The Fourth Raikage still hadn't decided whether he should personally take revenge against those people.
But now, with both the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails in critical danger, if Kumogakure chose to remain silent… how would it maintain its dignity before the entire Shinobi World?
What would the other villages think?
Would he go down in history as the most cowardly Raikage—
—someone anyone could trample without consequence?
"Damn Akatsuki… this old man isn't done with you!"
"Lord Raikage!"
Darui, standing close by, watched anxiously. If the Raikage allowed his anger to swallow his logic, then any decision he made would surely be reckless.
The Fourth Raikage turned toward him.
"Contact the Mizukage. Tell him that if he can provide Akatsuki's exact location, this old man will pay any price!"
Darui frowned. Of course he understood the logic—but…
"Lord Raikage, we can conduct the search ourselves. If we rely on the Mizukage, what if Hidden Mist demands an outrageous price? Kumogakure might not be able to bear it."
Kumo was already in a precarious situation. Darui didn't want the burden to worsen.
But the Raikage no longer cared.
At this moment, he had only one thought.
Revenge.
"Whatever Kirigakure wants—give it to them. The Akatsuki must die."
After speaking, the Raikage looked Darui straight in the eyes.
"Kumogakure needs Tailed Beasts."
His voice was quiet, but Darui heard it clearly.
In that instant, Darui understood everything.
Kirigakure was rising sharply in power. Shigure himself was overwhelmingly strong. If Kumogakure had nothing left—not even a Tailed Beast—then facing a Mizukage like Shigure with only a single Raikage as their pillar…
Other nations would look down on them without hesitation.
The current Shinobi World was anything but peaceful.
If conflict erupted again, the difference between having Tailed Beasts and not having them was the difference between survival and destruction.
On top of that, Shigure had openly taken the Seven-Tails—though it was technically Konoha's doing, handing the Seven-Tails to Kirigakure as compensation.
Takigakure could only endure it silently.
After all… would a tiny village from a minor country dare challenge one of the Five Great Nations?
Obviously not.
Kirigakure
Upon returning to the village, Shigure didn't touch any political matters. Instead, he sought out Hinata immediately.
He wanted to hear her true feelings.
Back then, he had taken Hinata away by force, without warning. If she now wished to return to Konoha, Shigure would never stop her.
But when Hinata heard his question, her expression stiffened, and her eyes filled with tears.
"L-Lord Shigure… did I do something wrong?"
"I… I can change. So… Shigure-kun, please don't send me away!"
Shigure quickly comforted her, startled by her reaction.
"I'm not sending you away. I just want to confirm your wishes. If you want to go home, you're free to do so anytime. But if you want to stay… then no one can take you from here."
Hinata finally smiled, relief flooding her face.
She tugged on his sleeve, eager for him to taste the new dish she'd prepared.
From the side, Mei Terumī watched them with narrowed eyes.
This little brat… all he knows is how to bully poor Hinata all day long.
The Next Morning
After a full day of rest, Shigure went to check on Sasuke.
Sasuke was already awake.
"How do you feel?"
Sitting upright on the bed, Sasuke stared at Shigure.
His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"What did he mean… in the end?"
Shigure paused.
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke raised his hand and tapped his forehead.
"He poked my forehead. You saw it, didn't you?"
"At that moment, he clearly had enough strength left to take my eyes… but he didn't."
Shigure fell silent.
Wasn't it obvious? Or perhaps Sasuke already understood but simply wasn't ready to accept it.
Either way, there was no easy answer.
"Itachi's truth… you'll have to piece it together slowly."
Shigure had brought Itachi's body back with him. He had already removed Itachi's Sharingan—but he hadn't consumed them. Instead, he kept them sealed away, intending to hand them to Sasuke in the future.
Shigure exhaled, then looked Sasuke straight in the eyes.
"I have a question for you, Sasuke."
Sasuke's gaze sharpened.
"What do you want to ask? Just say it."
"Do you want to join Kirigakure?"
Sasuke froze.
The question forced him to confront reality.
Orochimaru had been sealed by Itachi's Totsuka Blade, and even if he wasn't completely eradicated, his condition would be extremely weak.
Returning to Orochimaru now would be suicidal—Sasuke knew that all too well. Orochimaru would waste no time attempting to take his body.
He had only used Orochimaru as a stepping stone to gain power.
Now that he had avenged Itachi…
What reason did he have to go back?
To repay a debt?
With his life?
Sasuke wasn't naïve.
And when he considered his options carefully… there was nowhere else for him to go.
Kirigakure didn't seem like a bad choice.
But—
"I'll think about it," Sasuke said quietly.
Shigure nodded.
"Take your time. When you're ready, Kirigakure will always welcome you."
With that, Shigure stood and left the room.
Sasuke remained seated, staring out the window as clouds drifted across the sky.
"Itachi… what were you trying to do?"
Mizukage's Office
Shigure returned to his office with a faint edge of impatience. Sasuke's lack of an immediate answer bothered him more than he admitted.
If Sasuke refused to join Kirigakure…
Shigure would not be pleased.
He buried himself in paperwork to settle his thoughts until a knock came at the door.
A Kirigakure shinobi entered.
"Lord Mizukage."
"What is it?" Shigure asked without looking up.
The shinobi bowed.
"Ninja from Iwagakure request an audience with you."
Iwagakure.
A village with which Kirigakure had a long history of conflict. And now they appeared here of all places?
Shigure nodded.
"Let them in."
Moments later, the door opened—and a young female shinobi walked in.
Shigure blinked.
Kurotsuchi?
Wasn't this the one who would become the Fourth Tsuchikage?
Why was she here?
"Kurotsuchi of Iwagakure greets the Mizukage," she said formally.
Shigure leaned back in his chair.
"How did someone from Iwagakure end up in Kirigakure? Take a wrong turn traveling across the continent?"
Kurotsuchi responded with a small, polite smirk.
"The old man—Lord Third Tsuchikage—asked us to deliver a message. First, he extends his greetings to the Mizukage."
She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Second… he asks whether Deidara has been captured by Kirigakure."
So they were here for Deidara.
It seemed the Third Tsuchikage valued him quite highly.
If Deidara weren't such an impulsive fool, Shigure suspected the title of Fourth Tsuchikage might have already been his.