[Konoha Village]
[Hokage Office.]
After receiving a reply from the Uchiha side, the Third Hokage didn't sleep well the whole night.
Early in the morning, he invited Koharu and Homura to the office.
"The battle that happened last night in the Uchiha clan's territory, was it really the One-Tail?"
Koharu and Homura, being senior advisors, each had their own sources.
They couldn't possibly be unaware of the battle that took place last night in the Uchiha clan's territory.
It's just that the current Uchiha grounds were completely inaccessible. If it weren't for the huge commotion made by Shukaku, no one would have known anything happened inside.
"I sent someone to inquire with the Uchiha. This was Fugaku's reply," The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled.
"What does Uchiha mean by this?", Homura asked.
In the past, jinchuriki were hidden away, used to fire Tailed Beast Bombs. Later, with the emergence of perfect jinchuriki, they became trump cards on the battlefield. However, jinchuriki were never dispatched alone.
Capturing an enemy jinchuriki alive, this was the first time it had happened since Konoha was founded.
The Third Hokage shook his head. In the past, it was passive. Now, it was even more passive.
"Uchiha isn't talking right now, probably handling the jinchuriki."
Homura said in a grim voice, "If Uchiha can control the One-Tail, and also the Nine-Tails…"
Everyone's hearts sank.
"We can't let Uchiha keep the One-Tail."
The three of them reached a consensus, but how to act was the key issue.
"Notify Fugaku to convene a high-level meeting. Let's test the waters first."
Right now, the Third Hokage didn't know how Uchiha would play their cards, but his own hand had too few cards.
They had been on the back foot this entire time.
———
While a storm was brewing in Konoha, Rengoku's main body was slacking off at the border of the Land of Fire.
He hadn't notified Konoha, nor had he told the clan what he was doing.
Everyone only knew that he had fought with Yugito Nii.
No one knew that Uchiha had used this to extort Kumogakure.
Currently, Kumogakure had set up camp, letting Rengoku stay inside to await their ransom delivery.
While Kumogakure shinobi patrolled the outskirts, driving off anyone trying to gather intelligence.
The news that Yugito Nii was defeated by Uchiha Rengoku had already spread.
If it got out that Kumogakure was being extorted for three billion, they would be utterly humiliated.
But the more you try to hide something, the more other forces want to know.
By now, the number of people gathering on the outskirts was increasing.
However, they were all intel operatives, and there was no fighting.
Even those with bad relations at most just kept their distance.
At that moment, a signal flare was launched from afar beyond the camp.
Cee, who had been near the camp all along, revealed a joyful expression and exchanged a glance with a nearby Kumogakure shinobi.
The other Kumogakure shinobi grew tense and gave a small nod.
Cee quickly disappeared.
Rengoku, who was sitting by the campfire, naturally saw it too.
He hadn't expected that before even three days passed, 'Kumogakure's people will arrive?'
'Looks like things might be getting dangerous.'
After Rengoku's two shadow clones in Konoha had merged into one, he had a free clone slot.
He placed his hand on his shadow, and a shadow clone quietly formed.
Then Rengoku closed his eyes, and his consciousness transferred to Yagura.
At that moment, the Kirigakure team was still traveling rapidly aboard their airship. As they neared the coast, the speed was slowly decreasing.
Rengoku knocked a few times with his shadow on Yagura's foot.
Yagura immediately understood.
He who had been sitting with arms crossed at the bow suddenly stood up.
"Don't slow down. Kumogakure's already arrived. Land at top speed!"
Terumi Mei, who was accelerating at the stern, was startled, then immediately burst out with a massive amount of chakra.
The ship's speed suddenly soared. The powerful wind pressure made it impossible to keep their eyes open.
Yagura cloaked himself in Tailed Beast chakra and spread it wide to shield the team from the wind pressure.
Ao, activating his Byakugan, shouted, "Mizukage-sama, it's all reefs ahead! If we hit them, our ship is done for!"
Yagura calmly said, "Accelerate. We can't wait any longer over there."
"With me here, it's fine!"
The calm words of their Mizukage gave the team immense confidence.
Ao focused all his attention on observing ahead, constantly adjusting the airship's route.
"We can't avoid the reef ahead! Impact in five seconds!", Ao shouted, and everyone on board braced themselves.
BOOM!
A loud crash echoed.
The airship was instantly smashed to pieces, and everyone was sent flying.
Yagura's chakra suddenly expanded and caught the three people, nullifying the force and tossing them down safely.
Just as the few landed steadily, Yagura also touched down, and immediately activated his Water Mirror Technique.
From the ground appeared a water mirror clone identical to him.
The two of them burst into Tailed Beast Cloaks and sprinted toward Rengoku, "You all follow behind."
———
Cee saw the visibly exhausted Raikage and Killer Bee.
"Lord Raikage, Lord Killer Bee," Cee immediately reported:
"Yugito Nii currently has an unknown fire seal placed on her by Rengoku."
"She can't use her chakra at all, and if she moves too far from Rengoku, she experiences burning sensations."
"These past two days, Uchiha Rengoku hasn't gone anywhere, and neither Konoha nor the Uchiha clan has sent any support."
"Uchiha Rengoku's sensory abilities are very strong. He said that if he senses Lord Raikage or Killer Bee, he'll kill Yugito Nii."
Though Killer Bee's combat ability was lower than the Raikage's, his recovery ability far surpassed the Raikage's. After hearing Cee's report, he growled angrily, "Damn Uchiha Rengoku ♬"
Raikage's face was extremely grim. He exhaled heavily, then took a storage scroll from his waist and handed it to Cee.
"Release Yugito Nii's seal before handing it over to him. Bring Yugito back to meet us."
Cee's eyes were deep and serious, "Don't worry, Lord Raikage. I know what to do."
After taking the scroll and leaving, Raikage immediately took a special soldier pill from his pouch and popped it into his mouth.
As long as Yugito Nii was out of danger, he would make sure Uchiha Rengoku stayed here forever.
———
After returning, Cee gathered everyone and approached Rengoku.
"Lord Rengoku, we've brought the ransom."
Rengoku, who had been sitting by the campfire, opened his eyes and stood up, smiling faintly, "Kumogakure sure came pretty fast?"
Cee's expression remained calm, "After all, she's our Kumogakure jinchuriki. Of course we had to come as quickly as possible."
Rengoku replied noncommittally, "The ransom?"
Cee took out the scroll Raikage had given him.
"All three billion is here."
Rengoku glanced at Yugito Nii, who stood silently to the side.
"A piece of trash like this is worth three billion in ransom?"
Yugito Nii glared at Rengoku fiercely, "What did you say?"
Rengoku turned around coldly, "What? You're not convinced?"
Cee reached out to stop Yugito Nii and gave her a look.
Yugito Nii forcibly suppressed her anger and snorted without saying anything.
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