Ao swallowed hard. "And what price must we pay?"
"Hm, they always have clear-cut pricing for their services. For participation in the war, there are three options."
"First, they can provide the manpower to hold off all of the Hidden Cloud's top-tier shinobi, including Yugito Nii, the jinchuriki of the Two-Tails; Killer B, the jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails; and even Raikage A, should he appear. They will do this until the Cloud forces withdraw."
"Second, regardless of the size of the Cloud's forces, they will take over the entire campaign, guaranteeing the Cloud's retreat while ensuring the Hidden Mist's casualties are one-tenth of the Cloud's, or even less."
"Third, building on the second option, not only will they force the Cloud to retreat, but they will ensure the Cloud does not dare to invade again for at least five years."
"These three services are priced at five hundred million, two billion, and four billion ryo, respectively."
Bitterness welled up in Ao's heart. The Hidden Mist was in chaos, its finances perpetually in the red. They could grit their teeth and scrape together five hundred million, but the key problem remained. Even if the Akatsuki held off the two jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage, the Hidden Mist would still lose in a direct confrontation.
This was war, not simple arithmetic. The Hidden Cloud could absorb such losses. But the Hidden Mist had already revealed itself as an easy target. More powers would be watching them now. Suffering heavy losses would only attract more greedy eyes. They had to choose the second option at a minimum to ensure the village's survival.
However, the Hidden Mist was truly broke.
"Lord Kawasaki, we simply cannot come up with that much money," Ao said. Kawasaki had just mentioned he was aware of their situation, so he clearly understood their financial difficulties.
Kawasaki nodded as if it were obvious. "I know you don't have the money. That's why I have another way."
"The Uchiha clan will cover the organization's fee. In return, what we want is this." As he spoke, Kawasaki unrolled a map and drew a circle around two small islands to the left of the Land of Water.
"I believe the Hidden Mist will choose either the second or third option," he said. "This is the condition for the second."
He then drew a larger circle, encompassing two more adjacent islands, for a total of four—the same number he had offered the Cloud.
"And this is for the third."
Ao's face turned grim. "Lord Kawasaki, are you asking the Hidden Mist to cede its territory?"
Kawasaki smiled pleasantly. "What choice do you have? I am the butcher, and the Mist is the meat. You can take your time to consider. But as for how much longer the Hidden Mist can hold out... that, I do not know."
Ao's expression shifted, but he eventually calmed down. He was right. If the Hidden Mist fell, everything would be lost.
"Lord Kawasaki, I don't have the authority to make this decision. Can you send someone to help alleviate the pressure in the meantime?"
Kawasaki narrowed his eyes. "No problem. I will dispatch someone to handle this matter personally shortly."
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
Only after Chojuro had left did the Third Hokage have a moment to speak with Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, do you have any intelligence?" the Third asked, taking a drag from his pipe. Orochimaru had stopped him earlier, a clear sign that he had obtained critical information.
"Shisui, Itachi, and all the other Uchiha members from the Hidden Sound have vanished."
The Third Hokage's heart tightened. He wondered if they had gone to the Land of Water battlefield or were lying in wait near the Leaf.
"I see. I will be careful and keep a close watch on the Uchiha clan." The Third had a growing suspicion that the Hyuga clan had already sided with the Uchiha. The situation was extremely unfavorable for the Leaf. It was time to mobilize the full strength of the Sarutobi clan.
A dangerous glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. "Old man, I've already made my move."
The Third Hokage asked, "Can you tell me what you're planning now?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "It's nothing major. I'm merely preparing to hand over the Uchiha's prized restaurant recipes—the very foundation of their finances—to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire."
The Third Hokage was shocked. "What if Kawasaki gets desperate? The Uchiha have four Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Orochimaru waved his hand dismissively. "I have already grasped the weakness of the Mangekyo Sharingan. Kawasaki will have no choice but to swallow this bitter pill."
The Third's curiosity was piqued. "What weakness does the Mangekyo Sharingan have?"
Orochimaru didn't answer, turning to leave. "You'll find out when the time comes."
Watching Orochimaru's ever-defiant back, the Third rubbed his temples in frustration. He really couldn't control him at all.
...
A dejected Chojuro left the village. His personality was ill-suited for such diplomatic missions, and he had no experience. He had assumed Ao would be the one to handle it, but Ao had left the party midway, leaving only a single jonin to accompany him to see the Third Hokage. Even the words he spoke to the Third had been scripted by Ao.
He had to admit, the Third Hokage wasn't intimidating, which helped Chojuro overcome his timid nature and say what needed to be said. Unfortunately, the Third remained unmoved, stating only that the matter required further deliberation.
Chojuro had no choice but to leave the Leaf and head to the rendezvous point he had arranged with Ao. Upon arrival, he found Ao standing next to a man in a black cloak with red clouds, wearing a straw hat and a ring on his finger engraved with the kanji for "Sky."
