"What… what is that thing?"

Elder Genji, still shaken, finally looked up at Kanda Kyoichi and voiced the question gnawing at his heart.

That thing…

What even was it?

How could it transform into something even their sensing techniques couldn't detect?

"I told you—Kirigakure has already been infiltrated like a sieve. Any operation you're aware of ends up being exposed in the end."

Kyoichi spoke calmly. "Those creatures are the reason that infiltration is so flawless."

"So they really exist…"

Elder Genji was left speechless.

He had thought Kyoichi was simply fearmongering, pressuring him into accepting the deal faster. But it turned out—Kanda Kyoichi hadn't been bluffing at all.

It was all true!

Could someone really be this honest?

It was… unsettling.

"Well then, as a trophy of war, I'll be taking this thing. You don't mind, do you?"

Kyoichi smiled pleasantly at him.

Elder Genji shook his head without hesitation.

Mind? What was there to mind? The creature had already been captured by Kyoichi. And if not for him, Elder Genji could already imagine what would've happened on this mission—

He'd either be dead, or worse, taken over by that thing.

The thought alone…

A few cold beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

Dying was one thing. But being controlled—that was the true nightmare. That would mean the entire village falling under enemy control.

He couldn't even begin to imagine—

How many high-ranking officials in Kirigakure were already compromised?

"Well then, don't forget to pay up for the life I just saved. I don't work for free. Also, I suspect Yagura is most likely already under their control. You should investigate thoroughly."

Kyoichi sealed the White Zetsu into a scroll.

Time was short.

He didn't have much of it to waste arguing with an old man.

"Want me to deal with your Mizukage while I'm at it?"

"This… Let me—"

"No time. If you wait any longer, your whole village might be gone. I can't afford to waste time here either. Yes or no? And for the record—it's not free."

Kyoichi's words came fast and sharp.

Elder Genji, not as quick on the uptake in his old age, took a moment to register what was being said. But he could tell—things weren't as simple as he'd assumed.

Still…

Hiring an outsider to assassinate their own Mizukage? The very idea of it sounded beyond outrageous.

But if they hesitated now…

He had his own concerns.

Those who knew the truth would understand he was acting for the village's safety. But for those who didn't, it might look like he was betraying Kirigakure and defecting to Konohagakure.

"This… sigh. Fine. At my age, reputation means little. I'll hire you. But can I borrow that creature afterward?"

Elder Genji asked.

With the White Zetsu in hand—and Yagura's testimony—he could prove his own innocence.

Yagura seemed compromised, yes, but the fact that he could still speak freely meant the control wasn't absolute.

"Of course."

"Many thanks!"

"There's an extra charge for that."

"Ugh…" Elder Genji nodded, helpless.

Greedy bastard…

Now he understood Kyoichi's personality. This guy was ridiculously meticulous—everything had its price, and everything was itemized.

A single mission, and the man had somehow broken it into four or five separate billable parts—and made it so he had no excuse to argue.

Infuriating.

But since he'd agreed…

Kyoichi didn't waste time. He immediately headed toward the Third Mizukage's residence.

At the same time—

Something went wrong on Yagura's side.

A roar echoed through the air.

The next moment, a thunderous explosion shook the village.

"What happened…? Did Yagura lose control?"

"No. It's just that the enemy realized the situation and made their move first. So… do you still think Kirigakure can afford to wait this out?"

Kyoichi spoke, then disappeared with Elder Genji in tow.

He took the old man with him for one reason—

To avoid being falsely accused of assassination and turned into a scapegoat for Kirigakure's internal conflict.

The Third Mizukage's residence was tucked in a corner of the village.

But—

It wasn't unguarded.

Due to the Mizukage's long-term illness, the village had placed extremely tight security around him.

So—

The moment they saw Elder Genji and Kyoichi appear, the guards immediately surrounded the house.

At first, they assumed they were fellow villagers, but on closer inspection, they noticed Kyoichi's forehead protector—marked with the symbol of Konoha—and his outfit was nothing like Kirigakure's.

More importantly—

In this day and age, no one didn't recognize Kanda Kyoichi.

Everyone fell silent.

What… was going on?

"Elder Genji, could it be that…"

Their first reaction was suspicion—that Elder Genji had betrayed them and become a guide for Konoha's invasion.

But thinking more carefully—

If Elder Genji wanted to defect, he wouldn't have to go to such lengths.

He had been helping govern the village for years and held the trust of countless ninja. His standing in Kirigakure arguably surpassed even Danzo's in Konoha.

So—

If he truly wanted to abandon the village, he could've done it far more elegantly.

Which was why—

The squad captain found the situation so strange.

"Something major is happening in Kirigakure. Kyoichi-kun, I'll be borrowing that guy."

Elder Genji said.

"Too much hassle. By the time you explain everything one by one, the Jinchūriki's already gone berserk. So… let's cut through all that."

Kyoichi didn't bother explaining.

Sheets of paper fluttered through the air. In a flash, his figure moved like lightning. In the blink of an eye, all the guards were downed.

Not just wounded—he had struck their chakra points, rendering them powerless.

Wails of pain rang out across the area.

Nearby shinobi quickly closed in, but Kyoichi was already gone—leaving Elder Genji behind.

The old man leaned on his cane, a headache brewing.

He wasn't one of them, so of course he didn't care what happened to Kirigakure.

Kyoichi's methods were fast—but the aftermath? A nightmare to clean up. And now Elder Genji was left holding the bag…

He'd have to explain everything to the others.

But—

That wasn't Kyoichi's problem.

By now, he had already reached the Third Mizukage's home. For someone at his level, ordinary traps were useless. He broke through every layer of protection with ease and entered the Mizukage's chambers.

The Third Mizukage was very old.

Roughly the same age as Elder Genji—fighting might not even be an option for him anymore.

At that moment, the old man sat quietly on the bed, watching Kyoichi step in.

"Kanda Kyoichi? I've heard of you. Didn't expect you to be so bold, barging into Kirigakure to assassinate me."

"No, I'm not here to assassinate you. I'm here to lift the genjutsu you're under—Madara Uchiha."

Kyoichi smiled as he said it.

This was his first direct confrontation with Madara. Though only a fragment of his consciousness was present, it was still a major step forward.

The Third Mizukage was silent for a long moment.

Clearly…

He hadn't expected Kyoichi to just say it out loud.

"I never imagined that even with the Senju bloodline diluted into the civilian populace, someone like you could emerge. How interesting! Kanda Kyoichi, I admit I underestimated you. Since his death, you're the only one from the Senju line that I've truly taken notice of."

The "Third Mizukage" smiled faintly.

Since he'd been exposed, there was no point denying it. Doing so would only make him look weak and pathetic.

Kyoichi shrugged.

"Wasn't hard to guess, was it? Let's just say you slipped up. So—see you at Yagura's. This place no longer concerns you."

"You think you can break my genjutsu?"

Madara chuckled.

This genjutsu had been cast during his Rinnegan phase. It wasn't something ordinary techniques could unravel. Plus, it was being maintained by a fragment of his own consciousness. Breaking it should have been impossible.

However—

His confidence didn't last long.

Because—

A force emerged from Kyoichi's body, one that felt both familiar and alien.

What was that…?

A Sage Body—like Hashirama?

No… wait—

Sage Chakra!

Madara's eyes widened.

In that instant, he understood exactly how Kyoichi had managed to evade White Zetsu's detection.

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