Early in the morning, as Hibari stepped out of his room, he saw Kakuzu already sitting in the courtyard outside his door, seemingly waiting for him.
Kakuzu didn't know anyone in Konoha and his identity was somewhat special, so Hibari directly arranged for him to stay at the Senju clan's main compound. After all, the Senju clan had many vacant rooms, and there was one right next to his own room where Kakuzu was currently staying.
Being closer to him, Hibari could keep an eye on him, preventing him from causing any trouble.
However, Kakuzu didn't seem to have any ill intentions, or perhaps he truly felt that following Hibari would not only earn him a lot of money but also make his life pleasant, giving him the feeling of having a strong backing.
Thus, he settled down comfortably in the Senju clan's residence and seemed quite pleased with it.
As soon as he saw Hibari emerge, Kakuzu stood up and walked towards him. Hibari, carrying a large scroll, dressed in Anbu attire, with a bird mask askew on his head and a short blade at his waist, looked as if he had just been in a battle.
"Waiting for me here first thing in the morning? What? Don't want me to leave?" Hibari said with a chuckle.
Kakuzu glanced at Hibari's equipment, then said, "Anbu... It seems you're really preparing to head to the battlefield today?"
"If I don't go now, there won't even be any soup left to drink. What? Want to come with me?" Hibari asked with a playful smile.
Kakuzu shook his head, then said, "You already said it's best if I don't get involved in any Konoha matters, so what would I do? And from all perspectives, there's no chance of Konohagakure losing the war, is there?"
Hibari chuckled upon hearing this, then said, "Perhaps, but war isn't that simple. Until the very end, when the dust settles, no one can be sure that nothing chaotic will happen. Otherwise, why do you think I'm rushing to the front lines now? Do you really think I'm some glory-seeker trying to claim credit for the victory?"
Kakuzu was momentarily stunned by Hibari's words and said, "Aren't you just going to 'gild the lily'?"
In Kakuzu's view, Hibari was the type born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He wasn't aware of previous events, having only recently arrived in Konoha and being unfamiliar with the place, so how could he know too much?
He genuinely thought that while the war was intense, Hibari, as the Senju clan's precious darling, was arranged to 'avoid conflict' in the village, and then when the war was almost over, he'd go out to 'gild the lily' or something.
Hibari gave Kakuzu a look, then said, "Am I that kind of pampered brat? You underestimate me too much. Just wait here for the news. This great me is going to the battlefield to turn the tide..."
"Turn the tide? Hehehe... You make it sound like Konohagakure is at a disadvantage." Kakuzu didn't believe Hibari's nonsense.
However, a hint of determination flashed in Hibari's eyes. The war had progressed this far, and he hadn't received any news of Kinkaku or Ginkaku dying in battle. Therefore, he could be certain that those two bastards were still alive.
If that were the case, if his grandfather, Tobirama, truly were to form an alliance with Kumogakure, some tragedy might still occur, just like in the original history.
Hibari certainly couldn't stand by and watch this happen, so he had to go to the front lines and prepare to deal with these possibilities. No matter what, he couldn't let his grandfather die so inexplicably!
"Just you wait. If there's nothing else, I'm off. Don't you dare cause any trouble in the village, alright?... My arranging you to stay alone in the village, at home, is a sign of my trust in you. Don't let me down..." Hibari waved his hand, then seemed ready to leave.
But just then, Kakuzu suddenly spoke, "I also want you to build up some trust in me, but before that, can you first pay me the full compensation you owe? You've already researched and developed the Jiongu, and the results came out yesterday. You can't possibly go back on your word now, can you?"
Hibari was stunned for a moment, then said, "What do you mean 'go back on my word'? Didn't I give you ten million ryo? All in all, you've earned sixty million ryo from me. I haven't shortchanged you a single coin..."
Kakuzu's face darkened upon hearing this. He said, "The money is all there, but what about the promise? The director position at Mitsumine Group..."
Hearing this, Hibari slapped his forehead and said, "I almost forgot..."
After saying that, Hibari reached into his Ninjutsu tool pouch and pulled out a talisman. Then he gestured to Kakuzu, whose reaction was quick. He swiftly pulled out a brush from his person and handed it to Hibari.
Then Hibari quickly wrote a personal letter on the paper, then handed it to Kakuzu and said, "This is to reassure you for now. The director position isn't going anywhere. I'm in a hurry to leave. Go find my secretary, Hitoku Hyūga, and show him this. He'll naturally arrange for you to learn about the relevant matters of the Mitsumine Group. The Mitsumine Group is no small operation. By the time you've familiarized yourself, I should be back. We can then arrange everything in detail, alright?"
