At noon the next day, sunlight pierced through the clouds that had hung overhead for days, spilling across every corner of Kirigakure. Two forces stood clearly separated in the plaza before the Mizukage Building.
Genji, dressed in a gray kimono and leaning on a cane, stood at the very front. Behind him were Mei Terumi, Ao, Shimada Isamu, and other elite members of the elder faction, all fully armed and solemn-faced.
Shinichi controlled "Takao Asai" from the other side, with Matsumoto Kenichi and more than a dozen elite shinobi beside him. Fujiwara Shinsuke had returned to Genji's camp at some point and now kept his head lowered, not daring to meet anyone's eyes.
"Begin," Genji said, his voice old yet firm.
At his command, piercing alarms rang throughout Kirigakure. Patrol squads ran through the streets, shouting, "Everyone return home immediately! Going outside is forbidden!"
The villagers hurried into their homes in panic, and the streets quickly became empty. Only the wind swept up a few fallen leaves, sending them spinning through the air.
"ANBU assembled!"
"Jonin unit in position!"
"Jonin squads in position!"
Reports echoed one after another across the plaza. Shinichi watched coldly, privately admiring Hidden Mist's military discipline. In just half an hour, nearly a hundred elite shinobi had surrounded the Mizukage Building.
Genji slowly stepped before the crowd, his voice amplified by chakra until it reached every corner. "Everyone, we have gathered here today to rescue the Mizukage, who has been controlled by an evil force!"
A stir ran through the crowd. Rumors had been spreading these past few days, but hearing the great elder confirm them personally still shocked many people.
"The guards inside the Mizukage Building have been controlled by some kind of genjutsu," Genji continued. "Our task is to break through their defenses, find