belamy20

121-125

Added 2025-05-08 02:03:52 +0000 UTC

Chapter 121: Reassembling the Seven Ninja Swordsmen

Yoru stared at Yagura for a long time before finally turning away.

"Keep him under heavy guard," he instructed the ANBU. "And have the Sensor Division monitor spatial fluctuations—we can’t afford any surprises."

For now, he still hadn’t decided what to do with Yagura.

Mizukage’s Office

"Well, sis? Not as easy as you thought, huh?"

Yoru leaned against the doorway, watching as Terumī Mei scribbled furiously on a stack of documents.

She shot him an exasperated glare. "If you weren’t so young and hard-headed, I’d hand this position over to you in a heartbeat."

"So, what brings our busiest man here today?"

Yoru shrugged. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Right now, we only have two. That’s… not ideal. But I’ve got a few candidates in mind to rebuild the group."

Mei slid a pre-approved form across the desk, already stamped with the Mizukage’s seal.

"Fill it out. If the council agrees, you’ll oversee the selection."

Then, she handed him a bundle—a jonin uniform and a personnel file.

Yoru raised an eyebrow. "Promoting me to jonin? You sure the village won’t protest?"

Becoming a jonin wasn’t just about strength. It required intelligence, leadership, strategic insight, integrity, and a proven mission record.

Jonin were the backbone of a village—rare, elite, and entrusted with its future.

Yoru wasn’t convinced he checked all those boxes.

Mei smirked. "Nobody’s complaining. Your achievements speak for themselves."

"Besides, not every jonin needs to be perfect. Some just need to excel in one area."

"The council already approved. So stop overthinking it."

The promotion had multiple benefits:

Legitimacy—Yoru could now command missions without question.
Morale—Others due for promotions would follow.
Inspiration—A young prodigy would motivate the next generation.
And more…

No downsides.

Yoru didn’t argue. He slipped on the uniform—tailor-made for his twelve-year-old frame.

"Looks good on you," Mei teased.

Ignoring her, he picked up a pen and filled out the form:

Kabutowari (Blunt Sword) — Zabuza Momochi

Nuibari (Sewing Needle) — Haku Yuki

Kiba (Lightning Blades) — Ameyuri Ringo

Exploding Blade (Bakutō) — Suigetsu Hōzuki

Hiramekarei (Twin Swords) — Chōjūrō

Mei and the council elders exchanged glances.

"A… young team," remarked Ao, standing beside Mei.

"But a solid one," Mei agreed. Then she added, "Though they’ll need to prove themselves first."

Aside from Zabuza, none of them had the experience to silence doubters. The others were still special jonin-level at best.

To wield the legendary blades, they’d need to fight evenly with jonin—even without the swords.

"No rush," Yoru said casually. "Give ‘em a year or two to grow."

Mei nodded, then shifted topics.

"Speaking of proving ourselves… The minor nations are getting bold."

"Nami, Shio, Nami, Niji—their shinobi are sniffing around, testing our borders. They need a reminder that Kirigakure isn’t weak."

Yoru’s smile turned sharp.

"Don’t worry. Even after our losses, we’re not prey for small fries."

"Our two jinchūriki alone should make them think twice."

Mei relaxed. She didn’t know much about Yoru’s political skills, but his combat prowess was unquestionable.

"Still…" She leaned forward, curiosity gleaming. "How did you steal the Two-Tails from Kumogakure?"

"I refuse to believe the Raikage just let you waltz out with their jinchūriki."

The Fourth Raikage was a monster. And the entire Hidden Cloud would’ve mobilized to stop him.

Escaping that unscathed? That spoke volumes.

Yoru’s reply was chillingly calm.

"How strong am I? Hard to say. But there aren’t many left in the world who can stop me."

"If I wanted to, I could raid any of the Five Great Villages—and walk out alive."

Mei’s breath hitched.

Only two people in history had ever been capable of that:

Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.

Madara Uchiha, the Ghost of the Uchiha.

And now… Yoru.

"Your kekkei genkai…" Mei murmured, pride swelling in her chest.

"Not just for making yourself stronger—but others too."

Her little brother was a legend in the making.

And she couldn’t be prouder.

*Chapter 122: Sister, We’re Rich Now*

*"So, the issue with Kumogakure’s threats… I’ll leave that to you. Rumor has it the Raikage himself is leading their delegation. He’s demanding the return of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki—or else, they won’t hesitate to start the Fourth Great Shinobi War!"*

Mei Terumī dropped yet another bombshell, though her expression didn’t betray much worry.

