The Kumogakure elites ran all the way to the shore in one breath, all looking back toward the Land of Whirlpools with lingering fear.
"Is it really okay for us to abandon Raikage-sama like this?"
A Kumogakure shinobi spoke in self-reproach.
As Kumogakure shinobi, faced with a strong enemy, they actually abandoned Raikage-sama and escaped alone.
Between life and death lies great terror.
At the time, they didn't feel anything wrong, but now that they'd calmed down, they realized something wasn't right.
If this matter spreads out, the shinobi of Kumogakure will never be able to raise their heads again.
"Raikage-sama's life is much more precious than ours."
The Kumogakure shinobi who ran fastest earlier spoke.
"If we stayed there we'd have only one road—death. And at worst, Raikage-sama will just be captured by that 'Poisoner.'"
"Eh? Really?"
"Of course it's true. Let's go back and notify the higher-ups, and prepare money to ransom Raikage-sama."
"Okay!"
The haze on everyone's faces was swept away.
No one stupidly asked what to do if Raikage-sama died.
If he really died—
Kumogakure would simply hold a grand funeral.
...
Land of Whirlpools.
"Raikage, you should just surrender."
Renya slowly drew the katana from his waist, his black pupils gradually replaced by crimson.
The Second Raikage's expression grew solemn.
He didn't know whether he was a match for the "Konoha Poison Master."
But he knew he probably wouldn't be able to escape today.
He saw a large group of Konoha ANBU and red-haired Uzumaki clan members arriving from afar.
Letting him go one-on-one with Renya was already difficult—let alone with so many people around.
And he saw the Mizukage and Tsuchikage bound tightly in the distance.
The Second Raikage sighed helplessly.
If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.
Now look—he could only accept the fate of being captured alive.
Fortunately, Konoha didn't seem to have killing intent toward them. They must have some other scheme.
"I surrender." The Second Raikage raised both hands.
"Swallow this."
Renya casually tossed a vial of poison and explained.
"This is a pill that suppresses chakra, to prevent you from getting hot-headed and doing anything impulsive."
He worried the Raikage might fake surrender, then suddenly burst free and snap Danzō's neck.
That kind of thing wasn't impossible.
Although Kumogakure had plenty of muscle-brained types, there were still people like that among them.
The Second Raikage didn't hesitate. He poured the pill into his mouth and swallowed it in front of everyone.
The moment it entered, the chakra in his body grew uncontrollable.
Renya waved his hand, and two ANBU stepped forward to restrain him.
"Such a good thing shouldn't be enjoyed by the Raikage alone, right?"
Renya smiled as he looked at Ōnoki and the Third Mizukage, then took out two more bottles from his tool pouch.
An ANBU stepped forward, forcibly pouring the pills down their throats.
"Renya, how are we going to deal with the three of them?"
Shimura Danzō's eyes were burning, as if looking at three walking treasuries.
Right now, Konoha had no need to fear other villages at all.
Rather than killing the three Kage, it was better to keep them alive and exchange them for money from their respective villages.
And that amount of money would definitely be astronomical.
"Of course we'll use them to get money and develop the village's economic construction."
The two looked at each other, smiling in tacit agreement.
The three Kage: "…"
It's over. The village treasuries are doomed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were burning—soon the village would receive a huge sum of money.
Should they demand a ransom of one hundred billion ryō?
Or two hundred billion ryō?
Aiya, such a dilemma.
Why not compromise—three hundred billion ryō then?
Hmm, three hundred billion each.
Just not sure if their villages could afford that much.
Feeling countless burning gazes around them, the bodies of the three Kage trembled subconsciously.
"Mizukage, it's all your fault!" The Second Raikage couldn't help complaining.
"That's right, if I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have joined in!" Ōnoki echoed.
He came all this way, only to end up in this mess.
"Hmph! You two act like you knew better now, but you sure didn't say that back then!"
The Third Mizukage's expression turned ugly.
Damn it. As if being captured wasn't annoying enough—these two were actually blaming him too.
"Mizukage, you seem a little cocky!"
The hot-tempered Second Raikage said unhappily.
"Heh, if you're not convinced, wanna fight?!" The Third Mizukage shouted back.
When he returned to his village, he must launch a war against Kumogakure.
A village that couldn't even gather twenty elite jōnin dared to act tough.
When the Kirigakure army pressed in, he'd like to see if they were still so arrogant!
"Enough, both of you shut up." Ōnoki was getting impatient.
How did these two idiots start arguing now?
Shouldn't they be thinking about how to get back home with the smallest price?
"What's it to you?" the two said in unison.
Ōnoki exploded instantly.
These two bastards—how dare they speak to him like that!
Fine!
This feud, Iwagakure will remember.
He couldn't beat Konoha, but could he not beat the declining Kumogakure and his mortal enemy Kirigakure?
Once he got back, he'd unite with the Land of Wind and launch a war against both nations!
Let them understand the consequences of provoking him.
"Bastards! You two idiots, just wait for Iwagakure's revenge!"
"Hmph, who's afraid of who!"
"Bring it on!"
The three Kage who were supposed to be allies just moments ago were now in fierce conflict.
If they weren't tied up, they'd definitely already be in a full-on brawl.
Shimura Danzō couldn't even look anymore and ordered the ANBU to gag them.
Even without speaking, the three continued clashing with their eyes.
"Clan Leader Uzumaki, things are settled, we're heading back."
Shimura Danzō greeted the Uzumaki Clan Leader and led the ANBU away from the Land of Whirlpools.
Once they returned to the village, they could discuss the ransom issue.
"Renya, next time… could you let me do it?" Uchiha Kagami asked timidly.
He hadn't even had time to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The battle was already over.
He came running all this way just to be soy sauce.
"Sure. Next time there's a chance, you'll go."
Renya agreed without hesitation.
He had finally awakened the Mangekyō—it was indeed necessary to show off in front of everyone.
If you didn't act cool after awakening, what a waste of those eyes!
Though, Uchiha Kagami could go show off in front of the Hawk faction of the clan.
He awakened his eyes in the first place to intimidate them, didn't he?
It's just that he had barely left the hospital before Danzō dragged him into this.
...
Konoha Village, Hokage Office.
Senju Tobirama looked at the three Kage tied up in the corner, his eyelids twitching wildly.
"Why did you bring them here?"
What kind of joke was this?!
They just went out once—and captured three Kage alive?
Had these kids already become that strong?
In his mind, he couldn't help but imagine them charging into shinobi villages and capturing Kage.
Too exaggerated!
"Sensei, this time we…"
Danzō knew Tobirama-sensei misunderstood, and quickly explained what happened.
"So that's how it is."
Senju Tobirama suddenly understood—so that's why they could capture three Kage at once.
It turned out they already knew the intel in advance.