The architecture of Kumogakure is quite unique, with houses built on high mountains. The Raikage's building, in particular, is situated amidst the clouds, offering a clear view of the entire village from above.
There are also many artificially flattened grounds and valleys on the mountainsides, with entertainment and commercial streets spread throughout. After all, not everyone in Kumogakure can adapt to the ninja's ability to fly and move with supernatural speed.
Samui, with her short yellow hair, was strolling alone on the street. With her delicate features and ample bosom, she garnered a considerable number of admiring glances.
Even in Kumogakure, a village populated by people with brown skin, Samui's fair complexion did not attract any ostracism or mockery. The village's policies fostered strong internal unity, which is why rogue ninja from Kumogakure are a rarity.
However, villages that produce rogue ninja are generally powerful, as can be seen from Konoha.
Today was a day off, and Samui was planning to visit the Raikage's building archives to consult some documents. For the rational and calm Samui, the quiet and spacious archives were an ideal place.
Samui preferred quiet, much like her own personality. Generally, she wouldn't speak unless it was necessary…
"Excuse me, may I bother you for a moment! Miss Cow, could you please tell me how to get to the Raikage's building?"
A gentle and pleasant male voice made Samui twitch her ears. In Kumogakure, a village filled with rugged men, such a mild and refined voice was incredibly rare, much like her own skin tone.
However, what the person said made her want to get angry!
Miss Cow?!
Samui turned around and sized up the red-haired man behind her. He had a delicate, gentle face with sharp features. His long red hair was tied back with a thin headband, giving him an air of cultured elegance.
But as she looked at the smile on the red-haired man's lips, Samui sensed an evil aura.
Samui said coldly, "You're not from this village, are you?"
"I am an envoy sent by Konoha to Kumogakure for an interview, Uzumaki Rin'u."
Samui suddenly realized. She had received news two days ago that Konoha would be sending visitors, and she hadn't expected them to arrive so soon.
"The Raikage's building isn't a place you can just go to. I have other things to do, so I won't be escorting you."
Samui didn't want to waste her precious day off. As for entertaining the envoy from Konoha, she definitely wasn't going to do it!
Samui turned away with a cold expression, having no intention of interacting further with Rin'u. Although the man was quite good-looking, he seemed weak and listless, giving her no sense of security. He wasn't her type at all.
To use her own catchphrase: "You're not cool at all!"
She bypassed the winding mountain paths and leaped onto the cloud ladder, arriving in front of the Raikage's building. Just as she was about to enter, she heard a familiar male voice by her ear.
"So this is the Raikage's building, it looks quite valuable!"
Samui's heart leaped. She quickly took a step back, her right hand already on the red tanto behind her waist, and said coldly, "How did you get here?"
Rin'u casually replied, "I followed you."
Rin'u was sizing up the Raikage's building. Compared to "Miss Cow," the wealth within the Raikage's building was more appealing to him, as Kumogakure owed him. And "Miss Cow" was not his.
"This seems to be a storage room, and that might be the archives. Now, where's the treasury…?"
"What are you mumbling about!"
A cold expression spread across Samui's fair, delicate face. This envoy from Konoha was not simple; he had managed to follow her without being detected. She was already a Jonin of Kumogakure, with considerable strength!
"What is Konoha's purpose?"
"Purpose?"
Rin'u shook his head. "I'm just here to collect a debt. I'm not here to fight!"
"Debt? Fight?"
Samui's mind raced, trying to process the information Rin'u had given her. She couldn't fathom the part about collecting a debt, but the mention of fighting made her heart tighten.
Could someone be planning to fight in Kumogakure?
Samui felt it was necessary to inform the Raikage. Just as she was about to move to capture Rin'u, she realized he had vanished. Her slender waist was suddenly held, and a gentle male voice whispered in her ear, tickling her.
"Be careful, it's going to explode!"
As Samui tried to break free, she was lifted by Rin'u and leaped onto the Raikage's building. The spot where they had been was instantly engulfed by a fireball, and the violent explosion startled Samui, who was held in Rin'u's arms.
Am I being attacked?
The moment Samui had this thought, she immediately dismissed it, for in her pupils, she saw countless fireballs. That was just one of them!
Boom!
The cloud ladder connecting to the Raikage's building was blown apart, and countless debris rained down into the seemingly endless mountain below. The mist surrounding Kumogakure was significantly dispersed by the blast.
The intense explosions alerted the Fourth Raikage and the Kumogakure elders who were in a meeting. They all leaped out of the Raikage's building and saw the cloud ladder shattered into pieces and countless fireballs in the sky. Raikage A immediately roared,
"Who dares to invade my Kumogakure! You're seeking death!"
A gathered his strength and leaped into the air, punching a fireball into oblivion. Electricity crackled around him as he detonated numerous other fireballs, which illuminated the sunset like fireworks, making it even more intense.
As the fireballs were destroyed and the smoke cleared, two figures stood on a nearby peak, both clad in red cloud cloaks. One of them wore a cat-faced mask, and the two holes revealed three-tomoe Sharingan that emitted a scarlet, demonic light.
The other grinned, a bloodthirsty smile on his shark-like face.
The Akatsuki duo, "Zhu Nan," had arrived!
"Who are you? Why are you attacking my Kumogakure!"
"Red clouds and black cloaks, they are members of the Akatsuki!"
"That's the S-rank rogue ninja from Kirigakure, Kisame Hoshigaki! I've seen his name on the bounty list!"
Being recognized, Kisame Hoshigaki became even more smug. He cast a slightly provocative glance at Itachi beside him, almost as if to say, "How about that! Am I famous or what!"
As for being an S-rank rogue ninja, that was merely a matter of Obito's word!
Itachi didn't even spare Kisame a glance. His entire attention was focused on the Kumogakure elders below. The plan to kidnap his brother Sasuke was their doing!
He was here to collect Sasuke's debt!
"Why has the Akatsuki invaded my Kumogakure? What is your purpose?"
A forced himself to calm down. This was Kumogakure, and there were countless civilians below. As the Fourth Raikage, he could not endanger their safety.
If they weren't in Kumogakure, A would have already charged forward with his fists. Who cares about their purpose, they'd get a couple of punches first!
If they could take it, they could talk!
If they couldn't, then they didn't have to say anything!
Itachi's face was grim, and he remained silent. Kisame Hoshigaki stepped forward and said sharply, "Hand over the Jinchuriki, and we will retreat immediately."
"Otherwise, today will be the day Kumogakure is destroyed!"