Chapter 88: Yugito: Samui Is Broad-Minded. She'll Understand if Neji-kun Comes to My Place for Dinner.
"How old are you?" Kurosuki Raiga asked coldly.
Neji: "Eighteen."
"Heh." Raiga chuckled. "Eighteen years ago, you weren't even born, but Orochimaru was already a master famous throughout the shinobi world. Do you know who Blue B is?"
Neji nodded. "The previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. Of course I know."
"Yeah," Raiga said, "the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. Very, very strong. But he got screwed over and killed by Orochimaru. A miserable death. Do you think you're stronger than Blue B? Huh, brat?"
Neji said nothing, just watching him quietly.
Raiga walked up to Neji, poking him in the chest. "After the Nine-Tails attack, I led more than twenty Mist-nin on an invasion of the Land of Fire. We just happened to run into Orochimaru, who was stationed on the eastern border."
"I'll never forget that day. In less than two minutes, everyone else was dead. I was the only one who escaped. Not because I was strong, but because I was fast."
The basement was deathly quiet, the atmosphere frozen.
Raiga continued, "From that day on, I learned a lesson: there's a huge gap between one genius and another. Do you hear me, brat?"
Neji nodded. "You spoke very clearly, and I heard you very clearly."
Raiga poked his chest again. "So, wait until you've lived a full life before you go looking for trouble with Orochimaru."
After speaking, Raiga turned and walked toward the exit.
Neji suddenly said, "Leave your swords. A coward hiding in his shell doesn't deserve to use those blades."
Raiga stopped dead, his chakra flaring. The atmosphere in the basement tensed instantly.
Shing!
In an instant, two slender ninja swords shot from Raiga's sleeves. He roared and charged, slicing Neji in two at the waist.
Just then, a child's voice came from the waterproof bag on his back: "He's behind you!"
Ranmaru's warning was timely, but Raiga had no time to dodge.
Neji's foot flew out, kicking Raiga hard in the rear. Raiga stumbled, falling onto the table on his knees. Neji vaulted forward, clamped down on his wrist, and slammed his entire body onto the table.
KRAK!
The Thunder Sword scraped past Raiga's neck and pierced through the wooden table.
The other bounty hunters in the room were stunned by Neji's clean and decisive attack. Kurosuki Raiga, a man who had claimed the Thunder Swords in the brutal environment of the Hidden Mist, was no weakling. To be subdued so easily... they all stared at Neji with shock and apprehension.
Neji said coldly, "We are going to capture Orochimaru, which means he will not escape. If you back out, you might sell us out. In that case, I'll have to kill you. Do you hear me, Kurosuki Raiga?"
As he spoke, he slightly twisted the sword, aiming the blade at Raiga's throat.
Raiga gasped for breath.
Neji glanced at the waterproof bag on Raiga's back and leaned in. "I'm giving you one last chance. Join us in taking down Orochimaru, or I kill you right now."
The voice spoke again: "Raiga, agree."
Raiga looked at Neji and nodded lightly. "Fine. I agree."
Neji yanked him up, then glanced at the few bounty hunters who had placed their money back on the table. "You all heard me. Does anyone else want to back out?"
The bounty hunters stared at him, saying nothing.
"Since no one is backing out, take your money."
The bounty hunters slowly walked to the table and took their stacks of one million. Neji grabbed the stack belonging to Raiga and tossed it to him. Raiga caught it and put it in his waterproof bag.
The black market boss looked at Neji gratefully. "Thank you."
Neji asked, "Can I ask why we must capture Orochimaru?"
"Capturing Orochimaru is the highest directive from the Land of Lightning's Daimyō," the boss said, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "Decades ago, the current Daimyō's father died in the Eight-Tails rampage. That debt must be paid by Orochimaru."
Hearing this, Neji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Similar to Konoha's Nine-Tails attack, Kumogakure had its own Eight-Tails rampage. Orochimaru had secretly infiltrated Kumo, used genjutsu and drugs to paralyze Blue B, and then easily broke the Iron Armor Seal, forcing a separation between Blue B and the Eight-Tails, which led to the beast's rampage.
