Kirigakure

By the time he rose from the bath, wrapped a towel around himself, and walked into the living room, Sahara Mizu was still studying the usage rules of "Kyoka Suigetsu."

"So-called 'Activation Factors' refer to the part that replaces 'Shikai'?"

Sahara Mizu still remembered something of how abilities were activated in Bleach.

If he remembered correctly, the vast majority of abilities in Bleach had to be deployed through a Zanpakuto.

After undergoing so-called "information localization," that aspect had been adjusted into the unique form of "jutsu formulas" found in the Naruto World.

"Hand Seals, characteristics, Word Soul."

Muttering to himself, Sahara Mizu experimentally formed the one-handed "Tiger" seal with his left hand.

At the same time, the section of the panel belonging to "Hand Seals" displayed the same hand-sign diagram he was making.

That immediately made him understand how to set it up.

"Set the characteristic as the action of 'making eye contact.'"

"As for the Word Soul, I'll keep it the same as the original."

Thinking this, Sahara Mizu could not help curling his lips, feeling a subtle sense that he was imitating an anime character.

"Big brother?"

While he was fiddling with it, Sahara Yukie suddenly poked her head out from the kitchen beside him, looking at him with confusion on her little face. "What were you saying just now?"

"Yukie."

Sahara Mizu suddenly called out to her.

Miss Yukie instinctively looked into his clear blue eyes.

At the same time, Sahara Mizu formed the Tiger seal with his hand and murmured:

"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."

Almost at the exact instant his voice fell, Miss Yukie's expression abruptly froze, and a momentary blankness flashed through her eyes.

The next second, as if she had come back to herself, she said in dissatisfaction:

"What was that? Mizu only knows how to scare me."

"Idiot big brother!"

However, the girl did not notice that as she spoke, she had been facing a dark corner on the other side the entire time, never once looking toward Sahara Mizu.

After only a short while, Sahara Mizu silently released the jutsu formula.

Throughout the entire process, Miss Yukie never noticed how her senses had been distorted.

Sahara Mizu quietly felt the Chakra draining from within his body.

Even against Yukie, he could only maintain it for less than five minutes?

He frowned slightly.

Looking at it this way, this skill still had plenty of room for improvement.

For now, it seemed it could only be used one-on-one, or one against many for a short period.

Still, though Sahara Mizu looked somewhat dissatisfied, for the vast majority of ordinary Ninja, this was practically a divine skill surpassing the Sharingan.

In a one-on-one fight, one had to flee.

A mere three-tomoe Sharingan had already earned such fearsome renown in the Ninja World.

If Kyoka Suigetsu's true effects became known, it would likely draw quite a few covetous eyes, wouldn't it?

When demonstrating it in public, he would need to conceal its effects as much as possible.

"Mizu, want some fruit?"

"I've already cut it."

"Yes!"

At the same time, in Kirigakure.

At dawn, the coastal village was always buried beneath a thick layer of mist. The entire street lay silent in hazy obscurity, with few sounds or people to be seen.

Only faintly, one could make out what seemed to be one or two figures darting past in the distance, though they could not be seen clearly.

Compared to Ninja villages like Konoha and Cloud Village, which enjoyed superior natural conditions, Kirigakure had few ordinary residents. The densely packed buildings of the Kekkei Genkai Clans were concentrated at the center of the village, while the residential areas of non-Kekkei Genkai Ninja surrounded them on the outside. Only on the slopes closer to the mountains were a few scattered settlements of ordinary people located.

Just like Kirigakure's entire power structure.

Karatachi Yagura strolled through the mist-shrouded streets, taking in the dawn scenery before him as he instinctively compared it to Konoha's streetscape.

He sighed inwardly.

Kirigakure's upper structure was malformed.

Ever since the Third Mizukage took office, he had been striving to balance the conflict between those with Kekkei Genkai and those without, even resorting to rather radical measures.

However, the Kekkei Genkai Clans were simply too powerful.

Back then, during the first Five Kage Summit of the entire Ninja World, the five Ninja who stood at the peak of the Warring States Period had all brought along the successors they regarded as their heirs, serving as their aides.

That meeting had been intended both to secure peace among the Five Great Nations and to facilitate the transition between the next generation of leaders.

Yet while the Second Generations of the other ninja villages successively took over their villages, Kirigakure alone ran into a massive problem.

Overconfident in his own strength, Byakuren, the First Mizukage, was assassinated during an overseas visit in a plot the Kekkei Genkai Clans had long prepared.

Imoto-sama, who had originally been designated as the Second Generation to remain in the village, was simultaneously besieged. He led his trusted subordinates in breaking out of the village, was even declared wanted, and could not return for years.

