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Perfect. What was supposed to be a confidential piece of information had, in a single moment, become common knowledge.
What frustrated Nara Shikaku the most was his inability to order the entire Anbu force to keep it a secret, as he lacked the authority to do so.
Storming into the Anbu headquarters was already overstepping his bounds. Demanding that all Anbu personnel maintain secrecy... that was not a power vested in the Captain of the Jōnin Corps.
Damn it!!
I dug a pit and jumped right into it.
Once the full reality of the situation sank in, Shikaku's heart plummeted straight to the abyss.
---
The news that Nara Shikaku had rushed to the Anbu headquarters was promptly relayed to Kazuki.
Kazuki was once again doubled over with laughter. The man was clearly at his wits' end. However, few men could accept the idea of being known far and wide as someone terrified of his wife, howling in the dead of night from a beating.
"A bit of internal amusement is fine," Kazuki instructed the reporting Anbu. "Tell everyone not to spread it outside our ranks. Otherwise, it could cause Shikaku significant trouble."
While people within certain circles were already aware of Nara Shikaku's domestic situation and would merely chuckle, if the news leaked to the general populace of the village, it would cease to be a trivial matter. Nara Shikaku would find it impossible to avoid notoriety.
Waving the Anbu agent away, Kazuki took the remaining roasted beef and headed for the Hokage Administration Building.
The moment he opened the door, three pairs of eyes immediately locked onto him—or more precisely, onto the package of roasted beef in his hand.
"Freshly roasted beef. The flavor is quite good. I packed some for you. The rest was shared among the Anbu."
Kazuki placed the bag on the desk. Tsunade eagerly tore it open, shooting him a glance that said, 'You still have a shred of conscience,' before beckoning to Shizune and Izumi. "Come on, you two, have some. It smells wonderful."
"Mmm, it is good," Tsunade pronounced after a couple of bites, looking thoroughly pleased. "So, who are you planning to take to the border to meet the Raikage?"
"Two guards and one strategist should suffice."
Kazuki gave the answer without hesitation. It was merely a secret meeting; there was no need for a large entourage. A small party was sufficient, as too many people increased the risk of exposure.
The two guards hardly needed naming. Whenever Kazuki left Konoha, Shisui and Itachi would become his inseparable pair of guardians.
As for the strategist, Nara Shikaku was the optimal choice. Of course, his presence would be largely symbolic; Kazuki didn't actually need him for counsel. The primary reason for bringing Shikaku was for the Raikage's benefit.
"You're not taking any Anbu personnel?" Tsunade asked, her hand pausing with the beef halfway to her mouth. Shizune and Izumi also looked at him curiously.
"For normal operations, having Anbu along can indeed help resolve minor issues. But for a secret meeting, it's better to forego them. The fewer people, the better."
Kazuki had considered the composition of his party carefully. In the end, he decided against including any Anbu. As for his personal safety, barring Uchiha Madara making a sudden appearance, he didn't believe anyone in the shinobi world could stop him—not even if Nagato showed up with the Six Paths of Pain. Under such circumstances, traveling light was preferable to parading around with a large group.
To put it bluntly, if trouble arose, it wasn't entirely clear who would be protecting whom.
Thus, the final party accompanying Kazuki to the border for the secret meeting with the Raikage consisted only of Shisui, Kazuki, and Shikaku. In addition to them, there were also Mabui and Samui, the two kunoichi currently residing in Konoha.
At dawn, while the sky was still dark, Kazuki led his small group out of the village.
"Did you get a beating after going home last night?"
On the road, noticing the dark circles under Shikaku's eyes and his somewhat haggard demeanor, Kazuki deduced the man had slept poorly, if at all. The reason for his lack of rest was rather obvious.
"Impossible!!"
Like a duck in boiling water—dead but with a hard beak—Shikaku stiffened his neck and rebutted stubbornly, "I was just pondering some matters last night, so my sleep was a bit off, that's all."
Yeah, right. I believe that like I believe pigs can fly.
Given Nara Shikaku's henpecked nature, it was highly likely he had confessed yesterday's incident to his wife the previous evening, and then... the outcome hadn't been particularly pleasant. After all, if the news spread, it wouldn't just reflect poorly on Shikaku; his wife would also face significant backlash. People would start thinking he had married a ferocious, husband-beating harpy.
Got a beating after going home?
Shisui and Itachi, walking silently behind, exchanged a glance. Kazuki gave a slight, almost imperceptible shake of his head.
Nearby, Mabui and Samui were also subtly trying to guess the topic of conversation between Kazuki and Shikaku.
Seeing Kazuki's blatantly disbelieving expression, Shikaku grew flustered. Fortunately, Kazuki promptly placated him.
"Alright, alright, I didn't say anything. Look how worked up you're getting. By the way, yesterday I had orders relayed to all Anbu personnel: this matter is to remain internal knowledge, not to be spread outside. Otherwise... ahem!"
As he spoke, Itachi once again struggled to suppress a laugh.
In the shinobi world, many men were known to be "afraid" of their wives. Sometimes it stemmed from love, willingly becoming "henpecked" to indulge their spouses; other times, it was because the wife's strength was genuinely formidable. Some men couldn't even win a fight against their own wives.
"There's such a good arrangement?" Shikaku's face lit up with relief.
But quickly, as realization dawned, his smile froze. His gaze towards Kazuki turned somewhat reproachful.
Advisor-sama, if you had issued such an order, why couldn't you have sent someone to inform me? Do you have any idea how I suffered last night? I was berated by my wife for half the night. Just look at these dark circles!
If the information couldn't leak, it meant only the Anbu knew. While being laughed at by the Anbu was still embarrassing, it was far preferable to being laughed at by the entire village. Shikaku could clearly distinguish the severity between the two.
---
At the pre-arranged location on the border of the Land of Fire, the Fourth Raikage, A, had been waiting for some time. He had chosen to arrive early. Aside from demonstrating his sincerity, his early arrival also served a reconnaissance purpose—to prevent being ambushed or trapped. While it was unlikely Konoha would try to sabotage him at this juncture, A could not entrust his safety to mere possibilities. Necessary precautions were non-negotiable, especially here on the border of the Land of Fire. If anything went wrong during the meeting, Kazuki could retreat into the Land of Fire at any moment, or even lead a contingent of shinobi in pursuit.
A was known for his fiery temper and a degree of arrogance. But no matter how proud he was, he would never claim to be stronger than his father, the Third Raikage. Even a powerhouse like the Third Raikage had been worn down and killed by tens of thousands of Iwagakure shinobi. What chance did he stand?
Moreover, if Konoha truly wanted to target him, they wouldn't need to mobilize tens of thousands. A few elites would suffice.
Like Kazuki, A had not brought a large retinue. He was accompanied only by two squads of his personal guard. There was no sign of any Kumogakure Anbu teams, though it was possible they were stationed at a greater distance.
As they neared the border, Shikaku seemed to want to say something. "Sir, I..."