A ninja from the Hidden Cloud Village walked over with a cold, expressionless face.
Along the way, the other Hidden Cloud ninjas moved aside for him.
He walked straight up to the captain of the ANBU unit and stopped.
"From Konoha's ANBU?"
"That's right!"
The captain looked at the Hidden Cloud ninja and said in a deep voice, "About our cooperation..."
"The cooperation is canceled!"
The Hidden Cloud ninja answered firmly.
The captain was shocked and angry. "But the Raikage clearly agreed. We even paid the deposit."
"Then go talk to the Raikage!"
The Hidden Cloud ninja's voice was cold.
*I would if I could!*
The captain cursed silently in his heart.
*You guys are blocking the way, how am I supposed to go see him?*
Besides!
The Hidden Cloud Village was in complete chaos at the moment. If he went in now, he would die for nothing.
"Fine, Hidden Cloud, I'll remember this!"
The captain gritted his teeth, coldly throwing down the words as he turned and left with the four ANBU members.
The Hidden Cloud ninja watched him go until he disappeared from sight.
"Lord Uru!"
A nearby Hidden Cloud ninja softly called out.
Uru coldly replied, "The village has been infiltrated by a large number of spies. We need to clear them out first. As for Konoha, those guys have never been trustworthy."
"Understood!"
The Hidden Cloud ninja understood Uru's meaning and quickly dispersed.
Uru was left standing alone.
He glanced again in the direction where the ANBU captain had left, then turned his gaze toward the village, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
How could so many spies have infiltrated the village? And they had begun causing chaos in a premeditated manner.
Although the situation was starting to be brought under control, Uru still felt a deep sense of unease.
This seemingly massive chaos felt like just the beginning.
A bigger storm was brewing behind it.
This was why Uru had immediately rejected cooperation with Konoha's ANBU.
Even if they offered a lot!
Just as Uru was thinking this...
"Boom!"
A loud explosion echoed, followed by the ground trembling.
Screams and cries for help could be faintly heard.
Then came another explosion, followed by many more.
The ground kept shaking.
"Damn it!"
Uru cursed. Something serious had happened.
He turned to rush to the village to offer support.
But!
The ANBU captain, who had just left, suddenly returned.
And he wasn't alone—there were sixteen more ninjas with him.
There had only been four earlier.
Now there were sixteen more!
As someone high-ranking in the Hidden Cloud Village, Uru knew very well that this was a full ANBU unit, capable of handling highly dangerous and difficult missions.
Every village was the same—only elites could join the ANBU.
"What are you Konoha ninjas trying to do?"
Uru's voice now had a sharper edge to it.
The Hidden Cloud ninjas, who had just dispersed, gathered again.
Both sides faced off coldly.
This time, Konoha had the upper hand.
The ANBU captain spoke briefly, but what he said left Uru stunned.
"Return the money!"
"What?"
It seemed Uru hadn't heard clearly.
The captain repeated, enunciating each word: "I said, return the money. You took our deposit but canceled the cooperation. It's only natural that you return the deposit and provide compensation."
Uru's eye twitched, and he said coldly, "You gave the deposit to Lord Raikage..."
"Then step aside. We need to see the Raikage!"
The captain demanded.
Uru almost spat blood.
He had dared to let the captain into the village earlier because there were only five of them. Going in was a death sentence for them.
But now there were seventeen of them!
And the village was clearly in even more chaos.
He would have to be insane to let them in at this critical moment.
Who knew what damage they might cause, or what important things might be lost? Could the higher-ups even be assassinated?
There were endless risks!
"Who could guarantee that?"
"Konoha ninja, are you really going to do this? Taking advantage of others in their time of need will bring no good results. Our Hidden Cloud Village has never feared war."
Uru's voice was cold, filled with heavy threats.
"Hidden Cloud, you're going too far!"
The squad leader shouted, his voice full of grief and indignation, momentarily stunning Uru.
"When we first collaborated, you made all kinds of demands, and we agreed to every one of them. We traveled thousands of miles to get here, and now you refuse to cooperate."
"Fine, if you don't want to cooperate, but how could you take our deposit and run? Do you treat people this way?"
The squad leader grew more and more agitated as he spoke.
In the end, the Anbu members all drew their weapons.
"Hand over the deposit and compensation right now, or don't blame us for getting rough!"
"We'll make sure you understand that Konoha isn't to be trifled with."
"Ahhhh!!!"
The squad leader roared again at Uru.
Uru was dumbfounded.
His expression was blank!
Looking at the Konoha Anbu, all ready for battle, he felt like his head was going to explode.
Fine!
You win!
Seriously, what terrible timing!
...
"Pfft!"
From the shadows, Yugao couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Did you teach them that?"
"What do you mean, did I teach them?"
Itsuki chuckled and said, "Right now, he's practically my clone. Whatever I want him to do, he does."
"Clone?"
"Yes!" Itsuki replied. "He has my power inside of him. I can control him, even making him speak."
Yugao gasped, "Itsuki, just how strong are you now? Has your genjutsu reached such a level?"
"How strong I am, don't you know? Weren't you just begging for mercy earlier?"
Itsuki winked at Yugao.
"Get out of here!"
Yugao playfully slapped Itsuki.
"But what are you planning to do? Are you really going to make the Anbu launch a suicide attack against Hidden Cloud? The Anbu are under the Hokage's command, and if anything happens, it'll probably land on the Third Hokage's shoulders."
"That's no fun. I've got something even better planned."
...
"Are you going to return the deposit or not?"
The squad leader roared again, his face becoming more and more frenzied. He pulled out several kunai, each one fitted with an explosive tag.
The other Anbu followed suit.
Uru was silently cursing in his heart.
These measly Konoha ninja—if this were any other time, I'd have killed you all.
Though Hidden Cloud acknowledges Konoha as the strongest ninja village with the most comprehensive strength, they've never truly feared them.
During the incident with Hyuga Hizashi years ago, even though Hidden Cloud didn't obtain the Byakugan, it only intensified their disdain.
But now wasn't the time for a fight!
Uru took a deep breath, gritting his teeth. "We'll return it. You'll get your deposit and compensation."
"Hand it over then!"
The squad leader held out his hand.
Uru was flustered again. "You want me to give it to you right now?"
I'll throw it in your face!
"Or what?" The squad leader shot back. "Wait until I'm dead, and you'll burn it for me?"
"You... where would I even find that much money right now?"
Uru roared.
Uru knew that Konoha had given them a deposit of a full ten million ryo.
As for the compensation, they'd definitely have to pay that too—at least another million ryo.
Who in their right mind carries that much money on them?
Burn it for you?
Damn it, one way or another, I'll burn it for you next time!
No matter what happens this time, next time, I'll definitely burn money for you!
(End of chapter)