Treasure Land

The cups clinked as they drank and toasted, the table alive with laughter.

Hoshino Maki took advantage of the feast to check the Akatsuki members' pulses, but the results were discouraging.

Though the Akatsuki members lived in poor conditions, every one of them was strong and healthy. They had only a few minor ailments that might or might not need treatment. Hoshino Maki had taken a big loss on this meal.

He shot Nagato a dissatisfied look. You look like a delicate little thing, and you want to bring world peace someday. How can you not have something wrong with you?

Sensitive to the gaze, Nagato shuddered and hurriedly scooted his cushion closer to Yahiko.

Hoshino Maki shook his head. On second thought, it made sense. They had brought Konan to Amegakure for treatment, so the members who came along were surely all elite. Anyone who was truly unwell wouldn't have come.

Konan sat quietly in a corner, watching Yahiko laugh without restraint. Every so often, a knowing smile touched her lips. But when she looked over at Hoshino Maki, her gaze turned complicated.

She couldn't remember when she first realized the scars on her body were unsightly. She had started wearing long robes to hide them, whatever the season.

But as a woman, she also longed to wear a white dress with a floral print in summer and go to the river with Yahiko to enjoy the breeze.

Of course, for Yahiko and Akatsuki's dream, her personal feelings were insignificant. Still, everyone needed a few little daydreams, didn't they?

Konan felt along her forearm through her sleeve. The scene from her dream seemed a little closer now.

Young girls fell in love, and they matured earlier than boys their age. She had also heard a few things from the village women.

Men couldn't control themselves.

That man was just another foul-mouthed hypocrite.

Wait, why was she thinking about this?!

Konan pressed her cool little hands to her burning cheeks, an inexplicable sense of guilt swirling through her mind.

"Konan, what's wrong?"

Yahiko swallowed a mouthful of grilled meat and asked curiously.

"N-nothing."

Seeing everyone looking at her, Konan forced a smile.

After dinner, the Akatsuki members politely declined Hoshino Maki's offer to let them stay the night.

They had a place to stay in Amegakure. Besides, they knew their status was worlds apart from his. Saving Konan was already an enormous favor, so they couldn't possibly accept his hospitality as well.

Yahiko had thought about letting Konan, who had only just recovered from her injuries, stay there while he came to fetch her the next day. But Konan firmly insisted on leaving with everyone else, so he didn't press the matter.

Deep inside Mountain Graveyard, a section of wall bulged out for no apparent reason. A white, human-shaped mass emerged halfway from it. "Nagato came into contact with someone from Sunagakure today."

An old man sat in a wooden chair, tubes protruding from his back. His clothes were plain, and a long sickle rested to his left.

He was gaunt and looked close to death, but his spirits seemed surprisingly good.

"Anything unusual?"

"The Sunagakure official was very concerned about the Akatsuki members."

"Did he realize Nagato has the Rinnegan?"

"Probably not. He didn't show any particular concern for Nagato. He seemed more concerned about Yahiko and Konan."

Uchiha Madara nodded. "Keep watching them. Sunagakure won't be able to stir up any trouble."

He paused to steady his breathing, then continued. "Focus on the Uchiha. Have you found any good candidates?"

White Zetsu wore a mysterious smile. "As a matter of fact, yes. A child who just passed the Genin exam."

"Oh? What's special about him?"

"Nothing much. His Ninjutsu and Taijutsu are just decent, and he's a bit dim. But... he has the heart of a Hokage. A pure heart."

"Hokage..."

Uchiha Madara murmured the word twice, then suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter. His laughter echoed for a long time through the empty Mountain Graveyard.

The negotiations continued as usual for another three days, until the Cloud Ninja finally gave in.

A received word from the rear: a spy in Iwagakure had sent a secret message that the Iwa Ninja were gathering troops and seemed poised to make a move.

Kumogakure was constantly dealing with probes from Iwagakure and Konoha, and now the slightest rumor made them nervous. Ōnoki's sudden move had made them realize they couldn't drag out the negotiations any longer.

"We want the handover completed within three days."

A's expression was frighteningly grim.

He had traveled far and wide and even rested his leg on the Eight-Tails, but he had never taken such a humiliating loss before.

Pashira had lost the battle. His father had agreed to negotiate. The village elders had ordered him to make concessions. But why was he the one signing this humiliating agreement?

Was this any way to handle things?

Wasn't this just taking advantage of an honest man?!

In the Ninja World, agreements were just scraps of paper. If your fists weren't bigger than mine, I could tear one up whenever I wanted. The Cloud Ninja had done it plenty of times themselves.

But right now, they desperately hoped the other side would keep its word. They didn't want them to follow their example.

Of course, the Sunagakure Shinobi didn't need to learn from them either. They weren't much better than the Cloud Ninja; they simply lacked the strength to have any real say in whether agreements with the Five Great Nations were broken.

There was another reason the Cloud Ninja were desperate to complete the exchange quickly: the cost of keeping the prisoners was going up.

A held the daily expense sheet Hoshino Maki had provided, his face twisting with anger.

Lobster and abalone at every meal, therapeutic massages, air conditioning around the clock—nearly a hundred thousand a day. Even the daimyo didn't live so extravagantly!

Hadn't they said Sunagakure was short on food? Were they really going hungry themselves just to feed the Cloud Ninja?

He refused to believe the Sunagakure Shinobi were so selfless. There was no need to ask; the man in front of him was surely trying to take another bite out of him. If this continued, A was afraid his rage would make him forget the bigger picture and slap the man to death.

Once the Cloud Ninja relented, the two sides finalized all the terms in a single afternoon. A ignored Hoshino Maki's outstretched hand, slammed the Meeting Room door behind him, and stormed off. Dodai had to say goodbye to Hanzo on his behalf.

The Cloud Ninja party left the Land of Rain. Knowing A was in a foul mood, everyone kept their distance, afraid of becoming his punching bag.

Only Killer B bobbed his head, humming a rap that was far too early for civilized society, and walked over to A in rhythm.

"Yo, big bro, is that Hoshino Maki guy the one who's got you down?"

A had long since gotten used to his brother's eccentricity. He shook his head and replied calmly, "I'm not upset. I'm worried that someone like him in Sunagakure will threaten Kumogakure's plans."

"Him? But Gyuki told me he was weak."

A was very patient with his brother. "Sunagakure lacks a lot of things, but what it lacks most is smart people. Hoshino Maki is smart, and he's not as weak as you think. Otherwise, he wouldn't have captured so many of our men."

"Hey, Gyuki, you heard that? You weren't lying to me, were you?"

Killer B spoke to the Eight-Tails inside him. The Eight-Tails was so angry that its tails thrashed about. "Why would I lie? That guy's Chakra really is weak!"

Killer B scratched his head, puzzled.

His CPU was overheating.

Meanwhile, a young man wearing a conical hat and carrying a travel pack passed through the Konoha Ninja checkpoint and entered Konoha. He looked up at the distant Rock Face and said with a smile, "What a treasure land."