Samiu knew all too well how strong Anya was. The stronger she herself became, the more she felt the gap widen between them.
Raikage had no chance of victory—there was only one possible fate. Moreover, Raikage's words from just now had become a decisive turning point for Samiu. The whole of Kumogakure couldn't afford to go down with him.
Samiu had seen Sunagakure's current state and witnessed firsthand Onoki's submission. She understood that the other four villages were already united. If Kumogakure was left out and isolated, its destruction was only a matter of time.
So when she saw Anya arrive here drawing his blade, instinctively Samiu pulled out her newly acquired Taiyang Blade and executed [Lightning Blade Art] in a single decisive strike. In that moment, she imagined herself in Raikage's position—she had made her choice for the village's future.
Yet now that Raikage lay dead before her, slain by her own hand, Samiu's emotions completely collapsed. Finally, she blurted out those words—that she had been under Genjutsu control.
There was no turning back now. But killing Raikage herself broke the most fundamental principle she had held as a ninja. She couldn't accept it. Her heart felt hollow, sinking into an abyss.
Although Anya didn't fully understand everything going on inside Samiu, he could guess part of it. Letting out a soft sigh, he quickly approached using Shunshin, pulled her into an embrace, and whispered comfort: "It's okay now. Kumogakure will become even better in the future—I promise."
After saying this, Anya cast a Genjutsu to calm Samiu's mind, then activated the Spirit Transformation Technique and drifted away toward the distance.
Kakuzu, who had just begun leaving the battlefield with Hidan, suddenly stopped. He sank into his spiritual space and asked, "Kid, what is it?"
Anya smiled slightly. "Uncle, why do you sound so unhappy? It can't possibly be about that forty million, right? Come on, I was only joking. I dared claim responsibility for numbers beyond countless zeros—what's mere forty million compared to that?"
Kakuzu snorted. "Cut the crap, kid. Say what you mean."
Anya chuckled awkwardly. "I need to borrow someone from you."
"Hidan?" Kakuzu frowned slightly. "With your current abilities, what use do you have for him?"
Anya didn't hide anything and replied directly, "Well, Raikage is dead. To bring Kumogakure under control, we still need a scapegoat."
"Move fast," Kakuzu muttered appreciatively before asking, "but do you really think Kumogakure will believe Hidan did it?"
"Why not believe?" Anya said calmly. "The next Raikage will testify, Anbu will too—and the culprit himself will admit it. What reason would there be to doubt?"
Kakuzu immediately grasped Anya's intention and asked, "Then how do you plan to deal with Hidan?"
Anya grinned conspiratorially. "Uncle, you've changed a lot since your reincarnation. Who'd have thought you'd actually care about him now?"
Seeing Kakuzu's expression darken, Anya quickly dropped the subject and grew serious again. "It's just one life for another. After all, Hidan can't truly die."
Kakuzu asked, "Did you revive Hidan simply planning to make him take the blame for everything from now on?"
When Anya remained silent for a moment, Kakuzu decisively stated, "Consider the price locked at forty million this time."
"Deal."
During their conversation, Hidan had already been exposed and handed over.
The following day, Kumogakure hosted a grand memorial ceremony. Samiu, who had been elected the Fifth Raikage with overwhelming support in the elder meeting, was in charge of presiding over the event.
Beside the coffin containing the Raikage's corpse, Killer Bee, carrying his giant sword Samehada, was sobbing loudly, while several of his students knelt on the ground crying bitterly.
As Samiu, wearing the cloak of the Fifth Raikage, stepped onto the raised platform, the entire crowd immediately fell silent. Samiu took out her prepared speech and began an impassioned address. Suddenly, Hidan from Akatsuki appeared atop the platform where the Raikage's coffin lay.
At this moment, he was tied to a wooden post surrounded by a pile of firewood below, ready for burning. He himself wore an arrogant grin across his face.
Samiu asked, "Hidan from Akatsuki, you assassinated the Raikage and have committed grave crimes. Do you admit guilt?"
"Hahaha," Hidan scoffed loudly, "Just a mere Kage. It should be his honor to become a sacrifice for Lord Jashin."
As these words came out, the gathered ninja from Kumogakure instantly became furious, countless voices merging together: "Kill him! Kill him!"
Samiu waved her hand and declared, "Carry out the execution."
The pile of firewood beneath Hidan's feet ignited, bright red flames rising up like demon claws devouring him. From within came intermittent screams until finally turning into ashes.
The memorial ceremony ran from dawn until dusk. Anya, disguised as an Anbu agent, followed closely beside Samiu to prevent any unexpected incidents. In fact, everything proceeded smoothly.
When the Kumo leadership began selecting the next Raikage, Samiu's votes were already far ahead. Especially after she revealed Hidan, the true killer of the Fourth Raikage, leaving absolutely no doubt about her succession.
The night was cool like water. Anya followed Samiu to the Raikage office and said, "Since everything went smoothly, I should be going now... What are you doing?"
Halfway through speaking, Anya stood there stunned. She watched as Samiu removed her Raikage cloak and outerwear, revealing her completely naked body underneath, before throwing herself toward her.
Her flawless, ivory-white body left Anya flustered and uncertain of what to do next.
Warm and soft against her, Samiu's breath tickled her ear as she whispered, "You don't know what I want? Don't you realize I've already been controlled by your genjutsu?"
Hell, who's even controlling whom with genjutsu? I didn't notice a thing.
Samiu continued, "Isn't it better this way? With your power, no matter how strong Akatsuki becomes, they couldn't possibly wage a fourth great war. You've allowed these events to unfold because you wanted the entire Ninja World to unite, right? After the war ends, none of the countries will exist anyway. The Hokage and Mizukage are both your women—what difference does one more Kage make?"
Today, Samiu had thought everything through clearly. This decision wasn't impulsive at all. Actually, ever since she received that mission heading toward Konoha, this scene had often appeared in her dreams. Unfortunately, this man never once looked at her directly. But now?
"I know... I was the one who killed the Raikage. Please, let me fulfill his final request?"
Once the aloof woman wore a pleading look, resistance was futile. Anya was just a man, after all, and his eyes were already blazing with desire. "Woman, you're playing with fire."
Samiu gave a sultry smile and said, "What's wrong? Is being in the Raikage Office stopping you from touching the Raikage?"
Those words completely ignited Anya's wicked desires. With a sensual moan, the lights in the Raikage Office went out completely.
The next morning, as sunlight filtered through the clouds, Anya, in his post-coital clarity, had already arrived outside Kumogakure. Thinking about last night's wildness and the conditions he'd agreed to with Samiu, he couldn't help murmuring to himself, "I wonder who actually fell into the genjutsu."
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