*"Leave it to me. They won’t succeed. The Two-Tails belongs to Kirigakure now."*

Yoru smirked confidently. With his current strength, he could face an entire village alone if necessary.

*"Oh, right, sis… I heard you’re having financial troubles. Is Kirigakure really that strapped for cash?"*

He had only learned about this a day ago.

Even after the war, he never imagined the village’s funds would dry up so quickly.

Yet, the reality was harsh—Kirigakure was already in a financial crisis.

*"Ugh, I almost forgot about that!"* Mei sighed.

*"Right now, the village is in dire need of funds. Money’s flowing out like water, and every department is bleeding resources. I had no choice but to ask the Land of Water’s Daimyō for help."*

Her brows furrowed in frustration.

*"But that bastard took advantage of the situation—demanding triple the usual interest! Absolute extortion!"*

It was infuriating.

The Daimyō knew Kirigakure was desperate, yet he still squeezed them dry.

But that was politics.

As the ruler of the Land of Water, the Daimyō held absolute economic control.

*"Exploiting our weakness? Sounds exactly like him."*

A cold smile played on Yoru’s lips. *"Let’s hope he doesn’t regret that decision."*

*"So, what did you do? Accept his terms?"*

Mei exhaled sharply, her voice thick with resentment.

*"I had no choice. Without funds, the village can’t function. It’s… humiliating."*

To her surprise, Yoru chuckled.

*"Sis, what if I told you I have a solution?"*

Mei blinked. *"A solution? Unless you can magically print money, I don’t see how. The village’s needs aren’t something one person can cover."*

She didn’t believe him.

Unless he could pull out billions out of thin air, it was impossible.

*"Remember the Nagomi Monument?"*

Yoru’s grin widened, sly as a fox.

*"The Nagomi Monument?"*

Mei frowned, then suddenly—her eyes widened.

Her breath hitched. *"Wait… you don’t mean—?!"*

*"Yep. It’s right here."*

With a flourish, he pulled out a scroll from his pouch, unfurled it, and formed a seal.

*POOF!*

A weathered stone tablet materialized in his hands.

The legendary Nagomi Monument.

*"How…?! The Akatsuki’s Kakuzu stole it! Our intel confirmed it!"*

Mei’s voice trembled with disbelief. *"You were posing as a Kumo-nin at the time—even fought our own forces! The ANBU reports couldn’t have been wrong!"*

This was beyond surreal.

*"Heh. Did you really think I’d let such a treasure slip away?"*

Yoru smirked. *"I played Kakuzu like a fiddle. Every ‘Yoru’ they encountered—whether it was the one fighting Zabuza or the ‘Kumo-nin’—was me."*

*"Only way to fool everyone and keep this for myself."*

Mei shook her head in awe.

*"To pull this off under everyone’s noses… If Kumo ever finds out, they’ll literally spit blood. And Kakuzu? His face must’ve turned green."*

But then she narrowed her eyes.

*"How, though? You don’t know Shadow Clones. Water Clones can’t sustain prolonged combat—let alone against elites!"*

Water Clones were notoriously weak—just 10% of the user’s power, and short-lived.

Yet Yoru had fought entire squads of elite shinobi without issue.

Impossible.

Seeing her stunned expression, Yoru grinned.

*"It’s complicated. Why not see for yourself?"*

*"Fine. Show me."*

The two headed to the rooftop of the Mizukage’s office—a private training ground reserved for the village leader.

*"Don’t be too shocked, sis."*

Yoru formed a hand seal.

*"Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu!"*

A perfect replica of himself appeared beside him.

Mei scrutinized it.

*"Hmm… Feels like a normal Water Clone to me."*

*"Oh? Really?"*

The clone suddenly moved.

Its hands blurred through seals—faster than Mei could track—before unleashing a surge of chakra so dense, it rivaled an elite jonin.

*"What the—?!"*

Mei barely had time to react before the clone roared:

*"Lightning Style: Gratitude Wave!"*

A storm of lightning barreled toward her.

She leaped back—only to hear a sonic BOOM as the clone vanished and reappeared behind her, fist cocked like a cannon.

*"Too fast!"*

She twisted aside, barely dodging, and scrambled to form her own seals.

But the clone was faster.

Its hands snapped together.