Kakuzu glanced at Hibari's letter, then didn't argue further. He said, "Alright, then I wish you success in battle..."
After saying that, he seemed to not even bother with Hibari anymore, turning and leaving quite naturally.
Hibari watched this scene, feeling both amused and a little annoyed. This guy really wasn't here to see him off; he was here to collect a debt!
After a moment of thought, Hibari said to Kakuzu's retreating back with some annoyance, "You're not thinking I'll die on the battlefield, are you? Is that why you came to collect from me? Afraid I won't be able to pay later?"
"Swords have no eyes, and the battlefield is merciless..." Kakuzu muttered without turning his head, having already left through the side gate of the courtyard.
Although Hibari inwardly wished he could go up and pummel him, it was already their assembly time. So, he didn't continue to bicker with that scoundrel Kakuzu. Instead, he quickly left the courtyard through another gate and rushed towards the Anbu headquarters.
Pushing open the Anbu door, Hibari had just walked in when he saw Kagami Uchiha, Hitenn Hyūga, and Sakumo Hatake already assembled and ready. It seemed they were just waiting for him.
Of course, it wasn't just the three of them; all the other members who had been on leave were also present.
Seeing this, Hibari chuckled, clapped his hands to get everyone's attention, then said, "Is everyone here? Then I announce that the holidays for the Second, Third, and Fourth Squads officially end today. Everyone get ready! We will head to the Land of Hot Water front lines at the fastest possible speed!"
Kagami chuckled, stretching his shoulders, then said, "When we came back before, I always wanted to take a break and recuperate properly, but after only a few days of rest, I kept wanting to go to the front lines again. However, I was afraid of dampening everyone's spirits, so I never dared to suggest it. Are we finally setting out?"
Sakumo also smiled, then said, "Based on the current situation, if we continue our leave, the war on the front lines will be over, and we'll truly become 'deserters'..."
Hitenn then asked, "Deputy Commander, what's our mission this time? Is it just to support the war on the front lines?"
Hibari picked up the tea on the table and took a sip as he said, "On the surface, yes..."
"On the surface?" Kagami was stunned for a moment, then said, "Could it be another hidden mission? What? Assassinate the Land of Lightning's Daimyō?"
"You're really addicted to killing, aren't you?" Hibari first glanced at Kagami.
Then he paused slightly, his expression becoming a little more serious. Looking at all the members, he said, "You are all comrades who have faced life and death with me, Senju Hibari. We did that mission in the Land of Water together, so you are all people I trust. Therefore, I am issuing a top-secret mission here. This mission must not be leaked to anyone..."
Upon hearing Hibari's words, everyone's expressions turned serious. Then Hibari continued, "According to the intelligence and calculations I've obtained, Kumogakure's war effort is on the verge of complete collapse. After this, the Hokage will very likely engage in peace talks with Kumogakure for the greater good, to completely end this war. What's more, it's even possible that we might form an alliance with Kumogakure..."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the others weren't very good. After all, it wasn't just the Senju clan who had lost people in this war. The Hyūga clan, the Uchiha clan, and other various shinobi clans, large and small, had all made sacrifices.
And among these Anbu elites, there weren't many civilian shinobi. More or less, they all came from families of various sizes, so it could be said that they all harbored 'blood feuds' with Kumogakure. At this moment, hearing Hibari say that the war might evolve into an alliance, it would be strange if they felt comfortable.
Hibari naturally noticed this atmosphere, then he said, "Do you think only we are feeling uncomfortable? The one truly uncomfortable is the Hokage. Think about it, what kind of mindset does he need to make such a decision?"
The others were also stunned upon hearing this, then they all put away their dissenting expressions. Yes, the Hokage was indeed in the most difficult position...
Seeing this, Hibari continued, "It might lead to peace talks and an alliance, but don't forget how this war started. Kumogakure's internal affairs aren't harmonious, and the warmongering faction hasn't been completely eliminated by us in this war. Our teams have all engaged those two bastards, Kinkaku and Ginkaku. I'm sure you all know that those two bastards are true madmen... Therefore..."
"Coup d'état? Conspiracy?" Kagami immediately blurted out.
The expressions of the others also changed, then Hibari said, "We can't rule out that possibility. Therefore, I announce that we will be executing a 'secret protection operation.' We must not let down our guard at any moment. Once an alliance meeting truly begins, we must absolutely protect the Hokage's safety!!!"
"Yes!" The others said with serious expressions and solemn tones upon hearing Hibari's words.
Then Hibari grinned and said with a smile, "There's no need to be so nervous. As long as we're fully prepared, who can we possibly be afraid of? Let's go!"
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