The First Raikage's eyes widened at the blatant threat, his expression twitching uncontrollably as he stared at Kakuzu's retreating figure.
Who does this guy think he is? Daring to yell at me, the Raikage, like that!
Unforgivable!
Despite the storm brewing in his heart, Raikage held back. It wasn't like Kakuzu cared. He was simply here to flaunt his arrogance and leave. And he succeeded. If the Raikage had really decided to start a fight, it still wouldn't have been Kakuzu's problem. The commotion would've inevitably drawn Hashirama Senju, who'd step in to "educate" him.
Fortunately, the Raikage had enough sense to swallow his anger.
Damn it, Konoha! I'll make you pay at the negotiating table!
He waved his hand in frustration, signaling his Kumogakure shinobi to stand down. Though the humiliation Kakuzu had inflicted still simmered in his heart, Raikage planned to settle the score during the negotiations.
Once the entourage from Kumogakure entered the village, all five Kage were now assembled.
But of course, they didn't sit down at the negotiating table immediately. Meetings like these required preparation—a drawn-out process.
The sun bathed the earth in brilliant light, invigorating the land but also driving many indoors to escape the oppressive heat. What should have been a lively street had grown noticeably quieter.
Leaning casually against an ancient tree, Kakuzu's calm gaze swept over the peaceful scenery. He knew better than to be deceived by this façade.
A seemingly earnest and amiable Tsuchikage, who was in truth a schemer of the highest order.
A perpetually alert Kazekage, whose paranoia allowed no lapse in vigilance.
A fierce and intimidating Mizukage, with a stare sharp enough to kill.
And finally, the hot-tempered Raikage, all muscles and explosive energy.
Gather these four in one place, and chaos was inevitable. Kakuzu chuckled inwardly. It was bound to be a good show.
Suddenly—swish!
Tobirama Senju appeared beside him in an instant.
"Again?" Kakuzu remained unfazed, still leaning against the tree. "Do you believe I won't take you out?"
Tobirama had turned into some kind of mobile target practice, appearing and vanishing as he pleased. It was frankly disrespectful. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before something awkward happened.
Tobirama merely glanced at him, offering no explanation. If it weren't for the urgency of the situation, he wouldn't resort to such methods.
"The situation is still under control," he stated flatly.
Kakuzu raised an eyebrow. Tobirama's words were laden with implications. With his acute perception and prolonged observation, he already had a good grasp of the four Kage's temperaments.
Still under control meant that, for now, the four Kage posed no immediate threat to Konoha. Each of them was formidable, but one-on-one against Tobirama? With his Flying Thunder God Technique and numerous secret techniques, even they would have a tough time.
Konoha had little to worry about.
"I'm leaving," Kakuzu announced, stretching his neck as if signaling that his task was done.
"You can't leave yet."
"Hmm?" Kakuzu turned to Tobirama, narrowing his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
"The village won't be quiet in the coming days. I need you to keep an eye on certain people," Tobirama said, pausing briefly before continuing. "Raikage, Kazekage, Mizukage—they already have people shadowing them. The Tsuchikage is your responsibility."
"Hah!" Kakuzu scoffed. Tobirama really did treat him like a hired hand.
Just as Kakuzu opened his mouth to refuse, Tobirama cut him off, his tone turning sharp.
"Triple the pay."
The moment the words left his lips, Tobirama activated Flying Thunder God Technique, disappearing in a flash.
"Damn it!" Kakuzu cursed at the empty spot where Tobirama had stood moments ago. "You better pay up!"
The next few days passed quickly. While Konoha prepared for the talks, the other four villages were equally busy. Shinobi bustled around the inns housing the delegations, their movements betraying the underlying tension.
Negotiations were no less than a battlefield. The final agreements could shape the fate of every village, so it was no surprise that some began probing for information within Konoha.
How many tailed beasts were being distributed?
What were their prices?
What stance was the Hokage taking in these talks?
Spying on Konoha, however, was no easy task. In the past, this would've been the perfect opportunity to plant agents. But with the Yamanaka clan's techniques sweeping through the ranks, inserting spies into Konoha had become nearly impossible.
Those subjected to Yamanaka interrogation not only divulged current intelligence but also surrendered details of past operations. The old method of raising sleeper agents from childhood was no longer feasible. Turning existing personnel in Konoha had become the only viable option—though with limited success.
The scraps of information gathered about the negotiations weren't much.
