Mitsuki Kōmei put the Chakra Pill back into the porcelain bottle, gently placed it on the table, and called out, "Someone!" from outside the door.
From a dark corner, a Ninja appeared, kneeling on one knee outside the door, head slightly bowed, awaiting Mitsuki Kōmei's command.
"Please invite Finance Minister Kakuzu."
"Understood!"
Mitsuki Kōmei had sent Guo Er to the Land of the Sea on a mission, so he temporarily found a Chunin to convey his orders in Guo Er's place.
Soon after, Kakuzu hurried to the Deliberation Hall, holding an account book in his left hand and an abacus in his right.
Mitsuki Kōmei scrutinized Kakuzu's attire, feeling incredibly fortunate to have chosen Kakuzu as his Finance Minister, seeing how serious he looked.
"Lord Mitsuki , may I ask why you've summoned me? I have many account books that need to be calculated and tallied." As he spoke, he shook the abacus in his hand, making a clattering sound.
Mitsuki Kōmei extended a finger, pointing to a nearby chair, signaling Kakuzu to sit down.
"There's no need to rush. Work is endless. Once you finish one account book, there will be more. Don't you agree? Hahaha!" Mitsuki Kōmei laughed mischievously.
Under Kakuzu's resentful gaze, Mitsuki Kōmei pushed the porcelain bottle from his side towards Kakuzu.
"You've done well with the Hidden Mist Village matter. Here's a small reward for you. Next, I'll need your help in fending off the Hidden Mist Village Ninja's offensive. Open it and eat it."
Mitsuki Kōmei watched as Kakuzu placed the account book and abacus on the table, reached for the porcelain bottle, opened it, took out a pill, sniffed it, and then put it into his mouth and ate it.
A moment later, his eyes widened, and he poured the remaining two pills into his mouth all at once.
Mitsuki Kōmei held a teacup, gently blew on it to dissipate some heat, reaching the optimal drinking temperature. After taking a sip, the cup remained full, steaming hot.
"How is it? The effect isn't bad, right?" Mitsuki Kōmei said to Kakuzu with a half-smile.
"The effect is excellent, Lord Mitsuki ! Do you have more? I can buy them with money." Kakuzu clutched the porcelain bottle tightly with both hands.
Mitsuki Kōmei nodded and held up two fingers, "Two hundred million ryo per pill."
"Lord Mitsuki , I'll buy 20 pills. I'll go get the money now."
Before he could finish speaking, Mitsuki Kōmei saw Kakuzu rush out the door. Five minutes later, he returned to the Deliberation Hall with a Seal scroll, dashing back to stand before him.
"Lord Mitsuki , all four billion ryo are here!"
Mitsuki Kōmei accepted the Seal scroll and handed 20 Chakra Pills to Kakuzu. He switched hands, earning two billion ryo net. Good man, Kakuzu.
Thrown onto the street for the second time, Yukino Shinsuke was on the verge of tears, covering his face as he fled back to Hidden Mist Village.
"Lord Mizukage, Kakuzu is unyielding and impervious to persuasion. Are we just going to let this go?"
The Mizukage raised his voice, drawing out the sound, "Let it go? The Land of Water is not Kakuzu's playground. Summon the Clan Chiefs of a few Families!"
With the Clan Chiefs assembled, having suffered two consecutive setbacks, the Mizukage was exceptionally agitated. He skipped the discussion and issued direct orders.
"Kakuzu, the rogue Ninja from Takigakure, is lording it over the Land of Water. He is a disgrace to Hidden Mist Village and a disgrace to the Land of Water. He must be taught a lesson."
The Mizukage stomped his foot and pounded the table, pointing at the Clan Chiefs, "You are the top combat forces of Hidden Mist Village. Go to Daimyo City and give Kakuzu a thorough beating with all your might."
"Let other Villages see the strength of Hidden Mist Village and warn them not to meddle. Also, let the so-called Daimyo see who is truly the boss of the Land of Water."
