Is he just putting on an act?
No.
Showing off in front of a prisoner? That would only make him seem small-minded.
Hakken only grabbed his throat and forced him to clean up because he'd knocked over that bottle of medicine.
This is Konoha.
No matter how the village once treated its captives or enemies—no matter what had happened on this land—none of it mattered to him.
Even if past Hokage had once bowed their heads in submission, even if during the Five Kage Summit someone had stooped so low as to bow in front of others, it had nothing to do with Hakken. He couldn't care less.
For someone like the Raikage, who had lived his whole life with authority, it was natural to lash out when suddenly reduced to a prisoner. History had long since made the other villages' Kage see Konoha as weak. From the moment Hashirama Senju bowed to the other four Kage, they had started to look down on it.
Relying on mutual understanding to achieve peace—what a ridiculous lie.
The only thing one can truly trust is the weapon in their own hand. That is the most effective path to peace.
Just like now.
Before him, no one could stand tall and act arrogant.
This was a new Konoha—one under his control, hidden in the Hokage's shadow.
The reforms had already begun. That servile attitude would soon vanish completely.
Konoha had changed.
The Raikage, blind to that fact, still treated the village as if it were the weak Konoha of the past—and even dared to throw things around on Konoha's own soil.
Cleaning the floor was a light punishment.
If he weren't still useful, Hakken would have cut him down with a single strike.
Among the captives, Yugito Nii had been far more perceptive than the Raikage. After realizing resistance was meaningless, she quietly accepted her position and began serving by Hakken's side as his personal maid.
There was no such thing as different treatment for male or female prisoners. Everything depended on whether you recognized your place.
Konoha spared your life, treated your wounds—and you show no gratitude?
You were shown respect, but you refused to take it.
Then don't blame Hakken for showing no mercy.
This is not the weak Konoha you remember.
"Brat... I am the Raikage!"
Fury burned in his eyes as the immobilized Raikage forced the words out through clenched teeth. He was the Raikage—how could he obey orders to do menial labor?
Crack!
Without a single wasted word, a sharp sound split the air—his calf snapping in an instant.
When Hakken said he'd break his leg, he meant it.
There was no mercy for enemies.
Kakashi's heart pounded beside him, a glint of respect flashing in his eyes.
Yes—he was the Raikage.
Even as a prisoner, most people wouldn't dare treat him this way. Not even Minato-sensei.
But Owl dared—and did it without hesitation.
No matter who you are, causing trouble in Konoha comes with a price.
"Ugh."
The Raikage, inheritor of the Will of Lightning, still refused to yield. Even as his bones cracked, he only let out a muffled groan. Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, every Kage possessed their own will—and the Raikage was no exception.
"Brat, I am the Raikage..."
"Is that all you've got?"
The pain only made the Raikage more alert, bringing him even closer to the reason he'd come seeking out this brat in the first place. In this world, there were only Raikage who died in battle—never ones who surrendered.
He was A of Kumogakure.
He would never yield.
"You'd better kill me."
His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths. In that moment, Hakken felt a flicker of admiration—an acknowledgment between warriors. Perhaps only such resolve was worthy of the title of Kage.
"I know you want to die."
Hakken's lips curled into a twisted smile. "But when Yugito first arrived, she wanted to die too. Do you want to know what I told her?"
"I told her that if she dared to try, I'd make her watch as I personally cut off every single head in Kumogakure."
"Remember—every single one."
"Believe me, Raikage-sama, I can absolutely make that happen."
"And just so you know, I'm acquainted with Orochimaru—the one who specializes in resurrection and immortality techniques. Even if you manage to kill yourself, I can still bring you back to life... just so you can watch it all happen again."
Hakken raised his hand.
"Come, sword."
Kakashi suddenly felt the weight in his arms disappear as the Zanpakuto materialized against the Raikage's throat.
"You have two choices.
First, clean up this mess and wait quietly until the Kumogakure ninja arrive.
Second, I kill you right now, bring you back to life, and make you watch as every single one of your people is beheaded.
Three seconds. Choose."
As Hakken finished, the Raikage's expression twisted through a storm of emotions—cold indifference, disdain, shock, then burning fury.
How could a brat say something so cruel?
How had he even come up with such a merciless method?
Physical pain he could endure—but mental torment like this was something else entirely.
He didn't know if that resurrection technique truly existed, but as the Raikage, he couldn't gamble with the lives of his entire village.
"Three."
"Two."
Hakken gripped the Zanpakuto's hilt tightly, his eyes filled with murderous intent, ready to strike at any moment.
"I choose one! You damn demon brat!"
The roar shattered the heavy silence in the hospital room. The Raikage collapsed to the floor, struggling to gather the shattered bottles and scattered debris with his remaining hand.
In the end, he had lost.
Hakken sheathed the Zanpakuto and turned to leave.
But then, lying there on the ground, the Raikage's breathing steadied. In that fleeting moment between life and death, clarity struck him.
"Kid, I admit... you have a ruthlessness none of the Hokage before you ever possessed."
"But do you want to know how I managed to activate your Konoha barrier? How I slipped past the Land of Fire's defenses and entered Konoha unnoticed?"
The path to death was closed. Negotiation was all that remained.
As the acting Raikage, resistance was meaningless now. All he could do was use the upcoming talks to secure better terms for Kumogakure.
That scroll was one of his bargaining chips.
If he were in the Hokage's place, he would want to know who the traitor was.
As long as the other side showed curiosity, he could claw back a bit of leverage. That was his plan.
"You think I don't already know who it is?"
Hakken crouched in front of him, raising an eyebrow with calm indifference.
He knew?
A's eyes widened. Impossible.
If he knew, why hadn't he changed Konoha's barrier? Why hadn't he set an ambush in advance?
No. He's lying.
"I let a piece of trash leak exactly what I wanted leaked, then used that information to gain an advantage—like getting you here.
Once that person loses all value, I'll expose everything they've done and kill them in front of everyone."
"Tell me, Raikage—do you think I'm wrong?"
A chilling cold swept through the entire room.
The Raikage fell silent.
...
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