When a large number of Kirigakure shinobi rushed to the Mizukage Building from all corners of the village, all they found were the building's ruins and corpses strewn everywhere, including that of the elder who oversaw the village's daily affairs.
"Th-this...!?"
"Damn it!"
"What do we do now?"
Outside the village, an army of over ten thousand White Zetsu was laying siege, while inside, the elder who handled the village's daily affairs had been assassinated. For a moment, panic and despair engulfed every Kirigakure shinobi present.
After a while, an Elite Jonin from Kirigakure finally came to his senses and ordered, "Quick, get the news out!"
A Kirigakure shinobi beside him asked, "Send... send it to who?"
The Elite Jonin snapped, "Send it to everyone—Konoha, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Iwagakure! In short, spread the news that we've been attacked. Even if we can't contact the Fourth Mizukage, he must be watching over the village in secret. Once he learns what happened, he'll definitely return to take charge!"
Another Kirigakure shinobi hesitated before saying, "But the enemy's purpose in infiltrating the village and assassinating the elder this time was probably to lure the Fourth Mizukage out!"
"I know that," the Elite Jonin said gravely. "But if Kirigakure itself is gone, is there any point in having a Mizukage? We chose a Mizukage to protect the village, not to be protected by it!"
The Kirigakure shinobi said no more and hurriedly began spreading news of the attack through every available channel.
Watching his colleagues panic in disarray, the Elite Jonin from Kirigakure let out a faint sigh.
Twenty years ago, Kirigakure had been overflowing with bloodline clans and Forbidden Technique families. There had been Ice Release, Shikotsumyaku, Red Eye, Boil Release, Lava Release, the Hozuki Clan, and countless others. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of