As Kitsuchi's voice fell silent, the conference hall became so quiet that the crackling of the candles could be heard.
Kitsuchi stood there, fists clenched, chest still heaving violently.
Sweat ran down from his temples and dripped onto the tabletop.
Seventy billion…
When he had shouted that number, he'd felt like he'd lost his mind.
And now Teizawa spoke again, slow and unhurried.
Kitsuchi's expression darkened by the second.
"For the moment," Teizawa said with a nod, wearing the kind of sincere expression one might use to praise a hardworking student, "you are indeed in the lead."
Then his tone shifted.
"But I suspect there's a problem with your bid."
He paused, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"In other words… I think you're trying to cheat."
Kitsuchi's mind buzzed.
Verify the bid?
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
An auction was an auction. A bid was a bid.
Since when was there such a thing as verifying a bid?
His face flushed red, and he was just about to argue when Teizawa spread his hands and continued with a guileless look.
"You're not about to tell me your bid came from nowhere, are you?"
The words caught in Kitsuchi's throat.
He couldn't say anything.
Iwagakure had never planned to buy the Four-Tails in the first place…
He had come to take it by force.
Money?
He hadn't brought a single ryō.
Teizawa looked at him, the smile on his lips deepening.
There was no mockery in it.
No obvious ridicule.
Only a calm, knowing look that seemed to say, See? I knew it.
Kitsuchi's face went from red to pale, then from pale to green.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But in the end, he found himself speechless.
Because Teizawa was right.
He really couldn't produce seventy billion.
Not one coin of it.
"So what exactly is Iwagakure trying to pull here?"
Teizawa's voice suddenly turned cold.
His gaze swept across everyone present…
Tsunade, Samui, Mei.
The Konoha ANBU, the Kumogakure shinobi, the Kirigakure jonin.
"Do you take Konoha, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure for fools?"
Kitsuchi's pupils contracted.
In that instant, he understood…
He had been played.
This was no longer just his problem.
It had become Iwagakure's problem.
That single "we" from Teizawa had dragged everyone in the room onto his side.
As expected, Mei was the first to speak.
She covered her mouth and laughed softly, the sound crisp as silver bells, yet chilling enough to make people's skin crawl.
"Who would've thought Kitsuchi-dono looked so honest, yet knew how to lie?"
Her voice was lazy and seductive.
Every word was like a small knife, stabbing neatly into Kitsuchi's chest.
Samui followed immediately after.
A faint smile curved her lips, and there was no disguising the mockery in it.
"If Iwagakure has no money, then why are you shouting bids?"
Her voice remained as cool as ever, but now there was a trace of satisfaction in that coldness.
Kumogakure could just barely manage seventy billion.
Iwagakure couldn't even pay it.
If that was the case, then they had no business taking the Four-Tails.
Her eyes drifted toward Teizawa without meaning to.
He was still standing there, that familiar smile on his lips.
Her heart skipped faster again.
Tsunade finally snapped.
She sat at the head of the table, arms folded, face dark as thunder.
"Kitsuchi-dono…"
Her voice was low and imposing, carrying all the pressure of the Hokage.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
What she feared most was these people starting a fight inside Konoha.
Representatives of all five great villages were gathered here.
If they actually started throwing hands in this hall, Konoha would be finished.
As for what happened after they left Konoha…
They could beat each other's brains out for all she cared.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, she shot Teizawa another vicious glare.
This was all that bastard's fault.
He'd stirred up this entire mess.
Sensing that look, Teizawa turned his head and gave her an innocent smile.
Tsunade's fists started itching again.
"If you can't produce the money…"
Teizawa withdrew his gaze from her and looked back at Kitsuchi, his tone still calm and unhurried.
"Then I can only restart the auction."
"Wait!"
Kitsuchi jerked his head up, his expression frantic and strained.
Grinding his teeth, veins bulging one by one across his forehead, he said, "I'll send someone back to Iwagakure for the money right now. Five days at most… it'll be back in five days!"
Teizawa lifted a brow and looked at him with an amused half-smile.
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure!"
Kitsuchi practically roared the words.
