After the sun set, the sea reflected the silhouettes of countless stars.
Zabuza and Hozuki Mangetsu strolled along the coast of the Land of Whirlpools, their feet treading on the soft, damp beach. From time to time, they glanced deep inland, their expressions grave.
After a moment of silence, Zabuza said to Hozuki Mangetsu, "Since you've already made up your mind to overthrow the Mizukage's rule, why bring me here? Are you trying to leave yourself a way out?"
"You should know that if our coup fails, the Fourth Hokage won't let us off."
Hozuki Mangetsu shook his head and chuckled softly. "I've never entertained the thought of fleeing if the coup fails. But if the plan truly does fail, the Hozuki clan won't escape blame. I have to think about Suigetsu. He's still just a child."
Zabuza snorted coldly. "You care so much about your little brother. If you're that worried about him, why not give up... on overthrowing the Mizukage? The Fourth Hokage is only targeting Kekkei Genkai clans anyway. Your Hozuki clan isn't among them."
"That won't do..."
Hozuki Mangetsu sighed softly. "If the Fourth Hokage keeps messing around like this, the village will collapse sooner or later. Then how is a Kirigakure genius like me supposed to collect all seven ninja swords? And my surname won't allow me to ignore the village's current state."
Zabuza did not refute Hozuki Mangetsu's words. As the ninja who had ended the Blood Mist Policy, he had always been skilled at solving every problem with violence—using violence to fight violence.
Ten years ago, he had felt that the Kirigakure Ninja Academy's graduation exam, which required students to slaughter one another, was far too cruel.
So, he had chosen to kill every one of his classmates, forcing the higher-ups to reform