At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waterfalls.

"Hey! Heave-ho! Brothers, put your backs into it, we're almost there!"

Hundreds of strong shinobi dragged steel-forged ropes, hauling three colossal beasts that loomed like mountains. At the front, the First Tsuchikage, Ishiwa, was speaking with a middle-aged man whose face was dark and brooding.

"Many thanks, Lord Ishiwa. Without your help, our Land of Waterfalls' sacred beast would surely have fallen into the hands of others."

That man was none other than the leader of Takigakure. His expression carried gratitude as his eyes fell on the slumbering Nanabi behind him. He looked about ready to kowtow.

"Heh, heh… You should know, I paid quite the price to wrest that beast back from Senju Hashirama's hands."

Ishiwa stroked his gray beard, a touch of sorrow on his face. The Takigakure leader, skilled at reading moods, immediately puffed his chest and said:

"Lord Ishiwa, you have worked hard for this matter. The money for purchasing the sacred beast, our Takigakure will pay in full, and in addition, we will prepare a token of gratitude for our allies from Iwagakure."

"You are thoughtful."

Ishiwa's eyes gleamed, and his previously indifferent demeanor softened. Looking at the three towering Bijuu, he sighed.

"Truly, heaven favors the Land of Fire, to have birthed a prodigy like Senju Hashirama—whose kekkei genkai happens to perfectly suppress the tailed beasts. It is enviable."

"Sen…ju… Hashi…rama!"

At the mention of that name, the Takigakure leader's eyes flashed with hatred, his whole body exuding killing intent. If not for Hashirama storming into Takigakure's holy grounds and stealing their sacred beast, they would never have had to pay such a price. Each time he thought of it, he felt his chest swell with rage, wishing nothing more than to grind that thief to dust.

"You and Senju Hashirama bear a grudge?"

Noticing the man's murderous aura, Ishiwa frowned in puzzlement.

"To speak frankly, that sacred beast had always dwelled in Takigakure. Only recently was it seized by Hashirama, that wretch."

With nothing left to hide, the Takigakure leader recounted the entire story of Hashirama's robbery of the Nanabi.

"Tsk, tsk… banditry! I had thought that Senju Hashirama was pure-hearted in conduct, but he has two faces. I misjudged him."

Ishiwa wore a look of pity. For Iwa to buy a Bijuu made sense—they had none before. But Takigakure? They were practically paying ransom for their own beast.

"Alas, since Hashirama remains in Konoha, we've never had the chance to avenge this."

Though furious, the Takigakure leader wasn't stupid. At present, Konoha's power was terrifying, leaving him with no choice but to swallow the humiliation.

But Ishiwa's eyes turned shrewd, and he said casually, as though offhand:

"Who said Hashirama stays in the village? He agreed to help the Land of Wind cultivate a desert. He should be departing any day now."

"Truly?!"

The Takigakure leader's heart leapt with joy.

"Would I lie?"

"Thank you, Lord Ishiwa!"

"Why thank me? Are we not allies?"

With burning urgency, the Takigakure leader took his leave and hurried back to camp.

"Lord Leader!"

A burly man greeted him with a bow.

"Yuda, come into my tent. There is something we must discuss."

Within, Yuda asked cautiously, "Leader, what is it you need of me?"

"You will assassinate Senju Hashirama."

"???"

At the mere mention of Hashirama, Yuda's bones seemed to ache as if crushed again by that colossal fist of his. He collapsed to his knees, clinging to the leader's legs, tears streaming.

"Lord Leader! I have bled for Takigakure, I have shed sweat for Takigakure! I have an eighty-year-old mother, a seventy-year-old child, and even a newborn pup waiting to be fed!"

The leader pressed a hand to his temple, veins throbbing.

"Enough. With your strength, you'd only be fodder."

"Thank you, Lord Leader!"

Yuda leapt up, instantly free of grief.

The leader's expression darkened. "How suffocating this is. We are a recognized shinobi village of the Land of Waterfalls, yet compared to the Five Great Nations we are nothing. Still, are we to swallow every slight?"

Yuda echoed: "I feel the same, Leader!"

"Useless fools…" the leader muttered. None of his men were fit for the task—sycophants or greedy misers.

…Greedy?

"Yuda, what of Kakuzu?"

"He's still rotting in the prison, sir."

The leader's eyes narrowed. Kakuzu had been accused of betraying the village when Hashirama seized the Nanabi. Vast sums of money were discovered in his home, far too much for an elite captain. Enraged, the leader had him thrown into prison.

Yet now, it seemed Kakuzu had been wrongly accused.

"Release him. Send him to assassinate Hashirama. Tell him that succeed or fail, his confiscated fortune will be restored to him."

"But… wasn't all that money used to purchase the beast?"

"Hmph. Should he succeed, even my position I'd yield. Should he fail… do you think he'll live to return?"

The leader's tone was cold. No matter what, Takigakure would not lose.

——

In Konoha's Hokage office.

"Brother, you plan to go alone?" Tobirama frowned as Hashirama cheerfully spoke of traveling to the Land of Wind.

"Then let me accompany Hashirama!" Madara slammed down his brush, eager to escape the paperwork he detested.

"No!" Tobirama snapped. "What, leave all the work to me while you two frolic?"

"It's just tree planting, not combat. I'll be back in a few days," Hashirama said lazily, stretching.

BANG!

The office door rattled under heavy pounding.

"Open up! I know you're in there—give me back my hard-earned money!!"

The familiar voice froze Tobirama's hand mid-stroke.

Madara quickly opened the door, revealing Uchiha Gin, face dark with fury.

"You white-haired brat," Gin growled, fists cracking, "I thought you'd absconded with the funds!"

Gin had toiled to sell the Bijuu, even offering his own devices, yet no payment had come. Meanwhile, Konoha's construction projects were flourishing. Where was his share?

Hashirama quickly offered tea, glaring at his brother. "Tobirama, what have you done this time?"

Gin snarled, "This guy embezzled my commission!"

Hashirama chastised his brother. Madara, too, exploded in rage, recalling Gin's battered state after negotiating with Kumogakure. Clearly, Gin had sacrificed greatly.

But Tobirama admitted, "The money's gone."

"What?!" Gin shattered his teacup in his grip. Hashirama's eyes went wide.

"I invested it."

Silence. Then Gin's face twitched violently.

"Invested… where?"

"In the Land of Waves. They're establishing a shipping company. I used the funds to buy in."

Gin exhaled sharply. He knew instantly who was behind this.

He muttered, "So bold… you even dared trick me out of my money?"

(End of Chapter)

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