Chou's expression instantly turned serious, and he nodded solemnly.
"That's right."
"This is one of the shinobi world's most closely guarded truths. Even now, very few people know about it."
"You could count everyone in the shinobi world who understands how it works on two hands."
"Even within our Veil Organization, most members don't know this secret."
Hearing that, Sarada's expression darkened completely, and a chill crept down her back.
Even the unfathomable Veil Organization treated this matter with such caution. That alone proved how serious it was.
"It looks like I really have crossed a red line this time. I'm in terrible danger."
Beside her, Kisame spoke in a low voice to reassure her.
"There's no need to panic. If we identify the risks beforehand and take every precaution, we can find a way to avoid the danger."
Sarada nodded, then turned to look straight at Chou, waiting for him to reveal the answer.
Instead of revealing the truth directly, Chou posed a question about something everyone had taken for granted since childhood.
"Think carefully. Have you ever noticed something deeply strange that has persisted throughout the shinobi world for a thousand years?"
"What?" Sarada and Kisame both froze.
"The nobility of the shinobi world," Chou said, emphasizing each word.
"From ancient times to the present, the shinobi world has been plagued by constant warfare."
"Let's leave aside the Warring States Period. That was too long ago."
"The First Shinobi World War, the Second, the Third, and the Fourth Shinobi World War-war swept across the Five Great Nations. Bodies littered the land, shinobi villages were destroyed, and entire shinobi clans were wiped out everywhere."
"But have you noticed? No matter how brutal the fighting gets, the secular nobility always stays out of it. They're almost never affected by the