Chapter 112: Refused...

Just after Izayoi left, a Konoha ninja in a green flak jacket knocked on the door and entered, dropping to one knee respectfully.

"Lady Hokage, an envoy from Kumogakure requests an audience."

Having been absorbed in her work, Tsunade frowned upon hearing this. "They should be focusing on rebuilding their village and taking revenge on Akatsuki right now. Why are they sending people here to Konoha?"

"I'm not sure," replied the ninja. "According to the gate guards, the envoy is made up of three students of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, led by the Kumo jōnin Samui. They're not entering the village; they're waiting at the gate, asking to meet you, Lady Hokage."

Tsunade crossed her arms, appearing thoughtful. Then she turned to Karin—now wearing a little black suit, rectangular glasses, looking more like a proper secretary—and said:

"Karin, go and bring them here."

Unlike Ōnoki, who deliberately sent his son to "entertain" the envoys, Tsunade wasn't inclined to give the Kumo group any special trouble.

Although the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning weren't allied nations, and Konoha and Kumogakure were effectively enemies, Kumo was still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—one of the pillars preserving balance in the ninja world.

They had almost certainly come regarding Akatsuki, and Tsunade was curious what the Fourth Raikage intended.

"Yes, ma'am."

Karin blinked slightly, then nodded respectfully. However, when she arrived at the village gate, she nearly had a seizure.

What... what is this? Is that size even humanly possible?

Fixing her gaze on Samui, whose bust put even Tsunade's to shame—and outclassed Hinata's by a distinct margin—Karin reflexively glanced down at her own feet. She suddenly regretted taking this errand.

She should have let Shizune-senpai come instead!

Luckily, Karin was still young, so "losing" here didn't count as humiliating. She composed herself quickly, gave Samui's team a polite, mask-like smile, and introduced herself:

"I'm Karin, the Hokage's secretary and student. Please come with me—Lady Hokage has agreed to meet you."

"We appreciate it."

The frigidly beautiful Samui, face expressionless, nodded. Omoi and Karui, who had been looking rather unfriendly and extremely wary of their surroundings, followed Karin to the Hokage's building.

Because it was her first time welcoming foreign visitors, Karin wasn't chatty, nor did the envoy team initiate small talk. However, spotting Karin's hair color, Samui spoke up:

"You're of the Uzumaki clan?"

"Yes," Karin answered with a smile, briefly patting her hair. Perceiving a note of puzzlement in Samui's voice, she asked, "Is there a problem?"

"No."

Samui shook her head. She couldn't very well say how grateful she felt for the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, or that if the previous Raikage hadn't led a campaign to wipe out the Uzumaki homeland, Kumogakure might never have obtained barrier-type sealing scrolls to minimize casualties this time. Stating such a thing aloud would change the entire nature of their visit.

Though Samui personally did feel grateful, she hadn't been involved in that genocide.

Following Karin into the Hokage's office, Samui's squad finally came face-to-face with one of the legendary female ninja still active in the world.

"Lady Tsunade," Samui said, bowing respectfully.

Omoi and Karui, who had been bristling, also showed respectful manners. After all, Tsunade-hime wasn't merely the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi and one of the Legendary Sannin; she was celebrated as a medical master throughout the ninja world—an enemy who would still be called "Lady" even in a confrontation.

Those kunoichi across the shinobi world who felt they were the equals of men generally idolized Tsunade. Samui, too, had aspired to be like her. When she saw Tsunade's own "assets," Samui inwardly sighed: As expected of Lady Tsunade.

Meanwhile, Tsunade's eye twitched at the sight. She looked Samui over, scanning that remarkable figure, then lifting her gaze to Samui's pale skin, remarking:

"Didn't think Kumo had anyone… your type."

Samui maintained her deadpan expression. Not just Tsunade—many people carried such stereotypes. From childhood, Samui, due to both her complexion and her figure, was something of an oddity in Kumo, and only through diligence and willpower had she become a Kumo jōnin. In that village of predominantly strong, dark-skinned nin, she was quite the success story.

Though Samui said nothing, Tsunade sensed some of her background—she developed a bit of admiration for this woman, who seemed on par with herself. So her tone turned more serious:

"Take a seat."

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

Once Samui's team sat down, Tsunade skipped the pleasantries:

"What's A thinking, sending you here to Konoha?"

"Lord Raikage told us to give this letter to you, Lady Hokage."

From the collar of her apparently four-dimensional outfit, Samui produced a letter and handed it to Shizune—whose lips and brow were twitching as she felt its warmth. Shizune wasn't sure how she managed to pass it to Tsunade.

Seeing Shizune turn slightly pale, Karin felt a tinge of sympathy and…some amusement. Lately, she herself enjoyed the same "benefits" as Hinata and Hanabi: after absorbing Izayoi's chakra, Karin had felt noticeably more energetic; even her nearsightedness had vanished.

