I fell into my seat with a heavy sigh and took off my hat as Lady Megumi and Uncle formally bowed at my presence in the council room. They took their place on tatami mats and glanced at the empty spot between them as they’ve done since I stopped sending council alerts to Lord Funato.

“Junichi, Ao, make sure no one disturbs us.” I spoke lightly as it was a repeat command and Ao at least would hear it the fourth time. I gave the command to let my councillors know without directly speaking to them that I wouldn’t be entertaining any devil’s advocates. Not today.

Lady Megumi still looked like she wanted to say a word for her oldest friend but she swallowed whatever to replace it with, “Aoto whisked you away before we could fully discuss Amegakure.”

I nodded, Uncle had gotten the most recent messages from Mei and Daichi while I was unconscious and it revealed that not all of Hanzo’s men were dead and gone. Some managed to pick out a fellow shinobi in Mei, and Daichi performing his own counterintelligence quickly discovered them being tailed, watched and documented.

It wasn’t long before our agents had a sit down with the remnants of Amegakure’s old regime, fortunately it was peaceful and gave a decisive answer to the question of Hanzo’s death or life.

Of course, I knew from Mei’s first reports that the Salamander was dead and a part of me wishes I’d recalled her back to Kiri then, but having her stay a while longer to observe and eventually meet the remnants of Hanzo’s men was truly a blessing.

“What’s left to discuss? I’ve given Mei’s team the okay to come back home, Amegakure is a dead end for what I had in mind with Hanzo dead.”

Uncle adjusts himself on his mat, “Weren’t they also there to find out if Ame had a hand in the Third’s passing? It might be a little redundant to keep looking at dead ends as you say four months into your reign but, isn’t it worth knowing if this…Pein had something to do with it?”

I shook my head but Lady Megumi was quick to reinforce Uncle’s point, “That’s right. Mei’s report highlights this Pein as the central figure responsible for overthrowing the Salamander and from the little she’s written about her discussion with Hanzo’s men…well, I’d think he has a grudge against the Great Shinobi Villages.”

I sighed, this is where the blessing becomes complex. Unlike me my councillors didn’t have the full picture, they didn’t have their persona’s fused with a soul carrying knowledge of future and past.

What can I say to calm them? I breathed a sigh and worded carefully, “Hanzo’s men are eager, they see agents of a great village and they think they’re saved, that they can mete out their vengeance on the pseudo-Kage that’s killed their Salamander Lord. However, that will not be us, we haven’t the time nor any reason to. I admit I was interested in bargaining an alliance with Hanzo but now we know he’s dead, I’d rather recall our agents than let them prowl under the gaze of a man we know nothing about beyond his killing of Hanzo.”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Lady Megumi pursed her lips in thought, glancing by Uncle who met her squinted gaze. She inhaled to say something but hesitated.

“Please, speak your mind.”

She nodded, “There is always opportunity for alliance whether new or old regime, we’re a great village, we have the bargaining might even if this Pein has some grudge against us. And since he does, we have reason to unmount him from that seat with one of Hanzo’s men, an eternally grateful and loyal puppet. Beyond that…these figures, Pein and an Angel, I’ve never heard of powerful shinobi within Amegakure outside Hanzo…and they killed him.”

Lady Megumi smacked her belly and set a piercing gaze on me, “My intuition says they have something to do with my son’s death and that you’re hiding something, Yondaime-sama.”

Uncle looked between us, his lips parted to defend me but I raised my hand and wore a smile as Lady Megumi’s wrinkled eyes stared me down, “Very well, I’ll tell you. Hanako-hime has requested a meeting with me, I’m meant to see her today but I asked she join me to watch Kisame and Fuguki’s duel.”

Both councillors bristled at the news, “Have you decided? She will surely call Kirigakure to war, will you accept?” Uncle asked.

“Yes, I wouldn’t want to leave the man that crowned me to the gallows but of course, there must be a worthwhile price. Which is what I wish to discuss.”

Lady Megumi shook her head as if we were about speaking nonsense so I said, “You are correct about Ame and its new leader, Hozuki-dono, but for now we must focus our efforts here, in Kirigakure and the Land of Water. I do not believe Pein is responsible for the Third’s death but I bear enough suspicion to believe he’s related in some way.”

“If you felt that way why didn’t you order Mei and Daichi to kill them?” She kept her voice mild but there was no question about her mood, she was near furious.

“Mei and Daichi would not nearly be enough to take on a man capable of bringing down Hanzo the Salamander.” The honest truth. “I intended to visit Amegakure myself, have my presence make them sweat until they couldn’t help but expose their misdeeds but alas, when does the Mizukage ever get to leave his village?”

A half-truth. I once planned to visit Ame with hopes of meeting Konan but since becoming myself I realize I don’t have the strength for such, not even if an army accompanied me— the loss of life would be too great. But I will and soon, between my own plans to strengthen myself and Isobu’s Jinchuriki training, the Daimyo’s war would be a testing and boasting arena for the strength I intend to grasp.

“Calm yourself, Lady Megumi, I may have abandoned investigating Pein personally but I know someone else that may be just as interested.” I said with a bright, all assured smile.

“Konoha…” Uncle muttered, putting the pieces together instantly.

“Yes and we’ll make them pay just for knowing. This council meeting is about price, trusted councillors.”