The Hand of God Creates the Strongest Hidden Mist Village

Chapter 165 A bet's a bet, a debt must be repaid.

This ridiculous real world is always filled with all sorts of disgusting and extreme contrasts.

The fastest flashy ninja is always one step too late at the crucial moment.

The best medical ninja cannot bear even the slightest bloodstain.

A kind-hearted child with a peaceful heart unleashed a war that engulfed the entire world.

"ah!!!"

Seeing the crimson blood, Tsunade let out a heart-wrenching scream. Her body moved backward uncontrollably, stumbling and crashing into the wall before sliding down helplessly and curling into a ball.

She held her head in her hands, her whole body trembling violently, on the verge of collapse.

That once-mighty Sannin, one of the legendary ninjas who once dominated the ninja world, that peerless powerhouse who could shatter mountains with a single punch, now cowered in a corner like a wounded little beast, trembling with fear.

"Lady Tsunade! Lady Tsunade!"

Shizune gasped and rushed over to help her up, but Tsunade pushed her away.

"Don't touch me! Don't touch me—blood—blood—"

Hemophobia.

Because her closest relatives and her beloved lover died one after another in front of her, the despair of watching her blood drain away while she was powerless to do anything left an unhealable wound in her heart.

From that time on, she could no longer bear to see blood.

He would fall into an uncontrollable mental breakdown upon seeing blood.

A medical ninja, a healer whose duty is to save lives, yet he cannot bear to face bloodshed.

What an irony, and what a tragedy!

Of course, this weakness has now become the best weapon for Makoto Karatachi to exploit one of the Legendary Sannin!

Makoto Karimoto slowly walked up to Tsunade, who was huddled in the corner, and looked down at her.

That once proud and confident face was now filled with fear and helplessness. Her eyes were filled with panic, tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, her body trembled violently, and even her breathing became intermittent.

"Don't come any closer, please—don't come any closer—"

Her voice trembled violently; where was the majesty of the Three Ninjas?

"Lady Tsunade! You wicked man, you're not allowed to hurt Lady Tsunade!"

Shizune mustered her courage, spread her arms, and stood in front of Tsunade, her small face full of fear and anger, yet she stubbornly refused to back down.

The porcupine also made "poof" sounds, seemingly cheering on its owner.

Makoto glanced at her. Under the Sharingan's genjutsu, how could the inexperienced Shizune possibly resist?

The little girl and the little pig collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin and granddaughter of the First Hokage, is actually terrified by a little blood. Tsk tsk, if this gets out, the entire ninja world will laugh their heads off!"

Tsunade did not respond, but her trembling intensified.

Makoto grabbed Tsunade's chin, forcing her pale face to meet his gaze: "Paying back debts is a matter of course, right?"

"No, no—"

"Rip!"

Makoto grabbed Tsunade's robe and ripped it hard.

How could Tsunade, weakened by hemophobia, possibly resist? The sound of tearing fabric was particularly jarring in the quiet private room.

"don't want----"

Tsunade's voice trembled violently, her eyes were filled with terror, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She tried to resist and struggle, but the mental breakdown caused by hemophobia left her limp and unable to exert even the most basic strength.

"Do you know, Tsunade-hime?"

Gouju Cheng leaned down, whispered in her ear, and said in a low voice.

"The word 'gambling' is really interesting. When you try to use it to gamble for profit, you gradually become part of that gamble yourself."

"It will hurt a little from now on, but you mustn't move around too much."

"You bastard, you bastard—ah!"

Daming Palace.

Located at the deepest part of the inner city of Daming Prefecture, it covers a vast area and has magnificent palaces, making it the absolute core of power in the Land of Fire.

At this moment, deep within the palace, in an elegantly furnished study, candlelight flickered, casting several figures onto the wall painted with landscape screens.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire knelt on the main seat, his straight robe embroidered with the Land of Fire's emblem slightly disheveled, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

This daimyo, who was over forty years old and was always known for his composure and dignity, now had an undisguised tension and anxiety on his face.

"What did you say? The Mizukage of Kirigakure came to the Daimyo's residence and even visited the Fujiwara, Takeshita, and Gekko families?"

"Yes, sir."

Kneeling below was a middle-aged civil official dressed in dark official robes. He was a close retainer of the daimyo, and was in charge of intelligence and internal affairs, namely Todo Ichiro.

