Those emerald orbs slid from the Golden Masked Uchiha to her mute companion as the notebook was drawn. Noting it was passed to the one he'd presumed to be the leader of the group. Listening to the accusation that he was controlling the Sunans made him chuckle. His relationship with Sunagakure had been rocky as was his relationship with all the villages. That was not to say he didn't hold a fondness for them, but it was all to clear to him that he would not be accepted for what he was here. Although he did find it curious that she outright voiced her suspicions of him. Either hoping to prod him into divulging information for free or in an effort to goad him into some kind of stereotypical monologue. "
I am forever amazed by the willful ignorance of you village shinobi." he would say in response to her first allegations. To think he could control the Sunans, if only she knew what a proud & headstrong people they were. She then began to voice her curiosity over why he had chosen to approach them, noting that if he intended to kill them he should at least be prepared for Kumogakure to respond. A devilish chuckle would begin to build within the Sage at her warning that he would have to be prepared for Kumogakure's retaliation should that fail to return. "
Would I?" his words were calm & said in a matter of fact manner. A simple counter question for they were quite far from home. Akkuma doubted meeting him was part of their intended plan & as such the risk of any potential retaliation would be minimal if at all. Rather any fallout would most likely fall to Konohagakure or Sunagakure. But that would be too easy & much less fun. He could see the hatred within this Uchiha, how easy it would be to further guide her for his own agenda. The silent companion was an unknown variable but that just made the task before him more exciting.
"
My according to you I've been quite busy. Single-handedly altering the geopolitical balance of our world. Supposedly have not just a whole village but my very own super soldier capable of doing these tasks. Does that sound like something one man could ach..." he began listing her accusations out loud in order to reaffirm the absurdity of it. That was when he noticed her hands clenching into fists as she spoke her final accusation. While the Golden Masked kunoichi had some of the pieces she had no evidence to back up her claims. Especially for those that had any understanding of just how complicated the logistics such events would be. Let alone the insinuation that a Demon was working with Ancients. For they were renowned for despising one another on a primal level. The implication that the hotheaded & foolhardy Sage had been able to mastermind such an event would be laughable to most. A deep monstrous growl that rumbled from deep within the Sage built to a low snarl. While true he was in some way working with Kaen it was only because the Hybrid had been manipulated into thinking he had committed the atrocity. Yet this slither of truth could not stop the instinctual response from the Sage despite the Shinigami within doing it's best to consume the ever growing influence of his demonic nature within.
Post Theme
No longer was his gaze averted from the Uchiha. Instead it rose to meet that crimson sharingan of hers. A testament to the fury he was experiencing for he'd shown both the awareness & experience of how best to defend against the Doujutsu. "
Watch your tongue unless you want me to remove your eyes for that insolence." A threat of the highest magnitude to any Doujutsu user. One spoken without any trace of his former decorum instead a primal rage coated his words & burned within his gaze. His heart now thudding hard at a steady almost human pace, despite the tar-like blood it pumped. Raising his hand in an authoritative gesture to silence her should she attempt to say anything in response. "
Allow me to enlighten you before you foolishly provoke me further." he would say almost sternly to the group before him. "
While this information would normally cost you I have no interest in being used. As such it is to both my benefit & yours that you find whoever is behind this." he would state as he began to approach the small group. No sign of aggression shown in his strides.
"
My influence comes from information. That doesn't grant one the kind of power needed to achieve what you've accused me of today." he would say truthfully. For to achieve what he had one needed much more, but he had spent a life time cultivating his skills and networks to achieve his goals. "
Given that Lady Asuka, the Hokage is betrothed to a Missing-Nin from Konohagakure one might think it prudent to investigate them. Given his clans ambitions such a union has the potential to achieve what you've claimed. Then again I do imagine she's tried quite hard to keep that little secret contained." Another devilish grin would appear upon his face as he spoke these words of truth. "
Sunagakure like Kumogakure was all too happy to utilize my services. Until they too chose to banish me once I'd served my use, not unlike Kumogakure." he would say announcing that he had been banished from Sunagakure, although as usual his words were a mix of truth & deception. "
While young the Kazekage in particular surprised me. Recently announcing the Sennin Games, an event where the strongest & best of Wind Country will compete for the title of Sennin. A peculiar break from tradition that could very well be seen as an attempt to project strength." he would allow for the group to process this new information. For the information further raised suspicion about both villages. What did Konohagakure have planned that would require such a union? Why would the Kazekage break from tradition & hold such a public event in order to fill such an important role?
These Nations were clearly preparing for conflict in their own ways. Each new bit of information would make it seem more & more likely that he was not in fact the culprit. More likely then not he had been used & framed in order to dispose of the threat he posed with his information network. After all why would someone who clearly had the mindset to process & acquire information. Also had the means to distribute it, as such it would be unnecessary to bring his quarry to him if he truly wished to deceive them. It would be an incredible risk. One that would be entirely unnecessary. Had they been fooled? Guided to remove a potential threat to this grand conspiracy while convincing Kumogakure. For that would be the reasonable response for anyone that truly believed they had found the perpetrator of such heinous acts. Now he just had to see if the uncertainty & lack of information would be enough to stay their hands long enough for the seeds of suspicion to grow with these new facts.
MFT