Izuna * New World

Izuna put the mask back, dusted off his hands, and casually asked, "Speaking of which, why do you always wear this mask? You used to cover it with paper. Is there some special reason for it?"

Mokushō paused for a moment, as if he hadn't expected him to ask that.

"Oh, there's a reason for that."

Izuna tilted her head to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "Are you socially awkward?"

Mokushō was silent for a moment.

"... yes."

"Oh, you should have said so earlier." After saying that, Izuna really didn't ask any more questions.

Mokushō was somewhat indescribable. "Couldn't you have asked one more question?"

"Will you tell me if I ask?"

"Won't."

"That settles it."

Mokushō: "..."

He sighed and put his hands in his sleeves. "Anyway, there's a reason for this. I'll tell you everything someday, but not now."

Izuna nodded. "I understand, I understand, it's fate at work. Speaking of which, the world-building you created before was truly mind-blowing; such comprehensive settings, enough to fill another novel, usually end up becoming reality..."

Mokushō paused for a moment.

Izuna: "Very well, I understand. I am Izuna. No wonder I couldn't remember my original name; it turns out this is what I'm called all along."

"... You have indeed lived in modern society."

"I can tell," Izuna said casually, "Otherwise you wouldn't have picked up on so many of the jokes."

After a two-second silence, Mokushō tentatively asked, "You haven't already guessed who I am, have you?"

Izuna did not answer immediately.

He walked half a step ahead, twirling the bamboo skewer left over from buying dumplings in his hand, his gaze sliding from the street stalls to his eyes.

Just when Mokushō thought he wouldn't say anything, Izuna spoke up.

"Alas, human strength has its limits," he said. "I don't consider myself capable of taking responsibility, so who you are makes no difference to me."

Mokushō gazed intently at him and whispered, "... You've changed."

Izuna feigned ignorance. "I haven't always been like this."

Mokushō chuckled.

"Okay, that's true."

Izuna withdrew his gaze and took two steps forward. "Let's go try some of the spicy grilled skewers from the Land of Water over there."

Mokushō followed, "But there is something I really need to tell you."

Izuna didn't even turn his head. "Then tell me."

I can't say it directly yet.

Izuna couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You're being so ambiguous. Don't you know how annoying riddle-makers like you are?"

Mokushō opened his mouth, but he couldn't utter a single word. He could only try to hint at it indirectly, saying, "Well, after this matter is resolved, let's hurry up and find the Tailed Beast."

Izuna narrowed his eyes. "Black Zetsu?"

"If it really is him, then things would be easier to handle."

"Uh..." Izuna thought for two seconds, then gave up. "Can you give me a hint?"

Mokushō was silent for a moment, as if considering his words, before finally saying, "Don't condone the suffering of others."

Izuna was speechless. "Isn't that a line from 'The Old Man of the Mountain'? Have you been watching too much Anime? You're not a prophet."

"I am a prophet, don't you believe me? The present is the past for me, I know many things."

Izuna waved his hand, "Don't think everything will go as you wish. Changing the timeline will make things increasingly difficult later on."

"I say you've been reading too many novels," Mokushō scoffed. "It's clearly going to get better and better."

"Not necessarily." Izuna's smile faded. "Anyway, you'll have to keep an eye on things this time. These things didn't happen in the original story, but I have a feeling this incident won't end well."

Mokushō tilted his head. "You mean?"

Izuna tossed the bamboo skewer into a bamboo basket by the roadside, clapped his hands, and said, "I don't believe a country that produced a Hidan is really as peaceful as that old thief described."

Hidan is...

Izuna's eyes widened. "Are you even a Hokage fan?! You don't even know Hidan?!"

Mokushō covered his head, "Wait a minute, I know this name, it sounds familiar, who is it again...?"

"A member of the Akatsuki!"

"... I almost forgot Hidan was from the Land of Hot Water if you hadn't mentioned it."

Izuna glared at him. "You brat, if you want to read the original work, you'd better read it carefully!"

Mokushō shifted his gaze. "This isn't... well, it doesn't tell the story of the First... so I'm having trouble getting into it..."

You bastard!

"Don't worry!" Mokushō raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I'm called the Inari God for nothing? As long as someone believes in me, even just a little bit, I can know a lot of things. Don't underestimate a god."

The Summer Festival truly lives up to its reputation as one of the most important celebrations in the Land of Hot Water.

