The First Shinobi World War that year was fought between Hozuki Gengetsu and Mu. The years of chaos that engulfed the village after the Second Mizukage's death had left an impression on me that I would never forget.
After years of chaos, the Third had barely managed to take the throne. To maintain his rule, he had introduced the Blood Mist Policy.
From that moment on, I had thought that if I ever became Mizukage, I would lead Kirigakure back to glory.
Now, the Three-Tails was right before me. This might be the only chance I would ever get.
Who else but me, Yagura, could bring peace to the village and the Land of Water?
"Wind Style: Typhoon!"
Highly compressed Wind Style Chakra gathered in Yagura's hands. A fierce gale swept up the Water Style techniques unleashed by dozens of Kirigakure Ninja, creating an effect similar to a combination technique. Together, they slammed into the shell on the Three-Tails' back, making it stagger.
Hit by an attack wielding the combined strength of so many people, the Three-Tails merely shook its body. Not even one of the spikes on its shell had broken.
When it came to defense, it was the best among the Tailed Beasts.
Amid the churning waves, the Mist Ninja's strange and varied techniques struck the Three-Tails, but did little damage. Instead, they thoroughly enraged it.
"ROAR!!!"
Even with its gentle nature, the Three-Tails was still a Tailed Beast, a symbol of natural disaster. In its fury, it lashed its three tails in every direction and raised its short, thick neck.
Vast amounts of Chakra surged and gathered.
Yin and Yang Chakra mixed at a ratio of 2:8 and compressed into a purplish-black sphere inside its enormous mouth. The sphere expanded rapidly, and in an instant, it was ready to fire.
"I can't let you fire a Tailed Beast Bomb just like that!"
Karatachi Yagura leaped high into the air, drew the strange staff from his back—longer than he was tall—and brought it crashing down on the Three-Tails' head.
BOOM!
The unfinished Tailed Beast Bomb exploded inside the Three-Tails' mouth. A phantom sun rose into the sky, and a column of water shot upward. It seemed as if the blast had sent every drop of water in the lake soaring into the heavens.
Water streamed down from the sky in towering columns, soaking Yagura's clothes.
"Ugh!"
Yagura lay flat on the ground, hair disheveled, and coughed up several mouthfuls of blood. His face alight with excitement, he called to his subordinates:
"Sealing Squad! Sealing Squad, hurry!"
Kirigakure's Sealing Squad surrounded the dazed Three-Tails and hurled chains covered in talismans, restraining its movements.
"Obito, Yagura succeeded!"
Zetsu slowly rose from the ground, revealing a black-and-white head wedged between two leaves like those of a pitcher plant. He spoke slowly:
"He seems ready to seal the Three-Tails now. Should we take control of him directly?"
"No!"
Watching from afar as the Mist Ninja prepared to seal the Three-Tails inside Yagura, Obito said dismissively:
"He can't escape my grasp. Let him enjoy his freedom a little longer!
Nagato and Konan still don't accept my identity as 'Madara.'
Once Nagato has completed the Six Paths of Pain and can go out, I'll find a chance to control Yagura in front of him and show him my power. That should dispel his doubts."
Who knew what secret techniques Kirigakure might have? What if Yagura noticed something wrong with the Three-Tails after it was sealed? Couldn't they avoid a few complications?
Zetsu felt exhausted, but his role was only to be a tool Madara had left behind to assist Obito. He had no choice but to praise Obito against his better judgment:
"As expected of you, Obito! What incredible wisdom."
"Call me Lord Madara!"
Obito stood with his hands at his sides. He was so immersed in his role as Madara that he seemed to have gained some of Madara's imposing air.
But the very next second, he broke character, his single eye filled with confusion:
"I did everything the way Madara taught me. Why was my Eye Power disrupted?"
Frowning, Obito walked into the swirling vortex of distorted space without saying a word.
