Obito originally had short hair, but at this mont, he used the Transformation Technique to alter his hairstyle.
His once-short hair was now styled into the wild, flowing mane of Uchiha Madara—the infamous "killing mat."
Standing behind the Fourth Mizukage, he remained partially obscured, making it difficult for Kisa to get a clear look at him.
"Uchiha Madara? You've got to be kidding ." Kisa glanced at Orochimaru from the corner of his eye and grinned. "That man should have been dead long ago. As for Orochimaru?"
He chuckled. "Now that's a na I've heard way too many tis over the years. Never thought I'd see you here in Kirigakure. What an honor."
"We've been watching you for quite so ti, Kisa Hoshigaki." Obito's voice was calm but piercing. "It must be exhausting, carrying out all those dirty missions for your village and your country, isn't it?"
Kisa's grin didn't fade, but his grip on Sahada remained firm. "Exhausting? Maybe. But I fail to see what that has to do with you."
His gaze sharpened. "And what I really can't wrap my head around… is how the Fourth Mizukage, soone I always believed to be a true leader ended up as your puppet."
He sneered. "Amazing. Those glowing eyes of yours… do they really have the power to control the Mizukage? Are you seriously claiming to be Uchiha Madara?"
"It doesn't matter whether he's Uchiha Madara or not." Orochimaru's hoarse voice drifted through the mist, calm yet insidious. "What matters is that from this mont on… you will beco one of us."
Kisa tilted his head. "Oh?" His grin widened. "Is that an order? Or a threat?"
Orochimaru rely spread his hands in an exaggerated shrug. "Does it really matter?"
"You're asking to betray my village."
"Not at all." Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile. "But perhaps… I should show you sothing first. It might help you make up your mind."
As he spoke, Orochimaru pulled out a peculiar-looking device.
A portable 3D projector.
With the mist in the air acting as a natural screen, the projected image beca even clearer, more vivid.
"What is this…?"
Even Obito was caught off guard. He knew Orochimaru had access to high-tech equipnt, but this was sothing he had never seen before.
Kisa scoffed. "Hah. Looks like a fancy toy."
"This is no ordinary toy." Orochimaru's smile deepened. "Watch carefully."
Kisa narrowed his eyes, finally taking a closer look.
And then—he recognized it.
The scene playing before him was all too familiar.
It was none other than a recording of Orochimaru aiding i in her bid for the Mizukage position… and, more importantly, evidence of the Fuguki secretly selling Kirigakure's classified information to foreign nations.
Orochimaru's voice remained eerily calm. "Your superior, the Fuguki, is a rather ambitious man."
"Ever since the Third Mizukage stepped down, he's coveted the position of Mizukage for himself. But, for various reasons, he was never able to seize the seat."
"And so, following the philosophy of 'if I can't have it, I'll destroy it,' he began selling Kirigakure's secrets to rival nations in exchange for personal gain."
Kisa's expression shifted ever so slightly.
His lips curled downward, his fingers tightening around Sahada's handle.
Even for soone like him, soone accustod to bloodshed and betrayal, this revelation was… unsettling.
Kisa had spent his life carrying out covert missions, eliminating his own comrades in the na of duty. He had already questioned his purpose countless tis.
But this?
Seeing his superior, the very man he had followed betraying their village so blatantly… it left him feeling hollow.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow at Kisa's reaction. "Oh? You're surprised? Then… let show you sothing even more unexpected."
The projection shifted.
A woman appeared on the screen.
She was clad in an elegant blue dress, her presence striking yet composed.
And in that mont, her voice carried through the mist.
A voice filled with genuine gratitude, thanking Orochimaru.
Kisa's eyes widened slightly. "The Fifth Mizukage… Terumi i?"
Orochimaru continued, his tone unchanging. "I assu you've figured it out by now, we had a hand in your village's reform."
"So, if you join us… it doesn't an betraying Kirigakure."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Kisa's face.
"…What exactly does your organization do?" His tone had finally lost its edge.
A group powerful enough to not only count soone like Orochimaru among its mbers but also influence Kirigakure's internal affairs?
He had to admit—he was curious.
Orochimaru's answer was simple. "We maintain world peace and strive to create a world without war."
Kisa let out a dry chuckle. "World peace? That's quite the noble dream… but this world is built on lies. How do I know what you just showed is the truth?"
Orochimaru smirked and tucked away the projector. "That's easy."
He didn't try to argue.
Instead, he simply called i over that evening to speak with him in person.
From the mountain's peak, Kisa watched the two interact.
And in that mont—he believed.
"Unbelievable." Kisa exhaled slowly. "Your influence… your power… it's almost absurd. Maybe you really can change this world."
"Then let's go."
Obito finally spoke again. His tone was calm, assured. "At the very least, we can promise you this, we don't kill our own.
"Unless, of course… they betray us."
Kisa didn't respond imdiately.
Then, after a mont—he and Obito turned, leading the Fourth Mizukage away.
At the foot of the mountain, Orochimaru and Terumi i remained, their conversation continuing.
"Fuguki… was he really leaking intel?"
Terumi i still found it hard to believe.
The leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsn of the Mist, the man who stood at the very top of Kirigakure's hierarchy was secretly betraying them?
Orochimaru's reply was cold and factual. "The evidence is conclusive. Send two of your best intelligence operatives to investigate, and you'll find out for yourself."
Then, after a pause, he added—"That said… I'll be taking Sahada."
i stopped in her tracks. "Absolutely not. You've already taken five of our swords. If you take the last one, what are we supposed to use?"
Orochimaru's expression didn't change. "A weapon is rely a tool."
Then, as if making a casual trade, he added—"Fine. I'll have Tsunade return two of them in exchange. Consider it a deal."
i stared at him, speechless.
This man had stolen from them… only to negotiate with the stolen goods?
How shaless could he be?!
But what choice did she have?
With Orochimaru's power, he didn't need to bargain at all, he could simply take Sahada and leave.
Yet, he had chosen to negotiate instead. In his own twisted way, he was giving her respect.
After a mont, i sighed. "Fine. I want the Nuibari and the Kiba blades."
Orochimaru shrugged. "Deal."
"How do you plan to get Sahada?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Just—please. Don't hurt my people."
Orochimaru chuckled. "I'll do my best."
***
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