Since the Kumogakure Genin had been safely handed over to Kumogakure, the mission was considered complete, and Second Body could finally return to the Village.
The temptation to return to the Village! She still didn't know how the laboratory beneath her house was doing; the Hashirama cells cultivated there should be quite large by now, right?
"Kumogakure, we bid you farewell." Minato Namikaze didn't want to go to the Land of Lightning again. The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was at the border, and the Kumogakure people would certainly not be at ease.
Since there were no Anbu accompanying the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, it was clear that he had snuck out. Regarding a Jinchuriki sneaking out and their longing for the outside world...
No one knew better than him, the Jinchuriki's boyfriend. Kushina often complained to him that she was restricted to the Village, and she really wanted to smash Old Man Third Generation's head.
So, when the Kumogakure Anbu discovered the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki had left, and with a Kumogakure Ninja still by his side, it wouldn't be long before someone came to bring the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki back.
And according to the A-B Combo tradition of Kumogakure, the one who would soon arrive should be the next generation A of Kumogakure, who was the son of the Third Raikage.
Minato sent Kamikawa Shuji to the cabin to tell the captain to prepare for the return voyage, so as not to cause any further trouble, as casualties would be undesirable.
"Yo ho, Bee's concert ain't done, can't leave in a hurry, my performance ain't for nothing, this experience makes friends envious."
Killer Bee performed a grotesque dance, occasionally pulling out a thick octopus tentacle from behind his butt, which was truly an eyesore.
It would take time for the merchant ship to turn around, so they had no choice but to continue enduring this performance art here. If the Eight-Tails Gyuki could approve of Killer Bee, was it also a raper?
"Attention, several powerful Chakra sources are rapidly approaching."
Second Body noticed someone chasing from the direction of the Land of Lightning, presumably A had arrived. The future Fourth Raikage A, although not as strong as the Third Raikage, was a ruthless individual who could split Amaterasu with his bare hands and sacrifice an arm.
Minato Namikaze also sensed them, and Shisui and Sarutobi Aoki immediately prepared for battle, while only Killer Bee was still seizing the opportunity to perform his rap.
At the distant horizon where the sea met the sky, a large splash of water seemed to spread into the sky. As they approached, the figures on the waves grew larger, and it was clear there were only two people arriving.
As they approached, the merchant ship Second Body was on successfully turned around, but it was only a matter of time before the other party caught up by running on water.
"Ugh, it's over, big brother is coming, Bee is going to get lectured again, darn it, my concert is interrupted again, but I must remember this inspiration…"
Killer Bee took out a small notebook and a pencil, drawing and writing in it, occasionally mumbling an excruciatingly embarrassing rap lyric.
"Bee~! You dared to sneak out again! Take my Lightning Bomb!" Fourth Raikage A stomped on the water beneath his feet, creating a ten-meter-diameter depression on the sea surface, then appeared like lightning on the pirate ship stage.
Fourth Raikage A mercilessly struck Killer Bee's head with a hand chop, instantly knocking Killer Bee to the ground, smashing right through the stage.
Then he was pulled up by Fourth Raikage A by his collar and glared at Killer Bee with considerable anger, showing no fear that others might have when facing a Jinchuriki.
"Nah, big brother, I was just out gathering material. I have a lot of inspiration this time. Look at my rap lyrics. This concert in Kumogakure is definitely going to be a huge hit."
Killer Bee took out his well-protected lyric book, then flipped it over, motioning for Fourth Raikage A to inspect it, a fawning, embarrassed smile on his face.
"Hmph!" Fourth Raikage A put Killer Bee down, but still picked up the book and began to read it. He wanted to thoroughly criticize it and make Killer Bee abandon these unrealistic performance ideas.
However, at this moment, he noticed the Konoha merchant ship gradually moving away, then looked at Samui, motioning for her to explain.
Samui expressionlessly explained that they had come out to fight pirates, then Killer Bee held a concert, then they met Konoha Anbu, and they escorted the Kumogakure Genin back.
Fourth Raikage A was still quite astute. As the designated Fourth Raikage, he had long since begun to delve into the Village's secrets and affairs.
He naturally understood what it meant for Konoha to escort back the Genin they had intended to sacrifice, but he also breathed a sigh of relief, because he also disagreed with sending Genin to sacrifice themselves without knowing anything.
However, this was a decision made by the Village's hawkish elders, and with his father also having made a prior arrangement, he had no power to resist.
Now that the Village's intention had not been achieved, it was not a bad thing. He walked towards the ship's rail, throwing Killer Bee's lyric book back.
Killer Bee carefully took it, his face full of distress, fearing that his art would be desecrated. This was his inspiration and effort.
"Konoha friends, are you just leaving like that? If you want Kumogakure to agree to your intentions, it's unreasonable not to stay and fight."
Fourth Raikage A's shout made Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Ling look at him gravely. The worst had happened; now they had to fight whether they wanted to or not.
The Tsuchikage next to Fourth Raikage A didn't expect A to say that, and immediately tried to stop A.
"A, don't make rash decisions. This is for the Village to decide. You are not the Raikage yet."
"Don't worry, Father will have anticipated it, just like he anticipated the schemes of the Village's higher-ups."
Fourth Raikage A understood the Third Raikage very well, after all, he was his father. The Third Raikage had not hidden many things from him, and he was very clear about the Third Raikage's political intentions.
"You must be A from the A-B Combo of Hidden Cloud Village, correct? I wonder what are the terms of the fight you mentioned?"
Minato knew this was the time to show off their strength. They had to intimidate Hidden Cloud Village, otherwise, if Hidden Cloud Village learned that Konoha was not that strong, they would probably join the war without hesitation.
And to achieve a shocking effect, having the small, unknown Second Body participate was the best choice, as the contrast would be significant enough.
This would give Hidden Cloud Village the impression that any small Konoha Anbu could be so powerful, possessing Kage-level strength, which would definitely bluff Kumogakure.
This idea was correct; didn't Might Duy, an unknown Genin, beat the arrogant Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into a pulp in the original work, after which Hidden Mist Village abandoned its large-scale invasion?
Even Suikazan Fuguki was so intimidated by the Konoha Genin that he later became a traitor, sending intelligence to Konoha Anbu, and ultimately died at Kisame Hoshigaki's hands.
"Heh heh, we each send out three people. The winner can continue fighting, and the one with the most wins is victorious. You can then safely return to Konoha, otherwise you will face pursuit from Kumogakure, and Kumogakure will not agree to your intentions."
Fourth Raikage A was a battle maniac and had been itching for a fight for a long time. Meeting the Konoha Ninja this time, he could fight to his heart's content without holding back.
On their side, they had him, Killer Bee, and Tsuchikage, three Kage-level powerhouses, while the other party arrived hastily and had no strong personnel, so they were definitely going to lose.
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