Shin Uchiha fixed his newly revealed eternal Mangekyō Sharingan on Kazekage Rasa nearby and said with a slight frown:
"You seem hostile toward me?"
Although Shin Uchiha phrased it as a question, his tone was certain, as though he had already confirmed the man's hostility.
The moment Shin Uchiha's Sharingan locked onto him, Kazekage Rasa went rigid. A few beads of cold sweat involuntarily appeared on his forehead. Finally, he forced the corners of his mouth upward and said:
"You must be joking, Mr. Shin. You are the strongest person in Konoha, someone who could easily wipe out small countries.
You alone could bring all of us to heel.
Although I am the Kazekage of Sunagakure, I have great respect for you. How could I possibly harbor any hostility toward you?"
At Kazekage Rasa's words, Shin Uchiha's expression softened slightly. His eternal Mangekyō Sharingan studied him for a while longer before he slowly deactivated them and said evenly:
"Perhaps I was mistaken, then. A few rats have been getting restless lately, so I've been a little sensitive."
Shin Uchiha understood what Kazekage Rasa had meant. He was Konoha's strongest fighter, and although Sunagakure, the village Kazekage Rasa belonged to, was subordinate to Konoha, its people were not Konoha's own. Some hostility toward him was only natural.
Yet when Shin Uchiha saw Kazekage Rasa seemingly breathe a sigh of relief, the corners of his mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly, and a sly glimmer of amusement flashed in his eyes.
Orochimaru really was a slippery old fox who knew how to stay alive. He reacted quickly, coming up with an excuse in that single instant.
If Shin Uchiha had not already awakened the Rinnegan and been able to see straight through Orochimaru's disguise, he might actually have been fooled.
After Kazekage Rasa