Yagura looked a bit surprised, but he agreed right away, "Alright, I won't attack the Kumogakure again."
Kakuzu reminded him from the side, "Mizukage, you've already seen Master Senku's strength. If there's a next time, we'll hand you over to the Raikage."
Yagura let out an unhappy snort, "Relax, I keep my word."
At that moment, Senku also loosened the chains binding the two of them, "I hope you take care of yourself, benefactor."
The wings on Yagura's (Rengoku's) body were still there. With one shake, he lifted straight into the air.
The real Yagura gave Senku a deep look, then jumped up, grabbed Rengoku's hand, and flew off.
Before Senku and the others even landed, the people of the Kumogakure had already sent the intel ahead.
The Raikage was also a little shocked.
He hadn't expected Yagura, whom the Kumogakure had no way of handling, to be captured by Senku so easily.
If the Akatsuki didn't want to offend the Hidden Mist, Yagura would have had to stay here today.
When the Akatsuki members finally landed, the Kumogakure shinobi were clearly trying to be both polite and cautious.
"Your organization really does have no shortage of talent. I didn't expect that apart from Pain, there would also be a master like Monk Senku."
Cee said this with a bit of probing in his tone.
Kakuzu didn't bite. He just replied in a matching tone, "Everyone in our organization is a rare talent."
"The mission is done. The Mizukage won't dare come again."
Cee understood that the next part would definitely be about money.
It was just that the Kumogakure originally thought that even if Senku could drive off the Hidden Mist, it wouldn't be this fast. They had planned to collect more intel.
And they thought they could wait for Killer B to return. They didn't expect the match to be decided just like that.
In that situation at high altitude, Yagura definitely wouldn't dare come again.
Cee thought for a moment and then said, "Mr. Kakuzu, you've seen our village has been destroyed to this extent. We need two days to gather the funds."
"Hehehe!", Kakuzu let out a low laugh, as if he already knew exactly what Cee meant.
"Relax, we have another member escorting your Jinchuriki back."
"We'll wait for him, and then leave together."
"Just have the money ready by then."
Cee hadn't expected the Akatsuki to not be in any hurry at all, so he took advantage of it and said, "Then please rest for a bit. When Killer B returns, we'll settle everything."
———
[Meanwhile, Sunagakure]
Because of the distance, Rasa had only now received the intel that Rengoku had intercepted the Kumogakure at the border of the Land of Fire.
And after their retreat, the Iwagakure had also gone back.
At this moment, Rasa felt a bit of regret.
From their point of view, apart from Rengoku, the Konoha only had Fugaku and Itachi with Mangekyo Sharingan.
But even Mangekyo can't stop thousands of soldiers.
What good is restraining Jinchuriki when the Sunagakure doesn't have a Jinchuriki of their own?
In terms of combat strength, only Rengoku's abilities had been exposed. Fugaku and Itachi's fighting power was still a mystery.
If they hadn't retreated, then invading the Land of Fire now would definitely mean Fugaku would come to defend.
They could have at least tested Fugaku's or Itachi's strength.
Now they had wasted a chance for nothing.
"Lord Kazekage, the Iwagakure has sent a letter."
At that moment, Maki came to report and handed him a scroll.
After the Third Great Ninja War, the various nations and Hidden Villages were not openly hostile anymore.
Mainly to allow merchant caravans to move normally.
After all, no country can have everything inside its borders.
The Land of Wind lacked supplies but had abundant mineral resources, making it the major ore exporter of the ninja world.
The two villages inevitably had to interact, and this type of scroll was official documentation.
Rasa's thoughts stirred as he opened the scroll. These scrolls were always checked and safe.
The contents were simple and formal. It said that the demon legion of Moryo had caused great destruction to the ninja world.
The Iwagakure needed to discuss with the Sunagakure how to deal with it.
This content was obviously nonsense, since Moryo's demon legion was currently passing through the Iwagakure's border headed toward the Land of Fire.
What it really meant was that they wanted the Sunagakure to discuss attacking the Konoha together.
The Sunagakure had already missed one chance.
Rasa hadn't become Kazekage for nothing. He understood immediately.
But a precious child shouldn't sit under the eaves. He definitely wasn't going to the Iwagakure himself.
The most suitable person was Chiyo.
"Go invite Elder Chiyo."
"Yes!"
Not much time passed.
Chiyo had already arrived.
Rasa and the council had never gotten along very well, but after many power struggles, they realized neither side could truly defeat the other.
And now, with the Konoha so weakened, everyone put the fighting aside.
Maybe this was the closest the Sunagakure had ever been to reaching an oasis.
"Kazekage," Chiyo was calm and unhurried. She wasn't young anymore, after all.
"Elder Chiyo, please take a look. This is the latest intel, and the scroll from the Iwagakure inviting us."
Rasa handed the documents to her.
Chiyo picked them up and skimmed through them quickly. Ebizo had always handled intel, so she had already seen all this, even more detailed than what Rasa had.
Her gaze lingered more on the Iwagakure's scroll.
After reading through it, she also understood their intention.
"I understand. Kazekage, this invitation from the Iwagakure is very likely to discuss forming an alliance."
Rasa nodded, "So this time, we want Elder Chiyo to go to the Iwagakure."
Chiyo thought for a moment, "Kazekage, we don't have many bargaining chips. How are we supposed to negotiate?"
Rasa had already thought it through, "Onoki definitely won't leave his village. Even if they want to test the Leaf's strength, the ones most likely to lead would be the two Jinchuriki."
"We'll give them the Molten Lock Seal."
"At least it will give some protection against the Mangekyo Sharingan's genjutsu."
"The Leaf can't let the demon legion reach their village before intercepting it."
"As long as the Leaf and Moryo's forces clash, that's our opportunity."
"It's best if the Iwagakure travels alongside the demon legion. That way, more stone golems can enter the Land of Fire."
Rasa's thinking wasn't bad. If the Iwagakure supported the demon legion's advance, the Leaf would indeed face trouble.
"And what about the Akatsuki? Their stance is unclear now. Kazekage, you know Pain's combat power," Chiyo naturally considered everything.
"There's news that Pain has already died, but it can't be confirmed."
"Even if Pain is there, we have both the Iwagakure and the demon legion in front of us."
"Elder Chiyo, please head to the Iwagakure first. Everything will have to be adjusted based on future developments."
Chiyo stayed silent for a moment. The Konoha being this weak was rare. If someone else was taking the lead and the Sunagakure still didn't step forward, they'd never get another chance.
"Alright. I'll head to the Iwagakure first. If there's any new intel, notify me immediately."
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