*"Water Style: Water Gun Barrage!"*

*PFFT-PFFT-PFFT!*

Needle-thin jets of water screamed through the air.

Mei barely got her defense up in time.

*"Water Style: Water Wall!"*

The attacks slammed into the barrier, cracking it on impact.

Her heart pounded.

If a clone is this strong… how powerful is the real Yoru?!

---

*Chapter 123: Is This Really a Water Clone?*

"Sis, don’t let your focus waver!"

The water clone’s warning snapped Terumī Mei back to reality—just in time for her to sense an overwhelming surge of danger.

A thundercloud crackling with violent lightning loomed above her, sealing her within its range.

"Raiton: Raikōjin!" (Lightning Release: Lightning Strike Array)

As Yoru’s voice rang out, a bolt of lightning—akin to divine punishment—engulfed Mei.

*BOOM!*

The entire training ground trembled violently, startling nearby ANBU operatives. Their eyes darted between Yoru and the Mizukage, who had reappeared a short distance away, visibly disheveled.

"What the hell just happened?"

"Why is Lord Yoru fighting the Mizukage?"

The ANBU murmured in confusion until one squad captain clarified, "They’re just sparring. Move along."

The operatives dispersed, though the captain—none other than Zabuza—lingered just long enough to exchange a glance with Yoru before leaving. After Mei’s rise to power, Zabuza had rejoined the ANBU as a division leader.

Mei exhaled sharply. "I never expected your clone to be this strong. What percentage of your power does it have? Don’t tell me it’s only ten percent!" If so, that would be downright humiliating.

"Thirty," Yoru replied with a grin. "And that’s just the first difference from a standard water clone. It can use all of my techniques while retaining 30% of my strength."

"Sis, the second difference is coming. Don’t be too shocked!"

The water clone lunged forward, its blade of condensed water slashing without mercy.

"Fight to kill," Yoru advised calmly. "Otherwise, it’ll kill you."

Mei didn’t doubt his words—the clone showed no restraint, its strikes ruthless, swift, and unpredictable. She could barely keep up.

"Yōton: Yōkai no Jutsu!" (Lava Release: Dissolving Mist Technique)

She leaped back, spewing a torrent of scorching acid that left no room for evasion.

"How will you counter this?" she mused. "You’ll have to use Suijinheki (Water Wall). Once you do, I’ll control the pace."

Her hands were already weaving signs for Suiton: Gōsuiwan no Jutsu (Water Release: Violent Water Wave). Even if the clone formed seals quickly, it wouldn’t escape this.

But then—

*Splash!*

The clone dissolved into water, leaving Mei stunned. "Did it dispel itself? That doesn’t make sense. Yoru wouldn’t do that."

Yet the scene before her was unmistakable—a water clone dispersing.

Until the next moment, when realization struck.

"It can do THAT?!"

Her eyes widened in disbelief as the clone reformed, having evaded her attack using Suiton: Suika no Jutsu (Water Release: Hydrification Technique)—a kekkei genkai ability exclusive to the Hōzuki clan.

"You know the Hydrification Technique?!" Mei whipped her head toward Yoru’s real body. "How? That’s a bloodline limit! You shouldn’t be able to use it!"

"Not me," Yoru corrected. "The clone does."

"That’s possible?!" Mei’s mind spun in confusion.

Before she could process it, the clone struck again. This time, its eyes flashed—and a paralyzing force surged into Mei’s mind.

Genjutsu: Kanashibari no Jutsu! (Demonic Illusion: Body Binding Technique)

"Damn it!" She frantically channeled chakra to break free, but the clone’s blade was already piercing toward her like a shooting star.

Just as she braced for impact—*FLASH!*

Yoru’s real body appeared before her, while the clone now stood where he had been moments ago.

They had *switched places*.

"This…!" Mei was speechless, her shock immeasurable.

After a long pause, she finally breathed, "No wonder you infiltrated the Nagaki Monument without suspicion. With a water clone this broken, it’s no surprise."

"The clone scouted ahead. The treasure map on the monument is real, and the hoard is massive," Yoru said, dispelling the clone. "Once we extract and trade it, Kirigakure’s financial crisis will ease."

"Good. But circulating that much wealth will draw attention. Once or twice is manageable, but any more and we’ll be exposed," Mei fretted.

"Leave that to me," Yoru offered. "You focus on running the village."

Mei nodded. If anyone could handle this, it was him.

