(A/N: I missed a chapter yesterday, so I am posting two today instead.)
Finally, everyone inside the Mizukage's office had digested the news that their Fourth Mizukage had been under the control of someone from the Akatsuki—and that this manipulation was what had turned the Mist Village into the Blood Mist Village. A heavy silence lingered for a moment. This revelation didn't just shock them; it ignited a simmering resolve. Now, destroying the Akatsuki alongside Konoha wasn't merely a political decision—it had become a matter of vengeance. They needed to work alongside Konoha with absolute determination to eliminate the Akatsuki completely.
At this time, Ao—who had earlier provoked Inoiki by attempting to mock him and force a reaction—took a step forward. His expression was firm but apologetic. "I am very sorry for my behaviour earlier. As you said just now, that was just my attempt to incite you so that you would attack me, so we could all see the true strength of someone who is currently being called one of the strongest persons in the whole world by the people of Konoha."
Inoiki glanced toward him, his face calm. "No need to worry. I gave you the appropriate punishment anyway, so you don't need to apologize." His tone carried no malice—just finality.
A faint breeze drifted in through the open window, rustling the papers on the Mizukage's desk as Inoiki turned toward the exit. "I should take my leave now, as we still have Iwagakure and Kumogakure to visit and deliver the invitation for the Five Kage meeting." He spoke evenly.
After hearing this, Terumi Mei, the Fifth Mizukage, nodded and said, "Yes, you are absolutely right. They also need to be informed about this matter as soon as possible, and their presence at the Five Kage meeting is essential."
Inoiki nodded at her words and then, together with Naruto, walked out of the Mizukage's office. Under Chojuro's escort, the two of them left Kirigakure's gates, rising into the air on Inoiki's giant floating sword.
Inoiki guided the massive blade with his psychokinesis, cutting smoothly through the sky toward Iwagakure. By the time evening arrived, when the sun dipped low and cast long shadows over the rocky terrain, Inoiki and Naruto descended near the entrance of the village. Their landing stirred a gust of wind across the dust and gravel, immediately alerting the guards stationed at the gate.
The guards appeared in front of them within moments, kunai drawn, their bodies tense and ready for combat if Naruto or Inoiki showed even the slightest hint of hostility. But both remained calm, their posture relaxed, showing no intent to attack.
Inoiki stepped forward slightly. "We are here to meet the Tsuchikage. Can you please inform the Tsuchikage about the arrival of Yamanaka Inoiki and Naruto Uzumaki? We are here as envoys of Konoha and have an important letter from our Hokage to deliver. It is quite urgent, so if possible, please inform the Tsuchikage as quickly as you can."
Looking at their attire and the Konoha forehead protectors, both Iwagakure guards exchanged a quick glance, silently assessing the situation. Finally, one of them stepped forward and said, "We will inform the Tsuchikage about this, but you will have to stand here without making any other move. If you try to cross the gates of Iwagakure, we will consider it an act of hostility."
Inoiki simply nodded, offering no further words.
A moment later, one of the guards vanished, sprinting back toward the village. Inoiki and Naruto remained waiting at the gate, the quiet mountain wind brushing past them. Almost a quarter of an hour passed before two silhouettes appeared in the distance, moving fast, with the guard trailing behind them.
Inoiki immediately recognized them—Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi.
The two arrived in front of Inoiki and Naruto with impressive speed. Kitsuchi came to a halt, but before Inoiki could bow in greeting, something completely unexpected happened.
Kurotsuchi didn't slow down.
She closed the distance in an instant and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "You are fine—thank goodness you are fine," she said, her voice trembling with relief as she held him in a firm, desperate embrace.
For a moment, everyone around Inoiki and Kurotsuchi froze in shock. The scene was so sudden, so unexpected, that it took a few heartbeats before anyone reacted.
Naruto was the first. A wide grin spread across his face, and he leaned slightly toward Inoiki, muttering under his breath, "I never knew Inoiki already had a girlfriend," barely suppressing a mischievous sneer.
On the other side, Kitsuchi—Kurotsuchi's father—looked as if his entire face had cramped at once. A mix of anger, disbelief, and helpless resignation flickered across his features. He didn't know how to respond. If he raised his voice now, his daughter would definitely get angry, and if she complained to her grandfather Onoki later, Kitsuchi knew exactly how that would end. Onoki would scold him instead, and he would gain nothing but more trouble. What am I supposed to do in this situation…? his expression practically screamed.
Inoiki, sharp enough to sense every emotion around him, felt all those reactions hit him at once. Heat rose in his cheeks, a rare flush spreading across his face. He hadn't expected Kurotsuchi to act so boldly—to completely ignore the presence of so many people and hug him like that. For a moment, he didn't even know where to place his hands, and his mind went blank. She really didn't hold back at all…
Meanwhile, Kurotsuchi finally snapped back to her senses. The rush of emotion that had overtaken her—the fear she'd carried for months thinking the boy she secretly loved had died, the sudden relief of seeing him alive and unharmed—had burst out all at once. Now that the initial surge was fading, embarrassment hit her like a kunai to the chest. She slowly released Inoiki, letting her arms drop as they stepped apart.
Her face heated up instantly.
Kurotsuchi looked at him, her voice small for the first time in front of all these people. "I'm sorry… It's just that I was really glad to see you fine." She looked away, unable to meet his eyes anymore, her embarrassment swallowing the rest of her words.
Inoiki cleared his throat, trying to ease away the lingering embarrassment. "It's okay," he said, steadying his voice. "We are here as messengers—envoys of Konoha—and we have an important letter that needs to be delivered to the Tsuchikage. If you may please, we would like to meet Lord Tsuchikage."
Kitsuchi let out a breath, suppressing every trace of irritation he felt toward the boy his daughter had just hugged so openly. With a professional tone, he replied, "We are here exactly for that. Lord Tsuchikage is waiting for you. Please follow us."
With that, Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi took the lead, and Inoiki and Naruto followed behind them.
…
After a brief walk through the mountain village, Inoiki and Naruto arrived in front of a large, imposing building. The Tsuchikage's office towered over the surrounding structures, its stone walls reflecting the warm glow of the evening light. Under Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi's guidance, they entered and navigated the hallways until they reached a familiar office door.
Kitsuchi knocked politely.
Kurotsuchi, on the other hand, pushed the door open and walked in immediately—without waiting for any response from inside. Her steps were loud and confident.
Kitsuchi sighed internally, helpless. At least in front of guests from another village… you should pretend to show some respect, he thought as he followed behind. But Kurotsuchi clearly didn't care—whether it was her grandfather or the fact that envoys from Konoha stood behind her, she was unapologetically herself.
Inside, she announced in her usual, straightforward tone, "I brought both the envoys of Konoha here."
Only then did Inoiki and Naruto step in fully, with Kitsuchi entering last. The three came into the view of the current Tsuchikage, Onoki.
Onoki looked at the two young shinobi standing before him. His gaze lingered on Inoiki a moment longer. This was his first time seeing the boy in person. The last time Inoiki had come to the Land of Earth for a mission, he had never entered Iwagakure itself. And afterward, the news of Inoiki's mysterious "death" had spread everywhere—only for him to reappear later, alive and well.
Onoki narrowed his eyes slightly, taking in the boy who had returned from an unknown fate.
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