Konoha Notes.

Chapter 513 The Distant Voice

Chapter 513 The Distant Voice

Kado is someone who values ​​cost-effectiveness.

They love using inexpensive yet high-performance products and also enjoy making highly profitable deals.

Partnering with a restless ninja like Shi Li requires too much bloodshed and too many risks. If things go wrong, the cost of covering the losses will make the figures on the books look very unappealing.

His plan can be completed without the need for long-term cooperation.

The sound of the ocean waves was even louder than the commotion of the battle.

Shi Li's final roar crashed into the waves, like a stone sinking into the deep sea, barely making a splash.

Kado has already prepared the ledgers.

"thing."

When the scorpion's voice came from behind, the penguin-like man realized that there was another person on his boat.

He presented the thick booklet with both hands, his movements so swift and practiced that it seemed he had rehearsed it many times.

"All the supplies we're bringing back this time are here."

Scorpion had no interest in looking at these things; verifying the accuracy of the numbers would naturally be handled by someone else.

All he had to do was watch the dwarf reach the shore.

The Sea Kingdom will naturally send someone to check if there are any problems with the items there.

If there is one more person to throw into the sea, then so be it.

Hiruko's tail curled up Shili's corpse. Scorpion took the ledger from Kado's hand, found a cabin, and laid the body flat on the cleared table.

Shi Li was somewhat creative, managing to make ninjutsu easier to use. He relied on his right eye to petrify...

Earth Release techniques can be performed quickly without hand seals.

For a rogue ninja to have figured things out to this extent, he is already considered a person with ideas.

For him personally, it was a remarkable achievement. For his life, however, it was utter bad luck.

The issue of being overdue can be considered a major or minor matter within the organization.

If strong evidence can be submitted and withstand scrutiny, there may still be room for maneuver.

After all, it's easy to see that he was outmaneuvered by Kado.

If Shi Li is lucky enough that the person who comes is one of the Six Paths of Pain, he might be willing to listen to a few words of explanation. As for whether he will ultimately choose to kill him, that remains to be seen.

But the person who came was a scorpion.

And coincidentally, he also happens to have some creative ideas.

Sasori began to maintain the basic vitality of the stone body. The key to the human puppet retaining the abilities of the deceased lies in the integrity of the chakra system as an information backup.

Having handled countless machines, Scorpion had optimized the process to its limit. Every step was precise, like a scale, with not a single unnecessary step.

The crimson Sharingan light stood out conspicuously in the dimly lit cabin.

The visitor leaned against the bulkhead.

Scorpion had no extra interest in paying more attention to that person.

"You've completely gotten used to this kind of life, haven't you, Sasori?"

Obito's tone carried a friendly, almost mocking smile.

The scorpion continued to move through Shi Li's meridian system without pausing for a moment.

It was Xiaonan who recruited him to join Xiao.

He acknowledged Payne's strength.

As for a deep leader who suddenly appeared, he had absolutely no connection with him.

He had no obligation to respond to this person's greeting, nor was he interested in playing along with his mystical act.

"Is this something that will last forever to you?"

This time, that intimacy turned into provocation.

Scorpion unrolled a sealing scroll and sealed the processed corpse inside. Ink spread across the paper, marking a new collection number.

"Do you also want me to fix your time in the present?"

Sasori of the Red Sand returned the challenge without hesitation.

Obito chuckled softly.

"Eternity is not something that decays."

"It's not just a narrow concept that exists only in the present. True eternity is something that encompasses everything in the past, present, and future."

Scorpion had only one comment on this: "Empty talk."

"I will show you what a more perfect eternity is."

"You know what a demon is, right?"

Scorpion found it even more boring. He had searched for many traces of eternity, and the monstrous creature was one of them.

"If you consider those stones to be perfect, then your vision is limited."

66

"Get lost, Uchiha."

Scorpion left no room for maneuver and was even ready for battle.

Obito didn't leave; instead, he laughed at the disdain.

"Of course," he said. "An indestructible rock is nothing, just like that monster's foolish thousand-year-old empire."

