With the support of the Yin Seal, Tsunade's skin was maintained in remarkably good condition. Even from this distance, there was not the slightest flaw visible.
"And what is it for?" Kiyohara asked curiously.
Although he had already mastered the secret techniques of the Yamanaka Clan and possessed the ability to read minds, he rarely used such an ability in everyday life.
After all, anyone whose thoughts were being read would, to some extent, sense that something was wrong.
Tsunade's gaze lingered on Kiyohara's face for a brief moment before shifting away.
"The casino."
She answered without hesitation.
Looking straight at him, she asked bluntly, "The casino you promised me before. How's the progress?"
Only then did Kiyohara almost remember that Tsunade was an incurable gambling addict.
The two things she cared about most in life were gambling and good alcohol.
Well... every now and then she also enjoyed eating young chicken.
"It should be finished soon."
Kiyohara replied.
The casino happened to be located near the barrier. Some of the construction materials had been destroyed during the attack and needed to be transported inside again.
Hearing his answer, Tsunade frowned.
"How long has it been already? Can't you build houses with Wood Release?"
"Last night, you rebuilt every single building inside the barrier in almost no time. It's just a casino. How much effort could it possibly take?"
As she spoke, she leaned farther across the desk.
The collar of her light green robe opened even wider, exposing more of her smooth, fair skin.
Her golden hair draped over her shoulders, several loose strands falling onto the tabletop, their ends curling slightly.
From where he sat, Kiyohara could clearly see her long, elegant fingers supporting her body against the desk.
More importantly, with the way she was leaning forward, her pale blue pants hugged the fullness of her thighs tightly, outlining the soft, rounded curve of her hips beneath the cropped trousers.
Kiyohara was taller than Tsunade. Even while sitting, his view was exceptionally good.
"It is possible to speed things up with Wood Release."
Only after appreciating the view for a couple more seconds did he nod.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
Tsunade straightened herself and folded her arms across her chest.
"Go finish it already."
"Sensei, are you really that anxious?"
"Of course I am."
She let out a snort.
"I've been busy with the hospital lately. Do you know how much my trips to the casino have decreased?"
As she said that, her cheeks puffed out slightly in annoyance.
Seeing this side of Tsunade was genuinely rare.
Kiyohara realized that she had become increasingly relaxed around him.
From a psychological perspective, it meant she had completely accepted him into her life.
If she still regarded him strictly as a disciple, she would naturally maintain a certain amount of dignity and distance.
"Can't you do it?"
Tsunade pressed again.
"Of course I can."
Kiyohara nodded.
Just as a bright smile spread across Tsunade's face, he suddenly changed the subject.
"But Sensei has to agree to one condition first."
"What condition?"
"I'd like to give Sensei a cheongsam. I want to see how it looks on you."
He suddenly thought of Tsunade's Heroic Hidden outfit from the Naruto mobile game. She looked exceptionally heroic in that attire.
Besides, a cheongsam was the kind of clothing that perfectly emphasized a woman's figure.
Just looking at how breathtaking Hinata looked while wearing one was enough proof.
If Tsunade wore a cheongsam, the effect would undoubtedly be even more astonishing.
"What are you buying me a cheongsam for?"
"It's simply a small gift from a student to his teacher."
Kiyohara answered.
Although the explanation sounded perfectly reasonable, Tsunade still felt something was off.
After all, she knew perfectly well that this little brat had ulterior motives toward her.
After thinking about it for a moment, she still agreed.
It was only changing clothes.
Besides, Kiyohara was paying for it. If she didn't like it, she could always resell it to Shizune afterward and even make a little profit.
"Fine. Then that counts as your request."
"No."
Kiyohara rejected her immediately.
"Those are two separate matters."
"You're so stingy."
Tsunade pouted and muttered under her breath.
She had once promised him that if he successfully learned Wood Release, she would grant him one request, whatever he wished.
"Then I'll head over today and use Wood Release to speed up the construction."
Seeing how readily Tsunade had agreed, Kiyohara also decided to finish the casino as soon as possible.
As soon as he finished speaking, he leaned toward her face.
"Y... you..."
Before Tsunade could finish her sentence, he had already closed the distance.
He gently kissed her rosy lips.
"You... rebellious... disciple!"
Her voice carried obvious anger, while a deep blush instantly spread across her cheeks.
"There are plenty of shinobi outside!"
She deliberately lowered her voice, her amber eyes filled with both embarrassment and irritation.
"They wouldn't dare come in without permission."
"Even so, you can't!"
Her voice became even softer.
"What if someone saw us? Where am I supposed to put this old face of mine?"
She couldn't help recalling what had happened last time at the Yamanaka Clan's flower shop.
