The Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure Village – Raikage's Office.
"Raikage-sama, this…"
The Anbu operative who reported the situation had cold sweat trickling down his face, his mood visibly tense.
The new drug's efficacy was undeniably remarkable.
But Kumogakure's financial condition was dire. A large-scale purchase like this wasn't a small expense—it was a mountain of debt waiting to be climbed.
"You just have to do your job." Ai said coldly, his voice brooking no argument.
"Yes!" the Anbu replied, disappearing with a whoosh.
Ai narrowed his eyes. To purchase this drug in bulk, he'd need a significant sum of money. He needed to know how much of the village's funds were still liquid and accessible.
Without delay, he summoned Mabui.
"Raikage-sama, you called for me?"
"Mabui, how much money do we have available to use?"
Funds?
Mabui sighed in her heart. "Raikage-sama, you know since the defeat, we had to pay reparations and the cost to redeem Killer B—"
"I asked how much money we have!" Ai interrupted, scowling, clearly unwilling to listen to excuses.
"Understood…" Mabui responded quickly, suppressing a shiver. The Raikage's temper had worsened noticeably since their loss to Konoha.
She turned toward the ledgers and began flipping through the thick financial scrolls.
Moments later, she answered.
"Raikage-sama, as per the current records, the total usable funds amount to around 101 million ryō."
"So little?" Ai frowned deeply.
That figure was a far cry from what he needed to dominate the market on this new pharmaceutical. If other villages caught wind of the drug before he cornered it, his advantage would evaporate.
"No. It seems we need to speak to the Daimyō." Ai muttered, his eyes flashing with determination.
Almost all of Kumogakure's annual funds came from the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning. While this year's budget had been received early, it had all but disappeared into post-war reparations and rebuilding.
Now, there was only one viable solution: convince the Daimyō to allocate emergency funds.
Ai wasted no time and departed directly for the capital.
…
The Land of Lightning – Daimyō's Mansion.
The elegantly dressed Daimyō fanned himself leisurely with a silken folding fan, eyes half-lidded as he listened to Ai speak.
"You mean, you've come to request additional funding?"
"Yes, Daimyō-dono. Kumogakure's situation is precarious. We need financial support."
Across the long lacquered table, Ai kept his tone calm and respectful. But the Daimyō's expression was already turning sour.
"Hmph. Didn't I just approve the village budget not long ago? You're back already, asking for more?" The Daimyō scoffed and snapped his fan shut. "I'm not some bottomless purse, Raikage. You already lost to Konoha. What's next—should I fund your next defeat too?"
Ai's face darkened.
The humiliation of losing to Namikaze Mirai still burned in his veins, and now this smug aristocrat was fanning the flames.
But now wasn't the time to lose control. Not here. Not now.
He took a slow, steady breath.
"Daimyō-dono, the funds I'm requesting are not for rebuilding or defense. They are for retaliation."
The Daimyō raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Retaliation?"
Ai's gaze sharpened like a blade. "Yes. I've discovered a revolutionary new pharmaceutical that will drastically enhance the healing capabilities of our shinobi. If I can acquire a large enough stockpile—before the other villages catch wind—we can overturn the current imbalance of power."
The Daimyō sat up slightly, his curiosity piqued. "And how much are you asking for?"
Ai had done the calculations on the way here. If he wanted not just to stockpile, but also form a long-term partnership with the Umbrella Company, he needed enough to dominate the market and ensure exclusivity.
"One billion—no, two billion ryō."
"Two billion?" The Daimyō's fan paused mid-air.
"Yes. Two billion. With that, I will make Kumogakure crush Konoha."
Silence filled the chamber for a moment. The Daimyō's narrowed eyes studied Ai, measuring the resolve in them.
"Raikage, understand this—if Kumogakure fails again after this investment, don't expect another coin from me."
"Understood." Ai said, bowing slightly, a rare smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "This time, Konoha will pay dearly."
…
Konoha – Umbrella Research Center.
In a sterile laboratory nestled in the outskirts of Konohagakure, Namikaze Mirai stood before a screen displaying detailed logistics data. Beside him stood Orochimaru, licking his lips with interest.
"Mirai-kun," Orochimaru said with a smirk, "as you predicted, that fool Ai has already emptied his coffers to purchase our medicine."
Mirai didn't even look up.
"That was inevitable. Ai's temper was already frayed after our last battle. When someone like him sees a lifeline, they lunge."
The Raikage's impulsive nature had always been his greatest weakness.
Muscles before mind. A born brawler—not a strategist.
"I also heard…" Orochimaru added, "That Umbrella's influence doesn't stop at pharmaceuticals. There's talk you've begun branching into weapons development too?"
Mirai finally turned, a sly smile forming on his face.
"If you're that curious, come with me."
He led Orochimaru down a pristine corridor bathed in white light. At the end of the hall, they entered a spacious chamber lined with weapon racks and holographic blueprints.
Orochimaru's eyes widened as they landed on the metallic shapes hanging from the walls.
"…Are those guns?" he asked, stunned.
"Close." Mirai said, lifting one. "This is an Electromagnetic Submachine Gun."
He aimed at a target fifty meters away and pulled the trigger.
*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!*
Streaks of blue light flashed from the barrel, and three perfect holes appeared in the distant target.
"The average kunai travels around thirty meters per second." Mirai said calmly. "This weapon easily doubles that speed—and it doesn't miss."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with fascination.
With weapons like these, even civilians could become threats to genin.
And in the hands of trained shinobi…
"Amazing. This alone could collapse the current hierarchy of shinobi combat."
Mirai nodded slightly.
"Of course, we're not just giving these to anyone. The key is compatibility. The right weapon in the hands of the right shinobi."
Orochimaru's brow furrowed. "Do you have someone specific in mind?"
"The Hyuga clan."
Orochimaru's pupils dilated.
"Their Byakugan paired with a long-range Electromagnetic Sniper Rifle… It would make them lethal."
Long-range vision, pinpoint precision, zero warning—no chakra signature. Orochimaru could already imagine it:
A white-eyed assassin, hidden kilometers away, eliminating high-value targets without ever being seen.
Sweat trickled down his temple.
"Mirai-kun… you're creating an entirely new era of warfare."
Mirai turned back toward the display, smiling faintly.
"That's the idea."
*****
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