When the Fourth Raikage arrived at the room where the ninjas were being kept, he froze in shock.

"Why are there so many people?"

"Did they all come back together?"

With the recent supply shortages, he had lost track of how many ninjas had been sent out on scouting missions. Now, seeing dozens standing before him, the anger he had just calmed began to flare up again.

So many of them, and they couldn't even bring back intelligence? What the hell were they doing—just eating for free?

"What the hell is going on?"

"Can someone give me an explanation?"

Still, he knew this wasn't the moment to explode. He scanned the group. Most looked gaunt and yellow-faced, as though they hadn't eaten in days. A few, however, were pale to the point of death, as if they had endured inhuman torment.

He took the roster a subordinate handed him and, seeing the names, managed a relieved smile. Everyone he had dispatched had returned. That was at least something.

As long as no one had died inexplicably, he could accept it.

But this only made him more curious. What had actually happened? Why hadn't the enemy killed anyone?

"Lord Raikage..."

A ninja who still looked relatively steady stepped forward and quickly began explaining what had transpired in recent days. His speech was clear and rapid. The more the Raikage listened, the deeper his frown became.

"You're saying the enemy stole all the supplies?"

"Yes!"

"And then released you?"

"Yes!"

"Then why were you all still together?"

"We were leaving, but another group suddenly appeared and captured us."

"...."

The Raikage was speechless. Getting robbed was bad enough, but to then get kidnapped right after?

Was this one group or two?

Even his brain felt like it was starting to overheat.

"What about you all? The same?"

"No... not exactly..."

"Oh? How's it different? Speak."

This time, the voice came from one of the deathly pale ninjas. His body was still trembling.

"Lord Raikage, we were hit directly by Genjutsu."

"It was incredibly strong. We fell instantly, and I lost consciousness right away."

Fourth Raikage: ....

Fine. That was also an explanation. Paired with their pale faces, it added up.

"Alright, go rest."

Leaving that behind, he turned to leave—only to crash into Dodai coming in through the door. The impact nearly knocked Dodai flat.

"Dodai! What are you doing!"

"Whoa! Lord Raikage, where are you going?"

"I finished questioning them. Not one useful detail. What about your side?"

"I led another search, but there's no trace of the bandits. Should we head to the nearest city to buy supplies?"

Kumogakure's condition was dire—they were on the verge of running out of food.

"And Team Killer Bee hasn't returned yet."

"Should we send someone to check?"

Dodai frowned deeply as he said this. Killer Bee was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. With him on the move, even hunting sea serpents shouldn't have taken this long.

Had they run into enemies?

The Raikage shook his head, a touch of resignation in his expression.

"Bee probably finished the mission and went off to play somewhere."

"He's been cooped up in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning for too long. He's asked me more than once to let him cut loose, but I always refused."

"This time he finally got a mission. He won't come back early. Don't worry. With Motoi there, he'll keep things under control. Nothing will happen."

No one knew a younger brother better than his older one. As the leader of the A–B Combo, the Raikage understood Bee's thoughts perfectly.

The problem was, whenever this brute used his brain, he was usually wrong.

And sure enough, the slap came the next moment.

"Someone! Get a doctor, quick!"

"Huh? That sounded like Motoi!"

"Where is everyone?! Damn it, get me a doctor!"

"Shit! That IS Motoi!"

The Raikage and Dodai's expressions changed instantly. They had just mentioned Motoi, and now he was here.

And that frantic tone—something was seriously wrong!

"Dodai! Find a doctor! I'll go to Motoi!"

"Got it!"

Lightning crackled as the Raikage shot off.

...

At the same time, Motoi was dragging Killer Bee with great difficulty into the village. But no matter how loudly he shouted, no one paid him any attention.

A few people tried to fetch a doctor, but when they saw the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki in his arms, they backed away.

Such was the fate of a Jinchūriki—rejected, ignored.

"Damn it! Bee!"

"Motoi! What happened! Where are the others?"

"Samui! Where's Mabui?"

The Raikage's speed was unrivaled in the ninja world—except for that blond brat and the shameless one whose space–time ninjutsu didn't count as real speed.

When he saw his younger brother covered in wounds and unconscious, rage exploded in his chest.

He wasn't like the others. They feared the Eight-Tails, but he didn't. He was the one who had cut off its horn—what was there to fear?

Besides, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki was his own brother.

"We were attacked by the Mist Village."

"All those giant sea serpents were their doing. Bee took them all down."

"But the Mist's strength was overwhelming. Their Water Release is terrifying. I was knocked out in a single exchange."

"Samui and Mabui are missing. As for Bee, it looks like he went berserk. But the wounds on his body... I can't figure out what they used."

"But I'm certain—it was the Mist Village!"

Motoi's eyes burned with hatred. They had set out as a team, but only two returned. And the most important member, Killer Bee, was gravely injured.

Everything about this fueled his hatred for the Mist to the bone.

The Raikage's hair bristled, and a furious roar tore from his throat:

"Mist Village! I'll never forgive you!"

"Doctor! Get me a doctor, now!"

Rage aside, saving Bee came first.

Dodai arrived with a squad of medical-nin, and under their orders, treatment began on the spot.

"Dodai, you personally lead a team to gather supplies. Fix the village's shortage as quickly as possible."

"After that, I'll go to the Mist myself. They'll pay for this blood debt in blood!"

Dodai nodded heavily and immediately left to mobilize his team.

Just as Kazuyama Gekkō had predicted, Kumo now bore a grudge against the Mist. From here on out, it was just a matter of watching the show.

As for him, he had already set up shop with the four little ones, just waiting for Kumo's wealthy clans to come buy supplies.