"Welcome, esteemed guests from Konoha."
Inside Takigakure, the Ninja Head looked at Takemi and the others with a smile.
"It's been several years, and you all still possess the same magnificent demeanor. I must thank you all for your actions back then…"
"Hello, sir, long time no see."
Jiraiya greeted him with a smile. He still remembered this person, he was the one who had hosted them back then.
Time had passed, and this person seemed unchanged, and Takigakure still looked the same.
But they had undergone tremendous changes, for example, the Fourth Raikage from back then was gone…
Shaking his head, Jiraiya felt that he had been corrupted by Takemi.
He composed himself before smiling and saying, "There's no need to mention the past. Sir, you also look as spirited as ever."
The two exchanged pleasantries, appearing exceptionally warm towards each other.
Naruto and Sasuke remained silent, curiously observing their surroundings.
They had completed many missions over the past three years, but visiting another village was a first for them.
"Also, the Pervy Sage actually has such a serious side?"
Naruto blinked, speaking with a surprised chuckle.
Takemi chuckled softly. "Don't underestimate the Pervy Sage. Although he usually seems unserious, he has always been very reliable."
"Indeed, Jiraiya-sama has always been like that."
Kakashi nodded in agreement, watching Jiraiya and the other party engaging in 'commercial flattery' before leading them towards the inside of the village.
He then continued, "Let's go. We can talk more when we rest."
"Oh."
Naruto nodded. In fact, he didn't need Kakashi to remind him. His parents in his mind had already done so.
Although Sasuke looked disdainful, he didn't say much until they entered the lounge specially provided for them, where he couldn't help but speak.
"These guys seem very perfunctory, as if they have no intention of talking at all. Also, their defenses here are too shoddy, they don't even have a barrier?"
"Sasuke, not every village is like Konoha."
Kakashi leaned against the wall, watching Jiraiya, who had already set up a soundproofing barrier, before continuing.
"The Sealing Corps and Barrier Corps are very precious. Only Ninja Villages of great nations possess them. Takigakure is clearly still lacking quite a bit."
"However, those large barriers are useless against powerful Ninja, or those with space-time Ninjutsu."
Takemi shrugged, saying with a chuckle. Although his words were not pleasant to hear, Jiraiya nodded.
"Indeed, whether it was Obito, or your last raid on Kumogakure, both relied on space-time Ninjutsu."
"But this seems good too."
Sasuke didn't think highly of Takigakure, his mind was only on the Akatsuki.
"Didn't Second Hokage-sensei and Third Hokage-sama both say that it's better if they get attacked? I wonder if we'll encounter them."
"You've really been led astray…"
Kakashi sighed slightly, feeling that his squad was becoming increasingly extreme.
Thankfully, Sakura hadn't changed. Although her strength was lacking, at least she hadn't gone bad. And Naruto, with his parents watching over him, seemed quite obedient.
Otherwise, he couldn't imagine what his squad would become in Takemi's hands.
"Actually…"
Takemi glanced outside, then suddenly spoke in a low voice, "I feel like they've already arrived."
"Hmm?!"
Takemi's words instantly made Kakashi and Jiraiya's expressions harden, while Sasuke and Naruto's eyes lit up.
Sasuke was even a bit eager. He activated his Sharingan and looked into the distance, asking in a low voice, "Senpai, have they really arrived?"
"Yes, don't forget I've fought them before."
Takemi nodded, leaning one hand on the windowsill and speaking leisurely while looking out the window.
"It's impossible for me not to leave something on them. I didn't sense it before, but just now…"
"Brought over by Kamui?"
Kakashi instantly understood. He stood up and gazed into the distance.
Jiraiya asked curiously, "Nagato, he…"
"They're here, and even…"
Takemi tilted his head, his expression a bit strange.
"Those who died are also here."
As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on the distance, as were Kakashi, Jiraiya, and the others.
In the distance, a boundless black iron sand curtain suddenly unfolded.
It was like a black blanket, instantly enveloping the entire Takigakure.
A figure soared into the sky, floating in mid-air, overlooking everything. And many figures leaped onto the towering buildings one by one.
Although their numbers were not large, they seemed to have surrounded the entire Takigakure.
"Sir, do you think the Konoha people coming over is another…"
After the Ninja Head of Takigakure led the Konoha group to the foreign guest lounge, the high-ranking officials of Takigakure gathered for a meeting.
The sudden visit of the Konoha people gave them a headache and caused trouble, and they probably understood what was going on.
"It should be about the Seven-Tails again."
The Ninja Head of Takigakure sighed, speaking with some annoyance.
"This isn't the first time they've done this in the past three years. Every time we refused, I didn't expect them to still not give up."
"Hmph, Konoha is almost the strongest in the Ninja World now, why is their ambition so great?"
An elder couldn't help but speak with displeasure.
"They have the Nine-Tails themselves, Iwagakure has the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, Kirigakure has the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, and Sunagakure has the One Tail. They already have six Tailed Beasts, isn't that enough?"
"Perhaps it's for more leverage in the alliance. Although the Nine-Tails is strong, it's only one after all."
"Then why not attack Kumogakure and Sunagakure?"
"Perhaps they want to, or maybe they want three Tailed Beasts for each village, who knows?"
"Damn it, these greedy vampires!"
Konoha's alliance was formidable, with the three great Ninja Villages united. This situation would make anyone's scalp tingle.
Whatever they did would make others think they had some ulterior motive, or that they were fighting for benefits and influence internally.
"So what do we do?"
The Ninja Head of Takigakure rubbed his temples, feeling an immense headache.
"Should we continue to refuse? This time, they sent Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, Copy Ninja Kakashi, and…"
"The one who defeated the Fourth Raikage and the Kazekage in a one-on-three, led a team of three to conquer Kumogakure, the new generation Silver Flash, Konoha White Fang, the Ninja most likely to bring peace to the chaotic world…"
"Takemi, who is destined to become the new Hokage!"
"Do you think this matter can be easily dismissed?"
These words brought the entire high command of Takigakure into a deathly silence.
Takemi hadn't been very active in the past three years, and the details of the attack on Kumogakure were not fully disclosed.
The Konoha alliance couldn't explain it too clearly, and Kumogakure considered the incident a great humiliation.
Even if many of them had lost their fighting spirit, they still had a sense of shame. How could they reveal their past experiences and fears?
But even a small amount of information that leaked out was enough to shock people.
"Then what should we do?"
After an unknown amount of time, an elder finally spoke helplessly.
"Do we really have to compromise?"
"Takemi's visit might be the final ultimatum."
Another elder also looked pained, the struggle and helplessness of a small country fully displayed.
"Do we really have no choice?"