A year had passed in the blink of an eye, and the Ninja World remained calm on the surface. Yet, if one event stood out this year, it was the transformation of the Land of Rain.
It began with a group of young people seemingly erging from nowhere to reunify the fractured land. They didn't stop there. Establishing a new ninja village and rebuilding the region, they turned the Land of Rain into a thriving entertainnt hub. Now, the country was known for its sprawling entertainnt district. Sex shops, gambling dens, and hot springs dotted the landscape. With its central location, opulent decor, and unparalleled service, the Land of Rain had earned a sterling reputation across the Ninja World.
Every day, wealthy patrons from neighboring and smaller countries flocked there to indulge. Though the special industries were under the direct control of Akatsukigakure, the prosperity spilled over. The profits from food and lodging alone allowed the villagers to enjoy a standard of living they once considered unattainable.
As another month drew to a close, Yahiko sat in the Akatsukikage office, a far cry from the typical ninja. With the Akatsukikage Building long completed, he now exuded the air of a business magnate.
"How was this month's revenue?" he asked calmly.
Kakuzu, reading the monthly report, couldn't hide his grin. "Ten percent more than last month."
The forr bounty hunter reveled in his newfound life. Gone were the days of constant fighting. Now, his mornings began with counting stacks of money—a reality he could scarcely believe.
"Not bad. The profits have stabilized in recent months," Yahiko remarked, maintaining his stoic deanor. "As long as nothing unexpected happens, the revenue should remain consistent."
He nodded, though inwardly, he felt numb. The sheer wealth flooding into their coffers was overwhelming. Never had he imagined that excess wealth could beco a problem.
Konan smiled. "Sensei truly is amazing. I never realized these industries could be so profitable."
Her forr disdain for such "dirty" work had all but vanished. After all, their employees were willing professionals gathered from various nations. There was no coercion, no exploitation. And as for those ruined by gambling? She rationalized it simply: they had only themselves to bla. If not here, they would have lost elsewhere.
"I think he's just making you handle the things he can't do himself," Kakuzu muttered sourly, unable to resist taking a jab.
"Don't slander Sensei!" Konan shot back, though her voice wavered slightly. The thought crossed her mind—if Sensei opened a gambling house, his wife would bankrupt him. If he dared to run a brothel, he wouldn't survive her wrath. Perhaps Kakuzu had a point, after all.
"Hah! Do you really think Hatake Kawakaze is so kind of saint?" Kakuzu sneered, bitterness etched into his tone. His grudge was impossible to let go. Every ti he rembered the 900 million he'd lost, it was like a fresh wound reopening, bleeding him dry.
"Why isn't Lord Kawakaze a good person? After all, he spared your life," Nonō said with genuine respect for Kawakaze.
"I..." Kakuzu began, but Nagato cut him off.
"Enough bickering," Nagato said firmly. "We've made the money, but trouble is coming. Let's focus on how to deal with it."
The Land of Rain's booming revenue over the past year had drawn the envy of two powerful allies, both eager for a cut. Sunagakure had been easier to manage, but Iwagakure's Ōnoki was proving more persistent. His emissaries had made repeated visits to "discuss matters," their words growing increasingly forceful. While Yahiko had so far managed to deflect them with excuses, he knew this approach couldn't last forever.
"If the tiger doesn't show its teeth, does it really think we're sick cats?" Konan said coldly. "There's no way we're giving them any money."
Her stance was clear: no compromise, no handouts, and if it ca to it, they would fight.
"If it were just us, that would be one thing," Yahiko said, rubbing his temples as frustration set in. "But with so many people involved, we can't just jump into a fight."
The predicant gnawed at him. It had been so easy to accept financial support from the two great ninja villages back then. Now, the weight of their expectations lood heavy.
"Fighting isn't the best idea," Nagato said thoughtfully. "They see us as a small ninja village—an easy target. If we can make them feel genuinely threatened, this might go away."
His analysis was sharp. After all, even Konoha, with its vast wealth, didn't face demands from its allies. The key lay in projecting strength.
"Why don't I go there?" Kakuzu suggested. He didn't believe Konoha would step in, but he felt confident Sunagakure and Iwagakure wouldn't stand a chance. "Kill a few people, show them who's boss. If they want money, let's see if they can take it."
"No," Yahiko said decisively, rejecting the idea outright. "They already know who you are. That would be as good as declaring war."
Sending Kakuzu in disguise to assassinate soone wouldn't make a difference; it would only escalate tensions. If they made an open move, it would be Akatsukigakure taking the first aggressive step, putting them squarely in the wrong.
"Then let's keep stalling them and see what they do," Kakuzu said, his opinion aligning with Konan's. The worst-case scenario? They would fight it out. Who was afraid of whom?
"We can't keep stalling them, or there will be problems," Nagato warned. Patience had its limits, and he suspected that Ōnoki was nearing his breaking point. Rasa was slightly more composed, but even he would beco harder to deceive as ti went on. Whether it escalated into open conflict or underhanded sches, neither outco boded well for the Land of Rain.
"This isn't working, and that isn't working. What do you think we should do?" Kakuzu's frustration was palpable. The prospect of sharing their hard-earned profits gnawed at him, and his anxiety was starting to show.
"Calm down. We're just discussing it, aren't we?" Nonō offered, trying to ease his tension, though she didn't have any concrete solutions either.
"Nagato just ntioned that they need to feel threatened," Konan said thoughtfully. "If that's the case, we need to show them we're not to be trifled with. Then, they'll back off, right?"
Nagato nodded at her assessnt. "Exactly. Making them retreat because the cost is too high is the best solution I can think of." But even as he spoke, his mind remained blank on how to accomplish this.
"It's difficult to figure out, but it's also simple," Nonō remarked, a hint of an idea forming.
"How?" Yahiko asked, his interest piqued.
"Nagato's idea is to avoid direct confrontation while demonstrating strength," Nonō explained. "If we were to publicly defeat a top-tier expert, that would send a clear ssage. It would show them we're not worth ddling with."
Her smile, however, was tinged with helplessness. Finding soone to fit the bill was another matter entirely. There were few "super experts" who could truly intimidate the two great ninja villages.
"Yes, that's the general idea," Nagato said. "But pulling it off won't be easy. Where would we find soone like that?"
"Why don't we invite Sensei to put on a show?" Yahiko suggested tentatively. Kawakaze was the first person who ca to mind when he thought of soone formidable.
"Do you think people are stupid?" Kakuzu scoffed, shooting a sharp glare at Yahiko, as if he'd lost his mind. "Do you seriously believe that 'defeating' Hatake Kawakaze would fool anyone? It would only make things more suspicious."
"Then suggest soone else," Yahiko shot back, refusing to back down.
Kakuzu opened his mouth but hesitated. The only person he could think of who fit the criteria was soone like the Third Raikage. But who else would co to Akatsukigakure just to be defeated?
Knock, knock, knock.
The tense atmosphere in the office broke at the sound.
"Enter," Yahiko called.
The door opened, and a mber of Akatsuki entered stepped in, his expression urgent. "Lord Akatsukikage, soone is causing trouble and has injured several Jōnin."
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