"Did you two conspire against me or something?" Kakashi grumbled, his back slouched forward as he made a sigh.
"You made me run back and forth in the desert on purpose," he muttered, irritation laced in his tone.
Kakashi, folded his arms. "I swear, you two old schemers really know how to work a guy."
Of course, Mufasa had no secret dealings with Tsunade.
They weren't on the kind of terms to have a silent understanding.
They didn't even have some kind of secret communication network.
His search for Tsunade had a purpose.
The prestigious Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, Momonosuke, had outright rejected his proposal.
Not only did he refuse to acknowledge Mufasa's authority as the Kazekage, and the technical ruler of the Land of Wind,
He even had the nerve to order the people of the Land of River to deny the diplomats from Suna for a place to stay,
Baki had returned humiliated, eyes red from rage and frustration.
Mufasa was furious.
Smack!
His fist slammed against the table.
"That bastard Momonosuke dared to lay a hand on my people!"
His voice was low and dangerous.
"I think he doesn't want to live anymore."
He turned to Baki. "Go. I'll make sure justice is served."
Without wasting time, Mufasa called upon Gaara, Sasori, Sasuke, and Yoruya.
"Are my subordinates ready for battle?"
Gaara's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Sensei, who are we fighting?"
Mufasa smirked. "The damn Daimyo of the Land of Rivers rejected our agreement and even disrespected our diplomat. It seems we have some things to settle there."
Gaara clenched his fists. "Shall I go wipe them out now?"
Mufasa shook his head. "Not yet. The Land of Rivers is positioned between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. I need to talk to Konoha first."
"I don't want to start a fight and end up taking out Konoha shinobi by mistake. That would be… unpleasant."
Konoha already had enough orphans. He didn't want to add more to the count.
"Once I sort things out with the Hokage, we'll march against the Land of Rivers. Until then, prepare yourselves."
The four of them responded in unison. "Understood, my lord."
Mufasa was contemplating how to get in contact with Tsunade when Kakashi showed up at his door.
Taking the opportunity, Mufasa asked him to escort him to Konoha in secret.
Kakashi didn't expect his mission to be that easy.
Dressed in disguise, the two of them set off.
Mufasa revved up his latest maglev R900 and drove across the desert, Kakashi sitting in the passenger seat.
Handing off government affairs to Gaara and the others under the guise of negotiations, Mufasa enjoyed his newfound freedom.
Being bogged down with administrative work every day was beyond exhausting.
As he drove, he hummed a tune from his hometown.
"Country roads, take me home~"
"To the place I belong~"
"West Virginia, mountain mama~"
"Take me home, country roads~"
Kakashi gave him a deadpan look. "My lord, we're headed east."
"Oh," Mufasa muttered.
Adjusting himself, he corrected, "I went all the way north, west, and east."
Kakashi sighed, burying his face in his hands.
They had traveled nearly a hundred miles when Kakashi spotted something unusual up ahead.
A group of Sand Shinobi were working in the desert, constructing something massive.
Using Earth Release, they erected large stone walls, merging them together to form conduits.
The pipes were massive—wide enough to support an eight-lane highway.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "What are they doing?"
Their direction seemed to be cutting across the desert at a diagonal.
They were following a straight path east, unlike the usual trade routes.
Mufasa took a glance and nodded in approval. "They're doing a fine job. There are still issues with the Sand Ninjas, but their determination and work ethic are solid."
He continued, "This is the East-to-West Water Diversion Plan."
Under Kankuro's leadership, the project had begun.
"This," Mufasa explained, "is a highway in the making."
Not far from them, a high-speed rail system was also under construction.
"Running a sports car through the desert without roads is a nightmare. You get lost, deal with endless sandstorms, and damage the car's engine. But once these roads are done, everything changes."
"Beneath the roads, we're also constructing underground waterways."
"We're connecting the Land of Wind to the Land of Rivers."
"This will help control flooding and make business between the two nations easier."
"If you want to get rich, build roads first."
Mufasa chuckled. "Momonosuke must want wealth. Every daimyo does."
"If not, well..."
"I'll help him understand the importance of freedom and prosperity."
Kakashi frowned. "My lord, the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers is unpredictable. He might refuse outright."
Mufasa smirked. "Kakashi, tell me, what do you do when a child misbehaves?"
Kakashi shrugged. "What do you do?"
Mufasa leaned back with a lazy grin. "Simple. You give 'em a good beating, and they'll never disobey again."
Kakashi inhaled sharply. He had been on too many battlefields to mistake Mufasa's tone.
This wasn't just talk.
There was bloodshed coming.
"My lord," Kakashi said cautiously, "is this trip to Konoha also about that?"
Mufasa smirked. "That's just one reason."
His voice dropped to a lower, more serious tone. "The real reason is something else."
