Yugito can stay with you for now, but after we've dealt with Iwagakure, if you don't release her, I'll have no choice but to resort to your tactics."
By "your tactics," the Third Raikage undoubtedly meant Raj and Minato's strategy of ambushes and harassment.
While he couldn't withstand the Rasenshuriken, who could defend against attacks on Konoha's other shinobi?
It wasn't the strength of the enemy that mattered, but their lack of shame.
For a village leader of his stature to be forced into guerilla warfare and ambushes, it meant he had truly been pushed to his limits, with no other options remaining.
"Excellent. Rin, check on Lord Raikage's injuries. If he dares to harm you, I'll cripple Killer Bee and the Jinchuriki as retribution."
Tsunade spoke with cold detachment, though Raj noticed her fingers trembling slightly.
The scene was still too bloody.
If Rin hadn't forced herself to adapt to the sight of blood earlier, she might have already shown severe symptoms of hemophobia.
"Yes," Rin replied without hesitation, rising to approach the Raikage.
The Third Raikage raised his left hand, and the Kumo Ninja automatically dispersed into the surrounding forest, leaving only A behind to avoid intimidating the Konoha delegation.
After all, they had only sent a young girl; it would be petty to overreact.
Little did the Third Raikage know that Tsunade was still in the midst of overcoming her hemophobia.
Even if she stood up to treat him, she would be powerless.
Sending Rin forward was merely a show of force.
Rin carefully examined the injury for a long while before finally speaking.
"Most of the cells in your right hand have been destroyed by Wind Release ninjutsu. Treatment will be extremely difficult, but with the proper materials, Lady Tsunade can fully heal you."
"Materials?"
"Exactly. Things like money, ninja tools, and Exploding Tags - these are all essential materials for treating your injury."
Tsunade was making an outrageous demand.
'This is extortion!' A thought raged in A's mind.
But what could he do?
Refuse treatment?
This was the Third Raikage's dominant hand.
Though he could use either hand for his Four-Finger Thrust, his dominant hand was far stronger.
If there's a chance to save him, we should take it.
"Little girl, are these the materials you need?"
The Third Raikage asked Rin with a smile.
Rin paused for a moment, then nodded quickly.
His expression turned cold.
"Too much. You'll have to gather some of these yourself. We can only provide some ninja tools."
"Deal."
Is this Konoha's medical supplies?
Not only the Kumogakure delegation but even Konoha's own ninja were stunned by Tsunade and her apprentice's demands.
They were openly demanding "payment for materials, ninja tools, and Exploding Tags" - a blatant extortion for benefits.
However, surrender always comes at a price.
The Third Raikage had long prepared for this, but he hadn't anticipated Killer Bee being captured again.
This was deeply frustrating.
"You can have this rapping Kumogakure brat back," Tsunade declared imperiously, radiating authority.
"Minato, release his seal."
Now that she held the upper hand, even the Raikage had to listen obediently.
After all... The Two-Tails was still in their possession.
"Yes."
Minato stood beside Killer Bee.
Killer Bee remained obediently silent, moving back to the Raikage and A's side.
Now wasn't the time for his usual rapping antics - one wrong move and he'd be dead.
But his gaze remained fixed on Tsunade.
'Truly... she was stunning!'
He felt almost dizzy with admiration.
Raj remained silent.
Negotiation clearly wasn't his forte.
He lacked the audacity of someone like Tsunade; his thin-skinned nature wouldn't allow such brazen tactics.
Yet he had to admit, her approach was remarkably effective.
His current worry was whether Tsunade could actually deliver.
If she took the money but failed to fulfill her promise, the Raikage's volatile temper might lead him to smash Konoha Hospital to pieces.
Of course... In the past, this wouldn't have been a problem.
But now Tsunade suffered from hemophobia!
After a few seconds, Minato released the seal on Killer Bee.
However, the young man seemed frozen in place.
A and the Raikage narrowed their eyes simultaneously, then their lips twitched.
They secretly resolved to hang Killer Bee up and give him a thorough thrashing when they returned - his behavior was utterly humiliating.
"Meow~ If there's nothing else, Lord Raikage, please come with us. Everyone else, go back to what you were doing. Don't linger in the Land of Fire and create more work for us."
Raj waved its paw.
As the one who "defeated the Raikage" and thoroughly thrashed the A-B Combination, it seemed to have earned the right to speak such words.
Yet the scene felt utterly surreal, especially for Fugaku.
He had arrived eager to join the battle, only to end up playing a supporting role from start to finish.
This wasn't entirely Fugaku's fault.
Though he possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, the Kumo Ninja's former leader, A, moved with such blinding speed that he could nearly rival the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Fugaku's Sharingan proved useless; even when he could see A's movements, his body couldn't react in time.
Not everyone possessed the cat's terrifying reaction speed.
Left with little else to do, Fugaku could only play a supporting role, bullying the weaker Kumo Ninja.
But allowing a cat to claim the primary victory felt far from glorious.
"Alright, A, you go back first and organize the troops for the western front. I've been itching to deal with that short-statured Onoki for ages - always scheming from his hideout. Take the men ahead; I'll catch up once my hand heals."
The Third Raikage waved his hand, signaling A and his other subordinates not to worry.
Even with a severed arm, the Raikage family maintained their indomitable spirit.
The Third Raikage embodied this, as would the Fourth Raikage in the future.
Raj couldn't help but admire this.
'Perhaps it's a family trait,' it thought wryly.
In the end, the remaining Kumogakure forces retreated.
Tsunade slowly exhaled, then leaned against the broken tree stump to stand.
Turning to Raj, she said, "Raj, take him to the main camp."
"Meow~"
'You're the patient and the doctor - you're in charge.'
Raj responded with a nod.
This wasn't the time to undermine Tsunade.
It had been incredibly difficult for her to come here despite her hemophobia.
To be honest, Raj hadn't initially expected her to show up.
Its original plan was to wait until its Chakra had recovered somewhat, then use force to compel the Third Raikage to come to the main camp for negotiations.
This outcome was far better, saving them considerable effort.
It leaped onto the Raikage's shoulder.