CHAPTER 344: KAZEKAGE NINJA-CHAPTER 133: THE MIST HIDDEN STORM (PART 3)

Compared to Konoha’s team and their diplomatic scheming, Maki’s Sunagakure delegation didn’t look like diplomats at all—more like relatives coming for a visit.

To avoid unnecessary conflict between the two sides, Yagura Karatachi had arranged their accommodations very far apart, with a five-day gap between meetings, terrified they’d start fighting the moment they saw each other.

While Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi and Elder Genshi were meeting with Koharu Utatane, Maki wasn’t idle at all. He led his subordinates, carrying precious gifts, making rounds to visit Kirigakure’s high-ranking figures. Whether it was the newly reformed Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the four new young masters under Elder Genshi, the Eight Great Guardians, or even the elite jōnin from Kirigakure’s "domestic" league—he didn’t miss a single one.

This move caught the sharp attention of Ao, Kirigakure’s ANBU chief. Visits? Networking? Gift-giving? Bribery? However you looked at it, it screamed espionage! Was Sunagakure trying to buy off Kirigakure’s leadership with money to achieve their goals? So he dispatched ANBU ninja to investigate house by house. What they discovered was shocking—the total value of gifts Maki had distributed was over five hundred million ryō! That’s enough to fund a small coup!

Ao immediately reported the situation to Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi.

Yagura frowned deeply.

"This is suspicious. Don’t alert them yet—secretly investigate the Sunagakure ninja’s true purpose. We need to prepare for our next round of negotiations with them."

So Ao began personally investigating in secret. But whether he questioned veterans like Suikazan Fuguki and Áo Péng, or the new generation like Rinji Yūri and Zabuza Momochi, the results were surprisingly consistent.

Maki would just chat aimlessly, rambling about this and that with no specific purpose, drop off his gifts, and leave.

This made Ao, the young ANBU chief, even more suspicious.

So Maki came to Kirigakure to spread warmth and goodwill?!

Absolutely impossible. According to surface intelligence, Maki

’s status in Sunagakure was extremely high—in the leadership core centered around Third Kazekage Jinghang, he ranked just below Jinghang, Rasa, and Yamashita Tetsu. A solid number four. Born from Sunagakure ANBU, he’d served at grassroots level, fought on battlefields, and was Jinghang’s close friend before he became Kazekage—a standard "inner circle" member.

Currently, he even controlled Sunagakure’s economic lifeline—the Yuexi Peninsula. What kind of place was that? The ninja world’s number one money pit! A place of bright lights and flowing wine, of drunken luxury. Only someone both decisive and socially adept could control such a vital territory.

Would such a figure come to Kirigakure for diplomacy just to foolishly throw money around? Absolutely not.

Yagura, receiving this feedback, also couldn’t understand Maki’s intentions, so he went to consult Elder Genshi.

"Maki is a skilled operator. He must have deeper motives for doing this, though I can’t say exactly what... However..."

Elder Genshi showed a slight smile.

"All roads lead to Rome. No matter how he schemes, his ultimate goal is still the current war. Konoha wants us to send troops against Sunagakure, so Sunagakure must want us to send troops against Konoha. We just need to stick to our price."

Yagura nodded in deep agreement.

"Wait for the highest bidder? Sell to whoever pays more?"

"Hehe, naturally."

Elder Genshi chuckled.

"We’ve already quoted our price to Konoha. Konoha’s leadership should receive the news soon. This decision will definitely take time, so when you meet Maki tomorrow, don’t rush to quote a price. Give Konoha time to decide."

"Elder Genshi thinks of everything. So we should still..."

"Don’t say a single straight word. Wait for him to make the first offer."

"Hahahaha!"

The two exchanged knowing looks and laughed.

...

The next day, when Maki came for his audience, both Yagura and Elder Genshi were dumbfounded.

Is this poverty relief?

Maki was followed by ten ninja, each carrying gift boxes as tall as a person.

After the formal greetings, before Yagura could even speak, Maki

began presenting gifts like displaying treasures.

"This time, I come on behalf of Third Kazekage Jinghang to visit Kirigakure. First, I present Kazekage-sama’s highest respect to Mizukage-sama and Elder Genshi."

He opened a gift box right in front of them, revealing a nine-foot-tall gray lump.

"This is a nine-foot cistanche, a sacred item among medicinal herbs. As everyone knows, Sunagakure has three desert treasures: cistanche, cynomorium, and tumbleweed. The latter two are common—you can find them everywhere in the desert. Only cistanche is truly rare—you might not find one in a hundred miles of desert.

This herb is gentle yet effective, with benefits equal to ginseng but without ginseng’s harshness. Whether stewed in soup or soaked in wine, it strengthens the body and vitality. What’s more precious is that it grows extremely slowly—they say ’ten years per inch.’ This one has grown to nine feet—truly one in ten thousand!"

"Oh, you’re too kind, this..."

Yagura was about to say something when Maki opened another box, revealing a flower-decorated iron staff identical in shape to Yagura’s weapon.

"Mizukage-sama, please look—this is a weapon our Sunagakure Hourglass Group crafted especially for you. Handmade, the main body is Damascus steel. Look at this steel pattern, these lines, this blue finish—it’s a work of art! And these flowers are all inlaid with aquamarine. Don’t worry, these gems have been specially reinforced—they’re as hard as corundum. Even in fierce battle, they won’t be damaged."

"Oh..."

"And look at this glass—no! Crystal phoenix, made entirely from natural crystal from Coin Harbor in the Yuexi Peninsula..."

"Look at this sand-gold dragon plate..."

"Look at this ruby..."

...

Maki continued introducing item after item, leaving the two even more confused.

Finally, as lunchtime approached, Maki finished introducing the last gift.

"These humble gifts are but tokens of respect. I hope Mizukage-sama and Elder Genshi will accept them."

Yagura replied, "Thank you very much for Kazekage-sama’s generosity. Please convey Kirigakure’s respect to him as well."

Maki bowed slightly and turned to leave.

That’s it?! Really just here to give gifts?

At this moment, Elder Genshi spoke up.

"Honored envoy, please wait."

Maki quickly stopped.

"What instructions does Elder Genshi have?"

"Is there nothing else you wish to say?"

"Ah? I’ve already said everything."

Elder Genshi

thought for a moment and smiled.

"It’s rare for you to travel across the ocean bearing Kazekage-sama’s friendship. Since it’s mealtime, why not dine together? Let us show some hospitality as hosts."

"Ah, I’ve long heard Kirigakure’s sashimi is world-famous. Then I’ll... respectfully accept your kind offer."

Maki bowed again.

(Gift-giving is an art.)

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

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