Sora: Nice to Meet You, Mr. Kakashi

Mizukage Aide Building, Corridor

Zabuza stopped in front of the door, raised his hand, knocked three times on the door, and said respectfully:

"Lord Kong, the envoy from Konoha has arrived."

There was a moment of silence inside the door, then a gentle male voice came from behind it, not loud, but exceptionally clear:

"Please come in."

Kakashi and the other two tensed up almost simultaneously.

Zabuza open the wooden door, bowed slightly towards the inside, and then stepped aside to make way.

Kakashi took a deep breath and stepped inside first.

The office was much simpler than Kakashi had expected.

A mediocre calligraphy scroll bearing the words "Tranquility" hangs on the wall, a pine tree with overly neat trimming sits in the niche, and scrolls are arranged in an orderly fashion on the bookshelf.

The midday sun slanted in through the half-open window, and there was a very faint aroma of tea in the air, mixed with the unique smell of paper and ink.

The office was very clean, yet it exuded a sense of home.

Behind the desk sat a young man.

His face was very ordinary; he had the kind of appearance that wouldn't attract anyone's attention if he walked down the street.

But those eyes looked exceptionally bright on that ordinary face.

"Is he the Mizukage's Mizukage Aide from Mist Village, the leader of the Reformist Faction...?"

Kakashi looked at the young man in front of him, who was about the same age as him, and was momentarily stunned.

Even though it was their first meeting, for some reason, this man in front of her made her feel incredibly close to him...

"Is this what leadership qualities are...?"

Kakashi looked at the gentle-smiling man in front of him, silently suppressing the faint flutter in his heart, and trying his best to maintain the composure befitting a diplomatic envoy.

He took in Kakashi's reaction and nodded in satisfaction.

"Excellent, Kakashi didn't notice anything amiss. My acting is still as perfect as ever!"

He secretly gave himself a thumbs up in his heart, while outwardly maintaining that perfectly appropriate gentle smile.

Kō turned his gaze to Zabuza, who was Zabuza in a standard, ready-to-fight posture, and said in a gentle tone:

"You've had a tough journey, Zabuza."

"Go back and get some rest. I'll handle the rest of the matters with the guests from Konoha."

"Yes, Lord Kong."

Zabuza respectfully, then took a half step back and quietly closed the door.

The wooden door closed very quietly, the footsteps in the corridor quickly faded away, and the entire office fell silent again.

Kakashi had already composed himself the moment Zabuza closed the door.

He suppressed his surprise and caution, and introduced himself respectfully yet tactfully:

"Nice to meet you, Shiina Sora- sama. I am Kakashi Hatake, the representative of this Konoha visiting team."

Koko nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment on Kakashi's left eye, which was covered by his Forehead Protector, before he smiled gently.

"I've long admired your name. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kakashi Hatake of Konoha."

Kō stood up under Kakashi's shocked gaze, looked directly at the three guests before him, and solemnly introduced himself:

Let me introduce myself first, guests who have come from afar.

I am Mist Village Mizukage Aide of Shiina Sora and a representative of the Reformist Faction.

If you don't mind, just call me Kong.

Kakashi instinctively declined:

"No, how can this be...?"

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes widened suddenly at the sight before him.

Kai had disappeared from his side without him noticing.

When he reappeared, he was already right in front of Kou.

Kai's face was almost touching Kou's unremarkable face. His dark, round eyes beneath thick eyebrows were scrutinizing him with suspicion at very close range.

Kouch felt the intense gaze emanating from Kai, and a cold sweat immediately broke out on his back.

But on the surface, Kou's gentle and harmless face still wore a polite smile.

He subtly moved back half an inch, feigning confusion, and asked:

"Is there a problem, guest from Konoha?"

"Um--"

Kai didn't back away; instead, he let out a deep, thoughtful sound as if he were fully engaged in mental work:

"Hmm... I don't know why, but I have a feeling of familiarity, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Hearing Kaina's distressed murmurs, I gasped inwardly.

Seriously?! You could even tell that?

Kouchi stared wide-eyed at Kai in front of him, inwardly cursing:

"Even Orochimaru couldn't detect my Transformation Technique!! How did you figure it out? You must have used it!!"

Although he was inwardly turbulent, on the surface, Kou maintained his calm and composed demeanor.

He looked at Kai in front of him and replied with a smile:

"After all, I have a fairly ordinary face, so it's reasonable that you'd find me familiar, right?"

Kai hesitated for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

The head shake wasn't large, but it made Kou's heart beat a beat slower.

"No, no... Could he have actually figured something out?"

He murmured anxiously to himself, his mind racing. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned his pleading gaze to the silver-haired ninja standing not far behind Kai.

Kakashi instantly caught Koko's gaze and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

He darted forward, grabbed Kai's shoulders with both hands, and forcefully pulled him back from in front of Kou.

Kakashi quickly pressed Gai's head down, and the two of them bowed deeply in the direction of the kowtow.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Kong, I've caused you trouble!"

This is Might Guy, a member of our team. He was just too excited; he meant no harm. I'll take him away now...

Looking down at Kai's head, which Kakashi had firmly pressed down, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He maintained a gentle and polite smile and waved to Kakashi.

"It's alright, Mr. Kai..."

He paused, looked at Kai in front of him, and after holding it in for a while, finally gave an awkward yet polite evaluation:

"Very, uh... lively?"

I'm so sorry!!!

Kakashi pulled Guy aside and bowed deeply in the direction of the kowtow, feeling a dull ache in his stomach.

He silently pulled Kai back behind him, using his not-so-broad shoulders to block the watermelon-shaped head that kept trying to peek out.

Just then, the gray-robed boy who had been standing quietly behind Kai since entering took a step forward.

Kabuto stood next to Kakashi, completely obscuring Guy from his view of Koko, then bowed respectfully to Koko, a polite smile playing on his lips.

"Nice to meet you, Lord Sora. I am Kabuto, the current head of the Konoha Intelligence Bureau, 'Root'."

The smile that had been so hard-won back on Kou's face froze completely in that instant.

No? You, what are you?!

(After this meeting, the story begins with Kou and Tobi "accidentally" meeting Kakashi and the others.)