---
Hatake Kuroshi was quite clear about Obito controlling the Mizukage.
However, Genji... Hatake Kuroshi rested his cheek on his hand; he had heard quite an interesting name from Obito's mouth.
In Konoha, he had only intended to cultivate some moldable talents.
But now, in the currently chaotic Kirigakure, having come all this way, it was impossible to just cultivate a few people and leave.
A cunning smile faintly appeared on Hatake Kuroshi's face.
The Land of Fire and several other major nations were bordered by numerous small countries.
All sorts of messy diplomatic affairs, and those overt and covert mutual harassments.
The Land of Water, surrounded by sea, directly avoided these miscellaneous issues.
Moreover, its geographical location was easy to defend and hard to attack, coupled with the dense fog, mountains, and unique humid climate.
This place was perfect as a secret base.
"The masked man's side is supporting Yagura Karatachi, but Genji's side seems quiet!"
"And I don't think I've heard much news about this person either."
"He should be considered a decisive high-level figure, right!"
Hatake Kuroshi looked up with keen interest. Shisui inexplicably sensed a subtle enthusiasm radiating from him.
"What are you planning..."
Shisui couldn't help but feel a bad premonition arise.
He seemed to have seen this 'not afraid to stir up trouble' expression on Hatake Kuroshi before.
This guy was definitely about to say something astonishing again.
"I'm going to push a new Mizukage up! Let's start with Genji's side!"
"As for this armband, I have another method for tomorrow."
Hatake Kuroshi didn't want to show his face in front of Yagura Karatachi just yet. Of course, mainly, he didn't want to expose himself to Obito.
An ace like Hatake Kuroshi... it was indeed better suited to be the final boss making a late entrance.
"???"
Interfering in a coup is one thing, but this guy actually wants to single-handedly push a Mizukage into power?
Shisui subconsciously touched his eye and hesitated.
"If we want to use Kotoamatsukami again, we'll have to wait over ten years."
What a dedicated worker.
Already thinking about his eyes.
Hatake Kuroshi couldn't help chuckling at Shisui's action, waving his hand at him.
"Forget about ruling a nation with Genjutsu. Although it's interesting! Someone else has already played that game!"
"We need to play something newer."
The next afternoon, there were still two hours left before Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui had to return their armbands.
"Go find Genji directly? Where did you find this location?"
Shisui asked with surprise beside Hatake Kuroshi.
Hatake Kuroshi held a note with childish handwriting, stating Genji's location in the Mizukage Tower.
"A student. This isn't some classified document."
"Although we don't know, those students who live locally would surely know about such things."
"Although Genji's combat power isn't great, most students still quite like that old man."
"But with Yagura's current method of governing, as long as someone else takes over, even if it's a dog, the people here would probably rejoice."
Except, of course, for that kid Mangetsu Hozuki.
That kid genuinely pursues the strong. A Jinchuriki like Yagura Karatachi is naturally someone he aspires to be.
"But the one I admire most right now is Kuroshi-sensei!"
Mangetsu Hozuki's sparkling eyes seemed to be right in front of him.
Hatake Kuroshi pressed his temples; being admired wasn't necessarily a bad thing, though.
"Although what you said is true, your mouth is really venomous."
Shisui glanced at the ANBU members hurrying past nearby. Fortunately, these people didn't seem to care much about what the two were discussing.
With only two hours left on the deadline, these ANBU were probably looking at them as if they were already corpses.
Hatake Kuroshi walked inside the building and kicked open the main door without hesitation.
A bright smile on his face, he looked at the old man sitting behind the desk inside, who wore a stunned expression.
"Yo! Genji!"
If the two failed to remove their armbands by the deadline, the Mizukage's direct ANBU subordinates and the Mizukage himself would pursue them with full force, essentially a kill-on-sight order.
But thanks to the existence of this armband, Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui were able to enter the Mizukage Tower freely.
Ao, sitting on a nearby chair, also looked surprisedly at the two people at the door, unsure why these two wearing armbands had arrived.
Yagura and Genji shared intelligence but also kept secrets from each other.
In short, everyone was partially deceiving each other.
They knew Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui were two outsiders who came to apply as teachers.
However, teachers came and went quite frequently, so they hadn't paid much attention to these two.
