Seeing Kisame remain silent, White Tiger continued:
"I won't urge you to stay or leave, but you need to think this through-where can you go if you leave the Akatsuki? Back to Kirigakure? Or will you keep living as a wandering ninja?"
Kisame's gaze shifted slightly.
Returning to Kirigakure was impossible. He had too much of his comrades' blood on his hands.
As for becoming a wandering ninja... with his current strength and reputation, he would either be hunted down by the major ninja villages or have to conceal his identity and live in hiding.
"If you stay in the Akatsuki, at least you'll still have an identity and a goal."
White Tiger's voice was calm. "Besides, the Akatsuki is at its weakest right now. Nagato is badly wounded, 'Madara' fears Lin Ze too much to act rashly, and Black Zetsu's presence has weakened considerably."
Kisame looked at White Tiger. "Mr. White Tiger, you mean..."
"What I mean is," White Tiger looked straight into Kisame's eyes, "staying might not be a bad thing. Observe, wait, and, if necessary... choose again."
That was already quite explicit.
Kisame's pupils contracted slightly, and his grip on the Replica Samehada tightened. "Mr. White Tiger, you..."
"I'm just an ordinary person trying to survive in troubled times." White Tiger smiled and put his mask back on. "Kisame, what do you think of Lin Ze?"
Kisame froze, not expecting White Tiger to ask that out of nowhere.
After thinking for a moment, he said gravely:
"He's strong. Strong beyond all reason. He could kill the Third Raikage five years ago, and he's even stronger now."
White Tiger nodded, looked at the Replica Samehada in Kisame's hand, and said slowly:
"Yes. Do you think someone that powerful would care about a mere ninja blade?"
Kisame's gaze flickered.