Despite Kisame's efficiency, which always left his superior with nothing to criticize, sometimes his work was even cleaner than his superior's.
Tch, what an annoying brat. Shiso stared at Kisame's shark-like face, always smiling, with a feeling of discomfort.
It wasn't because of jealousy.
Nor was it because the other had surpassed him, a senior, in just two years.
The skill gap between their Ninja Blades was just one aspect; more importantly, Kisame's Chakra amount was monstrous in itself.
His compatibility with Shark Skin was even more perfect than that of Suikazan Fuguki back in the day.
It wouldn't be long before the other would surpass his superior's position.
"This task seems quite simple, Juzo-senpai."
"Yeah, after all, they're nothing more than a group of wandering ninjas without a haven, not even renegade ninjas, just at this level."
Juzo replied perfunctorily.
"But recently, bandit problems in the Land of Water have been quite severe. I wonder who's behind it."
"Whoever it is, it's just some low-level scheming. That shorty isn't as simple as you think. Although he's a conspirator, he's probably the only one throughout history who became one of the Five Kage through a coup d'état."
Juzo blurted this out.
"If Mizukage-sama hears that, you'll be doomed, Juzo-senpai."
"I'm the kind of person who speaks his mind."
"Is this the unique way you get along with Mizukage-sama, senpai? I've learned something."
He knew Yagura wouldn't severely punish Juzo for such private complaints.
This guy is a bit talkative, saying whatever comes to mind, but because of that, he was entrusted with heavy responsibilities.
Smart ninjas who willingly hand over their weaknesses to the Mizukage like this are rare.
After all, their Mizukage-sama is indeed a shorty, isn't he?
"I feel like you're thinking something rude... Forget it, let's go back and report quickly. I've had enough of chasing these weakling wandering ninjas all these days."
After saying this, Juzo carried his Decapitating Carving Knife and headed back towards the Hidden Mist Village.
Kisame quickly followed, wearing an honest and straightforward smile, very obedient.
◎
"Akatsuki... To think that in just two or three years, they've gathered so many dangerous individuals..."
Yagura held a confidential report, and after seeing its contents, his brows furrowed imperceptibly.
Back when the coup at the Hidden Mist Village ended and he successfully became the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, Hakushi had mentioned something about the Akatsuki.
The Akatsuki's predecessor was a national salvation organization in the Hidden Rain Village. Although the name hasn't changed, after the death of the former leader Yahiko, another took his place.
This new leader of the Akatsuki not only exploited the Nine-tailed incident, severely weakening Konoha, but is also currently manipulating the Hidden Rain Village from the shadows, turning completely hostile against the Land of Fire and Konoha.
Furthermore, he possesses the mysterious and unmeasured Rinnegan, with extraordinary strength.
According to Hakushi, in a one-on-one situation in today's Ninja Realm, there probably isn't anyone who could rival the Akatsuki's leader.
Confronting such a powerful adversary, fighting alone is highly unwise and requires uniting together.
Yagura generally believed Hakushi's judgment.
The Sharingan and Byakugan are already extremely powerful Kekkeigenkai within the Ninja Realm, but when it comes to the Rinnegan, which governs life and death among the three major Pupil Techniques, they know nothing about it.
Currently known are techniques that can deflect all physical attacks centered on oneself, as well as a technique that utilizes gravity to draw people without any prelude. Both techniques are immensely powerful, instantly killing ordinary ninjas in one strike.
The remaining capabilities are still shrouded in mystery, unable to be unveiled.
Against such a figure, no strategy can be too serious or too cautious.
Moreover, the Akatsuki has now become an organization that harbors S-Class Renegade Ninjas. If allowed to grow unchecked, without limitations, the situation will worsen.
However, curbing them proves difficult.
The core members of the Akatsuki are a hard-to-target group.
If an ambush fails, it might lead to trouble for the Hidden Mist Village.
Due to previous internal strife, the Hidden Mist Village still requires time to recover, especially economically.
Although with secret assistance from the Land of Demons, the Hidden Mist Village is on the path to economic independence, it's only in its initial stages. Without a few years, it won't even develop a prototype.
In the short term, an era filled with conveniences and opportunities like the Third Great Ninja War won't reappear.
The economic development of the Land of Demons is both inevitable and due to certain chance factors.
The key point is the Third Great Ninja War, where various ninja villages had a massive demand for medicine and medical equipment, allowing the Land of Demons to earn enormous wealth from the war.
Therefore, after reading the intelligence Hakushi sent, Yagura did not immediately take action against the Akatsuki.
Even though he knows the danger of the Akatsuki, which will eventually evolve into a great calamity, the Hidden Mist Village at the moment indeed lacks the power to stop them.
However, one thing is certain—that regardless of whether it is the Akatsuki, or he and Hakushi, it will ultimately lead to an unprecedented war.
That is, the Fourth Great Ninja War.
This is an inevitable outcome.
Before that, all preparations must be thoroughly arranged.
If the Akatsuki cannot be restricted for now, at least more intelligence about this organization needs to be obtained promptly to serve future purposes in the Fourth Great Ninja War.