Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

 A Konoha ninja in a green vest knocked and entered the Hokage's office, kneeling on one knee.

  "Hokage-sama, the envoy from Kumogakure requests an audience."

  Tsunade frowned. "The envoy from Kumogakure? Why are they sending people to us instead of focusing on rebuilding their village or seeking revenge against the Akatsuki?"

  "I'm not sure," the ninja replied. "According to the gatekeeper, the envoys are three disciples of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, led by the Jonin Samui. They haven't entered the village but are waiting at the gate requesting to meet you."

  Tsunade folded her arms in thought, then turned to Karin, now dressed in a black suit and flat-framed glasses, resembling more and more a secretary.

  "Karin, go receive them."

  Unlike Ohnoki who had sent his son to merely "entertain" the envoys, Tsunade didn't show hostility. Though Fire and Lightning weren't allies and Konoha had been enemies with Kumogakure before, both were still among the five great ninja villages, the backbone of maintaining balance in the ninja world. If Kumogakure sent envoys, it likely had to do with the Akatsuki—and Tsunade wanted to see their intentions.

  "Yes," Karin nodded.

  But upon arriving at the gate, Karin was struck as if by lightning.

  What… what kind of proportions are those?

  Looking at Samui—who was more curvaceous than even Tsunade and only slightly outdone by Hinata—Karin instinctively glanced down at her toes and suddenly regretted taking the mission.

  I should've let Shizune-senpai handle this!

  Luckily, she was still young. Losing here wasn't disgraceful.

  Adjusting her mood, Karin showed a polite smile and introduced herself, "I'm Karin, Hokage-sama's secretary and disciple. Please follow me—the Hokage will see you now."

  "Excuse us."

  The icy beauty Samui nodded with an expressionless face and followed Karin toward the Hokage building, occasionally glancing sharply at Omoi and Karui to keep them in line.

  Karin wasn't good at small talk, but Samui took the initiative, eyeing her red hair.

  "You're a descendant of the Uzumaki clan?"

  "Yes," Karin smiled, touching her hair. "Is something wrong?"

  "Nothing," Samui replied, shaking her head.

  Of course she couldn't say the truth—

  'Thanks to the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, we managed to reduce our casualties this time. If the previous Raikage hadn't destroyed the Land of Whirlpools and stolen those barrier scrolls...'

  If she said that, the nature of this visit would completely change.

  Following Karin into the Hokage's office, Samui's team finally stood before one of the legendary kunoichi of the ninja world.

  "Tsunade-sama," Samui greeted respectfully.

  Even Omoi and Karui, who were usually rowdy, bowed sincerely.

  Princess Tsunade wasn't just the granddaughter of the First Hokage and one of the Legendary Sannin—she was also the foremost medical ninja. Even enemies addressed her with honor.

  For many kunoichi who believed they were equal to men, Tsunade was their idol—Samui included.

  Looking at Tsunade's figure, Samui sighed inwardly: She really lives up to the title.

  Tsunade's eye twitched. She stared for a few seconds not at Samui's face, but at her "proportions," then back at her snowy skin, and sighed, "I didn't expect someone like you to come from the Hidden Cloud Village."

  Samui remained expressionless.

  This wasn't the first time she'd heard something like this. Because of her appearance, she'd been considered an outlier since childhood. Only through strength and perseverance had she risen to the rank of Jonin. In a village of mostly dark-skinned, muscular ninja, she was seen as an anomaly.

  Tsunade recognized this and felt some respect for Samui.

  "Sit down," she said seriously.

  "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

  Once seated, Tsunade went straight to the point.

  "Why did the Raikage send you to Konoha?"

  "Raikage-sama asked us to deliver this letter to you."

  Samui pulled a letter from her storage pouch and handed it to Shizune, who was slightly stunned.

  The warmth of the paper made Shizune's hands shake slightly as she passed it to Tsunade.

  Karin watched this unfold with a mix of sympathy and subtle satisfaction.

  Thanks to absorbing Izayoi's chakra lately, she felt more energetic—her eyesight even improved. If Hinata's transformation was anything to go by, Karin was hopeful about her own future.

  Tsunade opened the letter and skimmed through it.

  After just a few lines, her brow furrowed.

  "So we've really become enemies, huh…"

  The letter detailed information not included in the public report from the Land of Lightning. While the bounty increase for Sasori was public, this report privately revealed intel on Root and Danzo—clearly a gesture of goodwill toward Konoha.

  At the end of the letter was a formal invitation to a Five Kage Summit.

  "The Five Kage Summit?"

  Tsunade's eyes narrowed.

  "Since my grandfather's time, how long has it been since the five villages sat down together…"

  The Five Kage Talks were once envisioned by the First Hokage to resolve disputes and avoid war. But ever since the ninja wars began, distrust and hatred made such meetings nearly impossible.

  Now, with the reappearance of god-tier threats like the Akatsuki and that mysterious man, even a powerful village like Cloud was extending an olive branch.

  Tsunade made up her mind.

  "This information is crucial. It confirms what we suspected. All fallen ninja bodies must be properly secured, and graveyards closely guarded. I will attend the summit."

  Samui and her team showed a hint of surprise.

  They hadn't even considered that the Akatsuki might target graves for materials.

  But thinking of the giant crater where their village used to be… who could say if the cemetery was even intact?

  Tsunade, unaware of their thoughts, waved them off.

  "Shizune, handle the rest."

  "Yes, Hokage-sama."

  Just as Shizune was about to escort them out, Samui suddenly stepped forward.

  "Tsunade-sama, may I ask… is Lord Izayoi currently in Konoha?"

  All three women looked at her in confusion.

  "He is," Tsunade said. "What business do you have with him?"

  Karin immediately grew wary. What does this woman want with Izayoi?

  Samui's face softened, and she explained one of the purposes of their visit.

  "It's said that the First Hokage had a Wood Release jutsu called the 'Four Pillars House Technique' that could instantly create permanent homes. We would like to request Lord Izayoi's help in rebuilding our village."

  The three women instantly understood.

  Tsunade was about to agree, but then remembered something and calmly lied,

  "Izayoi is now a Hokage candidate and has the right to choose his own missions. You'll need to ask him directly."

  "I understand," Samui replied. "Please allow me to meet him."

  "Karin, take them."

  "Yes, Hokage-sama."

  Karin led the group to Izayoi's mansion. Upon seeing the luxurious estate, even Omoi and Karui were shocked.

  Samui noted Izayoi's high status and turned to her teammates.

  "Wait here."

  When Karin and Samui entered, Izayoi listened to her request. Even he was a bit stunned.

  Ask the one who destroyed your village to rebuild it?

  But looking at Samui—sincere and humble—he only smiled coldly.

  "I refuse."

  "Lord Izayoi," Samui said quickly, "we're willing to compensate you with three super S-rank missions. If that's not enough, we can negotiate more."

  "It's not about money," Izayoi replied flatly.

  His expression turned colder.

  "My girlfriend's name is Hinata Hyuga. She's the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan's main family."

  Samui paused, confused—then her face changed slightly as she remembered.

  "…I see. My apologies for disturbing you."

  She bowed slightly, her chest heaving, and quietly left the estate.

  What she thought would be an easy task turned out to be impossible.

  She'd heard the rumors—about that incident years ago—and now she understood.

  The one they'd asked for help was the very man who wouldn't forget the past.