"His" white half, Zetsu, was more lively and finally couldn't help complaining:
"If I remember right, the Ninja Info Card kept in Konoha's files gives him a 'Ninja Aptitude' of only 2.
Is Lord Madara sure he should entrust the plan to him? Won't he make a complete mess of it?"
"Sigh!"
Black Zetsu let out a long sigh, weighed down by helplessness and heartache.
Meanwhile, ten miles from the lake, Uchiha Chen narrowed his eyes and activated the Transcription Seal.
Drip. Drip.
Above him stretched endless darkness. Puddles covered the ground beneath his feet. In the dark, fog-like distance ahead, an iron gate faintly appeared, dividing the gloom.
That was right. This was the Mental Space that village records described as connecting a Jinchuriki to their Tailed Beast.
Yagura was excited.
He had been preparing for this day for so long!
The Three-Tails had the gentlest disposition among the Tailed Beasts. I should reason with it and appeal to its feelings. Maybe I can convince it to become my ally completely.
With the ambition of becoming a Perfect Jinchuriki in his heart, Yagura strode toward the cage.
"ROAR! You wretched human!"
The Three-Tails, trapped inside the seal, roared in displeasure. It had clearly been in a foul mood ever since it was sealed, and wanted to fire another Tailed Beast Bomb at Yagura, the bastard who had smashed its last one.
"Three-Tails, don't blame me. You should understand that Kirigakure was going to retrieve you one way or another. If it wasn't me, it would have been someone else."
Yagura looked up at the Three-Tails, his voice gentle and brimming with confidence:
"Since things have come to this, I think we should try to make our time together as pleasant as possible for both of us—Sharingan?"
Yagura's voice was no longer gentle. He instinctively avoided meeting the Three-Tails' gaze and asked in astonishment:
"Three-Tails, why do your eyes look like the Sharingan?"
The Three-Tails sounded even more alarmed. "What? My eyes? The Sharingan?"
A chain suddenly shot out from the Three-Tails' body. It passed through the cage representing the seal as if it weren't there, then disappeared into the endless darkness.
"What went wrong? The technique should have worked!"
A puzzled voice came from the other end of the chain. A man wearing a Tiger Mask held it in one hand and carefully examined the imprisoned Three-Tails.
"Who are you?"
Seeing a third party intrude into the Mental Space that belonged only to the Jinchuriki and their Tailed Beast, Yagura gathered his strength and punched at the intruder.
"None of your business! Stay out of this!"
Obito glared at Yagura contemptuously with his Sharingan. A Cross appeared out of thin air in the Mental Space, pinning Yagura to it and leaving him unable to move.
In the outside world, Obito would have had to go to some trouble to deal with Yagura. But in the Mental Space, where only consciousness took physical form, Yagura had no power to resist his Eye Power.
"Hm?"
Still studying the chain, Obito suddenly noticed a pool of clear water beneath the Three-Tails' feet.
The water stirred and twisted, gradually changing shape until it became a handsome young Uchiha.
"Oh? Quite a crowd in here!"
Uchiha Chen looked from the furious Yagura to the enormous Three-Tails, then finally settled his gaze on Obito.
"Who are you two? Uchiha? What is Konoha trying to do? I know you. You're Flame Ghost, Uchiha Chen."
Seeing yet another person enter the Mental Space, Yagura shouted in fury.
"I know you're in a hurry, but calm down first!"
Uchiha Chen glanced impatiently at the loudly clamoring Yagura, and Yagura's voice cut off abruptly.
"Mm..."
Yagura lowered his eyes, still wanting to say something. A Gag was blocking his mouth, making it hard to speak.
Humiliated, Yagura flushed red. In the end, he could only lower his head in resignation.
He had already figured out who was in charge in this Mental Space and who was just a nobody.
Looking at the two Uchiha facing off before him, Yagura no longer felt the ambition he'd had before.
"This time, I'll consider it a success if I can just stay alive!"
I forgot to schedule this. It was half an hour late. Sorry.
Before you continue