At the same time, several Kekkei Genkai Clans immediately held a controlled election, allowing Hozuki Gengetsu to swiftly ascend to the position of Second Mizukage.

This far-reaching coup completely overturned the order the First Mizukage-sama had originally established within the village. The Kekkei Genkai Clans became overwhelmingly dominant, while ordinary ninja had extremely limited paths for advancement. This created fierce internal competition, to the point that promotion candidates had to be decided through mutual slaughter.

Extremity became the main theme of Kirigakure.

Even after Hozuki Gengetsu died in the great desert of the Land of Wind and Imoto-sama, the Third Mizukage, returned to his loyal Kirigakure, he was almost completely isolated and still could not entirely reverse the village's current situation.

Indeed, in such an extreme environment, he could only resort to even more extreme measures to deal with the attacks from the Kekkei Genkai ninja.

In recent years, even outsiders had begun spreading the so-called name of the "Bloody Mist."

Under these circumstances, anyone with insight could see it.

Kirigakure had to make some changes.

But—

As though recalling something, Karatachi Yagura shook his head slightly and strode quickly into the Mizukage Building.

"Genji-sama."

The moment he entered the office, Karatachi Yagura dropped to one knee.

Sitting on a cushion was a thin, withered old monk in tightly fastened robes, looking frail with age.

A serpent-shaped scepter lay across his knees.

This elder was a powerhouse from the same era as Byakuren-sama, the First Mizukage, and was now over seventy years old.

As one of the few among the upper ranks not born into a Kekkei Genkai Clan, Genji held the position of elder due to his wisdom and influence. He was the oldest of all the current elders, even qualified to exercise the Mizukage's authority in his stead, and possessed extraordinary status.

At the same time, because he too was not a Kekkei Genkai ninja, he naturally shared the same stance as the Third Mizukage-sama and was therefore deeply trusted.

However, in recent years, some friction had arisen between them due to the Third Mizukage's overly radical policies.

As time dragged on, the reformists led by the Third Mizukage-sama gradually split into two factions centered around the two of them: the radicals and the moderates.

Clearly, Karatachi Yagura belonged to the moderate faction.

Thus, once the mission had been completed, the intelligence was naturally delivered here at once.

"Oh."

After a while, he seemed to notice that someone else was in the room. He slowly opened his eyes, even his tone unhurried.

"Yagura."

"Has there been word from over there?"

"Yes!"

Karatachi Yagura looked respectful as he presented a copied intelligence scroll with both hands. "It has now been confirmed that Konoha's Tsunade is not acting against our side of the line."

"I see."

Genji seemed to have expected this news already and showed no particular reaction.

He slowly smacked his lips and pondered for a while before seeming to recall something and speaking again. "That child, Lian, is still quite capable."

"Imoto has indeed been pressing him too hard these days."

"Yagura."

"I am here." Karatachi Yagura kept his head bowed.

As if making casual conversation, Genji asked offhandedly, "What do you think of that child?"

Karatachi Yagura considered for a long time before cautiously replying, "Lian has extraordinary talent, has made tremendous contributions to the village, and occupies a critical position. In this era of great conflict, he plays an irreplaceable role in the confrontation between the village and Konoha."

Genji mulled over his words, thought for a moment, then emphasized again.

"I mean, what is your impression of that child?"

Karatachi Yagura pressed his lips together, never raising his head.

During this period, Karatachi Yagura, who controlled Konoha's entire Intelligence Network, had already investigated the chain of events and straightened out intelligence operations once more.

However, he still had no clue as to how the previous two heads of intelligence had disappeared.

Yet in many cases, having no clues was itself the greatest clue.

Across all of Konoha, there were only one or two people capable of doing something like that.

After waiting for a long while, Genji finally heard him speak in a low voice.

"Long service breeds divided loyalties; rewards and punishments become difficult to enforce."

"Lian may already intend to use the enemy to establish himself."

"..."

At this, Genji remained as composed and calm as ever, seeming not the least bit surprised by those words.

"That is only natural."

The old monk quietly took a sip of tea and said serenely, "If the village treats everyone as disposable pawns, then who could possibly feel a sense of belonging to it?"

"..."

Karatachi Yagura said nothing.

After waiting for a while longer, Genji took out a scroll he had prepared beforehand from behind him and handed it over.

"With rewards, there must also be punishments."

"Yagura."

"Yes."

Genji looked at him quietly and said gently, "Every now and then, that child should be made to feel the village's presence as well."

Karatachi Yagura was slightly taken aback at first.

Only when he met the old monk's gaze did he seem to suddenly realize something. He nodded and said, "I understand, Lord Genji."

"Go on."

Hello? Is anyone there?

Playing solo is so boring.

Could someone spare a few monthly tickets? It's already the last day of August.