The Raikage Was Coming

The air before the Konoha Gate grew even tenser.

The Raikage was coming to Konoha in person.

This was no ordinary diplomatic visit.

The Kumogakure delegation had been subdued, the old Hyuga case reopened, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had demonstrated perfect control, while Konoha's internal turmoil remained unresolved. For the Fourth Raikage to come in person at a time like this meant only two things.

The first was to apply pressure.

The second was to test Naruto's limits.

Darui put away the message slip, his expression grimmer than before.

Behind him, several kneeling Kumogakure ninja were helped up by their companions. None dared make another reckless move.

They had already realized that the six-year-old Nine-Tails Jinchuriki before them was not someone the delegation could handle.

The Third Hokage looked at Darui.

"For the Raikage to visit in person, a formal diplomatic letter must be submitted in advance."

Darui said flatly, "Lord Raikage is already on his way. The letter will follow."

Jiraiya sneered.

"This is a notification, not a visit."

Darui did not deny it.

"What happened in Konoha last night has already affected the balance of the shinobi world. As a treaty partner, Kumogakure has the right to assess the risks."

Hyuga Hiashi spoke. "Kumogakure has no right to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs under the pretext of our treaty."

Darui looked at him.

"Then the Hyuga have no right to demand that Kumogakure reopen an old case, either."

Hiashi's gaze turned cold.

Naruto suddenly spoke. "Let him come."

Everyone looked at him.

The Third Hokage frowned. "Naruto, the Raikage is not one of the delegation's jonin. The Fourth Raikage is incredibly fast. His taijutsu and Lightning Release Chakra Mode rank among the best in the shinobi world."

Naruto looked at Darui.

"The stronger he is, the better suited he is to a public discussion."

Darui's eyes shifted slightly.

He understood what those words meant.

Naruto did not mean he was well suited to negotiations.

He meant he was well suited to a fight.

Naruto continued, "You want to check on the Nine-Tails' condition? Fine."

"When the Raikage gets here, I'll show him myself."

Inside the Sealing Space, the Nine-Tails gave a low chuckle.

"I like this brat."

The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment.

He knew he could not stop Naruto.

More importantly, if Kumogakure was determined to come, Konoha had to take a firm stance now to stabilize the situation.

Last night's internal strife had only just become public. If they backed down before outsiders, the other ninja villages would immediately come smelling blood.

"Darui."

The Third Hokage spoke.

"The Kumogakure delegation may stay at the Foreign Guesthouse, but you may not enter the village's core areas without authorization. Konoha will treat your wounded, but their attack on Konoha ninja must be put on record."

Darui nodded, his expression cold.

This was already far worse than he had anticipated before arriving.

He had intended to force Konoha to explain the Nine-Tails' situation while also suppressing the old Hyuga case.

Instead, four delegation members had ended up kneeling outside the gate, the Hyuga were demanding that Kumogakure admit to the kidnapping, and the Raikage had been forced to intervene personally.

Naruto turned to leave.

Hinata peeked out from behind Hyuga Hiashi, a trace of fear still lingering in her eyes.

When the Kumogakure ninja had circled toward her, she had felt that same darkness from years ago.

But this time, someone had stepped in first.

Not her father.

Naruto.

She said softly, "Naruto-kun, thank you."

Naruto paused briefly.

"Dodge faster yourself next time."

Hinata's face flushed at once, but she nodded earnestly.

"Okay."

Hyuga Hiashi glanced at his daughter, then looked at Naruto, his expression growing more complicated.

This child did not speak gently.

But when he had acted just now, he had indeed been faster than anyone else.

Naruto returned to Central Street.

The work of sealing the records was still underway.

The Konoha Military Police Force, Konoha jonin, and the toads Jiraiya had left behind stood guard together. The Advisors' Office had been sealed off, Root remnants were being registered, and Sarutobi clan members lined up to explain their combat preparations the night before.

Chaotic, but orderly.

This was what Naruto wanted.

It was not enough to have everyone kneel and repent, then call it finished.

Every matter had to be traced to the people, money, records, and power involved.

He had just reached the long table when Kakashi caught up with him.

"Naruto."

Naruto did not stop.

Kakashi fell silent for a moment.

"I'll help you check Minato-sensei's belongings."

Naruto glanced at him.

"You should."

Kakashi lowered his head.

"Yes."

This was not a favor to be thanked for.

It was a responsibility.

Kakashi accepted that readily.

Jiraiya stood on the other side, looking at the boxes of sealed records, his expression grimmer than it had been the night before.

"I've already sent a toad with a message to find Tsunade."

Naruto asked, "How long?"

"Three days at the earliest for news. How long it takes to bring her back depends on where she is."

Naruto looked at him.

"Seven days."

Jiraiya gave a wry smile.

"I know."

Naruto said no more. He opened the inventory of Minato's estate and began checking it item by item.

Three properties.

Two remained. One had been converted into postwar resettlement housing for the village.

Cash deposits totaling seventeen million ryo. Only 9.2 million remained on the books.

Research scrolls on the Flying Thunder God Formula. One missing.

Kushina's Uzumaki Sealing Notes. The originals were missing; only copies remained.

Twelve personal letters. Nine remained, and two and a half had been recovered.

Every item was recorded by someone.

Every item required accountability.

The administrative ninja responsible for finances knelt nearby, his voice trembling.

"Lord Naruto, some of the missing funds went into Orphan Welfare Coordination and postwar repair accounts. Some were transferred into special accounts under the Advisors' Office."

Naruto raised his eyes.

"Is there anyone else's money in Orphan Welfare Coordination?"

The administrative ninja's face went white.

"Yes."

Naruto closed the ledger.

"Investigate all of it."

The Third Hokage came over just in time to hear those words.

He wearily rubbed the space between his brows.

"Naruto, if we investigate everything, the entire logistics and finance system will grind to a halt."

Naruto looked at him.

"A few days of downtime."

"Is better than years of rot."

The Third Hokage did not try to persuade him again.

He had realized that Naruto was not merely trying to recover his own money.

By following his own accounts, this child had already uncovered the rotten books behind Konoha's logistics and finances.

If the investigation continued through all of them, it would implicate far more than the Advisors' Office.

Just then, a second ninja from the Intelligence Division hurried over.

"Lord Third Hokage, a letter from the Land of Fire's Daimyo's Residence."

The Third Hokage took it. His brows furrowed after a single glance.

Jiraiya asked, "What is it?"

The Third Hokage handed the letter to Naruto.

Naruto scanned it.

Having heard of Konoha's turmoil, the Daimyo's Residence demanded that the Third Hokage explain the Hokage Advisor's death, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's abnormal behavior, the investigation of the advisors, and the other incidents. The Daimyo's Residence was also dispatching a special envoy, who would arrive in Konoha within three days.

Naruto set the letter on the table.

"External pressure from Kumogakure. Internal scrutiny from the daimyo."

Jiraiya's expression darkened.

The Third Hokage spoke in a low voice.

"Someone got the news out very quickly."

Naruto looked at the Sealing Bottle holding the residual black chakra beside Mitokado Homura's corpse.

"Not just someone."

"A whole network."

The black mark inside the bottle suddenly slammed against the seal's barrier, as though it had heard something.

At the same time, an alarm sounded from the direction of the Naka Shrine.

The Uchiha ninja responsible for sealing the stone tablet rushed to the street entrance.

"Clan Head! Naruto!"

"The black contamination on the Naka Stone Tablet is spreading!"