Konoha: Starting with the Tenseigan and Taking Over Team 7

Aogetsu Hyuga said casually, "Really? Fair enough. Talk your way into becoming Hokage and persuade every enemy you meet."

After what had happened with Yuki Haku, Naruto's gift of persuasion was already showing signs of improvement.

Aogetsu Hyuga took out a scroll and sealed the bodies of Yuki Haku and his companion inside its barrier.

If I take them to Kirigakure, I should get nearly a million for them, right?

"Teacher Cangyue, what are you doing?" Sakura Haruno asked, her pretty face full of curiosity as she stared at the sealing scroll.

Aogetsu Hyuga put the scroll away. "Taking them to Kirigakure."

Naruto Uzumaki's anger at Cangyue's earlier mockery vanished. He clasped his hands behind his head and grinned. "Huh. You're actually a pretty nice guy."

"All bark and no bite." Sakura Haruno covered her mouth and giggled.

"Hmph." Sasuke Uchiha snorted.

Everyone on Team 7 assumed Cangyue wanted to take Yuki Haku and his companion to Kirigakure so they could be buried in their hometown.

Many shinobi loved their villages. Returning home after death was a good thing, too.

Teacher Cangyue really is a man with a sharp tongue and a soft heart.

That's our teacher Cangyue!

"Honestly, you little brats can be really strange sometimes." Aogetsu Hyuga was speechless. Judging by what Team 7 was saying and how they were acting, they had clearly misunderstood something again.

How does cashing in two heads make me a nice guy?

Is there something wrong with Team 7's heads?

"Teacher Cangyue, we've completed our mission, but what about Gato, that wealthy merchant?" Sakura Haruno glanced toward the bridge, worried. "Once we leave, he'll probably try to stop Mr. Tazuna from building it again."

Aogetsu Hyuga waved a hand. "It's fine. That fat pig Gato is already dead."

That was right. Gato was dead.

In fact, he had been dead for two days!

Cangyue had dealt with Gato two days ago and taken his entire fortune while he was at it.

The little fat pig had been surprisingly rich.

Two days earlier, Cangyue had had no money for drinks or dates, while Gato had been spending freely on both.

How could I let that stand?

Die. Your money's mine!

And you wanted to destroy the bridge?

Dream on!

After all, the Land of Waves would be his source of income from now on.

"That's a relief." Sakura Haruno let out a breath.

"Let's go, brats." Aogetsu Hyuga turned to leave.

He did need to go to Kirigakure to collect the money, but Mei Terumi was a madwoman.

Cangyue had crossed paths with Mei Terumi a few times on past missions. Back then, he had given her a taste of the Thousand Years of Death.

That madwoman... What a headache.

"Sakura, let's get ramen when we're back! I still have two coupons!" Naruto Uzumaki carried his backpack and pulled out two ramen coupons, then shot Sasuke Uchiha a look. "None for you, stuck-up Sasuke."

"Leave me alone, idiot." Sasuke Uchiha shoved his hands into his pockets and hurried after Aogetsu Hyuga. He wanted a chance to ask about the Sharingan aura he had sensed earlier.

"What's with the attitude?" Naruto Uzumaki muttered.

"Wait for me, teacher Cangyue, Sasuke!" Sakura Haruno ignored Naruto and hurried after Aogetsu Hyuga and the others.

"Damn it! First stuck-up Sasuke, and now teacher Cangyue? What's so great about those two stuck-up guys?" Naruto Uzumaki gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Sakura, wait for me!"

The Land of Water.

Kirigakure. The Mizukage's office.

"Still no sign of the Three-Tails?"

Mei Terumi's long brown hair fell down her back, her bangs covering one eye. She wore a low-cut blue dress that hugged her tall, voluptuous figure, while black fishnet stockings covered her long, shapely legs.

Her fair face was both lovely and alluring.

She was a prodigy of Kirigakure and a shinobi with a Kekkei Genkai—one of the rare few in the entire shinobi world to possess two.

The Fifth Mizukage—Mei Terumi!

Ao knelt on one knee and replied respectfully, "I'm sorry, Lady Mizukage. We've sent people to search every suspicious location, but we still haven't found any trace of the Three-Tails."

He was an Elite Jonin with a Byakugan.

Almost everyone in Kirigakure respected Mei Terumi. She had single-handedly ended the Bloody Mist Village era and saved countless shinobi with Kekkei Genkai.

She had stopped Karatachi Yagura's tyranny and become the Fifth Mizukage!

Mei Terumi was also an idol to almost every young shinobi in Kirigakure!

Mei Terumi's brows drew together slightly. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, she rested her chin on her clasped hands and said, "Widen the search. A Tailed Beast is an important weapon."

The Five Great Shinobi Villages remained at the top partly because of their military strength and partly because they possessed Tailed Beasts.

Even setting their vast military forces aside, their Tailed Beasts alone were enough to deter the smaller neighboring nations!

But after the Bloody Mist Village era had ended, Karatachi Yagura—the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki—had disappeared, and the Three-Tails had vanished with him. It was a serious headache for Kirigakure.

Worse, despite searching far and wide for so long, Kirigakure had found no trace of the Three-Tails. It was as though the beast had vanished from the shinobi world.

"Yes," Ao replied respectfully.

Creak. The office door opened.

Chojuro entered with an unusual broadsword on his back. Too shy to look Mei Terumi in the eye, he reported awkwardly, "L-Lady Mei Terumi, Aogetsu Hyuga wants to see you."

Ao frowned at Chojuro's manner and rebuked him coldly. "Chojuro, you were chosen for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Show some confidence as a man! How else will you protect Lady Mizukage?"

