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Mangetsu Hozuki stood between the two adults, looking left and right somewhat blankly.
Wait a minute, this sounds like a top-secret matter related to high-level affairs.
These two are just letting him listen in like this!?
"Eh? This kind of thing... isn't it confidential?"
"Hm? Does it matter if you know? You're coming anyway, right?"
"Don't you long to fight Yagura? This is a good opportunity~"
Hatake Kuroshi matter-of-factly pushed down on Mangetsu Hozuki's head.
The situation in Kirigakure was complex; most people had very little sense of belonging here.
Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, originally responsible for guarding the Mizukage, defected and became missing-nin.
Children like Mangetsu Hozuki would have even less absolute loyalty towards Kirigakure.
Mangetsu Hozuki's pursuit of Yagura wasn't loyalty either, but rather a desire to chase and challenge the strong.
Letting him make a move now could both increase their combat power and fulfill his wish. Why not?
As Hatake Kuroshi expected, upon hearing he could fight the Fourth Mizukage, Mangetsu Hozuki instantly perked up.
"I'll go! I'll go! I will participate!"
A smile faintly appeared on Hatake Kuroshi's lips.
"Practice well. You don't have much time left."
Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui started walking towards the teacher's dormitory, waving back at Mangetsu Hozuki without looking.
"That kid really has been completely won over by you."
Shisui couldn't help looking back at Mangetsu Hozuki, who was still training diligently.
When they first arrived a while ago, this kid was aggressively blocking the door. Now he does whatever he's told, obedient like the neighbor's little brother.
"Just a child's disposition~"
"Oh, right. Genji's people have been hanging around here often recently."
"But no real moves. They probably haven't discovered that the one you left here is a Shadow Clone."
Hatake Kuroshi shrugged, speaking casually.
"He's monitoring us too? Why? What could we possibly do?"
Shisui scratched his head, somewhat clueless. In his view, Genji was already considered one of their own.
Whether personality or ability, Shisui could be considered an excellent tool.
But this naive nature was really a bit detrimental in a coup.
No wonder he confidently told Danzo and the others about his Kotoamatsukami back then.
Hatake Kuroshi took a deep breath, paused for a long moment, then put on an exaggerated, shocked expression looking at Shisui.
"..."
"Eh—! No way, Shisui-san! Did you really not realize your eyeballs are being targeted again?!"
Shisui instantly realized he had indeed been overly naive.
Plenty of people in Konoha coveted the Sharingan relentlessly, let alone an outside village like Kirigakure.
He and Hatake Kuroshi came out alone; they looked like easy targets no matter how you viewed it.
It wouldn't be strange if the other party wanted to kill two birds with one stone.
Shisui awkwardly averted his gaze, nudging Hatake Kuroshi with his elbow.
"Such mean sarcasm! The eyes are on my own body; it's normal not to realize it immediately."
"After all, you've already been gouged once. I thought you would have learned your lesson."
Hatake Kuroshi grinned and patted Shisui's shoulder.
...
Inside the Mizukage Tower.
Most ninjas hurried about, moving back and forth.
Ninjas returning from outside the village were constantly being treated in the medical bay. An extra layer of oppressive atmosphere permeated the Mizukage Tower.
Everyone seemed to be busy preparing for something.
Only the area around Genji's office within the tower was empty, devoid of any rushing ninjas.
It looked as if the room had been isolated separately.
Several ANBU captains, still bearing injuries, knelt before the desk in the Mizukage's office.
"Attack when the sun sets. Eliminate the Kaguya clan before sunrise."
"Don't leave any troublesome hindrances."
"No need to release the news. If Genji asks, tell him the attack is two days later."
An indifferent, emotionless voice sounded. The green-haired, baby-faced youth sat in the chair, most of his face hidden in shadow.
After a brief pause, Yagura Karatachi seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking again.
"Anyone who obstructs this matter, regardless of identity, kill them directly without hesitation."
Annihilating the Kaguya clan couldn't be delayed for a moment. Before these people rebelled, he had to strike first.
"Yes!"
The ANBU captains acknowledged and vanished from the spot, each going down to relay the mission details to their teammates.
