Samui rarely felt irritation. For a shinobi, emotional control was a basic skill. Whatever happened, she would deal with it. Whatever she anticipated, she would respond to.
"Cool" was in her name, and calm was her way of acting.
"Atsui, next month you'll go back with the candidates coming for the competition."
As both a jōnin and his older sister, she made the decision unilaterally.
Her little brother didn't understand why. Samui simply felt this was for the best. The intensity of the practical training between Konoha and Kumogakure students was climbing higher and higher.
It was hard to say where the problem started. After all, only three or four years had passed since Konoha and Kumogakure ended their standoff and began to improve relations.
Adults could follow interests and reason, setting the past aside. But it was inevitable that children would fail to control their emotions.
Both sides had anticipated this before the agreement was ever finalized.
Even so, it was disturbing her composure now.
For something so simple, she felt weighed down by far too many concerns. Sitting in the Ninja Academy office, she stared blankly at the lesson plans in front of her, not even reacting when the door slid open.
No—that wasn't quite right. It wasn't that she didn't react. She was simply so familiar with the chakra signature of the person entering that she didn't need to.
"Miss Samui."
"Mr. Roshi." She looked up.
The first time she had met this man, he'd been sixteen. Like most shinobi, his face back then had revealed nothing. Now, at least, his eyes no longer hid his emotions when they met.
"You don't seem to be in a very good mood."
"Yes, Roshi. I mentioned before that I wanted to send Atsui back, and you told me to handle it on my own. That is what's troubling me now."
"Why?"
"Atsui almost… Roshi, this is a cooperative exchange between our two sides. It's not supposed to create conflict between the villages," the blonde jōnin corrected him seriously. "Controlling risk is necessary."
"I just walked around the school under a transformation technique. The overall atmosphere is under control. There are occasional private spars, but only once or twice. According to the infirmary records, the injuries are only superficial," Roshi countered. "For Ninja Academy students, that level of injury is completely normal."
"Still, just letting students from both sides compete like this isn't ideal. So, after discussing it with Ebisu-sensei, we've decided to add some joint activities later—like a Survival Simulation Drill where Kumogakure and Konoha students will be mixed together. That way, they'll have to cooperate and can share their experiences from growing up in different environments."
"So, I'm here to ask for your opinion on this plan, Samui."
Breaking down the existing structure, having the students set aside their fixed identities and positions to confront hardship together… After carefully weighing the feasibility, Samui gave a small nod.
Then her thoughts drifted back to her younger brother, Atsui. If things went according to this plan, maybe she wouldn't need to send him back after all. If the tension between the two sides wasn't so sharp, his belligerent nature wouldn't be as likely to ignite a conflict. Should she apologize to Atsui…?
"Samui."
Hearing her name, Samui snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the man across from her again. At some point, he had leaned in a little closer.
"Do you have any other questions about the plan?"
"No…" Samui studied him for a moment, then pressed her lips together. "Roshi..."
"Hmm?"
"I…"
She fell silent, gathering her words.
"I'm not a qualified ninja right now. I might not be able to say what I should, or do what's right."
"So, in the days to come, please bear with me, Roshi." She bowed slightly.
"You want me to go easy on you?"
"Yes. Since my brain might not be functioning at full capacity, please don't test me on too many things."
Roshi looked at her lowered blond head, about to respond.
But Samui spoke again. "As for the reason, please figure it out yourself, Roshi."
"After all, even if I have my own issues, this is also your fault, Roshi—someone who couldn't possibly have missed the signs, yet still insists on using private channels to discuss official business."
She straightened up.
"Now that I've said it all out loud, my brain seems to be working at full capacity again."
"The request I just made is canceled."
Watching genuine, unguarded surprise flash across his face for the first time, Samui let a faint smile appear.
"Now is not the time."
"Roshi."
"But I will factor the development of this relationship into my plans."
—
"…What's with that look? You're way too serious."
The Fifth Hokage was in the middle of painting her nails. When someone entered, she flicked her gaze over for a second, then returned to concentrating on her polish.
"Weren't you going to ask that 'Miss Samui' about the event schedule and Sunagakure's reply?"
"There wasn't much to ask." After sitting down, Roshi leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. "Sunagakure's response basically says that Kumogakure, or Iwagakure, or Kirigakure—one or more of them—are pursuing their fleet."
"The most likely suspect is Kumogakure."
"Oh." Tsunade's reply was flat.
She wasn't surprised. Even Konoha was preparing for Sunagakure's aerial corps; it would be stranger if Kumogakure wasn't making similar moves.
"And then?"
"Then the Raikage informed us that their people have gone missing—and that Sunagakure has missing people as well," Roshi continued. "But the latter wasn't reported as confirmed."
"Putting both sides' information together, Kumogakure probably thinks Sunagakure took their people."
"A dispute inside the alliance—of course it had to be now," Tsunade sighed. When Roshi didn't continue, she turned to look at him.
