[A/N] - Support & Read Up to 15 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!

  ...

  "Eh... Are you sure you don't need my help?"

  "I just feel that something might g if you infiltrate Konohagakure alone~"

  Bck Zetsu spoke with mixed feelings.

  He leased because Obito was straying further dowh of darkness. If he killed Konoha's advisor... no matter what excuse he had, there would be n back.

  He was worried because if Gojo Kaigetsu were actually killed, it would definitely cause a huge otion.

  In other vilges, even in Konoha itself, the death of an advisht not be a big deal. But Gojo Kaigetsu was different.

  Acc to Bck Zetsu's observations, Konoha's ret bizarre development speed was almost inseparable from Gojo Kaigetsu. Even though he always tried to erase his traces behind each event.

  Moreojo Kaigetsu had a very close retionship with the Fourth Hokage, almost to the point of sharing the same Hokage cloak.

  If this guy died, who knows if Konohagakure would iigate to the very end.

  The best strategy would be to redirect the bme, pinning the assassination of the advisor on Kumogakure or Iwagakure. Triggering the Fourth Shinobi World War as quickly as possible would allow Nagato's Akatsuki to profit from the chaos.

  Obito seemed to sense Bck Zetsu's thoughts and warned, "Don't interfere with me, Bck Zetsu."

  "I want them... to feel pain."

  "You misuand me, Obito. Why would I stop you? Go ahead and do it boldly!"

  ...

  ...

  *Kirigakure.*

  "An invitation from Kumogakure?"

  Elder Genji furrowed his brows. "Did those barbaria something wrong? Or is it... a trap?"

  Not long ago, they had just allied with Konoha, giving Kumogakure a heavy sp in the face. And now they turn around seeking a ninja academy exge?

  "Elder Genji, do you think they might be setting a trap to hunt down our geion of shinobi?"

  "Hard to say."

  "But from what I know of the Raikage, he wouldn't do such a thing."

  Kumogakure's shinobi might be barbaric, but they possess ample warrior spirit. Judging from the sistent personalities of successive Raikage, they wouldn't resort to such luring and killing tactics.

  If they want to fight, they do it head-on, fists meeting flesh otlefield.

  "So, Kumogakure genuinely wants to have an exge with our ninja academy... Unbelievable."

  "Perhaps they've been provoked by Konoha."

  Over the past few days, hat Konoha and Sunagakure annouhemselves as ercial allies has spread throughout the ninja world. It's said that to promote friendship betweewo vilges, Konoha has sent Elder Mitokado Homura to Iwagakure for a long-term stay.

  Moreover, Sunagakure has publicly annouhat they will send ninja academy students to Konoha for ih exge and learning.

  It be said that both sides have geaken a step back for "peace."

  Actually, deep down, Elder Genji felt a bit envious. Not to mention anything else, just the matter of sending an elder abroad...

  Stationed in their Kirigakure is that troublesome guy, Danzo. The Konoha official ship docked at Kirigakure's harbor, painted entirely bck, has uled the upper echelons of Kirigakure.

  Acc to the ANBU's reports, Danzo has been trying to extend his influeakure's internal affairs, doing things very covertly. The ANBU shinobi haven't been able to catch him i ather evidence.

  This is aernal affair. If they don't want to tear their retionship apart, they only ha acc to the rules.

  They have to speak based on facts to send Danzo back to Konoha.

  "Truly the 'Darkness of the Shinobi World'... His as leave no traces. If only the elder stationed in our Kirigakure were Mitokado Homura, things would be much easier," Elder Genji sighed.

  Goood by his side aively asked, "So, Elder, should t Kumogakure's invitation?"

  "How many students are currently in the ninja academy?"

  "Approximately 1,000."

  Elder Genji thought for a moment. "Go and propose a ninja academy exge to Danzo. Select the 20 most taleudents from the academy to go to Konoha. Sihey've agreed to exge with Sunagakure, they must grant us Kirigakure equal status."

  "The matter with Sunagakure reminded me."

  "The current ninja world is no lohe same as before. If we want to develop, we 't shut ourselves off; we must engage iernal exges."

  "Konoha is naturally the most suitable exge partner."

  Upon hearing this, Gonbee's eyes lit up. "Elder Genji, I am willing to serve as the team leader, leading this group of outstanding academy students to Konoha."

  "Very well. Currently, in the vilge, you and Terumi Mei have had the most tact with Konoha." Elder Genji nodded, pletely unaware that his most loyal subordinate's heart had already been corrupted by Konoha's sweet temptations.