The coming and going ANBU, the relocating Kaguya clan—everything indicated a major event was about to occur nearby.
Kirigakure, already fraught with paranoia, became even more silent.
Due to the harsh regime, the shopping street barely had any shops open. Previously, people would occasionally go out sporadically to buy daily necessities.
Now, in this situation, no one knew what plans Yagura was plotting.
Rashly guessing Yagura's thoughts was little different from seeking death.
Whether shopping streets or residential areas, all places simultaneously closed their doors tightly.
The streets were completely deserted. Besides the fleeting figures of ANBU, ordinary civilians lacked the courage to go out.
The atmosphere in the entire village reached an extreme level of oppression.
Because of this deathly atmosphere, the Ninja Academy also became a refuge. Most students chose not to go home, staying at the school instead.
Although students, they were also ninjas; the rough living environment didn't affect them much.
Most importantly, the students believed that as long as Hatake Kuroshi and Shisui were present, they didn't need to fear even if the village ANBU came in.
...
Inside Genji's office.
Several unmasked ANBU members and Ao sat scattered around the room.
A red-eyed crow stood on Genji's desk, tilting its head as it observed the newly arrived girl.
Everyone's gaze focused on the girl with long, curly brownish-red hair in the center. The girl removed her ANBU mask.
A delicate face and green eyes were revealed.
Mei Terumi, a spying under Yagura's command with ANBU status.
"After dark, Lord Mizukage will proceed with the annihilation of the Kaguya clan."
"And... Lord Mizukage has also ordered that anyone obstructing this matter, regardless of identity, is to be killed on sight."
Just as the sun began to set, the remaining afterglow rapidly vanished into the dense fog and mountains.
After dispatching three teams successively, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi himself, personally led a group of ANBU, quickly heading towards the Kaguya clan grounds.
Genji's men were watching the constantly moving time, calculating the moment of appearance.
They needed to follow behind Yagura Karatachi and coordinate with Shisui's group for a pincer attack from inside and out.
They had to wait until Yagura Karatachi's forces had completely left.
Shisui and Mangetsu Hozuki lay cautiously in ambush near the Kaguya clan grounds. Two heads adorned with leaves poked out from the tree branches, nervously watching the surrounding changes.
Although the Kaguya clan maintained their usual movements, an inexplicable fervor burned in the eyes of everyone looking towards the entrance.
The tense atmosphere was palpable, ready to explode at any moment!
The Kaguya clan rarely showed such signs of harmony, but all harmony was merely camouflage for the impending eruption.
The Kaguya clan head, Kaguya Eishō, stood within the Kaguya's underground forbidden area.
His followers held candles, standing inside a prison cell walled on three sides, with iron bars on the fourth.
Scattered paper talismans were stuck to the heavy iron bars, completely separating the inside from the outside.
The dim, damp underground exuded a thick, earthy smell.
Fist-sized black rats showed no fear of humans, squeaking as they ran around people's feet.
An empty plate showed no trace of oil, with a small chip missing from its edge.
"Kimimaro, are you in there?"
An almost uncontrollable, ferocious grin spread across Kaguya Eishō's face. The anticipation of war constantly pounded in his head.
They had hidden Kimimaro away as a human weapon before; for so many years, wasn't it all for this moment of slaughter?
The candle behind him moved slightly forward. Several white bones shot up from the ground, skewering one or two dead rats.
An exceptionally terrifying human face was carved onto the wall.
Beneath the dark shadows, a pair of pale, slightly curled toes peeked out.
A thin, small child curled up against the wall, long white hair tied back.
His face showed a sickly pallor, clearly having not seen the sun for a long time.
Kimimaro slightly raised his hand to shield his eyes from the harsh light outside, his green eyes squinting.
"Who?"
"Whoever it is, come out."
The shadow of a key danced within the prison cell. After a click, a gap opened in the iron bars to the side.
The glaring light prevented Kimimaro from seeing the person before him clearly, only managing a vague silhouette.
A man, far larger than himself in both size and age.
"Kimimaro, the time has come when you are needed."
"For our Kaguya clan, fight!"
A longing yet confident smile bloomed on Kaguya Eishō's face.
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