"The surroundings are so barren…"
"Why build houses that tall?"
"There aren't any trees or plants around…"
"The environment in Kumogakure is really awful!"
All along the way, Maito Guy couldn't stop muttering as he looked left and right, restless as ever.
Walking ahead, Kakashi had already noticed Mabui's eye twitch at Guy's commentary. He quickly grabbed Guy and clamped a hand over his mouth, then turned to Mabui with an apologetic look.
"Sorry about that. He's probably just not used to Kumogakure yet—it's making his head spin a little."
Mabui took a moment to compose herself before replying calmly, "The Land of Fire's Konohagakure is the only village in the shinobi world blessed with such rich land. That's why every time a great war breaks out, Konoha becomes the main target."
Uchiha Shion, walking at their side, gave a small laugh. "Guy can be a bit too straightforward sometimes. My apologies if he came across as rude."
That made Mabui glance at Shion—straightforward?
Killer Bee walked up, waving his hand. "You've arranged things for them, right? You'll still need to report back to big bro later, won't you, Mabui?"
"I know… Lord Bee." Mabui nodded, then resumed leading them to their quarters, ignoring the bickering behind her between Guy and Kakashi.
Shion frowned slightly. So Kumogakure is showing this much patience with our presence? Even the notoriously hot-tempered Fourth Raikage, who smashes tables on a daily basis, actually agreed to this plan?
That wasn't what Shion expected. Shouldn't he be rampaging through, crushing everything in his way? Just like how the Third Raikage was dragged down in battle?
"Tonight, please rest well. Tomorrow Kumogakure will hold a grand welcome ceremony to celebrate the alliance between our two villages."
Bang!
Once Mabui closed the door and left, Kakashi quickly formed hand seals, closing his eyes for a moment to sense.
"My sensory skills aren't on par with our teacher's, but it looks like everything's safe for now."
He busied himself with setting up a small protective barrier, then asked, "Was Kumogakure probing us just now?"
Shion gave a small nod. "They didn't even bother to argue back in that situation. And as for Bee—I know his personality well. The tone in his last words carried a hint of rejection."
Kakashi thought for a moment. "Or… maybe Kumogakure also cares deeply about this alliance. After all, during the Third Shinobi War, they had a blood feud with Iwagakure."
Shion nodded slightly. "That's a fair point. But the Anbu gathered some intel earlier… I suspect Lord Minato has seen the same report—that's why he's being so cautious."
Intel from the Anbu?
Shion cast a glance at Guy, who was already sprawled out, snoring after eating and drinking his fill. Then he turned back to Kakashi.
"Not long ago, Kumogakure stole a secret technique from Kirigakure. The Mist sent shinobi to chase them, but because of their alliance with Iwagakure… Iwa was supposed to send backup."
"But at the Green Gorge battle, Iwagakure betrayed them—stabbed the Mist shinobi in the back. For the sake of some trivial profit, a so-called alliance was just a piece of scrap paper to the Tsuchikage."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
There wasn't much to say about Iwa and Kiri's dirty dealings. The real issue here was Kumogakure's intent.
They stole Kirigakure's secret techniques?
Ever since the Third War, Kumo had been scheming around secret arts and kekkei genkai. Have they already begun targeting the great nations?
Working with Iwa to stab Kiri in the back—that was unthinkable. After all, the Mist had once used wave after wave of shinobi to bring down the Third Raikage. Was Kumo really willing to set aside such a grudge?
Shion gave a faint smile. "Kirigakure once obtained a Byakugan from the Hyūga clan. Back in the war, its scouting ability was invaluable."
Kakashi blinked, looking from Shion to Guy. "But none of us here have the Byakugan…"
Shion only chuckled, rising to his feet. "If it hasn't happened yet, there's nothing we can do. I'm going to wash up. Let's all get some rest."
As Shion turned toward the washroom, Kakashi's brows furrowed in deep thought.
The Byakugan…?
If there was another chance, it would be when Kumo's envoys visited Konoha.
But even then…
All they could do was tighten surveillance. They couldn't exactly detain them. And the other side was already well prepared.
Kakashi shook his head, stood, and patted his face with both hands.
Maybe these are just Shion's suspicions. His reasoning might not be the truth. It could also be that Kumogakure genuinely values this alliance with Konoha—that's why they're restraining themselves.
Raikage's Office, Kumogakure
Mabui finished her full report on the welcoming mission, including Killer Bee's antics.
Predictably, the brawny Raikage didn't care about Bee's recklessness at all. Instead, he turned toward him and asked:
"Bee, what do you think of that Kakashi and Uchiha Shion's strength?"
Killer Bee shook his head. "We didn't clash long enough. All I did was test their awareness."
He then looked seriously at his elder brother. "Bro, the Hokage of Konoha isn't the Third anymore. It's that 'Yellow Flash,' the young Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato."
"If… if they refuse to compromise, it'll mean war. And when that happens—"
Boom!!!
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist down, shattering the desk in front of him as he stood.
"If they won't compromise, then we'll fight until they do!"
An older Kumogakure shinobi spoke up. "It's true the Fourth Hokage is very young. But youth doesn't mean he has the courage to start a war."
"Our intel says one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, defected over nine months ago. Of the other two, Jiraiya is still abroad chasing his trail, while Tsunade is gambling all over the place."
"And Danzo of Root—that schemer from the Third Hokage's era—has also died in the village under… certain circumstances."
"The power Konoha wielded during the Third War has dwindled. That's why we believe the likelihood of them daring to go to war with Kumo is slim."
The elder then fixed his gaze on the Raikage.
"And the Byakugan's value in war—you, Lord Raikage, know it well. Its ability to see and scout over long distances… Kumogakure must secure it before the next Shinobi War."
The Fourth Raikage closed his eyes in thought. After a long pause, he opened them again and looked to Killer Bee.
"Konoha's envoys will remain here a few more days. After tomorrow's welcome ceremony, I want you to test Uchiha Shion's strength for me."
"That bloodline of his—beyond the normal Sharingan—I need to know exactly how far his power can go."
Bee's face was unusually cold. Without a word, he nodded, then turned and left.
Bang!
The heavy slam of the door made his displeasure clear. He hadn't rapped even a single verse the whole meeting.
That kid… just because he's from another village… does that really mean we can only be enemies?'
...
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