"Hokage-sama, the seas are rough, and Kirigakure's militant faction remnants are still active—it's extremely dangerous. Elder Koharu's mission is of great importance and cannot fail. I'm afraid Fugaku Uchiha alone might not be enough."
Minato Namikaze bowed respectfully.
"Mm, that makes sense. Do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"Yes—my master, your disciple, Jiraiya."
Minato Namikaze replied.
"Oh? That rascal Jiraiya is back?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked genuinely surprised.
"Hehe, sensei has always been carefree and unrestrained by nature, but his roots are forever in Konoha. The moment he heard Konoha was in trouble, he traveled thousands of miles to return to the village. You know his strength—with him involved, Elder Koharu's mission will be absolutely foolproof."
Minato Namikaze smiled.
"Good. Let Jiraiya make the trip. After the meeting, have him come see me—I'll brief him on the mission personally."
Only now did Danzō fully understand—this old man and young one were putting on a show for him!
What a scheme. Truly masterful.
Compared to your political maneuvering skills, Hiruzen Sarutobi, I'm like a student who never graduated from the Ninja Academy!
First, using reorganization as an excuse, you completely scattered the five thousand Northern Army ninja I'd worked so hard to build my reputation with.
Then, using the city-burning charge as pretext, you stripped me of my ANBU commander position while still making me handle intelligence work—turning me into a guilt-ridden, unpaid worker. How vicious!
Now you're using the excuse of winning Kirigakure's support to transfer away my top lieutenant, Fugaku Uchiha.
It's just a diplomatic mission—can't Elder Koharu handle it alone?!
And what's this nonsense about worrying over Kirigakure's militant faction? Bullsh*t!
I'm in intelligence—don't I know? Kirigakure's militant faction was cleaned up by Yagura Karatachi years ago. Sending Fugaku Uchiha as backup is barely justifiable, but what's Jiraiya got to do with anything? He's not going to help—he's going to watch Fugaku Uchiha. Though Fugaku is formidable, he's no match for the experienced Jiraiya.
With this series of削弱 moves, Hiruzen Sarutobi stripped Shimura Danzō of all real power in just one meeting. The most brilliant part? Every arrangement could be put on the table—you really couldn't find major flaws, couldn't even mount proper opposition!
Good thing he still had a secret armed force—Root. Hmph! Once I survive this crisis...
"Danzō, for this battle, everyone in Konoha has been mobilized. Your ANBU can't hold back either. Except for intelligence personnel on regular duty, everyone else gets integrated into combat units!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said coldly to Danzō.
"What?!"
Danzō panicked slightly.
"What 'what'?! Even my secretary Hisako has been assigned to the medical corps—how dare they sit in offices! All of them—get to the battlefield!"
The headquarters of the Fire Eight Pillars Trading Group wasn't located in the Land of Fire's capital Fire City, but in a place called Jade City. Over 300 kilometers from Fire City, this location sat right at the estuary where several of the Land of Fire's main rivers met the sea. River-borne sediment, working together with ocean currents, had formed a delta. To the west, it faced the Land of Wind's Yuexi Peninsula across the water; to the east, a sea voyage led to the Land of Water's main island. Following rivers upstream northeast reached the Land of Lightning, while northwest led to the Land of Earth. Natural harbors, convenient transportation, and pleasant climate gave Jade City an inherently prosperous destiny.
Legend says that long ago, a wealthy merchant came to this place and, seeing it, couldn't help exclaiming: "Here three waters converge, the soil is golden yellow—this place should prosper for a hundred years."
So he spent his entire fortune buying this land from the Land of Fire's daimyō and moved his whole family here. He became the founding ancestor of the Fire Eight Pillars Trading Group's eight merchant families. So the Fire Eight Pillars are actually all relatives—even after later family divisions and diluted bloodlines, the highest ancestral tablets in their shrine still honor the same forefather.
Through generations of management, these eight merchant families gradually became monopolistic tycoons controlling eight industries in the Land of Fire, with wealth rivaling nations. Any single family's fortune could nearly match the five great nations' daimyō (except the Wind Daimyō). Jade City, this financial and commercial powerhouse, became synonymous with wealth. The Land of Fire commonly says: "Half the Land of Fire's wealth lies in Jade City."
Now that a hundred years had passed, this city finally welcomed the calamity star that would end it.
...
"I have to say, you people really know how to enjoy life. Back on Yuexi Peninsula, I considered myself part of high society—I thought I'd seen and tasted everything. But compared to you, I realize I'm completely a country bumpkin. I've never even seen these dishes, let alone eaten them."
Kakuzu lounged at the dining table with his legs crossed, speaking casually.
In the most luxurious private room of Jade City's grandest restaurant—Jade Banquet Tower—the impeccably dressed Kakuzu was dining with the eight family heads of the Fire Eight Pillars Trading Group.
Xijin Zhao, head of the silk-trading Xijin family, smiled and said, "Lord Kakuzu, you jest. You're the renowned Accounting King of Yuexi Peninsula—what scenes haven't you witnessed? These are just home-style dishes to welcome you."
But Kakuzu didn't respond, his eyes scanning the table before suddenly pointing at a dish.
"Hey, what's this dish called?"
Nishijo Shu, head of the ironware-trading Nishijo family and a gourmet enthusiast, quickly replied, "This dish is called Fish Gills Holding Pearls."
"Oh, what's the story?"
"We take 200 live mandarin fish over two jin each, extract their gill meat and eyes, then simmer them in special broth."
"Wow, just this small plate requires two hundred fish. What about this one?"
"Crystal Phoenix."
"And this one?"
"Rising Dragon Shrimp Dumplings."
"This one?"
"Peacock Tongue Soup."
...
Kakuzu asked about dish after dish but never picked up his chopsticks.
"Ah, I just can't stand seeing good things wasted. Each dish is so exquisitely crafted, looking like works of art—I can't bear to use chopsticks."
"What are you saying, Lord Kakuzu? No matter how beautiful, they're meant to be eaten. Perhaps you don't fancy these things?"
Shingū Tō, who ran the salt business, said.
Kakuzu still didn't respond, only looking at Nishijo Shu.
"I really don't fancy these things. Can you add a dish for me?"
"What dish? Just name it—if you can say it, I'll get it for you."
Nishijo Shu thumped his chest confidently.
"You said it."
Kakuzu smiled faintly.
"Bring me some human liver."
"What did you say?"
Nishijo Shu's face filled with terror.
Kakuzu's expression changed as he extended one hand.
Black tendrils sprouted from his palm, reaching across the massive table to grab Nishijo Shu's throat. With a jerk, he actually dragged Nishijo Shu across the table.
His other hand patted Nishijo Shu's bulging belly.
"I said human liver. Can't you hear?! I think yours looks pretty good."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
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