"Yesterday, Gouju Cheng visited three residences, staying at each for about an hour. The specific content of the conversations is unknown, but according to reports from his informants, the heads of the three residences personally saw him off at the gates when he left, with an extremely respectful attitude."

"All three families—were they all delivered to?"

The daimyo unconsciously gripped the robe in front of his knees, and his eyes turned dangerous.

The fact that the Mizukage of Kirigakure had arrived in Daimyo's residence so quietly was truly terrifying.

For some time now, the name Makoto Karatachi has been appearing on his desk almost every moment. The terrifying power and brilliant achievements that Makoto Karatachi displayed on the front lines, in Kazama and Yagaya, have enraged the entire Daimyo Palace.

In the end, however, they could only bow their heads and admit defeat.

Yes.

Although it was Hiruzen Sarutobi who signed the document, and although it was Konoha that was defeated, both the Daimyo and the Hokage are of the Fire Orb. What difference is there between Konoha surrendering and the Land of Fire surrendering?

At this moment, the owner of this name, the legendary monster who possesses the ability to replicate bloodlines, has appeared silently in the Daimyo's mansion and even visited the three most powerful noble families in the Land of Fire!

The implications of this sent chills down Daming's spine.

Fujiwara, Takeshita, and Gekko—these were no ordinary wealthy merchants.

These three families control over 30% of the Fire Kingdom's iron ore trade, nearly half of its medicinal herb distribution, and the most important maritime trade routes. Their wealth and influence are enough to dictate the Fire Kingdom's economic lifeline.

In this situation, however, they were with Gouju Cheng—

"My lord, there is one more thing."

Toudou Ichiro's voice was even lower: "According to reliable sources, after Makoto Karatachi entered the three mansions, he didn't discuss ordinary cooperation, but rather—a guard commission."

"A security detail?"

Da Ming frowned; the word made him even more wary.

Tell me more.

"Yes." Toudou Ichiro lowered his voice. "According to the intelligence that has been sent back, Karatachi Makoto has accepted commissions from three families to serve as their bodyguard in his personal capacity. The fee for each family is—twenty million taels per month."

"Twenty million taels? In one month? For three companies?"

Da Ming gasped in shock.

Sixty million taels!

One month!

What does this mean?

The annual military expenditure of the Land of Fire is only a hundred million taels.

Gouju Cheng alone took away 60 million taels of silver from three noble families in just one month!

What concerned the daimyo even more was that all three noble families actually agreed!

"They—how dare they!"

Da Ming slammed his hand on the table, his anger barely contained.

"Konoha just finished a war with Kirigakure, and our Land of Fire suffered countless casualties. How dare they hire a Kirigakure ninja as a bodyguard?! And that ninja who killed countless Konoha ninja?!"

"My lord, please calm down."

Ichiro Toudou pressed his forehead to the ground, but his voice remained calm.

"According to intelligence, Makoto Karatachi made the request in his personal capacity and did not use the Kirigakure banner. The three noble families also accepted it in their private capacity."

"In a private capacity?"

Daiming sneered, "Does acting in a private capacity mean I'm not considered a traitor?"

Ichiro Todo remained silent.

He knew that Daming wasn't unaware of the difference, but rather—he was unwilling to accept it.

He was unwilling to accept that a mere Hidden Mist ninja dared to so openly step into the power center of the Land of Fire, and he was even more unwilling to accept that the three noble families had not reported to the daimyo immediately, but instead had made a deal in private.

The atmosphere inside the room was so oppressive it was suffocating, with only the faint crackling of the candlelight and the faint night breeze coming from outside the window.

Daimyo remained silent for a long time, his fingers unconsciously stroking the information about Makoto Koji in front of him, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

"Fudo."

His voice was deep, with a barely perceptible hoarseness.

"exist."

Ichiro Todo bowed his head in response, his forehead almost touching the tatami mat.

"Tell me, what does this Makoto Kojima want to do?"

Ichiro Todo raised his head, carefully observed the daimyo's expression, and weighed his words.

"I dare to speculate that Gouju Cheng may have three reasons for doing this."

"explain."

