While one of the guards left to inform the Raikage, Inoiki and Naruto remained at the gate, quietly waiting for his return. The mountain air was crisp, and the clouds drifting above Kumogakure cast long shadows across the stone pathway.
A short distance away, Team Samui was walking toward a nearby shop when Omoi suddenly stopped and pointed. "Hey, look—there are ninjas from Konoha."
Samui and Karui turned to follow his gaze. The moment Karui recognized the leaf forehead protectors, her expression shifted instantly—her eyes narrowing, anger flashing across her face.
"What are these bastards from Konoha doing here?" she snapped. "They've got some guts showing up after they tried to capture my master!"
Samui opened her mouth, intending to calm her down, but Karui didn't wait for a single word. Her temper ignited, she lunged forward, sprinting straight toward Inoiki and Naruto with clear intent to attack.
Naruto spotted her only a second later. She's coming in hot—hostile intent, he realized. In a swift motion, he reached into his pouch, grabbed a kunai, and stepped in front of Inoiki, shielding him without hesitation.
He knew Inoiki didn't actually need protection—far from it. But there was no reason for Inoiki to waste his energy on every small skirmish, especially when much larger battles awaited. Naruto took it upon himself to intervene.
Karui's sword swung down just as Naruto met her midway. Steel clashed against steel, sending sparks flying through the air.
Naruto blocked her strike, pushing back with equal force. Karui recovered instantly, swinging again. They clashed once more—ding!—then again—ding ding ding!
The repeated collisions echoed through the gate area, metal ringing sharply as Naruto and Karui traded rapid blows, neither backing down as their weapons sparked in the early morning light.
Seeing Naruto locked in combat with someone from Kumogakure, the remaining gate guard tensed immediately. His hand moved toward his weapon, his stance shifting—he was ready to attack Naruto at any moment.
But before he could take a single step, a calm but firm voice cut through the clashing metal.
"Stop."
It was Inoiki.
The air around them seemed to thicken for a moment. With a subtle motion of his hand, Inoiki used his psychokinesis. Karui froze instantly—her body stiffening mid-movement as if gripped by an invisible hand. She couldn't even bring her sword down.
Naruto, hearing Inoiki's voice and seeing Karui suspended unnaturally in place, understood immediately. Psychokinesis. He's got her. Naruto stepped back at once, lowering his kunai.
Karui, struggling against the unseen restraint, snarled, "Bastard! What have you done? Why can't I move?!"
At that moment, Samui and Omoi arrived. Omoi already had his sword drawn, ready to leap in and defend his teammate. But he hesitated when he saw Karui frozen, held by nothing but empty air.
Inoiki released his hold, letting Karui drop back into her stance. He spoke in a calm yet unmistakably firm tone. "We are not here to fight. We are here to meet the Raikage and are waiting for his permission. You can ask the guard yourself. If you attack again, don't think that just because you're in Kumogakure I won't retaliate."
Karui's eyes flared with anger. "Oh yeah? Then let's see you—"
She stepped forward to swing again—but a hand landed on her shoulder.
Samui.
"Stop," Samui said quietly but with authority. "If they're here to meet the Raikage and waiting for official permission, then you cannot attack them."
Karui clenched her jaw, wanting to argue—wanting to shout why they absolutely should attack Konoha shinobi—but before she could speak, Samui gave her shoulder a small, firm squeeze and shook her head.
A clear warning: Drop it.
Karui exhaled sharply, frustrated but unable to defy her team leader. With a click of her tongue, she finally sheathed her sword. Omoi followed suit, sliding his blade back into its scabbard. The guard at the gate also relaxed, lowering his hand from his own weapon now that the tension had defused.
Finally, once the tension settled and everyone had calmed down, Samui shifted her gaze toward Yamanaka Inoiki. Her expression remained composed, but there was a subtle sharpness in her eyes.
"I wouldn't have expected the Silent Reaper of Konoha to come all the way to Kumogakure," she said.
Inoiki merely gave a small nod. He hadn't heard that title in a long time, and it stirred faint memories—cold missions, silent killings, the reputation he never cared for but could never shake.
Samui continued, "What exactly is your purpose in coming to Kumogakure?"
