"But no, this isn't about social barriers. It's about you, Hazō. You are loving. Kind. Thoughtful. And goal-oriented to the point where you can't see the world any other way. People, even yourself — especially yourself — will always be tools to accomplish your goals before they can be anything else.

"It doesn't mean you're not a good person, because I know that you care about your friends. Hell, you care about people you haven't even met. But at the end of the day, we are all resources. Our skills are your skills. Our possessions are your possessions. Our wills are only relevant when they intersect with yours. I could use a roleplaying metaphor here, but I think you already know what I mean.

"Someday soon, you, the Hokage's presumptive heir, will be giving me explicit orders, and I will obey them because I'm a loyal Leaf ninja and because I really do believe that your vision will change the world for the better.

"But I can't live my life as an extension of yours. I'm sorry. I just can't."

"Akane, I…"

But he didn't know what to say.

"You should go, Hazō. You have an event to prepare for, and I have people who need looking after."

Hazō wanted to argue, but there was a finality to her expression that rebuffed any words before he could find them.

He left.

YES.

She finally gets it.

Guys, I'm okay if you all want to try and get back with Akane now.
jkofc
 
Last edited:
At one point the use of Akane's Elemental Mastery jutsu caused large areas of the estate grounds to rise precipitously in temperature, which led to the guests and contestants congregating in a small area, which was then sprayed with alcohol from one of Hazō's misterators.
Pedantic point that ought not to be taken with offense: this should be "macerators"; that's the name of the seal. Misterators are merely an application of the macerator seal which produces mist.
 
Ah well, it's been a while since Hazo was last found catatonic in a room painted with lists in his own blood.

We now have a plausible IC excuse to go Darth Hazou until the end of the exams.

(The imperial march is playing. HAZOU is standing, with the camera at his feet looking up at his emotionless face.)

UNKNOWN VIEWPOINT CHARACTER: Please... No more...

HAZOU: (ignoring the UNKNOWN VIEWPOINT CHARACTER's begging, continues to talk in a chilling monotone)...item three-thousand four hundred and nineteen, sub-item twenty eight: In the event of an unexpected visit by the Oyabun...

(Cut to the scene from HAZOU's perspective, revealing SHIN's bruised form squirming in pain and clasping his hands over his ears as blood dribbles out of them.)
 
(The imperial march is playing. HAZOU is standing, with the camera at his feet looking up at his emotionless face.)

UNKNOWN VIEWPOINT CHARACTER: Please... No more...

HAZOU: (ignoring the UNKNOWN VIEWPOINT CHARACTER's begging, continues to talk in a chilling monotone)...item three-thousand four hundred and nineteen, sub-item twenty eight: In the event of an unexpected visit by the Oyabun...

(Cut to the scene from HAZOU's perspective, revealing SHIN's bruised form squirming in pain and clasping his hands over his ears as blood dribbles out of them.)
Sealing faliure makes list-making a soul-consuming memetic hazard. Hazou is of course patient zero.
 
I NOTE THAT WE DIDNT TELL JIRAIYA THE SPECIFICS OF THE DOSSIER LEAK


WHY DIDNT KEIKO DO THIS!?


AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
 
This was a great update. Akane once again proved herself insightful and emotionally mature, in a very narratively compelling and character-developing manner.
Hazou is a sociopathic AI maximising for things. Even if one of those things is "human happiness" or "relationship fulfilment" it still feels really shitty to be dating a sociopathic-AI maximiser-agent.
I would like to note that this outcome was called all the way back when the relationship was first initiated (around chapter 95).
Oh sweet summer child, there is nothing normal about dating the avatar of the hivemind.

Prepare to have your love life optimized; this is non-negotiable.
 
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sasuke: That's not how Sharingan wor–

Hazou: Aha GOT IT! *reveals Sharingans*

Sasuke: *bashes head against wall*
Excuse me you misspelled Orochimaru


Edit: if I recall correctly gutting Itachi like a fish and taking his eyes is on the eventual To-do list, right?
 
Last edited:
Real talk, if there's ever any chance we can get a dōjutsu implant, I am 110% for it. Hell, it should just be a long term goal. Are there any nonleaf nin with dōjutsu that we can kill?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top