Hidden Mist's Great Purge! Yagura Resigns, Mei Terumi Takes Office, Lord Yu: Just a Small Scene

Yagura, the former Fourth Mizukage, was carrying out a purge tacitly approved by Kamizuki Yu with a resolute demeanor.

He did not participate in the fighting directly. The residual power of [Adamantine Sealing Chains] that Kamizuki Yu had left within him was enough to suppress any resistance below Kage level.

What was more, after witnessing Kamizuki Yu crush the Three-Tails with a single palm strike, those former lackeys had long since lost all courage to resist.

"Lord Genji, you have seen it as well."

In the Hidden Mist Village's highest conference room, Yagura stood at the center, facing a group of high-ranking officials and ANBU leaders.

His voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear clearly.

"I, Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, was once controlled by genjutsu and reduced to a puppet. I enacted the Blood Mist Policy and dragged the village into the abyss."

His words were earth-shattering.

Some of the ninjas present looked horrified, while others lowered their heads with complicated expressions.

"The mastermind was a masked remnant of the Uchiha Clan." Yagura's gaze swept across the room. "His goal was the tailed beasts, as well as a plan called the 'Eye of the Moon.'"

"Utter nonsense!"

A ninja wearing a Hidden Mist ANBU mask abruptly stood up, chakra surging violently around him.

"Lord Mizukage, that outsider has deceived you! The Blood Mist is the foundation of the Hidden Mist's strength!"

"Too noisy."

An indifferent voice came from the corner.

Kamizuki Yu had appeared there at some point. He did not even rise from his seat, merely lifting a hand casually.

"Pfft!"

The ANBU ninja was struck as if by a tremendous blow, flying backward and crashing heavily into the wall. It was impossible to tell whether he was alive or dead.

The conference room fell deathly silent.

Everyone's eyes focused on Kamizuki Yu, filled with fear and awe.

This guy was not human at all!

Yagura continued, a trace of weariness entering his voice. "The genjutsu controlling me has already been dispelled by Lord Yu. I have now regained my senses."

He turned toward the fallen ANBU ninja, though the man might no longer have been able to hear him.

"True strength has never been built upon endless internal strife and slaughter."

"Lord Genji, everyone, the Blood Mist Policy must be abolished."

The elder of Hidden Mist Village, the old man leaning on a cane, slowly opened his clouded eyes.

He looked at Yagura, then at the indifferent Kamizuki Yu in the corner.

"I... have no objection to what the Fourth Mizukage has said."

Genji's stance was the final straw.

Those ninjas who had still held onto hope, or harbored illusions about the Blood Mist Policy, completely gave up their thoughts.

Before absolute power, any scheme or trick seemed pale and powerless.

Mei Terumi stood among the crowd. The several subordinates beside her were looking at her with burning eyes.

During this purge, Mei Terumi had displayed extraordinary organizational ability and judgment.

Using her connections, she swiftly identified the moderates who could be won over, while mercilessly pointing out the die-hard supporters of the Blood Mist.

"Mei Terumi." Yagura turned his gaze toward her.

"Yes, sir." Mei Terumi stepped forward.

"You deserve great credit for setting things right this time." There was a trace of gratification in Yagura's tone.

"I, Yagura, am a sinner of Hidden Mist Village and no longer have the face to remain Mizukage."

His words stirred another commotion.

"From this day onward, I resign as the Fourth Mizukage."

Yagura bowed slightly. "I recommend Mei Terumi as the Fifth Mizukage!"

The entire room was stunned.

Even Mei Terumi herself froze. She looked at Yagura, then instinctively glanced toward Kamizuki Yu in the corner.

Kamizuki Yu seemed entirely unconcerned with all this, simply toying with a kunai in his hand.

"Lord Yagura, this..." Mei Terumi hesitated.

"You need not decline." Yagura interrupted her. "Everyone has seen your abilities and character. Hidden Mist Village needs a new leader to guide everyone out of the shadows."

Genji spoke up as well. "Mei Terumi, your kekkei genkai and your wisdom are both enough for you to take this position. I support Yagura's proposal."

With both Genji and Yagura supporting her, and with Kamizuki Yu—like an emperor emeritus—showing no objection, no one else dared voice any dissent.

"We second the motion!"

"Greetings, Fifth Mizukage!"

The calls rose one after another, eventually converging into a roaring tide.

A complicated expression appeared on Mei Terumi's face.

She had not expected happiness—or perhaps responsibility—to arrive so suddenly.

She took a deep breath and straightened her back.

"Since I have been honored by everyone's support and trusted by Lord Yagura and Lord Genji, I, Mei Terumi, will not fail your trust. I will lead Hidden Mist Village and restore its glory!"

Her voice was clear and resolute as it echoed through the conference room.

The Blood Mist Policy, a shadow that had loomed over Hidden Mist Village for decades, was formally declared over at that moment.

All inhumane regulations, those appalling graduation exams, and the clans persecuted for their kekkei genkai would all become things of the past.

After the meeting, Yagura found Kamizuki Yu.

