Mabui quickly called the intelligence ninja in and asked,
"Is the information confirmed? Moku Kairen is really launching an eastern campaign?!"
The intelligence ninja nodded. "Absolutely true. He has already issued a declaration of war on the light screen."
Mabui bit her finger while thinking.
"What is that guy trying to do? What's so good about the Land of Lightning?"
Omoi felt he had already seen through Kairen and said firmly,
"No mistake. That guy wants to come to the Land of Lightning to snatch you two."
Samui snorted. "He's at least the ruler of a region. Would he really be that idle?"
Omoi curled his lips. "He only thinks with his lower body. Of course he'd be desperate enough to grab anything."
Mabui shook her head.
"Stop arguing. No matter why he's coming, at present he's our only support for driving the Akatsuki Organization out of the Land of Lightning."
"So we need to send someone to contact him."
Samui and the other two looked at one another. In the base, only the three of them were truly capable representatives.
Samui exchanged a glance with Karui, then both of them simultaneously turned their attention toward Omoi.
Omoi froze. They were planning to send him to his death?
"No way, I'm not going. That guy is moody and bloodthirsty. I might never come back once I go."
Samui said disdainfully, "Coward. What are you afraid of? He's only interested in women."
Omoi still shook his head. "Still inappropriate. Who knows if he's only interested in women?"
Mabui sighed. "If that's the case, then I'll go."
Kairen's impression of her was at least better than of Obito. After all, the former was merely lustful, while Obito was someone who would massacre villages.
Though honestly, the impression wasn't good either.
Hearing that Mabui intended to walk into danger herself, the other three hurriedly stopped her.
"No. You're currently Kumogakure's only leader. If you leave, the last remaining flame of Kumogakure will go out."
Karui stepped forward. "Then I'll go! That guy probably doesn't like my type anyway."
Omoi curled his lips. "He may not like your type, but we're going to ask for help. If you don't catch his attention, why would he help us?"
In the end, Omoi and Karui both focused their gazes on Samui.
Samui had fair skin, stunning beauty, long legs, and a proud figure. She was also someone Kairen had coveted.
Aside from Mabui, only she remained.
Samui didn't dare meet Omoi and Karui's eyes.
After all, she was still an untouched young woman and instinctively wary of a lustful demon like Kairen.
Samui's silence prompted Mabui to step forward.
"Enough. I'll go. Kumogakure was built by generations of our ancestors. We absolutely cannot let the Akatsuki Organization destroy it."
Samui glanced at Mabui's white hair, slightly disheveled.
Mabui had spent the entire day handling trivial affairs and had forgotten even to tidy her appearance.
Samui felt a pang of heartache. Mabui carried so much on her shoulders—why was she still trying to avoid responsibility herself?
She stepped forward and lifted her proud chest.
"Since that guy is interested in me, then let me go meet him."
Mabui looked at the determination on Samui's face.
"You… have you really thought this through? Moku Kairen might coerce you."
Samui raised her brows. "I will never let him succeed. If he lays a hand on me, I'll kill myself."
"Sigh…"
Mabui let out a long sigh. If the Fourth Raikage and Killer B were still alive, they wouldn't have to resort to such measures.
Karui grabbed Omoi by the ear and stepped forward.
"In that case, the two of us will go with you. At least you'll have company."
Forced under threat, Omoi spoke words meant to comfort Samui.
"Don't worry. Maybe that guy will show mercy and help us."
Samui did not hesitate and turned toward the cave exit.
"Let's go. It'll be dark soon. We must meet Moku Kairen before tomorrow evening."
...
Kairen was stroking Wolon and Fenchu while contemplating life when Akamaru suddenly began barking urgently outside the hall, as if something important had happened.
"Why are you barking?"
"Woof!"
"Something strange?"
Kairen became interested and patted Wolon's little butt.
"Take me out!"
Wolon rolled his eyes in disdain, silently complaining that this hairless monkey was lazy beyond imagination.
But as Kairen's mount, he still had to think about his dinner. His body expanded, becoming as large as a small car, carrying Kairen and his sister out of the hall.
Dusk had arrived, the slanting sun sketching faint golden afterglow across the horizon.
Few people remained around Kairen's palace now, because the eastern campaign had begun.
After confirming the invasion of the Land of Lightning, Kairen organized an army of two hundred thousand troops to march east, while he himself stayed in the city.
The reason?
Wasn't it obviously to indulge in pleasure?
There were so many women in the harem waiting for him to feed and support—where would he find time to run around outside?
The Four-Tails Son Goku also stood guard outside the hall together with Akamaru, one on each side.
Although the Four-Tails looked somewhat ugly, it qualified perfectly as a gate guardian. Its fierce appearance alone could scare many people away.
When Kairen arrived outside, he saw Akamaru sniffing closely at two large boxes. They were exquisitely packaged and big enough to hold people.
Akamaru carefully sniffed them, then turned back toward Kairen with a flattering dog expression.
"Woof!"
Kairen understood immediately. "You're saying there are people inside?"
"Woof!"
Kairen frowned. Delivering living people by package?
He glanced at the Four-Tails beside him, which immediately lowered its head.
Tailed Beasts possessed powerful sensory abilities. The Four-Tails clearly sensed that Kairen had grown stronger again, approaching the level of the Ten-Tails.
Perhaps because Kairen had eaten two Chakra Fruits, his life level had risen once more.
Kairen asked, "Did you see who delivered them?"
The Four-Tails shook its head. "Sorry. I just dozed off for a moment and didn't notice."
"Forget it. Let's see what good stuff is inside."
Kairen didn't blame it.
The Four-Tails secretly let out a sigh of relief. Although staying beside Kairen meant no longer worrying about being captured by the Akatsuki Organization, it still had to constantly watch this man's unpredictable temper.
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