Blue B died a miserable death, and Kumo suffered severe damage. Of course, compared to the Nine-Tails attack, the losses were smaller. For one, the Eight-Tails was a clear step down from the Nine-Tails. Second, Kumo's population wasn't as concentrated as Konoha's.
The only complication was that the previous Daimyō had died in the rampage. It was understandable that the current Daimyō, now that he had the power, wanted to settle the score.
With his prestige and resources, the Daimyō had the ability to go after Orochimaru. But Kumo was the Land of Lightning's strongest military force, and Blue B was the Fourth Raikage's cousin. If this mission had been given to Kumo, the Raikage would have undoubtedly thrown all his power into hunting Orochimaru.
The relationship between the Daimyō and Kumogakure was far worse than Neji had thought. If the Daimyō resented Kumo for his father's death... then, Neji could only say, the Daimyō was courting his own demise.
Shaking off his thoughts, Neji said, "I understand. How do you want us to proceed?"
The boss replied, "Orochimaru's movements are erratic, but according to reliable intelligence, he was recently spotted in the Land of Water. Once our eyes there confirm his location, you will immediately infiltrate and capture him."
The corner of Neji's mouth twitched. The plan sounded flimsy, but then again, Orochimaru had been running circles around the shinobi world for decades. When had he ever been at a disadvantage? There was no reliable way to deal with him.
Of course, Neji wasn't actually counting on these thirty-plus bounty hunters to capture Orochimaru. He was just using them.
"Alright. It's settled," Neji said flatly.
At that, the boss said, "Gentlemen, we are now forming the 'Snake-Catching Team.' This man, Dōyō-kun, will be the team leader, with full authority over the capture operation."
Dōyō's strength was there for all to see. The bounty hunters exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Neji didn't refuse and accepted the role.
Kumogakure, Raikage Tower.
"A 'Snake-Catching Operation'?"
The Fourth Raikage, holding a dumbbell in his left hand, looked surprised. Orochimaru had killed his cousin, Blue B, and caused the village immense losses. The hatred between them couldn't be washed away by all the water in the sea. But after Orochimaru defected from Konoha, he had gradually vanished. With Iwagakure and Konoha both posturing, the Raikage's hands had been tied.
He never thought the Daimyō would be the one to make a move.
After hearing Neji's full report, Yugito murmured, "Shouldn't a job like capturing Orochimaru be given to the village's ninja?"
"Hah," Dodai sighed, "the conflict between the Daimyō and the village is much deeper than we thought."
The Fourth Raikage said coldly, "That bunch has lived in luxury for a few years and can't even think straight anymore! They've lost touch with the situation."
Yugito asked, "Why is it like this?"
Dodai stroked his chin. "Yugito-san... I told you to read more, to study more, but you never take it seriously. To be a ninja who carries the weight of the village, strength alone is not enough. Neji-kun, explain it to her."
"Mm."
Neji looked at Yugito and said calmly, "In the first two Great Ninja Wars, Konoha was the sole victor. The other villages were utterly defeated. To contend with this tiger, the various daimyō gave their villages their full support."
"However... after the Third Great Ninja War, things changed."
"Although Konoha was the nominal victor of the Third War, they paid massive reparations to Kumogakure. We reaped the fruits of victory. The noble class, led by the Daimyō, got their first taste of real profit, and their ambition wavered."
"After the Hyūga Incident, Kumo had the chance to march south and tear a chunk out of Konoha. But the Land of Fire's Daimyō sent a letter. He said if we invaded, the price of grain exported to the Land of Lightning would increase by 7% for the next ten years. If we stood down, it would decrease by 7%."
"The Land of Fire has the most fertile land in the world. They've always used food prices as a weapon. The Land of Lightning's Daimyō had always been a hard-liner, but on that incident, he chose to compromise."
"Then, when the Uchiha joined Kumo, we became the number one nation. Trade routes in the east opened up, and the price of grain from the Land of Fire dropped by 10%. The Daimyō is making a fortune, and his will to fight is completely gone."
"In the last few years, the Daimyō's office has twice tried to cut the village's funding. Fortunately, Lord Raikage forcefully rejected it, and it was dropped."
