Being discovered so easily by Hayashi did not surprise Kisame. If anything, it would have been strange if he had remained unnoticed.
What caught him off guard was something else entirely. As a low profile Genin from Kirigakure, his identity had been recognized instantly.
Could it be because of his appearance?
He dismissed that thought almost immediately. Kisame considered himself average looking, maybe a bit sharper than most, but nothing that would draw such attention.
Letting the thought go, he gave a small grin. "I didn't expect someone like you to know my name."
His gaze shifted briefly to the unconscious girl nearby.
Mei Terumī had some connection to this man, so being identified as her teammate was not completely unexpected.
But Hayashi shook his head lightly, as if reading his thoughts. "I know you, and it has nothing to do with Mei Terumī or anyone else. It is simply because of who you are."
He continued without pause. "You excel in Water Release, your chakra reserves surpass others your age, and just like Mei Terumī, you deliberately hide your true strength."
Kisame's pupils shrank.
He had always believed he concealed himself well. Yet it seemed this man had seen through everything long ago.
Hayashi smiled faintly. "Relax. In a place like Kirigakure, keeping a low profile is the smartest choice."
His eyes shifted toward Kisame with quiet clarity. "Your temperament is far more cautious than hers. You avoid unnecessary risks. Yet today, you followed her here to find me. Let me think."
"You did not come out of concern for Mei Terumī."
"I understand how your village operates. Even if you are allies, you would help with minor matters, but when real danger appears, you would walk away without hesitation."
"Yet you still came. That means Mei Terumī told you I spared her before."
Kisame remained silent.
"Since I didn't kill her then, you assumed I wouldn't do so now. So you followed, hoping I would see you as being on the same side as her, increasing your chances of survival."
Hayashi paused briefly before continuing.
"But even then, it is still a risk. So what could make you take that risk? Revenge is unlikely, that is more her style. Coming just to observe me would be something Zabuza might do."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"So your goal must be Samehada."
The words struck like a wave crashing down.
Kisame felt as though every hidden thought had been dragged into the open.
He had buried that desire deeply, yet this man uncovered it effortlessly.
No wonder Mei Terumī spoke of him with such caution.
Hayashi adjusted Mei Terumī over his shoulder, making sure she did not slip, then spoke again.
"Samehada once belonged to Kirigakure, but now it is my spoils of war. Even your village has acknowledged that."
"Of course," Kisame replied quickly. "I have no intention of disputing that. I only want to make a deal."
"A deal?" Hayashi's tone carried mild curiosity. "What kind?"
"Ten years," Kisame said firmly. "Once I become a Jonin, I will serve you for ten years in exchange for Samehada."
Hayashi studied him for a moment. "Ten years… With your talent, you could reach Jonin by fifteen. That means you would only be twenty five when the deal ends. You have planned this carefully."
He tilted his head slightly. "But I am the head of the Uchiha clan. Anything I need can be handled by my clan members. Why would I need your ten years?"
Kisame did not hesitate. "Because I can offer something you do not have."
"And that is?"
"Kirigakure," Kisame answered. "You may control Konoha, but you cannot see everything in the Mist. I can."
He continued, voice steady. "Mei Terumī comes from a powerful clan, she has access to information. Through her, I can gather intelligence. I can act as your eyes inside the village."
Hayashi let out a quiet laugh.
A spy.
The proposal was tempting.
Kisame was not just talented, he was reliable. A rare trait among shinobi.
Unlike many others, he was someone who would remain loyal once he made a decision.
Hayashi had seen enough people driven by their own agendas. Compared to them, Kisame's straightforward resolve stood out.
A man like this was worth investing in.
Kisame waited, tension building in his chest.
Samehada was not something he could steal. Not now, not ever. This was the only thing he could offer in exchange.
Even so, he knew it might not be enough.
For a brief moment, a strange thought crossed his mind.
If he had been born a woman, perhaps his chances would have been better.
The idea annoyed him.
After what felt like a long silence, Hayashi finally spoke.
"As you said, Samehada has little use to me."
Kisame's breath hitched slightly.
"I accept your terms."
Relief flashed across his face.
"Come find me once you become a Jonin. Samehada will be yours."
Hayashi's tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious.
"But from now on, you will monitor Kirigakure for me. Any unusual activity, you report it."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a specially marked kunai.
"Take this."
Kisame's eyes widened the moment he saw it.
The Flying Thunder God kunai.
"If you need me, channel your chakra into it," Hayashi said. "I will come to you."
Kisame's breathing quickened.
He understood exactly what this meant.
With enough of these markers, Hayashi could move freely within Kirigakure at any time.
It was a dangerous tool.
Even so, Kisame reached out and took the kunai without hesitation.
This was his answer.
By accepting it, he had chosen his path.
And he did not regret it.
Kirigakure offered him nothing but endless bloodshed and emptiness. If there was even a chance at something different, he was willing to take it.
As long as the one he followed had strength, that was enough.
And Hayashi clearly did.
Hayashi nodded in satisfaction.
As long as Kisame fulfilled his role, handing over Samehada in the future was a small price.
After all, this was someone who would not betray easily.
At that moment, Mei Terumī stirred slightly on his shoulder.
Seeing that she was about to wake, Hayashi casually tossed her onto the grass nearby.
Kisame watched, speechless.
"When she wakes up, come up with your own explanation," Hayashi said.
The next instant, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Silence returned.
Kisame stood there, staring at the unconscious Mei Terumī, a bitter smile forming on his face.
What was he supposed to say?
That he came to collect a body?