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"Since you already know Yagura Karatachi is being controlled, you surely don't want to continue barely surviving under this tyranny, right?"
The implication being: seize power?!
Genji and Ao's gazes both fell on Hatake Kuroshi, their expressions slightly grave.
They couldn't detect a shred of chakra from this kid, nor did his physique look suited for fighting.
Why could he speak so arrogantly to them with such confidence?
Although the youth's eyes were covered by an eye patch, his aura was like a dragon or tiger, suddenly opening its blood-red maw towards them.
For a moment, the room fell silent; no one spoke.
"...Pfft!"
After a long silence, Hatake Kuroshi pursed his lips and suddenly let out an uncontrollable chuckle.
Ao's face instantly darkened. Shisui couldn't help but purse his lips too.
This isn't their Uchiha family affair; they're facing the Elder of Kirigakure.
Hatake Kuroshi's attitude is a bit too unrestrained.
Before Ao and Genji could speak, Hatake Kuroshi's cheerful and unrestrained laughter followed, his words filled with mockery.
"Hahahaha, no way? Could it be you don't dare?"
"What are you laughing at!"
Ao's face turned almost the same color as his name (Blue). He immediately interrupted Hatake Kuroshi's burst of laughter.
Although Hatake Kuroshi spoke the truth, having this issue pointed out by an outsider was simply a profound humiliation.
Too arrogant.
This guy simply didn't know the meaning of respect! Whether towards the Kage or the Elder.
His attitude was consistently condescending.
A mere civilian...!
What right does he have to look at them like this!
"It was just too funny, so I couldn't hold it in for a moment."
"Ah—of course, I know your strength is completely inadequate to fight Yagura."
"So, we will also assist you as external support."
Hatake Kuroshi reached up and brushed his black eye patch, wiping away non-existent tears.
His arrogant smile vanished almost instantly, replaced by seriousness as he spoke to the two.
"You're just a civilian! What combat power can you even count as!"
"This kid doesn't look particularly special either. What difference does it make whether you join or not?"
Ao glanced at Shisui beside him. A civilian and a ninja; what help could they provide against such a vast disparity?
"Moreover, the most important point is, why should we believe you about these things?"
"You're just an outsider, aren't you? It's uncertain whether you're deliberately seeking opportunities to stir up trouble and incite civil war."
Genji sat behind the desk, observing these people silently.
He watched, pondered, but did not join the discussion.
Hatake Kuroshi rested his cheek on his hand, looking at Ao with a somewhat bored expression.
"It doesn't matter how you see it. If this situation continues, Kirigakure will lose a large amount of talent."
"Including some rare Kekkei Genkai, which will be forced into extinction. This is your loss."
"And regardless of whether I stir up trouble or not, if you had enough strength, you would eventually make a move, wouldn't you?"
Genji sighed deeply behind the desk.
This eye-covered youth before him, though not a ninja... was able to understand so much about their situation in such a short time.
In some respects, he was undoubtedly a genius.
It wasn't without reason that he could survive as a teacher with his companion in that school.
Ao clearly wanted to find some fallacy to retort, but Genji gently raised his hand to stop him.
"What you say is correct, but we cannot ascertain your strength."
"Lord Mizukage is the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. Once he transforms into his Tailed Beast form, none of us can guarantee the situation then."
Hatake Kuroshi stretched his arms above his head, yawning lazily.
"Mochizuki, it's your turn."
Genji and Ao looked bewilderedly towards Shisui leaning against the doorframe.
"You sound like you're showing off something..."
Shisui sighed somewhat helplessly, reached up, pinched his sunglasses, and took them off.
Long eyelashes, slightly upturned eyes, a pair of crimson eyes with tomoe appeared before the two.
Genji's eyes widened in considerable shock.
"Sharingan?!"
Only a few days had passed since the Uchiha massacre. The Land of Fire had immediately ordered a lockdown on this news.
With the war having ended just a few years ago, there was no guarantee other countries wouldn't invade at this time.
Coupled with the Land of Water and Land of Fire being separated by sea and mountains, and Kirigakure implementing a closed-off, tyrannical regime, they had no way of knowing the Uchiha clan had already been wiped out.