"Everyone's here. Let's go," the man said, clearly eager to get moving. The moment Chojuro and the jonin arrived, he set off toward the Land of Water.
Ao gestured for Chojuro to keep up while asking, "What did the Third Hokage say?"
Chojuro shook his head, disheartened. "He only said it needs more discussion."
Ao had only sent Chojuro as a formality; he had already anticipated the answer. Fortunately, the Uchiha had agreed to help. He just had no idea how strong this organization truly was.
"Lord Feipu, are you the only one from your organization who is coming?"
Kawasaki, using the alias Feipu, let out a chuckle in a voice completely different from his own. "Of course not. I have already contacted my partners. Those who are nearby will be on the battlefield by tomorrow."
Ao was startled. Was this a coincidence, or had it been planned all along?
He asked cautiously, "What is your relationship with the Uchiha clan?"
Kawasaki's current disguise was that of a tall, old man with a white beard, looking to be at least sixty. His voice was deep and slightly muffled by the Akatsuki mask he wore.
"That is not for you to inquire about."
Then, to put Ao at ease, Kawasaki added, "Rest assured. Since we've accepted your mission, we will give it our all. After all, our organization only collects payment after the mission is complete. You have no reason to worry about our reputation."
Kawasaki spun the lie effortlessly, as if he were a genuine member.
"May I ask the name of your organization?"
"We are called the Akatsuki."
...
In a certain cavern, holographic figures stood atop stone pillars.
"I never thought we'd see the day we all had to mobilize," Juzo Biwa said with a grin.
"How does it feel, coming back to help the Hidden Mist?" Zetsu asked, his tone laced with mockery. As a rogue ninja from the Mist, Juzo merely snorted in response.
"Sasori, my man, the organization is finally making a big move!" Deidara's voice was filled with excitement.
"The Hidden Cloud is not to be underestimated," Sasori said in his low voice before retreating back into his Hiruko puppet.
"I'll show the Cloud what true art is!" Deidara was young and arrogant, and the prospect of a larger audience only fueled his artistic passion.
"I wonder how much we'll earn this time," Kakuzu said, in a surprisingly good mood. Konan had recently found Hidan and assigned him as Kakuzu's partner. He was exceptionally pleased with his new comrade because the man simply couldn't die. From now on, he would never have to worry about "accidentally" getting his partner killed again. Better still, his new partner's unique abilities made their missions incredibly efficient. It was great that the boss had taken on such a major job.
In the center of the gathering, Pain opened his Rinnegan. The sheer force of his presence silenced the cavern instantly.
"Our mission this time is simple," Pain began. "Eliminate any Cloud shinobi attempting to land on the islands of the Land of Water."
Konan added, "The Hidden Cloud has dispatched two jinchuriki, and the Uchiha clan may also get involved. There is a member of our team on the Mist's side named Feipu. Until the leader and I arrive, you will follow his commands."
Zetsu's thoughts raced. Who was this new guy? "I'm not keen on taking orders from anyone but the leader," he remarked playfully.
His words echoed the sentiments of many present. The Akatsuki was filled with rogue ninja. The only reason they listened to Pain was because of his overwhelming power. They weren't about to take orders from some random newcomer.
Pain responded flatly, "Feipu is the one who secured this mission."
Zetsu immediately fell silent. The others shut their mouths as well. Anyone capable of landing a mission of this magnitude had to possess considerable strength. Though they had yet to meet this new teammate, a flicker of curiosity sparked within them.
Konan spoke again. "Feipu wears the 'Sky' ring. He has been a formal member for some time now."
Kakuzu and Sasori nodded. If he was an official member, then following his orders was acceptable. After all, the Akatsuki was very selective. Even Hidan, who got along so well with Kakuzu, had yet to receive a ring. The same went for the two newer recruits trailing behind Juzo.
"All members, head to the Land of Water battlefield and assemble," the Deva Path commanded before the connection severed.
Zetsu's Magic Lantern Body Technique ended. "Obito, Nagato has already finalized the mission with the Hidden Mist, but I'm not sure about the payment," he reported.
Obito, standing nearby, waved a hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. This war won't be over any time soon anyway."
Elsewhere, Danzo's experimentation was proceeding slowly. Obito had collected a significant amount of data, and a plan was gradually taking shape in his mind.
...
At the border of the Land of Fire.
Feipu and Ao moved with astonishing speed. The other jonin managed to keep pace, but Ao dismissed him to return to the Mist on his own, which puzzled Feipu. Chojuro, though young, was the master of the twin swords Hiramekarei and was more than capable. He barely slowed the other two down, and they reached the border in just three days.
Feipu was curious how they had traveled from the Mist to the Leaf so quickly. Years ago, his own boat journey had taken over a month, yet these two had managed it in a matter of days. They definitely had a secret.
The three arrived at the coast, where Ao took out a storage scroll.
"Unseal!"
