[Ding! Congratulations, you have earned Value Points.]
[Would you like to recharge your Value Points and exchange them for 1,880 coins?]
[Recharge successful! Congratulations, you have received 1,880 coins.]
[Current balance: 2,180 coins.]
Shimoku carefully counted the amount, converting all the Value Points from Zabuza's 18.8 million ryo transaction into coins.
This time, the full 18.8 million ryo had all come from Zabuza.
Of that amount, 13.8 million ryo came from Zabuza's own hard-earned savings—the result of years of grueling work and blood-stained missions.
Originally, he had planned to save up even more money to recruit some ninja in preparation to launch an attack on Kiri and overthrow Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, for his tyrannical rule.
But now that Kiri had already reformed, there was no longer any need for such a large sum.
According to the promise he made earlier with Shimoku, he naturally delivered all the money as agreed.
True to his word—if he had the money, he really would deliver it.
This tough guy really knew how to keep his word.
It actually moved Shimoku just a little bit.
As for the remaining 5 million ryo, that was the installment-based payment from Kiri.
Back during the recent coup in Kirigakure,
Shimoku had saved a total of 65 Kiri ninja lives, so naturally, Kiri needed to pay a generous reward.
However, since Yagura, under Obito's manipulation, had looted and embezzled Kiri's strategic treasury for years,
there simply wasn't much left to give.
Therefore, they only paid out 30 million ryo upfront and promised to repay the remaining 70+ million in installments over four years.
The 5 million ryo now was merely the first installment.
Clearly, recent times had been pretty rough for the Hidden Mist Village.
Truthfully, acting on goodwill alone,
Shimoku was even considering letting Kiri "repay him in flesh."
Of course, in a proper way—
by strengthening relations between the two villages and encouraging more marriages between their ninja and Hidden Mist's kunoichi.
After all, due to years of brutal governance, Kiri's population had become severely imbalanced, with far more women than men...
Still, Shimoku didn't rush things.
This was definitely not something to be hurried.
Taking it slow was better,
to prevent any gossip about him having hidden agendas.
...
Next, Zabuza and the others would be serving as 'envoys' at Homuragakure… (read: doing unpaid grunt work)
Ahem... I mean, they'd be staying as honored guests in Homuragakure for three months,
until the next batch of Kiri representatives arrived to take their place.
Shimoku originally wanted to send Zabuza back immediately and bring over that highly skilled lady, Terumi Mei.
However, after thinking about the fact that Zabuza was essentially free labor, he decided to hold off for now, especially since Zabuza was still a useful free laborer.
Besides, upcoming events would keep him quite busy anyway.
There were fewer than three days left before the scheduled joint assault with Akatsuki on Konoha.
Time was pressing.
...
Meanwhile, Shimoku's "Pseudo-Jinchuriki" plan had slightly stalled.
After personally sealing part of the Nine-Tails' Chakra,
he clearly felt it—
The Nine-Tails Chakra was far more violent than that of the Eight-Tails.
It was much harder to control!
Moreover, it easily corroded a ninja's mind...
Therefore, although Shimoku had originally planned to make Riyō and others become [Pseudo-Jinchuriki] sooner rather than later, he could only temporarily suspend this plan for now.
He would wait until their strength improved significantly and they fully reached Jonin level before sealing the Nine-Tails Chakra inside them.
As for the four [Six Paths Ninjutsu Tools] seized from Kinkaku and Ginkaku, Shimoku had also distributed them accordingly,
handing them over for use by Yueji and others among the Personal Guards.
He clearly explained each tool's function and unique abilities to them.
However, aside from Yueji—who possessed the Eight-Tails Chakra—and could use them normally,
the others struggled to continuously operate the [Six Paths Ninjutsu Tools].
After all, while using these tools, they consumed vast amounts of the user's chakra.
If normal ninja with insufficient chakra forcefully used them repeatedly,
they would only end up harming themselves, much like silkworms trapped in their own cocoons—an old saying describing self-inflicted ruin.
Therefore, at most, these tools could only serve as last-resort weapons—usable barely once or twice in an emergency.
To completely unleash the full potential of these Six Paths tools, they still had to wait until Riyō and others sealed Tailed Beast Chakra within themselves.
As for Shimoku himself,
for him, those fancy Six Paths tools weren't even as effective as his own Sharingan or Sage Body.
Besides, when it came to weapons alone,
he believed his K'unwu Divine Sword was no weaker than those so-called Six Paths weapons.
In the following days, Shimoku no longer idly wandered around.
Instead, he spent the time getting fully used to his own abilities
and prepared meticulously for the upcoming great battle.
Soon, three days passed.
The Akatsuki contacted them through Orochimaru.
They agreed to gather first the next day, fifty miles northwest of Konoha.
This time, Shimoku set off without bringing anyone along.
In fact, aside from his closest confidants—Yueji, Riyō, and a few others—the rest of the clan didn't even know where Shimoku had gone.
They only knew the Young Master had important business to handle away from the clan for a few days.
No one in the clan found this unusual.
He helped the village grow stronger and more prosperous with every return.
This was undoubtedly excellent news!
And compared to the previous Great Clan Leader Fugaku, who had been timid and hesitant before, it was incomparable!
But this time, Shimoku knew it all too well:
With Nagato personally intervening and gathering numerous members from the Akatsuki organization,
this planned surprise attack on Konoha would surely bring bloodshed and danger unlike anything before.
Traveling alone was actually more strategic—it allowed for swift attacks and immediate withdrawals when necessary.
If unexpected dangers arose that proved difficult to overpower directly, he could instantly escape using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
However, if too many people were brought along, it would instead become hard to protect everyone effectively.
It would be better for him to act solo, striking independently.
...
On the night before the appointed meeting day, Shimoku met with Orochimaru and departed together.
Regarding safety concerns back in the village, Shimoku had already made thorough preparations.
Before leaving, he also spoke once more with both Fugaku and Itachi.
This time, unlike being in Konoha previously,
the entire Uchiha Clan was situated within Homuragakure.
Quan, Sasuke, and others were here too.
If the village were truly under attack, Fugaku and Itachi would certainly step in.
Alongside them would be Yueji and Three-Tails.
With four high-level ninja leaders working together, any crisis could be handled.
And if worse came to worst, a certain 'Mooncake' soaking in the hot spring could always use the [Reverse Summoning Jutsu] again to bring Shimoku back.
In short, there was absolutely nothing left to worry about!
This time, they were really going to crush Konoha!
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