This trip to Kumogakure had earned him both respect and a fortune. He had come away with a great deal, and he was in a pretty good mood.
As for Killer B, he was in high spirits, getting ready to compose a rap to say goodbye to his big brother.
But the Fourth Raikage, already in a foul mood, cursed him out and sent him packing.
As Mirai and Killer B left Kumogakure for Konoha, far away, in a secret cave, Orochimaru, who had been missing for a long time, was meeting with the Masked Man, Obito, accompanied by his little brother, Kabuto Yakushi.
Obito's mask had been updated!
Both of his eyes were now exposed!
One was a Sharingan, and the other was a Rinnegan!
As Orochimaru listened to Obito explain his plan, his face was filled with shock!
Meanwhile, taking advantage of Orochimaru's absence, Sasuke, who had been lying low for three years, seized his chance to break out of Otogakure and officially leave Orochimaru!
With several subordinates he had already turned to his side, Sasuke began his path of revenge!
For a time, the seemingly peaceful Ninja World was rife with undercurrents!
A terrible storm was about to break!
Killer B couldn't remember how many years it had been since he'd truly left Kumogakure.
So the whole way, he kept looking this way and that, his spirits soaring. He was having the time of his life.
He was also a bit of a people person. He grabbed Mirai and chattered away without stopping.
Mirai didn't exactly dislike this Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, but he really couldn't stand the man's relentless rap bombardment.
In the end, Mirai had no choice but to threaten him.
He told Killer B, "If you keep running your mouth, I'll send you straight back to Kumogakure." Only then did Killer B obediently shut up like a well-behaved child.
And so, after nearly half a month on the road, the two of them finally made it back to Konoha.
Killer B was seeing the legendary "Ninja World's greatest village" for the first time, and he was incredibly excited.
Kumogakure had developed quite well over the years, but compared with bustling Konoha, it wasn't even in the same league.
After all, the Land of Fire lay at the very heart of the Ninja World. It occupied the most fertile land and had the largest territory and population.
Its true strength far surpassed that of the other four great ninja villages.
If Mirai hadn't insisted on taking the guy to meet Tsunade, the Hokage, Killer B would probably have already dashed off into Konoha's streets to find some fun.
In fact, Tsunade had received the news half a month earlier.
The Raikage's Office had released an official document, announcing it to the entire Ninja World.
It contained a solemn apology for the incident involving Hizashi Hyuga. The apology was remarkably sincere, and it caused an uproar across the Ninja World.
From that moment on, Tsunade knew that Mirai must have done something to Kumogakure again, making the Fourth Raikage bow his head and admit fault.
But when she saw the "Cloud Village Submission Document" laid out before her in the Hokage's Office, along with a silver savings certificate worth an astonishing sum, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, was completely dumbfounded.
An apology was just a matter of saving face, after all.
But the things in front of her represented real, tangible benefits!
She'd never imagined Mirai could be this "capable." He'd practically doubled the gains!
All she'd intended was to put pressure on the Raikage and remind him to take the Akatsuki problem seriously.
But now, Mirai had gone and brought Kumogakure under Konoha's control.
Not only that, he'd also lured the Fourth Raikage's younger brother, Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki of Kumogakure, to Konoha!
Even her granduncle and great-uncle had never accomplished anything so remarkable!
Tsunade had dealt with the Fourth Raikage many times before. She knew perfectly well what a domineering, difficult man he was!
So she understood all the more how incredible it was that Mirai had pulled this off!
After a long while, Tsunade finally asked in a daze, "You little brat... how did you get the Fourth Raikage to give in?"
"Eh, it wasn't much!"
Mirai waved a hand, then casually spun Tsunade a pack of lies. "The Raikage isn't as domineering as the rumors say. I thought he was really easy to talk to!"
"We had a friendly chat, and he agreed to the conditions I proposed."
Mirai delivered that nonsense with a straight face, as if every word were true.
Fortunately, the Fourth Raikage wasn't there. If he had heard Mirai say that, he probably would have been so furious he'd have burst into tears.
"Was it really that simple?" Tsunade asked suspiciously, unconvinced.
Mirai looked perfectly honest. He shrugged and replied, "Yep, that simple!"
Killer B, standing nearby, rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Still, he bitterly played along with Mirai's story. "It was a friendly chat, all right. But the jerk had the conversation while standing on the Great Buddha!"
"The Great Buddha?" Tsunade frowned. Then, as if she'd realized something, her mouth fell open and she murmured, "Could it be that..."
In an instant, she pictured the legendary technique of her granduncle, the First, Senju Hashirama.
Killer B was quick on the uptake. He nodded and said, "That's right. Just what you're thinking."
Even now, more than half a month later, the memory still gave him the creeps!
Tsunade gave Mirai a playful, reproachful look. Every move she made radiated charm.
"All right."
Mirai clapped his hands and said to Tsunade, "The Kumogakure problem is taken care of. I'll leave this guy to you, Lord Hokage. Figure out what to do with him."
"I suggest you have him hang out with Naruto. They're both Jinchūriki, so I'm sure they'll have plenty in common. Besides, that kid's pretty lonely, and this guy's a fun sort."
Mirai hadn't explicitly said that Killer B should teach Naruto to control the Nine-Tails, but Tsunade was clever enough to understand him at once. She cheerfully agreed.
"All right, then. I'm off!" Mirai nodded and immediately decided to make a quick getaway.
"Heh heh!" Tsunade gave a cold laugh and teased him, "In such a hurry to go see your girlfriends?"
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