Ao, watching this face from the side, felt his jaw drop slightly. He found the reason why this guy felt somewhat familiar.
"Shunshin no... Shisui?!"
Previously, when Ao led Kirigakure's elite ninjas to infiltrate the Land of Fire, he was extremely familiar with this face.
Their team encountered Shisui's long-range Genjutsu attack. Ao clearly realized then that he was no match for this person.
They didn't even clash directly before he retreated with his men.
At that time, he regretted that someone as strong as Shisui was their enemy.
And now, Shunshin no Shisui was standing right before him.
With someone like this as backup, perhaps they really could stand against Lord Mizukage!
Then Ao frowned hesitantly, seemingly pondering something as he asked.
"But, didn't I clearly hear before that you committed suicide?"
The atmosphere instantly froze. This resurrection path was somewhat tricky.
Genji's previously excited eyes drooped, staring suspiciously at Shisui.
"Because the situation in Kirigakure has been somewhat strange recently, Lord Hokage asked me to investigate secretly."
"The Fourth Mizukage is quite vigilant. We worried we couldn't get in, so we released the news of my death."
Shisui's expression showed no fluctuation whatsoever, lying through his teeth without blushing or his heart skipping a beat.
The almost frozen atmosphere in the office relaxed again.
A rare smile appeared on Ao's clouded face.
"So that's how it is."
"If Konoha supports our side, then we might indeed give it a try against Lord Mizukage."
But looking closely at the relationship between Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui, it seemed Hatake Kuroshi was more like the superior.
After all, whether discussing or issuing orders, it always seemed to be this person.
Could it be... this one is even stronger than Shunshin no Shisui?!
Judging by that arrogant attitude and unrestrained personality, this person might indeed be very strong.
But, not a ninja... who is he?
"Hatake Kuroshi...?"
Ao casually flipped through a stack of signed papers on the table, raising his eyebrows in confusion.
The White Fang of Konoha, Sakumo Hatake's name echoed throughout the ninja world. His son was also the genius ninja Kakashi Hatake.
After Sakumo's death, Kakashi became just another talented child; people mostly just heard about him.
And looking at Hatake Kuroshi, although the surname was the same, there was no sign of chakra flow in his body.
His various habits and behaviors didn't seem like a ninja's either.
If he could be Shisui's captain, he must be quite formidable.
Perhaps they found such an unfamiliar face to avoid arousing the Fourth Mizukage's suspicion.
And whether on the battlefield or anywhere else, there seemed to be little mention of such a person.
This guy's disrespectful and nasty personality... besides the surname, there's hardly any similarity.
"Oh—! Sounds a lot like the White Fang of Konoha's name, right? But I'm not a ninja~ I really envy how strong he was."
Hatake Kuroshi had hopped off the chair at some point and was leaning over excitedly to look at the paper in Ao's hand.
Hatake Kuroshi always wore a flippant expression; truth and lies were hard to distinguish from his mouth.
Ao, as a sensor-type ninja, instinctively disliked such people.
"Don't suddenly lean over."
Genji remained silent behind the desk for a long while. It now seemed these two represented Konoha's intention to interfere in their affairs here.
It was hard to say if it was genuine help or if they had ulterior motives.
This Hatake Kuroshi felt like someone who talks big and plans tactics.
Although arrogant in speech, when it came to actual fighting, Shisui probably seemed more reliable.
Genji's gaze fell on Shisui standing aside with a slightly shy smile.
Sharingan, Shunshin no Shisui.
Today a friend, tomorrow possibly an enemy. Since he came knocking, I cannot miss this opportunity.
Since Konoha intends to meddle in the Mizukage affair, let them meddle.
But Shunshin no Shisui and these two Sharingan eyes will remain in Kirigakure.
Use Konoha's hand to eliminate Yagura together, support a new Mizukage, then force Shisui to leave his Sharingan behind.
This sounds like a strategy to kill two birds with one stone.
Hmph, Konoha, oh Konoha. So far away, yet still coveting our Mizukage position.
Genji glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Hatake Kuroshi. This kid, though arrogant, ultimately has a loose tongue.
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