The Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
"Trash! A bunch of trash! What's the use of you?!"
*Crash!*
The sound of violent destruction echoed through the Raikage's office. Mabui stood huddled in the corner, clutching a folder tightly, her body trembling with unease.
Ai's temper had become increasingly unstable in recent days. These outbursts—often triggered by trivial matters—had occurred several times already this week. As his personal secretary, Mabui knew better than to interrupt him mid-rage. She could only wait silently until the storm passed before daring to submit the documents she held.
After several long moments of venting, Aii finally slumped into his armchair, breathing heavily. The office around him was a complete wreck—splintered furniture, cracked walls, scattered papers.
"Raikage-sama… Konoha has sent Killer Bee-sama back to the village. This is the official document confirming it."
"…What?!"
Aii, still fuming, snatched the document from Mabui's hands. But as his eyes skimmed the contents, the wrath on his face melted into shock, then relief, and finally joy.
It was true—Konoha had released Killer Bee. The document detailed that Bee was returned after negotiations and significant post-war compensation.
"Where is he now?!"
"Killer Bee-sama should be arriving at the village shortly."
Before Mabui could even finish her sentence, a bolt of lightning seemed to flash past her. Her hair whipped up as a deafening boom exploded behind her. She turned slowly, only to find a massive gap torn into the Raikage's office wall.
"Raikage-sama, this year's budget is already nearing a deficit…" she muttered with a weary sigh. "Repairing walls every other day isn't cheap."
…
Outside Kumogakure.
Ai stood at the village gates, scanning the distance with bloodshot eyes. And then—he saw him.
A familiar silhouette, walking slowly toward the village.
"Bee!!!"
Tears welled up in Ai's eyes as he sprinted forward and pulled Killer Bee into a crushing hug.
"B-Brother! Take it easy, man—I can't breathe!"
Bee wheezed as his face turned red from the suffocating embrace.
"You've lost weight…" Ai murmured, loosening his grip just enough to study Bee more closely. "Back then, a hug like this wouldn't even faze you!"
Bee smiled faintly. "It's enough that I'm back, bro… I don't need anything more."
His tone was different now. Being captured had changed him. During his battle with Namikaze Mirai, he had learned something profound.
That there are always people stronger out there.
Mirai had calmly taken on two tailed beasts at once.
Had launched an aerial attack that completely overwhelmed him.
Bee could still remember the fear that surged through him when that colossal metal pillar descended from the sky—crushing everything beneath it. It had severely wounded the Eight-Tails, forcing Bee out of his transformation. He was captured soon after.
"…You must've paid a heavy price to bring me back, huh?"
Bee's eyes watered. He knew his worth as a Jinchūriki. Konoha would never have released him for cheap.
"Don't say another word." Ai said, clasping Bee's hand. "As your big brother, I will always protect you!"
…
Killer Bee's return triggered a massive uproar in the village.
Some were overjoyed—after all, Bee wasn't just a Jinchūriki. He was the Perfect Jinchūriki. A living symbol of strength in Kumogakure.
But others were unnerved. How could even someone like Bee fall so easily to Namikaze Mirai?
Now that Mirai was Hokage… who in Kumogakure could possibly match him?
Ai shared the same concern.
After Bee was taken to rest, Ai retreated into his strategy room, locking the doors.
Their last defeat had been devastating. Morale was in shambles. The village was filled with wounded shinobi. Combat strength had plummeted.
And it was all because of one man—Namikaze Mirai.
'Why did I declare that damned war…?'
For a few dead envoys, he had gambled the future of the entire village.
*Whoosh!*
An Anbu operative appeared behind him.
"Raikage-sama, we've discovered a brand new type of medicine circulating in the Land of Lightning. It's reportedly twice as effective as conventional healing solutions."
"…Twice?"
That immediately caught A's attention.
Medicine had always taken a backseat to medical ninjutsu in the shinobi world. Only smaller, under-resourced villages relied heavily on it. But if a revolutionary drug really existed…
"This is the sample, sir."
The Anbu operative opened his palm, revealing a glass vial the size of a thumb. The liquid inside glowed faintly with a light blue hue.
Ai grabbed the bottle without hesitation, examined it briefly, then—slice!—used his finger as a blade to slash his forearm open.
"Raikage-sama?!"
The Anbu's eyes widened in alarm.
Ignoring him, Ai crushed the vial's neck and downed the contents.
A cool, mint-like sensation spread through his throat, followed by a warmth that coursed through his limbs.
He turned his gaze to the wound.
*Itch.*
New skin began forming rapidly, closing the cut within seconds.
It wasn't as fast as medical ninjutsu—but for a drug, this was nothing short of miraculous.
"It's more effective when injected." the Anbu operative explained. "Oral intake reduces efficiency by about 25%."
Ai's pupils contracted.
"…Where did this come from?"
"A company called the Umbrella Company. It just entered circulation. Based on our intel, Kumogakure is likely the first major village to encounter this medicine."
Ai was silent for a moment.
And then—his eyes burned with greed.
Once this information leaked, every village would start stockpiling the drug.
No one would want to be left behind in medical readiness.
As for Umbrella Company…
There were dozens of minor medical enterprises scattered across the continent. Surely, this was just another one trying to make its mark. None of the Five Great Nations would back such a company openly.
'No major village would develop a miracle drug and hand it to outsiders. That's suicide.'
The time to act was now.
"What's the price?"
"One thousand ryō per bottle."
"…One thousand?"
The Anbu operative flinched. "Is it… too expensive?"
"No. It's too cheap!"
A manic grin spread across the Raikage's face.
"That company doesn't understand what it's holding… Or maybe the product just launched, and the price hasn't stabilized yet."
For something like this?
He would have expected a bottle to cost ten times that much.
"This is worth more than any weapon or scroll. One bottle could save a life in the field."
He turned to the Anbu with a hungry gleam in his eyes.
"Send word immediately. Mobilize the village treasury. I want us to buy up as much of this drug as possible before word spreads."
"Raikage-sama… isn't that a little—?"
"Reckless? No. This is opportunity!"
He licked his lips, eyes alight.
"If we corner the supply now, we'll gain the edge we need. With our forces equipped with this medicine, we can finally take revenge on Konoha!"
In his mind's eye, he saw it.
Kumogakure shinobi surging forward, undeterred by injuries. Ambushes foiled. Fatal wounds healed in the heat of battle.
And Konoha—blindsided, unprepared.
God hadn't abandoned Kumogakure after all.
A began to laugh, a booming sound of ambition and madness echoing through the broken walls of his office.
*****
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