North Wind Howls

"Teacher, this is the latest news."

Kuyue pushed the document in front of Katsuki.

The living room of the Uzumaki Clan.

The master and apprentice were studying the latest intelligence gathered by the Anbu.

"Two days ago, Cloud Ninja, the Jinchuriki the Two-Tails from Yugito Nii, was murdered in southern Land of Lightning. He was captured by two people wearing Akatsuki cloak. According to the information provided by Lord Jiraiya, they are likely the two missing-nin from Waterfall Ninja and Soup Ninja that we encountered before. Six days ago, Uchiha Genso and Deidara S-rank Rogue Ninja from Iwagakure, appeared in Sunagakure and captured the One-Tail Jinchuriki."

As Katsuki flipped through the documents, he listened attentively to Kuyue's summary.

"The incident in Sunagakure happened six days ago, why is it only being sent back now?"

Katsuki shook the document, and the paper rustled.

"Black Storm has swept through the Land of Wind, and communication was cut off for three whole days. Only today did the letter from the Land of Lightning arrive, one after the other."

Kuyue explained.

Katsuki nodded and said nothing more. He knew about the Black Storm; it was a specialty of the Land of Wind. Once the Black Storm started, the Land of Wind would be cut off from the world.

Seven years ago, he honed his physical body to its limit, and the development of the Hito Hito no Mi's power made another breakthrough.

At that time, a small team from Konoha was stranded in the desert. Bored out of his mind, Katsuki secretly went to the Land of Wind to find them. As luck would have it, he ran into Black Storm. Under the great power of nature, the Black Storm lasted for three days and three nights, which made him lose a lot of weight.

The power of nature is evident.

"The One-Tail and Two-Tails have been captured. The Three-Tails from Kirigakure probably won't escape. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki is in Iwagakure, and he holds a high position and is very powerful, so he should be the most difficult to deal with."

Katsuki smiled and tossed the document back onto the table.

Senju Zen and Uchiha Genso are really something else. Less than two months after the death of the Third Raikage of Kumogakure, they started taking action, and they immediately took down the One-Tail and Two-Tails.

"It's good that you moved; we were just ripping you off for refusing to do anything."

Katsuki sighed, feeling quite pleased.

Although the Sand Ninja, their ally, are probably not happy at all, Katsuki doesn't care; as long as her own family is happy, that's all that matters.

"Kuyue, keep a close eye on Iwagakure from now on; the Stone Ninja can't protect the Four-Tails."

"I understand, teacher."

Kuyue readily agreed.

After the master and apprentice chatted for a while, Kuyue quickly took her leave. As the Anbu Chief, she didn't have much free time to chat with people.

Standing in my own yard, looking at the bare, dark trees, gusts of cold wind blew the dark brown branches wildly, making a creaking sound.

Winter is coming.

I woke up early in the morning to find dark clouds looming overhead and a biting wind howling.

"The first snow of the year!?"

Katsuki stretched out her hand, and the fine snowflakes fell onto her palm and instantly melted into cool water.

The first snow of the season has fallen in Konoha.

Thousands of miles away, on the high seas, an archipelago nation is also covered in snow.

Kirigakure.

The scalding blood poured onto the snow, turning the white snow crimson in an instant, while the shouts of battle drifted away like distant smoke.

In the biting cold wind, swords cleaved through flesh and bone, and blood blossomed wildly among the Mist Ninja wearing identical Forehead Protector and dressed similarly.

The wind and snow swirled, creating a white expanse. Shitsukura stood on the rooftop of the building, looking down at the village that had once again fallen into a bloody civil war.

Internal strife seems to be the village's destiny.

Even though she's over thirty, Shitsukura still looks like a child. If word got out, countless beauty-loving women would be envious. Her methods of maintaining her youthful appearance are truly astonishing.

"Lord Mizukage"

The rebels tore through the Mizukage's guards and rushed onto the rooftop.

The leader was a woman with a seductive figure, long brown hair cascading down her back, and a pair of exceptionally alluring emerald green eyes. However, at this moment, the beauty's face was covered in blood, and she exuded a chilling murderous aura.

Behind the woman followed an old man and a young man. The older man was tall with a pure white right eye, talismans hanging from his ears, and a serious expression. The other young man was short and thin, holding a strangely shaped weapon in his hand, which was none other than the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei.

This sword originally belonged to Katsuki, but several years ago, a Mist Ninja appeared in Konoha, contacted Katsuki, and paid a sufficient price to buy back the Nuibari, the Kabutowari, and the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei.

That Mist Ninja was Mei Terumi.

Only after presenting the results of the Koshimizu Clan's painstaking research on the Boiling Release technique were the three Ninja Blade retrieved.

Over the years, Mei Terumi has gradually accumulated strength, backed by the Koshimizu and Terumi families, and has finally launched a rebellion today, vowing to overthrow the Fourth Hokage's reign of terror.

"You're here! Qing, I didn't expect you to choose to support such a young girl."

Shitsukura was not tall, in fact, quite short, much shorter than Chojuro was only sixteen years old, but his imposing aura was by no means weak, and he was no less imposing than Mizukage.

His silver pupils swept over the three of them one by one, a smile appearing on his face.

"Terumi-kei girl, what are you trying to do by starting this rebellion? Is it for the position of Mizukage? I'd much rather have that prodigy from the Hozuki Clan than you!"

"Fourth Hokage, this is not your intention at all; you have simply been controlled by Genjutsu."

The veins around Qing's right eye socket bulged as he looked at Shitsukura's abnormal Chakra flow, and he was filled with grief and indignation.

The Mizukage was controlled by Genjutsu for over a decade, and the Kirigakure was in constant turmoil for over ten years, yet no one noticed. This is a disgrace to the Mist Ninja.

"Genjutsu? Ao, such a clumsy excuse is really ugly. Terumi clan girl, just say what you want. We Mist Ninja always speak with our swords. We don't hesitate to use our swords even when it comes to our own comrades. You can only say that you are a woman after all?"

Shitsukura has a childlike, adorable face, but his words are sharp and biting.

Mei Terumi raised her head slightly, her eyes remaining calm, unaffected by Shitsukura's words.

"Fourth Hokage, stop beating around the bush. You'd better just surrender. The Three-Tails inside you is a vital treasure for the village. I hope you'll consider the greater good of the village."

Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs again.

A handsome young man walked up, his sky-blue robe stained with blood, and he held a trumpet-shaped, long, wide-mouthed instrument in his hand.

"We're too late. The Hozuki Clan has also agreed not to interfere in our struggle with the Fourth Hokage. Suigetsu has persuaded his older brother, and the two of them are currently trying to convince the other supporters of the Fourth Hokage in the village to surrender."

"Thank you for your hard work, Utakata."

Mei Terumi's face lit up with joy; now, the three major clans of Kirigakure were all on her side.

"Your Excellency, the battle is over. Having lost your supporters, you should surrender!"

Mei Terumi stepped forward, looking down at the Shitsukura.

Ao and Chojuro followed closely Mei Terumi, ready for battle.

The Fourth Hokage was Perfect Jinchuriki; if the Three-Tails' power were to be unleashed, it would surely be a fierce battle. (To be continued)