Teizawa had only just returned to his room when someone suddenly appeared before him.
The newcomer wore Konoha Anbu attire and a mask.
But that flowing head of long purple hair still exposed her identity.
Teizawa already knew who she was.
This Anbu ninja was Uzuki Yugao.
At that moment, Yugao stood before Teizawa.
She wore a full Anbu uniform, and an animal mask covered most of her face.
But her signature long purple hair hung down from the edge of her hood, drifting gently in the night wind.
Her posture was straight, and her aura was restrained.
It was the bearing of someone well-trained, someone ready to erupt into lethal violence at any moment.
"Lord Hokage requests your presence."
Her voice was cool and calm.
The eyes beneath the mask did not look at Teizawa directly. Her gaze rested near his shoulder instead.
That was Anbu protocol.
Do not make eye contact with the person being escorted, lest a genjutsu find an opening.
"Well, now..."
Teizawa leaned against the doorframe, his gaze sweeping over her face. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Uzuki Yugao?"
Yugao's body suddenly stiffened.
Her hand unconsciously pressed against the hilt of the short blade at her waist.
The eyes beneath the mask contracted sharply.
Her name.
How did this Kazekage know her name?
Anbu identities were confidential.
Every member's file was kept inside the Hokage's office, locked away in a classified cabinet.
Only the Hokage and a very small number of high-ranking officials had the authority to access them.
She had never shown herself in public.
She had never revealed her true identity to anyone.
This Kazekage was clearly an outsider.
Yet he had called out her name at a glance.
"How does Your Excellency know my name?"
Her voice was pressed very low, carrying a clear thread of vigilance.
Teizawa smiled faintly.
"I guessed."
Guessed?
Yugao's brows furrowed beneath the mask.
Of course she did not believe that.
But her Anbu training allowed her to suppress every doubt.
She merely bowed slightly.
"Lord Hokage requests your presence."
She repeated it, her tone a few degrees colder than before.
"Sure."
Teizawa agreed readily.
He stepped out of the room and casually closed the door behind him.
Yugao walked half a step ahead of him.
Her pace was neither fast nor slow, keeping the proper distance.
Night wind poured in through the corridor window.
It lifted her long purple hair.
Several strands drifted in front of Teizawa, carrying a faint fragrance.
Teizawa's gaze swept over her slender neck.
The smile at the corner of his mouth never disappeared.
The Hokage's office was in the center of the village.
Walking there from the inn required crossing several streets.
It was deep into the night. There were almost no people on the road.
Only patrolling Anbu occasionally swept over the rooftops.
Yugao walked ahead, saying nothing.
Like a moving statue.
Teizawa did not speak either. He followed her at an unhurried pace.
From time to time, his gaze swept over her.
Her waist was very slim, but her shoulders were broad.
It was the kind of inverted-triangle build that came only from year-round training.
A short blade hung at her waist, and three "Uzuki" characters were carved into the scabbard.
That was the Uzuki clan crest.
It was also the reason he had recognized her.
When they reached the entrance to the Hokage's office, Yugao stopped and turned slightly.
"Kazekage, please."
Teizawa held the doorknob, but did not push the door open immediately.
He turned his head and looked at Yugao.
Moonlight spilled in through the corridor window and fell across her.
The Anbu uniform shimmered faintly silver beneath the moonlight.
The mask hid her face.
But it could not hide the eyes exposed beneath it.
Deep purple, like gemstones.
At this moment, they were staring at him warily.
Teizawa leaned forward slightly, drawing close to her ear.
Yugao's body instinctively leaned back.
Her hand had already pressed onto her blade hilt.
But Teizawa did nothing. He only lowered his voice.
In a volume only the two of them could hear, he said one sentence.
"Do you want Hayate Gekko to come back to life?"
Yugao's hand froze on the hilt.
Her pupils contracted violently.
The face beneath the mask instantly lost all color.
"If you do..."
Teizawa straightened, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. "Remember to come find me before you sleep tonight."
He pushed the door open and entered the office.
The door closed softly behind him.
Yugao stood where she was, completely motionless.
Night wind poured through the window, lifting her purple hair and the hem of her Anbu uniform.
Her hand was still pressed to her blade hilt, her fingers pale.
Yet she had forgotten to let go.
Hayate Gekko.
That name was like a knife, stabbing viciously into her heart.
He had been her lover.
Konoha's special jonin, Hayate Gekko.
He had died during the mission around Orochimaru's attack on Konoha.
