"Kazama-kun, I like you!"
"Huh?!"
Kazama, who was deep in thought about how to fuse various divine artifacts in the future, nearly fell on his butt when he heard Yugito's words.
"What's wrong? Is my confession that scary?"
Seeing Kazama's over-the-top reaction, Yugito's face turned red as she spoke.
"It's not that your confession is scary—it's just so sudden! I wasn't prepared at all!"
Kazama awkwardly scratched his head.
"So, can you accept my feelings? Would you go out with me?"
"I…"
Faced with Yugito's full-on romantic offensive, Kazama was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.
He was even more puzzled about why Yugito would like him.
Back during their arena match, she'd been cold, even hostile toward him.
But ever since Kazama saved her from the Eight-Tails, Yugito had fallen for him.
"I know you're so amazing, Kazama-kun, and there must be tons of girls in Konoha who like you. You might not be interested in me now, but I'll work hard to make you like me someday!"
"Uh, sure, okay."
Kazama had planned to turn her down gently, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
Left with no choice, he gave an awkward nod.
"Oh, by the way, I've got some urgent business back in Konoha, so please say goodbye to the Fourth Raikage and the others for me!"
Kazama quickly changed the subject.
"Alright. But will you come back to Kumogakure to see me?"
Yugito was clearly reluctant to see him go.
"Definitely!"
Kazama wasn't lying.
He knew it wouldn't be long before Akatsuki's Kakuzu and Hidan came to capture the Two-Tails.
To keep Yugito from dying, Kazama would have to return to Kumogakure to help her when the time came.
The only problem was that he didn't know the exact timing of Kakuzu and Hidan's mission, so he'd have to wait for news from Itachi.
"Oh, right!"
Kazama pulled out a scroll and sealed a wisp of his Fallen Heart Flame inside it.
"If you're ever in mortal danger, open this scroll right away. The flame inside will protect you for a while, and I'll sense it and rush to help you as fast as I can."
Since the Fallen Heart Flame was a heart-based flame, Kazama would immediately feel it if Yugito used it.
That way, he could come to her aid and fend off those zombie ninjas, Kakuzu and Hidan.
"Okay, I'll keep it with me always."
Taking the scroll from Kazama, Yugito's eyes welled up with tears, clearly treating it as a token of affection.
Seeing her expression, Kazama hurriedly said his goodbyes.
If he didn't leave now, she might confess again.
It wasn't that Kazama didn't like Yugito—he just didn't have time for romance. His main focus was finding divine artifacts, absorbing Tailed Beast powers, and getting stronger.
"Haha! I knew Yugito would get shot down!"
Seeing Yugito return alone, Darui smirked and chuckled.
"Lord Raikage, Kazama said he has urgent business and needs to return to Konoha, so he won't be coming to say goodbye."
"Oh, no problem. What jutsu did he pick?"
"It's the one Uchiha Itachi copied back then."
"You mean the one that records the divine artifacts of the shinobi world and how to infuse them with chakra? That Kazama kid's got an eye for value!"
Darui winced, clearly reluctant to part with it.
"Don't worry, I made a copy of that scroll long ago. Besides, most of the divine artifacts listed in it have been lost to time. We've searched for years and found nothing. Better to give it to Kazama as a favor. After all, he helped us suppress the Eight-Tails in Killer B. Without him, Kumogakure might've…"
"You're right, Lord Raikage. With someone like Sanada Kazama in Konoha, we should definitely try to build ties with him. His strength could shake the entire Five Great Shinobi Nations!"
"Well said!"
The Fourth Raikage immediately ordered emissaries to be sent to Konoha to request an alliance, and he had the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning send envoys to the Land of Fire as well.
When the Third Hokage and the Land of Fire's Daimyō received the messages from Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning, they were shocked.
The Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire had been at odds for years, their relations extremely tense.
Yet now, the Land of Lightning was proactively seeking an alliance—a boon for the Land of Fire.
Seeing the sincerity of Kumogakure's emissaries, the Third Hokage quickly realized this was all thanks to Kazama.
He'd originally sent Kazama to show Kumogakure his strength, hoping to deter them from causing trouble at the Land of Fire's borders.
But Kazama's performance had far exceeded his expectations.
Even the stubborn Fourth Raikage was now personally proposing an alliance with Konoha.
The Third Hokage couldn't stop grinning, praising Kazama endlessly in his heart.
The Land of Fire's Daimyō, upon hearing the news, rewarded the Sanada clan with a million taels of gold and thousands of acres of fertile land.
The Sanada clan, which had been weakened by Danzō's attack, quickly rose back to prominence with the support of the Third Hokage and the Daimyō.
The clan members were deeply grateful to Kazama, even reserving the position of the next clan leader for him.