"You keep mentioning my father."
"Who exactly are you?"
"You'll find out after I've finished treating you."
"If we keep wasting time…"
"I'm afraid you won't have much life left to enjoy."
As he spoke, Isamu prepared to begin the treatment.
"Hey, wait!"
"You haven't even explained how you're going to treat me!"
"Hey—"
Ignoring Ameyuri completely, Isamu condensed a thin black rod in his right hand and drove it directly into the bug-shaped bulge on the Fourth Raikage's chest.
The parasite suddenly convulsed.
Moments later, it rapidly shrank until it disappeared completely.
When Isamu withdrew the black rod, a dead insect was impaled on its tip.
"There."
"The Exploding Bug has been removed."
"That… was it?"
The Fourth Raikage stared blankly.
He hadn't even felt anything before it was over.
It had been absurdly fast.
"That's it?"
"It was solved with one stab?"
Ameyuri frowned.
"You're charging fifty million for something that easy?"
"Heh."
"Young man, you're mistaken."
"If you could have done it yourself…"
"I wouldn't have needed to step in."
"If you can't solve it…"
"Don't envy someone else for earning the money."
"Besides…"
"Do you really think I care about fifty million ryo?"
"Enough, Ameyuri."
The Fourth Raikage stopped him.
"I always keep my word."
"I'll pay the fifty million."
"However, I don't have that much cash with me."
"Give me an address."
"I'll have someone from Kumogakure deliver it later."
"No need."
"If I ever need it…"
"I'll come to Kumogakure and collect it myself."
"Very well."
"But you should at least tell me your name."
The Fourth Raikage fixed his gaze on Isamu.
Today, he was determined to learn this man's identity.
Isamu smiled faintly before declaring,
"Talent emerged when Konoha was founded.
I first displayed my might upon the battlefields of the ninja world.
I suppressed heroes on the northern frontier.
With my hands I grasp the sun and moon and pluck the stars.
With my feet I tread upon yin and yang and steady the universe.
There is no one in this world like me.
My name… is Uchiha Tensei."
The moment he finished speaking…
He vanished without a trace.
"Uchiha Tensei…"
"Uchiha Tensei…"
The Fourth Raikage repeated the name several times.
Then his eyes suddenly widened.
"So it was him…"
When he looked up again, Isamu had already disappeared.
"He truly lives up to his reputation…"
"Coming without a trace…"
"…and leaving without a shadow."
Ameyuri curled his lip.
"'Grasping the sun and moon… treading upon yin and yang…'"
"Isn't he afraid of biting his own tongue saying things like that?"
"I'm afraid not even the First Hokage would've dared boast like that."
"He really has no shame."
"That's enough, Ameyuri."
"You don't know who he is."
"If you knew what he'd done…"
"You wouldn't be saying that."
"Lord Raikage…"
"Who exactly is he?"
"My father—the Third Raikage—once told me about him."
"According to Father…"
"Uchiha Tensei was the only man who ever defeated him in a one-on-one fight."
"And…"
"You've heard about the destruction of Iwagakure's army of tens of thousands over ten years ago, haven't you?"
"You mean…"
"The one who defeated the entire Iwagakure force…"
"…was him?"
"That's right."
"It was the man who just left."
"Now do you understand how terrifying he is?"
"His words may have been exaggerated…"
"But defeating the two of us…"
"…would be child's play for him."
"I never imagined…"
"That ruthless legend was actually still alive."
"But if he belongs to the same generation as the Third Raikage…"
"Why does he still look so young?"
"I'm guessing he used some kind of secret technique to preserve his youth."
"The ninja world believed he'd died long ago."
"I never expected him to still be alive."
"…Konoha."
"Oh, Konoha…"
The Fourth Raikage sighed helplessly.
As long as a monster like Uchiha Tensei remained alive…
None of the other great villages would ever truly surpass Konoha.
"Lord Raikage…"
"Should we keep waiting here?"
"Of course."
"If we leave…"
"Are we supposed to just let Karai die?"
So the Fourth Raikage and Ameyuri remained in the backyard.
They stood in the rain the entire night…
Yet Tsunade still didn't appear.
Meanwhile, Isamu found an empty room and lay comfortably on the bed.
"Hahaha…"
"That performance was perfect."
"I bet the Fourth Raikage is completely confused."
"It couldn't have gone any better."
"And I even earned fifty million ryo."
"This feels amazing!"
As he laughed to himself…
Rain poured steadily outside.
The Fourth Raikage and Ameyuri remained soaked in the courtyard until sunrise.
Only after dawn finally broke did they decide to seek out Tsunade.
"That damn woman!!"
Roaring in frustration, the Fourth Raikage stormed into the tavern with Ameyuri.
Finding Tsunade, he shouted,
"Tsunade!"
"You broke your promise!"
"I'll never forgive you!"
"Get up!"
"Fight me!"
"Hmm…?"
"Who are you?"
Still half asleep, Tsunade rubbed her eyes in confusion.
"…The Raikage of Kumogakure."
Ameyuri answered awkwardly.
"Oh…"
"A very important guest."
"You already said that yesterday."
"Don't be so angry."
"How about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"You wanted to settle this with force, right?"
"If you can beat me in an arm-wrestling match…"
"I'll go with you."
"Deal?"
"Fine!"
"It's a deal!"
"I'll be waiting in the backyard."
"And don't break your promise this time."
With that, the Fourth Raikage and Ameyuri returned outside.
The commotion also woke Isamu and the others.
Everyone gathered outside Tsunade's room.
"Tsunade."
"What's going on?"
"I heard someone shouting."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at Isamu and ignored him completely.
Instead, she smiled warmly at Garuda and Itachi.
"Come on."
"Itachi."
"Garuda."
"Let's wash up."
"I'll let you watch something interesting later."
Shizune immediately followed them.
Just like that…
The room was left with only Isamu.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"…Seriously?"
"I've actually been excluded by a group of women."
"That's… pretty embarrassing."
After muttering to himself, he smiled helplessly.
"Well…"
"As long as Tsunade and Garuda are getting along…"
"That's what matters."
"If they're angry with me…"
"They'll calm down eventually."
After convincing himself, Isamu also went to wash up.
When everyone finished getting ready, they headed toward the backyard together.
Well…
Almost together.
The four women and Itachi walked ahead chatting happily…
While Isamu quietly followed several steps behind.
Even though it was rather embarrassing…
He didn't mind.
After all…
With two beautiful wives…
What more could he ask for?
As the saying goes—
You can't have everything.
Some things must be traded for others.
And Isamu had already accepted that.