  Having achieved his desired result, Gonbee feigned and asked, "But... Elder Genji, should we ignore Kumogakure's request? Repeatedly spping those barbarians in the face, I'm worried they might bee desperate."

  "Let me ask you, why 't we have both?"

  "There's something off about this. I heard that Kumogakure has retly been f a Shinobi Vilge Alliance led by them, already recruiting many small vilges into their alliance."

  "They've even ied rge amounts of aid into small vilges like Kumogakure, expressing their determination to the ninja world."

  "But they've always cked one of the Five Great Shinobi Vilges to bolster their momentum, so they've been painstakingly trying to win over us and Sunagakure."

  "Even after we issued statements ning them, they shamelessly persist."

  Elder Genji sneered, exposing Kumogakure's little schemes.

  Shinobi have always admired strength.

  If Konoha were the one ung the Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere Pn, Kirigakure might have relutly gone along.

  Konoha's strength roven through three Shinobi World Wars. Even when fag the bitack of the Freat Shinobi Vilges, they still stood atop the ninja world.

  A vilge like that, in terms of seniority and battle achievements, is qualified to lead an alliance.

  But...

  Who do you think you are, Kumogakure?

  Your Third Raikage was tricked to death by Iwagakure's people, dying so disgracefully despite being a vilge leader.

  Although i years, Kumogakure indeed shows a booming momentum, with the Fourth Raikage A and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee making names for themselves.

  They vaguely have the trend of repg Konoha after the war and being the top shinobi vilge.

  But such a thing isn't determined by appearances alo's like participating in the Ninja World Championship; even if you're popur and have strong momentum, you've never won a championship in the Shinobi World Wars.

  Without a , you're just a 'shockwave'!

  Even if Kirigakure had to bow down, they wouldn't submit to a 'shockwave.'

  "Sihey're so eager to have a major shinobi vilge support them, we should make good use of this opportunity and not miss it."

  "Send the younger geion of the Elder fa to Kumogakure for a period of... thirty days. No, make it three months, or even three years. It would be best if they never return."

  "Those useless guys have poor talent as shinobi, but when it es to indulging in pleasures and grabbing bes, no one does it better than them."

  No vilge's Kage rand elder is foolish.

  They know their own vilge's situatioer than anyone.

  Elder Genji also uood that their Kirigakure's Elder fa had deed. The younger geion of shinobi faced a situatiohe old and new didn't ect well, hanging on to the st bit of glory due to historical roots.

  Those sed-geion elders had already bee corrupt, occupying vilge resources and hindering upward mobility.

  If Kirigakure wants to be great, they must make a tough decision to cut ties.

  Elder Genji had always been ptiernally, Kirigakure should ally with Konoha, learn advaeology, expand trade, boost eic growth, and empower politics. Internally, they needed a suitable 'knife'...

  Now, Kumogakure had handed over the knife for internal reform.

  Sending the Elder fa's younger geion to Kumogakure-if they push Kumogakure to the breaking point a killed, that would be best. They could elimihe vilge's tumors in one fell swoop and then appeal to Konoha for material support.

  This is a pn that kills two birds with oone!

  If they don't get killed... thehose sed-geion shinobi who only know how to indulge themselves ruthlessly demand bes, being a financial burden on Kumogakure, thereby feeding Kirigakure.

  No matter how you look at it, as long as Kumogakure doesn't ge their 'Shinobi Vilge Alliance' pn, it's a big win for Kirigakure!

  Elder Genji took a deep breath, sipped his tea, and tinued, "You'll be responsible fing this matter ter."

  "What did Terumi Mei report?"

  "How is the Fourth Mizukage's dition?"

  "Three days ago, Terumi Mei reported that the Fourth Mizukage has pletely escaped life-threatening danger. He stay awake for about ten minutes a day but still ove or unicate with others."

  "He just keeps saying 'Live on.'"

  "'Live on'?"

  Elder Genji's brows furrowed slightly but soon rexed. "It seems Yagura is ed about the vilge, knowing that as the Fourth Mizukage, he absolutely ot die at this stage."

  "That's the survival instinct a Kage should have."

  "This is Konoha... The life-threatening crisis that left us helpless was so easily resolved when he reached Konoha. That Top Ward is miraculous, and Tsunade's medical skills are formidable."

  Gonbee nodded repeatedly in agreement. He had firsthand experience of Konoha's prosperity.

  "Um... Elder Genji, Terumi Mei also mentiohat Konoha is requesting the sed phase of medical fees, and we don't have enough funds."

  "Not enough? Didn't we just give them 50 million ryō?"

