Raikage, you wouldn't want...

Time spent reading and studying was always dull and tedious.

But if you had a photographic memory, the feeling of knowledge constantly accumulating in your mind was fascinating.

However, Yecheng had only just immersed himself in that ocean of knowledge when this sudden news interrupted him.

The Raikage?

Why would the Raikage come to Konoha at this point, and specifically ask to see Tsunade?

Relations between Konoha and Kumogakure could hardly be called good.

"Got it. I'll be right there."

Tsunade rose and headed outside.

An idea struck Yecheng. "Teacher, I'll come with you."

"You?"

Tsunade thought for a moment. "All right, come along."

Yecheng had already learned Monster Strength and signed a contract with the Katsuyu Sage.

Without a doubt, he was Tsunade's successor, the next inheritor of Shikkotsu Forest!

It was time to bring him out in public and make her stance clear to the world.

The Raikage's visit was the perfect opportunity.

The Konoha Hokage Building.

The Hokage Office.

Tsunade pushed the door open and entered. Yecheng tried to follow, but an ANBU stopped him.

"Sorry, they're discussing confidential matters inside. You can't go in."

It's him?

Kakashi!

Despite the mask, Yecheng easily saw through his identity.

His eyes were dull and lifeless, his face devoid of any will to live, as though he were asking himself, or perhaps the world, what meaning there was in living.

Yecheng silently mused that Kakashi was practically being kept alive by his bond with Guy alone now. Perhaps he could find something for him to do.

Like introducing a certain Uchiha Sasuke to him as a student.

Yecheng felt a little disappointed at being stopped. He had wanted to go inside and hear what this was all about.

Just then, Tsunade spoke. "He's my personal disciple, and he's already signed a contract with the Katsuyu Sage."

"What!"

The Third Hokage was startled. It had barely been any time at all, and Yecheng had already earned Tsunade's approval and inherited the legacy of Shikkotsu Forest?!

He pondered for a while, took a puff from his pipe, and ordered, "Let him in too."

"Yes."

Kakashi stepped aside.

Yecheng smiled slightly at him and walked into the office.

"You must have Tsunade treat my subordinate!"

Seeing them arrive, the dark-skinned Raikage immediately spoke in an irritable tone.

Wow, how forceful.

Anyone who didn't know better would think Kumogakure had won the Third Shinobi World War.

But honestly, with that forceful personality, all those muscles, and that dark skin, he really was the ultimate dark-skinned jock!

No wonder the doujin Raikage dominated the adult scene!

The Third Hokage remained unhurried. "It's not that we don't want to treat him, but Tsunade is very busy. Her surgery schedule is full every day. Other people's lives matter too. Surely we can't just let you cut in line?"

That was a lie.

Never mind that Tsunade had hemophobia and could not perform surgery at all.

If not for putting together Yecheng's training plan, Tsunade would have slipped away to gamble long ago!

Why else would she sit in her office at Konoha Hospital every day?

But since the other party needed something from him, he naturally had to make the most of that leverage.

The Raikage actually believed him and immediately grew furious. "Then tell me what we're supposed to do! Karai is almost dead!"

"The surgery certainly needs to be done, but there's no rush. We must take our time. The schedule is full right now, so he'll have to wait a little longer..."

Old and shrewd, the Third Hokage had figured out the Raikage's situation from just a few remarks. He began stalling, hoping to squeeze as much as possible out of him.

Listening from the side, Yecheng was silently speechless. The Raikage really did have muscles for brains. They had not even asked anything yet, and he had already spilled everything himself.

Hearing the name Karai, Yecheng finally matched the current events to the plot.

In the original story, this incident was what led to Tsunade and the Raikage's first meeting.

Legend had it that the Land of Cedar possessed a powerful secret technique. Kumogakure, whose hobby was robbing people throughout the Shinobi World, naturally set its sights on it. Then the Raikage himself went out and stole it.

This technique is clearly destined for me!

The Land of Cedar naturally refused to let the matter rest. It hired the Xuanyuan Group, renowned as the "Ninja Hunters," to intercept them and do everything possible to recover the secret technique.

The Xuanyuan Group's actual combat strength was mediocre, nowhere near enough to match the Raikage and his personal guards. However, they raised a troublesome secret insect called the [Explosive Insects].

When deployed, the Explosive Insects were only the size of bacteria. They could enter a person's body through their breathing, then absorb the host's chakra. Once they accumulated enough, they would explode.

A certain amount of stimulation would also make them explode immediately!

They could be called super sensitive.

Once an explosion was triggered, not only the host but even the medical ninja operating on them would have to be pieced back together from scattered chunks.

What the hell? After all that, you still had to assemble it yourself.

Thus, even if surgery was performed to remove them, only the finest medical ninja could be confident of success.

In fact, not only Karai but the Raikage himself had also been infected. He simply did not know it yet.

Observing with his Six Eyes, Yecheng easily spotted the spider-shaped larva in his chest, stirring restlessly.

This was a good opportunity to extort Kumogakure.

"We can't keep dragging this out! Karai is..."

"Lord Raikage."

Just then, an intellectual beauty with dark skin, silver-white hair, and a stunningly curvaceous figure knocked on the door and walked in.

"Please leave things to me from here."

"Mabui?!"

Seeing his external brain appear here, the Raikage was shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"As Lord Raikage's personal secretary, I have every reason to be present."

Mabui smiled slightly, then turned to the Third Hokage and said seriously, "Lord Hokage, please stop joking like this and name your price."

Hearing her words, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe without speaking.

He was the Hokage. Haggling with others was not his job, nor could it be.

He gave the two people beside him a look.

The two Hokage Advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, saw Hiruzen Sarutobi's signal, but both pretended not to notice and refused to speak.

What a joke!

Having them comment on Konoha's internal affairs, paper over disputes, and stir up trouble was no problem at all.

But having them take responsibility, play the bad guy, and bear the Raikage's wrath and resentment was absolutely out of the question!

Thus, both of them ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart sank. What use were these two pieces of trash, anyway?

Of all days, Danzo was absent today. Usually, he was the one who handled arguments and drove prices up or down. Suddenly being without his helper really did take some getting used to.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward Tsunade...

Better forget that one.

He sighed inwardly. It seemed he would have to handle it himself this time.

Just then, Yecheng suddenly stepped forward.

He went straight for an exorbitant demand.

"If you want my teacher to treat you, hand over a hundred million ryo first, along with the training method for Lightning Release Chakra Mode."

Yecheng's gaze was leisurely. He did not look at Mabui, but directly at the Raikage.

"Raikage, you wouldn't want your body to explode and die a few months from now, would you?"