After setting foot on Kirigakure's land, Anyo stopped hurrying and slowed to a leisurely pace. The same thick fog that never cleared still hung around him, and moisture filled the air, but there was a little less blood in it than before. It seemed to be returning to its natural state, giving it a distinct, hazy beauty.
"Why did you stop? Don't tell me you're lost," Orochimaru teased, draped lazily over Anyo's shoulder.
Naturally, Anyo had remembered his past experiences here. He asked casually, "Uncle, how much do you know about Kirigakure?"
"Not much," Orochimaru said, launching into an easy account. "Kirigakure has always had little presence among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, mainly because of its internal chaos and the infighting between its various factions. It also has the widest variety of kekkei genkai, which had an impact as well. To eliminate internal strife, Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki instituted a policy of secrecy to minimize the influence of kekkei genkai. Later, following the Second Hokage's example, he established the Ninja Academy and the Anbu, and peace gradually returned to the village."
"And you call that not knowing much?" Anyo, who had only asked in passing, began listening intently.
"But after Hozuki Gengetsu and Mū of Iwagakure killed each other in the First Shinobi World War, the Third Mizukage came to power. Under him, Kirigakure returned to its former state, only worse. The policy of secrecy left everyone fearing for their safety. Eventually, he simply ordered the hunting down of kekkei genkai ninja who were sources of instability. From then on, Kirigakure was also known as the Village of the Bloody Mist."
Hearing this, Anyo thought of what Haku had endured. If the Bloody Mist had not enforced that policy, he probably would never have met her in this lifetime,