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Itachi remained silent throughout the journey, never intervening in the exchange between Kisame and Mei Terumi. He was as impassive as a mere spectator. Once they stepped into the Hokage building, all conversation between Kisame and Mei Terumi ceased entirely. The three ascended to the second floor and ultimately came to a halt before the door of the Hokage's office. Without a word, Itachi stepped forward and knocked.
"Enter." Upon receiving permission, Itachi opened the door and signaled with his eyes that Mei Terumi could proceed inside.
"Thank you," Mei Terumi said, tossing her long hair back as she walked into the office on her clicking high heels. Itachi closed the door and stationed himself on one side of the doorway, with Kisame taking the other.
"Long time no see," Kazuki greeted her from inside the office, leaning back against his chair.
"Yes, long time no see," Mei Terumi replied, a smile gracing her features. The atmosphere instantly became considerably more relaxed, which was conducive to the conversation they needed to have. "If the Fifth Hokage hadn't yet returned, I might even have assumed you were the Hokage of the Leaf." As a friend meeting under these circumstances, Mei Terumi couldn't resist a light tease.
Kazuki laughed heartily. "I could be Hokage. The only difference is whether I want to be or not."
"..." Mei Terumi's heart skipped a beat. She had only been joking. She hadn't expected Kazuki to actually dare to say such a thing. Whether he was Hokage or not was merely a matter of whether he felt like it? As long as he wanted it, he could become Hokage immediately? Wasn't that a bit too boastful?
Mei Terumi had been consumed with her village's war and hadn't had much energy to spare on observing the internal situation of the Leaf Village. She had absolutely no idea that Kazuki was already the Leaf's uncrowned king. Aside from lacking the formal title of Hokage, in reality there was no difference whatsoever. The moment he desired it and expressed the inclination, droves of people would step forward to support his ascension to Hokage. It would be a unanimous vote.
"Let's not dwell on that," Kazuki smoothly changed the subject, smiling as his gaze traveled appraisingly from bottom to top over Mei Terumi.
"???" Mei Terumi paused for a moment, but then openly allowed Kazuki to scrutinize her, even teasing him in return. "What's this? Has big sister's charm grown on you?"
"Something like that. You fit the shape I like," Kazuki replied with a grin and a nod.
"You..." Joking was one thing, but did you have to be so direct?! Mei Terumi was completely thrown off balance. It took her a good moment before she finally rolled her eyes at him with a laugh. Flattering words were something anyone loved to hear, women especially. Setting aside her official identity, Mei Terumi was, after all, just a woman who loved beauty. Unfortunately, she hadn't come to the Leaf Village to discuss such frivolous, flirtatious topics with Kazuki.
"You wish to obtain the Leaf Village's consent and support to proceed to the Daimyo's residence and meet with the Daimyo of the Land of Water, correct?" Kazuki proactively laid the matter on the table.
Mei Terumi nodded slightly. "Yes. Because of the Leaf Village – no, because of the intelligence you disseminated – the current situation within my village is extremely tense and precarious. We need to secure the Daimyo's support. At the same time, my father wished for me to ask you: there are no issues with the intelligence, are there?" Although she already believed the intelligence Kazuki had circulated, Mei Terumi still wanted to verify one more time just how accurate it was. Had Kazuki mixed in any personal fabrications?
"One hundred percent accurate. If there's any problem, you're welcome to come find me and hold me accountable," Kazuki gave her a definitive assurance. Although some personal embellishments had been slipped in by him, the core intelligence was absolutely correct. The fact that Yagura was controlled by the Akatsuki was true and beyond question. As for how much Kisame actually knew, that was unclear. Kazuki didn't need Kisame to know too much anyway. As long as Kisame had defected to him and brought sufficient sincerity, that was enough. Whether Kisame would later claim that certain things had nothing to do with him was irrelevant.
Firstly, he lacked the standing to explain such matters. Secondly, even if he did explain, it would be utterly useless – whatever was going to happen had already happened. Moreover, Kisame was a smart man. Though his personality was somewhat impulsive and his fighting style tended toward brutality, he knew what could be said and what couldn't. The pots he was meant to carry, he would carry properly. The pot couldn't be allowed to fall, otherwise it would be the end of him.
"That's good, then." With Kazuki's guarantee, the last lingering worry in Mei Terumi's heart was finally laid to rest.
"I support the Mist Village's desire to clean house. The Five Great Shinobi Villages cannot allow the Akatsuki to continue leading us by the nose. Regarding the matter of the Daimyo's residence, I will represent the Leaf Village in supporting your village," Kazuki stated his position clearly. "Shortly, I will dispatch personnel to escort you to the Daimyo's residence. As for how to persuade the Daimyo of the Land of Water, that will depend on you."
Mei Terumi had arrived swiftly, and she departed just as quickly. The only difference was that she had come alone, and when she left, her escort was anything but small. Shisui and Kakashi, leading two Anbu squads, accompanied Mei Terumi on her journey to the Daimyo's residence. Nominally, their mission was to protect her en route. In actuality, their purpose was to serve as a warning to Mei Terumi: obediently carry out your task, and absolutely do not try any tricks. Otherwise, things would become awkward for everyone involved, and even your own personal safety couldn't be guaranteed.
If not for the constraints of his position, Kazuki would have been tempted to personally go to the Daimyo's residence just to enjoy the spectacle. When the Daimyo of the Land of Water learned the full truth of the matter, he would likely pound his chest and stomp his feet in fury.
"Yagura..." Kazuki stood by the window, gazing in the direction of the Mist Village. "I wonder if that guy will manage to keep his life." After an incident of this magnitude, it was impossible for Yagura to remain the Mizukage of the Mist Village. Stepping down and yielding his position was inevitable.
If he was lucky, he would be sealed, and his meager life preserved. If unlucky, he wouldn't even be able to hold onto his life. Even if he didn't die, the Mist Village would no longer permit a Jinchuriki like him to continue existing. Transferring the Tailed Beast away was a certainty. And once a Tailed Beast was extracted, the fate of the Jinchuriki needed no further elaboration – certain death.
What followed would be a period of simply watching the show unfold. Mei Terumi would undoubtedly succeed in persuading the Daimyo of the Land of Water. The moment he learned the truth, the Daimyo would one hundred percent support the village's upper echelons in moving against Yagura. He might even agree to mediate the war. As for whether the position of Fifth Mizukage would still fall to Mei Terumi, that would depend on whether her sides could stabilize the overall situation.
Rubbing his eyes, Kazuki began to calculate and scheme. He felt the time was ripe to begin preparations for extracting the Yin half of the Nine-Tails. However, releasing Minato's soul would require Orochimaru's assistance
Kazuki had absolutely no desire to personally summon the Shinigami and slice open his own belly. Such a glorious and noble task could only be entrusted to Orochimaru. After all, that venomous snake was a classic case of being ruthless to others and even more ruthless to himself. Furthermore, controlling Minato to undo the seal would also require Orochimaru. Although Kazuki was confident he could persuade Minato with words, there was no necessity to do so. The Nine-Tails was the village's property, and Minato had already become a relic of the past. Kazuki had no need to waste his breath and mental energy arguing and persuading Minato. Directly manipulating Minato to undo the seal would be far simpler and more efficient.
At the Daimyo's residence of the Land of Fire, early in the morning, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Daimyo of the Land of Water had just risen and were already eagerly plotting what new diversions and amusements they could seek out for the day.