Kiyohara had teased her in exactly the same way back then.
She had finally realized that this mischievous disciple genuinely enjoyed bullying her.
Looking at her, Kiyohara smiled faintly.
"Sensei's face isn't old."
Tsunade froze.
Then the redness on her face deepened even further.
"S... stop talking nonsense."
She turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes.
Although Kiyohara often said things like this, she fell for it every single time.
For a woman of her age, compliments like these never grew tiresome.
"Go deal with the casino already!"
Kiyohara stood up.
In a few days, he planned to come up with an excuse to invite Tsunade to a hot spring.
As for whether some pleasant and memorable incidents might naturally happen during the trip...
That seemed perfectly reasonable.
After all, he still had one unfulfilled wish left.
"Alright."
The next instant, Kiyohara disappeared from the office.
Only Tsunade remained behind.
She stood there motionlessly, her golden hair slightly disheveled, several strands hanging beside her cheeks and swaying gently with her uneven breathing.
She slowly raised her hand and touched her lips.
Then she abruptly shook her head before slapping both cheeks with surprising force.
"Tsunade, what are you thinking?"
She quietly scolded herself.
"He's your student!"
Yet the crimson flush covering her face refused to fade.
Kiyohara had already become accustomed to teasing and touching her.
If one day he truly asked for something more...
Could she honestly refuse him?
Tsunade found that she did not know the answer.
...
At the same time.
Konoha.
Underground laboratory.
Orochimaru stood before an experimental bench, holding a test tube while carefully dripping a pale green liquid into it.
The laboratory table was covered with all kinds of glassware.
Petri dishes.
Beakers.
Test tubes.
Droppers.
Every container held liquids of different colors.
Click.
The door opened.
Anko walked inside.
Today she wore a dark gray shinobi flak jacket. Her long purple hair was loosely tied behind her head with a simple band, while several strands rested beside her ears.
A bamboo skewer remained between her lips, still carrying a few crumbs from the dango she had just finished.
"Orochimaru-sensei."
She stopped beside the laboratory bench.
"Did you hear? Danzo is dead!"
Orochimaru never paused his work.
The pale green liquid continued dripping into the test tube.
One drop.
Two drops.
Three drops.
"I heard."
He answered calmly.
Anko blinked.
"Sensei, aren't you surprised?"
"Surprised about what?"
Orochimaru placed the test tube down before turning toward her.
His golden slit pupils reflected a cold glow beneath the laboratory lights, making it impossible to read his expression.
"It was only a matter of time before Kiyohara made his move against Danzo."
"I expected it long ago."
Anko stared blankly.
"You expected it?"
"Yes."
Orochimaru nodded.
"Danzo was far too greedy. He wanted everything while refusing to let go of anything. He believed he was Konoha's darkness and that darkness entitled him to do whatever he pleased."
He slowly licked his lips.
"But he forgot something."
"Darkness is only darkness because light hasn't reached it."
"The moment someone walks into it carrying a lantern..."
"The darkness becomes nothing."
Anko tilted her head, only half understanding what he meant.
To be honest, she often felt that her master liked saying overly profound things that sounded philosophical.
Compared to all that, Anko much preferred topics related to fighting.
"Alright."
She nodded.
Then she looked at Orochimaru with sparkling, hopeful eyes.
Without another word, Orochimaru reached into his pocket, took out a thick stack of banknotes, and handed them to her.
"Go buy some dango."
Anko's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? Thank you, Sensei!"
She happily accepted the money before skipping toward the exit.
Her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
The door quietly closed behind her.
The laboratory fell silent once again.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
Shinnō wore his familiar gray robe, his long black hair hanging loosely over his shoulders.
Watching the direction Anko had disappeared, he frowned slightly.
"Orochimaru... your disciple..."
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
He genuinely felt that Orochimaru's student was a little... slow.
Orochimaru merely smiled.
"That child, Anko, really isn't particularly intelligent."
He turned back toward the laboratory bench and picked up the test tube again.
"But clever people have their uses."
"And foolish people have theirs."
"As long as she can run errands for me, buy supplies, and clean the laboratory, that's more than enough."
Shinnō remained silent for a while before speaking again.
"Danzo is dead. What are we going to do about our funding?"
Orochimaru's hand finally stopped.
That was indeed a serious problem.
Now that they had lost Danzo, their greatest financial backer, they would have to find new ways to generate enough research funding themselves.
Otherwise, many of their experiments would inevitably be delayed, and some research projects might even have to be abandoned altogether.
For Orochimaru, that was simply unacceptable.
Life was already far too short.
If the pursuit of truth proceeded this slowly, then even if he were granted another hundred years, it still would not be enough for him to learn everything he desired.
