บท 167: Konoha Has Me
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The room filled with a sudden tranquility, the ethereal dragon shout rippling through the chamber and placating the rising tension. For a moment, all previous hostilities and conflicts seemed to evaporate, replaced by a sense of profound peace. His command resonated through the hearts of everyone present, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.
Although calmed, everyone in the room was quite alert. What Koushin had used was something unknown to them. It was not chakra - it was something they had never seen and that was enough to breed a seed of fear. If it were a jutsu, they could understand it, they could counter it, but they had no idea what a Shout was. Their eyes, full of uncertainty and wariness, locked onto the young man who was still holding two fingers in the air, his hand suspended in a silent promise of answers yet to come.
Lowering another finger, Koushin said, "As of now, Konoha has three Sages."
A ripple of surprise ran through the room. A sage was a force to be reckoned with, a weapon almost equal to a Tailed Beast. In the past, Jiraiya was the only one; the Sage of Mount Myoboku, whose strength and wisdom were legendary. The thought of Konoha possessing not one but three such powerful figures was staggering.
It was the Mizukage who voiced the question they all had on their lips. "How?" she asked, her voice soft in the aftermath of Koushin's Shout. "Jiraiya was the only Sage."
Koushin chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Jiraiya is dead. Well, before that he joined Akatsuki, but now he's dead. No need to worry about him."
This revelation hung heavy in the air. Jiraiya, a man respected and feared across the Elemental Nations, was a traitor and now deceased. The implications were profound, yet they barely had time to process this shocking revelation before Koushin added, "All you need to know is that, Konoha has three Sages."
The words carried weight, and the other Kage couldn't help but swallow their queries and objections. The idea of Konoha possessing three individuals with the power and wisdom of the legendary Sage Jiraiya was daunting, to say the least.
Mei Terumi was the first to break the ensuing silence, her calm voice rippling through the room. "You said Konoha has the greatest intelligence, but you already shared all the information you have with us. Why do you count that still?"
Koushin looked at her, a wicked grin pulling at his lips. "Mei Terumī," he began, drawing out the syllables of her name. "A woman of indeterminable age. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me," he winked, the mirth in his eyes just visible. "Lava Release, Boil Release. An academy graduate at the tender age of 9. Quite an impressive resume, I must say."
The shock on Mei's face was mirrored by her bodyguards as Koushin, without skipping a beat, turned his attention to them. "Ao, former Anbu of Kirigakure's Hunter-nin Corps. Your sealed right eye carries the Byakugan of my village." His voice dropped lower, colder. "That's not quite so cool, even if it's a war trophy. Well, we'll address that when the time comes."
He then turned to the other guard, "Chojūro. The last of the 7 Swordsmen of the Mist and wielder of Hiramekarei. You are the most likely candidate to occupy the Mizukage's seat after the Fifth." He allowed his words to sink in, watching the varying expressions of shock on their faces.
His gaze fell on A, the Fourth Raikage, next. "A," he began, the smile never leaving his lips, "A man with an imposing presence and an impressive might." As Koushin dropped more details about his past, his skills, and his prowess, A's face turned into a hardened mask, a powerful storm brewing behind his eyes.
Without a pause, Koushin moved on, addressing each of the Kage's bodyguards in turn. "Darui," he stated, "a shinobi of Hidden Cloud, known for his laid-back attitude and his command over the Storm Release. And then there's C, a talented sensory-nin."
He turned his attention back to Oonoki, "Oonoki..." His voice trailed off for a moment before picking up again, a hint of mockery in his tone, "An elder among us, a man of wisdom and great skill. His advanced age hasn't seemed to dampen his fierceness or his dedication to his village. Dust Release, a unique kekkei tota, a testament to your power. And a lot of back pain"
Koushin took a moment to glance around the room, his gaze roaming over the faces of each individual present. He'd spilled secrets and knowledge with a deftness and ease that had left them all stunned into silence. His grin widened, the mischief in his eyes clear as he held up his hand again, the last remaining finger still pointing to the ceiling.
"As you see," he began, his voice filled with certainty, "Konoha has gathered intelligence not only on the Akatsuki but also about every key player in the room. So yes, I would say that counts."
"Also, Mei Terumi, you're correct, we did share all we had. But as a matter of fact, information is not a stagnant pool. It's a flowing river, and the waters never cease."
"Do you think the intelligence about Akatsuki just appeared on our doorstep?" Koushin's voice was laced with bemusement, a half-smile curving his lips as he paused for dramatic effect. He held their collective gaze, his eyes alight with an energy that defied his casual demeanor. "Information does not come from nowhere. Since we could gather it once, it means we have the means to gather it again."
He turned his gaze back to Mei Terumi. "The world doesn't run on assumptions and wishful thinking. It is through constant vigilance, untiring efforts, and yes, intelligence that we survive." His tone was gently chiding, like a teacher pointing out an obvious fact to his pupils.
"The greatest folly would be to believe that knowing everything today means you would know everything tomorrow. But the world is constantly changing." Koushin shifted his gaze to A, the Fourth Raikage, now silent, the anger in his eyes giving way to begrudging respect.
After a moment of silence, the Raikage found his voice. His booming tone slightly subdued, he asked, "What is the last point you want to make?" He pointed at Koushin's single remaining finger that was still in the air. His thumb.
Koushin's gaze followed the trajectory of Raikage's finger to his own thumb. A playful smirk graced his lips, and with an almost imperceptible nod, he pointed his thumb to himself. "Last, but not least," he began, his voice reverberating with a calm certainty that belied the levity of his words, "Konoha has me."
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