The distortion in the space above the treetops stopped.
Chikage stood atop the Wood Dragon's enormous head and brushed the dirt from his sleeves.
"Madara Uchiha, since you're already here, why leave in such a hurry?"
Holding his notebook, Chikage waved toward the distorted patch of empty air.
"You ordered the Fourth Mizukage to cross the border, trample three guard posts in the Land of Waves, and destroy two stretches of trade road in the Land of Fire's Special Economic Zone."
"Under the public security regulations, including liability for deliberately damaging public facilities, you owe twenty million ryō in compensation."
The distorted air swirled open, fully revealing a figure wearing the Spiral Mask on a branch.
Obito stood high above, his one exposed eye fixed on Chikage below, a scarlet Sharingan spinning in its socket.
He gave a quiet chuckle.
"Uchiha Chikage, do you really think mastering Wood Release lets you throw your weight around the Shinobi World?"
"You played Konoha High Command like puppets, forced Danzo to flee and Hiruzen to back down, and now you think the whole world has to follow your rules?"
Obito's voice was mocking.
"You're far too arrogant."
"Arrogant people tend to die first."
Chikage twirled the baton in his hand, his tone light.
"Following the rules is arrogance? Paying your debts is only right."
"You still haven't settled the hundred thousand Explosive Tags you owe the Konoha Military Police Force, and today you've delivered a jinchūriki right to our door."
"Yashiro, write that down. Add compensation for lost work and the deployment fee, then charge him another thirty percent in interest."
Beside him, Uchiha Yashiro immediately pulled out a scroll and carefully wrote down a line.
Rather than getting angry, Obito folded his arms.
"Do you think I came alone today?"
The moment