CHAPTER 84

The allure of a Tailed Beast… I believe other ninja villages would pay a great price to obtain one.

Or perhaps, you can try right now to snatch this Tailed Beast from my hands.

Finishing his words with a sneer, Kawaki Aoba slowly stood up.

Boom!

A surge of invisible pressure exploded through the conference room, the sheer oppressive force radiating from Kawaki Aoba stunning all the Sand Village representatives into silence.

Even Chiyo and Ebizō, veterans who had witnessed countless storms, felt a chill seize their hearts, their pupils narrowing sharply as they instantly realized a terrifying fact:

The boy standing before them had strength surpassing ordinary Kage-level shinobi.

Perhaps even the current Five Kage would not be his match.

And what horrified them even more was his youth. Kawaki Aoba was far too young—still with room to grow. In time, he might rise to a height even comparable to the legends: the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, or even the mythical figures of the Warring States Era.

At that point, with a personality like his...

Would he become a second Hashirama?

Or... something even more terrifying?

Anxiety, fear, and grim calculations flashed through Chiyo's mind — all eventually condensing into one bitter, inevitable conclusion: Kawaki Aoba had to be eliminated.

But it was impossible for Sunagakure alone to do it.

They would need the cooperation of the other Great Nations.

Surely, no other village would want to see another "Ninja God" emerge in Konohagakure.

But before that—

Chiyo exhaled deeply and spoke up, steady and determined.

"You propose to exchange the One-Tail for our Puppet Technique secrets? Very well. We accept."

"Sister!" Ebizō tried to stop her urgently, but Chiyo pressed him back into his seat with a firm hand.

"I know exactly what this decision means," she said gravely. "But this is my burden to bear. Our Sunagakure... cannot afford to lose another Tailed Beast."

Ebizō gritted his teeth in silence. Despite his hundred reasons for refusal, he could not refute her words.

The Sand Village had suffered enough. The loss of the One-Tail would be catastrophic.

"Heh," Kawaki Aoba chuckled softly. He could clearly sense the hidden killing intent behind Chiyo's calm demeanor.

But he was unconcerned.

Why would a giant bother with the hatred of ants?

He already possessed enough strength to stride freely across the shinobi world, and in the future, he would only grow stronger.

If Sunagakure wished for revenge, let them try — in their next life.

Having achieved his goal, Kawaki Aoba lost all interest in staying and turned to leave the conference room without another word.

---

During these days, that troublesome Shukaku had been grumbling non-stop, accusing him of being untrustworthy.

Ridiculous.

Kawaki Aoba had honored his agreement—he had indeed released Shukaku into the desert.

That the One-Tail was immediately recaptured afterward... well, that was another matter.

After all, the contract had been fulfilled.

Returning to Konoha's temporary camp outside Kikyō Castle, Kawaki Aoba made his way to the most heavily fortified section—the One-Tail's sealing grounds.

Even before he arrived, he could hear loud, angry shouting—Shukaku's voice.

But when he listened carefully, Kawaki Aoba was surprised to hear that Shukaku wasn't cursing him—

It was someone else.

"Orochimaru..."

At that moment, Orochimaru himself emerged from the massive sealing tent, carrying a large sealing scroll on his back.

Facing Kawaki Aoba head-on, Orochimaru showed no shame.

Instead, he offered his signature sly smile and said casually,

"I simply came to extract a little Tailed Beast chakra for research. Surely, Aoba-kun won't mind?"

Kawaki Aoba: ...

You've already taken it all, and now you're asking for permission?

But he merely waved a hand generously.

"It's just some chakra. If it's useful to you, Orochimaru-senpai, feel free to take as much as you want."

He said it lightly, magnanimously.

In truth, Kawaki Aoba lacked many resources right now—but not Tailed Beast chakra.

He had already siphoned a great deal of Shukaku's chakra over the past half-month for his mysterious sacrificial rituals.

And the returns had been... astonishing.

Among the rewards he obtained:

A Sandman Mutant Physique Crystal from the Marvel Universe—a power resembling a weakened version of the Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit.

Sand Magic from the Fairy Tail world.

Both abilities were strong, though not supreme. Kawaki Aoba planned to bestow them to his loyal subordinates later.

More importantly, he had obtained two trump cards:

The Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit

The Paramecia-type Magnet-Magnet Fruit

While the appearance of the Sand-Sand Fruit didn't surprise him (given Shukaku's affinity with sand), the Magnet-Magnet Fruit was an unexpected jackpot.

Magnetism, one of the four fundamental forces of nature—an ability with limitless potential across all worlds.

It was then Kawaki Aoba realized:

Shukaku's powers were not limited to sand alone.

He likely possessed influence over magnetism as well.

