A special thank you to my patrons:
—Shahzaam, Jacob Mooe, kevin Williams, Jose Sierra, Pasang Sherpa, Acedia, kurtis newman, Nhoxious, sediaz, Targaryen, King Scales.
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
————————————————————
Even as the leaders of their villages, they couldn't rule by decree alone. Matters as significant as Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki inevitably required consultation and negotiation with the village's upper echelons. Even if Mei Terumi and Rasa wanted to relocate the Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki outside their villages, they first had to persuade others.
The Mist Village would have an easier time, but the other villages, each dealing with two Jinchuriki or two Tailed Beasts, would have their hands full for quite a while. Kazuki felt that among the Sand, Mist, and Stone Villages, the Stone Village had the highest probability of relocating their Jinchuriki or Tailed Beast outside the village. After all, the Stone Village had already suffered a devastating blow in secret. If another incident like the Four-Tails Night were to erupt, the Stone Village would be in serious trouble. The Mist and Sand Villages, on the other hand, were tangled in countless internal problems, making such a relocation considerably more difficult.
As for the Cloud Village, which hadn't even been mentioned... given the Raikage A's personality and the village's extreme emphasis on their Jinchuriki, there was no way they would transfer the Tailed Beasts elsewhere, even knowing the Akatsuki might infiltrate and attack. When it came to relocating Jinchuriki, the Cloud Village's preferred response was simple: Bring it on! When it came to head-on clashes, the iron-headed warriors of the Cloud Village would never back down from anyone.
After a bit more casual chat, the three, now slightly tipsy, left the barbecue restaurant and returned to their respective lodgings. Kazuki had simply donned the Hokage battle robe and become the Sixth Hokage of the Leaf Village. The event didn't stir up much commotion within the village, but it drew considerable attention from outside. The strongest reaction came from the Third Hokage.
Just as Akimichi Torifu had predicted, Kazuki becoming Hokage signified the utter collapse of the Third Hokage's decades-long efforts. From the very day he became Hokage, he had never once loosened his grip on the policy of targeting the Uchiha. To this day, over twenty or thirty years later, suppressing the Uchiha had remained his top priority. Now, it had all turned to bubbles.
"Teacher..."
The once-infamous Leaf Village F4 – Danzo was dead, Koharu Utatane was dead, and Mitokado Homura, while still alive and well, had shifted his allegiance to Kazuki's camp. The Third Hokage was now a man utterly alone. At this moment, he couldn't even find anyone to confide his anguish in. He could only stand in the darkness, gazing at the sky, calling out his teacher.
What's wrong with Lord Third? Is he reminiscing about Lord Second?
Why would he suddenly come outside to stand, staring at the sky and calling out for his teacher?
Don't look at me, I have no idea.
The Anbu squad members secretly assigned to protect the Third Hokage communicated silently with their eyes. But no matter how hard they racked their brains, they couldn't fathom what was wrong with their retired Third Hokage. Why would a man of his age suddenly turn so sentimental? The Anbu naturally didn't dare conceal anything regarding the Third Hokage's situation.
Everything was meticulously recorded on a scroll and sent back to the village. When Kazuki received the scroll and opened it, he couldn't help but laugh. He'd known the Third Hokage would react strongly to him directly ascending to the Hokage's throne. Cursing up a storm wasn't the old man's style – he wasn't the type to curse. But fury and pent-up resentment were inevitable.
What Kazuki hadn't expected was that the old fossil would go outside to reminisce about his teacher, Tobirama Senju. A man of his age, still so sentimental. Tossing the scroll aside, Kazuki paid the matter no further mind. As long as the Third Hokage didn't cause trouble, the old man could be sad, mourn the past, whatever – it was his own business, ultimately without any consequence. If he wanted to sit on the ground and wail, he was welcome to. Even a single extra glance would be my loss!
"Lord Hokage, Mabui of the Cloud Village is here to pay her respects." At the Leaf Village's main gate, Mabui, dressed in a new set of clothes, waited for the gate guard to send word.
"It seems the Raikage has grown impatient. Let her in." Mabui's arrival undoubtedly meant a mission – she had come bearing the Raikage's orders. As she entered the Hokage's office, Kazuki's gaze involuntarily paused for several seconds, scrutinizing her from head to toe. An expression of surprise crossed his face. "It's been a while, and you've changed quite a bit. The Raikage sent you, I presume?"
The familiar secretary's uniform was gone, replaced by ordinary clothing. Stranger still, the woman wasn't even wearing the Cloud Village's forehead protector.
"The Raikage has indeed entrusted me with a mission," Mabui confirmed with a nod. She produced a scroll, stepped forward to place it on the desk, then retreated several steps and stood quietly.
What conditions could A offer? More precisely, what could the Cloud Village offer to win over both him and the Leaf Village? Curious, Kazuki opened the scroll and skimmed through its contents before quickly putting it away. Seeing this, a flicker of disappointment passed through Mabui's eyes. She knew the village's terms would struggle to sway Kazuki into steadfastly aligning the Leaf Village with the Cloud.
"Unfortunately, I cannot give the Raikage an answer right now. And I believe you can guess the reason. Onoki has invited me for a private meeting. I need to know the Tsuchikage's terms before I can make a choice." Kazuki didn't hide the matter of meeting Onoki from Mabui; he told her openly. As for whether Mabui and the Cloud Village would resent him or the Leaf Village for this, Kazuki couldn't care less. It was only because past cooperation between the two villages had been good that Kazuki was being this transparent.
Otherwise, he would never have said such a thing outright – at least not before meeting with Onoki. Admittedly, the Cloud Village had been very generous. Their terms were highly tempting: money, war materiel, and even precious Lightning Release ninjutsu scrolls. But none of these could catch Kazuki's eye. The Leaf Village currently lacked neither money nor supplies. As for Lightning Release ninjutsu scrolls... having them would be nice, but their absence was no great loss. Unless the Cloud Village included the training methods for the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, it would be very difficult to persuade him.
"I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to make another trip and report my response to the Raikage."
"I'm sorry, but I cannot do that," Mabui replied, shaking her head slightly.
"?"
What did she mean? She was the Raikage's secretary, the mission had been entrusted to her, yet she couldn't even return to the village to report? Under Kazuki's questioning gaze, Mabui explained, "The mission I received was a one-way assignment. Moreover, from the moment I left the Cloud Village, I have ceased to be a member of the village."
"?" Wait a moment?!
The Raikage actually sent his secretary to me?! That man truly is willing to go all out. Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, among all the Kage's secretaries, Mabui's capabilities were undoubtedly top-tier. Her personal combat strength might not be exceptionally high, but her administrative abilities were outstanding.