"Mizukage-sama, please choose another punishment. This is far too harsh on the captain!"
"Yeah, Mizukage-sama. We passed the second round of the Chunin Exams, after all. Even if the captain made a mistake, you can't exile her from Kirigakure, can you?"
There was no doubt that Hozuki Suigetsu and Chojuro had been led astray by Chiyo.
Soji: "..."
That completely threw Soji for a loop.
Even he briefly wondered whether he had actually said he was making Chiyo leave Kirigakure.
Fortunately, Soji had memories from two lifetimes and mental strength far beyond that of ordinary people. Otherwise, he might really have started doubting himself.
"What are you two thinking? When did I ever say Chiyo had to leave Kirigakure?"
Soji sounded thoroughly exasperated.
Anyone who did not know better would think his rule over Kirigakure was utterly tyrannical!
"Huh? Is that so?"
Chojuro was the first to react, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed look.
"Uh, it seems Mizukage-sama really didn't say that!"
After thinking back carefully, Hozuki Suigetsu's expression stiffened in awkwardness.
Then he shot Chojuro a fierce glare.
It was all this guy's fault for leading him astray!
Meeting Hozuki Suigetsu's gaze, the bashful Chojuro felt even guiltier.
It was not entirely his fault, okay?
The main thing was that their captain's reaction had been a little too intense, so he had naturally followed that train of thought...
Of course, Chojuro would never say that out loud.
He would take the blame!
Chiyo had also come back to her senses by then. Thinking over what Mizukage-sama had said, it seemed... perhaps... probably... she really had misunderstood.
Mizukage-sama had merely said that whether she would continue staying in Kirigakure depended on his and that person's decision.
As for who "that person" was, Chiyo was still utterly