Chapter 4: The Elder

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Steam curled through the bathroom, thick enough to blur the edges of the room.

Hot water gushed from the showerhead, rinsing the blood from Hikari’s silver-gray hair. Bare feet pressed against the cold tiles as rivulets traced down her ankles.

Nearby, a woman’s corpse lay curled beneath the sink—hands cradling her rounded belly, brown eyes frozen open, staring blankly at the harsh light above. The blood beneath her had long since dried.

"Haaah…"

Hikari tilted her face into the spray, letting the heat scour away the grime and exhaustion. She stepped into the bathtub, sinking into the water with a sigh. Her hair fanned out like pale seaweed, swaying gently in the current.

This had been her favorite ritual in her past life.

After a grueling day at work, nothing beat a long, scalding soak. For a few precious moments, the world outside ceased to exist.

The warmth seeped into her bones, loosening muscles knotted from battle. Her eyelids grew heavy…

Meanwhile: Ruins of the Kaguya Clan, Eastern Kirigakure

The once-bustling Kaguya compound was now a graveyard of shattered wood and trampled ancestral tablets. Over twenty ANBU operatives combed through the wreckage, their movements methodical, ruthless.

At the center stood a man in a slate-gray cloak, armored beneath with standard-issue shinobi gear. His face—unmasked—was all sharp angles: a broad, straight nose, cold blue eyes, and brown hair cropped short.

Kyōga.

The ANBU Commander.

"How much longer?" His voice was a blade’s edge. "Where’s Ao?"

The tengu-masked operative kneeling before him didn’t flinch. "Elder Genzui summoned him. He’s unavailable."

"And the Fourth’s objective?"

Kyōga’s gaze could have frozen the sea. As the Mizukage’s right hand—and the leader of Kirigakure’s anti-Kekkei Genkai faction—he knew exactly where his authority came from. Failure wasn’t an option.

"Still searching. Orochimaru took the Kaguya survivor east, then looped west. He may have already intercepted the target. And…" A pause. "There are reports that Momochi Zabuza has returned to Water Country. His path may intersect with Orochimaru’s."

Kyōga’s jaw tightened.

Orochimaru. Zabuza.

Both were wild cards. If they joined forces…

The Mizukage’s orders were clear: Retrieve the relic said to date back to the Sage of Six Paths—no matter the cost. Even if it meant facing the Snake Sannin and the Demon of the Mist.

"Squad—form up!"

Shunshin!

The ANBU materialized in ranks, disciplined as clockwork.

Kyōga’s eyes swept over them. "Tengu, your unit stays. Secure the village. Once Ao returns, have him sweep the area again. The rest—with me."

"Hai!"

As the squad vanished into the mist, the tengu-masked operative lingered. Beneath the mask, his eyes glowed faintly blue.

Hidden Bunker, Kirigakure

Tap. Tap-tap.

The coded knock echoed through the dim chamber.

"Enter."

The voice was aged but firm—a sound that carried the weight of decades.

Tengu—no, Hokora Takuto—removed his mask and stepped inside.

Candlelight flickered across a massive table, illuminating three figures:

• Ao, his lone eye sharp beneath gray-blue hair, sealing talismans dangling from his ears.

• Mei Terumī, her lips painted pink, auburn curls cascading over one eye. Even now, her presence was magnetic.

• And at the head, Elder Genzui, gripping his serpent-headed staff like a relic of forgotten lore.

"Elder," Takuto bowed. "Kyōga took the bait. He’s chasing Orochimaru with the bulk of the ANBU. Only my squad remains in the village."

"Well done." Genzui’s milky eyes narrowed. "And the Fourth…?"

"Forgive my presumption, but—is he truly…?"

"That is not your concern."

Takuto stiffened. "My apologies."

This man had served since the First Mizukage’s era. To some, his word held more sway than the Kage’s.

"Go. Protect the village in its weakened state."

"Understood."

As the door shut, Ao leaned forward. "Elder, what are they searching for?"

Genzui exhaled slowly. "The Kaguya’s history stretches beyond the Sage of Six Paths. Their clan guarded something… older."

"Older than the Sage?!" Ao’s voice cracked.

Mei’s nails dug into the table. "Enough speculation. When do we move?"

Her youth bled through—impatient, fierce. Not yet the poised leader she’d become.

"Rashness will get us killed," Genzui said, calm as deep water. "Our enemy controls a jinchūriki with genjutsu. If you lose focus, you become his blade."

Mei’s fists clenched—then relaxed. She dipped her head. "…You’re right."

Ao watched, impressed. This was why Genzui had survived the centuries.

The old man’s staff thumped against stone.

"Prepare yourselves. Tonight, we reclaim Kirigakure."