Ao gave a cold snort. Without a moment's hesitation, he walked to a crevice near the edge of the cavern, worn open by years of seawater, and tossed the precious bottle of Blood Source Essence inside!
The dark purple liquid fell into the churning sea below with a faint hiss, then vanished beneath the black waves.
Ao watched the surface grow calm again, as though nothing had happened.
There was no regret on his face, only a trace of cold mockery and deeper contemplation.
He had agreed to cooperate only to lull the other party into complacency and uncover their true aims and methods.
Restore his body? He had long since accepted his injuries. How could he jeopardize Kirigakure's interests over something so personal?
Could it be Nine Nether? Ao repeated the name silently. Then he turned, leaned on his cane, and slowly disappeared into the darkness deep within the cavern.
Kirigakure's waters are murkier than I thought. I need to warn Chojuro to be careful.
Elsewhere under the same night sky, in a secluded corner of the corridor outside the exchange students' lodging, Kagura quietly stepped out.
He made sure Boruto, Damian, and the others were asleep, their breathing steady. Only then did he gently close the door and head to the agreed meeting place.
Hoshigaki Shichengzhen was already waiting. Wearing his usual, slightly menacing grin, he leaned against a pillar in the shadows.
"Well, Kagura?" Hoshigaki Shichengzhen straightened and got right to the point. His voice was low but aggressive. "Have you thought about what we discussed last time?"
"Will you keep playing the Mizukage's good little boy, the 'rightful' heir to the Twin Swords Hiramekarei, or join us and restore Kirigakure to its true glory?"
Kagura's face looked unusually grave in the dim light. He took a