Zhi Shui's Apology

The mist grew thicker, hazy and indistinct, obscuring the few remaining rays of sunlight.

Near an uninhabited, isolated island on the border of the Land of Water, a young man in Konoha ninja attire led the way before finally coming to a halt.

"Senior Hua Yue, I can only take you this far. Everything that follows must be left to you. I'm counting on you."

Bowing slightly, Uchiha Shisui scrutinized the senior from his own clan standing before him. It was strange, he thought; despite both being Uchiha, this man was not known for his Sharingan.

"Shisui, you managed to escape from the Fourth Mizukage. You really used that, didn't you? The ocular jutsu of the Mangekyo Sharingan."

His pupils trembling, Shisui looked at Hua Yue in disbelief, his heart heavy with worry.

How did he find out? The fact that he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan—the twisted power gained through the sacrifice of his dearest friend—why would he know? Could it be...

"It seems it's true. Aside from the Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular jutsu, I can't think of any other ability that could silently alter someone's will. What is the name of this ocular jutsu?"

Realizing he had been tricked, Shisui offered a helpless smile and chose to confess.

"Kotoamatsukami. That is the ocular jutsu residing within my eyes, the Mangekyo Sharingan. It is a technique that allows the target to believe they are acting on their own instinct while their will is being altered."

"I had intended to make the Fourth Mizukage release all of us, but such a decision would be immediately recognized by the Mist as their leader being under a genjutsu, so I could only leverage the topics they care about."

"The blades of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and... Flash Phantom Moon."

Seeing the hidden apology in Shisui's eyes, Hua Yue curled his lips and laughed heartily.

"What a troublesome junior you are. Very well, when I need your help in the future, don't you dare refuse. Goodbye."

He vanished in an instant. Shisui, who had instinctively activated his Sharingan, scanned his surroundings. Finding absolutely no traces of chakra, he was struck with profound amazement.

"He disappeared in an instant? This is the Flying Thunder God Technique. Flash Phantom Moon's Body Flicker Technique is not like mine, which uses the Sharingan to create afterimages—this is a true space-time ninjutsu!"

Shisui shifted his gaze toward the distant, mist-shrouded horizon, where countless Mist ninja were likely lying in ambush.

"Is Flash Phantom Moon's Phantom Moon Technique also a Mangekyo ocular jutsu? What kind of power could it possibly be?"

Despite his intense curiosity, Shisui remained where he was, waiting for Hua Yue to rescue the hostages.

Meanwhile, deep within the impenetrable fog, deep purple Sage Markings quietly emerged on a face. Eerie white mist drifted out, mingling with the water vapor.

At the center of the island, many unconscious Konoha ninja were tied together in groups, with several explosive tags attached to each of them, both openly and hidden.

Mist ninja stood fully armed, surrounding the hostages and waiting for the enemy to arrive.

"Tell me, will that guy, Flash Phantom Moon, really come? Knowing this is a trap, how could any fool walk right into it?"

"Hard to say. The guy defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen; he might be arrogant enough to think his ninjutsu is superior and come here to die."

"Hahaha, if he dares to come, we'll show him the Mist Hidden Formation. But no idiot would actually come here to seek death... right?"

Before the words had even faded, a figure emerged from the thick fog. Clad in black robes, wearing a Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask, his cloak billowed without a breeze.

"That mask, that symbol—it's him! Flash Phantom Moon! I never thought the rumors were true. Flash Phantom Moon, the guy who killed countless Mist ninja, is actually just a boy?"

"Idiot, no matter how genius a young ninja is, after today, he will be history. Our duty is to let this guy sleep at the bottom of the water and feed the sharks."

Pairs of malicious eyes swept over the approaching figure. Hua Yue walked with a leisurely gait, as if he were strolling through his own backyard.

"Where are the hostages? The Fourth Mizukage, and the two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who luckily escaped my hands—where are they?"

Scanning his surroundings as if everything were perfectly natural, Hua Yue spoke in a flat tone, waiting for their reply.

"Damn you, arrogant brat! Who do you think you are, daring to use that tone..."

The crowd of ninja swarmed forward, surrounding Hua Yue, their expressions cruel, as if they intended to tear him to pieces on the spot.

"Kill him!"

"No, that's too easy for him. Torture the Flying Thunder God Technique out of him! He's an Uchiha, he must have awakened the Sharingan. Dig out his eyes and optic nerves directly."

They viewed him as a mortal enemy, already planning to claim their spoils before he was even dead, their faces twisted with the certainty of victory.

However, Hua Yue didn't even glance at them. He turned his gaze toward the camp where the hostages were gathered, his tone indifferent.

"Come out, Biwa Juzo, Suikazan Fuguki, and the Fourth Mizukage. To think that the two of you were the ones who escaped my grasp from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

That day, Hua Yue had been in a rush to save Might Duy and hadn't had time to check the bodies; he had simply taken the seven blades and left. He hadn't expected there to be survivors.

"Uchiha brat, I certainly appreciate the 'care' you showed me that day. My wounds are still throbbing even now—all thanks to you!"

Suikazan Fuguki appeared from the thick fog, his jagged shark-like teeth glinting in the cold light. He stared fixedly at Hua Yue's every move, not daring to be the least bit careless.

"Be careful, this guy's Body Flicker Technique is truly troublesome. I don't want to lose any more teeth."

Biwa Juzo followed closely behind, constantly swinging his ordinary sword, seemingly dissatisfied with the weight of the weapon in his hand.

"To think that the Flash Phantom Moon, who has recently made a name for himself in the war, is just a brat."

The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, slowly emerged. Hua Yue was surprised for a moment, then chuckled and teased.

"What is this! You have the face of a brat yourself, and you have the nerve to call others that? Stop joking around. Either I wipe you out along with the hostages, or you agree to negotiate—decide for yourselves."

Hua Yue's words seemed to touch upon an unspeakable taboo. The Fourth Mizukage, who had been calm just a moment ago, instantly gnashed his teeth.

"What nonsense are you spouting! I have a wife and a son; I am no brat! You Uchiha brat, if you want us to release the hostages, you can commit suicide right in front of us..."

Hua Yue shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself.

"Negotiations have broken down. Then you can all dance together on the Bridge of Helplessness. Sage Art: Great Spiral Ring!"

"This technique—watch out! Water Style: Water Mirror Technique!"

Pure white light flashed, swallowing the thick fog and the island. In a daze, Karatachi Yagura felt himself surrounded by an inexplicable sense of dissonance, only to be struck with terror by the figure that seemed to reach from the heavens to the earth.

"What on earth is happening?"