His voice echoed through the conference hall long after he finished.
All twenty Iwagakure jonin stood up in unison, as though silently backing their leader with action.
Teizawa nodded, no longer sparing Kitsuchi another glance.
He turned, letting his gaze pass over Samui, then Mei, and finally settle on Tsunade.
"Everyone," he said calmly, "what do you think?"
The hall fell quiet again.
Every eye turned toward Tsunade.
She sat there expressionless, cursing Teizawa eight hundred times over in her heart.
This bastard had kicked the ball straight into her court.
If she agreed, then she'd be giving Iwagakure five days to raise the money and dragging this auction out even longer.
If she refused, then she'd be openly tearing relations with Iwagakure apart.
No matter what she chose, she'd be the one left holding the blame.
She took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Five days."
Her voice was cold as ice.
"If the money hasn't arrived in five days…"
She turned to Kitsuchi, her gaze sharp as a blade.
"Then don't blame Konoha for throwing you out."
Kitsuchi's face was deathly pale, but he still gritted his teeth and nodded.
Samui leaned back in her chair, the corner of her lips curling upward.
Five days was enough.
Her gaze drifted toward Teizawa again.
He was standing there, and he gave her a wink.
A flush crept across her cheeks at once.
Mei watched the exchange with obvious interest.
A playful smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
This show was becoming more and more entertaining.
Teizawa stood beside the box and glanced down at the curled-up Rōshi inside.
Then he raised his head and swept his gaze across everyone in the hall.
Kitsuchi's frustration, Samui's anticipation, Mei's amusement, Tsunade's simmering fury…
He took it all in.
Five days.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
More than enough time to do a few more things.
Everyone began to file out.
The Iwagakure delegation left first.
Kitsuchi's back was stiff as stone, every step heavy and rigid.
The Kumogakure group followed behind.
Samui's pace remained steady, though Karui looked back several times, only to be yanked forward each time by Omoi.
Kirigakure's people were the most relaxed.
Mei walked last, hips swaying lightly.
Like a well-fed cat.
Soon the conference hall quieted again.
Teizawa turned and looked toward the head seat.
Tsunade was still sitting there, arms folded, face unfriendly.
She was waiting until everyone had left.
That way she wouldn't have to spend even a second longer around this bastard than necessary.
"Lady Hokage."
Teizawa walked over and stopped in front of her, wearing that same smile that made people want to punch him.
"Thank you for your help to Sunagakure. May I invite you to dinner as a token of my gratitude?"
Tsunade didn't even raise her eyelids.
"No."
The word came out sharp and clean, like a kunai thrown straight from the wrist.
Teizawa didn't move.
He leaned down slightly, close to her ear, and lowered his voice until only the two of them could hear it.
"If you dare refuse…" He paused, amusement in his tone. "I'll tell everyone about what happened between us."
Tsunade's body stiffened all at once.
Her face changed from white to red, then from red to green.
Her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles cracked.
She jerked her head up and glared viciously at the harmless-looking face smiling at her.
"You…"
"Hm?"
Tsunade ground her teeth hard enough to sound like she might shatter them.
She stared at him for several long seconds.
The anger in her eyes looked ready to spill over.
But she knew…
This shameless bastard would absolutely do it.
"Fine."
The word was forced out through clenched teeth.
Teizawa smiled, and that smile was gentle as spring wind.
"Then it's settled. Tonight. I'll come pick you up."
Tsunade didn't answer.
She stood and walked past him.
Each step landed heavily.
When she reached the doorway, she stopped without turning around.
"If you say a word," she said in a voice cold as ice, "I'll kill you."
Teizawa looked at her back and smiled faintly.
"Alright."
Tsunade's figure disappeared through the doorway.
Only Teizawa remained in the empty hall.
Sunlight poured through the windows, spreading patches of gold across the floor at his feet.
He lowered his head to look at his own hand, then raised it again.
His gaze followed the direction Tsunade had left.
The smile on his lips never faded.
Tonight.
At last, he would be able to return to the warmth of Tsunade's embrace once more.
(End of Chapter)
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