As one of Kirigakure's most influential Bloodline Limit clans, the Kaguya Clan naturally had its own influence and informants within the Mizukage Building.
The news that Kaguya Naoto had been taken away for questioning rippled through the Kaguya Clan Compound like a stone tossed into a still lake.
In the Clan Leader's Residence, several key members of the clan had gathered. The atmosphere was as oppressive as the calm before a storm.
Anger and humiliation filled the air, and indignation was written on every face.
"How dare they! Clan Leader Naoto may have only been trying to find new supply channels for the clan, yet they humiliated him like this."
"I always said those people in Kirigakure's upper ranks were bastards. They're obviously using this as an excuse to suppress the Kaguya Clan."
"If we don't avenge this, how can the Kaguya Clan hope to establish itself in the Land of Water? I say we go to the Mizukage Building together and show them what our clan is capable of."
These inflammatory words immediately drew the crowd's support. Kaguya Naoto's trusted aides tried to stop them, but the impassioned crowd completely ignored them.
Before long, the Kaguya Clan's leaders had all returned to their respective residences and begun rallying their clansmen, preparing to head to the Mizukage Building and demand an explanation.
News that the Kaguya Clan was about to erupt into violence reached the Third Mizukage at once.
At that moment, he was facing Kaguya Naoto, whose face was full of indignation. He rubbed his brow with a headache.
"Clan Leader Naoto, why exactly did you go to the Dense Forest? Where did that Secret Code of unknown origin come from?"
"I've answered that many times already. The code came from a letter someone I don't know tossed into my residence. As for why I went to the Dense Forest, I wanted to verify whether the letter was genuine and whether that traveling merchant was a spy."
Kaguya Naoto replied helplessly. Having answered the same questions several times, he was beginning to lose his temper.
"Where's the letter?"
"I have it with me. You can take a look."
Seeing Kaguya Naoto's frank attitude, the Third Mizukage found himself in a difficult position.
But with the Kaguya Clan's unrest about to erupt, he had no choice but to set aside the question of commercial interests for now and give an order to the ninja behind him:
"Bring that traveling merchant here. Alive. I'll interrogate him myself."
The ninja behind him immediately acknowledged the order and hurried to the inn where Namikaze Yoru was staying.
In the inn, Namikaze Yoru sat calmly before the tea table, utterly unruffled. In truth, he had already used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to keep track of everything happening around him.
The ninja keeping watch outside was also growing drowsy from the late hour, but he forced himself to stay alert.
Seeing that Namikaze Yoru had yet to sleep, he assumed the merchant was too frightened to fall asleep.
Not long afterward, Anbu ninja sent from the Mizukage Building arrived at the inn and asked the ninja on duty:
"Is that traveling merchant from out of town still here? How's the situation?"
"He is. He may have been a little frightened, but he hasn't gone to sleep yet," the ninja on duty replied at once.
"Good. Lord Mizukage wants him brought in for questioning. Come with me."
The ninja on duty led the way toward the room where Namikaze Yoru was staying.
Inside the room, Namikaze Yoru had sensed everything long ago. The corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile. He knew it was time for the traveling merchant to make his exit.
A few minutes later, the two ninja began to realize something was wrong. The short stretch of hallway seemed to go on forever.
"Not good! It's a genjutsu!"
The Anbu ninja suddenly came to his senses and realized that he had fallen under the Art of the Fox's Heart without noticing, endlessly circling the inn's hallway.
He immediately focused his chakra and sent it surging through his own chakra network. The Mist Village ninja beside him also snapped out of it at the shout.
"Release!" ×2
The scene before them spun wildly, then became the doorway to the room where Namikaze Yoru was staying. The two hurriedly opened the door.
The moment it swung open, their expressions changed drastically.
"Not good."
They hurried to retreat, but it was too late. The instant they stepped into the room, flames shot skyward, and a tremendous explosion rocked the entire inn. The blast hurled them both away.
The experienced Anbu ninja managed to steady himself, but the ninja on duty was seriously injured.
Through the flames, he caught a glimpse of a ninja wearing a Ghost Face Mask, standing face-to-face with the "traveling merchant" in an embrace-like pose. A Bone Spike protruded through the merchant's chest.
Without time to check on the injured ninja beside him, the Anbu ninja rushed into the inferno. The inn room had completely collapsed, and the masked attacker had vanished without a trace.
After a difficult search through the wreckage, he found only the charred body of the "traveling merchant."
With no other choice, the Anbu ninja carried the almost unrecognizable remains back to the Mizukage Building.
The Third Mizukage stared at the remains, which looked like a lump of blackened charcoal. The oppressive presence of a Kage Level shinobi burst from him.
"Good! So they killed him to silence him, is that it? Find out who did this!" he said, each word dripping with fury.
The soot-covered Anbu ninja did not leave immediately. Instead, he hesitated before saying, "In the flames, I think I saw a Bone Spike pierce the man's heart and lungs."
At this, the Third Mizukage's narrowed eyes flew open. His gaze burned into the Anbu ninja, making sweat break out across the man's back.
"Until we have conclusive evidence, this matter is not to be brought up again."
"Yes."
The Anbu ninja dared say no more. He immediately withdrew to join the other ninja from the Mizukage Building in searching for the assassin.
Only the Third Mizukage remained in the office. In the flickering lamplight, his expression shifted between dark and troubled. No one could tell what he was thinking.
After a long while, he finally stood and headed to the room where Kaguya Naoto was being held.
As soon as he saw the Third Mizukage, Kaguya Naoto demanded, "Have you brought the traveling merchant here? I can confront him face-to-face!"
The Third Mizukage looked at Kaguya Naoto with a complicated expression and said coolly, "The traveling merchant is dead!"
"What? How is that possible?"
The Third Mizukage immediately took the remains out of the Sealing Scroll and placed them in front of Kaguya Naoto.
Kaguya Naoto stared fixedly at the charred remains. Then he seemed to notice something, and his expression changed dramatically.
He was about to protest, but the Third Mizukage cut him off. "Your clansmen are gathering at the compound. Tell me, what exactly is the Kaguya Clan planning to do?"
Kaguya Naoto was genuinely flustered now. He stammered, "N-no... That's not it. This matter... really has nothing to do with the Kaguya Clan."
"I can let you return, but I expect an explanation—a real explanation!
"Otherwise, I'll personally bring people to demand answers. You took part in the war against the Land of Whirlpools, so you should know very well how a clan's struggle against an entire village ends."
Without another word, he opened the door and strode away.
Before you continue