The Clan Chiefs rubbed their fists and eagerly prepared for action, "Rest assured, Lord Mizukage. Fighting is our strong suit. We guarantee mission completion."
As a guide, Yukino Shinsuke appeared in Daimyo City for the third time in half a month. Unlike his cautious demeanor in the previous two instances, this time he was high-spirited, leading his group with a menacing Aura directly to the Finance Department.
Mitsuki Kōmei received the news and ordered a group of Dragon horses to be brought, then rode on horseback to the Finance Department.
When he arrived, the group had already begun to confront each other. The situation was not good, and Mitsuki Kōmei urgently shouted, "Fight outside the city! You can't fight properly in the city, and if you damage the houses, it will cost money to repair them."
Upon hearing that it would cost money, Kakuzu, and the Clan Chiefs who were ready to show off their skills, hearing that they couldn't fight properly, all walked out of the city in unison.
Mitsuki Kōmei followed on horseback. After they left the city, he climbed onto the city gate tower to watch the battle from afar.
"Kakuzu, instead of being a bounty hunter, you've come to the Land of Water to cause trouble. Today, you must be taught a lesson you'll never forget."
"Indeed, challenging the bottom line of Hidden Mist Village repeatedly and rejecting the Mizukage's olive branch means you're tired of living."
"You threw me onto the street twice. Today's me is not yesterday's me. I will avenge those two throws, and also let a certain someone see who is truly the boss of the Land of Water." As he spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Mitsuki Kōmei.
A battle was about to erupt.
Mitsuki Kōmei stood on the city tower, watching with a grin, as if watching a movie. Thick smoke billowed across the field, and various Ninjutsu emerged endlessly.
"Oh dear, how brutal, how savage! Hair completely burned off. This one is even worse, electrocuted until smoke comes out of all seven orifices. That one ate a belly full of dirt."
The ideal was beautiful, but reality was cruel. The harsher the words spoken, the more miserable the beating received.
"Don't come any closer! How are you so powerful!"
"Scram!"
Mitsuki Kōmei cheerfully watched the Hidden Mist Village group hobble away, thinking that next time, the Mizukage would likely take action personally. He wondered what expression he would have on his face after being beaten up.
The group returned to Hidden Mist Village, bruised and battered, their clothes tattered. The Common People along the way laughed heartlessly.
"You useless bunch! You've completely disgraced Hidden Mist Village! Several of you couldn't even defeat one person. How do you even have the nerve to come back?"
The Mizukage was so furious he was practically jumping. Standing in the Mizukage's office, he unleashed a torrent of abuse, saliva flying, at the group.
Yukino Shinsuke remained silent. Who could have imagined Kakuzu was so formidable, using various combined Ninjutsu that caught the group off guard? He had nothing to say and silently endured the Mizukage's wrath with his head down.
The Mizukage, tired from scolding, said, "You all go back and recover from your injuries. In a few days, I will personally lead you to Daimyo City."
Mitsuki Kōmei returned to Daimyo Manor, and Tsunade also returned from outside.
"Why are you back so early? Did you lose all your money that quickly? Little Tsunade, you've already set a record."
Tsunade looked worried, "No, I heard Kakuzu taught a lesson to a few Elite Jonin from Hidden Mist Village?"
"Yes, is there a problem?" Mitsuki Kōmei looked puzzled.
"If he's that powerful, why would he willingly serve as your Finance Minister? Does he have some ulterior motive?" Tsunade said seriously.
"Let's talk about the future when it comes. Isn't Kakuzu and the Mizukage fighting the best situation for now?"
Tsunade was pulled by Mitsuki Kōmei and thought carefully. For now, there was no better solution.
"You're right, the situation is in your favor. I will also Cultivate diligently. Try to meet any demands Kakuzu has, and wait for me!"
Seven nights later, at ten o'clock, the Mizukage arrived in Daimyo City with his people, forcefully assaulting the Finance Department, destroying numerous surrounding buildings, and injuring many Common People. The Mizukage's actions were quite deliberate, intended to give Mitsuki Kōmei a warning.