Six years later, on the eastern side of the continent, in Kirigakure.
Of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Kirigakure had the most advantageous geographical position.
Though Kirigakure had suffered one defeat after another over the past sixty years, it had never been crippled. The shinobi of the other four great villages had never managed to land on the islands of the Land of Water.
After the Second Shinobi World War, the destruction of Uzushio Village, Konoha's staunchest ally, left no other village in the eastern seas capable of challenging Kirigakure. Even during the Third Shinobi World War, Kirigakure had used the waters around the Land of Whirlpools as a springboard to attack the Land of Fire without restraint.
After the Third Shinobi World War ended, Karatachi Yagura had set about reforming Kirigakure, replacing the old with the new, while quietly building up its strength and watching the world's fortunes shift.
But Obito hadn't given Karatachi Yagura much time to reform the village.
After the Nine-Tails' Rampage ended, Obito had secretly infiltrated the Land of Water. Using the contingency Uchiha Madara had left inside the Three-Tails, he had easily defeated Karatachi Yagura and placed him under a genjutsu.
Eleven years had passed since then.
The Mizukage Building.
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Kisame walked down the dim corridor, Samehada slung across his back.
Two months earlier, Raiga Kurosuki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, had hesitated for a long time before finally leading a group of trusted Kirigakure shinobi in a rebellion and an attempt to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage. After the attempt failed, he fled the village, wounded.
Karatachi Yagura hadn't ordered anyone to pursue Raiga Kurosuki. Instead, he had launched another bloody purge in Kirigakure.
Almost every shinobi who had been on friendly terms with Raiga Kurosuki had met a grisly