While the Hokage's office was full of warmth and harmony, another Kage's office was not nearly so calm.
They had already learned from Iwagakure that Konoha was planning to make a move against them.
The Fourth Raikage did not want to sit around and wait for death. Taking advantage of Konoha's New Year, he made a bold decision.
"Raikage-sama, we have already issued a commission to Kusagakure in a private capacity. How many of our own ninja should we send over?", The new Raikage secretary Cee asked the Fourth Raikage.
The Fourth Raikage crossed his arms, his expression solemn, and quickly made a decision, "Send two ANBU squads. Let Kusagakure's people probe things out first. We just need to find a chance to snatch the person."
Snatching people could be said to be a traditional specialty of Kumogakure.
Whether it was sneaking into Konoha back then to kidnap the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina, or secretly abducting Hyuga Hinata during the Hyuga clan's young lady's birthday banquet. When it came to kidnapping people, they were professionals.
"Understood. I'll go give the orders in a moment."
Cee nodded to acknowledge that, then reported another matter, "Raikage-sama, our spy in Konoha just sent back urgent intelligence through a secret technique."
The Fourth Raikage asked seriously, "What intelligence?"
Cee answered just as seriously, "Aoba is about to become the new Hokage. The inauguration ceremony is expected to be held the day after tomorrow."
BANG!
When the Raikage heard this, his serious eyes lit up and his right palm slammed onto the desk.
"Very good! Then the day after tomorrow will be the best time for this operation."
The reason he chose the New Year in the first place was because on that day most of Konoha's ninja would choose to return to the village to spend the New Year, making it convenient for their kidnapping operation.
Now with the Hokage succession ceremony added on top of that, it completely ruled out the possibility of Aoba being near the target.
Without knowing anything, even if Aoba had Flying Thunder God, he would not be able to come interfere with their plan.
However, seeing the Fourth Raikage so excited, Cee showed a hesitant look.
The Fourth Raikage frowned slightly, "If you have something to say, say it."
After hesitating for a while, Cee still said, "Raikage-sama, with Samui and Mabui there, we and Konoha might not have no room for negotiation. But if we kidnap someone…"
"That's enough, Cee!"
Before Cee could finish, the Fourth Raikage cut him off with a furious shout, "Mabui and Samui might still have some feelings for Kumogakure, but their betrayal is beyond doubt!"
He thought of the "don't contact us anymore" reply Samui and Mabui had sent back last time, plus the subsequent investigation that showed Yugito had already become Aoba's woman, and he immediately flew into a rage.
"What betrayal means to Kumogakure, you don't need me to explain it to you, right?"
"I understand, Raikage-sama."
Seeing the Raikage so furious, Cee did not dare to bring this up again and could only sigh helplessly.
He knew that Samui, Mabui, and Yugito had all been branded as traitors by Kumogakure now, but they definitely still had feelings for Kumogakure. If they were used properly, there was still a chance to win them back.
It was said that Aoba valued his girlfriends very much.
That was also the reason this plan existed.
Seeing Cee sigh, the Fourth Raikage's anger calmed down a little.
"I know you're worried that kidnapping someone will completely worsen our relationship with Konoha. After all, the information that Konoha would make a move on us was given to us by that old fox Onoki. We can't fully believe it, but we can't completely disbelieve it either."
"Raikage-sama…"
Cee wanted to say something else, but the Fourth Raikage interrupted him again, "That's why I had you issue the commission to Kusagakure, while our own ninja only act in the shadows."
"When the time comes, have someone take care of the people who issued and accepted the commission, and the scene itself. Then Konoha will only be able to trace it to Kusagakure, and not to us."
"If Konoha really has no intention of moving against us, then nothing will happen. If they really are going to make a move, then whether the relationship worsens or not won't matter anymore. With this card in hand, at least it will give that Aoba brat a headache."
It had to be said that when the Fourth Raikage was not letting his temper get the better of him, his brain still worked.
After hearing all this, Cee did not bring up any more ideas. He bowed slightly and then turned to leave.
"This subordinate will go make the arrangements."
After Cee left, the Fourth Raikage turned to look out the window, gazing at Kumogakure shrouded in mountain peaks and mist. After letting out a deep sigh, he picked up the Raikage's ceremonial robe beside him, put it on, and jumped straight out of the window.
He turned into a streak of lightning and vanished into the distance.
While the ANBU were in action, he also needed to have his own action.
———
Aoba had no idea that Kumogakure was already planning to make a move against someone around him. At this moment, he had just finished lunch under Shizune's resentful gaze.
Then he held Hanabi and sat on the Hokage's seat, giving her a simple introduction to the Hokage's usual work.
Of course, it was all fairly simple stuff that would not matter even if others saw it.
Hanabi, however, had a miserable face as she looked at the dense text on the documents until her eyes went blurry, turning into spiral eyes like a mosquito coil.
"Being Hokage feels so boring. I really don't know why so many people want to be Hokage."
"Heh!"
Aoba lightly knocked her on the head and laughed, "You are my disciple, the one with the greatest chance of becoming Hokage in the future."
He did not plan to take any more disciples, and Sara was not from Konoha. As the Hokage's disciple, with Hanabi's talent, she really was the best candidate to be the future Hokage.
As for inheriting the Hyuga clan and all that, with a bit of maneuvering, inheriting both would not be a problem.
"I don't want to. Being Hokage is too boring, and being the Hyuga clan head is too," Hanabi frowned and kept shaking her head, her hair brushing against Aoba's chin and making it itch.
Aoba pinched her cheeks and asked in mock displeasure, "You don't want to be Hokage, and you don't want to be clan head. Then what do you want to be in the future?"
Hanabi lifted her head and stared at him without blinking, "Hanabi wants to always be Aoba-nii's disciple."
"Hm?", Aoba was actually teased by Hanabi for a moment. Even Tsunade and Shizune, who had been taking a nap on the sofa, could not help glancing over.
Especially Shizune, who could not help finding it both funny and exasperating.
This Hokage seat that countless people out there would be moved by was, in the hearts of Tsunade, Aoba, and Hanabi, something they could not dislike more if they tried.
Of course, if someone wanted to give her the Hokage position, she would not want it either.
After being Hokage's secretary for so many years, she had become completely indifferent to that seat.
After a brief daze, Aoba reached out and tugged Hanabi's cheeks to both sides.
"Mmm! Aoba-nii, it hurts."
Hanabi pouted, looking a little pitiful.
"I think you just want me to work hard every day while you stay happy, right?", Aoba said irritably.
"But if Hanabi had to work hard and couldn't be happy every day, then Aoba-nii's powerful strength would be wasted, wouldn't it?", Hanabi said sweetly.
"Heh!", Aoba was amused by her words and directly started kneading Hanabi's face like a plush ball.
"Alright, then little Hanabi, you can just be happy every day."
"Hehe!"
Hanabi giggled softly.
Tsunade and Shizune also smiled at the sight.
Smiles are contagious.
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