  "They said that Mizukage-sama now he Top Ward to maintain his vital signs and rehabilitation measures, which are extremely costly. Plus, Tsunade's sultation fees... Adding it all up, 50 million ryō is indeed not enough."

  Elder Genji's face immediately fell.

  The services are excellent, but they're just too expensive. How long has it been, and 50 million ryō has been burned up just like that.

  "How much is the sed phase of treatment?"

  "Fifty..." The words reached his lips, but Goopped himself, his eyes shifting slyly, and he ged his words, "Sixty million ryō."

  "What?! How is it ten million more than the first phase?"

  "Well... They said that Mizukage-sama's subsequent rehabilitation requires more precious ables, and they o form an expert team to sult on the genjutsu he was under..."

  Goammered, his heart rate untrolbly accelerating. Cold sweat the size of soldier pills soaked his back.

  He was crazy!

  He actually... actually said it out loud!

  Money is never enough to spend. No one uands better than him how much it costs to enjoy imperial-level treatment in Konoha's eai facilities.

  A regur sary isn't enough to cover a day's expenses.

  Kirigakure is too poor. Even though he holds the important position of the Grand Elder's secretary, the bes he skim are indeed limited. Especially after the dissolution of the Bloody Mist policies, the kickbacks he used to get from people seeking his influence have signifitly decreased.

  Various factors bined led to the result that his money was no longer enough to support his extravagant lifestyle in Konoha.

  It's easy to go frality to extravagance, but hard to go from extravagaality.

  Suddenly jumping from the impoverished Kirigakure to the iional vilge of Konoha, his mentality infted infinitely.

  Gonbee could no longer leave that luxurious life.

  Everything required money; everything could be solved with money... Especially that "Night Ninja Club" at No. 38, New ercial Street in Konoha.

  As long as you're willing to spend money, you even have fallen princesses, noble dies, and popur actresses from small tries like the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Flowers, and the Land of Hot Springs apany you to drink and sing. If you spend a bit more, you even book "the woman of a certain Daimyō."

  Singing while hugging! Embrag while singing!

  Traditionally, shinobi are merely subordinates of the Daimyō. No matter how high your position in the vilge, you're still a subordinate!

  But now, as long as you spend money, you hug the Daimyō's Mistresses and sing...

  The desire to overthrow the higher-ups directly dominated Gonbee's mind.

  It also made him bold enough to privately increase the medical fees by ten million ryō.

  That's right.

  What Gojo Kaigetsu and Terumi Mei mentioned about medical fees was just a gradual starting point-a mere 30 million ryō.

  Terumi Mei had her own desire for revenge, so when she reported to Go became 50 million ryō.

  Gonbee had his own lifestyle, so when he informed Elder Genji, it became 60 million ryō.

  Gonbee folded his hands over his abdomen, almost holding his breath, occasionally sneaking g Elder Genji.

  He had to admit, there was a of risk in this. If Elder Genji decided to iigate thhly, tact Danzo, then have Danzo verify ba the vilge... Or if they directly repced the representative, the matter might be exposed.

  Deceiving Elder Genji and taking kickbacks from Kirigakure would lead to extermination-definitely extermination!

  But Gonbee simply couldn't refuse the extreme pleasures he enjoyed in Konoha.

  After a long silence.

  Elder Genji finally spoke, "Yagura... must be saved. No matter how much mo takes, we must save him. It s our vilge's development in the five years; we absolutely ot waver."

  "However, this money ot be paid from the vilge treasury."

  "You mean...?"

  "Later, you will vey my will to the representatives of the Elder fa, expining that the Fourth Mizukage's treatment s our vilge's future."

  "If they remain unmoved... then bring up the matter of Kumogakure exge students, using the spots as bargaining chips. Those who are willing to pay, and pay more money, be sent to Kumogakure as academy exge students."

  "Hiss-"

  Gonbee gasped.

  The older, the wiser. Not only did Elder Genji pn to "sell" the sed-geion Elders to Kumogakure, but he also inteo squeeze money out of the Elder fa.

  Making the most of everything.

  However... being openly allowed to enjoy themselves in other vilges, breathing air outside Kirigakure, would be quite tempting for those people.

  Even the Elder fa needs permission to leave the vilge.

  "How mu total should we collect?"

  "Si's a shared expense, we should collect more, and it also enrich the vilge treasury."

  "One hundred million ryō in cash!"

  ...

  Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters!

  [email protected]/dragonnx

  [Repce '@' with 'a' to access Patreon normally]

  ////

  There is 8 Exg Fanfics already avaible on my Patreon page!