But no matter who it was, they should know that seeing an Elder required someone to announce them, right?!
Kicking the door open and walking right in was far too casual, no matter how you looked at it.
Does this person think the Mizukage Tower is his own home?
"What are you two doing barging in suddenly! Shouldn't you be finding Lord Mizukage to remove your armbands at this time?"
Ao paused for a moment, then quickly reacted, frowning and shouting sternly as he walked straight towards the two.
Dealing with outsiders was usually handled by the Fourth Mizukage, but the Fourth Mizukage's current situation was inscrutable.
Rashly getting involved with these outsiders could lead to troublesome complications.
Hatake Kuroshi kicked the door shut behind him, showing no intention of retreating, hands clasped behind his head as he looked past Ao towards Genji sitting inside.
Since they entered, apart from the fleeting shock Hatake Kuroshi initially saw... Genji had maintained a decrepit, expressionless look.
"If I leave, no one will tell you about Yagura Karatachi's situation!"
Hearing the Fourth Mizukage's name, Ao couldn't help but pause, his single Byakugan scrutinizing Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui up and down.
Shisui looked like a fairly standard ninja setup, whether chakra flow or overall equipment.
However... this guy feels subtly familiar.
Ao studied Shisui carefully.
Wearing sunglasses, a gentle smile on his lips, he looked quite good-tempered.
Although vaguely familiar, he should have never met this person before.
But this kid covering his eyes and grinning looked exceptionally strange.
There was absolutely no sign of chakra flow in his body!
Someone without chakra becoming a Ninja Academy teacher?
And surviving until now in that school with the prodigy Mangetsu Hozuki!?
Ao already had his hand on the doorknob, ready to open it and ask them to leave at any moment.
Just as he hesitated over Hatake Kuroshi's physical condition, an old, hoarse voice came from behind him.
"Let go, Ao. Their time is almost up. Lord Mizukage will naturally take them away then."
"What did you want to say about Lord Mizukage?"
Genji's eyes were deeply sunken in their sockets, a sharp glint flashing faintly within the darkness.
Not entirely foolish, it seems. No wonder this old man could support Kirigakure for quite some time after the Mizukage's absence.
After the Fourth Mizukage Yagura died, Genji secretly took control of the entire Kirigakure.
Hatake Kuroshi grinned, stuck his tongue out at the stern-faced Ao, and then drifted past him.
"You cannot pass."
Although Hatake Kuroshi dressed strangely, his overall physique and habits didn't look like a ninja's at all.
Letting him approach Lord Genji was acceptable. As for this sunglass-wearing ninja, he could just stand obediently by the door for now.
But that Hatake Kuroshi guy is clearly more dangerous!!
Letting him approach Genji is worse than letting Shisui approach Genji.
Shisui couldn't help but complain silently in his heart.
"Really targeting me, huh?"
Shisui sighed lightly, not insisting on moving forward.
Leaning against the doorframe was the same as watching anyway.
Hatake Kuroshi wasn't going up there for a debate where he needed a second speaker.
Ao and Shisui were both left at the doorway, each watching the figures seated in the two chairs.
Hatake Kuroshi sat improperly in the chair, long legs propped up on the table as if showing off their length.
Leaning back against the chair, he continuously tossed the armband in his hand up and down.
He spoke in a light and cheerful tone.
"Your guess was actually correct~ Yagura Karatachi, your Fourth Mizukage, really is being controlled by someone!"
"And I have already grasped the identity of the person controlling him—"
Just two short sentences, yet they caused tumultuous waves within the entire office.
First, the definite knowledge that Lord Mizukage was indeed being controlled.
What kind of powerhouse could control the leader of a nation under such circumstances?!
Second, someone who had been in the village for less than three days had actually obtained information about the controller!?
This sounded simply like mockery of their incompetence.
Both Ao and Genji's expressions became somewhat unpredictable, their eyes flickered back and forth with unclear meaning.
After a long pause, Genji's eyes, deep within the shadows, slowly turned towards Hatake Kuroshi beside him.
"What do you want?"
"For us to spare your lives?"
Hatake Kuroshi abruptly clenched the armband in his hand, looked up, and smiled at Genji.
"How could it be that simple?"
---
Check my: p@treon.com/ShixT9 for extra 60 Chapters
A review will also be greatly appreciated ^•^