Strengthening the Hidden Mist

Killer B and Flying Waterfall's Jellyfish fought with such force that the ground shook and the mountains trembled, but after a while, Killer B grew weaker and weaker.

The Cursed Seal compensated by borrowing the time the original body could use the Cursed Seal, so Flying Waterfall's Chakra reserves were currently plentiful.

Supported by that massive amount of Chakra, Shield Hat continuously regenerated. After its entire body mutated into a Jellyfish, the water whips beneath it became laced with deadly poison.

Once the whips tore through Killer B's skin, he felt a wave of numbness spread through his body.

Even Killer B in full Tailed Beast form, with his tough hide and thick flesh, could not withstand the endless lashes of the water whips.

Killer B gradually found himself unable to keep going and prepared to retreat.

But Flying Waterfall had no intention of letting him leave and continued lashing him with water whips.

"Darn it♪ Who would've thought♫ this Akatsuki guy♬ would be so strong? Foolish fool, damn fool."

Killer B's movements became slower and slower, and his voice grew sluggish. He was already in an extremely dangerous state.

"Should we call for help?" Gyūki asked inwardly. They could still hold on for a little longer.

If this went on much longer, they might be captured alive.

Just then, Flying Waterfall spotted a Crow in the distance, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

His Chakra suddenly erupted. The tentacles that had transformed into water whips began to dance wildly, their tips turning incomparably sharp as they stabbed forward.

Killer B was startled and swung his tentacles to block them.

However, Flying Waterfall had too many tentacles. Though Killer B desperately defended himself, some still slipped through.

Pfft! Holes as wide as bowls appeared in Killer B's body. Fortunately, he was currently in Gyūki form; otherwise, he would have been dead on the spot.

Even Gyūki let out a pained scream after being pierced so badly in an instant and collapsed to the ground.

Killer B immediately lost consciousness. At that moment, Shield Hat also seemed to have reached its limit, instantly turning into a splash of water and dispersing into the air.

Flying Waterfall, covered all over in runes, fell from the sky, while the runes on his body all shrank back into him.

He barely managed to leap backward with all his strength.

Boom!

A Yasaka Bead smashed directly into the spot where Flying Waterfall had just been standing.

The figure that appeared opposite them was Itachi.

Orange-red light radiated from Itachi's body, and a gigantic Susanoo shielded him completely.

Itachi's original mission had been to kill these Hidden Mist Village shinobi, but when he saw Kisame among the opposing group—

He did not use Amaterasu immediately. Instead, he used Yasaka Beads to separate the battlefield.

Then he moved toward Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

Itachi's gaze fell directly upon Kisame.

Kisame's eyes narrowed as his gaze met Itachi's. After a brief daze, he immediately grabbed Flying Waterfall by the clothes and dragged him backward.

"It's the Mangekyō Sharingan's Susanoo! Retreat!"

Everyone had just witnessed Kisame's strength, and Flying Waterfall seemed to have exhausted all his energy. At a time like this, they could only retreat at once.

Biwa Juzo, Zabuza, and Suigetsu cautiously protected the two as they quickly withdrew.

Fortunately, the Uchiha Clan member on the other side appeared to have come only to rescue Killer B and did not pursue them.

That allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Flying Waterfall was even more relieved. Fortunately, Itachi had noticed Kisame.

Otherwise, if an Amaterasu had come flying over, it would have been enough to send the three of them straight to their funeral feast.

The Hidden Mist Village was currently suffering from a shortage of new talent, with no decent fighting power left to follow up.

If they did not leave a few promising seeds for the Hidden Mist Village, it might come begging for help every other day.

The current Mizukage, Mei Terumi, was the greatest dove leader of all.

If the Hidden Mist Village grew stronger, it could effectively prevent other forces from coveting it in the future.

Near the battlefield they had just left, a Yin-Yang Face poked its head out of the ground.

"To think he possesses such a powerful Water Style secret technique. Where exactly did this Flying Waterfall come from?"

Zetsu was puzzled. Back when Obito controlled the Hidden Mist Village, he had known its experts like the back of his hand.

Yet someone who knew the Hozuki Clan's secret techniques had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

Zetsu searched his mind for a long time, but he had no information whatsoever on this person.

It was as though he had appeared from thin air.

"Looks like the Hidden Mist Village still has some foundations I don't know about."

Zetsu sighed before burrowing back underground.

The commotion just now had been far too great, leaving them all on edge.

They stayed highly alert to their surroundings and surrounded the "gravely injured" Flying Waterfall in the middle.

