Chapter 546: The Hoshigaki Clan?
Some people present noticed the person who had quietly left, but no one paid much attention.
The people from Konoha simply assumed he had another assignment and had left early.
After all, he wasn't an important figure, nor was he standing at the front, so it wasn't considered disrespectful.
Besides, this wasn't an official diplomatic occasion to begin with.
As for the people from Kirigakure, they had been somewhat puzzled when they saw him leave.
But after following Might Guy's shout toward Kakashi, they immediately understood.
Everyone silently exchanged knowing looks and said nothing.
"Guy, let me introduce you. This is the friend I mentioned in my letter, Shira from Sunagakure. Shira, this is one of Konoha's greatest taijutsu masters, Jōnin Might Guy."
Kakashi introduced the two to each other.
"Huh? There really was a friend... Uh, I mean, hello! I'm Might Guy, Konoha's Blue Beast."
Guy froze for a moment before quickly recovering and enthusiastically shaking Shira's hand.
"Mizukage-sama, could you arrange a spacious temporary training area for us? We'd like somewhere suitable for teaching Sage Mode, as well as a place where Guy and Shira can work together on developing new taijutsu."
Kakashi turned back toward Terumi Mei and made his request.
"I've already prepared one."
Terumi Mei nodded and reached a hand behind her.
Chōjūrō immediately handed her a scroll.
"This is a newly cleared open area. It was originally intended for expanding the beach resort, but construction hasn't started yet, so it's still just an empty field. It should be perfect for your needs. And right next to it is the resort district. If you get tired, you can always go there to relax."
As she spoke, she handed the scroll over.
"Thank you for your thoughtful preparation, Mizukage-sama."
Kakashi accepted the scroll with visible surprise.
He hadn't expected the Mizukage to be so considerate.
The location she had arranged was ideal.
Originally, Kakashi had assumed that if they wanted to enjoy the seaside vacation atmosphere of the Land of Water, they would have to wait until after completing their mission.
Instead, the Mizukage had arranged everything in advance.
Whenever they had free time, they could simply head next door to play beach volleyball or relax under the sun.
It was wonderful.
After all, having gone through several rounds of promoting senjutsu in other villages, Kakashi already knew the routine.
Aside from the initial teaching phase, there was a long stretch where they simply had to wait.
During that downtime, Kakashi had been using the opportunity to write his first original novel.
But as time went on, his inspiration had temporarily dried up.
No matter how much he wanted to write, nothing came out.
In Kakashi's opinion, forcing himself to write without inspiration wasn't true creativity.
Now things were perfect.
He finally had something enjoyable to do during those idle hours.
Everyone was delighted by Terumi Mei's thoughtful arrangements.
Even Pakura, who had been quietly observing all this, couldn't help nodding in approval.
From details like these alone, Pakura could already tell that Kirigakure was no longer the Village of the Bloody Mist.
Tourism was a service industry.
To succeed, people had to understand human nature and know how to treat others well.
It was difficult to imagine that the same Kirigakure which had once casually slaughtered even its own comrades had transformed into a nation centered around hospitality.
"As for the people from our side who'll be training…"
Terumi Mei let out a sigh.
"Kirigakure is seriously lacking in talent these days. Chōjūrō, Ao, and Kurosuki Raiga—you three should all give it a try."
There were simply too few famous shinobi left in Kirigakure.
As for the shinobi who had defected during the Bloody Mist era, there wasn't much they could say.
All they could do was make the best of the present.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
The three whose names had been called stepped forward from behind Terumi Mei.
One was her assistant, Chōjūrō.
Another was Ao, who had secretly slipped away earlier and had now returned wearing a mask.
The last was Kurosuki Raiga, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the unfortunate weakling who had previously been elbowed by Senju Hashirama.
It had to be said that Terumi Mei still had some sense of decency.
She hadn't asked Ranmaru, who had returned to Kirigakure alongside Kurosuki Raiga, to train in Sage Mode as well.
As a village famous for producing feminine-looking boys, Kirigakure had to remain vigilant against anything that crossed moral and ethical lines.
Especially now that the village's economy depended heavily on tourism and the service industry, they absolutely couldn't damage the ninja world's reputation.
To prevent Kirigakure from turning into another 'Reborn Mushi Island', Terumi Mei had to do everything possible to separate the bonds between certain people.
Naturally, there was no way she would let those two "take off together."
As for Zabuza and Haku...
They weren't her concern.
Neither of them had returned to Kirigakure.
"Oh, right. This is Hoshigaki Nanami. She'll be responsible for communications and handling unexpected situations. She'll accompany all of you. As for whether she'll train in Sage Mode later, that's entirely her own choice."
Terumi Mei introduced another kunoichi standing behind her.
She gave off a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar impression.
Unfamiliar because no one had ever heard of or seen her before.
Familiar...
Kakashi's attention was drawn to the surname Hoshigaki.
The same surname as Hoshigaki Kisame.
Combined with the shark-like features on her face...
'So the Hoshigaki are actually a small clan in Kirigakure?'
It was the first time Kakashi had learned this.
"Understood. Please take care of us."
Kakashi nodded in acknowledgment.
Terumi Mei had invited Hoshigaki Kisame to help suppress the rebellion.
Now there was also a kunoichi named Hoshigaki Nanami loyally serving under her.
Seeing this gave Kakashi an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
'Don't tell me...'
'Is Hoshigaki Nanami going to team up with Hoshigaki Kisame and wipe out their own clan?'
Just like how Uchiha Itachi had joined forces with Obito to exterminate the Uchiha Clan "for the sake of the village."
Cold sweat began running down Kakashi's back.
If things were really headed in that direction...
It would probably be best for him not to get involved.
But...
Could he actually avoid it?
Kakashi suddenly remembered what Terumi Mei had said earlier.
'"If you happen to run into something like that, I'll need your help dealing with it."'
Thinking back now...
The words "if you happen to" carried a rather meaningful implication.
---
Meanwhile...
Hoshigaki Kisame was standing on a small island.
Beside him stood Uchiha Itachi.
That's right.
Although Terumi Mei had only invited Kisame to help, Itachi had voluntarily come along as his partner.
How touching.
The rumors claiming that every time they went on missions, Itachi simply used genjutsu to hypnotize Kisame into believing the two of them had completed the mission together could finally be put to rest~
As for why Itachi had come...
After seeing the circumstances surrounding this incident, he had probably experienced the same sense of déjà vu as Kakashi.
'Seriously...'
'Was this hidden connection the reason the two of them had ended up on the same team?'
"Kisame, I didn't expect you to have a clan. And a fairly large one at that."
Looking at the village on the isolated island before them, Itachi spoke.
"I don't remember much. But according to the information provided by the Mizukage, only part of it is..."
Kisame shook his head.
From both the early parts of the original story and his flashbacks, there had never been any indication that Kisame belonged to a clan.
In fact, it could be said that Kisame's life had nothing to do with a clan at all.
Besides...
Under the Bloody Mist policy, what value did family ties even have?
If two brothers attended the Academy together and wanted to graduate in the same class...
There was a good chance one of them would have to die.
(End of this chapter)