"Eternity is valued because it is beautiful. It is because it evokes longing and nostalgia that it is worth sacrificing for."

"Let go of the pain of the present moment, and then let the memories and the future remain in eternity."

The Sharingan turned quietly in the dim light.

"This is your art. No, this is the eternity you should dedicate yourself to. Scorpion."

The Uchiha in front of me said something that was barely worth listening to. Coupled with his strength, which he hadn't yet revealed, it at least proved that he wasn't a shallow person who was completely unworthy of attention.

"What do you want to say?"

So Sasori asked Obito why he had come.

Meanwhile, Cado, outside the cabin, was completely unaware of this.

In his perception of time, the voyage was much longer than he had anticipated. The ship finally docked at Dalang Island in the Land of the Sea. Scorpion came out of the cabin and walked past him without pausing for a moment before disembarking.

Payne's voice entered his mind: "Mission status."

"The three individuals were overdue, and their punishments have been completed."

"The next mission objective—"

"There's a puppet to complete. I'll be staying on Dalang Island for half a month."

Nagato remained silent for a moment.

He never interferes too much with core members in non-critical matters.

Whether it's the ninjas from Amegakure or the recruited outlaws, they are enough to maintain the daily operations of each island. However, the current mission does not require Sasori to take action.

"Can."

He followed up with another one.

"Don't cross the line. The confrontation with the Joint Affairs Bureau will take place in December."

"I have no interest in that area," Scorpion replied.

However, news of his stay still reached the ears of those who needed to hear it, and even came with other details.

"Report on the recent situation."

The order was delivered to Yura without fail.

He didn't know who had come to deliver the message. Even with his authority, he could always find out who the person was, and what kind of person they were.

But that's meaningless.

A careful examination will reveal that the face appearing before you is very likely doing something else at the same time.

It doesn't have to be a White Zetsu with the highest level of transformation technique; any ordinary ninja is enough to achieve this level of disguise.

Yura was unaware of how many Sand Village ninjas Sasori was still controlling through his mind manipulation of sand.

But he knew he was definitely not the only one.

Whether only Sunagakure ninjas were under the control of that technique is entirely unknown.

He wasn't foolish enough to directly submit a report to the operator while undercover.

Papers covered half the desk, and a pen moved back and forth between his fingers. Yura was writing at his desk, his posture no different from any other office worker working overtime.

This is the scene that Gaara saw when he arrived.

The red-haired boy stood in the doorway, not immediately coming in. His gaze lingered on the stack of documents for a moment before he opened his mouth.

"What are these?"

"Recent report, Lord Gaara." Yura looked up. "There have been frequent incidents, news from overseas, and movements in various villages. I have compiled the materials and plan to submit them to Lord Kazekage."

"There's a set procedure for the office to submit intelligence to the village," Gaara said.

The Sand Village office has dedicated clerks responsible for compiling daily reports. There are fixed encrypted channels and standardized formats, so there's no need for someone like Yura to personally work at the desk.

"These are just some thoughts I've made from my personal perspective."

Yura put down his pen for a moment and spoke earnestly.

"After May, a large number of new faces will flood into the Secretariat. Shinobi from Kusagakure, Yugakure from Yugakure, and Takigakure from Takigakure will enter this building with their own plans and expectations."

"Currently, the power structure of the village offices is roughly balanced. However, once new blood is added, the previously stable structure will undergo a completely different change."

"Konoha's advantages will not disappear, but its attention will definitely be diverted."

"This is a rare opportunity for the village."

Gaara looked at him: "Are these opportunities only for the village?"

Yura said, "An individual is too insignificant in this situation. If you don't mind, I intend to continue working on the report at hand."

"Maki is looking for you."

Yura covered the things on the table, and Gaara calmly reminded him, "It's safer to put them away."

"It was my oversight."

Yura placed the report into the small wooden box on the corner of the desk, closed the lid, and fastened the clasp. As he left the office, he closed the door behind him and made sure the lock was properly engaged.

"The daimyo of the tea country is dead."

Kakashi made a rare return to Konoha and went to the Hokage's office to explain the matter.