He was staring off, clearly lost in thought.
She narrowed her eyes but let it go. After finishing the last nail, she lifted her hand to the light to check the color, then got up.
First she circled around Roshi, gaze sliding from his face to his ears and back again. Then she waved a hand in front of his eyes.
"Caught in a genjutsu?"
"Hard to say," he replied. "A small problem. I knew we'd run into it eventually, just didn't expect it this soon."
"Oho—something that can actually make our Lord Roshi zone out." Tsunade put on an exaggeratedly serious face, pacing left and right. "Could it be that someone said something shocking?"
"For example…"
She suddenly leaned in close to his ear.
"I like you."
"Or…"
"I… love you."
"Something like that."
His hand came up and pushed her face away.
"Nothing that dramatic."
"Hmph—if it's 'not that dramatic,' then something definitely happened."
"Back to business," Roshi said. "If Sunagakure really has moved against Kumogakure, we need to be ready to mediate."
Tsunade dropped back into her chair. "At a time like this? Even if Sunagakure confirms Kumogakure was shadowing their fleet, they wouldn't actually attack, would they?"
"Especially since, according to Kumogakure, it happened during the Five Kage Summit."
Roshi shook his head. "Based on the intel, no other possibility has come up."
"After all, the Hidden Mist replied, but didn't say anything."
Not that they said nothing at all. When Roshi asked if anyone had gone missing, Mei's answer had been—
Probably.
But she never explained why they'd disappeared. Roshi could guess.
Given the state of the Hidden Mist, even after three years, some problems still hadn't been cleared out. Not long ago they had just dealt with Suikazan Fuguki—a high-ranking member. That alone suggested there could still be people beneath him waiting to defect.
So, with no way to tie Kirigakure's situation to Suna or Kumo, for now it could only be treated as an issue between those two villages.
"The Chunin Exams are next month. Sunagakure should be sending people in the coming days."
"First, order escorts along their route to stay on high alert."
"As for Kumogakure, since they took the initiative to inform us, they probably want us to step in and coordinate."
——
Still a ways from the village gate, the Fourth Raikage could already hear the noise.
A vein throbbed on A's forehead.
In the central plaza, a temporary wooden stage had been thrown together. Killer Bee stood on top of it, mic in hand, body swaying with the beat.
"Yo! My rhythm! Flow that pierces the sky!"
"Kumogakure's lightning! A show that lights the ninja world!"
Below the stage, a few young shinobi bounced to the rhythm, but most of the villagers had their ears covered, faces full of resignation.
A pushed through the crowd, each heavy step cracking the ground underfoot.
He jumped up onto the stage. B, eyes still shut in his rap, didn't even notice.
An instant later, five fingers clamped down on his head.
"B-big brother!" B yelped. "Miscalculated the time! Crisis MAX!"
"Didn't I tell you—" A's grip tightened, making B's voice go strange, "not to disturb the villagers!"
"My words go in one ear and out the other with you, B!"
"Bro, this is rehearsal! My performing career's about to level up!" B howled, thrashing around.
"What career!"
"The village arena! The stage this guy's gonna rule—yeah—"
A's fingers dug in harder.
"—ow-ow-oww—"
Only when B's feet lifted off the stage did the Fourth Raikage finally let go.
A dragged a dejected B behind him, plowing straight through walls all the way back to the Raikage Building.
Behind them, the villagers of Kumogakure barely reacted, scattering as if this were nothing new.
When the Raikage was in a bad mood—or a hurry—he never bothered with doors.
The last thing he smashed through was the office window. Glass exploded inward as A stepped through, tossing his younger brother into a chair in the corner.
Mabui and C were already there, neither so much as flinching at the spectacle.
"I checked personally—no other clues," C reported.
Aside from the fact that their men had been shadowing Sunagakure's ships.
Which meant Sunagakure was the only plausible culprit.
"Has Konoha replied?" A asked, dropping into the Raikage's seat.
"Konoha's response is that both sides should exchange information during the Chunin Exams," Mabui said.
C added, "Sounds like Konoha also thinks Sunagakure is involved."
"Probably Suna told them something," A muttered.
He continued, voice turning grave. "If it really was Suna, then it's simple. Given the current situation, their goal was likely just a warning, so killing them is unlikely."
"Then we just demand them back."
"As for terms—since we failed to obtain their tech directly, we'll stop the tailing."
"If they want money, we can pay."
"Understood, C?"
C nodded. "Yes, Lord Raikage."
"But if..." he began.
A already knew what C was really asking: if Suna had gone too far.
If that were the case, they'd deny everything and make sure there were no survivors.
How were they supposed to negotiate then?
A fell silent.
In the past, the answer would have been straightforward.
Now... "Since Suna already replied to Konoha, it won't go that far," A said at last. "Proceed under the assumption we're getting our people back."
"Yes, sir."
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