"First, he's making his presence known," Toudou Ichiro said in a low voice. "He, the esteemed Assistant of the Mizukage of Kirigakure, entered the Daimyo's residence alone, yet he didn't conceal his presence. Instead, he made a grand entrance by visiting three wealthy merchants. This is his way of announcing to everyone that he's here, and without any scruples."

Daiming's brows furrowed even more.

Unscrupulous

These four words were like a thorn, piercing his heart.

This is the capital of the Land of Fire, his territory. And how dare a ninja from an enemy country act so recklessly here?

"Second, testing the waters."

Toudou Ichiro continued, "The three families he visited happen to be the most influential merchants in our Land of Fire. Their attitudes, to some extent, represent the prevailing sentiments of the upper echelons of the Land of Fire. Makoto Karatachi is using this method to test us—or rather, to test you, sir."

"Testing me?"

Daiming's hand clenched slightly.

"right."

Toudou Ichiro nodded: "He needs to know the true attitude of the Fire Country's upper echelons towards Kirigakure and towards him personally after Konoha's defeat. Is it hostility, fear, or—a willingness to compromise?"

"As for the third—"

Ichiro Todo paused, then lowered his voice even further.

"I believe he is paving the way."

"Pave a road?" The daimyo's gaze sharpened. "Pave what kind of road?"

"The road to Daming Palace".

Todo Ichiro's words were like a boulder thrown into an already turbulent lake.

The air in the study seemed to freeze instantly.

The daimyo stared intently at his close retainer, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

There was surprise, wariness, and a hint of something indescribable—

expect?

"You mean, he wants to—"

"This is merely my guess," Toudou Ichiro quickly lowered his head. "But Karatachi Makoto is a meticulous man, and his actions are often unpredictable. He first visited the three families, using their words and reactions to determine his next move. If the three families are friendly towards him, or even willing to cooperate, then—"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already quite clear.

If the three companies are willing to accept Makoto Gojibana, or even establish some kind of cooperative relationship with him, then Makoto Gojibana is likely to take things a step further.

And what could be a step higher than the Daimyo Palace in the Land of Fire?

A long silence fell over the study.

Daming slowly got up, walked to the window, and opened it.

A night breeze blew in, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees in the courtyard and the faint sounds of distant noise.

He gazed at the brightly lit inner city streets in the distance, his eyes deep and complex.

Konoha was defeated.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to bow his head and sign that humiliating ceasefire treaty.

And how could he, as the supreme ruler of the Land of Fire, remain uninvolved?

In a sense, Konoha's defeat was also his defeat.

Post-war reparations, territorial concessions, and the redivision of trade routes—each and every one of these issues caused him immense headaches.

What made him even more uneasy was that, apart from Kirigakure, the threats from the other major powers remained suffocating, especially from Iwagakure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to spend so much money and, even with a Guardian Ninja, go to the black market to find a bodyguard.

To some extent, Konoha and the Land of Fire are currently in a precarious situation!

In this situation, a young man from an enemy country, yet possessing the power to change the course of the war, suddenly appears in his capital, visiting the most powerful merchant under his rule—

What exactly is hidden behind this?

The daimyo turned around and looked at Toudou Ichiro, who was still kneeling on the ground.

"Todo, in your opinion, is this Kojima Makoto a friend or foe?"

"Your subject dares not speak presumptuously."

"Speak." The daimyo's tone left no room for argument. "You are innocent."

Ichiro Todo took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

"In my opinion, Goji-ju-cheng is neither a pure enemy nor a pure friend."

"What do you mean?"

"He is an enemy of Konoha because Kirigakure and Konoha are at war. On the battlefield, each side serves its own master, so there is no question of personal grudges. Now that the war has ended and the treaty has been signed, Kirigakure and Konoha are nominal allies. As a high-ranking member of Kirigakure, he naturally would not take the initiative to become an enemy of our Land of Fire."

Ichiro Todo paused, raised his head, his gaze briefly meeting the daimyo's before lowering it again.

"But this man is unconventional in his actions, and judging from his various methods on the front lines, he is by no means a law-abiding person. His visit to the three families is less a provocation and more an attempt to explore the possibility of cooperation."

"cooperate?"

"Yes." Toudou Ichiro nodded. "Karagi Makoto is Kirigakure's rising star, the future pillar of the Karatachi clan. He needs resources, connections, and—allies. And our Land of Fire has everything he needs."