The streets, which were already bustling on ordinary days, were now even more lively than usual.

The streets were covered with colorful ribbons, red, blue, yellow and green intermingled, hanging from the eaves to the ground, rustling loudly in the wind.

The parade convoy moved slowly through the streets, with performers on board playing flutes and taiko drums, creating waves of sound.

Performers dressed in bizarre costumes were showing off all sorts of strange magic tricks on the street. Some people conjured pigeons out of their sleeves, while others turned water into wine. The children watching screamed and clapped, and the adults watched with great interest.

Many colorful boats were also moored around the harbor, with music playing from them, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Looking at the lively scene Hashirama, Hashirama couldn't help but smile.

They were on a boat at this moment, which was slowly moving along the river of the Land of Hot Water, with the lively scene on the shore in full view.

Madara sat beside him, calmly adjusting his gloves, while Tobirama sat on the ship's railing, dealing with unimportant documents he had brought.

Kyōnosuke leaned against the side of the boat, his gaze sweeping across the shore as if searching for something.

"Look, Hashirama, look over there!" Kyōnosuke suddenly spoke, pointing into the distance.

Upon hearing Hashirama, Hashirama looked in the other direction and asked, "What?"

Kyōnosuke pointed to a side gate leading to the Daimyo's Residence's residence.

The gate was hidden behind a row of pine trees, gray and inconspicuous, but at this moment several sedan chairs were parked at the gate, the curtains were lifted, and people were walking out of them.

Samurai dressed in different styles of armor lined up in front of the gate, each wearing their own national emblem on their chest.

"The Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind," Kyōnosuke off one by one. "The Military Advisors from all these countries are here."

Hashirama frowned. "So that's how it is..."

In the past, it was all speculation, but now this scene has confirmed that the Land of Hot Water is indeed a springboard for these countries, and they really intend to take action against the Land of Whirlpools.

Even the Land of Fire wants a piece of the pie; their Minamoto Daimyo doesn't seem as docile as he appears.

But Military Advisor? If it's merely for war preparation, is it necessary to send someone of that status to the Land of Hot Water?

Before he could think it through, footsteps came from the stern of the boat.

An adult boarded the ship.

The newcomer was of stocky build, dressed in a black kimono with dark patterns embroidered on the hem. His eyes were sunken, seemingly due to staying up late, and they shone unusually brightly in the sunlight.

It is Daikokuten.

The Samurai pointed in Kyōnosuke's direction, saying, "Over there."

Daikokuten turned around, saw them, and immediately a smile spread across his face. He strode over and said, "Oh! Gentlemen!"

Hashirama felt uncomfortable for a moment.

The feeling was indescribable; it was like something had pricked the back of his neck, or like an unwanted smell had suddenly appeared in the air.

He couldn't help but frown.

Madara and Tobirama also sensed this discomfort. Madara's gaze lingered on Daikokuten for a moment, while Tobirama didn't look at her directly, but his attention had already shifted from the documents to Daikokuten.

There's something wrong with Daikokuten.

However, they did not detect anything unusual when they tried to detect it using Chakra.

Daikokuten was still an ordinary human being, not Ninja in disguise.

Daikokuten walked closer, smiled, and nodded at them. "That's great, I feel much more at ease with you all here."

Kyōnosuke smiled and nodded, "Daikokuten, I wonder how well the Barrier is working?"

"It was arranged long ago." Daikokuten waved his hand, his tone light. "Benten is currently introducing them to the Envoys from various countries; they will agree."

"I'm sorry, even though I didn't want to trouble you, the venue setup still needs your approval." Kyōnosuke bowed slightly. "Consider this a favor I owe you privately."

"Not at all, I'd be more than happy to help you."

Kyōnosuke's gaze passed over Daikokuten's shoulder and landed on the side door in the distance, where the backs of the Military Advisors from various countries who had just entered had disappeared behind the door.

"I just saw military leaders from various countries enter your castle." Kyōnosuke withdrew his gaze and lowered his voice. "It seems the situation is more serious than we thought. Could you perhaps reveal a bit about it?"

Daikokuten laughed and waved his hand, "I can't reveal that. I just came here to say hello. Seeing you so energetic puts my mind at ease. I have other matters to attend to, everyone, please excuse me."

After he finished speaking, he nodded slightly to the group and turned to leave.

He went back to his boat along the bulkhead.

