Inside the Mizukage's office building.
After emergency treatment by the Medical Ninja, Karatachi Yagura awoke from his coma. He looked complicatedly at the Kirigakure Jonin before him and slowly asked, "How long has it been since the day I became the Fourth Hokage?"
"After this month, Yagura, you will have been Mizukage for eleven years."
The Kirigakure Jonin looked at one another. In the end, Genji stepped forward and gave the exact answer.
Karatachi Yagura froze for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. "So much time has already passed? I remember Elder Genji was still quite young back then, and Mei Terumi and Mangetsu were both still studying at the Ninja Academy..."
As he spoke, Karatachi Yagura fell into contemplation, seeming to age considerably in an instant.
To him, the experience of being controlled by the Masked Man had been as agonizing as a nightmare. What was even more tragic was that after waking from that nightmare, everything had become reality.
Under the Masked Man's interference, his plans to develop Kirigakure had been interrupted, replaced by prolonged internal strife.
Not only had the Kekkei Genkai families been hunted down and exterminated, but even the core force, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, had been reduced to a single member. The remaining great blades had either been lost or lacked suitable inheritors.
After a long silence, Karatachi Yagura asked about the recent situation, as well as Naruto's identity.
When he heard that Naruto had been invited by Hozuki Mangetsu, Karatachi Yagura looked at him and slowly said, "Mangetsu, tell me about this Uzumaki Menma—his origins and identity, as well as the reward for helping Kirigakure."
Hozuki Mangetsu glanced around. At last, prompted by Genji, he revealed part of the deal he had made with Naruto.
After hearing the