"He still died." Shuuji sighed as he was pulled back to his senses. "Shouldn't he have already discussed it with Kado?"

The fact that Gato could send a message to the Fire Country Daimyo to evacuate his people most likely means that the people Gato hired were quite capable. The Guardian Shinobi couldn't handle the situation with a single raid, and with the Daimyo's life hanging in the balance, he had no choice but to compromise.

The logic behind being killed after making a compromise is quite interesting.

"The agreed-upon result was that not only was the Daimyo of the Land of Tea killed, but his valuables were also loaded onto a ship and stolen." Kakashi pulled a report from his pocket and placed it on his desk. "This is what the survivors said."

Shuji picked it up, looked through it, and then put it back.

"Then let's follow the original procedure. Issue a warrant, send people to take over Naqi and Dawu, and then wait for the daimyo liaison office to find a new daimyo."

"These are not problems." Kakashi sat down in the chair. "The representatives of the Daimyo liaison office are indignant and have declared that all countries intend to jointly sanction Gato and reimpose an embargo on Akatsuki."

Xiuji responded, then looked out the window again.

"Teacher, did you see that? That's the level of concentration this guy has. This is a matter of utmost importance concerning the monarch of a nation, and he doesn't even have the interest to ask a single extra question."

Minato, whose name was called out, looked up from behind the document. Before he could reply, Shuji let out a soft chuckle from his nose.

"How old are you, running to the teacher to complain? You're so pathetic."

Minato steered the conversation back on track: "Let's leave Shuji's matter aside for now. Kakashi, there must be something else going on."

Kakashi then said, "Of course. In order to ensure that the embargo can be effectively implemented, they hope that, like last year, ninjas can assist in the investigation."

"after all----"

"These uncouth businessmen have no dignity or principles; they'll do anything for enough profit."

"That's what they say."

Kakashi then turned to Shuji: "After such a long meeting, the things that couldn't be passed will probably be accomplished by them using this opportunity."

Shuji walked to the desk and tapped his finger on the surface.

"There's something else worth considering more than their use of this incident to force their way into demanding troops."

What exactly happened regarding the death of the Daimyo of the Tea Country?

Kakashi recalled the mission report.

"According to the survivors, Kado's fleet had already left the port. Based on the time and voyage, they should have left by then. But they returned later, killed the daimyo, and stole all the valuables they could carry."

"In other words," Shuji said, "he made sure his own goods left safely first, and then came back to pull off a big heist."

Is that what you mean?

"Based on the preliminary investigation, that's indeed the case."

Shuji got up from the sofa and walked to the window.

"Is there a problem?" Minato asked.

"I'm considering how stupid Kado must be to go to such lengths, and if he's not that stupid, then who would have done this?" Shuuji said.

Kakashi carefully put away the briefing: "You don't think Gato was the one who committed the murder?"

"Regarding this matter alone, he no longer needed to go to the final step."

"Redundant————"

Shuji stopped halfway through his sentence.

He wasn't really sure about Gato. After all, he was the kind of person who could come up with a plot like leading a group of ronin to kill a Jonin and then reaping the benefits.

Whether someone's brain works well or not is difficult to judge using common sense.

Maybe they're just stupid enough to think that killing a daimyo won't get them any attention.

They might be so greedy that they wouldn't even let go of the last bit of valuables.

Such a person is far more difficult to predict than most leaders in the ninja world.

"Let's first find out about Gato's situation through the people of Amegakure," he finally said. "Also, let's see if we can contact Nagato."

""

Minato pondered for a moment and said, "Nagato—judging from his actions overseas, he wouldn't care if a merchant killed a daimyo."

.

Shuji laughed and said, "Of course I don't care, whether Kado is simply cheating and swindling to get a large batch of cheap goods, or he really killed the daimyo."

"He wouldn't care."

"The former will further confirm Nagato's belief that the daimyo are all fools who have no reason to exist."

"Although the latter was an unauthorized act, it's unlikely to cause any real problems."

"But this way of killing people gives me some pause for thought."

"Let's give it a try, there's no harm in losing anything."

"We might get some interesting news."