"The Fourth Mizukage's ambitions are truly enormous!"
After analyzing the intelligence, Uchiha Ye remarked, "At first glance, he seems to be facing his enemies alone, putting himself in an extremely dangerous position."
"But isn't this also a way of using himself as bait to draw out his enemies, so he can swiftly resolve Kirigakure's external crisis?"
"After that, he'll be free to deal with the internal crisis, establish a new order in Kirigakure, and secure the Mizukage's absolute authority!"
Hearing this, Sasori of the Red Sands, standing beside him, approvingly added, "But it's extremely risky! Because of Kirigakure's internal policies, the opposition has already begun considering overthrowing him and installing a new Mizukage to rule the village."
"And now, our invasion has given them the opportunity to put that plan into action."
"The opposition can not only pin the crime of 'killing the Mizukage' on us, but also choose a new Mizukage with complete legitimacy!"
Uchiha Ye thoroughly agreed with Sasori's analysis.
"Still, regardless of all that, we should prepare for the worst."
Although the situation seemed optimistic on paper, no one knew how things would actually unfold.
"Kirigakure is one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, after all. If someone can set aside their differences for the time being and unite the entire village's forces to hunt us down, the pressure on this mission will increase by countless times."
Hearing Uchiha Ye's words, Sasori couldn't help but nod. "That's true!"
An alluringly beautiful face suddenly surfaced in Uchiha Ye's mind, along with those distinctive, fiery red lips. After all, she'll one day rule Kirigakure, sweep away the corrupt policies dating back to the Third Mizukage, abolish the oppressive policies of the Bloody Mist Village, restore normalcy to Kirigakure, and actively rebuild ties with the shinobi world.
Whatever her strength is now, I absolutely can't underestimate the threat she poses.
Of course, the stray thought passed in an instant.
He took a deep breath. The infiltration was beginning.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Biwa Juzo created the mist, letting it slowly spread in every direction and obscure their vision.
Kirigakure was a village nestled in the mountains, so it was often shrouded in mist.
The mist slowly thickened without attracting any attention.
Ten minutes later!
"Everyone, let's move!"
Once the mist had spread sufficiently,
Sasori and the others knew, without Uchiha Ye having to say anything, that it was time to act.
Uchiha Ye led the way, sensing their surroundings as they infiltrated through the mist and avoided the patrolling Mist Ninja.
Moving almost silently, Sasori took care of a group of guards with poisoned needles, while Uchiha Itachi dealt with them using genjutsu.
At last!
The Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura's residence was just ahead.
There were only four or five guards inside.
But!
"Wind Release: Typhoon!"
The technique sounded strange, but it had appeared in the original story and was a Wind Release Ninjutsu unique to Yagura. It burst forth, rapidly dispersing the mist surrounding them.
In an instant, the surroundings came into clear view.
The Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura looked as though he'd been waiting for them. He eyed Uchiha Ye and the other three with a playful smile. "How interesting! I set this trap deliberately, but the traitors never showed up. Instead, I got you remarkable people!"
His gaze swept over Uchiha Ye, Uchiha Itachi, and Sasori of the Red Sands before finally stopping on Biwa Juzo. His expression immediately turned cold. "Juzo, I never thought you'd be involved in this too. I'm disappointed!"
Before Biwa Juzo could speak, the Fourth Mizukage cut in again. "I have as many things to say to you as there are drops in the sea, but for now, I should take the Kubikiribōchō back from you!"
With that, a flare shot skyward from the outpost behind him.
His four guards appeared at his side, watching Uchiha Ye and the others with impassive expressions.
"Give it up, everyone. Now that you've fallen into my trap, I won't let you leave!"
"Even if among you are the famed Sasori of the Red Sands and Itachi of the Sharingan!"
At that, Uchiha Ye spread his hands. "We can't leave? I'm afraid that won't work!"
In response, the Fourth Mizukage merely swung his distinctive long staff, its tip hooked and decorated with green flowers, and ordered the four guards behind him, "Attack!"
Whoosh!
All four guards were elite jonin, or even stronger.
They instantly shot forward like phantoms, charging at Biwa Juzo and Uchiha Itachi.
Their targets were clear!
Keep Uchiha Itachi occupied and kill Biwa Juzo.
The other two were the Mizukage's responsibility.
Then all they had to do was wait for the village's forces to arrive as reinforcements.
They believed that person wouldn't disregard Kirigakure's safety and simply watch them die just because of old divisions within the village.
That person's presence was also what gave the Fourth Mizukage the confidence to lure his enemies here alone.
If the Mizukage was in danger, that person would surely bring people to his rescue.
"Well, well. Looks like we've hit the worst-case scenario right from the start!"
Of course, Uchiha Ye and the others had anticipated this possibility.
The only thing they hadn't fully anticipated was that the Fourth Mizukage seemed to have reinforcements.
But they were prepared for that, too.
How could they invade Kirigakure and capture the Fourth Mizukage without alerting the village's forces?
"Then let's follow the original plan!"
He and Sasori would deal with the Fourth Mizukage.
Uchiha Itachi and Biwa Juzo would handle the Mizukage's guards.
"Haah!"
The Fourth Mizukage had boasted that he would leave none of them alive.
But he didn't underestimate them in the slightest when it came to action.
He immediately drew on the Tailed Beast's power. As he formed Hand Seals at high speed, a thick tail appeared behind him.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
A torrent carrying the volume of an entire lake surged toward them, making the whole earth tremble violently.
After all, they were near the sea, where water vapor was abundant. Using Water Release here was twice as effective.
Seeing this, how could Uchiha Ye let him have his way?
Water Release wouldn't just counter him and deprive him of the home-field advantage; it would also hinder Sasori.
What's more!
He knew the Fourth Mizukage had another extremely troublesome ability: Coral Palm.
It could immobilize a shinobi!
If they really ended up underwater, a puppeteer like Sasori would definitely be at a disadvantage.
"Great Eruption!"
A Lava Fist heated to a staggering 960 degrees.
It had barely been thrown when the four Mizukage guards in the distance already felt as though their bodies were melting.
The heat was so intense that the trees around them rapidly withered, even from afar, while the water evaporated in clouds of steam.
"Zzzzz!"
Water met fire!
A piercing, shrill screech erupted, and scorching mist rapidly spread in every direction.
Yet through the still-raging torrent, a blazing red, searing-hot passage rapidly burst through.
It was as if some peerless swordsman had cleaved the water apart with a single stroke.
The enormous waves were forcibly split in two, their attack rendered completely ineffective.
"Haah!"
After breaking through the torrent, the scorching fist continued onward with undiminished force, closing in on the Fourth Mizukage.
"Not good!"
The Fourth Mizukage had expected his massive torrent to be stopped.
But he had never imagined someone could break through it head-on and still threaten him.
"This guy..."
Looking at Uchiha Ye, who now resembled a warrior made of lava, the Fourth Mizukage gritted his teeth and muttered grimly, "How can he be this strong?!"
That unusual Lava Release and youthful face—
How could he not guess Uchiha Ye's identity?
But his strength far exceeded anything the Fourth Mizukage had expected.
Before you continue