At that, Teizawa nodded, his expression turning serious.
"That is only right."
He turned toward Kitsuchi. "Kitsuchi-dono, you said Kumo stole your money. Do you have evidence?"
Kitsuchi gritted his teeth.
"I saw it with my own eyes. That person was wearing a Kumo uniform and using Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode?" Teizawa raised an eyebrow. "That is the Fourth Raikage's technique."
"You mean to say the Fourth Raikage personally came to rob you?"
Kitsuchi fell silent.
He also felt that was unlikely.
But the facts were right in front of him.
"Whether it was the Fourth Raikage or not, that person used a Kumo technique and wore a Kumo uniform."
"This debt has to be counted against Kumo."
Teizawa nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense."
He paused. "However, are you sure that person was using Lightning Release Chakra Mode? Not some other technique?"
His tone was casual, as if they were simply chatting.
Kitsuchi froze for a moment.
"I'm certain. That lightning, that speed, that power…"
"What other technique could do that besides Lightning Release Chakra Mode?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Mei Terumi suddenly spoke, her voice lazy.
"It could have been some other kekkei genkai, or some secret technique. The shinobi world is vast. Nothing is impossible."
Kitsuchi glared at her.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing." Mei smiled. "I just think deciding it was Kumo based on one technique is a little hasty."
Kitsuchi's face shifted between green and white.
Of course he knew that one technique alone was not enough to prove it.
But what else could he do?
Admit that he did not even know who had robbed him?
What a joke. He could not afford to provoke those three rogue ninja from Kumo.
Teizawa leaned back in his chair and watched them argue, the corner of his mouth carrying the faintest trace of a smile.
"All right, all right." He waved a hand. "Once Kumo's people arrive, we can ask them face-to-face."
The moment he finished speaking, the door was pushed open.
Samui stood in the doorway, with Karui and Omoi behind her.
Her expression was still that same icy calm.
But deep in her eyes, there was an almost imperceptible trace of exhaustion.
Karui lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone.
Omoi had a lollipop in his mouth.
Expressionless.
"You're here?" Teizawa greeted them warmly. "Come in, sit down."
Samui glanced at him.
Without saying a word, she walked to a corner and sat down.
Karui followed behind her, her head lowered even further.
Omoi leaned against the wall.
Still eating his lollipop.
The atmosphere in the office turned subtle.
Kitsuchi's gaze stabbed into Samui like a knife.
Samui's expression did not change. Her eyes stared straight ahead.
Mei watched the scene with interest, the smile on her lips growing deeper.
Tsunade rubbed her temples and felt her headache worsen.
Teizawa leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other.
He looked completely uninvolved.
The show had finally begun.
Kitsuchi pressed a hand against his ninja tool pouch, his knuckles turning white.
His gaze was like a poisoned blade, fixed firmly on Samui's face.
"It was the three of them." His voice was low, filled with killing intent he could no longer suppress. "My seven billion was stolen by them."
"Kitsuchi-dono."
Tsunade's voice was not loud, but it carried the unquestionable pressure of the Hokage. "This is Konoha."
Kitsuchi's chest heaved violently.
His hand trembled, but he held himself back.
This was Konoha, not Iwagakure.
If he acted here, it would be the same as declaring war on Konoha.
He drew in a deep breath and released his grip on the ninja tool pouch.
But the killing intent remained.
Thick as ink that could not be dissolved.
"My seven billion was stolen by Kumo."
He clenched his teeth, spitting out each word. "Hokage, you must give me an explanation."
Tsunade frowned and turned her gaze toward Samui.
"Is this true?"
Samui was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"That's right. We robbed him."
Her voice was calm, as if she were stating the most ordinary fact in the world.
"Our objective was the Four-Tails."
She paused. "Now the money is in our hands. Since Iwagakure can't produce the money, can we trade directly with the Kazekage?"
"You…"
Kitsuchi shot to his feet.
The chair tipped backward and crashed to the floor with a loud bang.
His face turned crimson.
Veins bulged across his forehead, and his fists cracked with tension.
But Kakashi and Might Guy had already moved in front of him.
Neither of them said a word.
Yet the pressure they gave off forcibly crushed Kitsuchi's frenzy back down.
"Please calm down, sir," Kakashi said lazily, but there was no trace of amusement in his one visible right eye.
Guy did not speak, but the eyes beneath his thick brows were fixed on Kitsuchi, every muscle already taut.
Several Anbu emerged from every corner.
They surrounded Kitsuchi in the center.
Kitsuchi clenched and loosened his fists again and again.
He swept his gaze around the room, looking at the Konoha ninja, at Mei smiling in the corner, at Teizawa leaning back in his chair as if none of this had anything to do with him.
Finally, he looked at the expressionless Samui.
Rage, humiliation, and helplessness surged into him all at once.
"You Kumo people dare to set your sights on a tailed beast…"
His voice was hoarse, every word squeezed through his teeth. "Aren't you afraid of war?"
Karui rolled her eyes.
"You say that like our villages are on friendly terms."
Her tone was light and airy, as if she were commenting on the weather.
Kitsuchi's face darkened to a livid red.
"Enough…"
Tsunade slammed her palm down on the desk.
With a deafening crack, the solid wooden desk shattered on the spot, splinters flying everywhere.
Everyone froze.
Tsunade stood behind the broken desk, her face ashen as her gaze swept over every person present.
"If you want to fight, do it outside Konoha."
Her voice was cold as ice. "If anyone dares make a move in Konoha again, don't blame me for what happens next."
No one spoke.
Kitsuchi's fists still creaked under the force of his grip, but he did not move again.
Samui lowered her eyes, Karui turned her face aside, and Omoi bit down on his lollipop with a crunch.
Mei still leaned in the corner.
The smile on her lips deepened.
Teizawa remained reclined in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, wearing the same air of complete detachment.
Tsunade's gaze finally landed on his face.
That face, plainly enjoying someone else's misfortune.
"Clean up your own mess."
She clenched her teeth. "And then all of you…"
She pointed at Kitsuchi, Samui, and Mei.
"Get out of Konoha."
With that, she turned and left.
Her footsteps were quick and heavy.
Every step sounded as if she meant to stomp through the floor.
Shizune hurried after her with Tonton in her arms.
The office went quiet for a few seconds.
Mei clicked her tongue twice, her brow lifting.
"Kazekage-dono, what is your opinion?"
Teizawa leaned back in his chair, the corner of his mouth rising slightly.
"I'm watching from the couch."
Mei froze.
Watching from the couch?
What did that mean?
(End of Chapter)
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