"I'll find a solution."
Orochimaru said calmly.
Although Kiyohara had killed Danzo, he would never reject the experimental data Danzo had left behind.
"I've already arranged for people at Konoha Hospital."
"As long as Kiyohara agrees, those research materials will continue receiving funding under the name of medical research."
"Besides, Kiyohara himself has been conducting some very interesting research. He's gone much further than I originally expected. If I could cooperate with him..."
Shinnō frowned even more deeply.
"Are you sure he'll cooperate with you?"
Shinnō knew that Orochimaru had crossed the ultimate taboo.
Human experimentation.
As far as he knew, Kiyohara had never conducted experiments on living humans.
"I'm not sure."
Orochimaru slowly shook his head.
Kiyohara had never shown any inclination toward human experimentation, which was precisely why Orochimaru had remained hidden all this time, unwilling to reveal himself too early.
"But it's worth trying."
He turned around and gazed at the rows of glass containers arranged across the laboratory table.
"I probably won't be able to remain in Konoha much longer."
"If I truly want freedom, I'll have to leave."
At this moment, an idea had already begun taking shape in Orochimaru's heart.
To establish a shinobi village of his own.
Even if he had failed in his bid to become Hokage and therefore could never wield authority within Konoha or freely mobilize the village's resources...
He could simply leave and build a brand new hidden village from scratch.
When that time came, the shinobi of his own village would earn money for him, gather intelligence, carry out missions, and even assist with experiments.
That would be true freedom.
...
Throughout the following day, the evidence of Danzo's crimes spread throughout Konoha with astonishing speed.
In less than a single day, nearly everyone in the village had learned the truth.
The first place to erupt into chaos was the Konoha Military Police Force.
Fugaku stood outside the Police Force headquarters, silently staring at the public notice posted on the wall.
The expression on his normally stern face was even grimmer than usual.
Every one of Danzo's crimes had been listed in meticulous detail.
Human experimentation.
Harvesting infant organs.
Embezzling village funds.
Abandoning the battlefield during a crisis.
Each accusation was accompanied by detailed evidence and photographs.
The Uchiha clan members gathered around the notice gradually changed expressions.
Shock.
Then fury.
Then lingering fear.
Because they discovered that many of the victims listed in the documents were members of the Uchiha Clan.
Danzo...
Had secretly been using Sharingan for his experiments.
"Danzo... actually used babies and Sharingan for experiments?"
"So those missing children..."
"They were all taken by him..."
"No wonder every time one of our clan members died, their corpses were horribly mutilated, and their Sharingan disappeared. The Police Force investigated countless cases without finding a single clue."
"So he was the culprit all along!"
"Damn him!"
"A monster like that deserved to die!"
Among everyone present, Uchiha Inabi shouted the loudest.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, while tears glistened faintly in his eyes.
Several years ago, one of his distant relatives had welcomed a newborn child.
Not long afterward, the baby mysteriously disappeared.
The Police Force had investigated for months without uncovering any leads.
Now...
He finally knew where that child had gone.
Fugaku remained silent for a very long time.
Finally, he turned around and slowly walked back toward the Police Force building.
"Fugaku-sama?"
Uchiha Tekka hurried after him.
"What do you think?"
Fugaku stopped walking without looking back.
"Kiyohara..."
"He avenged the Uchiha Clan."
After a brief pause, he continued.
"Those Sharingan."
"The ones embedded in Danzo's arm..."
"They were all dug out from members of the Uchiha Clan."
Tekka's entire body trembled.
If he had died during the Third Great Shinobi War...
Would one of his own eyes have eventually become another Sharingan implanted into Danzo's arm?
Or perhaps...
One of those eyes had belonged to someone he once knew.
"Damn it..."
The mere thought made him sick to his stomach.
Fortunately...
Kiyohara had killed Danzo.
Rage burned inside Tekka's chest.
He had already decided that if Konoha dared to erect a monument or grave honoring Danzo...
He would sneak over in the middle of the night and splash paint all over it.
...
Konoha Hospital.
Rin stood before another public notice.
In her hands was a freshly delivered evaluation report concerning Danzo's experimental research data.
"Rin-senpai?"
A young medical shinobi cautiously approached.
"Are... are we really going to keep these experimental records?"
Rin took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions surging inside her.
"We're keeping them."
Her voice was slightly hoarse.
Yet every word was unwavering.
"The experiments themselves were evil."
"But the data..."
"The data isn't guilty."
"If we can extract something useful from it and use it to save lives..."
"...then perhaps it can serve as a small form of consolation for those children who died."
The young medical shinobi nodded solemnly.
"I understand."
Nearby, discussions continued among the hospital staff.
