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The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-ar4ngel
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-Kreios
-Sabo
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Early the next morning, Kazuki prepared to set out, unsure of how long he would be gone.
Knowing it might be a long time before he could see his girlfriend again, his mood was unusually elevated.
At 5 a.m., Kazuki tucked the blanket around Kurenai and quietly left her side.
What he didn't know was that after he left, Kurenai opened her eyes, gazing at the door for a moment before rolling over and drifting back to sleep.
"Let's go," Kazuki said.
Shisui and Itachi were already waiting at the village gate.
The three of them set off immediately, heading toward the Village Hidden in Hot Water.
In the days following Kazuki's departure, a number of questionable ninjas from the Shimura and Sarutobi clans were also sent out of the village, reassigned to border outposts. This reshuffling allowed the ninjas stationed at those posts to return.
The treatment of the Shimura and Sarutobi clans made it clear to all the families in Konoha that Tsunade was not like the Third Hokage.
She had no tolerance for dishonesty or misconduct.
Families known for their flashy behavior immediately toned it down, fearing they might unwittingly provoke Tsunade and invite unnecessary trouble.
The Village Hidden in Hot Water, once a renowned tourist destination and the top choice for hot springs, had fallen into decline due to the effects of war.
Even though the wars hadn't directly reached the village, the ripple effects of major conflicts between the great nations had squeezed the life out of the small settlement, leaving it weaker than ever.
"I remember the last time I came here, it was so lively," Shisui remarked as they walked. Of the three, only Shisui had been to the village before; for Kazuki and Itachi, it was their first visit.
Strolling through the streets littered with trash and surrounded by rundown buildings, Shisui couldn't help but sigh.
"All of this is the result of war. If only there could be a day when the shinobi world no longer knew conflict," he mused.
Unlike Konoha, the weakening of the Village Hidden in Hot Water had severely impacted its residents' livelihoods.
The decline of the village created chaos—roving mercenary ninjas and missing-nin had flocked there, creating an environment of lawlessness.
This cycle of disorder worsened when a dangerous cult took root, scaring away potential tourists and dealing a heavy blow to the village's economy.
Weakness, it seemed, inevitably invited exploitation.
"Shisui, your perspective is flawed," Kazuki interjected.
"Flawed?" Shisui blinked in confusion, and even Itachi turned to look at him curiously.
Kazuki glanced around before saying, "Let's find a place to stay first. We can discuss this properly then."
The three of them checked into what appeared to be one of the better hotels in the area. Due to the village's poor security, the hotel had few guests. Kazuki booked two rooms and had food brought up to their rooms.
Inside the room, Kazuki casually placed his katana on the table and sank into a chair.
Meanwhile, Shisui and Itachi remained alert, inspecting the room for traps and watching the surroundings through the window.
It didn't take long for them to notice they were being watched.
Three ninjas wearing Konoha forehead protectors, adorned with Uchiha clan emblems, were hard to miss in a village like this.
If Shisui had been leading the mission, he would've chosen a low-profile approach.
Kazuki, however, did the opposite. He made no attempt to hide, entering the village openly and staying at the best hotel as if daring people to notice them.
Ignoring the watchers outside, Kazuki explained his views on war.
"Shisui, Itachi, war is merely an extension of politics. Wishing for a world without war is naive and childish," he began.
Itachi seemed deep in thought, while Shisui looked embarrassed.
According to Kazuki's explanation, Shisui's ideals were not only impractical but outright foolish.
"Wherever there are people, there will be conflict. War is inevitable. Even animals instinctively drive competitors out of their territory to secure their food sources. If even beasts act this way, why would humans be any different?"
Kazuki gestured to the state of the village outside.
"Look at the Village Hidden in Hot Water. Simply being caught in the aftermath of war has brought them to this point. Weakness invites disaster. The only time the shinobi world experienced real peace was during the First Hokage's era. And that was only because he was strong enough to force everyone else to keep their ambitions in check. He was so powerful that even the most unruly or ambitious individuals had no choice but to sit down and discuss peace."
Kazuki raised his fist for emphasis.
"Remember this: true peace is rooted in strength. Only when we're strong enough to make our enemies fear us can we deter conflict. When the First Hokage passed away, the First Great Shinobi War broke out. This proves that intelligence and strategy alone can't suppress ambition. Take the Second Hokage, for example. Despite his brilliance and foresight, his strength wasn't enough to overpower the other villages' leaders. All his plans and preparations fell apart during a coup."
"In the face of overwhelming power, schemes and plots are as fragile as paper."
Kazuki leaned back. "The path to true peace isn't to wish for a world without war. It's to make ourselves so strong that no one dares challenge us."
"Let's get back on track," Kazuki said, snapping Shisui and Itachi out of their thoughts. "For now, our task is to complete this mission and uproot the cult hiding in this village."
"Should we make contact with the locals first?" Shisui asked.
The Village Hidden in Hot Water had paid a hefty sum to Konoha for this mission. Shisui believed gathering intelligence from the villagers could provide valuable leads.
"No need," Kazuki replied, shaking his head. Glancing out the window, he smirked.
"We don't want to trouble our client unnecessarily. Besides, the information we need will come to us soon enough, won't it?"
Entering the village openly, Kazuki had intentionally made their presence known. He wanted everyone to know three Konoha ninjas—members of the Uchiha clan—had arrived.
This wasn't about sneaking around; it was about rattling the cage.
Whoever was watching or tracking them was likely involved in the cult. If not, they were at least suspicious enough to warrant investigation.
"Go gather intel," Kazuki instructed Shisui and Itachi. "You're allowed to use any means necessary. It's better to act than hesitate. If someone is watching us, it means they fear us. Following that thread will lead us to the truth."