But then—

*WHOOSH!*

An ANBU operative appeared, urgency in his voice. "Mizukage-sama! Emergency! The Fourth Raikage has declared that if we don’t surrender the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki immediately, he’ll invade with fifteen thousand troops—and ignite the Fourth Shinobi World War!"

Mei’s expression darkened. "So it’s come to this…" She sighed. "Yoru, if war breaks out, do we stand a chance?"

Kirigakure’s forces numbered only eight thousand. Of those, three thousand were wounded, and most of the remaining five thousand were chūnin-level. Elite jōnin were scarce.

The odds were grim.

Yet surrendering a jinchūriki? Unthinkable.

"Fifteen thousand is a threat," Yoru admitted. "But if they want a war, we won’t lose—unless the Raikage is ready for mutual destruction."

Though outnumbered, Kirigakure had high-tier fighters: two near-perfect jinchūrikis (excluding Yagura), Kisame, Zabuza, and others. They could match Kumo’s might.

---

*Chapter 124: There’s No Such Thing as Peace*

"Don’t worry, Sis. Now that the Two-Tails Jinchūriki is here, there’s no way we’re handing her over!"

"If the Fourth Raikage really wants a fight, we’ll give him one. Even after the heavy losses our village has suffered, Kirigakure still has the strength to stand our ground!"

Hearing Yoru’s words, Mei Terumī replied seriously, "Yoru, don’t you dare lie to me. The fate of our village rests on your words!"

"If we misjudge the enemy’s strength, things could go very wrong."

Yoru chuckled confidently. "Relax, it’ll be fine. If we need extra insurance, we can always unleash the Fourth Mizukage as a last resort. He’s still a formidable fighter."

Mei frowned. "Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that."

Yagura’s allegiances were too unpredictable—releasing him would be like wielding a double-edged sword. One wrong move, and they’d end up cutting themselves.

Mei turned to the Anbu operative. "Send our reply to the Fourth Raikage: The Two-Tails Jinchūriki has defected from Kumogakure. There’s no reason for her to return. If he wants her back, he’ll have to fight for her."

The Anbu agent bowed and left, though unease gnawed at him. "Fight? Can we really hold off Kumogakure? Even at full strength, we’d struggle against them—let alone in our current state. This decision… doesn’t seem wise."

Still, he relayed Mei’s message without protest.

Meanwhile, the shinobi world was in an uproar.

- Mei Terumī’s rise as Mizukage, ending Kirigakure’s "Bloody Mist" era and opening the village to the world.

- The Two-Tails Jinchūriki’s defection to Kirigakure.

- Yoru and Yugito breaking through Kumogakure’s siege—and defeating the Raikage himself.

- The looming war between Kumo and Kiri over Yugito’s fate.

Every single one of these was a seismic event.

---

*Konohagakure*

"The White Flash has grown that strong? They say even the Raikage lost to him—and he’s only twelve. Not even Uchiha Itachi compares to this monster. How does someone like that even exist?"

"Will Kirigakure rise to prominence because of him? They’ve been isolated for years—no intel, no clear grasp of their true strength."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, muttered under his breath, his eyes shadowed with concern. A storm was brewing, one that would sweep across the shinobi world. None of the Five Great Nations would escape unscathed.

"Perhaps this clash will finally give us a glimpse of their power."

---

*Iwagakure*

"Heh heh heh… How will Kirigakure respond? Will they bow to Kumo’s pressure, or will they fight back? I’m curious."

The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, smirked coldly. "After losing the Fourth Mizukage, do they still have what it takes to stand among the Great Nations?"

"But this ‘White Flash,’ Yoru… He’s worth watching. His strength is… unusual. Whether the rumors about him capturing the Raikage are true or not, the fact that they exist means he’s at least Kage-level. A dangerous variable."

According to Iwa’s intelligence, Yoru had been the one to defeat Yagura.

Ōnoki didn’t think much of Yagura’s abilities, but taking down a Kage—even a mediocre one—was no small feat.

---

*Sunagakure*

"The White Flash, huh? I’ll just wait and see how this plays out."

Sunagakure had no recent conflicts with Kirigakure—the only lingering grudge was their hero, Pakura of the Scorch Release, who’d been killed by Kiri shinobi.

Still, if an opportunity arose, Suna wouldn’t hesitate to take a bite out of Kirigakure. A weakened Great Village was a feast for the taking—if Kiri lost or if both sides were left crippled.

