Damn it. This guy's mouth is tighter than a clam.
While maintaining his act, Takizo was cursing internally.
From the moment he walked in, he'd been playing 4D chess. He started with the "old family friends" angle, humbled himself to ask for help, deliberately pitched three impossible requests to make Mangetsu feel guilty, then played the victim card, stated his stance, and finally dropped the "brotherly love" nuke—a tactic scientifically proven to be super effective against older brothers.
The goal? To soften Mangetsu up enough so he'd accidentally spill the beans about the assassination plot, giving Takizo an opening to join in.
And while Mangetsu was definitely wavering, his mental defenses were holding strong.
Seriously? Even that didn't break you? Takizo thought, recalibrating. Guess I have to switch tactics.
Look, we're practically besties now. If I say something a little risky, you probably won't chop me in half with Hiramekarei, right?
Takizo steeled himself. If this goes south, I run.
"Then I can only hope the Kaguya Clan survives until that turning point arrives," Takizo said, standing up. "I wish you good fortune in battle, Brother."
He walked toward the door, mentally calculating the distance between him and Mangetsu.
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he paused. "By the way, Brother Mangetsu, have you offended anyone recently?"
Mangetsu laughed. "In the Hidden Mist, people offend the Hozuki, not the other way around."
Takizo opened the door slightly but didn't leave. "I've heard some rumors lately. They say you and Senior Zabuza have been awfully close."
Mangetsu waved it off. "Senior Zabuza and I are both Seven Ninja Swordsmen. It's only natural we train together."
Takizo made a move to leave, then dropped the bomb. "I also heard rumors that you're gathering subordinates and consolidating power... specifically for some unsavory purpose. But I'm sure that's just idle gossip."
Anyone who has ever plotted a rebellion knows the feeling. When you're planning—or have already done—something bad, and someone mentions it casually, your heart skips a beat. The only question is how good your poker face is.
Mangetsu's poker face was terrible.
He shot up from his seat so fast he scared the crap out of Suigetsu.
"Where did you hear that?!" Mangetsu demanded, staring daggers at Takizo.
Takizo shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, just from..."
He stopped mid-sentence, looking at Mangetsu with feigned suspicion. "Why such a strong reaction, Brother?"
Takizo's eyes lit up. He pulled his leg back inside and shut the door.
"Don't tell me... it's true?"
Mangetsu froze, his eyes darting around nervously.
Takizo didn't give him time to recover. He rushed forward and grabbed Mangetsu's hand with both of his. "Brother! If you are planning something big, why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Mangetsu blinked. Wait, I didn't want to...
Hold on! Why would I tell you? We're acquaintances, not partners in crime!
Wait, hold on again! Who said I was rebelling?! I haven't admitted to anything!
Mangetsu stammered, "Takizo, I think you're misunderstanding. There's no 'big plan'..."
Takizo waved his hand dismissively. "Brother, don't hide it from me!"
Before Mangetsu could protest, Takizo plowed on. "If you are planning a coup, the Kaguya Clan will support you with everything we have! You raise the banner from within, the Kaguya will pressure from without, and with Senior Zabuza as our heavy hitter, the Mist Village will fall into our hands in no time!"
Mangetsu listened and thought, Hey, that actually makes sense. That's a solid plan.
"Can you really represent the entire Kaguya Clan?" Mangetsu asked seriously.
Hook, line, and sinker! Reading 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' finally paid off.
Takizo was inwardly cheering. He opened his mouth to seal the deal.
"Mangetsu. The kid is bluffing."
The voice came from behind him, accompanied by a wave of killing intent so cold it froze the air in the room.
Mangetsu blinked. "Eh?!!"
Takizo stiffened, goosebumps erupting all over his body.
A tall, muscular figure stepped out of the shadows behind Takizo. He was dragging a massive sword that scraped against the floorboards with a menacing skrrrrt sound.
Like a venomous snake hissing in his ear.
Zabuza Momochi!
When the hell did he get here?! Do all ninjas have a fetish for eavesdropping?!
Takizo's mind raced.
Zabuza wasn't like Mangetsu.
Zabuza was the poster boy for the "Blood Mist." Even among Mist killers, he was in a league of his own.
This was the guy who slaughtered over a hundred students during his graduation exam, forcing the village to change the entire system because he killed the entire graduating class.
And somehow, this guy ends up crying over Haku later.
Man, Haku must be really... something.
Under immense pressure, Takizo's brain started firing off random, useless thoughts.
Zabuza lazily dragged a chair over and collapsed into it.
"Talk. Where did you get that intel?"
Takizo glanced at Zabuza's posture.
Leaning back, left elbow on the armrest, right hand loosely gripping the Executioner's Blade. It looked relaxed, but Takizo knew Zabuza could decapitate him in a millisecond from that position.
Attack?
No. If Zabuza wanted me dead, I'd already be fertilizer.
That means he doesn't want to kill me yet.
Realizing this, Takizo calmed down. He had prepared a script for Zabuza too; the surprise appearance just threw him off for a second.
Takizo bowed slightly. "Senior Zabuza."
"Answer the question, kid." Zabuza's face was half-covered by bandages, revealing no emotion, but his voice was like ice.
Takizo looked Zabuza in the eye. "The Kaguya Clan has its own sources."
"If that's your answer, you're not leaving this room alive," Zabuza threatened.
Takizo decided not to push his luck.
"Konoha."
Zabuza's grip on his sword tightened. "The Kaguya are colluding with the Leaf?"
Takizo feigned shock. "Colluding? The Kaguya and the Hyuga of Konoha have been blood allies for a thousand years. That pact predates the existence of the Mist Village."
Zabuza's grip loosened slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the hilt.
He didn't doubt Konoha had spies in the Mist. The Mist had spies in Konoha, too.
"Reason?" Zabuza pressed.
"Reason for what?"
"Why would Konoha risk exposing a spy to leak this to you? What do they want?"
Takizo didn't miss a beat. "Relations between Konoha and the Stone Village are deteriorating. War could break out any day. They don't want the Mist, which just signed a peace treaty, to become unstable."
Zabuza nodded slowly. That tracked.
"Then you can go tell your masters in Konoha that the Mist has no intention of breaking the treaty."
Zabuza glared at Takizo. "Now, get out. And keep your mouth shut. Or I'll start the purge with the Kaguya Clan."
Takizo frowned. "Leave? I haven't stated my demands yet."
Zabuza looked at him with disdain. "A dog with a bone in its mouth still wants to tear off a piece of meat?"