Entering Kirigakure

Creating ordinary Shadow Clones was easy, but giving them their own superintelligence required projecting Quantum Chips onto them. That was the real difficulty.

Combat Shadow Clones were meaningless to Vegapunk. Without the enhancement of Quantum Chips, Shadow Clones were not particularly effective for scientific research either, so Vegapunk had been trying to solve this problem all this time.

Though he was still complaining, the research had actually reached its final stages. In another day or two, Vegapunk would likely succeed.

Although Vegapunk had studied science rather than ninjutsu before, his brain allowed him to research anything quickly. The fact that this improved Shadow Clone had kept him pondering for several days showed that its difficulty truly surpassed even S-rank ninjutsu.

This time, Vegapunk and Hancock planned to ride Suikazan Fuguki's momentum to seize all of Kirigakure. Other ninja villages would be difficult to handle, but Kirigakure was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As long as Suikazan Fuguki could kill the Mizukage, end the Blood Mist rule, and let Kirigakure's Ninja know that the Mizukage had been controlled, he would almost certainly become the new Mizukage. Once that happened, annexing Kirigakure would become very easy.

At worst, they could let Kirigakure annex the Sea Ninja Village. It was just moving something from one hand to the other, and with Vegapunk's abilities, he was not worried that he would be unable to control Kirigakure afterward.

No Ninja could refuse technology that made them stronger. Once the issue of allegiance was resolved, Vegapunk was destined to become part of the upper ranks in any ninja village. Becoming the Kage of a village would not be difficult either, because Vegapunk possessed a way to make every Ninja stronger, along with the power to ensure he would not become a mere tool. Naturally, he could win the support of most Ninja.

The distance between Sea Country and Water Country was not short. The voyage took roughly a dozen days, with resupplies at several islands along the way. Fortunately, Suikazan Fuguki was in a hurry and Ninja were highly efficient, so twelve days later, the ship docked at a port in Water Country.

Afterward, the group rushed without stopping toward Kirigakure. Normally, it was naturally difficult for strangers possessing Chakra to enter Kirigakure, but with Suikazan Fuguki, one of Kirigakure's high-ranking figures, Vegapunk and Hancock entered Kirigakure easily and without incident.

Kirigakure gave Vegapunk an impression of desolation and killing intent. It was completely different from the Konoha he remembered from his previous life. There were hardly any ordinary people here besides Ninja. The people on the streets were mostly Ninja, hurrying back and forth with cold expressions that warned strangers to keep away.

Other than shops necessary for basic food, clothing, housing, and travel, there were no places for leisure or relaxation. Even the owners of those shops that met basic needs were generally injured or disabled Ninja.

"No wonder these Kirigakure Ninja are all mentally unstable. Staying in a place like this, like some assassin camp, every day—if their minds were normal, that would be the strange thing!"

Vegapunk looked around and sighed. Then he noticed an empty cluster of buildings in the distance. He tugged Kisame Hoshigaki and asked, "Why is that place empty? Who used to live there?"

Kisame was caught off guard by Vegapunk's unconcerned attitude, but seeing that Suikazan Fuguki had no reaction, the indecisive Kisame explained, "That was the residence of the Kekkei Genkai Clans... the Yuki Clan that used Ice Release. Those Kekkei Genkai Clans no longer live in Kirigakure."

"Tsk!" Vegapunk immediately understood. Apparently, just as Konoha had excluded the Uchiha, Kirigakure was now excluding these Kekkei Genkai Clans as well.

There really was nothing new under the sun... First, drive them out of the village or force them to its outskirts, then stir up conflict, and finally wipe out the entire clan. These ninja villages all followed more or less the same process.

After all, it was difficult to act within one's own ninja village. While Ninja were physically fragile, their destructive power was immense. Any Jonin determined to risk his life and wreak havoc could easily blow up several streets.

In truth, the Yuki Clan had already been reduced to almost nothing by Kirigakure. It was just the sort of matter that sounded bad no matter how one put it, so Kisame did not continue.

Suikazan Fuguki led the way ahead, quickly bringing his Subordinates to the Mizukage Building. Only then were they stopped by several masked Ninja.

After a brief exchange, Suikazan Fuguki dismissed his other Subordinates and entered the Mizukage Building with Kisame Hoshigaki, Hancock, and Vegapunk.

At this point, Kisame Hoshigaki also sensed that something was wrong. Suikazan Fuguki's expression was far too grave, and a faint killing intent leaked from him. As a Ninja who had killed countless people, Kisame Hoshigaki could tell that this was a sign of murderous intent.

But in the Mizukage's office, who could his target be? Could it be the Mizukage? What was going on?

If a fight really broke out, whose side should he take? In theory, he was a Ninja of Kirigakure and should stand with the Mizukage. But he was also Suikazan Fuguki's direct subordinate. According to Kirigakure's usual rules, he only needed to answer to his direct superior.

Kisame's mind was a mess, but he still instinctively tensed his body, his eyes revealing a trace of vigilance.

"We're here!" Upon reaching the Mizukage's office door, Suikazan Fuguki's killing intent had gradually faded. Thus, the two Ninja guarding the door sensed nothing and directly allowed him inside.

Inside the spacious office sat a youth who looked only fourteen or fifteen. He had green hair, purple eyes, and a scar beneath his left eye resembling a stitch mark. His expression was calm, with a faint hint of dullness.

However, Kirigakure had plenty of Ninja with numb expressions like that, so the Mizukage's expression was nothing unusual.

"Fuguki, you're back? How did the intelligence gathering go?"

The Mizukage named Karatachi Yagura shifted his pale purple eyes and asked.

Though this Mizukage appeared very young, he was actually nearly forty years old. He simply had a naturally youthful face that made him look much younger.

He had ruled all of Kirigakure for nearly ten years. Although his poor policies meant his position in Kirigakure was far from secure, the long years had nevertheless given him a certain degree of authority.

Suikazan Fuguki lowered his head with apparent respect. "Yes. The intelligence on Sea Country has been fully investigated. We obtained extremely important information there!"

"Oh?" Karatachi Yagura slightly raised his head. "What important information?"

"It is this... Lord Mizukage, when were you placed under Genjutsu control?!"