Chapter 43

"Is this old fellow playing some kind of mind game?"

Karatachi Yagura furrowed his brows tightly, squinting his eyes as he thought carefully.

"Fine!"

In the end, Karatachi Yagura agreed to Tian Tian Yuanshi’s request; he wanted to see what kind of trick this old fellow was playing.

Four hours later, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

Karatachi Yagura stared at Tian Tian Yuanshi with bloodshot eyes.

Four hours, a full four hours!

The other party really just played Shogi, not saying a single extra word!

Just as Karatachi Yagura was about to lose his composure and force an answer from the other party.

Tian Tian Yuanshi suddenly spoke.

"Oh my, I accidentally got checkmated."

"The game is about done, and it’s getting late. I think we should stop here."

Saying this, Tian Tian Yuanshi stood up and prepared to walk out.

(The issue regarding Chapter 39 is still being communicated. I apologize here, and I will avoid such situations in the future.)

(Thank you all for your support here. Thank you.) ===== CHAPTER 85 =====

"You're playing me!"

At this moment, Karatachi Yagura finally lost his composure!

Over these four hours, Karatachi Yagura had imagined countless outcomes.

Regarding the assassination of the Mizukage and the coup d'état, did Tian Tian Yuanshi know or not?

If he knew, was this middle-of-the-night visit a surrender, or was he here to dissuade him?

Karatachi Yagura couldn't figure it out, so he could only probe Tian Tian Yuanshi step by step.

But no matter how he asked, this old fellow would either not speak at all or divert the topic to the Shogi game.

Karatachi Yagura never expected that after four hours, the other party would have mentioned nothing and was now preparing to leave.

It was as if he had come just to play Shogi with him.

If this wasn't deliberately messing with him, what was it?!

Looking at the furious Karatachi Yagura, who was about to explode, Tian Tian Yuanshi’s expression changed abruptly.

The previously calm, rigid face instantly became truly as terrifying as a zombie, and a majestic aura rose from his body, reminding Karatachi Yagura:

He was no mere nobody; he was the true third-in-command of the Hidden Mist!

"I thought you had already understood."

"But I didn't expect your comprehension to be so poor."

Tian Tian Yuanshi’s tone became somewhat cold, but hearing this, Karatachi Yagura was still confused.

"Understand what?"

How could I understand if you don't say it?

Karatachi Yagura was completely bewildered; Tian Tian Yuanshi’s series of actions really made him doubt himself.

"You've gone too far."

Tian Tian Yuanshi’s expression remained unmoved, but his words directly touched Karatachi Yagura’s sensitive nerves.

This old fellow really knew!

At this instant, this was the only thought in Karatachi Yagura’s mind.

Just as he was preparing to strike first, Tian Tian Yuanshi’s next words made Karatachi Yagura freeze in place again.

Tian Tian Yuanshi’s zombie-like face finally showed a change in expression; he revealed a look of slight helplessness and said in a low voice:

"No matter how weak the Third is, he is still the Mizukage."

"You have repeatedly contradicted the Third in public, which makes things very difficult for me."

"I hope you can restrain yourself a little."

Tian Tian Yuanshi said to Karatachi Yagura with a serious face.

"You don't know?!"

Hearing this, Karatachi Yagura exclaimed subconsciously.

Tian Tian Yuanshi revealed a look of confusion at just the right moment.

It was as if he were saying, what should I know??

His superb acting skills directly led Karatachi Yagura in circles.

"Good!"

Seeing that Tian Tian Yuanshi seemed truly unaware, Karatachi Yagura’s heart settled back into his stomach, and he feigned a generous agreement to Tian Tian Yuanshi’s request.

But deep down, he already hated this zombie-faced old fellow to the bone.

"This old thing, it turns out it was just this trivial matter!"

"And he had to come find me at this critical juncture..."

"Just you wait, old thing. Once I finish off the Third, I'll see how I deal with you!"

Although Karatachi Yagura remained calm on the surface, he was cursing furiously in his heart.

"Hmm, not bad."

"Then, Chief Karatachi, please stay."

Seemingly seeing that Karatachi Yagura had agreed, a faint, almost invisible smile appeared on Tian Tian Yuanshi’s face, and he then bid farewell to Karatachi Yagura.

"Squad leader Tian, then please walk slowly."

"I won't see you out!"

Karatachi Yagura naturally couldn't wait for Tian Tian Yuanshi to get lost, so he quickly responded.

Tian Tian Yuanshi continued to walk with steady, unhurried steps, exiting the Mist Anbu building from the secret room where he had played Shogi with Karatachi Yagura.

His demeanor throughout looked extremely peaceful and relaxed, showing no signs of being "deep in the tiger's den."

After Tian Tian Yuanshi left the Mist Anbu building, his pace quickened at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A hint of lingering fear also faintly appeared on his zombie-like face.

It wasn't until he was far away from the Mist Anbu building that his speed slowed down.

"Squad leader Tian, thank you for your hard work."

"Did any problems arise?"

Here, Mizunuki Ryosuke had also been waiting for a long time.

He was waiting here to collect information on the execution of the plan at the first opportunity.

"I have fulfilled the mission; it is all thanks to the method you gave me."

Tian Tian Yuanshi said with some emotion.

Every action Karatachi Yagura took after seeing him had been almost entirely predicted by Mizunuki Ryosuke.

How to act when facing Karatachi Yagura, what words to say, what expressions to make—he had told Tian Tian Yuanshi everything in advance.

It was precisely because of this that Tian Tian Yuanshi felt emotional about the brilliance of the young man before him.

That’s right, during the previous trip to the Mist Anbu building, all of Tian Tian Yuanshi’s actions were guided in advance by Mizunuki Ryosuke.

If Tian Tian Yuanshi was the actor in this play, then Mizunuki Ryosuke was the director.

Everything, even down to every sentence, every line of dialogue, and every expression, came from Mizunuki Ryosuke’s hand.

It was precisely because of this that he had perfectly deceived Karatachi Yagura.

Regarding Tian Tian Yuanshi’s praise, Mizunuki Ryosuke naturally would not respond, instead brushing it off casually.

"Not at all, it was Squad leader Tian’s excellent improvisation."

Tian Tian Yuanshi knew his own abilities well; when it came to "acting," he was truly not cut out for it.

If not for Mizunuki Ryosuke’s guidance, he would have blown his cover countless times.

"By the way, according to my observation, there are quite a few fewer ninjas in the Mist Anbu building."

"It looks like Karatachi Yagura has already begun to act."

Without continuing to trade compliments with Mizunuki Ryosuke, Tian Tian Yuanshi switched to the main business.

"It’s fine, the Mizukage has long been prepared."

"Everything is about to be revealed..." ===== CHAPTER 86 =====