"A strong village means a strong country, but it also creates greater conflict between the shinobi and the nobles. This is a problem no village can avoid."
"The previous Daimyō's death in the Eight-Tails rampage planted the seed of this conflict. Back then, the external threat was the main priority, so the Daimyō had to rely on Kumo and compromise. But perhaps in his heart, the village and Orochimaru are just the difference between the main culprit and the accomplice."
"So, it's not hard to explain why he's using bounty hunters to go after Orochimaru now."
At this, Neji looked at the Fourth Raikage. "Lord Raikage, this conflict between the village and the nobles is irreconcilable. My previous proposal... have you reconsidered it?"
The Raikage's expression changed. He waved his hand, cutting Neji off. "Neji-kun, your idea is too radical. Taking that step means making an enemy of the entire shinobi world... no, the entire world."
"But if it succeeds," Neji countered, "it will be a grand achievement that brings peace for ten thousand generations."
He pressed on. "Back then, Hashirama Senju pacified the warring states and created the 'one village, one country' system. He could have united the world, but he couldn't break thousands of years of corrupt ideas and stopped short, leading to the endless cycle of war. If you complete this grand work, Lord Raikage, you will surpass Hashirama Senju."
Yugito had no idea what Neji-kun and the Raikage were talking about. But the Raikage, who normally feared nothing, had an expression of undisguised gravity and apprehension.
The thought of surpassing Hashirama Senju sent a thrill through the Raikage.
He mulled it over. "Your proposal... I will consider it seriously. Alright, you're all dismissed."
Neji-kun walked out of the office, a faint smile on his face.
Although the Raikage was still hesitating, it was clear he had been dissatisfied with the Daimyō for a long time. With a little push, his grand plan could be set in motion. And once the first step was taken, there would be no turning back.
Just then, Yugito grabbed Neji-kun, her warm breath hitting his neck.
"I'm free today. Neji-kun, want to come to my place for dinner?"
Neji-kun rubbed his temples, hesitating. "But, Samui..."
Yugito immediately covered his mouth, smiling. "Samui is broad-minded. She'll understand."
Clack, clack, clack.
Yugito's boots made a rhythmic sound as she pulled Neji-kun down the street. The sun was setting, and their shadows stretched long behind them.
Yugito linked her arm with his, looking at his translucent white eyes, her expression suddenly serious.
"I can't guess what you said to Lord Raikage, Neji-kun."
"Something that would make him—the man who fears nothing—hesitate... it's hard to imagine how terrible it must be."
"Neji-kun, you're Kumogakure's number one genius. In the past eight years, we've all watched you create one miracle after another. Lord Raikage praises you as the key to Kumo's domination of the world. Dodai-dono says your way of thinking and your vision are unlike anyone else's."
"Are you leading the village to a prosperous future, or to an Asura's hell?"
Neji-kun held her arm tighter, asking calmly, "What's the answer in your heart?"
Yugito bit her lip and shook her head. "I don't know either. I just hope you won't hide things from me, Neji-kun."
Neji-kun blinked. He hadn't said anything because he didn't want to burden her with his worries. He had been too focused on himself, ignoring her feelings.
"Yugito-san, I'm sorry, I..."
"Neji-kun, it's not too late. Tell me. What do you want to do?"
Neji-kun took a deep breath, his face serious. "Yugito-san, let me ask you: do you think the war is over?"
Yugito thought for a moment. "The Third Great Ninja War was almost ten years ago. The world has been calm. The five great nations have had few conflicts. So..."
"So, you think the war is over?"
"Neji-kun, the village is more prosperous than before. Lord Raikage and Dodai-dono have adjusted our strategy to focus on peaceful development."
"That's because Kumo is the number one village in name, and they've lost their drive. Or rather, they know that if they start a war, they'll face the hostility of the other four villages at once. Kumo doesn't have the foundation, and the Land of Lightning lacks the natural resources. We don't have the strength to fight a four-front war like Konoha once did."
Yugito narrowed her eyes. "But if we just maintain this situation, isn't that permanent peace?"
"Theoretically possible, but practically impossible."
Neji-kun, toying with one of her long braids, said, "The root cause of war has never been eliminated. The peace you see is just a castle in the sky."