As a tycoon who had monopolized an entire country's maritime trade, Kado's wealth ranked among the top in the ninja world.
Naturally, he wasn't a fool.
The mysterious ninja in front of him had dragged him into this secret room. Aside from setting up some elaborate trap to rob him blind, there was only one other possibility—
This guy was an enemy of the ninjas who attacked him. Maybe even a rival.
After realizing that, Kado straightened his back and regained his "big boss" aura. His eyes turned calculating as he sized up Obito, already thinking about how to squeeze benefits out of this situation and take back control.
After all, the only thing more dangerous than a ninja… is a ninja with nothing to lose. Those bastards are impossible to bargain with.
Kado's change in attitude didn't escape Obito's notice. But he didn't call him out.
He wasn't here for money. Not for status either.
He just wanted to stir the ninja world into chaos.
Ever since the Fourth Mizukage broke free from genjutsu control, Obito had secretly visited Kirigakure several times. What he saw disappointed him.
The leader of Uzumaki Country hadn't killed Yagura. Kirigakure wasn't collapsing—it was stabilizing.
That was bad for the Akatsuki.
So Obito shifted his focus… to Kado.
Kado ruled the Land of Waves in everything but name. Weak guards, lots of money—perfect target. Even if Obito used genjutsu, no one would notice. And if things went wrong? He could just show up in person.
Simple.
Efficient.
Dangerous.
Pulling himself back from his thoughts, Obito spoke calmly:
"I'll give you two options."
"First—submit to Uzumaki Country. Hand over everything. Maybe their leader will forgive your little mistake."
Kado didn't even hesitate.
"Yeah, no. Not happening."
Obito didn't care.
"Then your second option is to seek help from one of the Five Great Nations. Sunagakure and Iwagakure are too far. Kirigakure is on equal footing with Uzumaki. That leaves you with Kumo… or Konoha."
"I suggest Konoha."
Kado narrowed his eyes.
"Why Konoha? What, you one of theirs?"
Obito shrugged.
"You could say I have connections there. The important part is this—those Uzumaki ninjas? Konoha considers them missing-nin."
"That's what makes this interesting."
Kado let out a cold laugh.
"Figures. You ninjas… always scheming. If you're not killing people, you're stealing from businessmen. A pack of blood-sniffing hyenas."
Obito's voice didn't change.
"Call it what you want. Weakness is your original sin. And don't act clean—how many people have you ruined over the years, Kado?"
Kado's smile froze.
"…Fine."
"I'll send a request to Konoha. But first—you deal with the bastards who broke into my place. I'll pay upfront."
Obito shook his head.
"I was hired to protect you. Nothing more. Anything else comes after the contract."
He tossed a commission template onto the table.
Kado frowned, clearly annoyed.
"…You people really think of everything. How fast can reinforcements arrive?"
Obito turned away.
"Don't worry. We've already made preparations."
And just like that—he vanished.
Leaving Kado alone… with a very ugly expression.
He had spent his entire life clawing his way to the top. Now? Two groups of ninjas had nearly played him like a fool in the same day.
Humiliation.
Pure humiliation.
"…I'll make them pay for this."
His eyes turned cold as he pressed a hidden switch on the bookshelf, revealing a communication device.
"I'm Kado. Contact the Fire Daimyō. And find me a reliable traitor on the black market—I've got work for them."
"Suppress the rebellion in the Land of Waves?"
Kado sneered.
"No."
"I want protection."
"I've heard about a mercenary group lately… Akatsuki. Expensive, but effective."
"I don't care about the cost. I want those ninja bastards to regret ever touching me."
A few hours later, Obito appeared inside the Hokage Office, carrying a prepared mission request.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, scanned the document and frowned.
An S-rank mission.
Ridiculously high reward—tens of millions of ryō.
And the task?
Eliminate a group of rogue ninjas in the Land of Waves.
"…That's suspicious as hell."
If it were truly that simple, no one would pay this much.
Still, if there was no real danger… this could be a perfect mission for Asuma. A chance to build connections with someone like Kado.
Hiruzen sighed internally.
His youngest son lacked ambition. His strength wasn't anything special either.
But the Sarutobi clan needed someone to hold the line in the future.
If not Hokage… at least a high-ranking pillar.
Just as Hiruzen was considering it—
The door opened.
Danzo walked in.
He glanced at the mission scroll, his expression immediately darkening.
Half an hour ago, Root had already reported something—
Uzumaki ninjas had attacked the Land of Waves.
Now this mission request appeared.
Too coincidental.
Too clean.
"This isn't coincidence," Danzo said coldly. "It's a setup."
Hiruzen frowned.
"How do you know the attackers were from Uzushio?"
"And even if they were—why would they stage something like this? They could've just taken the Land of Waves quietly."
Danzo's eyes sharpened.
"Hiruzen… do you even know who the leader of Uzushio Village is?"
That question hung in the air.
Orochimaru?
Impossible—Danzo would've known.
Hiruzen himself?
No. He didn't have the guts for something like that.
That left only one possibility.
Danzo's expression turned grim.
"…The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"The one who defected from Konoha."
"Naruto."
Silence filled the room.
Because deep down—
Even if it sounded insane…
It made perfect sense.
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