"I can't believe Danzo was this kind of person..."
"Thankfully Hokage-sama discovered everything before it was too late."
"Otherwise, who knows how many more children would've suffered?"
"I heard that last night Danzo even fled with his subordinates."
"When the Nine Tails was rampaging through the village, he never lifted a finger to help."
"What?"
"A man like that actually deserved to be one of Konoha's leaders?"
"Hokage-sama made the right decision!"
"Exactly!"
"He did!"
Somewhere among the gathered villagers, someone suddenly shouted.
"Long live Lord Hokage!"
Almost immediately, more and more voices joined together.
"Hokage-sama is the best!"
"Lord Fourth!"
The cheers gradually echoed throughout the village.
...
The Hokage Tower.
"Have someone deliver this document to Kumo."
After spending less than half a day rebuilding the casino, Kiyohara returned to the Hokage's office.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Yugao respectfully accepted the scroll from his hands.
Looking at Kiyohara, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about him had changed.
His skin seemed even fairer than before.
Or perhaps...
His entire presence had become more refined.
Almost ethereal.
She couldn't quite explain it.
It was simply an instinctive feeling.
After Yugao withdrew from the office, Kiyohara also prepared to call it a day.
As Hokage, aside from handling the truly essential government affairs, he intended to slack off whenever possible.
The reason he had retained the Hokage advisors was simple.
Those old veterans were already highly experienced in administration.
They could save him an enormous amount of work.
At the same time, he was deliberately training promising newcomers like Kurenai by allowing them to become familiar with government affairs.
Once they had accumulated enough experience...
He planned to dismiss every one of the old Hokage advisors.
Their positions would be filled entirely by people he trusted, such as Kurenai and the others.
"I wonder whether Kumo will accept my proposal."
Kiyohara stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Inside the scroll he had just entrusted to Yugao...
He had copied a strategy from a certain nation in his previous life.
The establishment of overseas military bases.
Or more accurately...
Konoha hegemony.
Konoha would dispatch a portion of its shinobi to be permanently stationed there.
According to the Naruto Hiden, the Land of Lightning possessed abundant mineral deposits, countless hot springs, and prosperous maritime trade routes.
If Kiyohara succeeded in establishing a military base within the Land of Lightning...
He would effectively gain direct influence over part of the nation's mining industry and commercial transportation routes.
That would provide Konoha with a continuous flow of funding, resources, and raw materials needed for manufacturing shinobi tools.
At the same time...
He would also gain access to Kumogakure's research concerning the Chakra Cannon.
Among all Five Great Nations...
Only the Land of Lightning possessed that technology.
Even Toneri had merely sliced the moon into two halves.
He had never completely destroyed it.
Yet according to the records...
The Chakra Cannon possessed enough destructive power to completely obliterate the moon.
Its terrifying might spoke for itself.
...
Several days later.
The Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
The conference room was filled with thick cigarette smoke.
The village's senior leadership sat around a long table.
Spread before them was the official diplomatic proposal that had arrived from Konoha.
After the Fourth Raikage had been captured...
A massive power vacuum had appeared within Kumogakure.
For the time being...
Darui, the inheritor of the Black Lightning style, had assumed the position of Acting Fifth Raikage.
The elderly officials who normally wouldn't even dare breathe loudly in front of the Fourth Raikage now argued so fiercely that the room resembled a disturbed hornet's nest.
"Stationing troops?"
"Why doesn't Kiyohara just come out and say he wants to turn Kumogakure into one of Konoha's subordinate villages?"
A bald, muscular man slammed his palm onto the conference table.
The teacups bounced violently.
His name was Furui.
One of the leading figures of Kumogakure's hardline faction.
He had fought alongside the Third Raikage and later the Fourth Raikage during the wars.
His hatred for Konoha was etched into his very bones.
"The document calls it a joint military cooperation base."
"It doesn't say troop deployment."
Tutai, seated opposite him, calmly replied.
"What's the difference?"
Furui sneered.
"The moment Konoha's shinobi stand on the soil of the Land of Lightning with kunai in their hands..."
"That's military occupation."
"It doesn't matter what fancy name they give it."
"The difference..."
Tutai answered calmly.
"...is that we decide how many Kumo shinobi and how many Konoha shinobi are stationed there."
"Kiyohara made it perfectly clear."
"Konoha won't dispatch many personnel."
"The main military force will still belong to Kumogakure."
"That's only a delaying tactic!"
Furui immediately retorted.
"He says that now."
"But once the base is built..."
"He can send as many troops as he wants."
"And what are we supposed to use to stop him?"
"Our mouths?"
"Then don't let him build it."
"When has Kumogakure ever suffered this kind of humiliation?"