At the very least, they couldn't let the talks gain even a slight upper hand. Tomorrow, at daybreak, the Five Kage Summit would begin. Tonight was destined to be a restless one for the other four villages. Many would undoubtedly stay awake through the night.
The First Tsuchikage knelt by the window, gazing at the sly crescent moon. A subtle, inscrutable glimmer flickered in his eyes.
"Mu, Ōnoki!"
At his call, two figures knelt behind him in unison, heads bowed low as they awaited the Tsuchikage's orders.
"Go. For the sake of the village."
"No matter what, make the trip today. Do your best to negotiate, understood?"
Hearing the Tsuchikage's instructions, Mu—his face obscured by bandages—gave no visible reaction. Beside him, Ōnoki's usual carefree demeanor was replaced with solemnity and seriousness.
"Understood!"
"Tsuchikage, leave it to us!"
Both nodded sharply before vanishing in a flicker of movement.
The night was deep and silent. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the hem of Kakuzu's coat. He slowly set down the book in his hands, his eyes drifting toward the distant horizon.
People were always rushing about, chasing uncertain futures and unchangeable fates. Yet, little did they know, some matters were beyond the realm of human effort. Still, there were always those determined to try, no matter the odds.
In Konoha's bustling commercial district, the clock on a wall struck midnight. It was already late, yet the food stalls remained lively and packed with customers. Amid the hustle and bustle, the stall owner busily served patrons, his hands full but his face beaming with joy.
Kakuzu's towering figure approached at an unhurried pace.
"Good evening, sir! What would you like to eat?" the owner greeted politely.
Kakuzu cast the man a calm glance before shifting his gaze toward a certain table.
"No need. Someone has already ordered for me."
Following Kakuzu's gaze, the owner looked over to see two individuals seated at a table—Ōnoki and Mu, who were out late for a bite to eat.
As shinobi, the two had naturally noticed Kakuzu's presence. Meeting his gaze, their eyes conveyed an unspoken understanding.
Both were elite jonin of Iwagakure and had long been aware of Kakuzu tailing them. Now that he had followed them here, it was impossible to ignore him.
"A fellow shinobi from Konoha—since you're here, you're our guest. Come, have a seat!" Mu said politely, motioning Kakuzu to join them.
"Hahaha!" Ōnoki stood up, laughing heartily. "Isn't this the same guy who greeted us the other day? Perfect timing—come, let's eat together."
Their enthusiastic invitation left Kakuzu with no reason to refuse. He sat at their table, his eyes briefly sweeping over the untouched dishes laid out before them. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Kakuzu-san, you've been guarding us tirelessly these past few days. I must toast to your efforts," Mu said, lifting a cup of sake. He even cut a small slit in his bandages to drink it down in one gulp.
"It's nothing. Just a small task," Kakuzu replied with a calm smile, returning the toast.
Beside him, Ōnoki grinned and poured Kakuzu another drink.
"Hey, Kakuzu-sama, you're being too stingy. I told you I'd pay extra—when are you going to show me around Konoha and let me experience the local… culture?"
Ōnoki's sly grin earned a slight narrowing of Kakuzu's eyes. He downed his sake without a word.
This kid, Ōnoki—he might be older than Hiruzen Sarutobi by a bit, but he was still far from an adult.
"Brat, you're still wet behind the ears, and you're already thinking about things like that? Ridiculous!" Kakuzu snapped.
Ōnoki chuckled awkwardly under Kakuzu's stern rebuke, scratching his head.
The drinks continued, with Ōnoki and Mu taking turns raising their cups to Kakuzu, as if determined to drink the night away.
Half an hour later, Kakuzu glanced up at the sky, then set his cup down abruptly. He looked at the two across from him, a faint but meaningful smile on his lips.
"Do you know why I haven't gone after your real bodies but instead chose to sit here, drinking and chatting with you?"
At these words, the smiles on Ōnoki and Mu's faces froze instantly.
"W-What do you mean, Kakuzu-sama? We…" Ōnoki began, only to trail off mid-sentence. He cursed himself inwardly, wishing he could slap himself twice.
Of course Kakuzu, an elite shinobi of his caliber, would see through their clay clones.
Mu, however, remained calm. He had likely guessed Kakuzu's intentions—to play along without interfering with their real bodies' plans. This was undoubtedly a relief for them.
Kakuzu cast them a dispassionate glance. "The reason I haven't gone after your real bodies is simple. Since you're so eager to 'dance,' why should I hold you back?"
These words struck a nerve. Though Ōnoki and Mu maintained outward composure, the flicker of panic in their eyes betrayed them.
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