Rebuking the Raikage

"Let her speak. What can't be said?"

The Fourth Raikage exerted a slight force with his palm, snapping the armrest on the edge of his chair with a crack.

"Samui, I hope you understand that I did this to strengthen the Land of Lightning."

"Since the previous Ninja World Wars, how many of our Land of Lightning's ninja have died at the hands of Konoha's ocular jutsu users?"

"I hope you understand that the sacrifices of those people this time are laying the foundation for the Land of Lightning's future, so that we may suffer fewer sacrifices in the future."

Darui nodded and chimed in, "That's right, Samui. You must understand Lord Raikage's painstaking intentions."

"And you must continue maintaining your relationship with Uchiha Mingyou until you become pregnant with his child."

Clap—

Clap—

Clap—

Before Darui could finish speaking, a round of applause rang out.

Then Mingyou leaped down, landing lightly beside Samui.

"Fourth Raikage, what impressive methods you have. What a fine move you've made. You've truly opened my eyes."

Mingyou stared at the Fourth Raikage, his eyes full of mockery.

The expressions of all three people present changed.

The Fourth Raikage and Darui both became wary.

Samui, meanwhile, looked utterly panicked. "Mingyou, hurry and leave. You can't stay here any longer."

Samui rushed toward Mingyou and grabbed his arm, trying to drag him outside.

"I'm afraid I can't let you have your way." Darui drew the Ninja Tachi from his back and flashed in front of the hall's entrance, his eyes full of vigilance.

The Fourth Raikage slowly rose to his feet, having recovered from his earlier shock. "Brother Mingyou, it's good that you've come. I happened to have something I wanted to discuss with you."

"Oh? Let's hear it." Mingyou looked disdainful.

He truly wanted to see what nonsense the Fourth Raikage could still come up with after having his scheme exposed right in front of him.

The Fourth Raikage smiled faintly and said in a deep voice, "I admit that my previous arrangements were indeed meant to scheme against your Uchiha Clan."

"But I believe you understand the Uchiha Clan's current predicament as well. First, you became traitors to Konoha, and now you have become wanted criminals in Iwagakure."

"No matter how strong you, Uchiha Mingyou, may be, can you protect every member of the Uchiha Clan for the rest of their lives?"

"I know you and Samui are in love. As long as you agree to let the Uchiha Clan join the Land of Lightning, I'm willing to fulfill your relationship and guarantee the safety of every Uchiha Clan member. What do you say?"

"Hahahahaha!" Mingyou laughed in fury. This bastard's calculations were truly loud and clear.

Since the underhanded approach had failed, he had switched to an open one, intending to force Mingyou to agree.

"Lord Fourth Raikage, if you were in one of those palace intrigue dramas, you'd be even better at petty schemes than the concubines."

"I'm guessing that if I refuse, you weren't planning to let me walk out that door today, were you?"

As he spoke, Mingyou propped up his chin and pretended to ponder. "Hmm... Then you'll lock me up and issue a brave warrior recruitment order to the women of the Land of Lightning."

"As long as any lady is willing to mate with Uchiha Mingyou and successfully bear a child, she'll be rewarded with a thousand mu of farmland and ten thousand mu of houses?"

The Fourth Raikage already had a violent temper. Although he did not understand what a palace intrigue drama was, he could clearly sense Mingyou's mockery, and his face darkened with rage.

"So, are you agreeing or not?"

"Oh my, why are you making such a fierce face? You're scaring me." As though terribly frightened, Mingyou raised a hand and gently patted his chest. "Lord Raikage, don't be so angry. I agree."

"Really?" The Fourth Raikage's face lit up with delight. If Mingyou truly agreed, it would save him a great deal of trouble.

As long as the Uchiha Clan successfully settled in the Land of Lightning, his plan to obtain Sharingan ocular jutsu would become even more perfect.

"Mingyou, you..." Samui looked deeply confused.

From their interactions over the past few days, Samui had roughly come to understand Mingyou's character. She simply could not believe that he would agree to such a proposal.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Mingyou shook his head slightly and gave Samui a reassuring look.

Then Mingyou turned his gaze toward the Fourth Raikage. "Lord Raikage, I'm willing to agree, but you must agree to one condition as well."

"Haha." The Fourth Raikage laughed happily. It seemed Uchiha Mingyou still feared his strength. "Brother Mingyou, go ahead and say it. As long as it can be done, I'll agree."

Mingyou cleared his throat and announced loudly, "My condition is this: the woman who mates with me must be a woman from your own family."

"In other words, your wife, for example. Or your daughter. If neither works, your mother will do. Though your mother might be a little old, I can still barely accept her."

Bang—

Before Mingyou could finish, a deafening boom erupted in the hall.

The Fourth Raikage flew into a rage and smashed the chair beside him to pieces with a single punch.

"Bastard!!!"

"Uchiha Mingyou, die!!!"

A burst of crackling electricity sounded as a layer of lightning armor rose over the Fourth Raikage's body.

Whoosh—

At an unbelievably fast speed, he drove an elbow toward Mingyou's face.

"Lightning Release: Heavy Flow Surge!!"

Mingyou reacted swiftly. The moment the Fourth Raikage exploded in anger and smashed the chair, he had activated Kamui and sucked Samui into the void.

The next second, the Fourth Raikage passed straight through Mingyou as though his elbow had struck nothing but air, causing no damage at all.

"Darui, help me take down this little bastard! Today, I'll make sure he dies horribly!"

The Fourth Raikage had donned his lightning armor with incredible speed. Though his previous attack had missed, he had already reached the doorway.

"Understood, Lord Raikage."

Darui's face was grim. The Raikage he respected most had suffered such humiliation, and he was furious as well.

"Since his body can become intangible, this must be some ability of his Sharingan ocular jutsu."

"Let's see how he handles this."

Darui rapidly considered a countermeasure. Having witnessed Mingyou fight several times, he had already gained a rough understanding of Mingyou's methods.

"Water Release - Water Formation Wall!"

Darui rapidly formed hand seals.

After completing the final seal, he suddenly opened his mouth and violently spewed outward.

A massive torrent of water shot from Darui's mouth.

As he continuously poured in Chakra, the water became increasingly ferocious.

In the blink of an eye, an enormous wall of water surged into the air and crashed down toward Mingyou.

Crash—

The entire hall was instantly flooded, and the raging water smashed through the doors and windows.