"My lord, thank you." He bowed deeply.

Kamizuki Yu waved his hand. "I told you, this is your own affair."

He paused and looked toward Mei Terumi, who was discussing something with several subordinates nearby.

"She's not bad."

Yagura smiled. "Yes. Lady Mei Terumi will certainly become an outstanding Mizukage."

Kamizuki Yu felt no ripple in his heart. If anything, he wanted to make a snide remark.

This turnover in Mizukage was almost as fast as certain companies replacing their CEOs.

Still, Mei Terumi truly was a suitable candidate.

She had strength, brains, and most importantly, she had not been completely corrupted by the rotten ideas of the old era.

Over the following days, Hidden Mist Village entered a period of rapid reconstruction.

Mei Terumi displayed astonishing political skill and leadership.

She swiftly stabilized the situation within the village and comforted the ninjas and civilians who had suffered under the Blood Mist Policy.

At the same time, she began reforming the ninja education system, abolishing the cruel graduation methods and encouraging healthy competition and the inheritance of kekkei genkai.

Kamizuki Yu did not interfere much. Only when Mei Terumi encountered difficult problems that she could not resolve would he offer a few pointers.

For instance, how to balance the interests of the major clans and how to reestablish diplomatic relations with the other ninja villages.

Whenever that happened, Mei Terumi listened seriously, then sighed with heartfelt emotion.

The insight and wisdom of the young man before her far exceeded his age.

Many of the ideas he proposed were remarkably forward-looking, leaving her suddenly enlightened.

"Lord Yu, I have some thoughts regarding reforming the ninja academy's teaching materials..."

Holding a draft proposal, Mei Terumi came to Kamizuki Yu's temporary residence.

Over the past few days, she had devoted nearly all her energy to rebuilding the village. She was somewhat tired now, but her spirits remained high.

Kamizuki Yu accepted the draft and casually flipped through a few pages.

"The direction is right, but the details can be improved further."

He picked up a pen and circled sections of the draft, adding annotations.

Mei Terumi leaned closer to look, and the faint, clean scent on him lingered at the tip of her nose.

Her cheeks began to warm unconsciously.

She realized that her feelings for Kamizuki Yu were quietly changing.

At first, she had been shocked by his strength, then grateful for his aid.

But now, as she came into close contact with him and witnessed his calmness and depth while handling problems, a more complicated emotion began to sprout.

It was not merely admiration. It was mixed with awe toward an absolute powerhouse, reliance on unfathomable wisdom, and a kind of... distant reverence.

She knew this man was like a god in the heavens who had happened to descend into the mortal world. Between them, there might never be an outcome in the worldly sense.

That realization left her somewhat disappointed, yet she could not control the flutter in her heart.

"Here, when it comes to guiding kekkei genkai, it should not be limited to combat applications. Its potential in civilian life, medicine, and other fields should be emphasized as well." Kamizuki Yu's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.

"Ah... yes, you are right." Mei Terumi hurriedly composed herself.

Kamizuki Yu put down the pen. "Hidden Mist Village's foundation is not bad. It has simply been delayed for too long. As long as it gets back on track, recovering its strength will only be a matter of time."

He did not have much personal emotional investment in the village's future.

To him, this was more like observing a large-scale social experiment—or cleaning up a system bug on a whim.

It was just that this bug had entangled the fates of far too many people.

"I will revise it as soon as possible." Mei Terumi put away the draft and solemnly bowed to Kamizuki Yu.

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Yu."

Kamizuki Yu neither confirmed nor denied it, turning his gaze toward the window.

Hidden Mist Village's reconstruction was in full swing, and the air was filled with long-lost vitality and energy.

The laughter of children, once suppressed, was gradually becoming more frequent as well.

"Oh, right." Kamizuki Yu seemed to recall something. "That masked man, Obito Uchiha, is collecting tailed beasts to launch the [Infinite Tsukuyomi]."

Mei Terumi's body trembled.

"Infinite Tsukuyomi?"

"A plan to drag everyone in the world into an illusion." Kamizuki Yu's tone was flat, as though he were discussing something insignificant.

But Mei Terumi's heart sank.

Only then did she truly realize that the enemy they faced possessed ambition and madness far beyond imagination.

"Then..."

"I will deal with it." Kamizuki Yu cut her off.

He rose, preparing to leave this temporary residence.

The matter of Hidden Mist Village had come to an end.

"Lord Yu, are you leaving?" There was a trace of barely perceptible disappointment in Mei Terumi's voice.

Kamizuki Yu did not stop walking.

"Mm. I still have some miscellaneous matters to handle."

For example, he needed to visit Hidden Leaf and check on those few disappointing disciples of his. While he was at it, he could have a chat with a certain old man hiding in the sewers.

Mei Terumi watched his retreating back. Her lips parted, but in the end, she said nothing.

She merely watched silently until his figure disappeared beyond the door.

The village had finally welcomed a new beginning.

And she would shoulder this heavy responsibility.

She lightly pressed a hand to her chest, where a strange flutter seemed to remain.