"Were all these zeroes used just to buy explosive tags?"
"Slam!"
A crumpled procurement list was slammed heavily onto the table. The force was so great that the oil lamp on the corner of the desk rattled and flickered twice.
"Explain yourself, Konon."
Kakuzu's dark green eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at a line on the list, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Why is the procurement volume for this batch of explosive tags three times higher than last month's? Are you planning to eat these for dinner?"
Standing opposite him, Konon remained cold and indifferent.
A paper flower was pinned into her short, light blue hair. Facing Kakuzu's interrogation, she merely spared a glance at the list.
"These are necessary reserves," Konon said, her voice calm and rippleless. "For Pain's plan, we need sufficient power."
"Power?"
Kakuzu laughed in sheer anger. He clutched his chest, feeling as though his hearts—even though he had several—were bleeding. "Do you know the current market price for explosive tags? Because of black market hoarding, the unit price has spiked by thirty percent! Thirty percent!"
He began pacing back and forth in the room, his black cloak rustling with every movement.
"The organization's capital chain is on the verge of collapsing! Food costs money, base maintenance costs money, and keeping the organization running costs money!"
Kakuzu stopped abruptly and stared intently at Konon. "If we don't recruit more people to earn money, and continue to rely solely on me risking my life at the bounty stations, the organization might as well disband and go starve!"
Konon remained silent for a moment.
She turned around to look at the dark curtain of rain outside the window, leaving him with only a cold, distant back.
"This is the leader's will."
"That sentence again!" The veins on Kakuzu's temples bulged. If it were anyone else, he would have long since blasted them with his Earth Grudge Fear, but facing the one closest to the leader, he could only force down his fury.
"Fine, the leader's will."
Kakuzu snatched the ledger from the table, stuffed it into his robes, and turned to leave. He radiated a low-pressure aura that warned everyone to stay away. "I'm going to take a mission. But before new recruits are brought in, do not let me see another wasteful procurement list like this."
The heavy iron door was slammed shut with a deafening clang.
Konon stayed by the window, not in the least bit moved by Kakuzu's anger.
She opened her palm, and a piece of white paper folded and flipped within it, eventually transforming into a paper crane that fluttered out into the rain.
"For that dream..." she whispered softly, "even if we have to buy every explosive tag in the shinobi world, it will be worth it."
...
Minato Namikaze spread out an encrypted intelligence report on his desk, his finger pointing at several figures circled in red ink.
"The Akatsuki's fund movements have become frequent lately."
Minato looked up at the purple toad perched beside the scroll. "Since the destruction of the Grass Village, a massive vacuum has opened in the business of the underground bounty stations. A certain force is aggressively swallowing these shares; their methods are crude, and they haven't even hesitated to directly attack the vaults of small nation nobles."
Gamakon glanced at the numbers and grinned. "That's Kakuzu, that miser. It looks like Nagato, that spendthrift, has been burning money too fast on his 'peaceful nuclear deterrence,' making their financial manager get desperate."
"This gives us an opportunity."
Minato crossed his hands, his eyes cool and focused. "As long as we follow the flow of money, we can find their tail. However, the person we are looking for this time isn't the leader with the Rinnegan, but the one hiding in his shadow."
"Bring Jiraiya-sensei here," Minato instructed the Anbu outside.
A moment later, the window was pushed open as a gust of night wind poured in.
Jiraiya flipped into the office with practiced ease, casually dusting himself off.
He had just come from Tsunade's side, and his face still bore the traces of frustration from being dragged into forced labor.
"In the middle of the night, if it's to celebrate the arrival of funds by treating me to drinks, I'm all for it." Jiraiya pulled over a chair and sat down, looking at the serious human-toad duo. "But looking at your expressions, it doesn't seem like good news."
"Sensei, let's talk about drinks later."
Minato pushed the intelligence report toward Jiraiya. "There is an S-rank top-secret mission that only you can handle."
Jiraiya set aside his playful demeanor and picked up the report to scan it quickly.
"The Akatsuki?" Jiraiya's brow arched slightly. "Those guys have certainly been restless lately. You want me to scout their base? Or move against them directly?"
"Neither."
Minato shook his head, making a shocking statement. "I want to ask you to deliver a letter. Or rather, a 'cooperation invitation.'"
"To the Akatsuki?" Jiraiya set the scroll down, his gaze calm as he looked at Minato, waiting for more. He understood his disciple; Minato would never take a meaningless risk.
"It's not for your student."
Gamakon hopped to the center of the desk, his golden horizontal pupils fixed on Jiraiya. "It's for that pitch-black guy who looks like an aloe vera plant and claims to be the will of Uchiha Madara—Black Zetsu."
"Black Zetsu..." Jiraiya's brow furrowed. "That's the fellow who attacked Kushina that night, right?"
"Yes, I have decided to discuss cooperation with him," Minato said calmly.
"Cooperation?" Jiraiya was only slightly taken aback before returning to normal, showing no excessive surprise or doubt. "It seems this 'Black Zetsu' hides a secret even larger than the Akatsuki itself."
