The air in the Kazekage's building froze for a moment, and the whole room went silent.
They had originally wanted to resolve this matter before Hatake Satoru returned.
Hatake Satoru's position was rather delicate, he didn't belong to the ninja world, and even now he was classified more as a researcher.
He was also a connection between Konoha and Sunagakure's friendship. They could suspect Kirigakure, but if they took action against Hatake Satoru, it would involve Konoha.
It was better to stay away from that person, most of the higher-ups held this thought.
"So what if that person comes back, we're the ones in the right anyway."
"Although Hozuki Mangetsu has a good reputation, he was still a Mizukage before, it's not impossible that he could collude with outsiders..."
"Reasoning won't work with him."
One of the higher-ups spoke abruptly in the silence, they almost had an instinctive fear of Hatake Satoru.
The fact that this person could create that research lab in Sunagakure was already incredible, and although it wasn't overt, he had subtly helped Gaara become Kazekage.
In reality, that guy was like a hidden force, constantly eroding the power of the Sunagakure Village higher-ups.
Hatake Satoru didn't do anything too outrageous, or rather, he had the ability to make everything look reasonable.
That was terrifying enough.
Even though Gaara was currently Kazekage, he had already handed over some of the Kazekage's duties.
But actually, many decisive things were interfered with and disrupted by the higher-ups.
In fact, if all the duties were officially handed over later, Gaara would be able to make some decisive decisions.
But currently, he was still just someone who drank tea, attended meetings, and issued missions.
Although the higher-ups couldn't take direct action, they were aware of Hatake Satoru's movements, and the more this went on, the more they felt how unfathomable this person was.
Simply put, although it wasn't obvious now, Hatake Satoru and Hozuki Mangetsu could both be called the Kazekage faction, and he was constantly taking back power.
Weakening the decision-making power of the higher-ups, and letting Gaara become the decision-maker and ruler.
But his actions were too subtle, almost just ordinary little things that constantly increased Gaara's support and approachability.
This made the higher-ups practically helpless, so what could they do? They couldn't touch Hatake Satoru, and they couldn't stop Gaara from going down to care for the people, right?
After looking around, Hozuki Mangetsu was the only one who was an easy target.
Messing with Hozuki Mangetsu was just to annoy Hatake Satoru, they couldn't really do anything in essence.
"But Hozuki Mangetsu was a former Mizukage... what if it really is some other secret matter~?"
"And will we be doing something bad if we do this...?"
There were not only hardliners among the higher-ups, but also people who changed their minds every now and then, and they began to mutter softly at this time.
"We didn't do anything too bad to him! We're also thinking about the safety of Sunagakure Village."
"Everyone panicked when they heard that person's name. Shouldn't you have thought that he would find out when you were doing it?!"
But at the beginning, we planned to resolve this matter before he came back.
Now they're caught red-handed halfway through their little tricks, this doesn't look like a good situation.
The higher-ups whispered among themselves.
Gaara and Yamato exchanged a look. They were slightly relieved. If Hatake Satoru came back but didn't come here, he should have gone to find Hozuki Mangetsu.
Then Hozuki Mangetsu should be fine.
They could also talk and negotiate with these people properly. Before, they had always wanted to get away to check on Hozuki Mangetsu's situation.
But these guys had been slowly and deliberately stalling them, deliberately delaying them so they couldn't go back to investigate.
The longer they were separated, the worse the situation would be.
Now it was good, the people who wanted to rush to check the situation should be these old guys on the other side.
With no worries, they had stood on the same negotiating table.
...
"When did I miss this place being turned into an aquarium~?"
"You didn't invite me to visit this kind of place, I'm very sad~."
Hatake Satoru's light voice rang out at the doorway, he tiptoed and jumped into the doorway.
He had a gentle smile on his face, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, so you couldn't see his emotions.
The entire room was extremely dim, the windows were tightly blocked from the inside, and all the lights were focused on the huge cylinder in the center of the room.
Bubbles occasionally gurgled out of the huge cylinder, which was filled with an unknown liquid.
Hatake Satoru glanced slightly to the side. He didn't see Hozuki Mangetsu, but all the surrounding shadows were filled with ninjas.
Whether they were Jonin or Anbu, they were standing everywhere in a large crowd.
".~Seems like the person I'm looking for isn't here. What are you all doing standing there ready to fight?"
"If you want to fight, come at me together. If you don't want to fight, quickly release Hozuki Mangetsu."
"Although I'm patient, I don't use it here. I'll only give you three seconds~."
"If you don't choose anything, I'll kill you."
Hatake Satoru stood lazily in the middle of the crowd, taking his hands out of his pants pockets.
He raised his arms above his head and stretched lazily.
Everyone's eyes were nervously watching Hatake Satoru. Their mission was to prevent anyone from contacting Hozuki Mangetsu before he revealed information.
But at the same time, everyone knew about the unspoken rule of caution.
Do not be enemies with Hatake Satoru if possible.
The people above would make it sound nice, what with him being from Konoha, don't turn the issues of a few people into the issues of two villages.
But in reality, almost everyone knew the fact was.
Don't be enemies with Hatake Satoru, no matter how many people, he can always turn it around and kill you all.
"..."
No one spoke, their eyes fixed on the hand that Hatake Satoru had extended.
As the number on his hand changed from three to two, a few people walked out.
Useless battles and sacrifices were not a smart choice.
The rest of the people swallowed, but no one said that the people who left were deserters.
A dozen pairs of eyes stared at Hatake Satoru's fingers, their faces slightly flushed with sweat as they clenched the kunai and shurikens in their hands.
Hatake Satoru, who had raised his arm to stretch, made a countdown gesture. When his gesture turned to one.
The 'aquarium' in front of him gurgled.
A few bubbles rose to the surface. Deleted.
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