Joining Kirigakure's Seven Blade Swordsmen was the highest of honors, a position every shinobi in the village dreamed of.

But Chojuro was far too shy and lacked confidence.

Chojuro blushed. "Y-Yes."

Ao shook his head and sighed.

He really needs to change that personality.

Give me the sword. I'll be one of the Seven Blade Swordsmen.

"Mm. Have him wait a moment. I need to deal with..." Mei Terumi was scanning the intelligence in a scroll when she faltered mid-sentence. She snapped her head up and asked Chojuro, "Who did you say?"

"Aogetsu Hyuga," Chojuro said.

Mei Terumi's expression grew cold, and anger flashed in her eyes. "The Disaster Ninja, Aogetsu Hyuga?"

Chojuro flinched at her reaction. "Y-Yes!"

"Heh..." Mei Terumi licked the corner of her mouth. An immense Chakra began to seep from her, and a chill crept into her alluring smile.

Cangyue.

Aogetsu Hyuga!

That pervert actually dared to come here!

The memory of her encounter with Cangyue long ago surfaced in Mei Terumi's mind. Just remembering it made her backside ache.

That damned pervert!

She was the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure, an idol to every young shinobi in the village and a prodigy with two Kekkei Genkai. Yet that damned pervert Cangyue had treated her in such a vulgar way!

Make the Mizukage Spend a Night with Cangyue?

"Lady Mizukage?" Ao looked at Mei Terumi in confusion.

What's wrong with Lady Mizukage?

Why did hearing Aogetsu Hyuga's name make her react so strangely? Did something happen between the two of them?

Strange.

Lady Mizukage was always composed and dignified. Apart from when someone mentioned marriage, this was the first time Ao had seen her show such cold anger.

Could Lady Mizukage really have a grudge against Aogetsu Hyuga?

Chojuro was puzzled too. He watched Mei Terumi's expression change.

Bang! The office door swung open.

"Having a meeting? Sorry to interrupt." Aogetsu Hyuga walked into the office with a faint smile, greeting everyone inside.

"Lady Mizukage hasn't given you permission to enter. You—" Two Anbu Ninja blocked Cangyue's path. Lady Mizukage had not even agreed to see him, yet Aogetsu Hyuga had barged straight into her office.

His rudeness could easily spark a dispute between the two villages!

But before the Anbu Ninja could finish reprimanding him—

"Quit bothering me. Go play somewhere else, or I'll dock your pay." Aogetsu Hyuga grabbed both Anbu Ninja and tossed them behind him like trash.

Village rules? Who cares? I'll do as I please!

With my strength, why should I follow your rules?

"Aogetsu Hyuga, this is Kirigakure." The corners of Mei Terumi's mouth twitched. A cold edge lay beneath her smile as she watched Cangyue stroll into the office, her distaste barely concealed.

She wanted to kill him on the spot!

Hold back!

This is Kirigakure, and I'm the Fifth Mizukage. As the leader of a village, I have to stay composed and dignified.

Besides, Cangyue's standing in Konoha means he speaks for the village to some extent. Attacking him here could cause a dispute between Kirigakure and Konoha.

If we were outside Kirigakure, I'd kill you myself!

"I know." Aogetsu Hyuga settled onto a soft sofa, crossed his legs, and looked around the office. With a sigh of mock nostalgia, he said, "It's good to be home."

After escorting Team 7 back to the village, he had immediately used Lightning Movement to reach Kirigakure.

"..." Everyone in the room looked dumbfounded.

What was wrong with Aogetsu Hyuga?

Did he think Kirigakure was his home?

"To what do I owe a visit from the renowned Disaster Ninja?" Mei Terumi fought down her anger. Her hands, clasped beneath her chin, trembled slightly. Her smile looked warm, but concealed an icy urge to kill.

Be patient!

This is Kirigakure, and I'm the Fifth Mizukage. The leader of a village must be composed and mature.

Besides, given Cangyue's standing in Konoha, he carries some authority there. Attacking him in Kirigakure would create a dispute between the two villages.

If this were outside Kirigakure, I'd kill you myself!

"Cyclops, that eye of yours is a Byakugan, right?" Aogetsu Hyuga ignored Mei Terumi and glanced at Ao's black eyepatch.

"Yes," Ao replied.

Though Cangyue belonged to the Hyuga Clan, Ao had no reason to be afraid. The clan had tacitly accepted his use of their Byakugan.

After all, it was a trophy from the war, and the Hyuga Clan had taken plenty of spoils from Kirigakure too.

"You're bold," Aogetsu Hyuga said calmly. "You knew I was from the Hyuga Clan, yet you still used the Byakugan to pry into my secrets."

"I apologize, Lord Cangyue. As a shinobi of Kirigakure, I must protect our village's leader," Ao said. He had been watching Cangyue's every move through his Byakugan. Protecting the Fifth Mizukage was his duty.

"Did you see anything?" Aogetsu Hyuga asked curiously.

He was not concerned about that lousy Byakugan.

"You're an extremely powerful shinobi," Ao answered honestly. He had observed Cangyue's Chakra flow with his Byakugan and discovered a terrifying amount of Chakra.

If an ordinary shinobi's Chakra was a drop of water, Aogetsu Hyuga's was an ocean!

Ao had never seen such an absurd amount of Chakra before. Cangyue had even more than the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki!

"Is that so?" Aogetsu Hyuga grew thoughtful.

So even the Byakugan can't uncover the secret of my Rinne Sharingan?

Good.

"Anyway, let's get down to business." Aogetsu Hyuga slapped his hand against empty air. Pale smoke billowed out, and an iron broadsword dropped to the floor.