Kirigakure Power Transfer

Land of Water, Kirigakure.

A thick mist shrouded this ninja village, built deep in the mountains of the main island, all year round.

The fog dampened the surface of the rocks, trees, and buildings, making everything seem hazy and cold, like a faded, not-yet-dry ink painting.

The briny smell of seawater filled the air. Occasionally, cold droplets condensed somewhere high above and fell onto the puddled ground below or onto a passerby's shoulder, making a monotonous, lonely sound.

At the village entrance, two flagstone roads, worn smooth by time and footsteps, stretched into the dense fog and vanished at the edge of sight.

Beside the road stood the symbol of Kirigakure, its color darkened by the constant moisture.

Accompanied by footsteps that sounded somewhat heavy and weary, four figures pierced through the thick mist and slowly approached from the road outside.

At their head was the elite jonin Ao, wearing a black eye patch, his face stern and cold.

His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he had something weighing on his mind, but his steps remained steady.

The three people following behind him were clearly in much worse shape.

"Hah! Finally—we're back!"

Hozuki Suigetsu let out an exaggerated long sigh and, without caring whether there were puddles on the ground, plopped straight down on his backside.

The long sword, Nuibari, wrapped in bandages on his back, knocked lightly against the ground with the movement.

Suigetsu bared his mouthful of sharp teeth and raised a hand to knead hard at his neck and shoulders, sore from the long journey. His short white hair was dampened by the mist and stuck to his forehead, making him look even more disheveled.

"I'm dead tired—this job was seriously inhuman. If I'd known Konoha was going to turn into that, there's no way I