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"Alright, stop putting on that tortured expression for my benefit. My meeting with the Tsuchikage is in three days. If the issues between your two villages can be resolved within that timeframe, I can take you both along." Why hadn't Mei Terumi and Rasa left yet? Wasn't it simply because they were worried Kazuki would reach an agreement with Onoki first, and then Onoki would use that as leverage to renegotiate terms with them? This was no laughing matter!
Once the most difficult obstacle – the Leaf Village – was settled, Onoki's desire to win over the Mist and Sand Villages would naturally diminish. The benefits he'd promised them would undoubtedly be trimmed. That was precisely why Rasa and Mei Terumi were willing to shamelessly remain seated in the conference room, staring at Kazuki with pleading eyes.
"Three days is plenty of time," Rasa remarked, lifting his teacup for a sip before glancing toward Mei Terumi.
Mei Terumi offered a radiant smile. "The Kazekage makes a fair point. Three days should indeed suffice."
And you expect me to believe that? Kazuki couldn't be bothered to engage with them further. He rose and left the conference room, heading toward his office. "You'd best hurry. I won't be participating in the subsequent negotiations. I have a great many matters to attend to myself. Ordering a custom-made Hokage battle robe also takes time."
HOKAGE BATTLE ROBE!!!
Mei Terumi and Rasa's eyes flew wide open. They hadn't expected to hear such explosive news. After dragging his feet for over half a year, Kazuki had finally decided to stop stalling. He'd seen the situation clearly. He was dragging things out, and so was Tsunade.
At this point, that woman's thinking was undoubtedly: If you don't become Hokage, I'm not coming back! Let's see who can outlast the other.
The convening of a Five Kage Summit was inevitable, so Kazuki needed to address this issue first. If he still attended the summit as the Hokage's Advisor, it would invite unsavory remarks. Ignoring the two stunned figures, Kazuki walked directly into the Hokage's office. "Kisame, go notify Nara Shikaku. Have him report to the Hokage's office."
Since he could no longer delay, he might as well go through with it.
The Uchiha had dreamed for generations of having one of their own sit upon the Hokage's throne! He would fulfill that wish for his clan.
Kisame didn't delegate the task to the Anbu. He went personally to find Shikaku. Despite his outwardly brash and carefree demeanor, Kisame had his own calculations. Since he would be making his life in the Leaf Village from now on, he needed to establish his own network of relationships.
Hence, Kisame went to find Shikaku personally. Kazuki didn't interfere. How far Kisame could go and whose recognition he could earn depended entirely on his own efforts. Kazuki wouldn't help him with such matters.
If you want to survive in the Leaf Village and can't even manage normal interpersonal relationships, that simply proves the problem lies with you. For anyone else, it might be difficult, but Kisame was different. Even though he had defected from the Akatsuki, he was Kazuki's personal guard. The people he came into contact with and the circles he moved in were already established. With just a bit of effort, he would surely reap some rewards.
"Does the Advisor have any instructions?" Shikaku assumed Kazuki had some matter for him to handle when Kisame sought him out.
"Heh heh." Kisame said nothing, merely glancing at the others present and grinning.
That laugh was somewhat unsettling. But Shikaku paid it no mind. Turning to those around him, he said, "That's all for today. You're all dismissed. Go get some rest."
"Yes, sir." Having dismissed the others, Shikaku headed toward the Hokage building, with Kisame walking alongside him. Only when there were no more outsiders did Kisame grin and say, "The Advisor's intention is... he wants to commission a proper Hokage battle robe."
"Mm, I'll get right on— WHAT did you say?!" Shikaku whipped his head around, staring intently at Kisame. Was this the proverbial stone finally cracking, or water wearing through rock?! I've been worried sick over this, and you finally decided to open your mouth!!!
"A Five Kage Summit is certain to be convened. Attending as the Hokage's Advisor would be inappropriate. Moreover, the Hokage has shown no intention of returning to the village. Therefore..." Kisame offered Shikaku sufficient hints.
Excellent!
Shikaku clenched his fist and punched the air, suppressing his excitement. "Go back and inform the Advisor that I will bring people to the Hokage building immediately. And one more thing." Before leaving, Shikaku cast a deep, meaningful look at Kisame. "The Advisor thinks highly of you. Do your job well. The path has already been paved for you by the Advisor. Don't harbor any other intentions."
A man like Kisame found it difficult to earn the trust of others, especially someone as deeply suspicious as Shikaku. Yet Kazuki genuinely valued Kisame and had been paving the way for him. Kisame simply smiled without replying. His objective had been achieved, and he had no intention of lingering. He turned and headed straight back to the Hokage building.
After parting ways with Kisame, Shikaku immediately returned to his clan compound. As luck would have it, his father and Akimichi Torifu were sitting together playing shogi. Noticing his son's arrival, Shiraku asked coolly, "Still no progress in the peace talks between the two villages?"
"What are the Mizukage and Kazekage thinking? It feels like they're deliberately stalling, with no good reason," Torifu chimed in, scratching his increasingly round head. The peace talks had dragged on day after day without any progress, far exceeding everyone's expectations. Anyone with half a brain could see that these two villages had no genuine intention of negotiating and were simply buying time.
"It's likely because they're waiting for the Stone Village's response," Shikaku interjected, stepping forward and glancing at the shogi board.
"Father, you may not have much time left." Had it been anyone else, such a remark would have immediately triggered an outburst. Who curses their own father like that? But Nara Shiraku didn't react that way. The hand holding the shogi piece trembled slightly. He looked up at his son, astonished. "The Advisor has stopped dragging his feet?"
"The convening of a Five Kage Summit is inevitable. Lady Hokage has been away from the village for far too long. Attending the summit in the capacity of Hokage's Advisor would be inappropriate. I suspect everything will be kept simple," Shikaku said, spreading his hands to indicate he had no say in the matter. Anyone else becoming Hokage would undoubtedly hold a grand ceremony, eager to announce their ascension to the world, seeking the villagers' adoration and approval.
But such formalities simply didn't exist where Kazuki was concerned. He was merely a Hokage battle robe away from being Hokage. There was no need for any of these tedious procedures, and Kazuki certainly wouldn't stand for them – too much trouble. With so much work already on his plate, if he were forced to waste a huge chunk of time on such pageantry, he'd rather maintain the status quo.
"Ha ha ha! It seems our teacher's plan has been shattered. Hiruzen's blockade has become a complete and utter joke." For an Uchiha to become Hokage
Akimichi Torifu laughed with gleeful abandon.