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The ones questioning him were two Kirigakure ANBU, both wearing masks with unrecognizable patterns.
"Armband?"
One of them stepped forward, clearly surprised, looking Shisui up and down.
"You're the two who came to apply for teaching positions before, right?"
"You're supposed to return it tomorrow, not today. Get out quickly."
Shisui wore a look of sudden realization, nodded repeatedly, and left the Mizukage Tower.
Behind him, the two Kirigakure ANBU observed Shisui's good-tempered appearance somewhat strangely.
After all, this guy wore sunglasses, had smooth hair, and even his voice sounded quite gentle.
"How did someone like this survive in that school until now?"
The ANBU beside him shrugged and shook his head.
"Whether he lives or not doesn't matter. Anyway, staying here means he'll last until tomorrow at most."
Due to the bizarre death rate at the Ninja Academy, no one in the village was willing to get involved there anymore.
Therefore, teacher recruitment could only be done externally.
These people who came were intended as practice targets for the students. If they survived in that environment for three days, their strength could not be underestimated.
The Mizukage would extract useful information on the day the armbands were returned and decide the fate of these individuals.
"Lord Mizukage will naturally take care of them then. We don't need to worry."
"Speaking of which, the person returning tonight doesn't need to report the mission to Lord Mizukage again?"
"Standing guard."
"..."
The two walked away talking. Shisui's crow heard everything.
Most of the Mizukage Tower was very spread out, similar to the minimalist layout of their dormitory.
So Shisui only placed two or three crows throughout the building. If discovered, it could make them wary.
Then, finding out the Fourth Mizukage's next move would be even harder.
Hatake Kuroshi sat on the chair, feet propped up on the table like a lord.
He continuously toyed with the armband that had been on his arm.
He had found it strange right from the start; in such a terrifying atmosphere, why did outsiders need to specifically find the Mizukage to remove their armbands?
Obito wasn't a fool. Outsiders coming to find the Mizukage... logically, the risk factor should be higher than his own people finding the Mizukage.
"Ah."
Hatake Kuroshi held the rolled-up armband circle to his eye. Standing behind the circle was Shisui, who had just returned via Body Flicker.
Shisui downed a cup of water, sat down on the adjacent chair, and took a deep breath.
"I placed crows in the Mizukage Tower for surveillance and monitoring. We should be able to notice any developments promptly."
"It sounds like if we go find the Mizukage to remove the armbands tomorrow, we'll likely be dealt with."
Hatake Kuroshi tilted his head back in sudden understanding, punching his fist into his palm.
"Oh—then that makes sense!"
"Hm?"
Shisui looked blankly at Hatake Kuroshi. How could this guy figure things out just by sitting here while he gathered intel outside?
"The fact that I could get the Kirigakure Ninja Academy recruitment form definitely means Kirigakure has contact with the outside world."
"Not just recruiting teachers, there must be other activities too."
"But since we arrived, apart from the person who died on the first day, we haven't seen a single outsider."
Of course, Shisui had been sent out to stake out the Mizukage on the first night he arrived; it wouldn't be strange if he hadn't noticed this.
Because these past few days, he had also wandered around various locations in Kirigakure after class.
There was also something that annoyed Hatake Kuroshi: whenever he left the school on foot, Kirigakure ANBU would immediately start following him, thinking they were being stealthy.
Of course, if he teleported out, the ANBU couldn't even see his shadow, let alone follow him.
"You mean to say, anyone who comes here for more than three days, if not dealt with by those around them, will be dealt with by the Mizukage?"
Shisui couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
If that were true, the title 'Village of the Bloody Mist' was indeed well-deserved.
Massacring both internally and externally... could anyone really stand living in such a gloomy place?
"Yes! Not just us, the scope should extend to all outsiders."
"Ah—so, any other useful information?"
Hatake Kuroshi's face showed no sign of being troubled by this matter.
It was the same with the Uchiha clan coup before; now, they were practically about to fight the Mizukage, yet his attitude remained the same?!
Does this bloody and brutal place not affect this person's mood or mentality at all?
Shisui looked at Hatake Kuroshi with complex emotions, scratching his head.
"The Mizukage won't let them report missions tonight. It sounds like this happens often."
