The Kumogakure Konoha Reception Office
Hagoromo's speechless expression interrupted Killer B, who was wrapped in bandages and muttering incessantly beside him.
"You're so noisy—how can the Eight-Tails tolerate you?"
Ga--
Killer B, who had been talking non-stop, suddenly seemed to be choked, unable to continue.
Meanwhile, the Gyuki inside Killer B had tears in his eyes, thinking, "My dear friend!"
"Baka yarou~ Kuna yarou~ Hagoromo, this is art!"
Unwilling to admit defeat, Killer B ignored the Gyuki within him and argued with Hagoromo.
"Damn art! I need to rest now!"
Hagoromo rolled her eyes and said, clearly annoyed.
He then looked at Samui, who was sitting upright to the side, and said:
"Aren't you busy? Isn't Kumogakure supposed to be discussing an alliance with Konoha? How come you have time to bring him along?"
Samui calmly sipped his tea and said, "I'm not needed. The Mabui man and Dodai are sufficient."
Upon hearing this, Hagoromo sighed helplessly.
Apart from the Genin and the jonin Jonin the group, only Hagoromo was on the second floor of the entire guesthouse.
After the duel with Killer B that day, the Jonin and Genin who followed saw Hagoromo and, like Shisui, began to call him "Master."
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, they have already gone to the Raikage Building to discuss an alliance with the Fourth Raikage A, A.
That's just how amazing it is~
The Fourth Raikage, who had previously looked down on Konoha, changed his tune after Hagoromo's battle with Killer B.
Pulling Hiruzen Sarutobi as if they hadn't seen an old friend in a long time, this sudden change made Rasa and Ōnoki's faces turn ashen.
"Hey, Hagoromo, eat up! I have to say, the local specialties of Konoha are quite delicious."
Killer B picked up the tea and snacks that Hagoromo had placed on the table and ate them without hesitation.
Hagoromo sat cross-legged, looking at Killer B before him, and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, are we that close?"
How come I never noticed how shameless Killer B Bee was before?
"Yo~ Hagoromo ~ We became friends after our initial encounter~"
"Besides, we, the Kumogakure, are also going to form an alliance with your Konoha ~ Check it out~"
Killer B completely ignored Hagoromo's attitude, gesturing with his hands incessantly.
"It's still very early stages; right now, we're just discussing trade routes and resource transactions."
"If an alliance is to be formed, that will be months from now."
Hagoromo said calmly.
He wasn't joking; right now, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Fourth Raikage are just confirming the details of their collaboration.
Even Shikaku has come, but things remain the same.
After all, it involves too much, and besides, the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire are among the most resource-rich countries in the Shinobi World.
Most importantly, Kumogakure has two major specialties: Cloud Beef and Kumogakure Wine.
These are the favorites of high-ranking officials and nobles. You should know that many high-ranking officials and nobles in the Land of Fire had been craving these before.
However, while the Kumogakure prioritizes supplying its own high-ranking officials and nobles, the Land of Fire does so because of their antagonistic relationship.
The amount of goods that Kumogakure exports to Konoha is even less than that of Iwagakure.
"It's alright, Samui and I will go back with you then."
Killer B, sitting to the side, threw out a huge bomb.
Hagoromo???
Samui noticed Hagoromo's gaze and rubbed his shoulders in exasperation.
One's own master truly cannot keep secrets.
"It's part of the cooperation; after all, we in the Kumogakure also need to show our sincerity."
That being said, Samui was thinking back to when Dodai made this suggestion not long ago at the Raikage Building.
The Fourth Raikage almost killed Dodai.
After all, Killer B, as the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, is the most important fighting force of Kumogakure.
But instead, Dodai suggested that Killer B go to Konoha?
Isn't this just like placing the meat on the Konoha's cutting board?
However, Dodai was right about one thing.
Killer B Bee's grand and ostentatious past, Konoha is truly unlikely to do anything about it.
After all, if Konoha really wanted to start a war, they wouldn't have just stationed their troops at Moon Wheel Gorge a few times.
Moreover, if war were to break out, the Kumogakure would not be afraid.
Moreover, Killer B didn't go alone; the squad assigned to Killer B this time wasn't just composed of elites.
Moreover, what Dodai really wanted was to explore the techniques Konoha used to seal the Tailed Beasts.
After all, Killer B's ability to achieve such synergy with Gyuki wasn't due to the superior Sealing Jutsu of Kumogakure.
It's simply that Killer B Bee and Gyuki were able to cooperate perfectly.
But what about later?
And when will he be so lucky? After all, there's only one Killer B.
Upon hearing Dodai's reasoning, even though the Fourth Raikage didn't want to admit it, he had no choice but to agree.
After all, he and Killer B will grow old or die someday.
Even though he cared deeply about his sworn brother, he couldn't ignore the future of Kumogakure.
Moreover, in order to make Konoha —or rather, to make Hiruzen Sarutobi give them some face.
The Fourth Raikage was prepared to return some things.
These were all items that Kumogakure had obtained during their previous 'exchanges' with Konoha, including a corpse among them.
Hagoromo held her teacup, her eyes lowered as she pondered the needs of Kumogakure in this step.
There are no true allies among major powers, only interests.
For Killer B to send Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, to Konoha Kumogakure, it's impossible that they had no other intentions.
It can only be said that Konoha possesses what Kumogakure needs, or rather— Ninjutsu!
Thinking of this, Hagoromo Yi thought of the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.
Only this would make the Kumogakure willing to take the risk.
After all, the Uzumaki Clan is generally considered to have the strongest Sealing Jutsu, and currently, most of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu...
They're all in Konoha.
It's not that Hagoromo would think that way, but that's just how things are.
The power of a Sealing Jutsu directly affects the safety of the village.
Sunagakure Shukaku a case in point; its crude sealing technique directly resulted in Gaara not being able to get a proper night's sleep for over ten years.
Do you think the people of Sunagakure are enough?
That was the strongest power recognized in the Shinobi World, and this power was like a time bomb in their own village.
It could explode at any time.
Do you think you can sleep comfortably?
Inside the reception room, Hagoromo was deep in thought, while Killer B chattered incessantly beside him, and Samui watched Hagoromo and Killer B together.
--
"Hokage, haven't I shown you my utmost sincerity?"
Inside the Raikage Building, the Fourth Raikage A, sat on his newly purchased sofa, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting opposite him on equal footing.
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and said:
"Raikage, let's not even mention that some of these demands were made in an unequal manner, as they have in the past."
"The things you're putting in now are completely disproportionate to what you're asking for."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were quite simple.
No, the price offered by Kumogakure is far below that level.
Moreover, as the leader of the village, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't possibly be so short-sighted as to hand over Sealing Jutsu capable of restraining Tailed Beasts for such a small benefit.
Haven't you seen that even after Rasa has been subservient for so many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi still hasn't given in?