If they didn't remove the armbands before the time limit, the Mizukage's personal Anbu and the Mizukage himself would hunt them down with everything they had. Basically, they'd be treated as enemies to be taken out on sight.
But thanks to those armbands, Hatake Satoru and Shisui could move freely inside the Mizukage building.
Ao, who was sitting on a chair nearby, looked at the two of them in surprise. He had no idea why these two people wearing armbands had shown up.
Yagura and the elder shared some information with each other, but also kept some things to themselves.
In short, everyone was playing mind games with half-truths.
They did know that Hatake Satoru and Shisui were outsiders who came to apply as teachers.
But teachers came and went so often that no one paid much attention to them.
Still, everyone knew you had to be announced before seeing an elder, right?!
Just kicking the door open and walking in like that—how could anyone think that was okay?
Did this guy think the Mizukage building was his house?
"What are you two doing barging in like this? Shouldn't you be seeing the Mizukage to return your armbands right now?"
Ao was stunned for a second but quickly came to his senses. He frowned and shouted loudly, walking straight toward them.
Normally, any outsiders would be dealt with by the Fourth Mizukage, but no one really understood what was going on with him anymore.
Getting involved with these outsiders could be trouble.
Hatake Satoru kicked the door shut behind him without the slightest sign of backing down. With his hands behind his head, he looked past Ao and straight at the elder inside the room.
Ever since they entered, the only reaction from the elder had been a flash of surprise at first.
After that, he just looked cold and tired, like someone at the end of their life.
"If I leave now, no one's going to tell you what happened to Karatachi Yagura!"
Ao froze for a second when he heard the Fourth Mizukage's name. His single white eye scanned Hatake Satoru and Shisui from head to toe.
Shisui looked like a completely average ninja—chakra flow, gear, everything.
Still, something about the guy felt oddly familiar.
Ao gave Shisui a closer look.
He wore sunglasses and had a gentle smile on his face. He seemed like someone with a calm, easygoing personality.
Although he looked familiar, Ao was sure he'd never seen him before.
But the one with the blindfold and that cheeky grin—now he looked really strange.
There was no sign of chakra flowing in his body at all!
Someone with no chakra working as a ninja school teacher?
And not just any school—but the same one where that genius Hozuki Mangetsu studied? And he was still alive?
Ao's hand was already on the door handle, ready to kick them out at any moment.
Just as he was hesitating over Hatake Satoru's strange body condition, a hoarse, raspy voice came from behind him.
"Let them go, Ao. They don't have much time left. The Mizukage will come for them when the time's up."
"What do you want to say about the Mizukage?"
The elder's eyes were sunken deep in their sockets, but a faint sharp light flashed in the darkness.
He wasn't so clueless after all. No wonder he managed to hold the village together for so long even without a Mizukage.
After the Fourth Mizukage Yagura died, this elder had secretly taken control of the entire Kirigakure Village.
Hatake Satoru stuck his tongue out at the serious-looking Ao, then casually walked past him like nothing happened.
"You can't go in."
Even though Hatake Satoru dressed weirdly, his body and habits didn't seem like those of a ninja at all.
It was fine to let him get close to the elder. But as for the one wearing sunglasses, he had to stay by the door for now.
Even though Hatake Satoru was way more dangerous!
If anyone should've been kept back, it was him—not Shisui.
Shisui couldn't help but complain silently in his head.
"This is clearly aimed at me."
He let out a quiet sigh and didn't bother going in.
He could watch just fine from the doorway anyway.
It's not like Hatake Satoru was about to join a debate, and he didn't need to prep for a follow-up argument either.
So Ao and Shisui both stayed by the door, quietly watching the two people now seated inside.
Hatake Satoru didn't sit properly at all—his long legs were stretched out across the table like he was showing off how long they were.
He leaned back in his chair, casually tossing the armband in his hand up and down.
With a cheerful tone, he said,
"You guessed right~ Karatachi Yagura, your Fourth Mizukage, really *was* being controlled!"
"And I've already found out who's behind it—"
Just those two short lines sent a wave of shock through the whole room.
First, the clear truth: the Mizukage really *was* under someone's control.
Who could possibly have the power to control a Kage?
Second, this guy had been in the village for less than three days and already figured out who did it?
That basically felt like a slap in the face—like he was mocking how useless they were.
Ao and Genji's expressions shifted subtly, their eyes flickering with complicated looks.
After a long silence, Genji's eyes, hidden in shadow, slowly turned toward Hatake Satoru.
"What do you want?"
"Are you hoping we'll spare your lives?"
Hatake Satoru suddenly clenched the armband in his hand and looked up with a grin.
"You think it's that simple?"
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