"Worst comes to worst, we'll fight Konoha!"
"We'll gather every shinobi in the village."
"Even if we have to devastate half of the Land of Fire..."
"We'll rescue Lord Fourth!"
Several nearby shinobi immediately voiced their agreement.
Their hands instinctively rested upon the hilts of their swords.
"Fight?"
Tutai slowly opened his eyes from his seat beside the head of the table.
His sharp gaze swept across everyone present.
"What exactly are you planning to fight with?"
Kiyohara possessed enough power to effortlessly defeat every single person sitting inside this room.
If they intended to wage war...
It should at least be against an opponent of comparable strength.
Otherwise...
It would simply be mass suicide.
Furui opened his mouth.
Yet no words came out.
He was furious.
But he hadn't completely lost his reason.
Kiyohara's strength...
Was simply overwhelming.
Starting another war recklessly would likely produce an even more catastrophic outcome.
"And what if they decide to harm the Fourth Raikage?"
Tutai continued.
Kumogakure differed greatly from Konoha.
The Hokage's authority depended heavily upon the support of the great clans.
Kumogakure, however, had always practiced rule by the strong ever since the village's founding.
The Raikage's orders were absolute.
His authority resembled that of the head of a powerful mafia family.
The advantage of such a system was exceptional unity.
Its weakness was equally obvious.
The moment something happened to the Raikage...
The entire village could quickly descend into turmoil.
For that reason, every generation of Raikage had always prepared a successor well in advance.
Each successor inherited the name "A."
At the same time, another partner bearing the name "B" would be chosen to fight alongside him.
It was through this tradition that the legendary technique known as the Lariat had been passed down and perfected through successive generations.
The news that the Fourth Raikage had been captured reached Kumogakure on the very same day, throwing the entire village into turmoil.
Arguments erupted everywhere, panic spread among the leadership, and for a while no one could bring the situation under control.
In the end, it was Dodai who stepped forward and stabilized the chaos.
As one of the Third Raikage's longtime subordinates, he possessed enormous prestige within Kumo. His seniority was unmatched, and when he spoke, people listened.
"My opinion is that we should accept Kiyohara's conditions."
Dodai spoke calmly.
Furui immediately jerked his head up.
"Dodai, you..."
"Let me finish."
Dodai raised a hand, stopping him before his anger could erupt.
"What I mean is that we accept them on the surface."
He stood from his seat and walked toward the large map hanging on the wall.
His finger rested upon the Land of Lightning before slowly drawing a circle outward around it.
"Kumogakure's technological development has advanced rapidly over the past few years. All we need to do is endure for now and continue developing in silence. Sooner or later, we will surpass Kiyohara."
His thinking was very straightforward.
Kiyohara was undeniably powerful, and Kumogakure had no genius capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
But they had something else.
Technology.
If they continued investing in scientific advancement, there would eventually come a day when they could catch up to Kiyohara through their own innovations.
"When that day comes, even if Kiyohara personally leads Konoha's shinobi to invade the Land of Lightning, we'll finally have the confidence to confront him head on."
"And this way, we can also bring back Lord Raikage, as well as the Two Tails and Eight Tails jinchuriki."
Furui remained silent for a long time.
Eventually, he slowly nodded.
"Then... we'll do as you suggest."
Dodai returned to his chair, his gaze falling upon the official document lying on the table.
His expression remained composed, but another thought was quietly forming in his mind.
Konoha probably truly intended to conquer the Five Great Nations.
Back in Hashirama's era, the First Hokage had only wanted the five great countries to coexist peacefully and maintain balance.
That was why he had distributed the Tailed Beasts among them.
His purpose had been balance.
Kiyohara, however, had begun actively destroying that balance.
"Then it's settled."
Dodai stood once more.
"Send Konoha our reply. Kumogakure accepts the conditions. Also prepare a generous gift to congratulate Kiyohara on repelling the mysterious enemy, sealing the Nine Tails, and awakening the Wood Release inherited from the First Hokage."
...
Konoha.
The Hokage Tower.
Samui stood outside the Hokage's office.
She had spent far too long inside Konoha's prison. When someone suddenly informed her earlier that she was free to leave, she had been unable to react for several moments. The abrupt change left her feeling dazed, almost as though an entire lifetime had passed while she had been imprisoned.
The office door opened.
Samui walked inside and saw the man seated behind the Hokage's desk.
Kiyohara wore the Hokage's white robe. Compared to the last time they had met, his hair had grown slightly longer.
She stopped several steps before his desk.
Today she wore her usual low cut kunoichi outfit layered over a fishnet undershirt. The white fabric hugged every curve of her body, outlining the generous figure beneath her chest.