Otherwise, they’d bide their time.

---

While the Five Great Nations could afford calm speculation, the minor villages were far from relaxed—especially *Nami no Kuni (Land of Waves)*.

Why?

Because their country sat right in the path between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water. If war broke out, they’d likely become the battlefield.

Unlike the wealthy and powerful Land of Water, Nami no Kuni was small and vulnerable. A single war could destroy them.

Hadn’t the previous three Great Shinobi Wars already devastated countless minor nations?

- The Land of Grass, once a thriving nation with ties to the Senju, now a lawless wasteland overrun by rogue ninja.

- The Land of Rain, which might’ve become the Sixth Great Nation if not for Hanzo’s fall.

- The Land of Bears, the Land of Birds, the Land of Rice…

All had been crushed under the weight of the Great Nations’ conflicts.

Small countries had no say in war. When the giants clashed, they were just collateral damage. Protests meant nothing.

This was the tragedy of the weak.

---

"We can’t just sit and wait for destruction! Lord Daimyō, we must align ourselves with Kirigakure! If we combine our forces, we might stand a chance!"

"They’re short on troops against Kumo—we can fill that gap. We cannot let Nami no Kuni end up like the Land of Grass! In times of crisis, relying on others is suicide. We must act!"

The proposal ignited the court. Voices of agreement drowned out the pacifists.

The Daimyō, stirred by their fervor, slammed his fist down. *"Then it’s settled! We fight! Whether we live or die, we’ll go down swinging! Minister of Defense—you handle the negotiations!"*

---

Chapter 125: War Breaks Out, the Shinobi World Descends into Chaos

"My Lord, we mustn’t—!"

A peace advocate, tears streaming down his face, tried one last plea to change the Daimyō’s mind. But before he could finish, the ruler cut him off sharply.

"Enough! My decision is final. Another word, and I won’t hesitate to remove you."

For once, the usually timid Daimyō stood firm, his voice laced with an uncharacteristic edge—a hint of tyrannical authority that sent a chill through the court. The peace faction immediately fell silent, cowed by the sudden killing intent radiating from him.

But Nami no Kuni wasn’t the only small nation bracing for disaster.

The Land of Tides. The Land of Surge. The Land of Rainbows.

Each faced the same dilemma—yet not all chose the same path. Some clung to denial, hoping to avoid the storm. Others, like the Land of Rainbows, saw opportunity in the chaos.

Its Daimyō was an ambitious conqueror, hungry to elevate his nation to the ranks of the Great Five. The previous wars had been beyond his reach, but this time—this time—he was ready.

"Fight. Fight and bleed each other dry. When you’re weakened, I’ll be the one to claim victory."

"The other Great Nations will take too long to mobilize. But us? Our location is perfect. We strike first."

"Heh. Who can stop me? The Land of Rainbows will rise as the Sixth Great Nation!"

If even the Daimyō were panicking, the civilians were outright terrified.

Tension. Dread. A gnawing sense of doom.

Only those living in true peace—like the citizens of the Land of Water—could truly appreciate its fragility. Even with Kirigakure at a potential disadvantage, they remained calm, trusting their village and nation to endure. Life went on as usual.

"Zabuza, I have a classified mission for you—one that cannot fail. The future of Kirigakure depends on it."

In the dim light of the Anbu headquarters, Yoru spoke with rare gravity to the masked man before him. He laid out the details, and at one critical point, Zabuza actually gasped.

"So it was you? That explains… a lot." His eyes sharpened. "Consider it done. No mistakes."

Yoru nodded. "Your team will consist of Hōzuki Suigetsu, Ringo Ameyuri, Haku Yuki, and Kimimaro. Additionally, Tenga will lead a hybrid unit of intel and sensory nin to support you."

Zabuza smirked. "With a lineup like that, failure isn’t an option."

"But the mission doesn’t start yet. First, we deal with Kumogakure."

Despite the Land of Water’s Daimyō’s reluctance, he’d supplied the necessary resources for war. Still, Yoru knew better than to rely on others. "We survive by our own strength."

With that, he left—heading straight for the Mizukage’s archive.

No one knew what he sought.

But when he emerged hours later, pale and drained, the guards noted one missing scroll:

Kinjutsu: Reido Yugi no Jutsu (Soul Dominion Technique)

A forbidden art that enslaved shinobi, binding them in absolute loyalty.

But its flaws were infamous: