"It's all bare around here…"
"Why are the buildings so tall?"
"There aren't even many trees or plants…"
"The Kumogakure village's environment is truly terrible!"
Might Guy, wide-eyed and restless, kept muttering as they walked through the winding streets of Kumogakure. The high cliffs loomed like walls of bronze under the moonlight; thunder rolled in the distance, faint but constant, as if the mountains themselves breathed electricity.
Kakashi, walking slightly ahead, noticed Mabui's eye twitching. With the speed of instinct, he threw an arm around Guy's shoulders and clamped a hand over his mouth.
He bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry, he's probably dizzy from the altitude. He's not used to the air up here in Kumogakure."
Mabui inhaled slowly, smoothing her composure before replying, her voice cool and precise. "Only Konoha, in the Land of Fire, enjoys the most fertile land in the entire ninja world. That is also why Konoha is the target in every shinobi war."
Her words cut sharply beneath their calm tone.
Uchiha Yun, walking beside them, smiled lightly. "Might Guy is a bit too straightforward sometimes. My apologies—it was rude."
Mabui turned her gaze toward him, a glint of surprise flickering in her eyes. 'Straightforward? That was how he chose to describe that outburst?'
Before the tension could stretch further, Killer Bee waved a dismissive hand. "Mabui, after you settle them in, you still gotta report to big bro, right?"
"I understand… Bee-sama." Mabui said flatly. She turned and continued to lead the delegation toward the lodgings prepared for them, ignoring the murmured argument between Kakashi and Guy behind her.
Yun's eyes followed her back, thoughtful. Something in the air didn't feel right.
'Kumogakure's patience is unnatural.' he mused. 'The Fourth Raikage, known for smashing desks over policy meetings, agreeing to such a measured reception? This doesn't align with his temperament. The Third Raikage died dragged down by sheer stubbornness, and his successor learned patience? No… this reeks of calculation.'
"Please rest well tonight." Mabui said as they reached a well-guarded building at the village's edge. "Tomorrow, Kumogakure will hold a grand welcoming ceremony to celebrate the alliance between our villages."
*Bang!*
The door closed firmly behind her as she left.
Kakashi immediately formed a hand seal and extended his chakra outward, scanning for disturbances.
"Not as sharp as sensei's sensory field," he murmured, "but no one's listening in. We're safe enough."
He began constructing a small barrier before turning toward Yun. "Were you testing us earlier?"
Yun nodded slightly. "Yes. Not one of them even reacted to my subtle provocation. And Killer Bee's tone at the end—it had disapproval hidden under that casual bluster."
Kakashi rubbed his chin. "It could also mean they value this alliance more than we think. During the Third Great Ninja War, Kumogakure and Iwagakure developed deep enmity. Maybe they genuinely want peace."
"There's that possibility," Yun admitted, "but before I left Anbu, we intercepted certain intelligence. The Fourth Hokage probably saw the same report, which is why he's so cautious now."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened. "Anbu intelligence?"
Yun glanced at Guy, who had eaten, stretched, and promptly fallen asleep on his futon. Then he lowered his voice. "Kumogakure previously stole a secret technique from Kirigakure. Afterward, Kirigakure sent operatives to retrieve it. Because of their temporary alliance with Iwagakure, Iwagakure promised support."
He continued, tone steady but cold. "In the Battle of Green Canyon, Iwagakure betrayed Kirigakure mid-conflict—stabbed them in the back for profit. The alliance collapsed, and Kiri's troops were wiped out. That was the price of trusting another village's handshake."
Kakashi's eye narrowed behind his mask. The implications were ugly.
'If Kumogakure's the one stealing secret arts now, and they've turned their eyes toward the Great Nations… that means they're expanding again.'
Yun's lips quirked upward. "Kirigakure, by the way, once managed to steal a Byakugan from the Hyuga clan. The eye's capabilities proved incredibly useful in reconnaissance during the war."
Kakashi blinked, startled. "But none of us have the Byakugan."
Yun chuckled, standing. "There's nothing we can do about things that haven't happened yet. I'm going to wash up. Get some rest."
He walked toward the washroom, leaving Kakashi frowning deeply.
'Byakugan?'
Kakashi's mind spun. If Kumogakure wanted the Byakugan badly enough to risk diplomatic disaster, then tomorrow's "welcome ceremony" might not be just ceremony at all.
He sighed, pressing his hands against his cheeks. 'No… this might just be Yun's speculation. Maybe Kumogakure really wants peace.'
He didn't sound convinced even to himself.
…
Raikage Building.
Mabui knelt before the desk, finishing her report in crisp detail—including Killer Bee's unplanned "test".
The Fourth Raikage leaned back, huge arms crossed, expression unreadable. When she finished, he didn't comment on Bee's recklessness at all. Instead, his eyes turned toward his brother.
"Bee," he rumbled, "how strong are Kakashi and Uchiha Yun?"
Killer Bee scratched the back of his head. "There wasn't time for a proper spar—just a taste of their awareness."
He looked up, his tone growing serious. "Brother, Konoha's Hokage isn't the Third anymore. It's the Yellow Flash—Namikaze Minato. If we push too hard, it won't just be a border skirmish. It'll be war."
*Bang!!!*
The Raikage slammed his fist onto the desk, splintering the wood. "Then if they don't compromise, we'll beat them until they do!"
A gray-haired elder on the side stepped forward, unfazed. "Raikage-sama, Konoha's Fourth Hokage may be young, but youth doesn't grant recklessness. According to our intelligence, Orochimaru of the Sannin defected nine months ago. Jiraiya is out of village chasing him. Tsunade has long abandoned the village. And Danzo of Root—dead under unclear circumstances."
The elder paused. "Konoha's military strength after the Third War has waned considerably. Their current peace policy stems from necessity, not conviction."
He bowed slightly. "The Byakugan's power in warfare—Raikage-sama knows it well. The ability to see chakra through walls, to perceive miles ahead—it must belong to Kumogakure before the next great war begins."
The Raikage's eyes closed briefly. The room pulsed with quiet thunder. When they reopened, they glowed with steel resolve.
"Konoha's envoys will stay a few days." he said. "After tomorrow's ceremony, I want you to test Uchiha Yun's strength, Bee. That Sharingan of his… I want to know its limits."
Killer Bee's cheerful facade dropped. His eyes hardened; his lips pressed into a thin line. "Understood."
He turned, leaving without another word.
*Bang!*
The door slammed behind him, echoing down the marble hall. His silence carried louder than his raps ever did.
'That kid,' he thought bitterly as he descended the steps, 'different village, same fire. Can it only ever make us enemies?'
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]
✓ The Academy's Saint Is Too Popular, But He's Not the Protagonist [R-18]