Several days later, peace returned to Kirigakure after the turmoil.
According to the announcement from the Mizukage Building, the village had come under attack, but its jonin had driven off the enemy under the Fourth Mizukage's leadership.
Concerned about its reputation, Kirigakure did not announce that the Fourth Mizukage had been controlled. Instead, it concealed the news for the time being to stabilize the situation within the village.
Inside the temporarily repaired Mizukage Building, Karatachi Yagura, now free of that control, received the Konoha Squad.
Although the Konoha Squad had infiltrated Kirigakure in secret, they had helped the Fourth Mizukage break free of genjutsu control and driven off the Masked Man plotting against Kirigakure, demonstrating astonishing strength.
While under that control, the Fourth Mizukage had enacted many policies that provoked widespread outrage and led Kirigakure down a path of decline.
Still, he remained the Mizukage, the village's highest authority and strongest fighter.
Although Kirigakure had driven off the Masked Man, there was no guarantee that he would not return.
At Lord Genji's direction, Karatachi Yagura would retain the position of Mizukage for now.
During their audience with the Fourth Mizukage, Kakashi requested a thorough investigation of Akatsuki within the Land of Water.
Although events had taken an unexpected turn, transforming them from a team investigating the Fourth Mizukage into honored guests of Kirigakure, their objective remained unchanged: to locate Akatsuki's base.
The Fourth Mizukage nodded.
In fact, once he had broken free of the control and learned that the caster was Akatsuki's Masked Man, he had resolved to track down Akatsuki and strike back.
But judging by the intelligence currently available, Kirigakure alone was very likely no match for Akatsuki.
After a pause, the Fourth Mizukage said to Kakashi, "Kirigakure will investigate Akatsuki's whereabouts, but there is a condition."
"What