Keiko Pays His Respects

"Good grief! What is Konoha trying to do? Even Lord Hiruzen came in person to pay his respects! They're giving Hanzo of the Salamander far too much face." Yashamaru stared at Konoha's funeral delegation in shock.

At the head of the procession was Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in white. To show his mourning, even his red conical hat had been covered in white cloth. Behind him followed the solemn-faced Shimura Danzō and Mitokado Homura, along with at least a third of Konoha's assorted upper ranks.

"By standing in the shinobi world, Ibuse barely deserved such honors. But I think the Hokage's personal visit must be for something else," Pakura said softly.

"Pakura has a point. Let's not rush. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Come, let's go greet them." Keiko put on his own green conical hat, likewise draped in white cloth, and walked toward Konoha's delegation.

"Lord Kazekage."

"Lord Hokage."

The two sides exchanged bows upon meeting. The two processions then proceeded side by side.

"Hanzo of the Salamander was a hero who had endured from the previous era to this day. To meet such an end is truly lamentable," Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Keiko as they walked.

"In these troubled times, living to Senior Ibuse's age was no easy feat. For shinobi to die by the blade seems to be a kind of fate as well." Keiko's words sounded profound, but in truth they said nothing at all.

"Still, the Land of Rain losing such a powerful figure will have a considerable impact on the surrounding situation." Hiruzen Sarutobi apparently had little interest in fencing with Keiko and went straight to the point.

"Please enlighten me. I haven't received any relevant intelligence on my end." Keiko was somewhat surprised. Was someone about to stir up trouble again? That didn't seem right.

The fighting around Amegakure had already concluded, and Minister Chiyo had sent no related intelligence either. Keiko glanced at Rasa, who was walking half a step behind him. Rasa shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

"There is no particular intelligence. It is simply that the people have suffered from war for too long. The war in the north is only growing more intense, and now something like this has happened in the Land of Rain. It is inevitable that the flames of war may spread here. Hiruzen merely wishes to end this chaos sooner."

"Oh? I never expected Lord Hokage to be so concerned for the people. Though I am lacking in talent, I am willing to follow your lead."

So that was it. He wanted to mediate the Earth–Lightning War. The old monkey was shrewd as ever. Afraid that his influence alone would not be enough and that the Tsuchikage and Raikage would not listen, he had used Hanzo of the Salamander's funeral as an excuse to meet with him.

The combined weight of the Kazekage and Hokage would be enough to pressure both Earth and Lightning into ceasing hostilities. Hiruzen Sarutobi truly was a bona fide moderate dove.

"Then I must thank you, my worthy brother. After the funeral and the new Rain Shadow's inauguration ceremony, let us discuss matters together at Konoha's residence."

"I'd rather arrange the location. There is an izakaya by the Shule River. It is spacious, quiet, and secure, and it belongs to our Hourglass Group. Their chefs make outstanding grilled chicken skewers."

"Oh, is that so? Then how about the evening after tomorrow?"

"I will await your arrival."

"Lord Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha pays his respects with his delegation..."

"Lord Kazekage Keiko of Sunagakure pays his respects with his delegation..."

"First bow..."

"Second bow..."

"Third bow..."

"The family returns the courtesy..."

Keiko was preparing to bow to the family when he raised his head slightly and saw an old woman sitting there with five or six young, pretty women, all sobbing and weeping.

Who the hell is the family here? Who's the principal wife? Keiko looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, only to find Hiruzen wearing the same baffled expression.

Oboro, the Hidden Rain Jonin responsible for receiving guests nearby, seemed to notice the two big shots' confusion. He quietly approached and spoke in a low voice.

"The woman in the middle is Lord Ibuse's original wife and widow. The others are... secondary wives."

Keiko and Hiruzen suddenly understood and gave the old woman slight bows.

Damn it, so all the money I invested in Amegakure was spent by that old bastard on this stuff. If I'd known, there would have been no need to spend twenty million ryo hiring Kakuzu. A few million to rent out a place and let him enjoy himself for three days and nights would have worked even better—and cost less.

