I fell into my seat with a heavy sigh and took off my hat as Lady gumi and Uncle formally bowed at my presence in the council room. They took their place on tatami mats and glanced at the empty spot between them as they’ve done since I stopped sending council alerts to Lord Funato.
“Junichi, Ao, make sure no one disturbs us.” I spoke lightly as it was a repeat command and Ao at least would hear it the fourth ti. I gave the command to let my councillors know without directly speaking to them that I wouldn’t be entertaining any devil’s advocates. Not today.
Lady gumi still looked like she wanted to say a word for her oldest friend but she swallowed whatever to replace it with, “Aoto whisked you away before we could fully discuss Agakure.”
I nodded, Uncle had gotten the most recent ssages from i and Daichi while I was unconscious and it revealed that not all of Hanzo’s n were dead and gone. So managed to pick out a fellow shinobi in i, and Daichi performing his own counterintelligence quickly discovered them being tailed, watched and docunted.
It wasn’t long before our agents had a sit down with the remnants of Agakure’s old regi, fortunately it was peaceful and gave a decisive answer to the question of Hanzo’s death or life.
Of course, I knew from i’s first reports that the Salamander was dead and a part of wishes I’d recalled her back to Kiri then, but having her stay a while longer to observe and eventually et the remnants of Hanzo’s n was truly a blessing.
“What’s left to discuss? I’ve given i’s team the okay to co back ho, Agakure is a dead end for what I had in mind with Hanzo dead.”
Uncle adjusts himself on his mat, “Weren’t they also there to find out if A had a hand in the Third’s passing? It might be a little redundant to keep looking at dead ends as you say four months into your reign but, isn’t it worth knowing if this…Pein had sothing to do with it?”
I shook my head but Lady gumi was quick to reinforce Uncle’s point, “That’s right. i’s report highlights this Pein as the central figure responsible for overthrowing the Salamander and from the little she’s written about her discussion with Hanzo’s n…well, I’d think he has a grudge against the Great Shinobi Villages.”
I sighed, this is where the blessing becos complex. Unlike my councillors didn’t have the full picture, they didn’t have their persona’s fused with a soul carrying knowledge of future and past.
What can I say to calm them? I breathed a sigh and worded carefully, “Hanzo’s n are eager, they see agents of a great village and they think they’re saved, that they can te out their vengeance on the pseudo-Kage that’s killed their Salamander Lord. However, that will not be us, we haven’t the ti nor any reason to. I admit I was interested in bargaining an alliance with Hanzo but now we know he’s dead, I’d rather recall our agents than let them prowl under the gaze of a man we know nothing about beyond his killing of Hanzo.”
Lady gumi pursed her lips in thought, glancing by Uncle who t her squinted gaze. She inhaled to say sothing but hesitated.
“Please, speak your mind.”
She nodded, “There is always opportunity for alliance whether new or old regi, we’re a great village, we have the bargaining might even if this Pein has so grudge against us. And since he does, we have reason to unmount him from that seat with one of Hanzo’s n, an eternally grateful and loyal puppet. Beyond that…these figures, Pein and an Angel, I’ve never heard of powerful shinobi within Agakure outside Hanzo…and they killed him.”
Lady gumi smacked her belly and set a piercing gaze on , “My intuition says they have sothing to do with my son’s death and that you’re hiding sothing, Yondai-sama.”
Uncle looked between us, his lips parted to defend but I raised my hand and wore a smile as Lady gumi’s wrinkled eyes stared down, “Very well, I’ll tell you. Hanako-hi has requested a eting with , I’m ant to see her today but I asked she join to watch Kisa and Fuguki’s duel.”
Both councillors bristled at the news, “Have you decided? She will surely call Kirigakure to war, will you accept?” Uncle asked.
“Yes, I wouldn’t want to leave the man that crowned to the gallows but of course, there must be a worthwhile price. Which is what I wish to discuss.”
Lady gumi shook her head as if we were about speaking nonsense so I said, “You are correct about A and its new leader, Hozuki-dono, but for now we must focus our efforts here, in Kirigakure and the Land of Water. I do not believe Pein is responsible for the Third’s death but I bear enough suspicion to believe he’s related in so way.”
“If you felt that way why didn’t you order i and Daichi to kill them?” She kept her voice mild but there was no question about her mood, she was near furious.
“i and Daichi would not nearly be enough to take on a man capable of bringing down Hanzo the Salamander.” The honest truth. “I intended to visit Agakure myself, have my presence make them sweat until they couldn’t help but expose their misdeeds but alas, when does the Mizukage ever get to leave his village?”
A half-truth. I once planned to visit A with hopes of eting Konan but since becoming myself I realize I don’t have the strength for such, not even if an army accompanied — the loss of life would be too great. But I will and soon, between my own plans to strengthen myself and Isobu’s Jinchuriki training, the Daimyo’s war would be a testing and boasting arena for the strength I intend to grasp.
“Calm yourself, Lady gumi, I may have abandoned investigating Pein personally but I know soone else that may be just as interested.” I said with a bright, all assured smile.
“Konoha…” Uncle muttered, putting the pieces together instantly.
“Yes and we’ll make them pay just for knowing. This council eting is about price, trusted councillors.”
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