The Truth Is Out: I Am the Player! Kamizuki Yu Gives the New Akatsuki a Secret Order—Water Country Operation, Begin!

Kamizuki Yu sat upright, a cup of tea still warm resting on the low table before him.

A figure silently knelt before him. It was Setsuna Uchiha, dressed as an ANBU operative. He was now one of the core members of Kamizuki Yu's intelligence network.

"Lord Yu, the Hidden Mist Village has sent the latest confidential report." Setsuna's voice was low and hoarse.

"The policies of the Bloody Mist Village have not eased in the slightest. On the contrary, they have grown increasingly severe. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, is vicious by nature and ruthless in his methods. He has imposed a reign of terror over the Hidden Mist Village for many years."

Kamizuki Yu lightly tapped his fingertips against the table. The soft sounds of [tap, tap] were especially clear in the silence.

Yagura Karatachi, the Three-Tails' jinchuriki.

Without outside interference, a Kage-level powerhouse would not have fallen so low.

That familiar, unpleasant aura of a puppet master lurking behind the scenes required almost no thought.

Obito Uchiha—or rather, "Tobi," as he was now called.

He truly was impossible to get rid of.

What was the point of such artificially created, idiotic tragedies, other than needlessly sacrificing innocents and weakening the ninja world's future strength?

Against the Otsutsuki Clan that would inevitably descend in the future, every powerful ninja was a valuable fighting force.

"The intelligence mentions that the Hidden Mist Village is not entirely without resistance." Setsuna continued his report and presented a more detailed scroll.

Kamizuki Yu accepted the scroll and slowly unfurled it.

Written upon it in graceful yet faintly trembling handwriting was a name: Mei Terumi.

And the two kekkei genkai she possessed: [Lava Release] and [Boil Release].

The scroll described the difficult circumstances she faced as she tried to unite the few clear-minded people in the village and secretly resist Yagura's tyranny.

She had narrowly escaped death many times and was on the verge of being exposed.

"Interesting." A faint curve touched Kamizuki Yu's lips.

To persist in resisting under the oppressive rule of Yagura, a perfect jinchuriki, and the entire village—her temperament and potential were quite good.

A suitable chess piece could save him a great deal of trouble.

It was time to clean up the Hidden Mist Village.

Bringing one of the future Five Kage under his sphere of influence in advance would benefit the subsequent integration of the ninja world, as well as the more distant battlefield among the stars.

The youngsters he had been training in the Hidden Leaf were idle moves, made on a whim.

Dealing with the Hidden Mist Village, however, was an active move—clearing obstacles while also stockpiling talent.

Kamizuki Yu raised his hand, and a specially made dart, [Phantom Feather], appeared between his fingers. With a light flick, he sent it flying.

[Phantom Feather] tore through the air, silently pierced the wall, and vanished into the night.

A moment later, ripples of vortex-like space appeared before Kamizuki Yu. Pain's Deva Path stepped out from within, his Rinnegan gazing at him with indifference.

"Nagato." Kamizuki Yu spoke calmly.

"What are your orders, Lord Yu?" Pain's Deva Path replied without a trace of emotion.

Kamizuki Yu handed him the scroll concerning Mei Terumi.

"The Hidden Mist Village, Yagura Karatachi, and the 'Madara Uchiha' who may be lurking behind the scenes—or rather, 'Tobi.' I want detailed intelligence on the exact methods he used to control Yagura, as well as every trace of his activities in the Water Country."

"Put the New Akatsuki's intelligence network in the Water Country into full operation."

"I want results within three days."

Pain's Deva Path accepted the scroll and gave a slight bow. "Understood."

Space twisted once more, and Pain's Deva Path vanished.

Silence returned to the room.

Kamizuki Yu lifted his teacup and took a sip.

The Water Country. The Hidden Mist Village.

It was time for him to bring Obito's schemes to an end.

Supporting Mei Terumi's rise to power and turning the Hidden Mist Village into a reliable ally—this move concerned not only his influence in the future Five Kage Summit, but also the stability of the united front of the entire ninja world.

Though he possessed the absolute strength to crush everything, as he had learned during his previous life as an office worker, why do it himself when he could have his subordinates do the work?

Clear Mei Terumi's obstacles and let her clean up the Hidden Mist Village's mess. Wouldn't that be perfect?

All he needed to do was appear at the right place at the right time and deal with that troublesome puppet master.

With that thought, Kamizuki Yu stood.

It was time to stretch his limbs a little.

He glanced at the moonlight outside the window, and his figure silently vanished from the room as though melting into the shadows.

Setsuna Uchiha kept his head lowered the entire time. Only after Kamizuki Yu's presence had completely disappeared did he slowly raise it, his eyes filled with reverence.

Every decision this lord made seemed to affect the future of the entire ninja world.

And all they needed to do was follow him.

(Brothers, please leave some comments and hit the update reminder, okay? Sob, sob.)