Inside the Mizukage Building.
Several Anbu swiftly entered the Mizukage's office and dropped to one knee.
Yagura sat in his chair. A flicker of struggle first crossed his face, his brow knitting slightly as though he were resisting some force within himself. But the disturbance was immediately suppressed, and his gaze became hollow and cold once more as he asked, "What happened?"
One of the Anbu raised his head and reported, "Lord Mizukage, the rogue ninja Momochi Zabuza is confronting our Kirigakure shinobi. Something happened during the confrontation."
"Now, nearly every Kirigakure shinobi present, including Zabuza himself, is strongly demanding that you show yourself in person. The situation is tense. If you do not appear, Lord Mizukage, then... a conflict may be unavoidable."
Another flicker of struggle crossed Yagura's face, and his fingers instinctively gripped the armrest of his chair.
The mysterious man's command echoed clearly in his mind.
Under no circumstances were he to show himself!
That voice overwhelmed Yagura's instinctive hesitation. His expression quickly steadied, even taking on a trace of severity as he forcefully retorted, "This is clearly the enemy's scheme! How could the Mizukage show himself so easily just because others are threatening him?"
"That would only undermine the Mizukage's authority and play right into the enemy's hands!"
"If they insist that I appear, then there is nothing left to discuss. Notify every Kirigakure shinobi at once... prepare for battle!"
The Anbu was deeply surprised by those words, his eyes widening slightly beneath his mask.
He had not expected the Mizukage's stance to be so resolute that he would even directly resort to war.
This was clearly a battle that could have been avoided!
And it would take place inside the village, which would only put Kirigakure at a disadvantage. Why was Lord Mizukage not considering