The next episode opens at nightfall, with the animator using multiple shots to show empty corridors, alleys, and corners, all hiding various traps.
Matsukata Seigou lay lazily on a soft couch, eating snacks and complaining about boredom. He then discussed with Naraku the reasons for the Tamai Family's rebellion, primarily the irreconcilable suspicion between the two families.
[Once a chain of suspicion is forged, it can never be broken.]
[After all, the human heart is the least trustworthy.]
[For those in power, merely suspicion is enough to destroy a family.]
[And for those in lower positions, to survive, they have no choice but to rebel, which then confirms the suspicions of those in power, creating a vicious cycle.]
[How many generals and ministers in ancient times went down a path of no return for this very reason?]
[...]
Initially, the audience was posting comments, each expressing their own opinions, but when Matsukata Seigou paused, his sharp gaze fixed on Naraku's back as he asked that question, the style of all the comments immediately changed.
"What do you think?"
"You can feel all of this slowly happening, right?"
"Uchiha Naraku."
[!!!!!]
[Holy crap!!!]
[What's going on?!]
[Uchiha? What about Uchiha???]
[It's over, it's over, it's over. Why isn't my brain working??]
[Could it be that the prophet was right?]
[Konoha isn't really going to have an internal struggle, is it?!]
On screen, Naraku turned to face Matsukata Seigou directly. The animator showed a close-up, revealing that his eyes were not as gentle as usual, but filled with wariness and shock.
He quickly composed himself a moment later, but Matsukata Seigou still caught a hint of it.
The animator used the silent, dark surroundings and gradually tilting camera angles to convey the unusual nature of the situation, as tension slowly crept into everyone's hearts.
[No, Naraku, what's with that reaction?]
[What is it that we, the audience, don't know? The Old Thief? Tell me clearly!]
[Don't argue, I'm thinking!]
[The Old Thief is starting to draw things I don't understand.]
[Is Matsukata the next Tamai? Does that mean the Daimyo dislikes Matsukata?]
[Then, putting myself in their shoes, who is suspicious of the Uchiha?]
[Hiss...]
As everyone was brainstorming, the perspective shifted to Kakashi.
He was completely unaware of everything happening inside the room, hidden on a beam outside the secret chamber, vigilantly observing the surroundings.
Suddenly, footsteps approached, quickly becoming clearly audible from faint whispers, followed by a series of trap explosions and flickering firelight.
Kakashi drew his ninja sword from his back. The moment the enemies appeared in his sight, he swept through them like a gust of wind, lightly and swiftly cutting through their bodies.
After the enemies discovered an ambusher, Kakashi changed his tactics, opting for the more powerful Lightning Release.
Flashes of electricity illuminated the dim corridor, reflecting in the pupils of every enemy.
[What kind of unspeakable secrets are there that we, the esteemed members, cannot hear?]
[Don't just say half a sentence, The Old Thief! Keep playing the conversation inside the room!!!]
[Kakashi is only responsible for killing enemies, while Naraku and Matsukata Seigou have much more to consider.]
[Kakashi, you're still killing enemies here, but your partner has secrets with someone else!!]
[The person before me made me laugh hahahahaha... What a "secret."]
After clearing out the enemies in front of him, and seeing that Naraku and his employer inside were also safe, Kakashi slowly let out the breath he had been holding.
"You protect the Fourth Young Master here; I'll go reset the traps."
He voluntarily took on the more dangerous task and turned to leave again.
[He immediately looked at Naraku, completely ignoring the Fourth Young Master, right?]
[What about a ninja's professionalism, Kakashi!]
[It's confirmed that Kakashi is a hidden love-brain; he's beyond saving.]
[Matsukata Seigou: How do I deal with the ninja I hired whose eyes are only on his partner?]
[Matsukata Seigou: Haha, I didn't really want to be cared for anyway.]
Outside, Kakashi was busy resetting traps, while inside, Matsukata Seigou recounted his plans. Naraku remained silent, offering no response, and Matsukata Seigou sighed.
"You'll understand in the future; in fact, we all have no choice."
When Kakashi returned, he seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere, so he silently stood beside Naraku.
[Naraku's expression looks a bit confused (laughing-crying emoji).]
[The child is still too young; he probably only half-understands these things.]
[If Naraku could truly understand all of Matsukata Seigou's hints and plans, then he would indeed be too precocious.]
[Many things and people are pushed by external forces, slowly sliding into the abyss.]
[Kakashi: What happened?]
[Kakashi, while you were gone, this young master tried to steal your partner.]
[Whispering to Naraku while Kakashi is away, how is this not a form of NTR?]
[Kakashi: Holy crap, there's a cuckold—?!]
[Matsukata Seigou: Naraku, you wouldn't want Kakashi to know about our conversation just now, would you...?]
[To the Japanese netizens above, tone it down.]
Naraku watched countless comments scroll across the top of the screen. Overall, his character design remained quite solid in the audience's minds, showing no signs of collapse; at most, they found him a bit precocious.
He could finally breathe a sigh of relief, no longer worried about his character breaking down.
As for the implications in Matsukata Seigou's words, the key information released by the animator was already sufficient. There were many analytical minds on the forums, and by now, they should have combined previous clues to clarify the basic situation.
He would go browse the forums, and perhaps even gain some information he hadn't thought of himself.
Naraku clicked on the directory and saw that there were still a few more episodes. It seemed the animator had observed this entire mission in one go.
He decided to watch all of them before going to the forums.