Hello? Anyone there? I've come to challenge you!

Land of Water, Kirigakure.

Within this isolated ninja village, nestled deep in the mountains and perpetually shrouded in thick fog.

At this moment, inside the Mizukage Building.

The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, sat upon his leather chair with hollow eyes, listening to the reports of two Anbu ninjas.

"Reporting to the Fourth, the Anbu Seventh Squad, Tenth Squad, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Squads are currently setting an ambush at the harbor. We are preparing to intercept the rogue ninja Zabuza!"

"This time, we will surely eliminate this rogue!"

"Understood. You have done well."

Yagura nodded faintly, responding with an expressionless face.

He seemed entirely indifferent toward Zabuza...

"You may leave."

"Understood. We take our leave!" The Anbu captain retreated in a hurry, not wanting to stay a second longer.

Once the Anbu captain had withdrawn.

Yagura finally shifted his hollow gaze toward the other Anbu ninja kneeling before him.

"Kisame Hoshigaki."

"I am here, Fourth Mizukage!"

Kisame Hoshigaki lowered his head, responding respectfully.

His expression at this moment was impossible to discern.

"I have an important mission for you."

"Please, command me."

"Find an opportunity and kill your superior!"

"My superior? Lord Suikazan? May I ask, why?"

"That man has colluded with the enemy, leaking vital village intelligence to foreign nations! For the sake of the village, I need you to eliminate him!"

Kisame Hoshigaki felt a sudden jolt of shock, yet he remained calm as he asked.

"Why me?"

"Suikazan Fuguki is extremely wary and possesses formidable strength; a forced arrest would only lead to unnecessary casualties."

"But he trusts you, his subordinate, implicitly."

"As long as you set a trap to seal his chakra, success will come easily."

"Once this mission is complete, you will replace him as my direct subordinate and continue to serve the village."

Yagura stated coldly.

It was as if he had memorized the lines long ago.

Kisame Hoshigaki remained silent for a moment, then replied in a low voice:

"It seems I have no reason to refuse!"

Even though he knew there were aspects of this mission that were slightly irrational.

But since it was a direct order from the Fourth Mizukage, Kisame Hoshigaki had no other choice but to accept.

Because no one knew the strength of his superior, Suikazan Fuguki, better than he did.

If the Mizukage had already decided to kill him, then if he did not do it.

The Mizukage would simply send more people to finish the job.

In that case, given Suikazan Fuguki's strength, it would only result in greater casualties! More Kirigakure ninjas would die in vain!

Therefore, aside from himself.

No one could end this farce with minimal cost.

Regardless, he was already a man stained with the blood of his comrades.

He did not mind bearing the weight of one more sin...

Tch, what a hypocritical world.

Kisame Hoshigaki sighed inwardly.

Then, after offering a formal farewell.

He prepared to leave and begin planning how to execute the mission.

However, just as Kisame Hoshigaki stepped halfway out of the room.

Outside the window, in the distance.

Toward the main gate of [Kirigakure].

A loud provocation, laced with dense chakra, suddenly rang out.

It jolted the entire village awake.

"Hello? Moshi moshi?"

"Is anyone there? I've come to kick down your village!"

"That Fourth Mizukage named Yagura, come out and die!"

Such arrogant provocation caused Kisame to shudder violently.

He quickly volunteered:

"Could someone be attacking the village gates?"

"Lord Mizukage, I will go and investigate!"

With that, Kisame leaped out of the window and dashed at high speed toward the village entrance.

Not long after Kisame had jumped out.

Inside the room, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura remained sitting in his chair with a vacant expression.

However, in the shadows behind the chair.

A figure wearing a spiral mask gradually emerged.

He muttered to himself:

"This voice?"

"It's Uchiha Natsume!"

"That bastard brat, how is he here?"

"Damn it! To think he dares to come and provoke the entire [Kirigakure]!"

"But that's fine. I'll take this opportunity to test if I can use the power of Kirigakure to eliminate this major variable once and for all."

With a sinister grin, Obito-bro faded back into the darkness.

Under his control, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, sitting in the chair, suddenly stood up.

He began to head toward the village entrance.

At this moment, at the entrance of [Kirigakure].

Natsume and his group of six were quickly surrounded by a large number of Kirigakure ninjas who had rushed to the scene.

It was obvious that the number of male ninjas among them was quite low.

At a glance, dozens of pairs of pale, shapely female ninja thighs came into view, stirring the heart.

It was clear that [Kirigakure] was suffering from a severe imbalance of yin over yang!

It was time to properly replenish the yang energy...

However, the strength of these ninjas was not particularly high.

Moreover, with the famous Kirigakure ninja Zabuza standing in front, the crowd of Kirigakure ninjas did not dare to attack rashly.

"Young Clan Leader, aren't we being a bit too high-profile?"

Gin wiped the sweat from his palms, asking with some nervousness.

Having grown up, this was his first time standing at the doorstep of [Kirigakure], one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, making such an arrogant provocation.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

He only hoped that the Young Clan Leader would truly display his might in a moment and slaughter his way through the entire [Kirigakure]!

Soon, an Anbu captain arrived.

Suikazan Fuguki:

With a chubby physique, orange curly hair, three pairs of green stripes tattooed on his face, and carrying the Samehada, he looked rather foolish.

Yet, this guy was one of the first generation of the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen" of Kirigakure and the original wielder of the Samehada.

He could be considered a high-ranking figure with real power in [Kirigakure] at present.

Having executed underground missions for years, he was deep and calculating, possessing a strong sense of vigilance; even Obito-bro looked at him with a different light.

After all, this guy had managed to survive against Might Duy, who had opened the Eight Inner Gates.

His strength had already firmly stepped into the threshold of Kage-level!

At this moment, upon his arrival.

He recognized Zabuza at first glance.

And immediately roared:

"Zabuza! You rogue ninja, how dare you return?"

"What happened to the Anbu sent to kill you?"

Zabuza replied indifferently, "They're all dead."

"Whoa—"

The surrounding ninjas erupted in an uproar.

After all, the number of Anbu sent to hunt Zabuza down was significant, nearly amounting to one-fifth of the entire village's Anbu strength.

He had killed them all?

Where did he get such power?

If he was blocking the village gate at this moment, did that mean...?

"Bastard! You're courting death!"

Suikazan Fuguki roared in fury, gritting his teeth as if he wanted to tear Zabuza apart alive.

However, he did not draw the Samehada.

Instead, he secretly shot Zabuza a look that only the other could understand.

Zabuza quickly returned a look laden with meaning.

The two went back and forth. Anyone unaware would have thought they were just exchanging sparks!

Just like that, as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense and a great battle seemed imminent, several more high-ranking figures from Kirigakure arrived one after another.

"Is that... Lord Genji?!!"

"Lord Genji is here too?!!"

A commotion rippled through the crowd.

At the same time, in the distance, an elderly figure leaning on a snake-headed wooden staff was slowly walking over, supported by two people.

The person was none other than the elder of Kirigakure: Genji.

He possessed power and status equal to the Mizukage, managed most of the village's civil affairs, and was consulted on the majority of the village's important matters.

As for the two people supporting Elder Genji:

One was his confidant, Gonbei.

The other beautiful figure was the village's rising star: Terumi Mei.

Watching the future Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei—with her long, reddish-brown cross-curled hair, emerald gemstone eyes, and mature, slender figure—approaching gracefully, Natsume couldn't help but brighten up.

Who doesn't like a beautiful female ninja?

After all, appreciating beauty is an art form in itself!

Of course, Natsume was also very clear that he was here to get down to business.

How could mere beauty possibly affect him?

Absolutely impossible!