Cipher Corps, Kirigakure
Kisame Hoshigaki's shark-like grin was wary, his eyes narrowing as he faced Ye Liangnai. "What's this about? Think a guy like me can help you?" His tone was light, but his hand rested on the hilt of his blade, ready for trouble.
Ye Liangnai's hands blurred through seals. "Silent Technique Array." A faint shimmer enveloped them, a soundproof barrier sealing their conversation from prying ears. Kisame's grip tightened, his voice sharp. "What's the meaning of this?"
Ye Liangnai raised his hands, his smile disarming. "Relax, I'm not here to fight." He stepped back, creating space to ease Kisame's tension, then fixed him with a steady gaze. "Tell me, Kisame, don't you find Kirigakure's hypocrisy suffocating? One moment, you're fighting alongside a comrade; the next, they're the one plunging a blade into your back. This village—it's a lie, a place of despair where trust is a death sentence."
Kisame froze, his grin faltering. His eyes narrowed, a spark of recognition flickering. "Hypocritical or not, it's survived this long," he said, his voice guarded but intrigued. "Get to the point, kid. You're running out of time—ANBU's got eyes everywhere."
Ye Liangnai's smile grew, sensing an opening. Got you. "I'm gathering like-minded shinobi to change Kirigakure," he said, his voice firm with conviction. "To shatter this false reality and build a village where truth matters—where rewards are fair, conflicts are resolved, and people can live without fear. Kisame, I need your strength. Will you join me?"
Kisame's laughter was sharp, laced with menace. "You've got guts, kid, but you're treading on thin ice. What's stopping me from spilling your little rebellion to the Mizukage? I could kill you right now for treason, and no one would blink."
Ye Liangnai's grin didn't waver. "You won't. Because you're Kisame Hoshigaki—a man who'd rather die than stain his hands with a comrade's blood. You're better than this village's lies."
The words struck deep, silencing Kisame. His gaze grew distant, memories of betrayal and bloodshed surfacing. After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low. "Fine. Show me you can back up your big talk. Fail, and I'll take your head myself to ease my disappointment."
Ye Liangnai's heart pounded, but he kept his composure, his voice steady. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe I could do it. Welcome aboard, Kisame." Beneath his confident facade, his palms were slick with sweat, the tension of the gamble nearly overwhelming. That was too close.
Kisame's eyes glinted, seeing through the bravado but letting it slide. "When do we move?"
"Soon," Ye Liangnai said. "Wait for my signal. Until then, get stronger." He dispelled the barrier just as an ANBU patrol rounded the corner, his timing impeccable.
"What are you two doing, skulking around?" one ANBU demanded, his tone sharp.
Ye Liangnai's response was smooth, his face a mask of innocence. "Just asking Senior Kisame for advice on ciphers. Heard he's the best in the Corps—thought he could help me out."
The ANBU squinted, then relaxed, recognizing him. "Oh, it's you, Ye Liangnai. Well, learn from Kisame—he's the top dog here." They moved on, suspicions allayed.
Ye Liangnai exhaled, relief flooding him as he resumed training. During a break, his thoughts turned inward. I planned to grind Enhancement Points, push my strength to Jonin-level, and rally every ally I could before toppling Yagura. But this Kumogakure mission threw a wrench in everything. The sudden assignment had upended his strategy, forcing him to adapt on the fly.
The Next Day, Mizukage's Office
Yagura's eyes gleamed as he addressed Ye Liangnai, his voice calm but commanding. "Your cover in Kumogakure will be Kira, a B-rank rogue ninja who fled Kirigakure's oppression after a failed assassination attempt on me. To make it convincing, I'll order ANBU to pursue you with lethal intent—prepare yourself."
Ye Liangnai's stomach twisted, but he kept his expression neutral. Real death chases? Great.
Yagura continued. "Switching to Lightning Style to mask your fighting style was a smart move—commendable. Your mission lasts six months. Record every scrap of intel you can access. Succeed, and I'll grant you a Jonin position upon your return."
Ye Liangnai nodded, his mind dismissing the promise. Jonin rank? Others might drool over it, but I don't care. He followed Mei out, heading for the ANBU's disguise division. A new identity required a complete transformation, and he braced for the ordeal.
The process was grueling—hours of dyes, prosthetics, and chakra-infused alterations. Pain prickled his skin as his features shifted, the mirror reflecting a stranger: silver-white hair, piercing blue eyes, a chiseled, mature face, and a deeper voice. Only his height remained, his twelve-year-old frame tall enough to pass for sixteen or seventeen.
Mei inspected him, a grin tugging at her lips. "Not bad, Little Ye. You actually look the part."
She pulled him to a training field, her stance shifting to one of combat readiness. "Before you go, let's test what you picked up from Yuan Long's vault. I need to know where you stand—it'll help me plan our next moves."
Ye Liangnai didn't hesitate. He wanted to gauge his unenhanced skills too, to see how far his raw talent could carry him. "Alright, Sis, here I come—watch yourself!"
His moniker, White Chill, was tied to his signature style: an impenetrable Hidden Mist Jutsu, a fortified Water Formation Wall, unpredictable Water Clones, and lethal swordplay. Swordsmanship, though, was universal—known or not, it wouldn't raise suspicions if he kept the flair minimal.
"Three-Talent Flash!" Three arcs of icy light surged from different angles, converging on Mei with blistering speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Mei's taijutsu, while not elite among her peers, was more than enough for Ye Liangnai. Her blades met his, shattering the slashes and forcing him back with a powerful counter, her movements fluid and precise.