He slept until noon.
After Namikaze Kirito woke up, he headed straight toward the barbecue restaurant.
He had just completed several missions recently, and he had already made plans to bring the three "Sand Shinobi ghosts," as he liked to call them, here to celebrate.
When he entered the private room, the three of them were already waiting.
Gaara sat quietly as usual, his expression calm and unreadable, his pale green eyes carrying that same distant emptiness.
Kankuro, on the other hand, couldn't hide the anticipation in his eyes. Among all the restaurants in Konoha, this barbecue place was easily his favorite.
Temari, however, deliberately avoided looking at Kirito.
She acted as if he didn't exist at all.
Yet every time her eyes moved unintentionally, they were filled with complicated emotions.
Her mind kept replaying what had happened yesterday.
She couldn't stop thinking about it.
Did he find out?
Was I exposed?
Kirito sat across from the three of them, a faint smile resting on his face as if nothing in the world could disturb his calm.
It didn't take long before the raw meat was brought in.
Kirito naturally took responsibility for placing the meat on the grill.
Sizzle—
The sound of meat roasting filled the room, accompanied by a rich, mouthwatering aroma.
Kankuro's eyes widened instantly, his attention completely captured. His throat moved slightly as he swallowed, barely holding back his saliva.
After a short while, the meat was ready.
Everyone picked up their chopsticks and began eating.
Temari kept her head lowered, focusing on her food.
Then suddenly—
She felt something lightly kick her foot under the table.
She froze.
Before she could react, that same foot hooked around hers, pulling gently.
Temari's body stiffened.
She slowly raised her head.
Across the table, Kirito was looking straight at her.
His eyes held a faint, knowing amusement.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He found out!
He definitely knows it was me!
It was him… he made me do that yesterday!
That bastard!
Panic exploded inside her chest.
Her thoughts fell into complete chaos.
She didn't even realize when her shoe had been quietly slipped off.
Or when her foot was guided somewhere warm and familiar.
Meanwhile—
Kankuro was completely absorbed in devouring the barbecue, his attention fully focused on the food.
Gaara ate slowly and calmly, his movements precise and emotionless.
Neither of them noticed anything happening beneath the table.
Only Temari remained frozen, her mind blank, her face burning.
How dare he…
How dare he do this…
The meal dragged on for what felt like an eternity to her.
Every second was torture.
Finally, it ended.
They separated afterward.
Kirito headed toward the Hokage Building.
An ANBU operative had informed him that a messenger from the Cloud Shinobi Village had arrived.
Inside the Hokage's office.
A blonde kunoichi with short hair stood before Namikaze Minato.
Her posture was straight, her expression calm but firm.
"Fourth Hokage," she said coldly, "ninjas from our Cloud Shinobi Village were killed without justification by a shinobi of your Konoha."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And the one responsible… was your son, Namikaze Kirito."
She paused.
"Shouldn't we receive an explanation for this?"
Her tone carried open accusation.
"Attacking shinobi from another village without reason is a serious violation of trust."
She was Samui.
The envoy personally sent by the Cloud Shinobi Village.
Normally, someone of her status would never be sent directly. If negotiations collapsed, she could easily be taken hostage or killed.
Yet they still sent her.
That alone showed how seriously they regarded this matter.
After all—
This involved the Rinnegan.
Cloud Shinobi Village had already exchanged intelligence with the Rock Shinobi Village regarding the incident in the Rain Village.
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had once maintained cooperative relations with the Akatsuki.
And after leaving the Akatsuki, Deidara had returned to the Rock Village, bringing valuable information with him.
They knew the truth.
The leader of the Akatsuki, a man possessing the legendary Rinnegan…
Had been defeated by Namikaze Kirito.
Ōnoki didn't hide this information at all.
Because the enemy of your enemy… could become your ally.
The Five Great Shinobi Villages maintained a fragile balance.
But Konoha's growing dominance made both Cloud and Rock uneasy.
If they didn't act now, one day Konoha might stand alone above them all.
And so—
Cloud and Rock formed a temporary alliance.
Hatred between villages meant nothing compared to interests.
Listening to Samui's words, Minato felt a quiet sense of helplessness.
He understood exactly what his son had done.
And once such a path was taken—
There was no turning back.
"This matter…"
He began carefully.
But before he could finish—
"Just tell them."
A calm voice echoed through the room.
Everyone turned.
Kirito stood at the doorway, walking in slowly, his hands casually in his pockets.
Samui's eyes narrowed slightly.
This was her first time seeing him in person.
She studied him carefully.
Trying to see through him.
A Cloud shinobi beside her sneered.
"So this is how Konoha conducts itself? The Hokage is speaking, yet someone interrupts without permission?"
Boom—
Before anyone could react—
A blur flashed across the room.
The Cloud shinobi's body flew backward.
CRASH!
He slammed into the wall, his body embedded deep into the stone.
Silence fell instantly.
Kirito stood where he was, as if nothing had happened.
Several Cloud shinobi stepped forward in anger.
But Samui raised her hand, stopping them.
"Namikaze Kirito," she said coldly, "we are envoys representing the Cloud Shinobi Village."
Her gaze hardened.
"Are you attempting to start a war?"
"War?"
Kirito chuckled faintly.
He stepped forward slowly, his eyes filled with cold disdain.
"You sent people to spy on me."
His voice dropped.
"Should I consider that a declaration of war as well?"
Samui's expression tightened.
"You were the one who killed our shinobi."
"Do you have proof?"
Kirito shrugged casually.
His indifference only fueled their anger.
"You come to Konoha and make accusations without evidence?"
Samui replied calmly.
"Our shinobi were investigating the Rain Village incident."
"The Five Great Villages share responsibility for maintaining stability."
"They approached you to question you."
"And you killed them."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"Our shinobi did not deserve to die without reason."
"You will give us an explanation."
Kirito looked at her quietly.
Then said:
"Tell me your conditions."
Samui's eyes flickered.
So he's willing to negotiate…
As expected.
Konoha had just suffered major losses. The Third Hokage had only recently died.
They weren't ready for war.
This was their opportunity.
She spoke clearly.
"It is said that the leader of the Akatsuki has been captured by you."
"Our condition is simple."
"Konoha will publicly apologize."
"And hand over the leader of the Akatsuki to us."
Her gaze sharpened.
"That organization has harmed the interests of the Cloud Shinobi Village."
Kirito smiled faintly.
"So…"
"You came for the Rinnegan."
Samui froze slightly.
He actually said it directly and so much as without any hesitation.
She had expected political maneuvering.
Or him changing the subject directly or even not admitting to it.
Instead—
He exposed everything openly.
After a brief pause—
She nodded.
"Yes."
Her voice remained calm.
They had nothing left to hide.
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