Daimyo's eyes flickered.

"You mean, he wants to—"

"He wants to do business." Toudou Ichiro's voice carried a hint of certainty. "For the esteemed Mizukage of Kirigakure to condescend to serve as a bodyguard for three wealthy merchants," this in itself is abnormal. The only explanation is that he has other motives.

"Whatever his purpose, he needs to deal with the upper echelons of the Land of Fire. The three wealthy merchants are just his first step. Next—"

Todo Ichiro looked at the daimyo, his gaze carrying a deeper meaning.

"He will probably try to find a way to see you."

Silence fell again in the study.

The lord walked back to the main seat, slowly sat down, and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table in front of him.

Thump, thump, thump.

The rhythmic tapping sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet study.

After a long silence, the man finally spoke.

"Toudou, tell me, if he really wants to see me, should I see him or not?"

Ichiro Todo lowered his head and pondered for a moment before answering cautiously.

"That depends on your attitude, sir."

"Konoha has been defeated, the treaty has been signed, and the situation is settled. We and Kirigakure are no longer enemies in name. As Kirigakure's envoy, Makoto Karatachi has come to visit. It seems reasonable for you, sir, not to refuse to see him."

"but."

He then changed the subject.

"This man is far too dangerous. His abilities, his record, and his cunning are all far beyond what ordinary people can match. If you meet him, you must be extremely cautious. If you don't meet him, you must have a plausible reason to avoid giving others cause for criticism."

After a moment of silence, Da Ming suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with self-mockery.

"A plausible reason?"

"Toudou, do you think that, given the power and personality that guy possesses, he'd need a plausible reason?"

Ichiro Todo was taken aback, then lowered his head, not daring to say anything more.

Daming stood up, walked to the window, and looked again at the lights in the distance.

"That's enough."

"Since he dares to come, why shouldn't I dare to see him?"

"Fudo."

"Your subject is here."

"Make the arrangements to closely monitor Makoto Gojibana's movements over the next two days. Report back on everything, from who he met, what he said, to what he did, down to the smallest detail."

"Yes."

"Also," the Daimyo paused, "send someone to Konoha to inform Danzo of the situation here, saying that the Mizukage's assistant from Kirigakure is visiting the Daimyo's residence, and out of courtesy, I may receive him. Let him be mentally prepared."

"Yes."

Ichiro Todo accepted the order and rose to leave.

Only Daimyo remained in the study.

Goji citrus sincerity —

He murmured the name, his gaze passing through the open window and landing on the dimly lit inner city streets in the distance.

That young man is somewhere right now, perhaps drinking and chatting with those three wealthy merchants, or perhaps plotting his next move.

And he, the dignified daimyo of the Land of Fire, was actually losing sleep over the arrival of a ninja from an enemy country.

What an irony.

Daimyo turned around, walked back to the desk, picked up the scroll about Makoto Koji, and looked at the dense text on it.

He killed the Hokage's son, destroyed the Cangnan Supply Station, severely injured Uchiha Fugaku, and defeated Jiraiya.

Each of these achievements would be enough to make any ninja famous throughout the world.

And this person is in his capital city at this moment.

"Guardian Shinobi—is that enough?"

Da Ming muttered to himself, then shook his head.

While the guardian ninjas of the Fire Temple are elite, they are probably not enough to deal with monsters of Makoto Karatachi's caliber.

He needs more secure protection.

"Someone come here."

"exist."

A ninja dressed in dark, tight-fitting clothes appeared silently in the corner of the study and knelt on one knee.

"Are all the people working at the underground gold exchange in place?"

"We're only missing the S-rank one. According to the person in charge, he's still taking on bounty missions near the Land of Waterfalls."

"Have him come straight here!"

The nameless man's face darkened, his tone carrying an undeniable authority.

"Tell him the reward will be doubled. As long as he can ensure the safety of the Daming Palace during the next period of time, whether or not they encounter enemies, the money will still be paid."

"yes!"

The ninja accepted the order, and with a flicker, disappeared into the shadows of the study.

Daimyo walked back to the main seat, slowly sat down, and his gaze fell on the scroll about Makoto Kajitachi on the table. He remained silent for a long time.

Guardian ninjas, underground gold exchange shops, and that legendary S-rank bounty ninja —

These forces combined should be enough, right?