that if he won their battle, the Akatsuki would lay low and not trouble the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
"If the Akatsuki breaks this agreement, Shishou will hunt them down."
"This is why the Akatsuki has been quiet in the shinobi world for the past two years."
Hearing that Kumogakure was under the protection of Shishou and thus not threatened by the Akatsuki, the Fourth Raikage's forehead veins bulged as he angrily declared:
"Does Kumogakure really need the protection of others to survive?"
"Now that we know the Akatsuki leader is a threat, I will contact the other villages to launch a joint investigation again!"
As one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the idea of relying on outside protection was a huge insult to the Fourth Raikage.
Although the Fourth Raikage felt this was a grave humiliation,
Yugito, Samui, and Mabui admired Shishou's actions.
Facing the powerful Akatsuki alone and bringing peace to the shinobi world,
This was something they couldn't help but envy and admire.
Mabui sighed and said:
"Raikage-sama, do you remember the outcome of the joint investigation into the Akatsuki two years ago?"
Dodai, hearing this, snapped out of his shock over Shishou suppressing the Akatsuki alone and looked at Mabui, suspecting something.
Two years ago, Sunagakure proposed a joint investigation into the Akatsuki, but it ended with Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Konoha, and Iwagakure pulling out one after another, leading to its failure.
Remembering the rumors about the Flying Thunder God user and his connections with the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi and Tsunade of Konoha,
Dodai felt a chill.
He hadn't realized that this quiet Flying Thunder God user could influence the decisions of two major villages.
No... perhaps it wasn't just two villages.
Thinking this, Dodai looked at Mabui and said:
"Mabui, are you saying the joint investigation's failure was because of Shishou?"
Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage was shocked.
If Shishou had orchestrated this, then...
The Fourth Raikage turned to look at Yugito, Samui, and Mabui.
They had been the ones who persuaded him to withdraw from the joint investigation!
Feeling the Fourth Raikage's gaze, Yugito, Samui, and Mabui felt a chill as if they had been caught doing something wrong by their guardian.
The Fourth Raikage had watched them grow up, so his authority naturally suppressed them.
Glaring at Dodai, Mabui, realizing they couldn't hide it any longer, looked at the Fourth Raikage and explained:
"Raikage-sama, we didn't mean to keep it from you. We personally witnessed the battle in the video."
"Shishou also forbade us from telling anyone."
Mabui then recounted the events from two years ago.
Hearing that the battle in the video had occurred two years ago, the Fourth Raikage, Killer Bee, and Dodai were all stunned.
However,
Hearing that Shishou had used Kumogakure's turtle to defeat the Akatsuki leader made the Fourth Raikage furious.
But despite his anger, the Fourth Raikage understood their reasoning.
If Kumogakure had pursued a joint investigation into the Akatsuki two years ago, they would have suffered significant losses.
One mistake could have led to an attack from the Akatsuki leader's Super Shinra Tensei or Chibaku Tensei.
That could have led to the destruction of Kumogakure.
Though he understood, the Fourth Raikage was still very displeased with the three for keeping it from him.
He said sternly, "Next time, don't hide such things from me!"
Yugito, Samui, and Mabui bowed their heads in apology but had no intention of changing their behavior.
A similar situation had just happened yesterday, and they still didn't plan to tell the Fourth Raikage because Shishou forbade it.
The Fourth Raikage then looked at Samui and Mabui and asked:
"How are you two progressing?"
The development of the chakra cannon had given the Fourth Raikage some confidence in dealing with Shishou.
But knowing that the Great Katsuyu Sage was Shishou's summon made him reconsider.
Since they couldn't defeat Shishou now, the Fourth Raikage decided to strengthen their alliance with him.
So the pressure fell on Samui and Mabui.
Hearing his question, Samui and Mabui blushed.
For the past two years, Shishou had been focused on his Sage Jutsu training and rarely visited Kumogakure.
Even when he did, he was with Yugito, leaving the two with no progress.
Seeing their expressions, the Fourth Raikage knew the answer.
After urging Samui and Mabui to make more effort, the Fourth Raikage dismissed them and assured them he wouldn't pursue the idea of attacking the Akatsuki.
Hearing this, Yugito, Samui, and Mabui breathed a sigh of relief and left together.
Once they were gone, the Fourth Raikage's expression darkened again.
"Bee, what does the Eight-Tails think about this?"
**********
This fanfiction is complete on my Pa treon. If you want to read it, you can find it at patreo n.com Betek.