Chapter 496: A – Such a Waste, A Genius Comparable to the God of Shinobi Going Blind

The dinner with Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan lasted for hours. They chatted with Takuya until nightfall, and even after Takuya firmly refused their requests to stay longer, the three reluctantly returned to their lodgings.

After sending the trio off, Takuya tucked Snowy into his coat and resumed his duties. While the Rain ninja had been well-behaved and showed no signs of causing trouble, protocol demanded vigilance. The last thing he needed was someone tattling to Tsunade and her dragging him into an argument.

As representatives from the smaller nations and minor villages settled in, the main event began.

The delegation from Sunagakure, led by Chiyo, was the first among the Five Great Ninja Villages to arrive in Konoha. That same afternoon, the representatives from Kirigakure and Iwagakure also made their way into the village.

The furthest away, Kumogakure's delegation, lagged slightly behind.

Despite being located across the sea, Kirigakure had arrived earlier thanks to its alliance with Konoha. Since the war ended, Mist Village's ships had been granted free passage through Fire Country's waters. This advantage allowed them to outpace Kumogakure despite the latter's shorter land route.

The burgeoning trade route across the sea had not only strengthened relations but also filled the pockets of the daimyo of both the Land of Water and the Land of Fire. Both were practically grinning ear to ear at the revenue pouring in.

Konoha and Kirigakure were equally pleased with the arrangement. Each had their own trade caravans, and a wealthy daimyo was more generous with funding.

Meanwhile, the delegation from Kumogakure was still on the road.

A, the son of the Third Raikage, led the group personally, accompanied by the trusted advisor Dodai. Although Kumogakure was the last to arrive, they were well aware of everything happening in Konoha through their intelligence channels.

"A, other villages have already arrived. Should we pick up the pace?" Dodai suggested.

"There's still time, isn't there? No rush," A replied, shaking his head.

He was dragging his feet intentionally, ensuring Kumogakure would be the last to arrive. It was a calculated move to make their entrance stand out.

"I heard Yagami Takuya's eyes are in trouble. Is it from overusing his Mangekyō Sharingan?" Dodai asked.

Takuya's Mangekyō Sharingan was no secret—it had long been known across the ninja world. Kirigakure, in particular, had suffered significantly at his hands. The Kaguya clan had almost been wiped out under his command, with Uchiha forces leading the charge.

As one of Konoha's most likely adversaries, Kumogakure had invested heavily in intelligence on the Uchiha clan. The news of Takuya covering his eyes raised immediate suspicions: Was he losing his sight, like Uchiha Madara once did from overusing the Mangekyō Sharingan?

"Perhaps," Dodai replied, unsure. "But it's true that he's been keeping his eyes covered recently."

"What a shame," A muttered with disappointment. "I was hoping to test my strength against him, to see how strong this so-called genius, said to rival the God of Shinobi, truly is. But now..."

Dodai sighed. "I doubt Konoha would let you challenge him. If Yagami Takuya's eyes are indeed compromised, his strength is likely affected. A duel would surely be declined."

A, too, was a recognized genius. But a match between two prodigies was meaningless if one of them wasn't at full strength. Dodai was confident Konoha wouldn't risk allowing such a fight.

"Disappointing. Truly disappointing," A said with a sigh, his excitement for the trip dampened.

Kumogakure's primary goal was to gather intelligence and assess Konoha's military capabilities. A had taken it upon himself to challenge Takuya, testing whether he truly lived up to his reputation as a peer of Hashirama Senju.

Though Takuya's feats had spread across the ninja world—his defeat of the Third Kazekage being a standout—Kumogakure remained skeptical. They suspected his abilities were exaggerated.

In Konoha, Takuya lounged in a chair, sipping a drink that Pakura had handed him.

"These Kumogakure folks are really dragging their feet. They're the only ones left, and they're still not here," Takuya remarked, yawning.

Their motives were obvious. Kumogakure wanted to make a grand entrance, ensuring their arrival stood out.

"They're doing this on purpose," Takuya said with a wry smile. "Even Kirigakure managed to arrive early. No way Kumogakure is just 'taking their time.'"

Pakura, standing nearby, reported, "The Rain ninja haven't made any suspicious moves. They've stayed in their lodgings the entire time."

"Smart move on Hanzō's part," Takuya commented, grinning slightly. "He chased Danzo down and dealt a significant blow to the village, embarrassing Konoha in the process. It's no surprise Tsunade didn't interfere with the Elder Council's decision to give him the cold shoulder."

"If he stirs up trouble now, it'll only embarrass Amegakure. Better to stay put."

"Even gods grow old, it seems," Takuya mused.

Pakura, after a moment's thought, asked, "Sir, how strong is Hanzō really?"

She had heard stories of him since childhood but had no concrete understanding of his abilities, especially since he had been reclusive following the Second Ninja War.

"He's strong," Takuya admitted after some thought. "But his mindset as a strong warrior was shattered by the war. His abilities haven't declined, but they've plateaued at best."

Pakura frowned at the vague assessment.

Noticing her curiosity, Takuya teased, "If your Scorch Release can burn away the toxins from his salamander, and you work on your taijutsu, you could take him on."

Hanzō's greatest strength lay in the deadly poison of his salamander, his formidable taijutsu, and his unparalleled Body Flicker Technique. While his kenjutsu was well-regarded, Takuya always felt it was a weak point. A swordsman wielding a massive scythe? Takuya didn't know whether to critique or laugh.

"Here they come!" someone announced, interrupting Takuya's thoughts.

Finally, the long-delayed Kumogakure delegation arrived in Konoha.

Led by A, the son of the Third Raikage, and the trusted advisor Dodai, their arrival gave Konoha the respect it deserved.

"Apologies for the delay, everyone. The long distance made us late," Dodai said, offering a courteous bow.

A, of course, wouldn't lower himself to apologize, leaving the task to Dodai.

"You've arrived rather quickly, actually. I was expecting your group to show up just before the ceremony started," Takuya replied, stepping forward.

Dodai's face froze momentarily at the pointed remark. Clearly, Takuya wasn't buying their excuse. Forcing a smile, Dodai said, "It wasn't intentional. The distance from Kumogakure to Konoha is simply too great."

"Of course," Takuya replied lightly. "This way, please. I'll escort you to your accommodations."

Not that I believe you for a second.

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