"The Land of Rivers isn't exactly wealthy, and if we only build roads to them, when will we ever see a return on our investment?" Mufasa mused, tapping his fingers on the dashboard.
"That's why I need to talk to Tsunade this time," he continued. "I want to discuss the possibility of extending the road to the Land of Fire."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be a huge project?"
"Exactly," Mufasa smirked. "That way, the road will serve its true purpose—trade, travel, and influence."
Kakashi mulled it over but remained skeptical. "The Daimyo, Lord Yoshimitsu, may not agree so easily."
Mufasa chuckled. "Oh, he's not nearly as stubborn as Tsunade when she's had too much sake. Trust me, he'll see reason."
He leaned back, humming. "I'm going all the way north..."
Then, as if a thought had just struck him, he glanced at Kakashi. "By the way, I heard your Earth-Style walls are smooth enough to carve designs into. Ever thought about putting that talent to use?"
Kakashi blinked. "Huh?"
Mufasa grinned. "Come work in our village. Good pay, good food. You could make a fortune."
Kakashi slumped forward in his seat, utterly speechless.
〒▽〒.
...
The car rolled to a stop at the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers.
Mufasa stepped out, stretching his legs before sealing the vehicle away with a quick hand sign.
The Land of Rivers was a simple, mostly agricultural society where transportation relied on foot travel, and communication often involved shouting across villages.
Roads were scarce, and rivers were plenty, making travel inconvenient at best.
Even so, driving was still a luxury compared to walking.
The two shinobi entered the Land of Rivers with little effort. Unlike the Land of Wind, which imposed strict entry and exit protocols, the Land of Rivers had more lenient policies for travelers.
They spent the day on the road before finally arriving at Kawasaki Town, the capital of the Land of Rivers.
Kawasaki was a port town surrounded by the massive Kawa River. The river snaked around the town, forming a natural barrier that made it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
As they walked through the town gates, the first thing that caught their eyes was a massive statue at the town center.
It depicted a man in an exaggerated dancing pose, standing in a giant frying pan.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "What in the world...?"
Mufasa followed his gaze. "What kind of founding legend does this place have?"
Kakashi sighed and crossed his arms. "Apparently, the Land of Rivers was once plagued by a massive water serpent that caused floods and destroyed villages.
A man named Kozuki Yutaka lured the serpent into a trap by pretending to cook himself alive in a giant pan. The beast took the bait and was ambushed by Yutaka's nine companions.
After a brutal battle, they slew the creature and saved the country. The river was renamed in Yutaka's honor, and his clan became the ruling family."
Mufasa smirked. "So, their founding hero's legacy is... deep frying himself?"
"Pretty much."
Shaking his head, Mufasa turned his attention to the bustling streets. "Let's find a place to rest. Kakashi, you know anywhere decent?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not really. I don't come here often."
"Same here." Mufasa sighed. "Guess we'll just pick a place at random."
As they wandered, they soon found themselves standing in front of the most extravagant pleasure house in Kawasaki.
Mufasa blinked. "Huh. How did we end up here?"
He rubbed his chin, feigning contemplation. "Wouldn't be very fitting for a Kazekage to visit a place like this. Might send the wrong message."
Kakashi gave him a blank stare. "You didn't even hesitate on the way here."
Mufasa waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. This was fate. Besides, it's getting late. We wouldn't want to get lost and stumble into a bad part of town, would we?"
Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temple. "My lord, we're shinobi. We can handle a few street thugs."
"Ah, but why take the risk?" Mufasa countered, already stepping inside. "Consider this an important cultural experience. My treat."
The interior was lavish, with silk curtains, warm lantern light, and the scent of fine incense in the air. Servants rushed forward, eager to please.
"Fetch us your most esteemed courtesan," Mufasa declared grandly.
A servant hesitated. "Sir, each establishment has only one top-ranking oiran."
Mufasa replied with a thought expression. "Is that so? I thought there'd be a few. Hmm. Learn something new every day. Fine, bring the oiran." He tossed a gold coin at the servant. "And hurry."
The servant's face lit up. "Of course, my lord! Right away!"
Soon, food and sake were brought to their private room. As they drank, Mufasa occasionally glanced at Kakashi's mask, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. Each time, Kakashi subtly adjusted his posture, keeping his face obscured.
Mufasa grumbled. "Damn it. I need to know what's under there."
Before he could scheme further, the sound of a shamisen filled the room. The oiran had arrived.
She stepped onto the stage with practiced elegance—her hair pinned up in elaborate ornaments, her kimono embroidered with golden cranes. Her presence commanded attention, and her beauty was undeniable.
Mufasa nodded approvingly. "Worth every coin."
Kakashi chuckled. "Enjoying yourself, Lord Kazekage?"
Mufasa smirked. "Let's just call it... appreciating the finer things in life."
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Word count: 1779
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