The openings of the fishnet were wide enough to reveal patches of fair skin underneath.
Her waist was so slender that she looked less like a battle hardened shinobi and more like the pampered daughter of a noble family from the Land of Lightning.
Below the belt, a matching fitted skirt clung closely to her hips. The hem barely covered the tops of her thighs, leaving her long, straight legs fully exposed.
"You kept me locked up for so long, and now you've suddenly released me. What exactly does this mean?"
Her voice remained as cool and composed as ever.
Only the slight stiffness in her posture betrayed the uncertainty she was trying to suppress.
She understood her current position perfectly.
She was a prisoner.
Whatever Kiyohara wished to do to her, she had no power to resist.
Kiyohara leaned back in his chair and looked at her.
"In a few days, I'll be making a diplomatic visit to the Land of Lightning."
"I released you ahead of time so you could get used to breathing fresh air again."
Samui fell silent before finally asking,
"What about Lord A and Lady Yugito?"
"They're still in prison."
"Then why am I the only one being released?"
"Because you're not a threat."
Kiyohara answered flatly.
Compared to the Fourth Raikage and the Two Tails jinchuriki, Samui truly posed no threat whatsoever.
An ordinary jonin was no different from an ant in front of him.
"I understand."
She turned toward the door.
"Wait."
Kiyohara stopped her.
"Don't you want to know what conditions I'll be demanding from Kumo?"
Samui frowned.
She was certain Kiyohara must have demanded an enormous price.
Kiyohara picked up a document from his desk and handed it to her.
She accepted it and opened the first page.
It was a letter of congratulations from Kumogakure.
The opening consisted of an unusually lengthy message congratulating Kiyohara on successfully repelling the mysterious attacker, sealing the Nine Tails, and awakening the legendary Wood Release passed down from the First Hokage.
As Samui read those words, she felt an overwhelming sense of unreality.
Kumogakure...
Actually writing a congratulatory letter to Konoha in such a humble tone?
She continued reading.
Following the congratulations came a list of concessions regarding resources.
Rare ores from the Land of Lightning.
Chakra metal.
Medicinal herbs.
For the next ten years, all of them would be supplied to Konoha at prices thirty percent below market value, with Konoha receiving purchasing priority.
Samui's brows gradually knitted together.
Every single one of those terms was equivalent to carving flesh directly from Kumogakure's body.
The third section dealt with the release of the Fourth Raikage, A, and the Two Tails jinchuriki, Yugito.
The letter stated that Kumogakure was willing to conduct friendly negotiations with Konoha regarding the matter and hoped to reach a solution acceptable to both sides.
Translated into plain language, it simply meant:
Whatever Kiyohara wanted, he only had to name his price.
As Samui continued reading, she suddenly discovered another proposal attached to the documents.
It was a preliminary plan for establishing a Konoha military base within the Land of Lightning.
Location.
Scale.
Number of stationed troops.
Command authority.
Every detail had already been outlined.
Her eyes eventually stopped on one of the attached lists.
It contained the names of Kumogakure shinobi recommended to serve in the joint military force stationed at the future base.
She slowly scanned each line.
Then her gaze froze on a familiar name.
Atsui.
Her younger brother.
Samui slowly drew in a deep breath.
She closed the document, placed it back on the desk, and quietly asked,
"Can these conditions... be changed?"
"Which conditions?"
"...My brother's name."
Kiyohara leaned back in his chair once again, lightly tapping a finger against the surface of the desk.
"That depends on your sincerity, Samui."
Her eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
Sincerity.
After everything that had happened the last time they met, she understood exactly what he was implying.
Without another word, Samui picked up the teapot from the desk and walked to Kiyohara's side.
Tilting the pot gently, she poured steaming tea into his cup.
As she bent forward, the weight of her full chest nearly rested against the edge of the desk.
The white fabric of her low cut outfit was pulled downward by gravity, exposing even more of her smooth, fair skin.
The fine strands of the fishnet pressed softly against her body, leaving faint reddish marks upon her pale complexion.
"My Lord Kiyohara... please enjoy your tea."
Her voice had softened considerably, sounding nothing like the cold, composed tone she had displayed moments earlier.
Kiyohara looked at her before reaching out to accept the teacup.
He took a small sip before setting it back down.
"I think you've misunderstood, Samui."
"I'm not that kind of person."
She blinked in surprise.
If Kiyohara wasn't that kind of person...
Then what kind of person was he?
"You've already done everything you could for Kumo."
"You've shown more than enough sincerity."
He looked at her quietly before continuing with a faint smile.
"I actually preferred the way you used to be."
"The proud, unyielding Samui."
As he spoke, Kiyohara reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
…
To be honest, Samui was a rare type.