He had died in her arms.
Even before his death, he had smiled and said, "It's all right."
That had happened long ago.
She had not thought about it in a very long time.
Not because she had forgotten.
Because she did not dare.
Every time she remembered, it felt as though someone had clenched her heart, leaving her unable to breathe.
And now, that Kazekage had casually said it.
Do you want Hayate Gekko to come back to life?
Come back to life?
How could the dead possibly come back?
She wanted to chase him inside and demand an explanation.
She wanted to ask whether what he had said was true. She wanted to ask what method he had.
But her feet felt nailed to the ground. She could not take even one step.
The Hokage was inside.
The people from Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure were also inside.
She could not rush in at a time like this. She could not lose control.
She could not let anyone see how shaken she was.
She was Anbu.
One of Konoha's elite ninja.
She had to remain calm.
Yugao took a deep breath and released the hilt of her blade.
Then she retreated into the shadows of the corridor.
She leaned against the wall.
Closed her eyes.
Hayate's face appeared in the darkness.
Gentle. Smiling. Forever young.
She opened her eyes and looked at the tightly shut door.
That Kazekage had already gone inside.
Leaving her alone in that silent corridor.
Her heart was in turmoil.
Remember to come find me before you sleep tonight.
His voice still echoed beside her ear.
With that incomprehensible smile.
She did not know whether what he had said was true or false.
She did not know what his goal was.
She did not know what she would face if she went.
But she knew...
She would go.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance.
She wanted to try.
...
Teizawa pushed open the door to the Hokage's office.
The air inside was nearly solid.
Kitsuchi stood before the desk, his face livid.
His hands were still braced against the tabletop, his knuckles white.
Mei leaned against the wall in the corner.
Her arms were crossed over her chest, and there was a hint of a smile on her lips, as though she were watching a good show.
Tsunade sat in the main seat.
Her fingers were rubbing her temples, her brows tightly knitted.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the doorway at the same time.
Their gazes carried scrutiny, anger, curiosity, and helplessness.
"Well, now..."
Teizawa stood in the doorway.
His gaze swept over Kitsuchi, then over Mei, and finally landed on Tsunade.
That signature smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Everyone's here?"
His tone was so friendly it was as if he were greeting guests in his own living room.
As if he and Kitsuchi were old friends of many years, as if he and Mei were childhood sweethearts, and as if he and Tsunade were...
In any case, very familiar.
Kitsuchi's face turned even darker.
The smile at the corner of Mei's mouth deepened.
Tsunade's temples throbbed even harder.
Teizawa walked into the office, his steps calm.
His dark-gold robe dragged across the floor with a faint rustle.
"Why haven't the people from Kumogakure arrived yet?"
He looked around, his tone carrying a trace of impatience.
"They really have no sense of time."
His tone made it sound as though he had not been summoned for a confrontation.
Rather, he had come to preside over the situation.
As he spoke, he naturally walked toward Tsunade.
Tsunade was sitting in the main seat, with an empty chair beside her.
But Teizawa clearly did not regard himself as an outsider.
He sat down directly.
Right next to Tsunade, close enough to catch the faint scent of wine on her body.
Tsunade's face instantly flushed red.
Not from embarrassment.
From anger.
Smack!
She slapped the table.
The impact made the teacups jump.
"Sit over there!"
Her voice was sharp and angry, as if she were driving off an annoying fly.
"What are you leaning so close for?"
Teizawa blinked, his face innocent.
"Isn't this the only seat left?"
He looked around and pointed at the empty chairs in the corner.
"Aren't there seats over there?" Tsunade gritted out.
Mei finally could not hold it in.
She let out a soft laugh.
That laugh was very light, yet in the silent office, it was exceptionally clear.
Kitsuchi glanced at her, his expression worsening.
Tsunade glared at Mei.
Mei quickly put away her smile.
But the corners of her mouth still could not help curving upward.
Teizawa, however, did not care in the slightest.
He leaned back in the chair, crossed one leg over the other, and swept his gaze around the office.
"So, tell me. Why did you call me here?"
His tone made it seem as if he had not come to be questioned.
Rather, he had come to listen to a report.
Tsunade took a deep breath and forced herself not to look at him.
"Kitsuchi accuses Kumogakure of stealing Iwagakure's money."
Her voice returned to the steadiness befitting the Hokage.
"As the seller of the Four-Tails, you have a responsibility to explain the situation."
(End of Chapter)
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