"The ninja from Sunagakure—Temari—has arrived in the Hidden Mist Village."
Inside a dimly lit cave, Zetsu reported calmly to Nagato.
"She didn't go to Konoha," Nagato said slowly.
"Instead… she went to the Hidden Mist?"
The Deva Path of Pain stepped forward, his Rinnegan fixed on Zetsu.
Zetsu nodded. "That's correct. Her destination was Kirigakure."
This was unexpected.
When Sunagakure ran into trouble, Konoha should have been their first choice.
Why would they seek help from the Hidden Mist?
Not only was there almost no interaction between the two villages, there was even old hostility.
Going to Kirigakure at such a moment was hardly a wise decision.
"Perhaps there is another explanation."
Konan stepped forward and spoke calmly at Deva Path Pain's side.
"Konoha and Sunagakure still haven't fully reconciled after the previous attack on Konoha."
"Konoha experienced internal turmoil first, and the Fifth Hokage has only recently taken office. She is still dealing with the village's internal matters."
"At a time like this, she cannot spare the energy to handle Sunagakure's problems."
"So Sunagakure has no way to rely on Konoha right now."
Her reasoning was sound.
But it also revealed something else—
Konoha was currently in a weakened state.
Although Danzō was dead, Tsunade still needed time to firmly take control of the village.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have delayed dealing with Sunagakure for so long.
Thinking of this, the Deva Path of Pain smiled faintly.
"Then… will the Hidden Mist intervene?"
If Kirigakure agreed to help Sunagakure, it would effectively be competing with Konoha for influence.
That alone would greatly intensify the friction between the two villages.
In the worst case, it could even trigger another Great Ninja War.
"Enough speculation," Nagato said calmly.
"Let's focus on our task."
"Begin the sealing of the One-Tail."
At the same time.
Hidden Mist Village.
Shigure looked at Temari thoughtfully.
"Have Konoha and Sunagakure still not renegotiated?"
Temari shook her head.
"It's not only Konoha's situation," she replied.
"Because of Konoha's previous chaos and the struggle over the Fifth Hokage position, some people in our village believe now is not the time to bow our heads to Konoha."
Shigure's eyes narrowed slightly.
Trying to use the threat of war to force Konoha to abandon its reckoning with Sunagakure?
Was that even possible?
Konoha had suffered a direct invasion.
If they simply let the matter go, where would their authority and dignity be?
In the end, even if a Great Ninja War truly erupted, Konoha would still go to war with Sunagakure without hesitation.
And Sunagakure's current condition was even worse than Konoha's.
To confront Konoha head-on in such a state—
That was nothing short of suicide.
Ignorance, plain and simple.
"So," Shigure said slowly, his gaze steady, "this time, Sunagakure has come to the Hidden Mist… seeking help?"
Temari nodded.
"Why not Iwagakure or Kumogakure?" Shigure asked calmly.
Iwagakure did not even need to be mentioned—the relationship between Sunagakure and Iwagakure had long been strained.
As for Kumogakure, it was simply too far.
Even if Sunagakure sought help, Kumogakure would never agree.
Konoha lay directly between them—any alliance would immediately provoke Konoha's hostility.
Kumogakure was not foolish enough to involve itself in such a situation.
The Hidden Mist, however, was different.
Not only was it closer to Sunagakure, it could be reached directly by sea, bypassing the Land of Fire entirely.
That alone made Kirigakure the most realistic choice.
Still, Temari had never expected that the Mizukage she would meet in the Hidden Mist would be Shigure.
"You actually became the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village…"
Her voice carried undisguised shock.
Shigure smiled faintly.
"Not the official Mizukage. Just the acting one."
Acting or not, Temari thought, this position will eventually become his.
"Whether acting or not," Temari said seriously, "you are the one currently in charge of the Hidden Mist, Lord Mizukage."
"Are you willing to help Sunagakure?"
Shigure did not answer immediately.
He lowered his gaze, carefully weighing the matter.
The disadvantages were obvious.
Helping Sunagakure would mean openly opposing Konoha.
As for the benefits—
They were far less clear.
The Land of Wind did not border the Land of Water.
Strengthening relations was not a necessity.
From a purely strategic standpoint, the gains were limited.
Shigure was clearly calculating the costs.
Seeing this, Temari suddenly stood up.
"As long as the Hidden Mist is willing to help," she said firmly, "Sunagakure is willing to pay any price!"
The words made Shigure pause.
Any price?
That was not something to say lightly.
Still, he understood.
This was not diplomacy—it was desperation.
Gaara was involved.
"Let's talk about something concrete," Shigure said calmly.
"What exactly can helping Sunagakure bring to the Hidden Mist?"
The question left Temari momentarily speechless.
Kirigakure did not seem to lack anything.
This was not about what the Hidden Mist needed—but what Sunagakure could offer.
After a brief pause, Temari looked up.
"Sunagakure can supply the Hidden Mist with gold dust."
Shigure's eyes narrowed slightly.
Gold dust—
Which meant money.
And money was precisely what Kirigakure needed most to sustain its rapid development.
"You're certain?" Shigure asked.
"This won't be a symbolic amount."
Temari nodded.
"We will give you an amount you find satisfactory."
Shigure folded his arms.
"When your Fourth Kazekage was alive, Sunagakure indeed possessed large quantities of gold dust," he said evenly.
"But since his death, refining gold dust has not been easy."
"Under these conditions, your offer would likely cost Sunagakure nearly two-thirds of its income."
"Have you truly thought this through?"
Temari clenched her fists.
If Gaara fell, Sunagakure would fall with him.
"I have," she said through gritted teeth.
"As long as the Hidden Mist helps, Sunagakure is willing to pay that price."
Shigure smiled faintly.
"Not enough."
Temari frowned.
"Lord Mizukage, don't be too greedy."
Before she could say more, Shigure raised his hand—and pointed directly at her.
"And you."
Temari froze.
"Me…?"
For a moment, she didn't understand.
Then realization struck.
Her face flushed slightly.
Beside them, Ringo also looked surprised. Even she had not expected Shigure to make such a demand.
I could do it too, she thought involuntarily.
Why her?
"…Fine," Temari said at last, her teeth clenched.
As Gaara's older sister, she understood the implication clearly.
If Sunagakure broke its promise, Shigure would have a hostage.
And unlike Konoha—
Shigure had no reason to trust Sunagakure's word alone.
"Then prepare yourselves," Shigure said calmly.
"We leave for Sunagakure immediately."
"Immediately?" Temari was stunned.
"No—Lord Mizukage, you don't understand. The enemy this time is extremely powerful. I hope you can send more elite jōnin."
"Jōnin?" Shigure chuckled softly.
"Kuji," he said.
"Go call Kisame."
Before long, Kuji and Kisame Hoshigaki entered the Mizukage's office.
The moment Temari saw them, her breathing involuntarily tightened.
The oppressive aura they radiated left no doubt—
These were absolute powerhouses.
"Are these two… enough?" Shigure asked.
Temari nodded instinctively.
Then she hesitated.
"…Only two ninja?"
Shigure slowly stood up.
"Of course not," he said calmly.
"It also includes—"
He looked directly at her.
"Me."
...
TN:
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)