With a puff of smoke, a vessel resembling a streamlined shuttle appeared. Ao smiled apologetically. "Lord Feipu, we're in a hurry. I'm afraid you'll have to make do with this."
Seeing the boat, Feipu understood how they traveled. "It's fine. The sooner we get to the battlefield, the better."
Seeing that Feipu didn't mind, Ao and Chojuro pushed the small boat into the water and gestured for him to board. Feipu jumped in. The interior was cramped, with a hydrodynamic design and a special seat at the stern. No wonder they'd sent the other jonin away; there wasn't enough room.
Chojuro hopped into the rear seat, facing away from them. "Senior Ao, Lord Feipu, hold on tight!"
Feipu did as he was told, but curiosity made him turn to watch what Chojuro would do. Chojuro plunged his hands into the water.
"Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!"
Feipu watched as a vortex slowly formed beneath the boat. The vessel began to move as Ao steered from the front. The vortex spun faster and faster, and the boat's speed increased with it. Soon, a massive wave surged behind them.
The boat shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. The intense G-force pressed Feipu flat against his seat. He grabbed his straw hat just before it was blown away. At the bow, Ao deactivated the seal on his Byakugan, using it to scan the distance for obstacles.
As the boat accelerated, its bow lifted slightly. The wind was so strong Feipu couldn't even open his mouth. His ears were filled with the roar of water and the howl of the wind. He felt as if he were riding a jet ski from his past life. Interesting. The Hidden Mist's method was truly effective. If they maintained this speed, they could probably reach their destination in three days.
With this thought, Feipu leaned back comfortably, enjoying his first high-speed journey. He covered his face with his hat, intending to take a short nap.
In a state between waking and sleep, Feipu felt the boat slow down. He opened his eyes and realized he had overestimated Chojuro's stamina. After only two hours, Chojuro was panting heavily, having stopped to take a Military Rations Pill to recover his energy.
The sea was wide open with few obstacles, so Ao didn't need to keep his Byakugan active constantly, conserving his chakra. He and Chojuro switched places. Chojuro took the helm while Ao used the jutsu from the stern. He also used Water Fang Bullet, but since Chojuro lacked a Byakugan, Ao kept the speed at about half of what it was before for safety.
Feipu watched from the side, a playful idea forming in his mind. When Ao also began to look tired and prepared to rest, Feipu spoke up. "Your idea is good, but your stamina is poor. At this rate, with all these breaks, it will take at least seven days to reach the Mist."
Ao sighed. "Lord Feipu, this is already the fastest way."
Feipu feigned a sigh of his own. "Who knows what the Land of Water will look like in seven days? I don't want this mission to fail. I'll take over."
Ao asked curiously, "Lord Feipu, you know Water Style?"
Feipu pulled an old forehead protector from his bag and dangled it in his hand. It was a Hidden Mist forehead protector, with a slash through the symbol.
This wasn't just for show. An extra layer of identity would be useful for dealing with that plant-like creature who could travel through the earth. Many of Feipu's plans needed to remain hidden, so he required a cover to take advantage of the chaos. The persona he was currently playing was that of an old Mist shinobi who had joined the Akatsuki. If Zetsu discovered Feipu collaborating with the Uchiha to sabotage the Cloud, or if he discovered Feipu double-crossing the Akatsuki, it would be Feipu's own doing. What did that have to do with him, Kawasaki? This would conceal Kawasaki's true objectives.
Seeing the forehead protector, Ao was stunned. "You're from the Hidden Mist?!"
Feipu shook his head, a trace of melancholy in his eyes. "I was."
His expression sent Ao's imagination running wild. There was clearly a story there. Ao had served the Mist for many years but had no memory of this man. Judging by his apparent age, he had to be at least sixty, from his father's generation.
While Ao was lost in thought, Kawasaki had already taken a seat at the stern. "Get ready," his deep voice rumbled, pulling Ao back to reality. He quickly gripped the helm.
Kawasaki had already watched Chojuro and Ao perform the jutsu twice. For someone with his exceptional skill in analyzing ninjutsu and his natural affinity for the water element, a jutsu like this was child's play.
Kawasaki finished the hand signs. "Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!"
A vortex formed in the water, spinning with increasing speed. A massive spray of water erupted from the stern. The intense wind pressure forced Chojuro to cling to his seat. Ao was stunned by the explosive burst of chakra from behind him. Who in the world was this man? How was his Water Style so powerful, his chakra so immense? This was no ordinary shinobi.
Feeling the boat moving nearly fifty percent faster than before, Ao didn't dare relax and immediately activated his Byakugan. Though there were few obstacles at sea, at this speed, a collision would likely send them all flying.
...
On the battlefields of the Land of Water.
During this time, despite the Hidden Mist's best efforts to avoid engagement, the tide of war was turning against them. Even with the Fourth Raikage yet to join the battle personally, the Mist was suffering continuous defeats. Seeing the scarcity of high-level combatants in the Mist's ranks, the Hidden Cloud's offensive grew bolder and bolder.