"Are we really not going to act, Lord Naraku?"
Shihōin Naraku stood at the gate, watching Kirigakure's contingent silently and swiftly disappear down the road, finally merging into the distant horizon.
The village entrance suddenly felt much emptier.
Only then did Naraku turn back, narrowing his eyes at the Shihōin Clan ninja who had appeared beside him.
"How much did the Hyuga Clan offer you to give you the nerve to show up in front of me?"
"Well? Shihōin Aomi!"
"Heh heh heh..." Shihōin Aomi scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Don't put on that act with me." Naraku stepped straight forward, making as if to strike.
"Clan head, how would I dare accept anything from the Hyuga Clan? You already made yourself clear before. It's just that Genji begged me to put in a word for him. What could I do?" Shihōin Aomi looked troubled.
As a member of the Shihōin Clan, Aomi had not had such a headache in a long time.
He could not help it. Hyuga Genji was his good friend, after all.
And an extremely close friend at that. They had grown up playing together.
It was rare for Genji to ask him for anything, so he really could not turn him down.
Of course, whether he could actually do it was another matter.
"Stop making trouble here and get back!"
Naraku glared at him. "Now that the war is over, the village will soon be assessing the chunin."
"If you mess up and fail to get promoted to jonin, don't blame me for being harsh."
"I know, I know. I'm leaving right now."
Aomi vanished in a flash.
"Naraku, is he the most talented ninja in the Shihōin Clan?" Tsunade leaned closer with interest, watching Aomi's retreating figure curiously.
Jiraiya teased from the