Next, the chairman of the funeral committee and future Amegakage, Nengshen Jingang, gave a memorial speech and introduced the life of Hanzo of the Salamander.

He droned on for so long that Keiko nearly fell asleep. After what felt like an eternity, the funeral was finally declared temporarily suspended. Everyone could rest in the side hall for twenty minutes, after which the final item of the funeral, the farewell viewing of the body, would take place.

Upon reaching the side hall, Rasa reported to Keiko.

"This Nengshen Jingang was originally Hanzo of the Salamander's bodyguard and chief steward. He has a very good relationship with our Hourglass Group. With the Hourglass Group backing him, he not only inherited all of Ibuse's assets but also ascended to the position of Rain Shadow. He has also promised to keep taxes at their current rate for ten years without raising them. As for policy, he has given us the green light across the board."

Keiko nodded. "Relationships like this must be maintained. We need to show consideration during every holiday and festival. Also, since you are in charge of the Intelligence Department's work here, infiltration of Hidden Rain's other senior ranks cannot stop. We need a Plan B at all times."

Before long, twenty minutes had passed. Everyone returned to the main hall to view Hanzo of the Salamander's remains. Yet what stood in the hall was a lead coffin sealed shut!

A tray sat before the coffin, holding three of Hanzo of the Salamander's personal effects: a broken chain sickle, an old respirator, and a Hidden Rain forehead protector. Just as everyone began murmuring in confusion, Nengshen Jingang stepped forward and motioned for silence.

"Please do not be surprised. There is a reason the coffin has been sealed with lead. Since childhood, Lord Hanzo had a venom sac from a highly poisonous Black Salamander implanted in his body... The assassin was so utterly deranged that he destroyed the venom sac, causing toxic gas to leak out. Though many days have passed, small amounts of neurotoxin are still escaping. For the safety of all our friends, we had no choice but to seal the coffin in lead. Please view Lord Hanzo's personal effects and entrust your grief to them."

After attending the funeral, Keiko neither went with Rasa to inspect the factories nor spoke with the group's representatives. Using fatigue as an excuse, he turned down everything, had Pakura prepare a tub of mugwort water, and soaked alone in his room to wash away the bad luck. After quite some time, Keiko spoke toward a dark corner.

"Don't worry. There's no one within eight hundred meters. I checked with Iron Sand. Come out."

"It is better to be cautious. If a matter is not kept secret, it will cause harm." A figure emerged from the shadows. It was none other than Shimura Danzō.

"What does Konoha mean by this? Are you planning to mediate the war in the north? You haven't even cleaned up your own mess with the Hidden Mist Village in the east. Do you have time for this? Your precious grandson is still lying in our hospital!"

"You think I want to meddle in this mess? Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and that lot came up with this rotten idea. They want to join with Sunagakure to pressure Earth and Lightning through military force, then take the opportunity to convene the Second Five Kage Summit and use the combined power of four nations to force the Hidden Mist Village into submission. Without spending a single soldier, they can end the war merely by borrowing momentum and also display Konoha's international standing. Killing two birds with one stone."

"Huh, that isn't such a rotten idea. If handled properly, it really could work. It would just hurt my business. If the war stops, my ninja blades and canned goods probably won't sell as well."

"It is not just your little business. We fought and bled to create peace, only for them to settle everything by scaring people with a few words. Wouldn't that make all our efforts into a joke?"

Keiko stood stunned for a long while, considering Danzo's words. Only after some time did he grasp the meaning behind them, and he burst out laughing. This Danzo was still clever enough, but his vision was too limited. After all that talk, he was still only thinking about his own power in Konoha.

"What are you laughing at?" Danzo's expression turned awkward.

"I'm laughing because there's something wrong with what you said!"

"What's wrong with it?"

"When all is said and done, you're the one who would become a joke. I'm the Kazekage. I get to join your Hokage in intimidating people and settling matters. Who would laugh at me?"

"You!" With his true intentions exposed, Danzo's face immediately flushed red.

"Don't get worked up. Don't be so unable to take a joke. To be honest, I don't support mediating the war right now either. But if you want to persuade the Hokage and those Konoha elders, this is what you should say. On the evening after tomorrow, say this..."