Killer Bee acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, happily vibing along with Ryou.
The Fourth Raikage and Yugito lowered their guard upon seeing Ryou and Killer Bee happily vibing together.
Ryou really seemed to be a clone, showing no interest in the Tailed Beasts inside Killer Bee and Yugito.
As they chatted, Ryou activated his Sharingan to brainwash Killer Bee, extending vines to wrap around Killer Bee's head.
His outfit changed again, transforming into the attire of a plantation owner.
He wore a felt tricorne hat, a hunting jacket over his clothes, and a thick leather belt around his waist with a scabbard hanging from one side, containing a short cowhide whip.
"Come on, Killer Bee, follow me back to my farm!"
Killer Bee had absolutely no talent for rapping; with his strong arms and sturdy build, he was a natural at farming.
A man like him should take his talents to the plantation.
The Fourth Raikage and Yugito rushed forward.
"I knew it, the words of an Uchiha can never be trusted!"
Thunder coursed through the Fourth Raikage's body like a giant lightning beast as he concentrated all his chakra into his feet.
"Lightning Release: Lariat!"
"Here we go again, another elbow strike!"
Seeing the Fourth Raikage's murderous elbow strike coming, Ryou immediately let go of Killer Bee and jumped out of the Fourth Raikage's attack range.
The Fourth Raikage skidded to a halt, looking at Ryou, who had released Killer Bee, with some confusion: "Uchiha Ryou, what are you doing?"
Ryou explained, "Killer Bee really has no talent for rapping. I just wanted him to come back with me and grow some cotton!"
The Raikage roared, "Evil Uchiha! If you want the Eight-Tails, just say so. Stop with this nonsense!"
"Raikage, I gave you face, didn't I?"
Ryou couldn't stand the Fourth Raikage's aggressive tone any longer.
Even Madara didn't speak to him so rudely. Does this big black guy think his life matters that much to be talking so tough?
Ryou took out his short whip, cracking it through the air. He pointed his cat claws at the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee and said, "I've changed my mind."
"Raikage, Killer Bee, you two look like top-tier workers, so just come back with my plantation!"
Killer Bee grew furious: "Fool~ Ya Fool Naturally evil Uchiha~ You've simply defiled rap~"
Killer Bee instantly entered his Tailed Beast Transformation.
...
In a place far away from Takigakure.
Jiraiya's group was leading the villagers and Shinobi of Takigakure toward the Feudal Lords.
Takigakure was destroyed, and Jiraiya actually wanted Konoha to provide relief for its people.
But the Takigakure Shinobi had their own way out, which was to seek help from the Daimyo of the Land of Waterfalls.
This was the normal way of thinking; when your home is ruined and your Village is gone, if you don't go to the government for help, what's the point of asking a neighboring country for relief?
Moreover, seeing Konoha's current momentum, they were about to hold a Five Kage Summit with the other Four Great Hidden Villages to form a Shinobi Allied Forces to deal with Madara.
They were even taking in rogue Shinobi, so they would definitely set their sights on these remaining Takigakure Shinobi.
Although Takigakure was destroyed, its Shinobi had not suffered heavy casualties.
When Konan, Nagato, and the others invaded, they only wanted to seize the Seven-Tails. Their killing intent wasn't very strong, so only about a dozen people died.
The Takigakure Leader died because he drank the Hero Water.
The remaining people were either caught in large-scale Ninjutsu or taken out by stray Kunai.
As long as these Shinobi remained, Takigakure still had a chance to rebuild.
However, things like the Great Tree of Takigakure, the Hero Water, and the Seven-Tails were completely gone.
Even if Takigakure were rebuilt, it would only be a second-rate small Shinobi Village, the kind no one would even place an order with if they heard the name.
Shibuki said to Jiraiya, "Lord Jiraiya, did our Takigakure's ancient tree really grow legs and run away on its own?"
Jiraiya rubbed his head and explained, "It didn't grow legs and run; rather, Wood Release gave it consciousness, turning it into someone else's clone so it could run away."
Shibuki was a bit sad: "So it's never coming back, right?"
Although Shibuki was young, he knew what was most important to Takigakure.
It wasn't the Seven-Tails, but the Hero Water.
It was by relying on the Hero Water that Takigakure had driven enemies out of the waterfall time and time again.
The Seven-Tails' power was great, but it wasn't something their wisdom could utilize.
As long as the Great Tree of Takigakure was there, the Hero Water would be there.
If the Hero Water was there, heroes would be there; if heroes were there, the Village could continue to endure.
A nation without heroes is a tragic one!
Without the Hero Water, Takigakure would never have its previous cohesion again.
Perhaps the Daimyo of the Land of Waterfalls would just annex them directly.
The eyeless Shisui smiled at Shibuki: "Shibuki, don't be sad. As long as our Shinobi Allied Forces can defeat Uchiha Madara, then everything of yours can return."
"Really?"
Shisui nodded.
Shibuki looked a bit more cheerful: "Then you must defeat Uchiha Madara. I'll be waiting for your good news!"
Kakuzu snorted from the side, "This little brat really knows how to play the victim! He wants everything back without putting in any effort. How can there be such a good deal in this world?"
Someone in the Konoha Anbu nodded in agreement. Takigakure was truly ungrateful; the fact that so many of them survived was all thanks to Konoha.
Yet now Takigakure still wanted Konoha to go and snatch back the Seven-Tails and the Great Tree of Takigakure for them!
More importantly, Takigakure had no intention of joining the Shinobi Allied Forces to share the hardships with everyone.
"..."
Shibuki and the Takigakure Shinobi were silenced by the remark.
Their strength was meager, and their current leader was still an underage child. If they joined the Shinobi Allied Forces, the first order they received would probably be—'Go kill Madara!'
"Stop thinking about the Seven-Tails and the Hero Water. Those aren't things your power can reclaim."
"In the end, the Seven-Tails was just something Sunagakure didn't want, and Takigakure happened to pick up the leftovers!"
The core of Hashirama's original distribution of the Tailed Beasts was to create a strategic balance among the Five Great Nations.
Seven of the Tailed Beasts were concentrated within the Four Great Hidden Villages.
The Seven-Tails was originally meant for Sunagakure, so that Sunagakure would have two Tailed Beasts and could maintain a strategic balance with other nations.
But Sunagakure didn't want a Tailed Beast; they wanted land where they could grow food.
When negotiations reached a deadlock, Hashirama gave the Seven-Tails to Takigakure.
Takigakure got lucky.
Having received such a great favor but still not being satisfied, they even had the audacity to send someone to assassinate Hashirama!
They know small etiquette but lack great righteousness; they care for small details but lack great virtue; they value trifles but disregard shame; they fear power but do not cherish benevolence. When strong, they are bandits; when weak, they are subservient.
Such a Village has no achievements to speak of at all.
It's just as well that it's destroyed!
Kakuzu lectured the incompetent juniors of Takigakure with the air of a senior: "If you really want to take back what's yours, then join the Shinobi Allied Forces and snatch your things back on the battlefield."
"Remember, man cannot gain anything without sacrificing something. To obtain something, an equal price must be paid."