"But the external guards will increase. Staying there tonight might cause problems."
Shisui preferred to stay near the Mizukage Tower himself, although using crows served the same purpose.
But once discovered and shot down, they probably wouldn't hear anything if they went over again.
However, under these circumstances, the possibility of him being discovered there was too high. Given the nature of this place, if they were caught, things likely wouldn't end well.
So he came back first.
Hatake Kuroshi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This information could indeed only be obtained near the Mizukage Tower.
"No problem, leaving eyes and ears is enough."
This setup did indeed sound suspicious, like Obito arranging things.
If Obito was coming, Shisui returning was a good judgment call.
Even if Obito knew they had infiltrated Kirigakure, he wouldn't know their specific identities.
Hatake Kuroshi quickly reviewed Obito's impression of him in his mind.
On the night of the massacre, Obito hadn't seen his face. Barring accidents, he shouldn't know his identity.
Not long after nightfall, the senses shared between Shisui and the crow began to react.
Sure enough, someone suddenly appeared inside the Mizukage Tower, while the ANBU guards outside showed no reaction at all.
In the dimness, a man wearing a spiral mask repeatedly vanished from his spot and reappeared in another location.
Shisui couldn't help frowning. This method of suddenly disappearing and reappearing... before this, he seemed to have only seen Hatake Kuroshi use it.
"Someone's here. A masked man."
"The Kaguya clan's rebellious sentiment is becoming increasingly obvious. They must be eliminated quickly."
"Those people are all powerful warmongers with few connections in the village."
"When trouble arises, no one will come to help. You and the ANBU can go together."
"Coincidentally, that old fellow Genji has also become somewhat suspicious of your situation. Go prove it to them."
Obito looked down condescendingly at Yagura Karatachi sitting in the chair.
The Fourth Mizukage, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, stared straight ahead with empty, lifeless eyes.
Something didn't look right at all.
Obito didn't have a good impression of Genji. Shortly after Yagura was controlled, that old man carved out a separate faction within Kirigakure.
Of course, if that group wanted to directly confront Yagura Karatachi, they would be somewhat foolish.
So it was just self-preservation, occasionally causing Obito some insignificant obstacles.
Obito didn't fully understand that group's situation; after all, those old folks were very calculating.
They rarely initiated attacks.
Even their suspicions about Yagura Karatachi were probed indirectly; they would never tear face openly.
But if they were insidious, Obito would be insidious right back.
Yagura Karatachi's strength was mostly known. That old man didn't dare tear face openly... likely because he realized his current strength was insufficient to confront Yagura Karatachi directly.
This kind of guy is like a restless mosquito in autumn.
Obito pursed his lips unhappily.
Moreover, if something happened to Yagura, that old man's people would likely rush to take over.
Quickly suppress other factions to prevent further problems under the tyrannical regime.
"The teachers who recently entered the village and are still alive?"
"You know how to handle them."
Once inside, there was no way out. Besides death, there was no other path.
These recruited experts... kill one if you can. Few ninjas could match the Three-Tails Jinchuriki.
Obito waved dismissively and instantly vanished from the spot.
Yagura Karatachi remained in his original posture.
The window beside him was wide open, letting in gusts of night wind.
The crow, almost blending into the ceiling, tilted its head, revealing a crimson eye, and quickly flew out the open window.
...
Shisui blinked, ending the simultaneous transmission with Obito.
The masked man wore a mask, and due to the angle, Shisui didn't get a clear look at Obito's Sharingan.
He could only discern that Yagura Karatachi's state was clearly under Genjutsu.
"Someone is controlling the Mizukage from behind the scenes?!"
"So all these recent events were caused by that man?"
Shisui's expression was clearly incredulous. This was using Genjutsu to control the leader of a nation to govern the country!
Although his Kotoamatsukami had deceived many, he hadn't used it to rule a nation.
"Well, he takes most of the blame, I guess."
Hatake Kuroshi responded, clearly somewhat absent-minded.
"You know him?"
"If you say 'know,' our relationship would sound too good. We've only met a few times."
Hatake Kuroshi pursed his lips, refraining from mentioning that this punk Obito was almost connected to your clan's massacre.
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