Zhi Shui's Apology

The mist grew thicker, hazy and dim, obscuring the few rays of sunlight that managed to pierce through.

Near an uninhabited, desolate island on the border of the Land of Water, a youth dressed 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 before him, who also belonged to the Uchiha Clan. It was strange, he thought—they were both Uchiha, yet this man was not known for the 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 mind 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 had this man discovered it? Could it be...

"It seems it's true. Aside from a Mangekyo Sharingan ocular jutsu, I can't imagine anything else capable of silently altering someone's thoughts. 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 an ocular jutsu that allows me to alter the target's will, making them believe the choice was their own instinctual decision."

"I had wanted to make the Fourth Mizukage release all of us, but such a decision would have been immediately recognized by the Hidden Mist as their leader being under a genjutsu. So, I could only target the topics they cared about."

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

Seeing the hidden apology in Shisui's eyes, Hua Yue's lips curled into a bright, hearty laugh.

"What a troublesome junior you are. Let's leave it at that. When I need your help, 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. The Body Flicker Technique of Flash Illusion Moon is not like mine, which uses the Sharingan to create afterimages—this is true space-time ninjutsu!"

Shisui shifted his gaze toward the distance, where the mist swirled endlessly. He had no idea how many Hidden Mist ninjas were lying in ambush within.

"Is the Illusion Moon Technique of Flash Illusion Moon also a Mangekyo ocular jutsu? What kind of power could it possibly be?"

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

Meanwhile, deep within the pitch-black fog, a deep purple sage mask quietly emerged. Eerie white mist drifted out, mingling with the water vapor.

In the center of the desolate island, many unconscious Konoha ninjas were tied together in groups, with at least several explosive tags attached to each of them, both openly and hidden.

Hidden Mist ninjas, fully armed, surrounded the hostages, waiting for the enemy to arrive.

"Tell me, will that guy, Flash Illusion Moon, really come? Knowing this is a trap, how could any idiot possibly show up?"

"Hard to say. The guy is capable of defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Maybe he's arrogant enough to think his ninjutsu is superior and will come here to throw his life away."

"Hahaha, if that guy dares to come, we'll show him the Hidden Mist Formation of the Hidden Mist. But no idiot would actually come here to die... 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, the cloak behind him fluttered without a breeze.

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

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

Pairs of malicious eyes swept over the approaching figure. Hua Yue strolled leisurely, as if walking through an empty land.

"Where are the hostages? The Fourth Mizukage, and the two Seven Ninja Swordsmen who managed to escape from my hands—where are they?"

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

"Damn it, you arrogant brat! Who do you think you are? How dare you use that tone..."

The many ninjas swarmed forward, surrounding Hua Yue tightly, each with a cruel expression, as if they intended to tear him to pieces on the spot.

"Kill him!"

"No, that's too easy for him. Interrogate him to get the Flying Thunder God Technique. This guy is from the Uchiha Clan, he must have awakened the Sharingan. Gouge out his eyes and optic nerves directly."

They viewed him as a mortal enemy, already planning to claim their spoils before Hua Yue was even dead, their expressions full of certainty.

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. I didn't expect the two of you to be the ones from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who escaped my grasp."

That day, Hua Yue had been in a rush to save Might Duy and had no time to check if the bodies were truly dead; he had simply snatched 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 with a 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 ninja sword, seemingly dissatisfied with the weight of the weapon in his hand.

"I never imagined that the Flash Illusion Moon, who has recently risen to fame in the great war, would be nothing but a brat."

The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, slowly emerged. This surprised Hua Yue for a moment, and he chuckled, teasing, "What's this? You have the face of a brat yourself, and you have the nerve to talk about others? Stop joking. 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 and composed, 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 them, 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 Naihe Bridge. Sage Art: Great Spiral Wheel!"

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

Pure white light flashed, swallowing the thick fog and the desolate island. In a daze, Karatachi Yagura felt a strange sense of dissonance, but he was immediately struck with awe by the figure that seemed to pierce through heaven and earth.

"What on earth is happening?"