"Gonbei?"
A moment later.
Ao walked in.
As Mei Terumi's senior, then her colleague, and later her subordinate...
Ao could be said to have witnessed Mei Terumi's growth with his own eyes.
He had watched Mei Terumi grow from a little girl into someone at Kage Level, step by step.
Even in the entire Shinobi World, Mei Terumi could be considered a powerful figure.
Ao's attitude toward her had also changed several times.
"Why are you here?"
Ao had come to report the developments on Momochi Zabuza's side to Mei Terumi.
Kirigakure was divided among three forces.
The Kirigakure natives and some Mist Ninja represented by Mei Terumi.
The Kirigakure ANBU and some Mist Ninja represented by Yagura.
And... Momochi Zabuza's small faction.
Among the three forces,
Zabuza's faction was the weakest.
In other words... Yagura would most likely devour Momochi Zabuza first.
This was not a guess.
It was a fact.
Suikazan Fuguki's death was a warning bell.
Even though Yagura had not said so outright,
Momochi Zabuza also understood that next... it would probably be his turn.
Therefore,
Mei Terumi had strengthened her network of informants.
She had begun monitoring Momochi Zabuza's movements twenty-four hours a day.
His actions... would affect the course of the final civil war in the Bloody Mist Village.
"I came to study strawberry cultivation techniques."
Hyuga Sho turned around and replied coldly.
Back then, during the Third Shinobi World War, Ao had served as an adviser.
He had offered suggestions for the Third Mizukage's plan to attack Konoha.
He had also devised a plan to seize Hyuga Mami's Byakugan.
In terms of strength, Ao was the weakest kind of Elite Jonin.
But in terms of intellect...
Ao might not even be inferior to Shikaku Nara.
People with this kind of mind
were extremely