Flying Waterfall rode on Kisame's back at the very front, whispering a few words into Kisame's ear.

Kisame blinked his wide eyes, unable to understand what trick his boss was playing, but he quietly nodded.

By then, Kisame and the others had retreated to the beach by the sea.

"Stop..." Flying Waterfall's weak voice came through.

Kisame looked around, found a rock, and set Flying Waterfall down against it.

Flying Waterfall's aura was extremely weak now. None of the people present were Medical Ninjas, so none of them knew the extent of his condition.

"Kisame, go scout the area."

Kisame answered without asking questions and went off to investigate nearby.

Flying Waterfall beckoned, calling the other three over.

Flying Waterfall had just used a secret technique to shield them from the Tailed Beast Ball. The few of them held this old Hidden Mist Village veteran in great respect. Though they did not understand why he had deliberately sent Kisame away—

—they still gathered around him. As soon as Flying Waterfall spoke, they felt a weight lift from their hearts. "I just used up too much energy. I'll be fine after a while."

But his next words troubled them again. "Still, I suffered some injuries. I'll probably have to withdraw from this mission."

Flying Waterfall raised a hand to stop them. "Listen to me first."

The others could only patiently listen to what Flying Waterfall had to say.

"Biwa Juzo, Zabuza, you both know why the Hidden Mist Village became like this, don't you?"

"It was because the Fourth Mizukage was controlled by Obito."

Zabuza knew the inside story. After he and Biwa Juzo became close, they had exchanged information as well.

Flying Waterfall then said to Suigetsu, "Do you know how your brother died?"

Suigetsu's eyes widened. "Old man, you know?"

Flying Waterfall panted twice. "Your brother was killed after Obito took control of Karatachi Yagura."

Suigetsu's eyes flew wide open! His clenched fist creaked.

"And your shared enemy, Obito, is hiding within our Akatsuki."

"What!?" All three were stunned.

Obito had thrown the entire Hidden Mist Village into chaos. There had been so many deaths that the bodies could have lined the coastline several times over.

And now he was saying that Obito was in the Akatsuki?

Flying Waterfall nodded. "That's right. Obito is hiding in the Akatsuki."

"Some people in the organization have already been won over by Obito. Now, aside from the leader and Konan, there is no one in the Akatsuki who can be trusted."

"This mission wasn't negotiated by me. It was negotiated by the leader."

"If you remain in the organization, Obito may recruit you or purge you. It's extremely dangerous."

"You'd best take this opportunity during the mission to leave the organization and return to the Hidden Mist Village."

"I was very gratified to see the changes in the Hidden Mist Village during this trip back. I hope you can return as well."

Biwa Juzo looked at Zabuza, and Zabuza looked back at him. Both were deeply hesitant.

Flying Waterfall knew that Juzo and Zabuza could not let go of their attachment to their homeland, so he said to them—

"Rest assured. As long as you're willing to return, I can ask Mei Terumi to pardon you."

Zabuza was already tempted. In truth, he knew more about the Hidden Mist Village's situation.

So he knew that the current Hidden Mist Village was no longer anything like the Bloody Mist Village of old.

Biwa Juzo voiced his concern. "Will the leader let us go?"

Flying Waterfall nodded. "Don't worry. For this mission, the leader needs to investigate the traitors and reorganize the organization. There won't be any problem if you leave during this time."

"Our Hidden Mist Village is short on people right now. You can do your part for the village."

Biwa Juzo and Zabuza exchanged glances, each seeing the same inclination in the other's eyes.

Biwa Juzo spoke. "If I can return to the Hidden Mist Village, I'm willing."

Zabuza said as well, "I also want to see how the Hidden Mist Village changes from here on."

"As for you, Suigetsu, the Akatsuki isn't a good place. If you don't want to die without knowing why, like your brother did, then return to the Hidden Mist Village."

Suigetsu looked at Zabuza. "I'll follow Zabuza."

"Good. Let's return to the base first."

Flying Waterfall seemed to have recovered somewhat and was able to stand.

Flying Waterfall led the group back, though at a much slower pace.

He also called over Kisame, who had been patrolling nearby.

The reason he had sent Kisame away was mainly because Kisame was not good at thinking things through. Rather than make him rack his brain over it, it was better not to let him know.

While they were on the road, Flying Waterfall told Biwa Juzo that at the next Magic Lantern Body gathering—

—he had to pretend that he was still serving the organization and could not let Obito's people detect anything amiss.