The cheers and shouts of the people on the distant Great Bridge drifted in every direction on the sea breeze, as though the entire nation had awakened at that moment.
Yet in the shallow waters less than a mile from the Great Bridge, a merchant ship was plowing steadily through the waves.
Kame, Gato's younger cousin and the mastermind behind the Gato Group, stood on the deck of that large ship, his scar-covered face brimming with confidence.
"Cousin, whether it's management or seeing the big picture, you fall short of me in every way. Now that you've been captured, your little cousin will be sure to take good care of the Gato Group."
"Once we go ashore, you handle the Konoha Ninja. When the job is done, each of you gets an extra million silver taels."
Behind Kame stood six rogue Jonin from various nations. When he had been sent to the Land of Tea a few days earlier to hire help, he hadn't hired only the Akatsuki from the Land of Rain. He had also visited several nearby hideouts harboring Missing-nin from different nations.
"Yes!"
"You train soldiers for a thousand days to use them for a single moment. You've deserted your countries, and you need a stable place to settle down. Once this job is done, I promise you'll become the guardians of the Gato Group and enjoy lives among the elite."
At those words, the Missing-nin behind Kame exchanged glances. Since deserting their countries, they had constantly been hunted by their villages' ANBU, sleeping out in the elements with no fixed home. They were already exhausted in body and mind. Kame's offer was one they simply couldn't refuse.
"I hope you'll keep your promise."
But just as the two sides were speaking in private, an utterly arrogant,