"My Divine Lord."
Mei Terumi's voice came through the scroll, clear and carrying the perfect amount of respect.
Kai leaned back in his chair and glanced at the woman in the projection.
He had to admit, Mei Terumi's transformation had been remarkably swift.
From her initial anger and resistance to her current absolute obedience, the speed of her psychological shift had surprised even him.
"How is the integration of Kirigakure progressing?"
"My Divine Lord, everything is proceeding smoothly."
Mei stood up and picked up a document from the nearby desk.
"The original Kirigakure leadership has been almost completely replaced. Those who voiced particularly strong opposition have been 'appropriately' dealt with according to your instructions."
She opened the file and continued her report.
"At present, Kirigakure has thirty-two jonin, one hundred and fifty-six chunin, and four hundred and twenty-four genin."
"Seventy-eight percent have openly declared their support for the United Committee."
"The remaining twenty-two percent are maintaining a wait-and-see attitude."
"No clear opposition has been discovered so far."
"How many people were 'appropriately dealt with'?"
Kai's tone was calm, as if asking about the weather.
"A total of forty-seven."
"Three jonin, fourteen chunin, and thirty genin."
Mei answered in great detail, withholding nothing.
"We have also properly settled their families and provided compensation."
"After all, the dead do not speak."
"But the attitudes of the living are very important."
Kai nodded.
He was fairly satisfied with the result.
For a village that had just undergone a regime change, forty-seven casualties was already quite mild.
"What about Kisame and Sasori? How have they been performing?"
"Lord Kisame is primarily responsible for perimeter patrols and deterrence. His performance has been excellent."
Mei chuckled softly.
"That Samehada sword has practically become a symbol of nightmares among Kirigakure's shinobi."
"As for Lord Sasori, he has little interest in administrative matters. Most of his time is spent researching puppet technology."
"However, several security puppets he created have proven extremely effective as deterrents."
"And the Mizukage position?"
"What are your thoughts on it?"
Mei was visibly stunned for a moment.
She raised her head, a complicated emotion flashing through her emerald eyes.
"My Divine Lord means...?"
"Kirigakure still needs a nominal leader."
Kai spoke casually.
"Although the United Committee system works well, having a Kage title is still convenient when dealing with outsiders."
Mei remained silent for several moments before finally speaking.
"If my Divine Lord believes it appropriate, Mei Terumi is willing to shoulder that responsibility."
"However, I would prefer... to remain your Secretary-General and handle your daily affairs."
Kai understood the meaning behind her words.
Although the title of Mizukage sounded prestigious, under the Divine Court system it was little more than a ceremonial position.
The role of Secretary-General, while lower in name, sat much closer to the true center of power.
This woman truly was intelligent.
"Then leave things as they are for now."
Kai did not elaborate further.
"By the way, any news regarding Yagura?"
"Kagura Yagura has already awakened, but his mental condition remains unstable."
Mei's expression became serious.
"He appears to have partially recovered memories from the period during which he was controlled by the Three-Tails."
"He is currently receiving treatment from the medical department."
"Help him recover faster."
Kai replied calmly.
"I need information from him regarding the Three-Tails."
"Yes, my Divine Lord."
Just as their conversation was nearing its conclusion, someone knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
Uchiha Itachi pushed open the door.
His expression was even colder than usual.
"Kai."
"There are visitors outside who wish to see you."
"Visitors?"
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"At a time like this, there are still people willing to come see me?"
"It's Jiraiya and Tsunade."
Itachi's voice remained emotionless.
"They say they have important matters they wish to discuss with you."
Hearing those two names, Kai's expression finally changed slightly.
Jiraiya and Tsunade.
Two of the Legendary Sannin.
Disciples of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Their appearance at this moment was certainly interesting.
"Let them in."
Kai turned to Mei Terumi's projection.
"That concludes today's report."
"Continue monitoring the village."
"Report immediately if anything unusual occurs."
"As you command, my Divine Lord."
The projection vanished.
The scroll rolled itself back up.
Kai stored it away before straightening his clothes and waiting for the arrival of the two old acquaintances.
Soon, the office door opened once again.
Jiraiya's white hair seemed particularly bright beneath the sunlight.
His expression was complicated.
There was pride, concern, and something difficult to describe.
Tsunade, meanwhile, looked thoroughly irritated.
The expression on her face clearly said she wanted to punch someone but was forcing herself to refrain.
Kai found it rather amusing.
"Well now."
"What wind has blown two such important figures here?"
Kai asked lazily, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"Cut the crap!"
Tsunade strode directly to the desk.
Planting both hands firmly on its surface, she leaned forward aggressively.
"You brat, do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
"Of course I do."
Kai raised his head and met her gaze without the slightest hesitation.
"I'm saving this world."
"Saving it?"
Tsunade let out a cold laugh.
"You beat three Kage half to death and forced them to hand over their jinchūriki."
"You call that saving the world?"
"Absolutely."
Kai answered as though it were self-evident.
"Compared to letting them continue fighting among themselves and wasting resources, my method is far more efficient."
"You should understand better than anyone else that peace in the shinobi world has never been achieved through negotiation."
Tsunade was nearly driven mad by his completely unyielding attitude.
Just as she was about to continue, Jiraiya stopped her.
"That's enough, Tsunade."
Jiraiya stepped forward, his tone noticeably gentler.
"Kai, we didn't come here to argue."
"Then why are you here?"
Jiraiya took a deep breath.
"We want to know what you plan to do next."
"The jinchūriki of the Three Great Villages..."
"Do you truly intend to gather them all?"
Kai nodded.
"That's right."
"Why?"
Jiraiya's expression turned serious.
"To a village, a jinchūriki is more than just a strategic weapon."
"They're also a symbol."
"If you do this, those villages will completely lose the ability to resist."
"Isn't that exactly the result I want?"
Kai countered.
"Teacher Jiraiya, surely you're not naïve enough to think I would give them the opportunity to resist?"
The atmosphere in the office instantly dropped to freezing.
Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances.
Both saw shock and concern reflected in the other's eyes.
The young man before them was no longer the child they remembered.
"You've changed, Kai."
Jiraiya's voice carried a trace of bitterness.
"In the past, although you were powerful, you still had some... humanity."
"Now, you're more like..."
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