We Are Mizukage-sama's Brothers

But that didn't matter anyway—Orochimaru was bound to invade Konoha sooner or later anyway.

It was just a few years early on the wanted list. Reasonable enough.

Eiji quietly asked Senior Kakashi.

"Senior Kakashi, what about our mission?"

Kakashi hadn't expected that even now, Eiji's mind was still fixed on completing the mission.

But this mission wouldn't be easy to finish.

"Let me think. This is a bit troublesome."

Kakashi naturally wanted to complete the mission, but the current situation was far too unusual.

They'd made too big a commotion; it must have alerted Orochimaru and the Masked Man.

In that case, there wasn't much point in lingering here.

Better to pull back quickly before more pursuers arrived.

As for the Mizukage—Kakashi scratched his head—what to do about that?

He'd never had experience capturing a Kage before...

Just as he was weighing how to continue the conversation, Eiji walked straight up to Yagura and asked.

"Mizukage, we'd like to ask you for a favor."

Yagura looked at the young man before him in surprise, unable to figure out how he could speak so boldly.

After all, they were the invaders.

If he hadn't been beaten into submission, he'd have picked up his staff and started another fight.

"Speak."

Eiji grinned wide. "That Masked Man is someone Konoha wants too. Could you trouble yourself to take us into the village and let us have a look around?"

"If he's still in the village, I'll beat him up for you. How about that?"

The Masked Man?

Yagura clenched his fists, a surge of anger rising in his chest.

The village had been a mess to begin with, but ever since that Masked Man took control of him, Kirigakure had only gotten worse by the day.

"So, Mizukage, how about it? We can take this chance to cooperate. Who knows—maybe Konoha and Kirigakure can even establish a long-term partnership."

Faced with Eiji's temptation, Yagura couldn't deny he was tempted.

Konoha was the strongest of the Five Great Villages right now. Cooperating with them would definitely bring some benefits.

And word had it that the Hokage, Hiruzen, was a pushover—maybe they could even squeeze some funding out of him.

But...

Would it really be okay to bring them into the village? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

He kept getting the feeling he was being tricked into counting their money for them.

"I—" Yagura started to speak, and Eiji drew his blade.

"Say it."

Kakashi broke out in a cold sweat. Was this lunatic really about to kill the Mizukage?!

"Eiji, don't stir up more conflict!"

Eiji looked baffled. "The three of us already beat the Mizukage to a pulp. Isn't that conflict big enough?"

"..."

Yagura shed tears of humiliation inside.

Can we please stop talking about me getting beaten to a pulp?

I'm the leader of a village too. Don't I have any face to save?

He let out a long sigh. Forget it.

Face or no face, survival came first.

"Follow me."

Kakashi and Tenzo exchanged glances. Their current actions were no longer part of the plan.

The Hokage's orders were to scout the village.

But now it had turned into a search.

Tenzo said, "Senior, Eiji, isn't this too risky?"

To their surprise, Eiji's gaze was firm, and he spoke with righteous conviction.

"That Masked Man and Orochimaru dared to plot an invasion of Konoha and harm my comrades. If I don't capture him and bring him back to the village, I won't be able to eat or sleep in peace."

Then he pointed at Yagura.

"Besides, we've already established a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship with the Mizukage. He'll protect us, right?"

Yagura pretended not to hear. Listening to this brat talk was genuinely infuriating!

Kakashi scratched his head. Since things had come this far and they were already here, they might as well go take a look.

The Konoha Team and Yagura slowly made their way toward Kirigakure. Hidden in the shadows, Zetsu reported this development to the Masked Man.

"Those brats kidnapped the Mizukage and are heading toward the village."

The Masked Man was somewhat surprised. Yagura was, after all, a perfect Three-Tails Jinchuriki—how could he be this pathetic?

According to his plan, he had intended to wait until Eiji's teammates died, then pop out and make him taste pain.

Now his plan was ruined too.

"Damn Orochimaru. If he hadn't spread false information to muddy the waters, they never would've stumbled here."

The Masked Man felt like turning Orochimaru into snake soup.

Zetsu thought something was off.

"Is there a chance Orochimaru is using them to get rid of you?"

The Masked Man paused. He and Orochimaru had no grudge—why would he cause trouble?

"Maybe Orochimaru is plotting something too, and our existence is an obstacle to him?"

"Hmm... possible."

But none of that mattered. The Masked Man was convinced he was the greatest mastermind in this world.

Little Orochimaru—he had ten thousand ways to kill him with just a flick of his finger.

"Take Kisame and leave. Let the brats mess around here."

"Kakashi, don't think you've won. You're still trash!"

"Ah-choo!"

On the boat, Kakashi sneezed. For some reason, he'd been feeling lately like some jerk was cursing him behind his back.

"Almost there."

They could already see the gates of Kirigakure.

And the restless Kirigakure shinobi.

The commotion earlier had been loud enough to reach their ears.

Now that the Mizukage had been defeated, the task of commanding the shinobi naturally fell to Genji.

He was the village's most senior elder, holding authority equal to the Mizukage.

After hearing about Yagura's situation, the old man didn't even know what to say.

Three people dared to storm Kirigakure—what kind of nerve was that?

The last time something like this happened, it was Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Uchiha Madara.

"First, rescue the Mizukage."

Yagura was, after all, the village's highest leader, representing its image.

Being taken captive was no way to carry on.

And on top of that, he was a Jinchuriki.

Such an important combat asset had to remain in the village's hands.

As soon as he spoke, five or six loyal shinobi charged forward.

Then they came flying back even faster.

Eiji poked Yagura, the meaning clear.

Better speak up now, or you'll end up a commander with no troops.

Yagura's face twisted in humiliation. "Stop! Let them into the village!"

What the hell was all this!

The mighty Mizukage, taken hostage by a minor, and now having to call for the gates!

At the entrance of Kirigakure.

Konoha shinobi and Kirigakure shinobi stood at odds, the atmosphere tense.

"Konoha shinobi, release the Mizukage first, and everything can be discussed."

Genji stood at the front of the formation, sizing up the Konoha Team.

But Eiji looked genuinely surprised.

"What do you mean, 'release the Mizukage'? We didn't kidnap him. I'm a helper invited back by the Mizukage himself."

Hearing this, a red-brown haired woman rushed forward.

"Despicable Konoha shinobi! I'll personally—"

Mei Terumi hadn't finished speaking before Yagura's gaze persuaded her to back down.

He'd already figured it out on the way here.

During his reign, the village had lost too many people.

He didn't want to see any more pointless casualties.

After all, this brat named Eiji really would pull out an endless supply of Explosive Tags and take the whole village down with him...

Eiji spoke slowly.

"We're just looking for someone. We'll leave soon."

"Who are you looking for?"

"The rogue ninja Orochimaru, and a guy wearing a mask."