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Resets Weekly! [Monday]
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Silence. A long, drawn-out silence.
Outside the window, the midsummer sunlight spilled over the village, while the incessant chirping of cicadas added a layer of clamor to the lush green surroundings.
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, the embers within gradually burning out.
"Rinjin-kun, I want to know—what is your reason for wanting to grow stronger?"
After a moment of contemplation, Rinjin took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"To protect my bonds and fulfill the dreams of those who have passed."
Hearing this, Hiruzen nodded slowly.
His face remained expressionless, but in the depths of his eyes, faint traces of delight flickered.
"Alright, Konoha will make this deal. But! You must promise me that you will never harm the village."
At these words, Rinjin broke into a radiant smile, then shook his head.
"Uncle, you'll have to be more specific. That's way too vague!"
"Uh..." Hiruzen was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and shook his head. "You really are someone who makes others feel at ease, yet at the same time uneasy."
Seeing Rinjin remain silent, Hiruzen's smile gradually faded. After a moment of thought, he said:
"Do not harm the villagers, do not leak the village's information, and do not assist other villages in actions against Konoha..."
"Alright, I agree. So, deal?"
"Yes, deal!" Hiruzen nodded lightly, relaxing as he opened the drawer and pulled out a pouch of tobacco.
Seeing Hiruzen about to light up again, Rinjin pursed his lips in exasperation and reminded him:
"Uncle, you should cut back on smoking. When you get home tonight, will your wife even let you kiss her?"
"You little brat, mind your own business!" Hiruzen feigned anger, raising his pipe as if to strike Rinjin.
Seeing this, Rinjin darted out of the office like a flash, only to poke his head back in from the doorway and add:
"Oh, by the way, Uncle, have the ANBU give me a copy of the intel on Iwagakure."
With that, Rinjin withdrew his head and left the Hokage's office.
...
Atop a towering cliff in Kumogakure, Rinjin sat cross-legged, gazing at the bustling village below. A faint sense of excitement stirred within him.
Beside him lay the training scroll for the Eight Gates Release and an intel scroll on Iwagakure.
Simple? Yes, it seemed simple.
Difficult? It was also incredibly challenging.
Through months of careful planning and preparation, Rinjin had infiltrated Kumogakure under the guise of a grand scheme.
He had taken enormous risks to attack both the Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, and the Two-Tails at the Wind and Thunder Temple.
What appeared straightforward was, in fact, the culmination of countless meticulous calculations and an in-depth study of the Third Raikage's personality and mindset.
The goal was not merely to infiltrate Kumogakure successfully.
It was also to reshape his image in the minds of Konoha's higher-ups, particularly Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Previously, in Konoha's eyes, he had been nothing more than a pitiable weakling surviving on scraps of intelligence and sympathy.
Could such a person negotiate on equal footing with the might of Konoha, the strongest of the Five Great Nations?
No.
The disparity was simply too vast.
But! Through a series of well-calculated moves, he had demonstrated his ability to bring a village to its knees.
This was the method Rinjin had chosen—the way of the infiltrator.
To display a controllable power, rather than a purely destructive and uncontrollable force.
Then, through the daily collection and submission of intel, he would further solidify this impression.
"I, Rinjin of the North, am controllable and harmless to Konoha."
I am a blade of quality steel, not a cursed blade of chaos.
At the same time, he remained steadfast in his mission, prioritizing its completion above all else.
On the foundation of trust, he built a reputation for reliability.
Step by step, he slowly and steadily reshaped the image he held in the minds of Hiruzen and others.
Like spring rain melting the frost, he dissolved their defenses.
Finally, when the image of a controllable, powerful, and trustworthy ally was fully established, he could naturally and logically present his demands and negotiate with Konoha.
Was this reasonable? It was perfectly reasonable.
Meanwhile, by persistently harassing the Tailed Beasts, he heightened Kumogakure's anxiety, particularly that of the Third Raikage.
With another Kage, Rinjin might not have employed such aggressive tactics.
But! The current Raikage was the Third.
His personality had been thoroughly analyzed by Rinjin—if not entirely, then certainly to a significant degree.
This was the most valuable skill Rinjin had honed in his past life, dealing with demanding clients: understanding the personality of the person who held the key to his goals.
Once you understood their character, you could predict their choices.
Then, by factoring in their status, power, personality, principles, and family, you could refine your judgment further.
In essence, their beliefs determined their general direction.
First,
The Raikage was, above all, the leader of his village and a responsible one at that.
This meant that his decisions would always prioritize the village's interests.
Second,
Personality and position were like inseparable, yet contradictory siblings.
The Raikage's strong-willed nature dictated that his leadership would be highly centralized.
This concentration of power amplified his arrogance and impulsiveness.
As a result, his choices would favor efficiency and speed over subtlety and diplomacy.
Lastly,
Family and kinship dictated the allocation of benefits.
This was why Rinjin was unconcerned about becoming the Jinchūriki of either the Eight-Tails or the Two-Tails.
In summary,
When faced with the dilemmas Rinjin had orchestrated, the Raikage's choices became predictable.
Simultaneously attacking both the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails, the Raikage would prioritize the Eight-Tails due to both village and familial interests.
Thus, when the Two-Tails rampaged, he arrived late, giving Rinjin a stage to shine.
Later, when the Two-Tails acted up again, the exasperated Raikage had no choice but to seal it within a Jinchūriki.
But what if they lacked sealing techniques?
As a proponent of aggressive tactics, the Third Raikage's first instinct would be to seize what they needed.
However, Uzushiogakure, the Land of Whirlpools—renowned for its sealing techniques—was located southeast of Konoha, across the Land of Fire from the Land of Lightning.
It would be difficult to raid them!
So, he would settle for the next best thing and turn to Konoha.
Would Konoha, with Rinjin feeding them intel, readily hand it over?
Of course not.
Strengthening a rival nation, especially one they might face on the battlefield, was unthinkable.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi were senile, he would know better.
Failing to acquire it, Kumogakure, true to form, would resort to kidnapping.
If they didn't, they wouldn't be Kumogakure.
Then, it would escalate into a standoff between two great nations.
Konoha, due to its precarious geographical position, yearned for peace more than any other nation.
No matter how brash or youthful Hiruzen might be, his fundamental strategy was predetermined.
They couldn't afford war; they had to negotiate.
Given this, would Hiruzen reject Rinjin's demands after being provoked by a Kumogakure envoy?
Certainly not!
Since you, Rinjin of the North, have your sights set on the Two-Tails, go ahead and act as you will!
After all, he was still a young man in his thirties.
If he didn't act impulsively, could he still call himself young?
As for the Eight Gates Release,
With both sides on nearly equal footing, Hiruzen traded this forbidden technique for peace.
At the same time, he gained a formidable ally who was partially loyal to Konoha.
Would he refuse?
Before becoming Hokage, he might have hesitated.
But as the leader of the village, only a fool would say no.
This was an open strategy, a straightforward punch, each strike aimed at the weaknesses and desires of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Raikage!
Everything Rinjin had done was for the scroll he now held.
Looking down at the vibrant Kumogakure below, Rinjin slowly grinned and murmured softly.
"To wait for charity for what I desire? That's not my style.
What I want, I will take myself!
For now, though, I must focus on completing my mission.
After all, Konoha still holds many things I desire~"
With that, Rinjin leisurely stood up, patted his own shoulder with a smug grin, and joked:
"Invincible. How lonely it is to be invincible!"