Very few people naturally possessed such an aloof face, one that seemed detached from worldly desires and completely free of excessive emotion.
That unique air about her carried a charm all its own.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
She could not understand what Kiyohara had meant.
Was he mocking her?
Kiyohara offered no explanation.
Instead, he simply gestured with his hand, signaling for her to come closer.
Samui hesitated for only a brief moment before obediently stepping forward.
Kiyohara rested his hand against the soft fullness of her chest.
A deep blush immediately spread across Samui's face.
She bit down on her lower lip but remained silent.
"I can make certain adjustments."
"As for the military base, I'll reconsider its overall scale and the number of troops stationed there. Your brother's name can also be removed from that list."
Truthfully, Kiyohara had not expected Kumogakure to be so cooperative.
He had assumed they would reject the proposal outright, forcing both sides into prolonged negotiations.
However, he could also guess where their confidence came from.
The Chakra Cannon.
With enough pressure from him, there was even a chance that weapon would be completed more than a decade ahead of schedule.
A flicker of hope appeared in Samui's blue eyes.
"But..."
Kiyohara's tone suddenly shifted.
"The military base must still be established. That is my bottom line. There is no room for negotiation."
The hope in Samui's eyes dimmed once again.
"However, I can grant you a certain degree of authority."
Leaning back in his chair, Kiyohara looked directly at her.
"Once the military base is established, you'll serve as Kumogakure's liaison officer. You'll be given a certain amount of autonomy. As for the exact limits of your authority, those can be discussed later."
Samui frowned slightly.
On the surface, those terms sounded like concessions.
But she knew perfectly well that Kiyohara would never offer benefits without expecting something in return.
Sure enough, his next sentence confirmed it.
"The price is that you must allow me to place a Cursed Seal on you."
A Cursed Seal.
Samui's body trembled faintly.
Anyone branded with a Cursed Seal had their life and death completely placed in the caster's hands.
"And if I refuse?"
Her blue eyes remained fixed upon Kiyohara.
"What do you think?"
Kiyohara replied with another question.
Hearing that, Samui bit her lip.
At that moment, her heart was caught in an intense struggle.
Countless thoughts clashed within her mind.
As she wrestled with the decision, nervous sweat gradually formed across her body.
Kiyohara raised an eyebrow.
She really folded under pressure that easily?
After giving it some thought, he found it understandable.
Although Samui had never seemed particularly affectionate toward Atsui in the anime, they were still siblings.
The bonds of family were incredibly important in Konoha.
In Kumo, they were no less significant.
"So?"
Kiyohara urged her.
The sweat covering her body made his hand feel slightly slippery.
"...I accept."
After a long hesitation, Samui finally gave her answer.
Kiyohara looked at her for a moment before nodding.
Then he lowered his head and opened his mouth.
Having mastered the Sage Arts of Ryuchi Cave, Kiyohara excelled at injecting either natural energy or Cursed Seal chakra into others through his bite.
The next instant, Samui's delicate body tensed violently.
A row of fresh bite marks appeared.
Dark chakra immediately began swirling around them.
The Cursed Seal placed an enormous burden upon the human body.
Although Kiyohara had already weakened most of its side effects, the recipient would still experience excruciating pain during the branding process.
Cold sweat instantly covered Samui's forehead.
The overwhelming pain forced a muffled groan from her lips as the strength left her body.
Unable to remain standing, she leaned weakly against Kiyohara's chest.
Not long afterward, black markings spread outward from the center of the bite marks.
The patterns slowly expanded before finally taking the shape of three black tomoe.
The seal Kiyohara had given Samui was the Earth Cursed Seal, the very same type he himself had once possessed.
With Kiyohara's current mastery, the difficulty of implanting it had been reduced dramatically compared to the original version.
He released the arm wrapped around her waist.
Samui staggered slightly before catching herself with one hand against the edge of the desk.
Her breathing was ragged.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Lowering her head, she looked at the black seal that had appeared just beneath her collarbone.
For some reason, she could not shake the feeling that Kiyohara had branded her with his personal mark.
Afterward, she quietly began straightening her clothes.
Seeing this, Kiyohara extended a hand toward her once more.
Warm chakra flowed from his palm and gently seeped into her body.
It was Yang Release chakra, overflowing with his immense life force.
The warm current traveled throughout her chakra pathways, gradually repairing the hidden injuries she had accumulated over years of missions.
It also eased the stiffness in her neck caused by spending so many months sleeping on the hard prison bed.
"What is this?"
"I've helped treat your body."
Kiyohara answered calmly.
Kumo's medical techniques lagged far behind Konoha's.
As a result, Samui had accumulated far more lingering injuries than she herself realized.
She stared blankly at him.