"Exactly."
Gamakon took over the conversation, his tone eerie. "Pervy Sage, what if I told you that Black Zetsu isn't the will of Uchiha Madara at all, but rather the third son of Kaguya Otsutsuki?"
"Princess Kaguya?" Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "Mythological figures are becoming historical facts... if this intel comes from you, Gamakon, then I'm not surprised."
Gamakon briefly recounted the information regarding the Otsutsuki...
The office fell into a brief silence.
Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully.
He did not question the history-overturning intelligence; instead, he was rapidly considering the strategic significance behind this information.
"I see."
Jiraiya nodded, his gaze sharp. "Since he wants to save his mother, there is indeed room for a trade of interests between us. After all, if the Otsutsuki main house arrives, his mother won't survive anyway."
"As expected, Sensei grasps it immediately."
Minato stood up and walked to the window, his back to the others. "The pursuers of the Otsutsuki clan are approaching. Only Black Zetsu and Kaguya know the abilities and weaknesses of those celestial visitors, as well as the secrets of the God Tree. We need the intelligence in his head."
"Furthermore, regarding the resistance against the Otsutsuki, Black Zetsu is more anxious than we are."
Minato turned around, his azure eyes shimmering with calculated brilliance. "On this level, we are natural allies."
"Using the enemy's weakness to transform them into a temporary ally."
Jiraiya laughed, his expression full of pride for his student's growth. "Minato, your vision has already surpassed the previous Hokage. Since you've made your decision, I will be the messenger."
He didn't need to ask why they weren't simply destroying Black Zetsu, nor did he ask how great the risk was.
Since Minato and Gamakon had made their judgment, as their teacher and senior, his role was to execute and support.
"Sensei, you are the most familiar with the Akatsuki. Only you can find him and convey this intent."
Minato looked at Jiraiya. "Tell him that we know his true identity and we know the time of the Otsutsuki's arrival. Konoha is willing to sit down with him and discuss how to save his mother."
"What if he doesn't believe it?" Jiraiya asked.
"He will believe it."
Gamakon grinned, revealing rows of white teeth. "Because he is a devoted son. When it involves his mother who is sealed in the moon, he won't dare gamble, even if there is only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of failure."
"Tell him that if he doesn't come, we will take action ourselves and blow up the moon."
"Hahahaha!"
Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh and stood up, his presence suddenly shifting. "Blowing up the moon... only you two would dare say such a thing. Fine, I will definitely deliver those words."
He walked to the door, his hand on the handle, when he suddenly paused. "Does anyone else know about this besides us?"
"Besides the people in this room, there is one more."
Gamakon added, "Orochimaru. He needs the technical data in Black Zetsu's hands to perfect his research, and that guy is a pure pragmatist; his mouth is tighter than anyone's."
"Orochimaru, huh..."
A look of understanding flashed in Jiraiya's eyes. "True, he would definitely be interested in such an unconventional plan. Since that stinking snake is also on board, I'll have to keep a closer eye on things to make sure he doesn't go overboard."
"Don't worry, Minato."
Jiraiya waved his hand with his back turned. "Since this is your decision, it must be for the village's future. I will 'invite' that pitch-black fellow over."
The door closed, and Jiraiya's figure vanished into the night.
Minato sat back down, picked up the intelligence on the Akatsuki's funds, and ignited a flame of chakra at his fingertips, reducing the scroll to ash.
"With Sensei on the job, I can rest easy."
As Jiraiya's presence completely merged into the night, the air in the office returned to a state of calm.
Minato Namikaze watched the pile of ash cool completely before slowly leaning back, rubbing his aching temples.
The amount of information tonight was truly staggering. From the massive wealth of the Grass Village to Black Zetsu's true identity, every matter required him, as the Hokage, to expend significant mental energy to digest and plan.
"What? Tired already?"
Gamakon hopped onto the coffee table and took a bite out of an apple, juice spraying everywhere. "This is just the beginning. When those Otsutsuki aliens actually arrive, you probably won't even have time to sleep."
"I'm just wondering how long this peace can last."
Minato gave a wry smile and reached for the next file.
"Knock, knock, knock."
An urgent knocking sounded again.
An Anbu wearing a cat-faced mask pushed the door open and knelt on one knee, speaking rapidly. "Hokage-sama, Orphanage Director Nonou Yakushi is downstairs requesting an audience."
"Nonou Yakushi?"
Minato's pen paused, a blot of ink spreading on the paper.
He was not unfamiliar with that name.
The former ace spy of Root, codenamed the 'Walking Miko,' who later left Root for various reasons to take over the Konoha Orphanage.
Ever since Danzo fell and Root was purged, this former ace had been under Anbu surveillance, but she had always stayed in her place and never committed any infractions.
"At this hour..." Minato glanced at the clock on the wall. "Is she alone?"
"No," the Anbu replied. "She has brought a child with her, about five or six years old, wearing round glasses."
Hearing the mention of the 'child with glasses,' Gamakon, who was about to have Jiraiya summon him away, froze in place.
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