Darui's arrival gave the writhing shopkeeper a glimpse of hope. This was one of his own people, truly his own people! He was itching to death, and now the only one who could help him was Darui, a fellow villager.
Tears welled in the stall owner's eyes as he stretched out an arm covered in swollen welts, trying to grab Darui. A flicker of disgust passed through Darui's eyes.
Darui took a step back, avoiding the shopkeeper's grasping hand, and then led his shinobi to stand before the two Kage.
"Hokage-sama, Kazekage-sama, my apologies. Some individuals acted on their own, engaging in dishonest practices, and disturbed your mood. I am here to convey the Raikage-sama's most sincere apologies on his behalf." Darui struck his right fist against his left chest and bowed.
Ryun Uchiha smiled. "It's nothing major for me. I mainly saw this shopkeeper being dishonest, trying to cheat my friend Chiron, and then, after being exposed, wanting to teach me a lesson."
"My own matter is settled now. I'm just not sure what Chiron has to say." Ryun glanced at Chiron, raising an eyebrow.
Chiron stepped forward past the Puppet Brigade: Chikamatsu's Ten to stand before Darui. "I had just entered the village and saw Konohagakure selling chakra metal. I wanted to make a fair purchase. If not for Ryun's warning, I would have likely been swindled."
"I really don't know what's going on with your Kumogakure. You don't even have the most basic integrity in doing business!" Chiron bluntly rebuked Darui and Kumogakure.
Darui wore an obsequious smile on his face, but in his heart, he cursed that stall owner hundreds of times. He had told him many times not to play these petty tricks of short-changing customers, but the owner had always sneered at the advice.
Compared to Darui's warnings, the owner believed more in the saying, 'No merchant isn't cunning!' He never underpaid his taxes, so Kumogakure should just protect him as usual!
It wasn't until today, when this guy provoked people he couldn't afford to offend, the Hokage of Konohagakure and the Kazekage of Sunagakure, that he finally regretted it!
"Kazekage-sama, Hokage-sama, spare me! It itches, it itches to death!!!" Hearing this, how could the shopkeeper not understand? He had offended these two individuals and been poisoned!
The shopkeeper knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, his head thumping against the ground, constantly begging for mercy and admitting his mistake.
Kazekage Chiron looked around and noticed more and more Anbu ninja gathering. Since they were on Kumogakure's turf, he didn't want to escalate the situation.
So, Chiron gave a look to Sasori. Sasori nodded, took an antidote pill from his pocket, and threw it in front of the shopkeeper. Seeing this, the shopkeeper immediately grabbed the pill and shoved it into his mouth.
Sasori spoke slowly, "After taking this medicine, the itching will stop within ten minutes. As for the welts on your body, it will take a full month to completely recover."
After swallowing the pill, the shopkeeper felt the itching sensation subsiding. Upon hearing Sasori's words, he quickly kowtowed again. "Thank you, Kazekage-sama! Thank you, Kazekage-sama!"
"Let's go." Kazekage Chiron took one last look at the prostrate shopkeeper and turned to leave.
Sasori retrieved the Puppet Brigade: Chikamatsu's Ten and followed behind Chiron. After this incident, neither Kazekage Chiron nor Sasori felt like continuing their stroll.
Seeing that the show was over, Hokage Ryun Uchiha, along with Sakumo Hatake and Team Minato, also headed off in another direction.
Not a single ninja present dared to stop them. Are you kidding? That's asking for death! If they angered Ryun Uchiha and he went berserk, every single person present would die!
After the two Kage left, the Anbu asked Darui what they should do now. Darui rolled his eyes. "What should we do? What can we do! Are you going to risk your life to seek justice for this swindler?"
Just thinking about it made Darui angry. He kicked the swindler. Thump! The welts on the swindler's body burst from the powerful kick, and he let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
This swindler had tarnished their village's image and made their Anbu ninja look like fools and gossip material after a pointless trip!
Knowing he was in the wrong, the swindler shopkeeper didn't dare make a sound. He silently endured the kick and then pretended to faint.
Darui snorted coldly. "Everyone, disperse! Get back to your duties!"
Having said that, he headed to the village entrance to receive the final village, their enemy, Iwagakure.
This succession ceremony was made so grand precisely because of Iwagakure.
Just as Darui returned to the entrance, right on time, the Iwagakure delegation was about a hundred meters away!
Leading them was a short old man, standing on a stone platform, floating in the air. He had a smiling face, but his posture told everyone he was not to be trifled with.
Following him was Kitsuchi, a large man with a very honest-looking appearance. Next to Kitsuchi was a young man with yellow hair wearing a reddish-brown robe, looking utterly bored.
Darui took a deep breath, burying the hatred in his heart, and walked up to the village entrance with a smile to welcome Iwagakure.
The procedure was the same as before. However, when Ōnoki heard that the Third Raikage had died and the Fourth Raikage was paying his respects, he chuckled. "Well, that is truly a pity!"
Darui gritted his teeth, took another deep breath, and said, "Please, Tsuchikage-sama Ōnoki and your accompanying shinobi, follow me to the hotel."
