As he watched Yakushi Kabuto's calm expression, Ueno Kei's sense of unease grew stronger.
Precisely because he was too calm, this was far too abnormal. What did Yakushi Kabuto have to rely on? Did he dare to remain so composed because he was confident Ueno Kei would not attack him? Or was he confident that even if Ueno Kei did attack—
he could still fight him off or escape?
Even Orochimaru had not possessed such confidence back then. Where did this mere fellow, who had inherited only part of Orochimaru's power, get such confidence?
Yet the unease in his heart was real. At Ueno Kei's level of strength, premonitions like these were often quite accurate. For instance, when Jiraiya had gone alone to Amegakure, Tsunade had felt a shadow fall over her heart. Had Ueno Kei not arrived in time—
Jiraiya truly would have died there.
Thus, ninja who had reached Ueno Kei's level generally adopted the attitude of trusting such intuitions rather than dismissing them.
That slight chill in his heart, coupled with the dangerous aura Kabuto gave off, made Ueno Kei realize that Yakushi Kabuto was unquestionably a dangerous existence.
"Senior Guy." Ueno Kei spoke to him in a low voice. Might Guy nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. Among everyone currently in Konoha, Guy was undoubtedly the strongest apart from Ueno Kei and the others.
Even Ueno Kei did not dare confront him head-on if the Eight Gates were fully opened. That was power beyond what an ordinary person could withstand—power bought with one's life was no joke.
That was also why Might Guy had been sent on this mission alongside Ueno Kei to protect Naruto.
Just now, Ueno Kei had instructed Might Guy that once the fighting began, he was to protect Shizuka and Tokiwa, with