Mabui and Samui led Makoto through Kumogakure's multi-layered, mountain-built architectural clusters, finally arriving at a spacious villa with an open view, located at the village's core.
This treatment far exceeded Kumogakure's initial plans for him.
When the Yondaime Raikage learned that the Kumogakure envoy team planned to 'invite' Makoto back, his first reaction was to arrange a 'unique' secure room.
But the intelligence Mabui and Samui had sent back ahead of time via summoned beasts over the past few days completely changed the situation.
Not only had this Uchiha Clan's second young master been highly cooperative throughout without any resistance, but at the critical moment of life and death when Konoha's Anbu and Root joined forces to intercept them...
He had acted to save both their lives and voluntarily followed them, who had lost their combat ability, to Kumogakure. His strong dissatisfaction with the Konoha's leadership was evident in his words, actions, and deeds.
This intelligence carried significant weight.
The Yondaime Raikage, A, decided overnight, tossing the previous secure room plan into the trash and replacing it with the fully-equipped, extremely comfortable large villa before them, showing considerable sincerity.
"Makoto, please rest here for a while."
Mabui gave a slight bow, her tone softer than ever. Although called rest, it was essentially confinement in disguise. A trace of imperceptible guilt flashed in her eyes.
Samui also nodded slightly, her blue-green pupils beneath her golden bangs sweeping over Makoto's calm face.
The two didn't linger, quickly turning to leave and report back to the Yondaime Raikage.
Makoto didn't mind. He watched them disappear around the corner before unhurriedly stepping into the large villa.
The interior was simple and elegant, with all necessary living facilities present.
Outside the window, he could overlook the appearance of Kumogakure, rugged mountains and rocks, staggered buildings, the environment was quite good.
He paced to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, consciously tapping his fingertips against the cool glass, sensing the coordinates of various Flying Thunder God's markers, the farthest being on the moon, humming a little tune of progress.
In his perception, many powerful auras lurked around the villa, clearly elite Anbu directly under the Yondaime Raikage. The level of treatment he was receiving in Kumogakure now even surpassed that of a Biju's Jinchuriki.
If he suddenly wanted to leave, the normal channels definitely wouldn't work, but he had abnormal channels. This 'tight protection' was, in his eyes, virtually nonexistent.
Makoto stretched lazily, glanced around the spacious, comfortable environment, a slight smile of satisfaction curling his lips.
'It seems the previous initiative and cooperation were quite effective,' Makoto mused inwardly, with a bit of satisfaction at his plan working.
First, he took a comfortable hot bath, washing away the milky scent on his body, then lay down on the soft bed. The [Player Shop] interface floated before his eyes.
A dazzling array of products shimmered faintly. His consciousness lightly scrolled, browsing rapidly, selecting the next items to purchase, while patiently waiting for the Yondaime Raikage's summons.
…
Meanwhile, at the top floor of the Raikage Building.
Compared to Makoto's comfortable 'new residence', the Raikage's office was a model of 'minimalism'.
The walls were snow-white, without any decoration, only the majestic portraits of successive Raikage hung.
A huge desk almost occupied the center of the room. A sofa and tea table for receiving guests were placed on the left, and a few heavy training equipment were scattered in the corner.
Beyond that, there were no superfluous decorations. It was tough, practical, and full of a sense of power.
The Yondaime Raikage, A, sat in this spacious office.
His dark skin gleamed with a metallic luster under the lights. The muscles of his bare upper body were knotted like thousand-times tempered steel, each containing explosive power.
His unruly, short golden hair stood on end. The green shuriken tattoos on his shoulders added to his fierce appearance.
Half a step behind the Yondaime Raikage stood a one-eyed man, similar to Konoha's Shimura Danzo.
Kumogakure's Elite Jonin, Lava Release Kekkei Genkai possessor, Dodai.
He was lean, one eye covered by a black patch, the other eye sharp as an eagle.
In Kumogakure, his status was comparable to Danzo's in Konoha, but he possessed an absolute loyalty to the Raikage and the village that the latter could hardly match.
As a retainer of the Sandaime Raikage, he was the Yondaime Raikage's most trusted strategist and backbone.
"Raikage-sama!"
"Dodai-sama!"
Mabui and Samui entered the Raikage's office and immediately knelt on one knee in salute, their posture respectful and crisp.
In Kumogakure, where strength was revered, this respect stemmed from recognition of absolute power.
"Rise. You've worked hard on this mission."
The Yondaime Raikage's voice was low and powerful, like rolling thunder.
"Report on this mission from start to finish, in detail. Dodai and I need to hear every detail firsthand."
Hearing this, Mabui and Samui glanced at each other. Mabui stepped forward and began her report with extreme clarity.
She recounted how Makoto had followed them late at night, inadvertently revealing his Two Tomoe Sharingan, and then spent a full nine days at a remote hot spring hotel.
During this time, he rarely returned to the Uchiha Clan's compound, as if deliberately cooperating with their operation.
"When Samui took action, he not only didn't resist, but showed extraordinary, utmost cooperation."
Reaching this point, Mabui's tone slightly emphasized: "During the withdrawal, we encountered a joint interception by Konoha's Anbu and Root."
"At the most critical moment, it was Uchiha Makoto who acted, saving both me and Samui. On the way, he repeatedly expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the Konoha's leadership."
"His words revealed recognition and yearning for Kumogakure's straightforward style, and..." Mabui took a deep breath, "...he personally admitted that he had been cooperating from the beginning, even... deliberately luring us into action."
Here, Mabui paused, then summarized.
"Although Uchiha Makoto is young, his thinking is extremely precocious, his talent is extremely high, his tendency to distance himself from Konoha is very obvious, and he is filled with favorable feelings towards Kumogakure."
Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Dodai's single eye. He looked thoughtfully at Mabui.
The suggestive meaning contained in these words was clear to him. Mabui met his gaze composedly, her eyes extremely firm. Clearly, she already had an inclination in her heart.
The Raikage's thick brows furrowed tightly, his broad chest rising and falling once. He turned to his external brain behind him: "Dodai, what's your view?"
Dodai's single eye narrowed slightly. He stroked his sparse goatee, his tone cautious.
"A core member of the Uchiha Clan having a strong willingness to defect to Kumogakure... this matter is very suspicious... but given his young age and exceptional talent, we can probably rule out the risk of him being a spy for now."
"No matter how stupid the Konoha's leadership is, they wouldn't send out a seedling with pure Uchiha bloodline and such astonishing potential to be a spy."
"How to place him depends on your view, Raikage-sama."