Chapter 551: Crazy Gossip and Scandal Hunting
So that was it.
Case closed.
This book had originated in Kirigakure. No wonder it was so serious and proper—it would've been strange otherwise.
Kakashi finally understood.
Although, everything about Sukuna had actually been something Kakashi first heard from Shiromo.
That was also why he had suddenly changed his wording earlier.
But if he could hear it from Shiromo, couldn't the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei? Couldn't Zabuza? Or anyone else in Kirigakure?
So it was perfectly reasonable to conclude that this serious novel had originated in Kirigakure.
With that explanation, everything else made sense.
To avoid damaging the current alliance, Kirigakure had subtly spread this novel while also clearing the name of the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, revealing that he had been under mind control during the Bloody Mist era.
This wasn't meant for the people still living in the village.
It was meant for those who had fled Kirigakure because of the Bloody Mist.
That was also why the novel had never spread throughout the ninja world—because there was no need.
Most of the people who had escaped Kirigakure back then still lived on the islands of the Land of Water. Very few had ever moved to the mainland.
It was simply a matter of lifestyle.
Furthermore, Ryomen Sukuna wasn't just a reference to Uchiha Madara being the first Uchiha to devour his younger brother's power, nor was it merely a reference to Madara's Susanoo's appearance.
It also hinted that the one controlling Yagura had actually been two different "Madaras."
First, the real Uchiha Madara.
Then later, Obito, who impersonated him.
Huh?
Obito...
That name resurfaced in Kakashi's mind, making him feel melancholic once again.
On his way here, he had checked on Obito's progress inside the Engraved Tsukuyomi world.
Obito still hadn't completed the final beginner mission, yet his mental state was already beginning to deteriorate.
All Kakashi could do was pray that Obito would break down first, then rebuild himself stronger than before.
For now, there was business to handle.
"Granny Chiyo is right. This is—"
"Alright, if that's the case, then it has nothing to do with you anymore. Kakashi, go stand over there... no, wait, this is your territory. I'll leave."
Zabuza interrupted him.
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and left without another word.
His decisiveness completely stunned everyone.
Hadn't Zabuza arrived looking incredibly aggressive just moments ago?
Why had he surrendered and retreated at lightning speed?
"So that's it. Zabuza isn't just some brainless brute after all. No wonder Shiromo entrusted him with guarding the Land of Waves."
Kakashi was briefly stunned before smiling knowingly, immediately understanding why Zabuza had left so decisively.
Pakura, standing nearby, also realized the reason.
Since this was Kirigakure's political mission, Zabuza, who was technically still a rogue ninja that Kirigakure had chosen not to pursue, really shouldn't get involved.
Zabuza himself had no desire to return to Kirigakure, nor did he want to owe the village anything.
More importantly, clearing Yagura's name was something Zabuza genuinely wanted to see happen.
"Zabuza is..."
Pakura was about to explain her reasoning to the three youngsters.
Before she could even speak, however, the three of them suddenly looked as if enlightenment had struck them all at once.
"I get it! Zabuza is actually a tsundere! He came here on purpose just to get Kakashi's attention! He's secretly in love with Kakashi!"
"Exactly! I knew his appearance was way too sudden. That's definitely it!"
"Then Granny Chiyo showed up, and Zabuza realized Kakashi and Granny Chiyo still had lingering feelings for each other. Nothing hurts more than a broken heart. It was supposed to be a movie starring three people, but he didn't even get a name in the credits. He should've been under the car, not inside it...
Heartbroken and completely devastated, Zabuza silently chose to leave."
"..."
Pakura quietly threw her own deduction aside and accepted the trio's new conclusion.
She realized that as long as the premise was that Kakashi was 'that kind of person', every one of the trio's deductions became surprisingly logical.
And "Kakashi is that kind of person" was indeed a fact.
So there was nothing wrong with their reasoning.
"What are you doing?!"
A furious shout suddenly echoed from the distance.
It contained anger mixed with fear, fear mixed with embarrassment, and embarrassment mixed with terror.
Everyone immediately turned toward the source.
Whoa...
One piece of gossip hadn't even ended before another appeared?
The Gossip Trio's fighting spirit instantly surged.
They looked at each other and nodded in perfect unison.
Coming to Kirigakure had definitely been the right choice!
The one who had shouted was one of the three Kirigakure shinobi sent to learn Sage Mode.
"What happened? Is something wrong?"
As the instructor responsible for promoting Sage Mode, and the oldest among them, Kakashi naturally walked over to see what conflict needed resolving.
"..."
Behind his mask, Ao's face had turned completely green.
He opened his mouth to explain, but embarrassment kept the words from coming out.
Finally, Kakashi noticed his discomfort and pulled him aside.
Under everyone's increasingly disappointed gaze, the two began speaking quietly.
"What's so secret that you can't just say it openly?"
Pakura muttered.
By now, she had gradually been influenced by the Gossip Trio.
She desperately wanted to know what had just happened.
Why had that masked Kirigakure man screamed so intensely?
The emotions packed into that scream had been so rich, it sounded as if he'd just been hit by the Thousand Years of Death.
"Sensei, don't worry! Matsuri learned a technique from Sister Temari. If there's ever a time to use it, it's now!"
Maki anxiously looked toward Matsuri, Gaara's disciple in name.
"Mm. Leave it to me."
Matsuri quickly formed hand seals.
"Shiromo Style–Temari Style Wind Release Secret Art: Listening to the Wind's Song!"
Don't ask why the name was so ridiculously long.
The technique was originally something Shiromo had casually mentioned to Temari.
Temari had developed it herself, then forcefully attached Shiromo's name to it.
As for what it did...
"Nothing happened?"
Pakura looked puzzled.
Judging by the name, it was a Wind Release technique.
As a ninja from Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, there was nothing strange about Wind Release.
But where was the Wind Release?
Wasn't Wind Release supposed to create blades of cutting air?
Wait!
Pakura suddenly noticed faint voices drifting through the breeze.
Could it be...
Listening to the Wind's Song.
Just as its name suggested, it was a Wind Release ninjutsu designed for eavesdropping!
Pakura didn't dwell on it any further.
Listening to the gossip...
Ahem.
Listening to the intelligence came first.
After all, this technique didn't have a replay function.
If you missed it, it was gone forever.
….
Outside the crowd.
Ao looked utterly aggrieved as he complained to Kakashi.
He had been preparing to train Sage Mode.
He had just begun entering Flight Mode when, as a sensory ninja who had survived countless battles, he suddenly sensed something unusual.
After observing carefully, Ao discovered that the Hyuga guy in the distance had activated his Byakugan and was secretly watching him enter Sage Mode!
Ao was so horrified that goosebumps erupted all over his body.
He even crashed out of Flight Mode on the spot, causing his Sage Mode training to fail completely.
"I'd already heard from Mizukage-sama that Konoha is full of Bond-Type ninja... but I never imagined I'd become one of their targets too..."
Ao sighed.
But halfway through speaking, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Kakashi was a Konoha ninja too.
And he was a confirmed all-rounder who also belonged to the Bond-Type category.
Pulling Kakashi aside for a private conversation...
Wasn't that basically walking straight into the wolf's den?
(End of this chapter)