"For someone like me who's actually afraid of a Renegade Ninja's ideas, that's really…"
Asuma shook his head with a wry smile and didn't continue.
He didn't know what answer Hakushi was talking about, but precisely because he didn't know, he felt afraid.
If he knew what the other party wanted to express, it might not seem so terrifying.
The danger of this kind of person isn't just in their strength; their thinking is extremely dangerous too.
After all, Asuma was aware that in Konoha's current environment, he was practically an oddball.
Putting himself in Hakushi's shoes, he could more or less understand the situation Hakushi was facing. It's just that the stage Hakushi stood on was higher, not limited to a single Ninja Village or a single Country.
The Land of Demons starting to meddle in the affairs of minor nations was proof that he was plotting something.
If that was also one way of walking his path, Asuma felt a vague unease.
What Hakushi sought might go beyond everyone's imagination.
"Looks like I can't stay in this Country any longer…"
Asuma's original plan was to stay here for a while, then leave the Land of Demons after the Land of Fire's delegation finished negotiations and returned.
But now he had no choice but to adjust his movements.
He had to leave this trouble-ridden place as soon as possible.
As long as he stayed away from Hakushi and calmed himself down for a while, that would be enough.
That was what Asuma thought.
Time would make him forget everything here.
◎
"How rare. As the Fourth Mizukage, you still have the leisure to come take a stroll over here at a time like this?"
While the wrangling with the delegations of the Five Great Nations dragged on, the military side received a special guest.
Fourth Mizukage of Hidden Mist, Karatachi Yagura.
Partner in crime with Hakushi… no, it should be said, a fellow in a community of shared destiny.
Although the two had clashed head‑on at the Five Kage Summit and their relationship had appeared extremely strained, that was just a show put on for others.
Like jacking up prices—someone has to stand there and lend a hand. Otherwise, with Hakushi alone, it wouldn't have been so easy to get what he wanted out of the Land of Wind.
"Don't start. As of now, my position as Mizukage is basically Mizukage in name only."
Yagura sat on the sofa opposite Hakushi and let out a deep sigh, not sure if he was complaining or not.
"What happened?"
Hakushi raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.
"Terumi Mei has started getting involved in various village management matters and has gained the support of most of the elders. In the blink of an eye, those people have sold out this Fourth Mizukage completely. I haven't even stepped down yet."
Yagura said, smiling bitterly.
"You're the one who set a bad precedent. If those elders keep backing you, they're terrified their heads won't stay on their shoulders someday."
Hakushi said.
"The Blood Mist Faction has to be eradicated. If the influence of Blood Mist isn't thoroughly wiped out, there's no meaning to me becoming the Fourth Mizukage."
"As long as you can see it that way."
See it that way?
Only after sitting in that seat do you understand how wonderful power is.
Yagura was no exception.
Back during the Third Mizukage's era, he'd helped the Third Mizukage handle government affairs, but that was on a completely different level from being Mizukage himself.
But Yagura stepping down was inevitable.
No matter how you put it, ugly methods are still ugly methods. Plus, the Hidden Mist elders headed by Genji didn't approve of Yagura's coup back then; making him Fourth Mizukage had only been because at that time, there simply wasn't a better candidate for Mizukage.
Yagura's rise to power had been an act of helpless compromise.
Now that they had Terumi Mei, with her Dual Kekkeigenkai and her ability to handle government affairs well, Yagura as Mizukage naturally had no use anymore.
However, this so‑called "betrayal" sounded to Hakushi like nothing more than Yagura's simple complaining.
After all, Yagura had run Hidden Mist Village for so many years and had plenty of die‑hard loyalists.
The existing Seven‑swords Ninja were basically Yagura's original subordinates, or Ninjas like Hoshigaki Kisame, whom Yagura had personally recruited.
The transfer of power between two generations of Mizukage isn't something that can be wrapped up in one or two years.
If they ended up with a situation like Konoha's Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage, things would get awkward.
"As an old friend, you don't even know how to say a word of comfort."
Yagura seemed a little displeased.
"Isn't this what you already arranged for long ago? Besides, within the next few years, you probably won't lose the title of Mizukage. With her being shoved into the position in such a hurry, Genji and those elders likely aren't entirely at ease with Terumi Mei either."
Hakushi said.
"That's true. She's still a bit green at handling government affairs. And some of my people are arrogant as hell—if we're going to hand them over to Terumi Mei, I'll have to personally step in and manage it."
After all, he had no intention of letting Mizukage's authority fragment the way it had in Konoha, forming several huge centers of power and turning the inside into a chaotic mess.
The Blood Mist Faction's experience was the best warning.
"In that case, you'll also have the time to shift your focus onto Akatsuki."
Hakushi nodded.
The Hidden Mist Village's domestic affairs were for Hidden Mist itself to solve.
If Terumi Mei and Yagura had conflicting political views, then Hakushi would have something to worry about.
But Terumi Mei was also in the loop about the cooperation with the Land of Demons. Right now, the Land of Demons couldn't do without Hidden Mist as an ally, and likewise, Hidden Mist Village—which had fallen out with the Daimyo's Mansion of the Land of Water—couldn't do without the Land of Demons' support.
As long as the community of shared destiny between the two could be kept going, whether Yagura served as Mizukage or Terumi Mei served as Mizukage made no difference to Hakushi.
"I know Akatsuki has already captured one Tailed Beast. Next, they'll go after more Tailed Beasts."