"Come on... did we really have to come here now?!
He's already gone to Kusagakure. How are we supposed to negotiate with them this time?
These people aren't high-ranking enough!"
In Konoha, the disguised Kakuzu couldn't help grumbling.
On their way here, they had heard that Bai Ye had gone to the Grass Ninja.
But they were already halfway here. They couldn't just turn back, could they?!
He had figured that even without Bai Ye, there would be other senior officials they could reach an agreement with.
Kakuzu had studied a great deal of economics lately, all for this visit.
But how could he have known that the people sent to meet them would either be too low-ranking to make decisions...
Or high-ranking enough, but constantly giving him the runaround?
It stirred an inexplicable anger inside him.
"I told you before. You're the one who insisted on coming."
Konan spoke flatly. Hadn't she said exactly that back then?
Kakuzu had insisted on coming, so hadn't he brought this situation on himself?!
"Fine, then. You're staying in Konoha for now, right?"
Kakuzu dropped the subject and asked another question.
Konan nodded. She certainly wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
After all, they had barely begun what they had come here to do. Leaving now would make the trip rather pointless, and they would only have to come back again.
As for Kakuzu, Konan figured he was asking because he intended to leave first if she wasn't going.
After all, with nothing happening here, Kakuzu had no reason to stay.
That was why he had asked.
In truth, Konan had only given him an offhand answer.
How could she possibly know how long this would take?
With Bai Ye out there, who knew how long the fighting would last?!
It was an entire