Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 198: Kumogakure Withdraws from the Third Shinobi Wor

"Why do you have such a strong grudge against Kumogakure?"

"Are you an enemy of Kumo?"

Yugito sensed the clear dissatisfaction and disdain in Kazuyama's words, which made her incredibly curious. Though she wasn't officially a ninja yet, that was only because she was still too young. As the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, she was destined to beco one—and not just any ninja, but a vital cornerstone of Kumogakure.

"Enemy? Yeah, I am an enemy of Kumo."

The thought of the four Lightning Bros relentlessly pursuing him, along with everything he had done in the Land of Lightning, made Kazuyama shake his head. Their relationship had long since frozen over.

"Kid, you're not a ninja of Kumo now, and you never will be."

"Just follow , accept it. From now on, you're my disciple."

"I'll train you well and make you a Perfect Jinchūriki. Don't even think about running away."

"After all, where could you even go?"

Kazuyama laughed, grabbed Yugito again, and sprinted toward the Falls of Truth. At the sa ti, the Island Turtle began moving once more.

Kumo, the Land of Lightning.

"Damn it! When did I rack up such a huge debt?!"

"Those bastards! They must have seen my father die and now want to make trouble for Kumogakure!"

"Bee! Dodai! Don't stop —I want to kill them!"

In the Kumogakure hospital, A—the son of the Raikage, soon to be the Fourth Raikage—was strapped to an IV, his entire body radiating a terrifying aura of fury.

Bee and Dodai hurriedly held him down, trying to calm him before he ripped the hospital apart.

"Brother, don't get excited! There must be so mistake."

"How could you owe 500 million ryo?"

Killer Bee couldn't believe it. His older brother owing money? That much money? It made no sense.

As the Raikage's son, A had never lacked funds. On top of that, he was an elite Jōnin of Kumo, having completed countless high-level missions. His savings were endless. Why would he even need to borrow money?

"Calm down for a second. Sothing isn't right."

"Based on the loan dates, there's no way it was you."

"At that ti, we were fighting Konoha in the Land of Hot Water."

"I think soone used your na to borrow money in the Land of Lightning and stuck you with the debt."

Dodai, pressing A down with his only remaining arm, analyzed the situation carefully.

His words seed to cool A down—just a little.

"Bastard! Don't let find out who did this!"

"Or I'll rip his head off!"

"Dodai, what about those debt collectors?"

Dodai and Killer Bee exchanged glances, sighing helplessly.

"They're still in the village. We have to deal with this matter, or it will be a huge blow to Kumogakure's reputation."

"But with the Third Raikage's passing, they won't make a scene—for now. If they stir up trouble, it won't benefit them either."

A's rage didn't subside completely, but he managed to regain so composure. His clenched fists trembled with restrained fury.

Finally, he made a decision.

"I still have 120 million ryo in savings. Take it and give it to them. As for the rest… we'll deal with it later."

"First, we need to complete my father's funeral."

"If those bastards dare to press us again, I don't care about my reputation—I'll kill them."

Dodai nodded in agreent, then gave A an encouraging look.

"I don't have as much money as you, but I have 50 million ryo. I don't need it, so take it all."

"As for Bee, forget it. He hasn't been taking missions for years—he probably doesn't have much saved up."

Dodai's words made Killer Bee a little embarrassed, but they weren't wrong. He really didn't have much in terms of savings.

"Bee! Go to the Valley of Clouds and Lightning to train. This battle cost us dearly, but next ti, I'll show Iwa and Konoha exactly what we're made of!"

"Also, Dodai, send Yugito to the Valley of Clouds and Lightning too."

"They're both Jinchūriki—they must train harder."

"And get Genbu back here. I want Bee and Yugito to head to the Island Turtle for training."

Although A hadn't officially beco the Fourth Raikage yet, the entire village acknowledged his leadership, and no one objected to his orders.

Dodai accepted the task without hesitation and went off to make the necessary arrangents.

Killer Bee furrowed his brows slightly when he heard A's words, but he said nothing. He understood his brother's frustration and anger.

Moreover, after this battle, he had realized his own shortcomings. Training might not be such a bad idea after all.

Land of Fire – Konohagakure

Root Division Headquarters

"What? You haven't found Kazuyama?"

"Danzō, are your subordinates slacking off?"

Orochimaru's expression darkened, and Danzō, sitting across from him, also frowned at the news.

"Hmph, my subordinates are all carefully trained, each and every one of them is an expert in tracking."

"According to the intelligence, Kazuyama went to the Land of Lightning and did not return with Tsunade's forces."

"If you don't believe , Tsunade is already back in the village—you can ask her yourself."

With that, Danzō turned and left.

Orochimaru knew he wasn't lying. Over the past few weeks, Danzō's experints had been making rapid progress, and he had begun to grasp the fundantals of cultivating and transplanting Hashirama's cells. He wouldn't risk breaking ties with Orochimaru over sothing trivial.

"Hmph!"

Watching Danzō leave, Orochimaru let out a cold snort and vanished in a blur, using the Body Flicker Technique.

His next destination—Tsunade.

He soon found her in a tavern.

"Well, well, isn't this Orochimaru? The ever-so-cold lord of Konohagakure?"

"You ca all the way here because you missed ? Are you buying a drink?"

Tsunade had just sat down to eat when Orochimaru appeared, and she couldn't resist teasing him a little.

"Tsunade, where is Kazuyama?"

"Why didn't he return with you?"

Orochimaru didn't bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Your disciple? He went to the Land of Lightning."

"The battle was intense, and Kazuyama was ordered to scout enemy forces in the Land of Rice Fields."

"Halfway there, he encountered a Kumo team gathering intelligence in the area. After successfully intercepting them, he went to the Land of Lightning."

Tsunade casually pulled out a letter from Kazuyama and slid it across the table. She had kept it in case anyone ca asking about his whereabouts.

Orochimaru picked it up, recognizing the handwriting imdiately—it was definitely from Kazuyama.

What was this brat doing in the Land of Lightning? He wasn't assigned any long-term missions there…

"Tsunade, how did he send this letter? Summoning Technique?"

Orochimaru suddenly asked, his sharp mind picking up on a crucial detail.

Tsunade smiled at the curiosity in his voice.

"I didn't expect that, Orochimaru."

"Since Nawaki… this is the first ti I've seen you care so much about soone."

"Seems like that brat really does have sothing special."

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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