[Naruto: Superpower Roulette] Chapter 364 (Patreon)

The landscape surrounding Iwagakure was monotonous, dominated by barren yellow earth. Although it lacked the sandstorms of Sunagakure, spending too much time outside would leave anyone coated in dust.

"Lord Hokage, this way, please. The Tsuchikage has already prepared your accommodations."

An Iwagakure ninja escorted Naruto and his team from the station to the heart of the village. However, as they entered, another Iwa-nin approached Yoichi and inquired, "Are you the invited guest, Yoichi, the onmyoji from Konoha?"

"I am Yoichi, an onmyoji, but I'm not from Konoha. I only reside there," Yoichi clarified, producing the invitation he had received. "This is the invitation your village sent me."

After verifying its authenticity, the Iwa-nin apologized. "I see. Forgive us for any delay. The Tsuchikage is currently in a meeting but plans to see you tomorrow. May I ask if—"

"My purpose in coming to Iwagakure should be clear. I'm here for the otherworldly beasts. When can I see them, and what's available for purchase?"

The ninja hesitated before responding, "I'm afraid you'll have to wait until after your meeting with the Tsuchikage. I can't make that decision. However," he added cautiously, "I can tell you that we plan to offer not only the beasts' corpses but also the treasures they brought. If you stay a bit longer, you'll have an opportunity to acquire something valuable."

The promise of treasures piqued Yoichi's interest. It was unusual for Iwagakure to offer such items, but it made sense—they were likely artifacts from another world. Without the necessary knowledge, even valuable items could be useless.

"Very well. Notify me immediately when the Tsuchikage is ready. I don't have much time to spare," Yoichi replied before being escorted to his accommodations.

Meanwhile, Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi had no time to spare. As soon as Naruto arrived, she convened the Five Kage Summit. Naruto was the last to arrive.

The summit began with Kurotsuchi addressing Naruto, "Since you're here, let's start. Recent events in the ninja world have mostly revolved around Konoha, so we'd like you to share the latest information, Lord Hokage."

Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "That sounds a bit odd when you say it like that."

His demeanor quickly turned serious. "The calamity of the otherworldly beasts should be over. However, there are still five unaccounted for. Should we dispatch teams to search for them?"

"Kirigakure is eager to track the sea creatures, but it's beyond our current capabilities. For now, we've established more outposts near the Land of Water's coast," said Chojuro, the Mizukage.

The aquatic beasts had nearly destroyed the Land of Water, leaving Kirigakure and its inhabitants seething with hatred. However, the deep sea was too vast for any meaningful search.

"Establishing perimeter defenses is more feasible," said Darui, the Raikage. "Exploring beyond the borders is essentially sending shinobi to their deaths. Even during the Third Raikage's era, elite squads suffered heavy losses doing such things."

Kurotsuchi nodded. "Iwagakure shares that sentiment. Right now, our priority is recovery. Large-scale expeditions are out of the question."

Naruto rested his chin on his hand, considering their words. "If that's the consensus, so be it. Still, let's establish a shared communication channel for emergencies."

The conversation shifted to Yoichi.

"Lord Hokage, is that onmyoji still in Konoha? His abilities are invaluable. Perhaps we should formally integrate him into the Five Great Nations," Darui suggested. "A disaster predictor who can craft secret medicines—leaving someone like that to their own devices isn't wise."

Naruto laughed awkwardly. "Lord Raikage, we're in a time of peace."

Everyone understood Darui's implication: the potential use of underhanded methods to bind Yoichi to the Five Nations. While Naruto and Kurotsuchi appeared to disapprove, the other three leaders seemed to consider it.

The secret medicines Yoichi provided were powerful and alluring, but they were also expensive, making them difficult for other villages to procure in large quantities.

"Let's not pursue that idea. The shopkeeper is strong-willed and has unique abilities," Naruto warned.

He then shifted the focus to a more pressing matter. "We've recently discovered that someone has stolen cells from the First Hokage, Hashirama, intending to cultivate a Divine Tree. This needs our immediate attention."

At the mention of the Divine Tree, the room fell silent. The Fourth Great Ninja War's horrors were still fresh in their minds, even a decade later.

Naruto shared the details Konoha had uncovered, including Sai and Sasuke's mission in the Land of Valleys to investigate. The Divine Tree's connection to Kaguya and her enemies meant it could not be ignored.

The next day, an Iwa-nin came to escort Yoichi to meet Kurotsuchi.

By now, Yoichi was growing impatient. Iwagakure offered little to explore—no treasures, no notable cuisine, and no other intriguing diversions. He was on the verge of leaving.

When he entered the Tsuchikage's office, Yoichi immediately voiced his frustration. "I was beginning to think you'd keep me waiting forever. If this had gone on any longer, I would've left."

"My apologies. We've had many pressing matters to discuss," Kurotsuchi replied, ignoring the irritated looks of her subordinates. "If this is your first time in Iwagakure, there's much to discover."

"Spare me the pleasantries. I've already looked around and found nothing. Let's get to the point—when can I see the beasts and their treasures? If you're waiting for other buyers, it's unnecessary. I'll pay more than anyone else," Yoichi said bluntly.

"Fine. I'll show you what we've secured," Kurotsuchi said after a moment's hesitation, leading him to the storage site.

As they walked, Kurotsuchi attempted to probe for information, but Yoichi only answered when he felt like it.

Arriving at a hidden underground facility, Kurotsuchi explained, "After killing the beasts, we created a sealed space to store their remains. The toxins they emit would otherwise endanger the village."

Yoichi peered through a glass window into a chamber containing one of the corpses. Researchers in protective gear surrounded the area, meticulously studying both the beast and its surroundings.

"Is this one of the beasts?" Yoichi asked.

"Yes, and it caused the most casualties. That glowing sphere nearby is one of the treasures it brought."

Kurotsuchi pointed to a massive, luminous orb about twenty meters from the corpse. The beast itself was bizarre, with features unlike anything Yoichi had seen before.

Studying the orb, Yoichi remarked, "Name your price, Tsuchikage. I want the corpse and the orb. As long as it's reasonable, I'll buy them both."

(End of Chapter)

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