Chapter 153 (Patreon)

The Fourth Raikage, A, slowly began recounting what had happened years ago, when the Akatsuki invaded Kumogakure.

“So the Amber Purifying Pot contains not only the Nine-Tails’ chakra, but the Two-Tails’ as well?”

Yujiro had learned something completely unexpected.

“Yes. When the First Raikage was still alive, the Two-Tails’ previous jinchūriki died, causing the beast to run rampant.”

“The First Raikage had no choice but to suppress it using the Amber Purifying Pot. Naturally, traces of the Two-Tails’ chakra remained inside afterward.”

“As for the Nine-Tails’ chakra, that came from the Gold and Silver Brothers.”

A answered without concealing anything.

Yujiro quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had originally assumed that, since the current Two-Tails was with him, the Akatsuki would be unable to gather the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts.

However, it now seemed they had managed to obtain what they needed.

Even so, the quality of their collection was far inferior to what it had been in the original story.

In the original timeline, Obito had taken an enormous risk by forcibly reviving the Ten-Tails. Had the summoning failed, he could have died on the spot.

At that time, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had completely absorbed all seven Tailed Beasts from the One-Tail through the Seven-Tails. Only the chakra of the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails was incomplete.

This time, however, the Akatsuki possessed only six complete Tailed Beasts.

The danger of attempting to revive the Ten-Tails under such circumstances would be far greater.

It was precisely because of that risk that Obito had been willing to invade Konoha at any cost in an attempt to capture both the Two-Tails and Nine-Tails.

When Yujiro remained silent, A began to feel uncertain. After hesitating for a while, he cautiously asked, “Lord Yujiro, haven’t you already dealt with the Akatsuki?”

“Most of its members have either been killed or persuaded to defect, but the true core of the organization escaped,” Yujiro replied casually.

“And the captured Tailed Beasts remain in their hands.”

A nodded. He had already considered that possibility.

“Contact Genbu immediately,” Yujiro continued with a faint smile. “One week may not be enough time.”

“Understood. I’ll send word at once.”

A immediately rose from his seat.

“Good.”

Afterward, A personally escorted Yujiro to the finest hotel in Kumogakure.

Yujiro sat cross-legged on the bed in his room, quietly suppressing the inner demon stirring within him.

Recently, it had been growing increasingly powerful.

It was almost as though the inner demon had sensed what Yujiro intended to do next. It repeatedly tried to tempt him, resisting his control at every opportunity.

The inner demon was a form of energy that grew alongside Yujiro.

The deeper the darkness within his heart, the stronger it became.

Yujiro had never considered himself a good person. He knew better than anyone just how much darkness existed within him.

That was why he needed to be fully prepared before confronting it.

Otherwise, there was a real possibility that he would fail to overcome it.

The Falls of Truth possessed the ability to draw out and materialize the darkness hidden within a person’s heart.

Yujiro intended to use that power to confront his inner demon and defeat it once and for all.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A sudden knock came from the door, interrupting his meditation.

“Come in,” Yujiro said calmly.

Click.

The door opened, and a blonde woman stepped into the room.

Yujiro raised his head and looked at her.

“Greetings. I’m the attendant Lord Raikage assigned to take care of your daily needs.”

Samui greeted him with a pleasant smile.

She was one of Kumogakure’s jōnin, and her abilities were by no means insignificant.

However, instead of her usual shinobi attire, Samui was wearing an ordinary kimono.

A faint smile appeared on Yujiro’s face.

It seemed the Raikage had prepared a few tricks of his own.

There was no need to think too deeply about why Samui had been sent here. A clearly hoped that she could obtain information from Yujiro that would benefit Kumogakure.

That approach might have worked against someone else.

Against Yujiro, however, she had no chance of succeeding.

“Are you certain you were sent here merely to attend to my daily needs?” Yujiro asked with an amused smile.

“Yes,” Samui answered, maintaining her pleasant expression.

Yujiro could easily tell that her smile was forced. Whatever she was planning, it was undoubtedly part of the mission the Raikage had given her.

“In that case, prepare some hot water for me. I want to take a bath.”

“Of course, Lord Yujiro.”

Samui gave him a slight smile before leaving to prepare the bath.

At the same time, inside the Raikage’s office, A sat behind his desk and released a heavy sigh.

“I only hope Samui can obtain some useful information from Yujiro while he remains here.”

He turned toward Mabui, who was standing nearby.

“Mabui, do you think he’ll see through her?”

“I don’t believe so,” Mabui replied after considering the question. “Samui is one of Kumogakure’s most capable jōnin, and Yujiro has never met her before.”

“Furthermore, this is a top-secret S-rank mission personally assigned by you. Samui understands how important it is. She won’t make any careless mistakes.”

A nodded after listening to her analysis.

The mission he had assigned Samui was simple.

Before Genbu reached Kumogakure’s border, she was to obtain any useful information she could from Yujiro.

No matter what it took.

Back in Yujiro’s room, Samui finished preparing the bath and approached him.

“Lord Yujiro, the hot water is ready. I’ll leave you to your bath.”

After saying that, she turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Yujiro’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Samui stopped.

“Since the Raikage sent you here to attend to my needs, you should stay.”

“What?”

Samui froze for a moment before a faint blush spread across her face.

“What’s wrong? Are you unwilling?” Yujiro asked indifferently. “If so, forget it. You may return to the Raikage.”

Trying to play this sort of game with him was far too naïve.

“If that is Lord Yujiro’s request... then I’ll stay.”

Samui lowered her head, her voice growing noticeably quieter.

She had no other choice.

For the sake of her mission, Samui was prepared to risk everything.

Although Kumogakure had continued developing over the past several years, it was also obligated to transport a considerable amount of supplies to Konoha every year.

As a result, the village’s development had slowed considerably.

As one of Kumogakure’s elite jōnin, Samui was naturally aware of certain confidential matters.

The source of all their difficulties was the man sitting before her with that harmless smile on his face.

Even though Samui wanted to grit her teeth in frustration, she forced herself to keep smiling.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Another series of rapid knocks came from the door.

Yujiro sighed helplessly.

Why did someone always have to interrupt just as things were becoming interesting?

“Who is it?” Yujiro asked.

“It’s me.”

Tsunade’s voice came from the other side.

“Come in,” Yujiro replied, unable to hide the resignation in his voice.

That troublesome woman...

Even when they had been at his home, Tsunade had ruined his plans more times than he could count.

Now she had followed him here and was doing it again.

Yujiro wanted to see what she could possibly want this time.