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This was practically laying all his cards bare on the table. Kazuki studied Kisame from head to toe and observed that the man's entire body was completely relaxed. He wore an expression of utter resignation to his fate, with no hint of covert wariness or any indication that he was poised to strike at any moment. This man had genuinely come to defect and pledge loyalty. And he had done so with absolute, thoroughgoing completeness! To put it bluntly, his attitude was: kill me or spare me, do as you wish. Behead me or lock me up, it's entirely up to you. The "behead me" part might have been a slight exaggeration, but as long as Kazuki didn't take his life, this man essentially wouldn't resist in any way – even if it meant being imprisoned, he wouldn't care.
"Kisame, you are trouble. A great deal of trouble. I acknowledge your strength, and I recognize that you're a man who values his commitments," Kazuki said, tapping a few fingers lightly on the desk. "But have you considered what kind of complications I'll face if I accept you?"
"I don't know," Kisame replied with a grin. "All I know is that if you accept me, my lord, then I will offer you my complete loyalty – my everything."
Complications? That went without saying. Whether it was his identity as an S-rank rogue ninja from the Mist Village or his status as a member of the Akatsuki, no matter which power Kisame threw his lot in with, that party would inevitably have to shoulder the troublesome baggage tied to his identity. Such complications were not something the average person could bear. But the man standing before him could. Kisame wanted to save himself, yes, but he wasn't so foolish as to simply walk up to someone's door and deliver his own head on a platter. He had chosen to come to the Leaf Village to defect because he knew the Leaf Village could protect him – that Kazuki could protect him. If this had been the Sand Village or the Stone Village or the like, Kisame would much rather have found some remote corner of the world to hide in.
"I hope you can live up to your words. Kakashi, give him a forehead protector. Also, go to the Intelligence Division and have them send a message to the front-line camp. Tell Itachi to return to the village as soon as possible."
"Yes, my lord." The Advisor had actually accepted this man? Kakashi found it hard to believe. After all, the man's identity... both his status as an S-rank rogue ninja and his affiliation with the Akatsuki were enormous liabilities. Yet Kazuki had genuinely taken him in. Was it truly wise to keep such a ticking bomb right at one's side? If it were up to him, Kakashi wouldn't trust a single word out of Kisame's mouth, let alone actually accept him.
It's done! From the moment Kazuki instructed Kakashi to hand him a forehead protector, Kisame knew that his bid for self-preservation had succeeded. He also felt a deep sense of admiration for Kazuki's sheer boldness of spirit.
"Hmph!" Kakashi tossed a brand-new forehead protector at Kisame with a derisive snort, then turned and left. This was a rare display of overt animosity from him, but he simply did not like this man, Kisame. Before departing, Kakashi even shot Kisame a pointed, threatening glare. You'd better watch yourself. I'll be keeping my eyes on you.
"Thank you." Kisame acted as though he hadn't seen Kakashi's threatening look at all. With a smile, he tossed his rogue ninja forehead protector into the trash and tied the Leaf Village's protector around his head. He casually picked up Samehada from the floor and slung it back into place.
"You will serve as my personal guard for now. Uchiha Itachi will be returning from the front-line camp shortly. When he arrives, you will be assigned to him. He will instruct you on what needs to be done," Kazuki said, waving his hand dismissively as he walked toward his private rest chamber. Kisame bowed his head slightly. Once Kazuki had entered the rest chamber, Kisame moved of his own accord to stand by the office door, beginning to fulfill his duties as a guard.
After leaving the Intelligence Division, Kakashi did not return home to rest. Instead, he went straight back to the Hokage building. He needed to keep watch on the dangerous individual that was Kisame. He also wanted to prevent any misunderstandings from arising. After all, no one else knew that Kazuki had already accepted Kisame. If someone were to run into Kisame and a conflict erupted, that would be disastrous. S-rank rogue ninja. Akatsuki member. Either one of those identities was enough to make the shinobi of the Leaf Village take the situation with the utmost seriousness.
"Change your clothes. I've already notified the Anbu. They won't treat you as an enemy. I also expect you to behave yourself. As I said, I will be watching you." Kisame was standing dutifully at the door of the Hokage's office, but the black cloak with its red cloud pattern – the unmistakable uniform of the Akatsuki – was far too conspicuous. After some thought, Kakashi procured a standard jonin flak jacket and tossed it to Kisame, instructing him to change.
"Thank you." Kisame displayed impeccable manners, decisively changing into the jonin jacket. As for the Akatsuki robes, they had already been retired. The trash can was the most fitting final destination for them.
Early morning. Izumi, brimming with energy and cheerfully humming a little tune, arrived at the Hokage's office on clicking heels, carrying the breakfast she had brought for Kazuki. Glancing down at her new outfit, she mused to herself: I wonder if Kazuki will notice the new clothes I bought. Entering the Hokage building, Izumi habitually made her way toward the office. Kazuki had been working overtime last night; at this hour, he was surely still snoozing away in the rest chamber. If she went straight in, she might even catch an adorable glimpse of him sound asleep.
In high spirits, Izumi reached the door of the Hokage's office and, without particularly noticing who the ninja standing guard was, prepared to open the door. The guard on duty proactively opened it for her.
"Thank you," Izumi said with a smile, offering her gratitude. But the moment she lifted her head and looked at the guard, her mind went completely blank. "Y-y-y-you... you're Kisame?!" Izumi instinctively leaped far back, her three-tomoe Sharingan flaring to life as she instantly entered combat mode. Wait, that's not right! Isn't Kisame a rogue ninja from the Mist Village? He's also a member of the Akatsuki! How on earth is he at the Hokage building, standing right at the office door, even opening it for me?! Am I hallucinating?!
A situation like this was bound to occur sooner or later, and Kisame had long since mentally prepared himself for it. Before he could even open his mouth to explain, Kakashi proactively appeared: "Kisame has chosen to defect and pledge loyalty to the village. The Advisor has accepted him and currently assigned him to the position of Advisor's bodyguard."
As he gave this explanation, the look Kakashi directed at Kisame was a complex cocktail of emotions, because no matter how much he racked his brain, he simply could not fathom why Kazuki would accept this man's surrender.
"Huh?" Accepted his defection? Izumi froze for a moment, then turned her head to look at Kakashi, her expression seeming to ask: Kakashi-senpai, are you sure this isn't some kind of joke? Kakashi tilted his head slightly and returned a look that said: I wish I were joking too. That way he wouldn't have to keep watching Kisame constantly. After all, keeping a constant vigil on someone was exhausting. Take himself, for example – he'd been up all night, too afraid to even blink, terrified that the man would prove untrustworthy and attempt some underhanded move.
"I see," Izumi said, finally lowering her guard. Her Sharingan, which had been spinning and steadily progressing toward the Mangekyo, came to a halt. She didn't trust the man Kisame personally, but she trusted Kazuki one hundred percent. If Kazuki dared to accept this man, it meant he had absolute confidence in keeping him under control. Kisame certainly wouldn't dare to try anything reckless. Otherwise, the place he'd be staying wouldn't be the doorway of the Hokage's office – it would be the Leaf Village prison, or a cell in the Interrogation Division's dungeon.
"..." Kisame's expression grew somewhat unbalanced, though not because of Kakashi's hostility. It was Izumi's eyes that made him feel genuinely endangered.