The night pressed down heavy and still over Kumogakure.
In the Raikage’s office, A stood alone at the window, staring at the churning thunder clouds outside, his expression unreadable.
His mind kept turning over the same question.
[Going to Konoha, what’s the play here?
Infiltrate, or walk in through the front door?]
[Infiltrating would be cleaner, but it doesn’t fit the Raikage’s image.
And with my strength, there’s no reason to skulk around…]
[Going openly makes a statement.
Shows Kumogakure’s authority, catches Konoha flat-footed.
And either way, I’m going to be making contact with their female ninja.
No point hiding what can’t be hidden.]
KNOCK KNOCK,
He turned his head.
“Come in.”
“Lord Raikage.” Mabui stepped into the office carrying a scroll, her expression grave.
“Regarding the plan for Konoha — should we discuss the details further?
I’ve drafted three infiltration routes.
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages…”
“No need.” A walked slowly toward her, and those lightning-lit eyes made her hold her breath without thinking.
“I’ve decided to go openly.”
Mabui blinked.
Her fingertips tightened on the scroll without her realizing it.
“But you told me before that…”
“Plans change.” The corner of A’s mouth curved into something dangerous, his voice dropping low.
“Write me a letter.
Tell the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, that I’m coming to Konoha to observe the Chunin Exams.
In my capacity as the Raikage of Kumogakure.”
“Whether that old monkey accepts my ‘goodwill’ is his problem.
Who told him not to invite Kumogakure in the first place?
Isn’t that just picking on honest people?” (Hiruzen Sarutobi: “Ah, yes, yes — you Kumogakure people stole the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then stole the Byakugan, and with that kind of history you still expect me to invite you to a joint Chunin Exam?”)
Mabui opened her mouth, wanting to push back just a little, but swallowed the words before they came out.
She knew this Fourth Raikage better than anyone.
Talking him out of something was harder than moving a mountain.
“Yes, Lord Raikage.”
…
Mabui sat kneeling at the desk and exhaled softly, setting down the final brushstroke on the letter.
BOOM,
Muffled thunder cracked outside the window.
The flash threw A’s silhouette against the doorframe, making him look even larger than usual.
He stroked his goatee, gaze drifting between Mabui’s back and the inkstone on the desk.
“Lord Raikage, it’s finished.
Would you like to look it over?”
A strode forward and brought his palm down hard on the desk.
Ink splattered.
“Those old fossils in Konoha, when they see my seal their knees will be shaking.
You’re always too meticulous for your own good.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow at first light.
By the time they figure out what’s happening, I’ll already be sitting in the viewing stands drinking tea.
This letter is just a pretext.
You know what ‘act first, report later’ means, don’t you?
My dear secretary.”
Mabui looked up at him, lips parting slightly.
“What — you’re leaving tomorrow?
Isn’t that a bit…”
A waved a hand, then leaned in close.
His warm breath grazed the shell of her ear.
“The sooner the better.
What is this?
It seems like you don’t want me to leave.”
Mabui’s earlobes went scarlet in an instant.
The quill slipped from her fingers and landed with a soft thud on the still-wet ink.
“Lord Raikage, you’re teasing me again!”
A looked down at her: white hair, flushed cheeks, genuinely flustered.
A slow, warm smile settled on his face.
He bent down and kissed her.
“Ha.
You’ve worked hard these past few days, Mabui.”
“It’s nothing.
It’s my job…” she murmured, her heart full.
A ran his fingers gently through her hair.
“After I’m gone, the village is yours to manage.
Any problems come up, mobilize the Anbu directly.
Remember, your orders carry my authority.”
Mabui nodded, steady and certain.
“Lord Raikage, rest assured.
I will guard Kumogakure well.
Please be careful out there.”
“Heh.” A chuckled low in his throat.
His rough thumb traced across her flushed cheek, and then he pulled her in close.
“That serious look of yours really drives me crazy.”
Mabui let out a small sound of surprise as A swept an arm around her waist and pressed her back against the desk.
The letter and scrolls slid to the floor.
The next morning, at Kumogakure’s main gate, Mabui was trying to fasten metal bracers onto A’s wrists.
She was sweating through the effort.
A had to press his lips together to keep from laughing.
“Alright, alright, these things are heavy.
I’ve got it.” He snapped them on in a few casual moves, then pulled her into his arms and planted a string of kisses on her face.
“COUGH, COUGH COUGH!” A pointed round of coughing drifted over from nearby.
A released Mabui and straightened up, recovering the Raikage’s full bearing.
He took one look at the two of them, and a knowing grin spread wide across his face.
“Oh yeah, bakayaro, kono yaro, before setting out, still tangled up, my big bro, mouth never shuts!”
“Enough.” A shot him a look.
“Village security is your responsibility while I’m gone.
Anything goes wrong, you answer to me.”
Killer B thumped his chest hard.
“Your worry, very dumb!
My blade technique, super swift!
Anyone dares make trouble, Kumogakure’s killer bees will strike!
Mm-yeah, ”
He was already moving, breaking into an impromptu performance right there at the gate.
“Kumogakure fortress, can’t be cracked, Eight-Tails’ power, nothing holds it back, anyone starts trouble, you’ll get smacked, taste the Tailed Beast Cloak, that’s a fact!
Bakayaro, kono yaro!”
A shook his head, but a laugh escaped him anyway.
Killer B acted like a clown, but his strength ranked at the top of the entire ninja world by any honest measure.
Nothing to worry about there.
“Protect Mabui.
Protect everyone in this village, B.”
“O, K!” Killer B’s grin dropped, just for a moment, into something real.
“Big bro, go safe, leave the village at ease, on the road be careful, if you die B gets sad, goes mad, destroys everything, rebuilds the world, oh yeah!”
“Heh.
You bastard.” A clapped him on the shoulder.
Lightning Release chakra detonated around his body with a crack, and in the next instant he was gone, a bolt of white light streaking out beyond the village walls.
Dust swirled through the empty gate.
Mabui and Killer B stood where he’d left them, neither of them moving.
Mabui stared at the place where he’d vanished.
Her hands came together in front of her chest, and she prayed silently.
She trusted his strength.
She trusted his instincts.
He would be fine.
And she would be here, holding the village together, waiting for him to walk back through that gate.
Killer B patted her on the shoulder.
“Secretary sis-in-law, no need to worry!
Fourth Raikage, Kumogakure’s fastest, second in the whole ninja world!
Oh yeah!”
He flashed a grin and struck one of his signature ridiculous poses.
“Better to prepare than stand around and stare, the Fourth Ninja War won’t wait forever out there.
Bakayaro, kono yaro!”
(Hey, dear readers, quick heads-up: a few parts of the upcoming Konoha Chunin Exams arc stick fairly close to canon, just so newcomers to Naruto can follow along.
If you’re a longtime fan and it feels familiar, feel free to skim those bits.
But please don’t drop the book, Crocodile will be genuinely heartbroken.
꒦ິ^꒦ິ)
➤ Next: Arrival — The Queue Incident