"Lord Mizukage!" Boruto was the first to react, hurrying forward.
"This has nothing to do with Kagura! He's been with us these past few days, protecting us and leading us. He had no chance to take part in the Uprising!"
"That's right," Sarada added calmly. "His actions have been out in the open, and he's protected us exchange students from danger more than once."
Mitsuki stated the facts evenly. "Throughout the fighting, Mr. Kagura has stood with Kirigakure."
Damian folded his arms and snorted. "It's a pain to admit it, but Kagura really doesn't seem like someone who'd join an uprising."
Mikoto Misaka frowned. "Convicting him just because a rebel tried to drag him down with his dying words is completely unscientific!"
Anya hugged her doll and said softly but clearly, "Kagura's hurting too, but he still wants to protect everyone."
Jade set Tailmon down. "Exactly, Lord Mizukage. Kagura even helped stop the Uprising in time. Even if he was wrong not to report what he knew, that should make up for it."
Chojuro listened quietly as everyone rushed to defend Kagura. His gaze passed over the young faces of Boruto, Sarada, Mitsuki, Damian, Mikoto Misaka, and Anya, who had come from different villages.
They had known their friend only a short time, yet they were so eager to stand up for him.
A small, heartfelt smile of relief slowly appeared on his solemn face.
Hadn't one of his deeper hopes in holding this Exchange Meeting been that these young people, who carried the future, would look past the divides between their villages and forge genuine bonds of their own?
Now, amid this crisis, that hope had borne fruit.
Chojuro took a deep breath and removed the Twin Swords Hiramekarei from his back, the blades that symbolized the Mizukage's authority