Mist Shinobi Battlefield

The situation at the Mist Shinobi battlefield didn't seem to be as dire as Kato Osamu had imagined. Kato Osamu and her three companions easily integrated into the Konoha team upon arriving at the Mist Shinobi.

Because this so-called large-scale landing operation by Mist Shinobi seemed somewhat childish, there was no massive army pressing in, no hundreds of ships sailing, only occasional harassment from Mist Shinobi. Apart from leaving behind some corpses and hastily returning, Kato Osamu couldn't even feel any of the terrifying atmosphere of war.

"Teacher Xu..."

"There's... something... something off about this place?"

"The situation doesn't seem as urgent as the mission description suggests..."

Even the seemingly dim-witted Iruka had already realized what was going on, so everyone else was naturally already aware of it, but this was probably a helpless situation.

Konoha's camp was built along the narrow coastline. To the Kirigakure Ninja, the coastline, regardless of its terrain, was like a shallow beach. Konoha had to disperse its forces and extend its battle line along the entire coastline.

Despite expending countless manpower, the effort was still somewhat thankless—it was difficult to predict from where the Mist Shinobi would attack...

"Perhaps this is how the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were able to sneak in and penetrate deep into the heart of the Land of Fire..."

Before Kato Osamu even met Orochimaru, he was sent to a seaside camp. A few barracks hung on the cliff slightly to the north, seemingly built using Earth Release, and looked rather rough.

Their mission for the time being is to stay here and monitor for any potential landings by Mist Shinobi within a five-kilometer radius. This task seems a bit too easy for the Hyuga Clan, who possess the Byakugan, but it seems that only the Byakugan can perfectly accomplish this mission.

Konoha is currently short-handed and it is unlikely that it can launch a counter-landing operation against an 'island nation'. It seems that it has done its best to maintain this situation.

"Teacher Xu, may I... go to the beach?"

"Just in case any Mist Shinobi ninja sneak up here..."

Uzuki Yugao's eyes were filled with excitement. Not only him, but Iruka was also visiting the seaside for the first time and felt quite excited.

"Soulfire Insect..."

Sensing the Soulfire Insect scattered over several kilometers, Kato Osamu nodded slightly and followed the two out.

"Itachi, guard the house well..."

"Yes!"

A warm breeze blows as you stroll along the shallow beach. Under the greyish-white sky, the vast blue waves stretch out, and the clouds slowly disperse, revealing the sea shimmering with golden light.

Gazing at the vast ocean, seemingly so deep and eternal, devoid of any embellishment, Kato Osamu breathed in the sea breeze, feeling a sense of ease for the first time since arriving in the Shinobi World.

"I wonder what kind of scenery the Kirigakure, hidden deep in the sea, is like..."

Kato Osamu didn't know where Orochimaru was, but he knew Orochimaru would definitely come looking for him. He seemed to be filled with some kind of expectation, and simply sat quietly on Taiseki by the sea, closing his eyes to rest.

At this moment, he is unaware that the Mizukage of Kirigakure, far away in the ocean, feels a faint sense of gratitude towards him, whom he has never met, for nearly annihilating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen Might Duy.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen...

"It failed as expected..."

Karatachi Yagura chuckled softly, stroking the Summoning Scroll in his hand. He could sense that six of the seven Ninja Blades had already lost their masters.

As the Seven Ninja Swords of the Kirigakure, no one would want to possess them. However, most ordinary ninjas would not know that when the seven Ninja Blades were made, Summoning Technique runes were embedded in each one to ensure that they would never be lost.

Seated in the Water Shadow Building, Karatachi Yagura was the only person in the top-floor office.

The misty sky obscured the entire Kirigakure, seemingly also obscuring Karatachi Yagura's face. Ordinary people felt no suspicion towards the seemingly harmless, baby-faced Mizukage, nor could they discern what he was thinking.

"That should be enough..."

Karatachi Yagura stood up, looking down at Kirigakure in mist, and sighed softly. How could he not understand that infiltrating Konoha alone to assassinate an enemy general was likely a suicide mission, but he had no choice but to do it.

There are many outstanding people in Mist Shinobi, but most of them are members of the Bloodline Clan. As a Kage, he seems somewhat isolated and weak. Governing a village requires great strength, but it is not just about having great strength.

"It's time to choose a new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen..."

Karatachi Yagura's gaze was fixed on the distance, as if he were watching the defenses of Konoha's coastline through layers of mist.

The Land of Water is far from the land, making it both offensive and defensive. No other country would be interested in such a tough nut to crack, but the Land of Water is interested in their territory.

The sacrifice of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen not only brought them new life but also further weakened the Blood Clan, allowing them to complete the war against Konoha while selecting the Seven Ninja Swords.

Regardless of victory or defeat, he would completely shift the internal conflicts of the Land of Water to the outside world, making it easier for him to use war regulations to reorganize the personnel of all key departments in Kirigakure. Once the war ends, it will be a brand new Mist Shinobi that has been revitalized.

No matter what kind of organization it is, there should never be two voices. But the current Mist Shinobi has more than just two voices. Even if they are wrong, it is better than self-destruction caused by continuous internal strife.

"Suikazan Fuguki..."

Don't let me down...

Putting down the scroll in his hand, Karatachi Yagura waited for Suikazan Fuguki, the only remaining 'person involved,' to bring back detailed information about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's annihilation to Mist Shinobi.

When the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist Shinobi, the face of Kirigakure, are nearly wiped out, it will be a slap in the face to the Mist Shinobi clan, and even the ordinary civilian ninjas in the entire Kirigakure will feel ashamed.

What Karatachi Yagura wanted was precisely this kind of national sentiment that was swept up by the upper echelons of society—a trend that no one could stop.

"Knock knock..."

As Karatachi Yagura pondered the future path of Mist Shinobi, his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. He frowned slightly and looked up at the Anbu standing by the door.

"Lord Mizukage..."

"The Marshal requests an audience..."

Before Karatachi Yagura, Mist Shinobi, leaning on his cane, appeared at the office door.

His aged face was etched with the lines of time, but his eyes remained sharp. This old man, who had lived since the Warring States period, was not to be underestimated by Karatachi Yagura.

Although his reputation was not as illustrious as that of his contemporaries such as Konoha Hiruzen Sarutobi, Chiyo of Sand Shinobi, Ebizo, and Ōnoki Stone Shinobi, he was still one of the few who held power in their respective regions and were at the pinnacle of power in the entire Shinobi World.

"Yagura..."

"I'd like to talk to you about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen..."

Karatachi Yagura's eyes narrowed slightly, but only for a moment, before he smiled again.

"The Marshal's information network is indeed excellent... I was just about to pay him a visit..."

"We may need to choose a new master for our Ninja Blade..."

Seeing that the Mist Shinobi Marshal showed no surprise, Karatachi Yagura's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank slightly— Suikazan Fuguki had returned, but hadn't come looking for him immediately.