Ōnoki looked at Darui, a flicker of killing intent arising. This person could represent the Fourth Raikage, A, in receiving the Kage of other villages. Moreover, upon hearing that his own previous Kage had died and being mocked by the enemy, he could suppress all that and calmly arrange accommodations for the enemy.
This person's talent and temperament were excellent!
However, Ōnoki quickly concealed his killing intent, his face turning indifferent. "Lead the way." Darui turned and walked towards the hotel.
For this succession ceremony, the Kage of all five villages were present. If he did anything out of line, it would immediately spread throughout the ninja world.
Furthermore, Kumogakure only had this one promising young person. Unlike our Iwagakure, which has Kitsuchi, Kurotsuchi, Deidara, talent is abundant. There was no need for him to ruthlessly eliminate him.
And so, Darui led Tsuchikage Ōnoki and his group to a rather run-down inn.
A vein bulged on Kitsuchi's forehead. His eyes glared fiercely at Darui. "Bastard! Is this how Kumogakure treats its guests?"
"Also one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and you arrange such an inn? You are completely humiliating us!" Kitsuchi roared.
Darui's expression remained calm. "Oh, actually, there are three other inns. However, they are occupied by the delegations from Konoha, Suna, and Kiri. If you wish to change, you can go negotiate with them."
"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company!" After saying this, Darui turned to leave. Deidara narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting. He glanced at the old man. The old man nodded.
Immediately, Deidara became excited. He opened a mouth on each of his hands, and then dense clusters of white clay spiders crawled out from his palms, scurrying into the hotel.
"Boom!" Deidara said the word. In an instant, the hotel exploded!
The already old and dilapidated hotel, after this explosion, was directly reduced to a pile of rubble!
Hearing the noise, Darui turned around, looking at the scene with disbelief, and shouted, "What have you done!"
Tsuchikage Ōnoki's expression was indifferent. Deidara was thrilled. Kitsuchi's lips curved upwards, very satisfied with it all!
"Even if you are dissatisfied with our arrangements, you can't just destroy the hotel! Do you not know there were still many civilians inside?" Darui said through gritted teeth.
Tsuchikage Ōnoki didn't feel the slightest bit of remorse. He slowly spoke, "Which of your eyes saw us do it?"
"Exactly! We didn't even step inside the gate before it collapsed. We seriously suspect Kumogakure was trying to kill us with this shoddy construction!" Kitsuchi added.
Deidara, however, had bloodshot eyes, gazing at his achievement with pure joy. "It worked! It worked!!! Haha, I finally did it! Hahahaha!"
Ōnoki's mouth twitched. He gave Deidara a sharp knock on the head! This kid really didn't know how to restrain himself! Everyone was trying to help him shift blame right now!
Deidara cried out in pain, a look of dissatisfaction in his eyes as he stared at the old man. Ōnoki gave him a meaningful look. Finally, Deidara relented, turned his head away, not wanting to deal with him.
Darui had no way to refute them. He could only stare blankly at this group, endless fury burning in his heart.
"Darui, stand down!" The voice of the Fourth Raikage, A, rang out.
Hearing this voice, Darui was momentarily stunned, then replied, "Yes, sir!"
A flash of lightning appeared, and the Fourth Raikage, A, materialized on the spot.
Ōnoki looked at this burly, tall middle-aged man who bore many similarities to the Third Raikage and nodded. Not bad. He had his father's style.
The Fourth Raikage, A, walked towards Ōnoki. Immediately, Kitsuchi clenched his fist and stepped in front of his father, Ōnoki. Deidara kneaded clay in his hands; various small white clay animals appeared, filled with violent chakra.
Ōnoki slowly spoke, "Everyone, step aside!" At his words, Kitsuchi and Deidara moved to the sides. Ōnoki walked towards the Fourth Raikage, A.
After walking a bit, both men stopped simultaneously. The Fourth Raikage, A, bowed respectfully. "My apologies, Tsuchikage-sama. It was my poor arrangement. As compensation, I will personally escort you and your guards to the best hotel."
"Hehe, the Raikage-sama is truly understanding and knows what's important. Then I graciously accept!" Ōnoki smiled slightly.
The Fourth Raikage, A, extended a hand. "Please!"
"Please!" Ōnoki laughed.
The two men walked at the front like old friends, chatting about interesting events from recent years and lavishing praise on each other.
"Third Tsuchikage-sama is truly knowledgeable and experienced, truly worthy of being called the most learned person."
"Fourth Raikage-sama is young and promising, inheriting the title of Raikage at such a young age. I believe Kumogakure will surely achieve greatness under the Raikage-sama's leadership."
Darui, Kitsuchi, Deidara, and the others following behind silently listened to the two exchange empty compliments, inwardly nonstop.
These people who play politics are really disgusting. They can say anything!
Not long after
The Fourth Raikage led the Third Tsuchikage and his group to the luxurious hotel where the Konoha ninja were staying.
Upon seeing the scale of this hotel, Ōnoki finally nodded. This was more fitting for their status and position!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━