"Cough, cough… I guess you win."
Zhong Chen coughed lightly twice, feeling a bit awkward, then turned to look at the Kirigakure ninjas kneeling below.
"Alright, tell me, what did that shorty send you here for?"
Because of what happened before, no one questioned Zhong Chen's choice of words this time.
"Mizukage-sama sent us to investigate why Rainbow Country hasn't been posting missions to Kirigakure recently."
"And also to meet Lord Chen."
"From now on, all missions will be handled by Rainbow Ninja Village, so Kirigakure doesn't need to worry about them."
Upon hearing Zhong Chen's words, Kumoki was momentarily stunned.
Rainbow Ninja Village? Where did that come from?
Could it be a new ninja village founded by this man?
Thinking this, Kumoki's heart skipped a beat. This was no small matter.
If Rainbow Country had its own ninja village and it grew strong, it could threaten Kirigakure's safety.
No, I must find a chance to escape and report this information to Mizukage-sama.
Just as he was pondering how to escape, a voice from above instantly made all his thoughts vanish.
"Are you thinking of finding a chance to escape? Don't worry, you won't get away."
With that, Zhong Chen subtly waved his right hand downwards.
Receiving the signal, the Anbu members swiftly drew their blades and executed all the captured ninjas present.
"Aren't you going to ask anything else?"
Velgrynd looked at the many headless corpses before her, her expression unchanged, instead smiling at Zhong Chen.
"There's nothing to ask. Forget one Kirigakure, what if five villages came together?"
"Even if they all banded together, they wouldn't have a million people. How dare they try to extort my great Monster Country Federation!"
...Monster Country Federation
"Run, don't get caught."
"Is this thing really that amazing?"
Milim looked at the object in her hand, which resembled a TV remote control, and asked Rimuru beside her as they ran.
"Hehe, this thing is called the World Flow Regulator. It can adjust the time flow rate of different worlds."
Rimuru's face was filled with pride, as if she had invented it herself.
"But is it really okay for us to steal it like this? If Sakuya gets angry…"
Milim, who feared nothing, was only afraid of two people: Izayoi Sakuya, who controlled all her sweets, and Chairwoman Shizu, who always had a gentle smile.
"We're just playing with it for a bit, we'll put it back soon. We won't get caught."
"Oh, oh, oh, then what are we going to use it for?"
Hearing Milim's question, Rimuru's mouth curved into a mischievous smile. She leaned close to Milim and whispered:
"Didn't A Chen go to the New World? Since he didn't take us to play, we'll just adjust this world."
"You're amazing, Rimuru! Wahahaha!!!"
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of a tall building not far from the two, Izayoi Sakuya watched the two frantically escaping with an expressionless face.
Grayfia, standing beside her, looked at Izayoi Sakuya, who wasn't moving an inch, and couldn't help but ask in confusion:
"Sakuya, are you really not going to do anything? This should be a very important item."
Sakuya touched the chibi pendant on her waist, a smile appearing on her face as she softly said:
"It's fine, this thing has no effect on my Master."
"Heh heh, Sakuya, you really spoil them."
"What my Master loves, I love."
"Sakuya, you…"
Soon after, Zhong Chen, who was in the Shinobi World, suddenly felt the time flow around him rapidly accelerate.
"What the hell, why did the time in this world speed up so much?!"
Zhong Chen waved his hand, and the flow of time in the entire world instantly froze.
Then, calculating with his fingers, he couldn't help but exclaim:
"Rimuru, Milim!!! I knew it was you two causing trouble!!!"
Just that short acceleration caused two years to pass in this world, bringing it directly to Konoha Year 48.
Which was the year the Third Shinobi World War began.
"Forget it, I was a bit bored anyway, so I won't reset it. But you two, just you wait."
With that, Zhong Chen snapped his fingers, and the flow of time in the entire world resumed.
"Zhong Chen, what just happened? Why do I feel like time is a bit off?"
Most people wouldn't notice the time acceleration that just occurred.
However, Velgrynd, being one of the Four True Dragons, keenly sensed that something was amiss.
"Uh… actually…"
Zhong Chen carefully recounted everything that had just happened to Velgrynd.
"Hahaha, how many people have you offended, you scoundrel? Why do all their mischievous tricks target you?"
Velgrynd burst into laughter after hearing Zhong Chen's story, unable to stop smiling.
Zhong Chen, feeling guilty, looked away.
He couldn't possibly say that he often stole their pocket money, snatched their dolls and figures, and even poured salt into Milim's milk, could he?
[Host, you really don't do a single decent thing!]
[…I am… this is… damn it! Why are you so talkative!]
[Heh heh, you're getting flustered!!!]
[…]
Swish… "Lord Chen, latest intelligence: Sunagakure has declared war on Konoha, using the disappearance of the Third Kazekage as an excuse."
"Kazekage candidate Rasa has led a five-thousand-ninja unit across the Land of Wind's border and is currently stationed in the Land of Rivers."
"Konoha has dispatched Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, leading a two-thousand-ninja unit to meet the enemy."
Hearing the Anbu's report, Zhong Chen's eyes immediately lit up.
"Good, I understand."
"Your subordinate takes his leave!"
As the Anbu disappeared, Zhong Chen finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Wahahaha, it's finally starting! I, Zhong · Rainbow Shadow · Chen, am about to make a dazzling entrance!"
Kochou Shinobu watched Zhong Chen, hands on his hips, laughing heartily without caring about his image.
She couldn't help but sigh, rubbing her forehead:
"He's acting crazy again."
"Go on, what do you know, little girl? If you're not enthusiastic about showing off, there's something wrong with your brain."
"It's a rare opportunity that Rimuru and the others aren't here, so I have to seize it."
"Someone!"
A Royal Knights member instantly appeared before the three of them, bowing respectfully:
"Lord Chen! How may I be of service?"
"Notify everyone, assemble two thousand troops to be on standby. Come with me to… act…"
Realizing he had almost blurted it out, Zhong Chen quickly cleared his throat twice and continued:
"Cough, cough… mediating the war and maintaining world peace will depend on us."
"Oh, and while you're at it, go back and bring Akame and the others over too."
"Yes, your subordinate will go now."
..."Sarutobi, we absolutely cannot let Sunagakure off this time. What does their Kazekage's disappearance have to do with us?"
In the meeting room, Shimura Danzo, covered in bandages, spoke to Sarutobi Hiruzen with a gloomy expression.
"I think it's best to prioritize negotiations if possible, especially since the Cloud Ninjas and Stone Ninjas are still watching us like tigers."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, glanced at Shimura Danzo, and said calmly.
"I think Sarutobi is right."
"The village cannot easily go to war with other villages right now."
The other two members of Konoha F4 also echoed the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, in unison.
"These guys should all be killed, Sarutobi, you're too weak now."
Hearing Shimura Danzo's words, a sharp glint flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"Sarutobi, you will regret this!"
"Hokage again! If only I had spoken first back then."
A gloomy expression flashed in Shimura Danzo's eyes, then he stood up without a word and walked out the door.
And then… "Bang!!!"