When the Fourth Raikage arrived at the room where the ninja were being housed, he was instantly dumbfounded.
"Why are there so many people?"
"Did they all come back together?"
Because of the recent supply issues, he no longer even knew how many ninja he had sent out of the village to scout. Looking at the several dozen people before him, the anger that had just dissipated began to flare up again.
So many people, and not a single piece of intelligence made it back?! What the hell were they doing?! Eating for free?!
"What exactly is going on?"
"Can anyone explain this to me?"
Still, he knew this wasn't the time to lose his temper. He swept his gaze across the group—most of them had sallow complexions, as if they hadn't eaten properly in a long time.
Only a portion of them were deathly pale, clearly having suffered inhuman torment.
Taking the list handed over by a subordinate, he smiled in relief. According to the roster, everyone he had sent out had returned. That alone was good news.
As long as no one had died for no reason, it was fine.
But this only made the Fourth Raikage even more curious about what had happened—why hadn't the enemy killed anyone?
"Raikage-sama..."
A ninja who still looked relatively energetic stepped forward and began explaining what had happened over the past few days.
He spoke quickly and clearly. As the Fourth Raikage listened, his brows gradually furrowed.
"You're saying all the goods were taken?"
"Yes!"
"And then they let you go?"
"Yes!"
"Then why are you all gathered here together?"
"We were already about to leave, but then another group suddenly showed up from who knows where and immediately tied us up."
"...."
The Fourth Raikage was completely speechless. Getting robbed once was one thing—just turn around and leave. But then getting kidnapped right after?
Was this one group, or two different groups?
It was enough to make the Fourth Raikage feel like his own CPU was overheating.
"And you? Same situation?"
"N-no... not exactly..."
"Hm? How is it different? Tell me."
This time, the one who spoke was from the group with extremely pale faces.
His body was still trembling even now.
"Raikage-sama, we were hit by Genjutsu directly."
"An incredibly powerful Genjutsu. We were caught instantly, and I lost consciousness right away."
Fourth Raikage: ....
Alright. That explained it. Combined with their pale faces, the case was basically solved.
"Sigh. Get some rest first."
Leaving those words behind, the Fourth Raikage turned to leave—and immediately collided with Dodai, who was just entering. The impact nearly sent Dodai flying apart.
"Dodai! What are you doing?!"
"Oof—Raikage-sama, where are you headed?"
"I'm done asking. Not a single useful piece of information. How did things go on your end?"
"I led another team to search the area again. There's definitely no trace of the thieves left. Should we head to the nearest city immediately to purchase supplies?"
Kumogakure's current situation was terrible—they were practically on the verge of running out of food.
"Also, Killer B's squad hasn't returned yet."
"Should we send someone to check on them?"
When Dodai brought this up, his brows were tightly knit. Killer B was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Logically speaking, even if he were slaughtering sea serpents in the middle of the ocean, it shouldn't take this long.
Could he have encountered an enemy?
The Fourth Raikage shook his head, a trace of helplessness on his face.
"That idiot B probably finished the mission and ran off to have fun somewhere."
"He's been stuck in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning for far too long. He's suggested going out to blow off steam more than once, and I shut him down every time."
"This time he finally got a mission—there's no way he'll come back early. Don't worry. With Motoi watching him, nothing will happen."
No one understood a brother better than another brother. As the head of the A–B duo, the Fourth Raikage knew his troublesome little brother all too well.
Though when that brute actually used his brain, it usually produced the wrong answer.
And sure enough—reality slapped him in the face the very next second.
"Someone help! Get a medic—now!"
"Hm? Why does that sound like Motoi's voice?"
"Where is everyone?! Get me a damn medic!"
"Shit—it really is Motoi!"
The Fourth Raikage and Dodai's expressions changed drastically. They had just mentioned Motoi—and now Motoi had appeared.
And that frantic tone no matter how you heard it felt seriously wrong!
"Dodai! Go get the medics! I'll find Motoi!"
"Got it!"
In a flash of lightning, the Fourth Raikage was already gone.
At that moment, Motoi was struggling to drag Killer B into the village. No matter how loudly he shouted, no one around paid him any attention.
Some well-meaning people wanted to go get help, but when they saw that the person in Motoi's arms was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, they hesitated and backed away.
This was the standard treatment of a Jinchūriki—unaccepted, unvalued.
"Damn it! B!"
"Motoi! What happened?! Where are the other two?!"
"Samui! Mabui!"
The Fourth Raikage's speed was unrivaled across the shinobi world—excluding a certain blond and that shameless bastard, since theirs was space-time ninjutsu and didn't count as real speed!
When he saw his brother covered in wounds and already unconscious, his fury exploded.
He wasn't like others. Others feared the Eight-Tails—he didn't. What the hell did he have to be afraid of?
Not to mention, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki was his brother.
"We were attacked by Mist Village."
"Those sea serpents were all Mist Village's doing. B killed every last one of them."
"But Mist Village's strength is terrifying. Their Water Release is unbelievably powerful. I was knocked out in a single exchange."
"Samui and Mabui are missing. As for B, it looks like he went berserk—but the wounds on his body, I honestly can't figure out what method they used."
"But I'm certain—absolutely certain—it was Mist Village!"
Hatred burned in Motoi's eyes. The squad had gone out, and only two returned. And the most important one—Killer B—was gravely injured.
All of it made his hatred for Mist Village sink deep into his bones.
After hearing this, the Fourth Raikage's hair practically stood on end. A furious roar erupted from his throat:
"Mist Village! I swear eternal enmity with you!"
"Medic! Get me a damn medic—now!"
Anger aside, the priority now was to save Killer B.
Dodai arrived with a full squad of medical ninja, and under the orders of the two men, they immediately began treating Killer B on the spot.
"Dodai, you personally lead a team to gather supplies. Resolve the village's supply crisis as fast as possible."
"After that, I'll go to Mist Village myself. I'll make them repay this blood debt with blood!"
Dodai nodded heavily, then immediately went to mobilize the troops.
Just as Gekko Chizan had predicted, Kumogakure had already begun to harbor deep hatred toward Mist Village. What followed would be pure spectacle.
As for him, he had already finished setting up the shops together with the four little ones—now all that remained was to wait for Kumogakure's big-spendors to come buy supplies.