Rumor had it Hinata's figure partly owed thanks to Izayoi. If Karin also followed Hinata's methods, once she grew up, she might not match Hinata, but at least she'd easily surpass Shizune-senpai.

Contemplating that, Karin found herself daydreaming about how she'd look in the future.

Tsunade opened the letter. After scanning a few lines, she frowned again, murmuring:

"So they've become enemies, after all?"

The letter contained more detailed intel. The Land of Lightning's public statement had only mentioned Sasori's surpassing puppet skills and raised his bounty, without mentioning Root or Danzo. That part they shared privately with Tsunade. Clearly, Kumogakure was extending goodwill to Konoha. Finally, the letter invited Tsunade to a Five Kage Summit.

"A Five Kage Summit?"

Reading that unfamiliar phrase, Tsunade sighed: "How many years has it been since my grandfather's time, since the ninja world last held a Five Kage meeting?"

The shinobi village system had been founded by Senju Hashirama; other countries and clans had followed suit. The original goal of the Five Kage Summit was to discuss how to improve the ninja world and eliminate warfare.

Before the First Shinobi World War, thanks to the God of Shinobi, the nations generally got along. But with the outbreak of the wars, hatred ensued, and the Five Kage could no longer sit calmly at one table.

Hearing the phrase "Five Kage Summit" now, Tsunade's gaze turned distant. If even the formidable Kumogakure was willingly proposing this, there must indeed be a threat on the order of her grandfather or Uchiha Madara—a "transcendent-level" force. Both Akatsuki and that "mysterious man" constituted huge dangers.

Recalling that the other ninja villages still didn't know of the mysterious man, Tsunade decided. Placing down the letter, she nodded:

"This intel is vital—it confirms our prior suspicions. We not only have to secure the remains of our fallen shinobi, we even need to guard the graveyards. As for the Five Kage Summit, I will attend."

Samui's team looked visibly unsettled. Right—how did we not consider that angle? But remembering the giant meteor crater that was their village, they stiffened again, unsure if the destructive jutsu had touched their graveyard too.

Tsunade, ignorant of their thoughts, waved them away:

"Shizune, please see our guests out."

"Yes, Lady Hokage."

Shizune was about to lead them away when Samui abruptly stood.

"Lady Hokage, may I ask if the Wood-Release ninja Izayoi is currently in Konoha?"

All three women gave her a questioning look.

"He is," Tsunade replied. "Why do you need him?"

Karin eyed Samui warily: What is this big-chested woman looking for with Izayoi?

On learning Izayoi was in the village, Samui's expression brightened slightly, revealing the second reason for her visit:

"We've heard the First Hokage had a Wood-Release jutsu called 'Four-Pillar House,' able to create sturdy, permanent buildings. He used it repeatedly to build housing in disaster-afflicted areas, performing many good deeds. Our village would like to hire Izayoi to use his Wood Release to rebuild for us."

"Ah, I see…"

The three Konoha women nodded in realization. Tsunade was just about to accept on Izayoi's behalf when something occurred to her. She instantly lied without blinking:

"Izayoi is one of Konoha's Hokage candidates and has the privilege to select his own missions. You have to ask him personally. If he agrees, there's no problem."

"Then please allow me to see Izayoi," Samui said calmly, as if this was all expected. A Wood-Release ninja would certainly have special status in Konoha.

"Karin, take them to find Izayoi."

"Yes, Lady Hokage."

Karin respectfully nodded, guiding Samui to Izayoi's residence. At the sight of his home—lavish as a daimyō's mansion—Omoi and Karui stood agape. Samui, sensing Izayoi's high status, promptly told her subordinates:

"Omoi, Karui, wait out here."

"Yes, Captain."

Once Karin escorted Samui in to meet Izayoi, he was briefly taken aback by her request. Hiring the man who'd helped destroy the village to reconstruct it—this was a first, even in both of his lifetimes.

But with Samui standing there earnestly, posture lowered, not the slightest trace of her usual aloofness, Izayoi merely shook his head and gave a faint, cool smile.

"I refuse."

"Izayoi—if you agree to help, Lord Raikage is willing to pay the equivalent of three Super-S-rank missions," Samui pressed. "If that isn't enough, we can keep negotiating."

"Money isn't the problem."

Izayoi's smile grew a fraction colder:

"My girlfriend is Hyūga Hinata, the Hyūga clan's main-family heiress."

Samui paused in confusion, then something clicked, and her expression shifted.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you."

She bowed, her "heavy thunder" swaying, and then—downcast—she departed Izayoi's residence. She'd assumed it was a simple matter, only to discover that this Hyūga main-branch heiress was Izayoi's girlfriend.

Samui had heard rumors about her village's old plan. Realizing they'd never actually managed to steal a Byakugan, Samui felt like she'd just hoisted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

~~~

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