In Progress

The atmosphere inside the tent froze instantly; a heavy weight pressed down on one's chest, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Silence was absolute, like listening to a pin drop.

Suikazan Fuguki still had that fierce and gloomy face, and he remained unchanged when facing Juzo Biwa's sharp, sword-like gaze.

It means exactly what it says.

He answered calmly.

"The Fourth Hokage wasn't the true Mizukage..." Juzo Biwa repeated, his eyes icy. "Are you saying Shitsukura isn't qualified to be the Mizukage?"

"..." Suikazan Fuguki's lips twitched this time, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "That's not what I meant. What I meant was that the current Fourth Hokage is not the Lord Shitsukura we knew back then."

Is it a counterfeit?

Ringo Ameyuri.

"That's right, that's exactly what I mean. I suspect the Fourth Hokage has been switched, or is being controlled... In short, the current Lord Mizukage is definitely not normal." Suikazan Fuguki broke it down, explained it thoroughly, and made it crystal clear.

"You're saying the current Lord Mizukage is a fake?"

Juzo Biwa's tone betrayed his shock, and he disregarded his shame and indignation.

He kept muttering to himself, wondering what the fat man was talking about, but he also had a strong premonition that the Fuguki wasn't joking. In fact, deep down, he agreed with the Fuguki's guess.

He wasn't one of those junior or Genin. As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he had quite a bit of contact with Karatachi Shitsukura.

Suddenly, Shi Cang, who had only recently Shitsukura, underwent a drastic change in temperament. His actions were completely unlike anything he had ever done before, and many people harbored doubts. However, after those who dared to question and speak out were dealt with, naturally, not many remained.

"Is there any evidence? Can you prove that Lord Mizukage... is a fake?"

"How could that be? If it were, that fat guy would have already gone off to stir up trouble. Since he came to us secretly to discuss it, he must not be very confident." Ringo Ameyuri said calmly. The genius girl was indeed a genius girl. Not only was she a genius in cultivation, but she was also quite adept at understanding people's hearts.

I'm just too lazy to think about these things on a regular basis.

She didn't like thinking about these complicated things; she preferred simpler, more straightforward combat.

"That's right, I have no evidence. It's all just my deduction. It may be true or it may be wrong." Suikazan Fuguki didn't mind Yuri's way of addressing him and frankly admitted that he had no evidence.

Juzo Biwa fell silent, and withdrew his hand from the Kubikiribōchō.

"Fatty, you didn't call us here to ask us to help you find evidence, did you?"

Ignoring the somewhat disoriented Juzo Biwa, Ringo Ameyuri pressed on with her question.

"Well... that's right. After all, the subject of our investigation is Mizukage, and it's really difficult for one person to do it alone..."

"So you came after us? Fuguki- senpai, aren't you afraid that... I might stand against you? After all, suspecting the Mizukage was replaced... that's utterly appalling!!"

After sorting out his chaotic and complicated feelings, Juzo Biwa looked at the Fuguki with an equally complicated expression.

"Since I dared to invite you here, I naturally made thorough preparations." Suikazan Fuguki revealed a vicious smile, his Samehada twitching and rustling beside him. "So? Any more questions? If not, I'll take that as your agreement to join!"

Juzo Biwa closed his eyes, remained silent for several breaths, and said in a deep voice, "I will investigate, but don't try to order me around."

"Whatever you like, different perspectives might reveal issues I haven't noticed," said Suikazan Fuguki magnanimously.

Ringo Ameyuri reluctantly nodded. "If you have time."

This perfunctory answer didn't displease either Suikazan Fuguki or Juzo Biwa. They were very familiar with Ringo Ameyuri's personality; she was a battle maniac, so it was already rare for her to say something like that.

"I hope my deduction is wrong..."

As he spoke, Samehada moved once more, more intensely than ever before. The white bandages snapped apart inch by inch, and the slender spikes stood on end.

"Are they here?"

Suikazan Fuguki reached out and grasped Samehada, saying, "Let's go, Konoha's guests have arrived again."

Ringo Ameyuri had already drawn her twin swords, Thunder Fang, her face beaming with excitement; her previous dejection seemed like an illusion.

There is fighting burning in the southern sea.

In the north, the Land of Grass is also engulfed in the fiercest battle.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!!!"

The Mud Golem and the Four-Tails monster were locked in a fierce battle, exchanging blows with each impact, each collision producing a tremendous roar!

Standing atop the Mud Golem's head, Katsuki looked at the Four-Tails creature with its ferocious and menacing appearance, a cold smile curving her lips. These idiots, possessing only immense strength but lacking any brains, were the easiest to deal with.

"Roar!!"

Four-Tails was knocked back several steps by Mud Golem's agile punches. It lashed out in a rage, twitching its tail and unleashing a series of massive magma projectiles that hurtled straight at Mud Golem.

"Water Release, Water Wall."

Katsuki Hand Seals, and beneath her feet, clear blue waves rippled, instantly transforming into a terrifying, towering wave. Splashes of water flew through the air as the wave met the incoming lava ball with overwhelming ferocity.

Chakra flowed out without restraint, frantically amplifying the power of the water waves.

The massive wave collided with the magma ball, the hot and cold colliding, and a huge amount of water vapor shot into the sky like a white dragon, reaching the heavens and the sun, a truly magnificent sight.

The momentum of the magma ball was suppressed. Waves of water, one higher than the next, engulfed the magma ball, stripping it of its heat, and it fell as a black stone ball.

"Thump! Thump"

The Mud Golem shook its shoulders and punched out with lightning speed, smashing the two cooled magma balls like rubber balls, sending them flying towards the Four-Tails in front of it.

The Four-Tails clearly hadn't anticipated this attack.

He was immediately struck by two dark stone balls, taking a heavy blow to his shoulder. He staggered backward, and if it weren't for his four tails supporting him, he would have almost fallen to the ground.

"Earth Release, Earth Dragon"

Having seized the initiative, it naturally wouldn't give the Four-Tails a chance to adjust and counterattack. With a light clap, the Mud Golem doll shook its head and spat out a long, grayish-brown dragon made entirely of sand, which was incredibly imposing and twisted as it lunged at the Four-Tails' head.

The Four-Tails roared furiously, spewing out green flames in an attempt to burn the grayish-brown dragon.

However, the long dragon was blown apart by the scorching airflow generated by the eruption of green flames, turning into a large amount of sand that scattered. Some of the sand fell down, while some was swept up by the airflow and unfortunately landed in the eyes of the Four-Tails dragon.

"Roar----!!!"

In an instant, its eyes lost their light. The Four-Tails struggled to secrete tears to wash away the sand in their eyes. When they opened their eyes, the giant fist of the Mud Golem appeared before them.

"Bang!!!" (To be continued)