Kyōnosuke watched the somewhat flustered ship sail away, frowning. "Something's not right."

Hashirama gazed in the direction the man had disappeared. "Indeed. Should we investigate? I have a bad feeling."

Kyōnosuke tilted his head to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"That Daikokuten we just saw was probably not the one we know."

Kyōnosuke's brows furrowed even more. "What? But I didn't notice anything just now."

Hashirama hearing this. If Kyōnosuke's Mind's Eye of the Kagura couldn't detect it, then could it be something only those of us who have only one foot in the door of Onmyōji could perceive?

"I suggest we hold back," Kyōnosuke after a moment's thought. "After all, our Barrier is already in place, and you're all here, so we shouldn't have too much to worry about. Let's just wait for the mastermind to make their move."

Tobirama closed the document in his hand and stood up.

"No, it would be even more dangerous if someone launched an attack from inside the Barrier."

Kyōnosuke turned to look at him. "The Land of Hot Water wouldn't be so indifferent as to not even take this much security precaution."

"That's possible." Tobirama tucked the document into his sleeve, his tone calm. "Perhaps the higher-ups in the Land of Hot Water themselves wished for the assassination to happen?"

Kyōnosuke frowned. "I don't see any profit to be made."

"I'll go anyway," Tobirama said, "And see what they're up to."

As he said this, Tobirama looked at Hashirama.

Hashirama understood that this was a request for his approval as Hokage, so he nodded. "Go."

Tobirama nodded slightly, then disappeared from the spot.

Kyōnosuke looked in the direction Tobirama had disappeared, then looked away, raising an eyebrow. "You're really letting him go?"

"We need to investigate thoroughly before taking the next step," Hashirama said casually, leaning against the ship's railing.

Kyōnosuke was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned his head, his gaze shifting between Hashirama and Madara: "Speaking of which, why didn't Izuna board the ship? Although you are wary of me, is it really a good idea to leave him out there alone at a time like this?"

Madara, who had been leaning against the cabin wall with his eyes closed, opened his eyes upon hearing this, his gaze falling flatly on Kyōnosuke's face.

"That's none of your concern, Land of Whirlpools' ruler." His voice wasn't loud, but every word seemed to be carved from ice. "Don't pry into things you shouldn't know."

Kyōnosuke raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I am also worried about the success of this plan."

Hashirama stood to the side, hands tucked into his sleeves, glancing sideways at Kyōnosuke with a smile playing on his lips, though the smile didn't reach his eyes, "Stop pretending. You're just interested in Izuna. We won't let you get close to that kid."

Kyōnosuke an "Oh!" as if amused, leaning against the ship's railing with his arms crossed. "The last time you protected someone like this was when you were protecting my little sister. What? Is Izuna really that important to you guys?"

Ban did not reply.

He simply stared at Kyōnosuke, his gaze growing colder and colder with each passing moment.

Kyōnosuke had seen that look before; it was the same look he had when drawing his sword on the battlefield.

Hashirama sighed softly beside him, "If you want to live, I suggest you say less. Otherwise, even I can't save you."

Kyōnosuke glanced at Madara's murderous look, then at Hashirama's face that seemed to say "I'm serious," and shrugged.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more."

Ban snorted coldly, withdrew his gaze, leaned back against the cabin wall, and closed his eyes.

The cabin was quiet for a while, with only the sound of water and music from the distant shore seeping in through the gaps.

Meanwhile, after a brief dive, Tobirama arrived at the hull of the Daikokuten fleet.

The river water wasn't clear; it was a mixture of mud, sand, and floating debris, limiting visibility to just a few feet. He clung tightly to the hull, his fingers wedging into the gaps between the planks to steady himself.

The waves pushed him from upstream, pressing him down another half an inch to the bottom of the boat.

He didn't move.

Chakra seeped silently from his fingertips, passing through the ship's planks and probing into the interior of the cabin.

The sound came from above, muffled through a wooden board and water, but clear enough.

"--Is everything arranged?"

"Yes, Daikokuten. The personnel in various locations are in place."

"Is everything going smoothly at Benten's place?"

"Benten Lord Benten in charge, there's naturally no chance of anything going wrong."

"Um."

A brief silence followed. Then footsteps, a creaking wooden plank, and someone sat down.

"Daikokuten, I hope you will not disappoint me."

Daikokuten's voice was firm and loyal. "Everything is for the new world."