Blonde hair, blue eyes, and skin so fair she hardly looked like a shinobi who had spent years living in the highlands of Kumogakure.
She wore a white business suit.
The neckline was cut just right.
Not so revealing as to be improper, yet enough to make the eye linger.
Most striking of all...
Was the exaggerated curve of her chest, so full it looked as though the fabric might tear.
Teizawa instinctively thought of Tsunade.
Those two could definitely compete.
"Kazekage-dono."
The woman spoke, her voice cool and steady, carrying the detached tone of someone handling official business.
"Kumogakure. Samui. Sorry for the sudden visit."
Leaning back in his chair, Teizawa let his gaze sweep across her face.
Silently, he gave this Kumogakure jōnin a quick assessment.
Cold. Calm. Steady.
Completely different from Mei's bone-deep allure.
Mei was fire. Samui was ice.
One burned hot. The other was frost itself.
"Samui-san..."
He smiled and gestured for her to sit.
"I've heard a lot about you. Please, have a seat."
Samui gave a small nod and sat down on the sofa with graceful precision.
Her posture was so straight and proper that she looked like she was attending a military conference.
Back straight, hands folded over her knees.
Not a single unnecessary movement.
"Kazekage-dono, I assume you already know the purpose of my visit."
Her voice remained just as cool.
"Kumogakure is very interested in the Four-Tails."
Teizawa nodded and waited for her to continue.
"Raikage-sama asked me to relay this to you..."
Samui looked straight into his eyes. There was not the slightest ripple of emotion in those blue irises.
"Kumogakure is willing to offer six billion."
Teizawa's brow lifted slightly.
Six billion?
That was one billion above his opening price.
The Raikage certainly wasn't being stingy.
"Raikage-sama also said..."
Samui continued in the same steady tone,
"If Kazekage-dono is willing to sell the Four-Tails directly to Kumogakure, the price can still be negotiated further."
Teizawa smiled.
"Samui-san..."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I've received Raikage-sama's sincerity. However..."
He paused.
"Since this is an auction, let's follow the rules. Highest bid wins. Fair and square."
Samui was silent for a moment.
Those blue eyes remained on him.
As though she were measuring the truth in his words.
"Understood."
She stood and dipped her head politely.
"Then I won't disturb you any longer. We'll meet again at the auction."
With that, she turned and headed for the door.
But just as she reached it, she paused and glanced back at him.
"Oh, and one more thing..."
Her voice remained as cool as ever.
"You should be careful around Kirigakure's people."
Teizawa paused.
"They... aren't very fond of rules."
With that, she opened the door and disappeared down the corridor.
Teizawa looked at the closed door, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening.
Mei had told him to be careful of Kumogakure.
Samui had told him to be careful of Kirigakure.
Those two really were interesting.
He raised his teacup and took a small sip.
The auction had not even begun yet, and it was already this lively.
...
The next day, Iwagakure's delegation arrived in Konoha.
At the very front walked Kitsuchi, his face so dark it looked like water might drip from it.
Behind him followed twenty elite jōnin.
All of them wore the same brown armor of the Land of Earth.
Every single one had a face drawn tight with tension.
This did not look like a delegation attending an auction.
It looked like an army marching to war.
The moment they entered the village, the atmosphere throughout Konoha changed.
Pedestrians on the streets automatically moved aside, their eyes avoiding direct contact.
Konoha's ANBU quietly doubled their numbers in the shadows.
On rooftops, in alleyways, beneath the shade of trees, silhouettes appeared everywhere, half-hidden and watching.
Even Granny Cat, who usually lazed around in the sun, tightened her intelligence network by several degrees.
In the Hokage's office,
Tsunade stood at the window, watching the Iwagakure party march past below.
Her brows were drawn together so tightly they could have crushed flies.
"This bunch... every last one of them knows how to make trouble."
Her voice was full of irritation as she ground the words out.
Kumogakure had come. Kirigakure had come. Now Iwagakure had arrived too.
And on top of all that, the one who started it all...
The Kazekage of Sunagakure.
At the moment, the forces of four great hidden villages were gathered inside Konoha at once.
If even one spark set things off,
The entire village could be turned upside down.
And all of it had been brought here by that brat.
Tsunade drew in a deep breath and felt a headache coming on.
She wanted very badly to go settle accounts with that bastard.
But she could not.
Not because of embarrassment...
Since when had Tsunade ever feared something like that?
No, she was afraid she would not be able to stop herself from slapping that little man to death.
Killing him would be easy. But then what?
If the Kazekage of Sunagakure died in Konoha, the two villages would go to war and the shinobi world would descend into chaos.
She could not drag all of Konoha down with her because of a moment of anger.
"Shizune."
"Yes."
Holding Tonton, Shizune answered carefully.
"Send more people. Monitor the shinobi from each major village."
"Keep especially close watch on Iwagakure's people. Don't let up with Kumogakure or Kirigakure either."
Tsunade paused, her voice turning even colder.
"And that bastard too... assign reliable people to watch him."
"Where he goes, who he meets, what he says. I want to know all of it."
Shizune opened her mouth.
She wanted to ask who exactly "that bastard" was.
But seeing the storm-dark expression on Tsunade's face, she wisely shut her mouth and silently went to carry out the orders.
The office was left with Tsunade alone once more.
She leaned back in her chair, looked up at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.
That brat... what exactly is his background? And why did he have to be such trouble?
...
At the inn, Teizawa stood by the window.
He watched the Iwagakure delegation slowly pass below.
Kitsuchi was in front, that face of his stiffer than stone.
He was clearly bottling up a great deal of anger.
Teizawa's lips curved faintly upward.
A defeated opponent. Not worth worrying about.
He withdrew his gaze and looked at the intelligence report on the table.
Mei Terumi: possessor of Lava Release and Boil Release, future Fifth Mizukage.
Alluring, sharp-minded, deeply calculating...
Samui: jōnin of Kumogakure.
Coldly beautiful, steady, efficient.
Both of them were rare beauties.
Teizawa lifted his teacup and took another sip.
If he ever had the chance to get closer to either of them, he had no intention of letting it pass.
Still, there was no need to rush.
Things like that had to be taken slowly.
Just like with Tsunade...
He set down the teacup and turned his gaze back toward the window.
Iwagakure had arrived. Kumogakure and Kirigakure had arrived too.
Everyone who was supposed to be here was here.
Now it was time to handle the real business.
He stretched lazily, and a smile of anticipation appeared on his face.
The auction could begin tomorrow.
He was already looking forward to watching the whole spectacle unfold.
Outside, undercurrents swirled through Konoha's streets.
This auction was never going to be peaceful.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]