"Hataké Kakashi?"
Ao looked confused for a moment, then suddenly widened his eyes in realization.
"It's him! Yes, I remember now—he has a Sharingan in his left eye. I recall that five years ago, he rescued someone from our forces during a covert mission."
Terumi Mei touched her chin delicately, seemingly deep in thought. "Yes… That incident has remained shrouded in mystery ever since. Even now, I haven't figured out what exactly happened."
"Right. And not long after that event, Yagura was chosen as the Jinchūriki of the Three-Tails. He completely changed afterward... He wasn't the same man anymore."
Ao's tone grew bleak as he spoke, the sorrow in his eyes reflecting his regret over how the man he once admired had become a stranger.
"There's definitely more going on behind the scenes," Terumi Mei murmured, her expression turning serious.
"Did you realize something, Lady Terumi Mei?" Ao asked, noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor.
"It's the Sharingan," she said softly. "The mention of it gave me a terrible suspicion."
Ao's pupils narrowed, his body tense. "You're not saying… genjutsu?!"
Terumi Mei nodded gravely, placing a finger to her lips. "This must stay between us. It's only speculation, but if it is true—and Yagura really is under a Sharingan-induced illusion—then the implications are dangerous. Still, I don't think Hatake Kakashi is behind it."
"Why not?" Ao asked, frowning.
"Kakashi was only thirteen at the time of that incident. Even if he's a genius, it's unrealistic to believe he could have mastered such a high-level genjutsu so quickly after receiving the Sharingan. Even members of the Uchiha clan struggle with maintaining such control over others—especially over someone like Yagura, a Jinchūriki and Kage-level shinobi."
Ao nodded slowly. As someone who had transplanted a Byakugan himself, he understood better than most the difficulty and risks of controlling a foreign dōjutsu. It was unreasonable to think a boy could control a Mizukage with it in such a short period of time.
"Still… Kakashi did appear in the Mist," Ao said after a moment. "Should we consider retaliating against Konoha?"
Terumi Mei shook her head and sighed. "Ao, look at our current situation. The Hidden Mist doesn't have the capacity for open conflict with another Great Nation right now. Our first priority is to overthrow Yagura's iron-fisted rule. We can't afford distractions."
"But can we really just let this go?" Ao said through clenched teeth.
"Of course not," Terumi Mei replied, her voice calm but resolute. "One day, we'll uncover the truth and hold whoever's responsible accountable. But I can't shake the feeling that this may be linked to what happened five years ago. It's too much of a coincidence."
"I understand. I will follow your lead, Lady Terumi Mei."
"Good. Keep your eyes on Yagura. Since we're now on the same page, we're in this together. If he's truly under genjutsu, we'll need to act quickly to save the village."
"Yes, Lady Terumi Mei. I'll be vigilant."
Terumi Mei and Ao had officially aligned, both with increasing doubts about the truth behind Yagura's transformation.
If he truly was under a powerful illusion, then perhaps bloodshed could be avoided—and the illusion dispelled. But who could do it? And how?
That was the real dilemma.
After Ao left, Terumi Mei sat in silence, rubbing her temples with a tired sigh.
"Hatake Kakashi… whatever your reasons, if you've harmed even a single soul in Kirigakure, you owe me an explanation."
A subtle but sharp smile curved her lips. A predator had found her prey.
Far across the sea, Kakashi lay in a borrowed bed, unconscious but stable—unaware of the attention he'd drawn. His body was still, recovering from the toll of his recent mission in the Mist.
Though the operation nearly cost him his life, it had also yielded great rewards.
For one, Kakashi had used Kamui for the first time in actual combat. The experience significantly deepened his understanding of space-time ninjutsu. His grasp of the Flying Thunder God Technique had also advanced as a result—he was closer than ever to mastering it.
As the saying goes: better than reading ten thousand books is traveling ten thousand miles; better than thinking a hundred times is acting once.
That single use of Kamui had elevated his skill to a new level.
Kakashi estimated that after some time and refinement, he'd be able to utilize the Flying Thunder God Technique in its basic form.
Additionally, his most destructive Lightning Release jutsu—Kirin—had finally been unleashed in real battle, transforming from theory into terrifying reality.
Unleashed thirteen years ahead of its appearance in the original timeline, Kirin had revealed its true might.
Though powerful, the jutsu came with steep conditions: it required an existing thunderstorm to be effective, making it unreliable in most scenarios. But when the conditions were met, its sheer power rivaled that of the most devastating attacks.
Kirin's might came from nature itself. Only the strongest—those with defenses like the Nine-Tails Cloak or Susanoo—could withstand it.
That said, Kakashi still classified Kirin as a situational technique. Without a way to summon storms at will, it remained a one-use trump card, not a mainstay of his arsenal.
After organizing his gains, Kakashi had to acknowledge his biggest loss: the cursed seal on his neck.
Being marked by Orochimaru was no small matter.
Even now, Kakashi could feel the cold, corrosive chakra left behind by the Sannin—a constant, unsettling presence.
Getting rid of it was his next major objective.
Kakashi understood the nature of the curse seal: it was fueled by Sage Chakra. If he could control Senjutsu chakra, he might be able to suppress or even nullify the seal. He could also gain insight into the secrets of Ryūchi Cave in the process.
But Orochimaru had only taught him fragments. That wouldn't be enough.
Then a thought occurred to him—Jiraiya.
Another of the Three Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya was a true master of Senjutsu—and far more openhearted than Orochimaru.
Perhaps Jiraiya would teach him.
Kakashi had long desired to learn Senjutsu. Maybe this cursed seal could become a blessing in disguise.
Still, he set the idea aside for now. First, he needed to recover—and then find Jiraiya to make the request in person.
Whether Jiraiya would agree remained uncertain. Even generous men might hesitate when it came to teaching such rare and dangerous arts.
Lastly, Kakashi reflected on the initial ambush in the Mist.
At the time, he'd assumed the first attackers were members of the Kaguya clan—but thinking it over now, he realized something was off…
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