Above the lake, a squad of Kirigakure ANBU formed a specialized formation, carefully observing the waters below.
Sensory-nin and sealing-nin placed their hands on the water's surface, their faces focused, almost like believers seeking their god.
Indeed, the days when Kirigakure treated the Tailed Beasts lightly were long gone.
Now, with Konoha's growing power under Tsunade's leadership, Kiri felt its own safety threatened. They had long since cast aside their prejudices against the Tailed Beasts and were desperate to locate one to strengthen their village's power.
"Report! The fluctuations of the Tailed Beast's chakra are stronger than yesterday. At this rate, in about three days, the Three-Tails will surface here!"
A Kirigakure elite reported in a loud voice—there was no way to conceal such a matter.
"Excellent. Leave two squads here to monitor the chakra's movement. The rest, return and await orders. If there's any anomaly, send a signal immediately!" Ao commanded. Using his Byakugan, he glanced into the depths of the lake. Seeing faint streams of chakra beginning to take form, excitement welled up in his heart.
The power of a Tailed Beast was indispensable to each of the Five Great Villages.
Even Konoha, strong as it was, would never dare abandon the Nine-Tails—that would be digging its own grave.
Even the First Hokage, hailed as the God of Shinobi, had only the lifespan of a normal human. That was the limitation of being human.
Compared to humans, Tailed Beasts possessed near-endless life. As long as they existed, the Five Great Villages would remain the Five Great Villages.
They were the cornerstone of every village—something that must never be lost.
---
At the Kirigakure camp, in a heavily guarded courtyard.
Kamizuki Hikari and Hatake Kakashi were lounging lazily on chairs, basking in the warm sunlight and gentle breeze.
As for Maito Gai, he was tirelessly training his body in the corner. Compared to him, Hikari and Kakashi were like two salted fish—completely lifeless.
And not just any salted fish... but the kind that had already started to stink.
"Hikari, if I hadn't come here with you, I'd probably still be home training Sasuke, or maybe handling paperwork in the Hokage's office." Kakashi said with a trace of resentment.
"You call that handling paperwork?"
Hikari looked at him disdainfully. "Don't tell me you weren't just drooling over Shizune's figure? You're shameless!"
"Hey now, how is that shameless? I'm not drooling!" Kakashi argued, though even he didn't sound too sure of himself.
Hikari smirked. "When I introduced you two, you acted all high and mighty. And now you want to rekindle old feelings? If that's not shameless, what is?"
Kakashi: "..."
Kakashi (inwardly): 'Damn, he's got a point. I have nothing to say.'
Thinking of his past, arrogant self, Kakashi wanted to go back in time and slap himself twice.
'Serves you right for acting so cool back then!'
The prouder he had been, the more bitter it felt now.
"Someone's coming," Maito Gai suddenly spoke up while doing exercises along the wall. His mood was heavy.
As the famed Blue Beast of Konoha, Gai felt his place should be out in the vast shinobi world, not cooped up in this tiny courtyard.
Yet now the once-mighty beast had become a rare specimen—forced to hold back for the sake of political relations between the two villages.
Being a mature beast... was hard.
"It's our Fifth Mizukage. Not sure who she's here to see." Hikari said casually, then lay back down to rest again, eyes half-closed as if deep in thought.
Kakashi glanced at Gai, and Gai instantly understood. He stopped his training and quietly slipped inside the room.
Kakashi gave him a subtle thumbs-up of approval and also slipped away silently.
As Terumi Mei stepped through the gate, she caught sight of Kakashi retreating indoors. Her impression of him improved slightly.
'So this man knows when to be tactful... I'll have the cooks make something nice for him tonight as a reward.'
Praising him inwardly, Terumi Mei took a seat right where Kakashi had been sitting.
"You seem to be living quite the comfortable life," she remarked.
"Not really. I've got no wife, no kids, no warm bed here. This is the best I can do for relaxation." Hikari said, opening one eye to glance at her.
Hmm... he could faintly see a divine glow outlining her.
"Stop saying things I don't understand!"
Terumi Mei frowned slightly. "Tell me, why are you so determined to stop Kirigakure from obtaining the Three-Tails?"
Hikari said calmly, "Would you believe me if I told you?"
"If you don't tell me, how will you know I won't?"
"The problem is, I'll tell you, and you still won't believe me. Then it's just wasted effort."
"Even if it's wasted effort, say it! Hurry up. How would you know I won't believe it unless you try?"
"I..."
"Don't test my patience. Believe it or not, I'll use my Lava Release and melt you where you sit!"
Hands raised in mock surrender, Hikari replied, "All I can say is that the Three-Tails' appearance will bring serious consequences. More importantly, you don't yet have the strength to protect it."
Mei scoffed. "Says who? We are Kirigakure—the Village Hidden in the Mist! One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages! Aside from Konoha, who could possibly challenge us?"
Hikari pointed toward the horizon. "You know who's out there: the Akatsuki. Even if they don't wipe out your entire army, they could easily take out half. If they come for the Three-Tails, do you really believe Kiri could stop them? Besides, there is someone even more powerful behind them. You wouldn't stand a chance."
Terumi Mei didn't question how he knew Akatsuki's location. What she needed to know was why he was so sure they'd attack.
"That group said they came to stop you from destroying the Three-Tails. That's why they're here. Your actions are putting you at odds with Kirigakure, and I can't protect you."
Hikari blinked slowly. "No need to be so serious. You're doing well as Mizukage. But that group's ambitions go far beyond this—they're plotting something that threatens the entire shinobi world. Kirigakure alone can't stop them."
"If they're that strong, do you really think you and your team can handle them? Kakashi and Maito Gai are powerful, sure, but at best they can take on one Akatsuki member each. What about the rest? Can you deal with them all by yourself?" she argued, hoping to make him see reason.
Hikari smiled faintly. "Woman, you have no idea how strong we are."
"Then let's wait and see," Terumi Mei said, eyes narrowing. "We'll find out soon enough who really has the upper hand."
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