Village of the Bloody Mist

"Master, I've mapped out the distribution of bloodline clans in Kirigakure. I compared it with the Fourth Mizukage's records, and everything appears to be accurate."

Inside the Mizukage's Office, Shimura Danzō, wearing the Spiral Mask, was reporting the results of his five months' work to Karatachi Yagura, who sat above him.

No, that wasn't quite right. Danzō wasn't really reporting to Karatachi Yagura, sitting upright in his chair, but to the pair of scarlet eyes behind him.

"There are seven bloodline clans living in Kirigakure, and another four elsewhere in the Land of Water, making eleven in total." Danzō carefully reviewed the information in his hands.

"The Kaguya Clan, which you've been focusing on, has 113 surviving members: seventeen Jonin and thirty-nine Chunin. Their current clan head is named Taketori Nihi, and he's an elite Jonin. They say his Shikotsumyaku is advanced enough for him to push his bones out through his skin and form an exoskeleton armor over his body."

"Although their clan is powerful, they're all idiots, just like the Uchi—" Realizing he'd let something slip, Danzō hurriedly stopped himself.

"It's fine. I understand." Even Shisui, as a member of the Uchiha, sometimes felt helpless about the Uchiha Clan's intelligence.

The Kaguya Clan had become Shisui's first target after taking over Kirigakure. He was eager to find out why, when he'd taken the Shikotsumyaku, his body had already contained the Indra Bloodline, yet he'd still felt an intense craving for other kinds of bloodlines.

In theory, different bloodlines couldn't coexist.

"Well done." Danzō suddenly realized that Shisui's voice had come from the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura.

"Don't be surprised. It's just a little trick with genjutsu."

To better control Kirigakure, Shisui had made a few small improvements to Uchiha Madara's control techniques, making the people he controlled appear more natural.

"This is only what I'm supposed to do," Danzō said, a little awkwardly.

When Shisui had used Kotoamatsukami on Shimura Danzō, he hadn't changed Danzō's memories of the past. Instead, he had used his overwhelming eye power to forcibly bend Danzō's loyalty toward a new master.

Before, Danzō had been loyal only to his dream of becoming Hokage. Now Shisui occupied that position.

As a result, Danzō was tormented every moment of every day. His body wouldn't obey him, and he was forced to work for the Uchiha he hated most.

It was more torturous than simply killing him.

As the wielder of Kotoamatsukami and Danzō's master, Shisui could naturally sense the change in Danzō's state of mind.

"You don't need to be so discouraged."

Shisui's beguiling voice rang in Danzō's ear.

"Back in Konoha, all sorts of rules and restrictions kept you from doing many things. Even if you'd eventually become Hokage, you would only have been imitating Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Although he knew Shisui was telling the truth, Shimura Danzō couldn't stop the resentment and anger welling up inside him.

He'd been so fixated on the Hokage Position because he wanted to prove he was no worse than Hiruzen Sarutobi—and prove his teacher, Tobirama Senju, had been wrong to choose Hiruzen.

Danzō had harmed countless people in his life, but in a way, he was also just a pitiable man trapped by fate.

"I can feel the resentment in your heart. But here, in Kirigakure, you can use your abilities without holding back. No one will stand behind you and tell you what you can or can't do."

Shisui continued.

"In Kirigakure, I'll give you the greatest authority."

"How much authority? Do you want me to become a Mizukage Aide and elder, like I was in Konoha?" Danzō asked.

If he became Mizukage Aide, he could realize some of his ambitions.

But Shisui's next words made Danzō's heart jolt so hard he nearly choked.

"Mizukage Aide? Of course not. I mean Mizukage."

Shisui had actually promised Danzō the Mizukage Position.

"Cough, cough, cough... The Mizukage Position? You're giving it to me? Do you mean it, Master?" At that moment, Danzō realized that the word "Master," which he'd always found so difficult to say, now came out with surprising ease.

"Yes, you heard me right. For now, though, Karatachi Yagura will remain the Mizukage in name. As Kirigakure's real power behind the scenes, you can issue orders to the village through him." After all, Shisui's control over Kirigakure was still far from complete. If the secret of Karatachi Yagura's control came to light, Shisui wouldn't get another chance to rule Kirigakure for a long time.

"That's enough. This is more than enough," Danzō said excitedly.

Ever since Shisui had controlled him with Kotoamatsukami, he hadn't imagined he'd one day wield such great power again.

Although he regretted that he couldn't become Mizukage in name, he could be Kirigakure's power behind the scenes, wielding authority equivalent to that of a Kage. It was something Danzō had never dared imagine before.

"With this opportunity, I'll have power equal to Hiruzen Sarutobi's. Konoha—let's see whether Hiruzen Sarutobi's grand-disciple is more capable, or whether Shimura Danzō is better suited to becoming a Kage." Danzō thought excitedly.

At that moment, Danzō was as thrilled as a young man in his twenties. His competitive spirit had been rekindled, and he wanted to see whether Minato Namikaze would run Konoha better, or whether Kirigakure under his control would overtake it.

"Hiruzen, our contest isn't over yet," Danzō thought to himself.

"Do your work well. When the time is right, I'll let you take the Mizukage Position for real and become the Fifth Mizukage." Once Shisui's control over Kirigakure reached a certain level, he wouldn't mind letting Danzō truly take the seat of power.

"Yes, Master." This time, Danzō said "Master" wholeheartedly.

"To gain better control over Kirigakure, we need to weaken the bloodline clans. That's something you're good at, just like what you did in Konoha." Shisui certainly wasn't going to tell Danzō the real reason he was taking bloodlines, but this happened to be the sort of work Danzō excelled at.

"Master, I'll draw up a plan as soon as possible and bring it to you for approval." After receiving a reward beyond his expectations, Danzō quickly settled into his new role.

"Good. I trust your abilities." Shisui believed that specialized work should be entrusted to specialists.

"As for the plan's name, let's call it the Village of the Bloody Mist."

It was the very same bloody policy that Kirigakure had implemented under the control of Obito Uchiha in Shisui's previous life.

Under the Village of the Bloody Mist policy, students at the Ninja Academy killed one another, and whoever survived became a ninja.

Comrades could kill one another, too, either because they couldn't stand each other or to prevent an opponent from surrendering and revealing secrets.

It was a dark era, filled with bloodshed and terror. That was why Kirigakure under this policy was also known as the Village of the Bloody Mist.

"Village of the Bloody Mist? What a great name. How did I not think of that?" Danzō slapped his forehead, looking vexed.

Looking at Shimura Danzō, who had suddenly become so good at sucking up, Shisui felt, for the first time, that this world was strange and unfamiliar.