Inoiki responded in his usual steady tone. "We are here to deliver an important letter to the Raikage. One of the guards has already gone to inform him. He should return soon with permission for us to meet the Raikage."
Samui nodded, accepting his explanation. "I understand. What happened earlier was a mistake on my teammate's part. I hope you realize she isn't someone with ill intentions. Certain events… have made Karui resentful toward Konoha's shinobi."
Inoiki nodded again. He knew exactly what she was referring to. The attack on Killer B—Sasuke Uchiha's reckless assault during his time with Akatsuki—had left deep wounds in Kumogakure. And since Konoha had never officially declared Sasuke a missing-nin, the village saw him as still being one of Konoha's own.
Which meant, to them, Konoha wasn't taking responsibility.
They believed Sasuke's actions reflected Konoha's will, or at least Konoha's negligence. Many in Kumogakure suspected the attack might even have been sanctioned or encouraged by someone within the Leaf. And Karui was among those who strongly held that resentment.
Inoiki understood all of this clearly. He looked toward Samui, acknowledging her explanation with a calm, composed expression, fully aware of the layers of bitterness tied to the Uchiha's actions.
…
Some more time passed as they waited, the air quiet except for the distant hum of activity inside the village. Eventually, the guard who had gone to report to the Raikage returned. He paused for a moment, slightly surprised to see Team Samui gathered near the gate, then quickly refocused on Inoiki and Naruto.
"Raikage has called for both of you," he said. "You may enter his office. He will meet you now."
Inoiki and Naruto nodded in acknowledgment.
The guard then turned to Samui. "Are you heading toward the Raikage building? If so, could you take them with you?"
Samui answered immediately and with the authority of a team leader. "Yes. We were going to meet the Raikage anyway. We'll take them, so don't worry."
She then turned toward Inoiki and Naruto. "Follow us."
With that, Team Samui moved forward—Samui leading, with Karui and Omoi behind her—while Inoiki and Naruto walked a few steps back, following their guides through the winding streets of Kumogakure. The village was unique, built into the mountains themselves. Peaks towered overhead, casting long shadows over the narrow paths, and the stone structures blended seamlessly with the rocky cliffs.
After a short walk, they reached the Raikage building—large, solid, and commanding a strong presence even among the mountainous surroundings. Samui led them inside, guiding them through the corridors with practiced familiarity.
Once they reached the Raikage's office, Samui knocked firmly on the door.
A bold voice answered from within, "Enter."
There was no mistaking it—the deep, authoritative tone belonged to the Fourth Raikage A.
Samui opened the door and stepped in first, gesturing politely for Inoiki and Naruto to follow. Karui and Omoi entered right after her, standing off to the side once inside. Inoiki and Naruto walked forward, stopping at the centre of the room.
Team Samui positioned themselves along the wall, quietly observing, while Inoiki and Naruto stood before the imposing figure of the Raikage.
Raikage fixed his sharp gaze on the two visitors from Konoha. His presence alone carried weight—broad shoulders, towering height, and an aura that crackled like a storm held barely in check.
"I heard an envoy from Konoha had come to deliver a message," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "But I did not expect Konoha to send you two."
It was clear he had already been briefed. Standing before him were Naruto Uzumaki—the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails—and the Silent Reaper of Konoha-Yamanaka Inoiki, a name spoken with equal parts respect and caution across nations. Raikage knew exactly what kind of power stood in front of him: two individuals capable of changing the outcome of wars.
Inoiki bowed respectfully. "We are here with an important message from the Hokage regarding the Five Kage meeting. We also have another request, which you will understand after reading this letter."
He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, pulled out a sealed envelope, and placed it on Raikage's desk. Then he gently slid it toward the towering leader.
Raikage tore it open and began reading, eyes moving steadily across the page. The room fell silent—Team Samui watching from the side, Naruto standing straight, Inoiki calm and composed as always.
But the moment Raikage reached the end of the letter, his expression darkened. His muscles tensed, electricity crackling faintly along his arm.
Then—
BANG!
He slammed his fist onto the table with enough force to rattle everything on it.
"These people from Akatsuki have gone mad!" he roared. "Who do they—who do they think they are?!"
His voice echoed throughout the office, filled with fury and disbelief at the audacity described in the Hokage's letter.
----
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