Moriyue lay back down on the familiar hospital bed. People came and went here, yet his room had always been kept for him. That was both A's decision and the young nurses' special care.
Naturally, A could not share a hospital bed with Moriyue. He had a dedicated place to recuperate, and after the heat of battle faded, he realized that what he had done might have been somewhat improper.
No matter what, Moriyue was merely a junior before him. Had the techniques he used against Moriyue been a little too excessive?
He had been too immersed in the fight to realize that he had unconsciously treated Moriyue as an opponent on his own level. It had also been far too long since he had last fought, so he inevitably lost some sense of restraint.
"Forget it. That kid came to challenge for the position of Raikage anyway. What I did can count as a test for him."
A, his chest wrapped in thick layers of bandages, shook his head and accepted the documents Mabui handed him. They were the Land of Lightning Daimyo's final ultimatum.
Someone had leaked the news that Moriyue was in Kumogakure. The major nations had all taken a keen interest in him. After all, his dazzling performance in that battle, his fight against a powerful member of a mysterious organization, and his collaboration with Pain of the Akatsuki Organization and an S-rank rogue ninja to abduct the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had all reached their ears.
The Land of Fire Daimyo wanted to question Moriyue about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's whereabouts. They had originally not intended to get involved, but the newly appointed Hokage insisted so strongly that the Land of Fire Daimyo had no choice but to give him some face.
The Land of Water Daimyo's stance