Fourth Mizukage

[Mission Four: Check in at the Mizukage's Office in Kirigakure!]

[Mission Reward: Observation Haki!]

Hyuga Kagami looked at the system panel. Checking in at the Mizukage's Office in Kirigakure would earn him Observation Haki!

"If Armament Haki can enhance strength, then Observation Haki can reduce the margin for error on the battlefield!"

His eyes glinted. "Once I have Observation Haki, there won't be many people in this world who can sneak up on me!"

"Something as pathetic as Uchiha Madara becoming a Six Paths-level powerhouse only to be ambushed by Black Zetsu will never happen again."

"And when Observation Haki is trained to its peak, it can even predict the next few seconds, allowing you to remain invincible and undefeated!"

Observation Haki's ability to predict the future was terrifying.

Predicting the future.

It was equivalent to knowing everything the enemy would do and being able to anticipate it. Under those circumstances, how could you possibly lose?

Still, the Mizukage's Office was a pretty good place.

Mei Terumi looked at the others. "Then I'll lead the way. Although the Mizukage has secretly sent people to hunt me down, once I show up in Kirigakure, he'll have to take my identity into consideration and pretend not to see me."

"Our conflicts will only play out in the shadows, never in the open."

Her lovely face darkened.

This was truly humiliating.

Kirigakure was one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, and now its internal strife had reached this point!

"Understood. Then let's go!"

Hatake Kakashi's gaze remained calm. He said nothing more about Kirigakure.

This was Kirigakure's family business, after all.

He was only there to investigate. Kirigakure probably didn't have the energy to deal with Konoha in its current state, but as the strongest village in assassination and infiltration, Kirigakure was bound to have spies in Konoha!

Getting a list of those spies on this trip would be a good outcome.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Hyuga Kagami and the others made some quick disguises and removed their Konoha Forehead Protectors.

They set off swiftly toward Kirigakure.

With Mei Terumi along, there was no need to sneak in.

They soon reached Kirigakure.

"Lady Mei Terumi, who are these people?"

The guard at the entrance regarded her respectfully. Mei Terumi was not only an elite jonin but also a kekkei genkai shinobi of Kirigakure, with a highly esteemed status!

"My subordinates!"

Mei Terumi glanced at the guard, who immediately understood and said no more.

They entered Kirigakure.

A thin mist hung over the village, never quite dispersing. The villagers looked dispirited, their eyes vacant, almost like... the walking dead!

The entire village was shrouded in a grim, oppressive atmosphere.

There was not a trace of vitality!

This place... was like a city of the dead!

"This is the state Kirigakure is in now."

Mei Terumi sighed, her lovely eyes downcast. "Because of the Mizukage's iron-fisted policies, even members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have defected, unable to bear the strain. Now all the villagers are starving, and there's no trust even among the shinobi."

"They have no faith in the village."

Her eyes were resolute. "That's why we have to overthrow the Mizukage's rule!"

"But the Mizukage is too powerful, and he rarely comes out, so we've never found a suitable opportunity."

She sighed.

Rebelling against the Mizukage was practically treason, but Kirigakure's plight had become so dire that they couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.

"The Mizukage used to be such a kind person. Why... did he suddenly become like this?"

Mei Terumi's eyes were full of confusion,

and she seemed bewildered and lost.

Hyuga Kagami suddenly spoke, his gaze clear, as if he could see through everything. "Have you ever considered that the Fourth Mizukage might be under someone's control?"

"When someone's personality changes drastically, it's usually because some major event happened in their life."

"Otherwise, people rarely change their personality and behavior like that."

In the original story,

it was because Uchiha Obito used the Mangekyō Sharingan to control the Fourth Mizukage that Kirigakure fell into decline, growing weaker and weaker until even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen began to defect!

"What?!"

Mei Terumi's eyes widened!

The Mizukage was a Kage-level powerhouse, and he even had a Tailed Beast!

How could anyone control him?

"There aren't many shinobi in this world who can control the Mizukage. This... is basically impossible!"

She couldn't imagine such a thing.

Hyuga Kagami said quietly, "A few years ago, Konoha also believed that no one could control the Nine-Tails."

"But in reality, the Nine-Tails rampaged through Konoha! If someone could even control the Nine-Tails, why couldn't they control the Mizukage?"

It was ridiculous when you thought about it.

The person who had thrown Konoha into chaos and turned Kirigakure into the Bloody Mist...

was actually a dead-last student!

And he was freaking thirteen years old!

It was absurd. Even a novelist wouldn't dare write something like that!

"Doesn't your Kirigakure possess a Byakugan?"

Hyuga Kagami's lips curled up. "You could use that Byakugan to see whether the Mizukage is in a normal state. If the Mizukage really is being controlled by a genjutsu..."

"A Mizukage who's Kage-level and can perfectly control a Tailed Beast will be a terrifying enemy!"

The Mizukage was like Killer B.

A Jinchuriki who could perfectly control his Tailed Beast.

His power was terrifying!

If Uchiha Obito hadn't possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, he wouldn't have been able to control the Mizukage either!

"I understand. I'll investigate this matter for sure... Thank you!"

Mei Terumi took a breath and gave Hyuga Kagami a long look.

This man always came up with unexpected answers!

This was what a good man was like.

As they spoke,

the group arrived at a towering building in a classic Japanese style, a traditional Japanese courtyard.

"This is where Genji of Kirigakure lives."

Mei Terumi spoke respectfully. "Genji is the wisest elder in Kirigakure, blessed with great wisdom. The only reason Kirigakure is still barely holding on today is thanks to him!"

Before long, they entered the building.

An old man with a bald head, a wrinkled face, and a cane stood in the courtyard.

He was seated in a chair.

He wasn't doing anything, yet seemed to be deep in thought.

"Ah... Mei Terumi."

Genji raised his head. Beneath his wrinkled eyelids, his eyes were cloudy, but the occasional glint of sharpness made it clear that the old man before them was no ordinary person!

He stood up and looked toward the sky.

"Kirigakure can't go on like this."

Mei Terumi nodded firmly, her lovely face alight with excitement. "Lord Genji, is it possible... that the Mizukage is being controlled by someone?"

Her face was uneasy.

For Kirigakure, this would be an absolute disgrace!

Especially for an elder like Genji, it would be an intolerable humiliation!

Kirigakure was one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, after all!

Yet Genji's eyes flickered with surprise. "Mei Terumi, you think so too?"