The Akatsuki

"What—you know who used genjutsu to control me?!"

Hope appeared in Karatachi Yagura's eyes, but in the next instant, he seemed to remember something.

Then it faded again, replaced by utter despair!

"But even if I know who he is... he can still control me with genjutsu just as easily."

That was what made Karatachi Yagura feel most hopeless.

He had no way to resist that man.

The man's genjutsu could ensnare him in an instant!

"You may not be able to do it on your own, but I'll help you!"

Hyuga Kagami placed a hand on Karatachi Yagura's shoulder. "With my Byakugan, I can see through any genjutsu. And the only fate awaiting him is death!"

He swept his right hand through the air!

In an instant, trickles of water appeared and gathered into the shape of a man wearing a black cloak patterned with red clouds and a Spiral Mask!

"It's him! He's the one!"

Karatachi Yagura grew agitated, his eyes bloodshot!

It was as though he were looking at his mortal enemy!

His life had ended up this way because of the Masked Man!

If not for him, Karatachi Yagura would still be the beloved Mizukage of Kirigakure!

"I'm going to kill him!"

Hyuga Kagami's words gave him hope. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Only by killing him can we wash away the humiliation Kirigakure has suffered all these years!"

"But why are you helping me?"

Karatachi Yagura looked at Hyuga Kagami, a hint of wariness in his expression. "You have no reason to help me!"

Of course, he wanted Kirigakure's support!

Once he set the Fourth Shinobi World War in motion, he would have enemies everywhere. With Kirigakure's support, his position would be rock-solid!

"Three years ago, that same Masked Man attacked Konoha and released the Nine-Tails!"

Hyuga Kagami's voice was calm, but there was a restrained force in his eyes!

Anger and resentment!

"And because of him, my parents died at the Nine-Tails' hands. This is a blood feud!"

That part wasn't a lie.

His predecessor's parents really had died at the hands of the Nine-Tails.

Karatachi Yagura trembled, and his gaze toward Hyuga Kagami held a new note of recognition!

They... were both victims of the same tragedy!

Hyuga Kagami spoke slowly, his expression resolute. "Working with you, the Mizukage, means that if Konoha finds out, I'll surely be punished! They'll brand me a Kirigakure spy!"

"But as long as we can kill the Masked Man, I can bear the consequences!"

Karatachi Yagura was moved!

For the sake of his parents' blood feud, Hyuga Kagami was willing to be branded a spy if it meant killing the Masked Man?

Wasn't that just like him?

Even if it meant death!

He would clear his name and take down the Masked Man!

They were both avengers, bound by the same tragedy!

"Hyuga Kagami! From today on, you're my brother!"

Karatachi Yagura's purple eyes were resolute. "If Konoha ever leaves you with nowhere to go, Kirigakure will be your solid support! As long as I'm alive, anyone who wants to lay a hand on you will have to step over my corpse first! Brother! My good brother!"

Hyuga Kagami froze.

???

He had been reincarnated into this world and felt nothing for his predecessor's parents. He had just been putting on an act.

Who would've thought Karatachi Yagura would take them for two kindred spirits who understood each other's pain?

Hyuga Kagami nodded with utmost sincerity.

Some things between men were better left unsaid!

"Yagura, I've been tracking the Masked Man for years. What I've learned so far is that he's the leader of the Akatsuki!"

"It's an organization made up of Kage Level fighters!"

Hyuga Kagami continued, "The Akatsuki's goal is to collect the Tailed Beasts, then start the Fourth Shinobi World War and unite the world!"

He didn't tell him everything.

There was no need to go into so much detail for Karatachi Yagura.

"Unite the world?!"

"They're all Kage Level fighters!"

Karatachi Yagura was stunned. He couldn't help swallowing. "What an ambition! If they collect the Nine Tailed Beasts, they really would have the power to unite the world!"

The power of the Tailed Beasts could destroy the heavens and the earth!

Ordinary ninja couldn't stand against them.

"Hmph!"

Hyuga Kagami snorted. "They want to start the Fourth Shinobi World War and collect the Tailed Beasts in secret. But why can't we gather Konoha, Kirigakure, and even the other ninja villages and turn our blades against the Akatsuki first?!"

"Thinking an organization can take on the entire Shinobi World is sheer fantasy!"

That was his plan.

Unite the power of the entire Shinobi World!

Reaching the Six Paths level required an absurd amount of chakra!

Only by gathering the strength of every ninja in the Shinobi World could he step into the realm of a 'god'!

And the first step... was bringing Karatachi Yagura over to his side!

"Right... you're right, Kagami!"

Karatachi Yagura trembled. What an ambitious plan!

Unite the power of the entire Shinobi World and wipe out the Akatsuki?

Why did it feel as if they were the villains?

Still, the prospect of revenge made Karatachi Yagura's eyes shine!

"Then that's what we'll do!"

Karatachi Yagura said excitedly, "Kagami, our goal... is to start the Fourth Shinobi World War and unite the entire Shinobi World to destroy the Akatsuki!"

Revenge beyond all else!

Nothing could bring greater joy!

"Then let's hope our plan succeeds. It's late, Yagura. You should get some sleep."

Hyuga Kagami's lips curled up as he used genjutsu to put him to sleep.

But Karatachi Yagura didn't resist.

He fell into a deep sleep, a faint smile of anticipation on his lips.

In Kirigakure, inside a grand, old-fashioned building.

More than a dozen middle-aged men were gathered in a reception hall!

The atmosphere was heavy!

Oppressive!

And seated at the head of the room was Genji!

"Genji, we absolutely cannot hand over the Ninja Swords!"

A clan head spoke, fury filling his eyes!

"The Ninja Swords are Kirigakure's pride. They're famous throughout the Shinobi World. If Kirigakure loses them, it will be... a disgrace!"

At those words,

everyone voiced their agreement!

Bam!

Genji tapped the table lightly. His clouded eyes slowly swept over the group. "But which of you... can defeat Hyuga Kagami?"

"Now the Mizukage is dispirited, and even Kisame Hoshigaki, a quasi-Kage Level fighter, is no match for him. Which of you... intends to speak up to him?"

His voice was even.

Yet the room fell silent at once!

Not a sound!

That was right. They had no power to stand against Hyuga Kagami. He had overwhelmed all of Kirigakure with an air like a god's!

Genji said evenly, "There's no harm in giving him Samehada. When Kirigakure grows strong again, we'll get Samehada back!"

It wasn't as if Kirigakure had never lost one of the Ninja Swords before.

They always came back, didn't they?

He paused. His clouded eyes turned cold, and he continued, "But there's no chance we'll form an alliance with Konoha! Kirigakure... isn't a toy for others to manipulate!"

Everyone's expressions turned cold!

Their eyes grew ominous!

This was Kirigakure. This was the Village of the Bloody Mist that never let an enemy get away with a grudge!

The next day at noon.

Just as expected, Genji held a banquet.

He invited the three members of Hyuga Kagami's party, but Genji's expression was distant and cold. He showed no intention of forming an alliance at all.