The Mizukage Arrives!!

Looking into the smiling pocket in front of him, his mind went blank for a moment.

What is the Konoha Intelligence Bureau? Root?!

Wasn't Danzo Danzo's old wall lamp's private army? How did it transform into the Konoha Intelligence Bureau?

And Danzo that old geezer Danzo? That's his lifeblood, how could he possibly give it away so easily?

Could it have crashed prematurely? But that doesn't make sense; the Night of the Uchiha Massacre just ended, he should have a bunch of resurrection coins, how could he have died so quickly?

"Could it be... that his dream came true and he was promoted to Hokage?"

The thought disgusted him so much that he shuddered, and he immediately dismissed it without hesitation.

Impossible! The probability of that happening is even lower than Prisoner Madara kicking Mito away and then Hashirama in front of the entire Ninja World!

"So, what exactly is going on?"

"Konoha, what exactly happened...?"

Looking at the pocket in front of him, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

"... Sora-sama?"

Dou looked at Kou, who had clearly been lost in thought for several seconds, and tentatively asked in a low voice.

His tone remained respectful and polite, but it carried a subtle hint of probing.

Kou snapped out of his daze, and his eyes, which had been glazed over for a few breaths, regained their original sparkle.

He suppressed his doubts and then gave the three people in front of him a slightly apologetic, gentle smile:

"I'm sorry, I lost my temper for a moment."

Looking at Kou's quickly regained composed smile, Dou silently made a judgment in his heart.

"This young Mist Village advisor... he knows Danzo, and he also knows the inner workings of Root."

This realization did not surprise Dou in the slightest.

His years of undercover work gave him an extremely clear understanding of the capabilities of the high-ranking officials in the various ninja villages.

While it's true that there are plenty of weaklings who specialize in infighting among the high-ranking officials of the major ninja villages (Danzo, Rasa), there are also plenty of cunning old foxes (Ōnoki).

Judging from the Mist Village advisor's reaction just now, he is definitely not some naive person who knows nothing about the political landscape of the Ninja World.

Rather, he is a shrewd character who has a certain understanding of the internal power structure of Konoha.

Thinking about this, Dou couldn't help but feel a sense of trouble.

There are advantages to collaborating with intelligent people, but the disadvantages are equally obvious:

As the party seeking cooperation, it would be virtually impossible for Konoha to reach an agreement in this negotiation without offering any substantial benefits in return.

Dou sighed, feeling utterly exhausted.

He really didn't want to do these troublesome things if he could.

Being by Nonō's side, caring for the children at the orphanage with her, that was the life he truly wanted.

But, but... Konoha, it gave so much!!

Although the subsidies specially approved by the Third Hokage Lord Hokage for the orphanage were already quite substantial, the orphanage's daily operations and the children's food, clothing, and shelter were no longer as strained as before.

But compared to the salary he currently receives as a high-ranking executive in Konoha, it's not even in the same league!

If I can stay in this position and work steadily for a few years, plus the high subsidies and bonuses for overseas missions, I can save up a lot of money in no time.

By then, he plans to completely renovate the entire orphanage from top to bottom, then expand and strengthen it, opening up a chain business and extending branches from Konoha all the way to Sand Village, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Mist Village.

He wanted the name Yakushi Nonō to be sung throughout the Ninja World for generations to come, just like the legendary Sage of Six Paths!

Nomon is awesome!!

Thinking of Nonō's proud smile, Kabuto subconsciously pushed up his glasses, a dazzling reflection flashing across the round frames.

Deep within his usually gentle eyes, a fierce, dark will ignited.

"Dean Nonō, grant me strength!!"

For Mom's sake... no, for the bonus! The cooperation with Mist Village must be finalized!!

Kakashi and Kotori felt a chilling aura emanating from Kabuto almost simultaneously.

The corners of their mouths twitched almost simultaneously, and they began to wonder to themselves:

"Weren't we here to discuss cooperation? Why does this kid act like he's going to war?" ×2

Kakashi coughed lightly, turning his gaze away from Kabuto, who was emanating black energy, and looking back at Koto.

Feeling Kakashi's solemn gaze, Koko's expression quickly became serious as well.

He looked at Kakashi in front of him and asked in a calm tone:

"So... what brings you all from Konoha to Mist Village?"

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, and he suppressed the complex emotions surging within him, speaking to Kou in a deep voice:

"We want to cooperate with Mist Village to jointly investigate an organization called 'Akatsuki'."

Kou pretended to be hearing the name for the first time, tilted his head slightly, and repeated curiously:

"... dawn?"

Kakashi nodded seriously:

"Ah, according to the intelligence we in Konoha currently possess, the core base of that mysterious mercenary organization called 'Akatsuki' is very likely lurking within the Land of Water."

His tone became more serious:

"We've come here hoping to collaborate with Mist Village on this matter, together..."

Before Kakashi could finish speaking, a gentle, youthful voice suddenly rang out from outside the office.

"Cooperation...?"

Kakashi, Guy, and Kabuto tensed up almost simultaneously, all turning their gazes toward the doorway.

The once tightly closed door had been pushed open at some point.

A "boy" stood at the doorway, staring blankly at Kakashi at the front.

He was short in stature and had a youthful face, looking even younger than Kimimaro.

But a bone-chilling cold permeated the area around the "boy".

The "boy" scanned the three Konoha members in front of him with his empty eyes, then glanced in the direction of Kou out of the corner of his eye, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:

"How can we discuss cooperation with Mist Village without mentioning their Mizukage 'Mist Village?"

Kakashi's heart sank as he listened to the boy's words.

The Fourth Mizukage... Karatachi Yagura.

Kakashi silently repeated the name in his mind, his eyes filled with deep vigilance.

In stark contrast to the tense demeanor of the three from Konoha, who appeared as if facing a formidable enemy, the Fourth Mizukage's expression remained unchanged as he stared at the uninvited Fourth Mizukage before him.

On that ordinary face, there remained that gentle and composed expression, as if everything was an expected arrangement.

Looking at Yagura before him with a speechless expression, then glancing at the direction behind Yagura, he spoke calmly to Kakashi and the other two:

"No need to be so tense, guests of Konoha."

He paused, then turned his gaze back to Yagura:

"This is our Fourth Mizukage of Mist Village, and also the current Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails — Karatachi Yagura."

Listening to Kona's casual introduction, Kakashi and the other two's tense emotions not only did not ease, but became even more so.

"The Three-Tails... Jinchuriki."

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart.

The left eye, hidden by the Forehead Protector, seemed to be burning slightly.

He looked at the "boy" before him with complicated emotions, but what surfaced in his mind was the girl from his memory whose smile was as warm as the sun...

He didn't speak, but silently clenched his hands.

"Lin."

Kakashi closed his eyes in anguish, murmuring the name of the girl who had passed away many years ago.

And in places he couldn't notice.

In the shadows behind the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, a complex gaze was fixed intently on Kakashi's pained expression...