Shisui's Apology

The mist gradually thickened, hazy and indistinct, obscuring what little sunlight remained.

Near an uninhabited island at the border of the Land of Water, a young man dressed as a Konoha Ninja led the way before finally stopping.

"Senior Huayue, I can only take you this far. The rest is up to you. Please."

Bowing slightly, Uchiha Shisui studied the senior before him, who was also from the Uchiha Clan. They were both Uchiha, yet Huayue was not known for the Sharingan. The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

"Shisui, you escaped from the Fourth Mizukage's grasp. You used that, didn't you? The Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular technique."

His pupils trembled as Shisui looked at Huayue in disbelief, his thoughts in turmoil.

How had he found out? How had he discovered that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, the twisted power gained through his best friend's sacrifice? Could it be...

"Looks like I was right. An ability geared toward Genjutsu—other than a Mangekyō Sharingan ocular technique, I can't think of anything else capable of silently changing someone's thoughts. What is the technique called?"

Realizing he had been baited, Shisui smiled helplessly and chose to come clean.

"Kotoamatsukami. It is the ocular technique residing within my Mangekyō Sharingan. It changes another person's will while making them believe it was their own instinctive choice."

"I originally wanted the Fourth Mizukage to release all of us, but Kirigakure would immediately realize that their village leader had fallen under Genjutsu. So I could only work through matters they cared about."

"The Ninja Swordsmen's blades... and Body Flicker Gengetsu."

Seeing the apology hidden in Shisui's eyes, Huayue tugged at the corner of his mouth and laughed brightly.

"What a troublesome junior. Fine, then. When I need your help someday, don't you dare refuse. See you."

He vanished in an instant. Shisui instinctively activated his Sharingan and scanned the surroundings. When he found no trace of chakra whatsoever, he was even more astonished.

"He disappeared in an instant? So this is the Flying Thunder God Technique. Body Flicker Gengetsu's Body Flicker Technique isn't like mine, creating Body Flicker afterimages with the Sharingan. It is genuine Space-Time Ninjutsu!"

Shisui shifted his gaze. The distant fog stretched endlessly, and he had no idea how many Kirigakure ninjas lay in ambush within it.

"Could Body Flicker Gengetsu's Illusionary Moon Technique also be a Mangekyō ocular technique? What kind of ocular technique could it possibly be?"

Though filled with curiosity, Shisui remained where he was, waiting for Huayue to rescue all the hostages.

At the same time, within the dense fog where one could not see one's own hand, a deep-purple sage face pattern silently emerged. Strange White Mist scattered outward, mingling with the water vapor.

At the center of the island, numerous unconscious Konoha Ninjas had been tied together in groups of two or three. Each of them had at least several Explosive Tags attached to their bodies, both openly and discreetly.

Fully armed Kirigakure ninjas surrounded the hostages, waiting for their enemy to arrive.

"Say, will that guy, Body Flicker Gengetsu, really come? He knows this is a trap. What idiot would walk right into it?"

"Who knows? He defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Maybe he thinks his ninjutsu is strong enough and will come here to die."

"Hahaha! If that guy dares to come, we'll let him witness Kirigakure's Mist Formation. But no idiot would come looking for death... right?"

Before he could finish, a figure walked out of the thick fog. He wore a Black Cloak and a Three-Eyed Demon Fox Mask, his cape fluttering despite the absence of wind.

"That mask, that symbol—it's him! Body Flicker Gengetsu! So the rumors were true. Body Flicker Gengetsu, the man who killed countless Kirigakure ninjas, is actually just a boy?"

"Idiot. No matter how gifted a young ninja he is, after today, he'll become history. Letting him sleep beneath the water and feed the sharks is our duty."

Pairs of malicious eyes swept over the approaching figure. Huayue strolled forward as though he were walking through an empty field.

"Where are the hostages? Fourth Mizukage, and the two Ninja Swordsmen who barely escaped my hands—where are you?"

He surveyed the surroundings as though everything were perfectly natural, his tone calm as he waited for their answer.

"Damn it, you arrogant brat! Who do you think you are, talking to us like that..."

Numerous ninjas rushed forward and surrounded Huayue. Their expressions were cruel, as though they intended to tear him to pieces on the spot.

"Kill him!"

"No, that's too easy on him. Torture the Flying Thunder God Technique out of him. This guy is from the Uchiha Clan, so he must have awakened the Sharingan. Dig out his eyes and optic nerves."

They regarded him as a mortal enemy. Before Huayue was even dead, they were already plotting how to seize trophies from him, looking utterly certain of victory.

Yet Huayue did not even spare them a glance. He turned his gaze toward the camp where the hostages were gathered, his voice indifferent.

"Come out, Juzo Biwa, Suikazan Fuguki, and the Fourth Mizukage. So the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who escaped my hands that day were you two."

That day, Huayue had been in a hurry to treat Might Duy and had no time to check whether the bodies were truly dead. He had merely taken the seven ninja swords in haste. He had not expected that there really were survivors.

"Uchiha brat, you really took good care of me that day. Even now, my wounds still ache faintly. It's all thanks to you!"

Suikazan Fuguki emerged from the thick fog. His savage shark-like teeth glinted coldly as he stared intently at every movement Huayue made, not daring to let down his guard in the slightest.

"Be careful. This guy's Body Flicker Technique is a real pain. I don't want to lose any more teeth."

Juzo Biwa followed close behind as they spoke, continuously swinging the ordinary ninja sword in his hand, seemingly deeply dissatisfied with its weight.

"I never expected that Body Flicker Gengetsu, who has recently risen to fame in the great war, is just a brat."

Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura slowly appeared, surprising Huayue for a moment before Huayue smiled and teased him.

"What? You have the face of a brat yourself, and you have the nerve to call someone else one? Don't make me laugh. Either I wipe you out along with the hostages, or you agree to negotiate. Your choice."

Huayue's words seemed to touch upon an unmentionable taboo. The Fourth Mizukage, who had been calm and composed just moments ago, immediately gritted his teeth.

"What nonsense are you spouting?! I have a wife and a son. I'm not some brat! You Uchiha brat, if you want us to release them, then kill yourself in front of us..."

Huayue shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself.

"Negotiations have broken down. Then accompany them and dance together on the bridge to the afterlife. Sage Art: Great Rasengan Ring!"

"This technique—watch out! Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"

Pure white light collided with pure white light, swallowing the thick fog and the island. In his daze, Karatachi Yagura felt an inexplicable sense of discord lingering around him, but then he was stunned by the towering figure that reached from heaven to earth.

"What is going on?"