Her blue eyes were filled with confusion.
She simply could not understand.
He already possessed complete control over her life through the Cursed Seal.
Why would he still expend his own chakra to heal injuries that had troubled her for years?
"You don't need to look at me like that."
Kiyohara leaned back into his chair.
"If our villages weren't on opposing sides..."
"...we might not have become enemies."
After delivering the stick, it was naturally time to offer a little kindness as well.
The Kiyohara who had always been harsh toward her had unexpectedly revealed another side of himself.
The feeling left Samui strangely conflicted.
People who had grown accustomed to hardship often felt unexpectedly fortunate after receiving even the smallest act of kindness.
Watching her stand there in a daze, Kiyohara found the situation somewhat peculiar.
Surely...
She wasn't developing Stockholm syndrome, was she?
He cleared his throat lightly, interrupting her wandering thoughts.
"For the next few days, take some time to look around Konoha."
"I've already arranged a place for you to stay. Konan will take you there."
Kiyohara clapped his hands.
A figure silently emerged from the shadows.
Konan wore the uniform of the ANBU, though she had already removed her mask, revealing her cool and elegant features.
Her gaze swept over Samui before shifting toward Kiyohara.
A slight frown appeared on her face, and a trace of helplessness flashed through her blue eyes.
Once again, Kiyohara had managed to redefine the limits of what she thought he was capable of.
He was even recruiting female shinobi from an enemy village in this manner.
Still...
For reasons she could not quite explain, Konan instinctively found Samui somewhat unpleasant to look at.
It was all Kiyohara's fault.
That infuriating man.
"Come with me."
Konan looked toward Samui.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Samui gave Kiyohara a respectful bow before turning around and following Konan out of the office.
As they stepped out of the Hokage Tower, the warm afternoon sunlight spilled across Konoha's streets.
Villagers bustled back and forth, each wearing relaxed smiles.
One shinobi, unfamiliar with Samui and struck by her beauty, greeted her with a friendly smile.
In an instant, Samui returned to the cold, mature demeanor she normally displayed.
She merely glanced at him indifferently without even slowing her pace before walking straight past him.
The unfortunate shinobi received nothing but a cold shoulder.
Embarrassed, he awkwardly rubbed his nose before quietly leaving.
Walking beside her, Konan glanced at Samui in surprise.
She had witnessed the entire exchange.
The coldness radiating from Samui's very bones was genuine.
It was not an act.
She truly did not care.
It was completely different from the way she had behaved in front of Kiyohara inside the office.
She really was like two entirely different people depending on who stood before her.
Konan silently withdrew her gaze without saying another word.
...
Three days later, Kiyohara arrived at the Forest of Death.
All around him lay collapsed forests and shattered earth.
The devastation was the result of his recent Wood Release training.
Naturally, after every training session, he would repair the damaged landscape using Wood Release and Earth Release techniques.
Even the restoration itself had become another form of training.
Taking a slow breath, Kiyohara closed his eyes.
Emerald green markings gradually appeared around his eyes.
Dark green chakra flowed across the surface of his body as his robes fluttered violently in the surging energy.
Snake Sage Mode.
The next moment, Kiyohara opened his eyes.
Within those vertically slit pupils marked by three tomoe was reflected the devastated wasteland before him.
"Sage Art... Wood Release... True Several Thousand Hands."
He brought his palms together before his chest.
This was the technique he had devoted the past several days to mastering.
It was also the technique he had specifically requested from Tsunade.
In that instant...
The earth began to quake.
Countless enormous wooden vines burst from beneath the ground.
They intertwined, expanded, and gradually formed into an enormous Thousand Armed Buddha towering over the landscape like a mountain itself.
Its expression was solemn.
Its eyes remained peacefully closed.
Dense natural energy surrounded its massive body.
One thousand gigantic arms extended outward from its torso.
Every single arm was thick, powerful, and overwhelming in scale.
"Haa..."
Kiyohara slowly exhaled.
"I can finally maintain its shape consistently."
The sheer size of this technique truly exceeded anything he had ever used before.
Compared to the Thousand Armed Buddha, even the Complete Body Susanoo seemed insignificant.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
A Susanoo could envelop the Nine Tails to create the Majestic Attire: Susanoo.
If that was possible...
What would happen if Susanoo enveloped the Thousand Armed Buddha instead?
"My defense would increase."
"So would its power."
Kiyohara silently calculated.
The Buddha's countless wooden arms were actually rather fragile.
If one looked closely at Hashirama's battle against Madara, the majority of those thousand arms had shattered after launching their attacks.
But...
What if every single one of those thousand arms were covered in Susanoo chakra?
What kind of terrifying power would that create?
(End of Chapter)