Bounty

Kumogakure.

The Third Raikage A sat in his office, his expression stern as he read through the report Anbu had brought him.

"I really envy Sunagakure! They actually have someone as talented as Rasa."

"Sunagakure doesn't know how to value him. They sent him to the battlefield, and he even got badly injured."

"Someone like him should have stayed in the village and made money. If he were from Kumogakure, our village would be developing much faster!"

The Third Raikage A shook his head, clearly displeased with Sunagakure's leadership.

Despite his rough, hot-tempered appearance, the Third Raikage A was actually a kind and gentle old man in the eyes of the villagers.

Not only that, he was the most powerful man in the village, both in terms of authority and strength. A member of the Hardline Faction, he had always been devoted to making Kumogakure the greatest village in the Ninja World. The village's military buildup had begun during his generation.

In his view, someone talented at making money, like Rasa, should be protected and put to work developing the military with the Gold Dust he refined. That was the right way to do things.

"I think it's understandable. Young people need to be put through their paces, just like Yotsuki," Dodai said from his seat beside the Raikage, where he was helping him handle official business.

Unlike the well-rounded model leader Fourth Raikage, the Third Raikage had one flaw: he didn't like using his head. Fortunately, he had another virtue—he knew to listen to others' opinions.

That was where Dodai, his courtier and trusted adviser, came in.

"How is that the same? That boy Yotsuki will be the leader of this village one day and inherit my name, A. Of course he needs to be tested on the battlefield!"

The Third Raikage pondered for a moment, then came up with a brilliant idea. "Do you think we should send people to kidnap Rasa and bring him here?"

"I'm afraid it's too late for that now. We might've managed it a few years ago," Dodai replied, unsurprised by the Third Raikage's suggestion.

It wasn't the first time the Third Raikage had said something like this.

After all, Kekkei Genkai users were a strategic resource, and the best way to acquire such a resource was to snatch one and have your own ninja bear his children.

But Rasa had already grown into an Elite Jonin. What's more, several countries lay between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind, with the most powerful Land of Fire right between them. They couldn't exactly have the Third Raikage cross the Land of Fire to kidnap someone from Sunagakure!

They'd probably end up losing their own man without bringing the target back.

The Third Raikage lamented, "You're right. We should've acted sooner!"

"Rather than worrying about Rasa, whom we're never going to get, why don't you take a look at this?" Dodai said, handing him a document.

The Third Raikage opened it. Inside was a bounty notice and some information.

[Bounty!]

[White Yasha of Konoha!]

[Name: Senju Genma]

[Number: 220_01131120_OO]

[Bounty: 350,000,000]

The document also contained detailed information on Senju Genma.

[Senju Genma, Jonin of the Hidden Leaf Village, head of the Senju Clan, only thirteen years old. Proficient in ninjutsu of all five chakra natures, as well as Wood Release and the Flying Thunder God Technique. A veteran of many battles, he defeated the legendary ninja Hanzo during the war in the Land of Rain. In the war against the Land of Wind, he fought the One-Tail Shukaku alone, defeating and capturing it!]

Dodai said, "We found this bounty notice at the Black Market Exchange. Based on my deductions, it was issued by Sunagakure."

Looking at the young portrait of Senju Genma on the bounty notice, the Third Raikage was filled with emotion.

Why did Konoha have so many prodigies?

There had once been the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, and the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara Uchiha. The two of them alone had been able to suppress the Four Great Shinobi Villages and leave the other countries unable to raise their heads.

After the two fell out and died in the Battle of the Valley of the End, the villages fought over the resources of the Land of Fire, sparking the First Shinobi World War. Konoha had faced multiple enemies at once and emerged victorious.

It hadn't even been twenty years since the First Shinobi World War ended, and now Konoha had produced another prodigy destined to become a legend in the Ninja World.

This left the Third Raikage, who was determined to make his village stronger, feeling deeply resentful.

He'd worked hard all his life, yet he couldn't compete with Konoha's good fortune. One prodigy after another kept appearing there.

"Three hundred and fifty million ryo. Sunagakure really is generous. No wonder it's called the second-greatest shinobi village in the Ninja World." The Third Raikage shook his head with a laugh. Senju Genma was certainly formidable, but they had no time to deal with him now. They hadn't even settled things with Iwagakure yet! "It's impossible for us to get our hands on that kid, anyway."

"How are the village repairs going? How much progress have we made?"

"I've already assigned people to start the repairs. Blue B was too badly injured and is still recuperating." Dodai shook his head. "You went too far. He's your nephew, after all."

The Third Raikage scratched his head and said helplessly, "You can't blame me. He was threatening the village at the time!"

"If I hadn't stepped in, he would've destroyed the village!"

Dodai sighed. He knew there had been no other choice.

Kumogakure had been conducting Tailed Beast experiments in an effort to put the beasts to military use.

But without a powerful Sealing Technique, even with the help of the Waterfall of Truth, they couldn't perfectly suppress the Tailed Beasts' chakra.

So although Blue B had a good relationship with Gyuki, there were plenty of rumors circulating in the village. Once his resolve weakened, the Tailed Beast's chakra could run wild and wreak havoc on the village. Each time they stopped the Eight-Tails, many people were injured or killed.

Dodai said, "I've thought of a way to deal with the Eight-Tails."

"What way?" The Third Raikage asked, puzzled. Since when had Dodai started keeping him in suspense?

Dodai spoke slowly. "There's intelligence suggesting that Konoha has a Jinchūriki with special chakra that can seal the power of a Tailed Beast!"

"Really? Then what are we waiting for? Send someone to snatch him!" The Third Raikage slammed his fist excitedly on the desk.

A surge of Lightning Release Chakra flowed over his skin, and his desk and the documents on it instantly crumbled to dust.

"Don't get worked up. I've already sent people into Konoha to gather information." Dodai had grown accustomed to scenes like this, and immediately tried to calm him down. "It's Konoha, after all. We need to wait for the right opportunity."

The Third Raikage calmed down and sat back in his chair.

"You're right. I'll leave this matter to you."

He looked at the desk in front of him and only then realized it had mysteriously vanished. Awkwardly, he said, "About that..."

Dodai seemed to have expected this all along. Calmly, he replied, "Don't worry. I've prepared backup copies of the documents. I'll fetch them now."

About Raikage A and Yotsuki.

A was the Raikage's title, passed down from one generation to the next. The original story never mentioned the Fourth Raikage's given name. However, while the Third Raikage was still in office, the Fourth Raikage was already known as A (Ai). So in this novel, the Fourth Raikage is called Yotsuki Ay during his youth.