There were long-standing rumors that Sunagakure's Magnet Release users—like the Third and Fourth Kazekage—had derived their techniques from studying Shukaku.

Now, Kawaki Aoba suspected those rumors had some truth after all.

---

After a brief farewell to Orochimaru, Kawaki Aoba returned to his duties.

At the same time, Namikaze Minato and Nara Shikaku concluded negotiations with Sunagakure's envoys.

On the way back, Shikaku turned his head and asked thoughtfully,

"Minato... what do you think of Kawaki Aoba?"

After pondering for a moment, Minato Namikaze said,

> "Aoba… he's a genius. No, compared to all the geniuses I've met, Aoba is more like a monster. At the very least… I can't say with confidence that I could defeat him."

Shikaku Nara frowned slightly at Minato's words, clearly dissatisfied. He leaned forward, his voice becoming more serious.

> "Minato, you know that's not what I'm asking."

Minato fell silent.

After a long pause, he finally spoke with unusual firmness.

> "I'm sorry, Shikaku. I can only promise that I'll do everything I can to become Hokage. As for Aoba… no matter what choice he makes, he's a Konoha shinobi, our comrade—and my friend."

This time, it was Shikaku's turn to lapse into a long, heavy silence.

---

Pushing open the flap of his tent, Aoba Kawaki stepped inside. But before he could fully enter, he stopped.

> "Are you coming out yourself? Or do you want me to drag you out?"

His tone was cold, with no attempt to hide his killing intent.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a man in a black cloak and dark sunglasses.

Aoba narrowed his eyes.

> Ryoma Aburame…?

He recognized him immediately. Though younger than he remembered, it was unmistakably the same man—a high-ranking operative of Root, and one of Danzo Shimura's most trusted subordinates. Practically Danzo's deputy.

> What is he doing here? Is he here specifically for me?

Cautiously, Aoba activated his sensory perception (you called it Observation Haki; for Naruto-verse, it's better to say sensory techniques or chakra sensing). He quickly scanned the surroundings.

Fortunately, no other Root members were hiding nearby. Ryoma had come alone.

Aoba's expression softened slightly, but his irritation didn't vanish.

> Still, even if it's just one person, it's unacceptable that someone slipped past my guards.

He silently resolved to strengthen the security around him. If just anyone could sneak into his tent, what kind of leader was he?

Ryoma, meanwhile, stepped forward without any change in expression.

> "Konoha Jonin Aoba Kawaki," he said coldly. "By order of the village, you are to immediately hand over the One-Tail. I am authorized to retrieve it for secure containment."

As soon as the words left Ryoma's mouth, Aoba moved.

Without warning, he lashed out with a vicious kick.

Ryoma tried to dodge, but he wasn't fast enough.

Bang!

Aoba's kick slammed into Ryoma's chest, sending him flying out of the tent.

Outside, a patrolling shinobi caught sight of the scene and shouted in alarm,

> "Enemy attack! Someone has infiltrated Lord Aoba's tent!"

Swish, swish, swish—!

Dozens of shinobi flickered into view, surrounding the fallen Ryoma in an instant.

None immediately attacked. Ryoma was surrounded by a dense cloud of insects—clearly the Aburame clan's signature technique.

Recognizing the insects, the Konoha ninjas hesitated. After all, it was against protocol to recklessly attack a fellow clansman—especially one wielding Aburame techniques.

Meanwhile, Aoba stepped out of his tent, his expression cold.

> "Since when did Konoha shinobi start sneaking around our own camps? If the village wanted the Tailed Beast in my custody, they could've asked for it openly."

He scoffed.

> "But you… creeping into my tent in the middle of the night. You look more like a spy than a Konoha shinobi."

Without mercy, Aoba put a heavy accusation on Ryoma's shoulders.

Ryoma's expression darkened. He opened his mouth to defend himself—he wasn't afraid. As a Root operative, backed by Danzo's authority, he had no reason to bow to Aoba.

But Aoba had already anticipated this.

Clapping his hands together, he summoned a colossal, golden figure—the manifestation of his chakra: a Hundred-Armed Kannon (similar to Susanoo but personalized).

The air grew heavy under the enormous pressure it radiated.

A golden hand shot out toward Ryoma.

Ryoma reacted instantly, releasing swarms of parasitic insects and darting to the side.

However, before he could get far, another golden hand seized him from another angle.

Creak—!

The golden hand slowly closed around Ryoma, dislocating joints and cracking bones with a grotesque series of sounds.

> "Ugh…"

Even a Root shinobi, trained to suppress emotions, couldn't suppress a groan of pain.

At that moment, a kunai marked with a Flying Thunder God seal hurtled through the air—and in a flash, Minato Namikaze appeared, teleporting in.

The disturbance Aoba caused had drawn the attention of Konoha's fastest shinobi.

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