131-135

*Chapter 131: We Need a Strong Leader*

“Naruto wasn’t ‘sent’ to the Land of Water,” Hiashi Hyuga emphasized the word "sent," as if to refute any notion that the village had banished the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. “The reason for this situation stems from historical and environmental factors. Naruto’s mental state has been quite unstable recently.”

An unstable mental state for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was a dangerous sign, as it could lead to loss of control. At five years old, Naruto could not yet harness the power of the tailed beast. Although Jiraiya did not believe that the seal Minato had set at the cost of his life would fail so easily, having personally checked it himself, Minato had also left behind the key to the Nine-Tails seal using a rare scroll from Mount Myoboku.

Undoubtedly, this responsibility was entrusted to Jiraiya.

"The seal on Naruto isn’t that fragile. Without external interference, it shouldn’t break before he turns ten. But…I understand your concerns,” Jiraiya shook his head. “Hiashi, please continue.”

Hiashi took note of this information about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s seal potentially lasting at least ten years. After a slight pause, he continued, “Besides Naruto’s unstable condition, another event occurred. Do you know the name Uchiha Sōgen?”

“I’ve heard of it,” Jiraiya nodded. Even if he didn’t know before, he learned about Uchiha Sōgen and Hiashi Hyuga leading the movement to remove Hiruzen Sarutobi from the position of Hokage after hearing of Sarutobi’s death and collecting intel on the village.

"Although Sōgen is only fifteen, he’s already the head of the Uchiha clan and has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Before your return, he was likely the village’s strongest ninja. However, the reason the Hokage chose to send the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to Sōgen is not solely because of his strength."

“Sōgen previously captured the Fourth Mizukage during the war with the Mist.”

Hiashi dropped a bombshell.

This information wasn’t public, known only to high-ranking jōnin even on the front lines. While spreading the news could boost morale, it would also diminish the Mizukage’s value, which was unfavorable for negotiations with the Mist.

Thus, only a select few knew that Uchiha Sōgen had captured the Fourth Mizukage.

Jiraiya was at a loss for words. Though he had never interacted with the Fourth Mizukage, he knew that anyone who became a Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages was formidable. Yet this powerful figure had been captured alive—a feat even more shocking than killing a Kage.

“Mangekyō Sharingan?”

Jiraiya marveled at the legendary Uchiha power. It made him recall the night of the Nine-Tails attack five years ago, when someone had used the Sharingan to control the beast, leading to Minato and Kushina’s deaths.

"Technically, the Fourth Mizukage was merely a pawn. On the front lines, he encountered a mysterious man claiming to be Uchiha Madara. The Mizukage was under this man’s control, and the war with the Mist was instigated by him,” Hiashi disclosed, sharing what was currently classified as top-secret information.

Nara Shikaku had no objections.

Such secrets were irrelevant to someone like Jiraiya, who could immediately become the Fifth Hokage if he agreed. For him, there was no need to withhold this information. If Jiraiya wanted to see the list of Anbu members, the heads of the Anbu would gladly comply.

“Uchiha Madara? The Mizukage was being controlled? Hiashi, this joke isn’t funny.”

Jiraiya was genuinely taken aback.

All he wanted was to find out why Naruto wasn’t in the village, and now it seemed like he was dealing with the ghost of a long-dead man. Was Uchiha Madara still alive? If so, this was no laughing matter!

“It’s only a claim. Whether or not it was actually Uchiha Madara is unclear. What is certain is that this person had the Sharingan and wielded the long-lost Uchiha fan, as well as powerful space-time techniques. The incident five years ago may very well have been his doing. He could be considered the true culprit behind the Fourth Hokage’s death.”

Hiashi spoke solemnly.

The sun overhead cast harsh light that caused the grass and trees to wilt. Fortunately, the three men had moved into the shade, where the thick, green canopy offered some relief from the heat. Hiashi and Shikaku remained silent, waiting for Jiraiya to absorb the information.

After a while, Jiraiya opened his eyes. “I think I understand the situation.”

The information helped him realize why the village leaders decided to send Naruto away. They feared both his potential loss of control and a repeat of the previous Nine-Tails attack by the mysterious figure claiming to be Madara. Thus, they sent Naruto to Uchiha Sōgen to ensure his safety and avoid another Nine-Tails incident—a reasonable decision.

“Well then, what was it you needed from me?” Jiraiya chose not to delve further into Naruto's situation for the moment.

Hiashi glanced at Shikaku, signaling that it was his turn to speak.

“Due to recent conflicts and historical issues, the village isn’t in the best shape. Although we won the war with the Mist thanks to the Uchiha clan leader’s efforts, other villages are still lurking, waiting for an opportunity—like the Cloud and Stone, even the Sand, which was nearly crippled during the Third War.”

Shikaku’s words revealed the village's fragile state behind its impressive facade.

“To prepare for the crises that lie ahead, we need to rid the village of old problems and restore Konoha’s strength. But before we do that, we need a strong leader whom everyone can trust. Lord Jiraiya, please become the Fifth Hokage. This is our collective hope.”

Shikaku’s request was earnest.

He knew better than to ask Jiraiya if he wanted to be Hokage; that approach would be too crude.

“The Fifth Hokage?”

Jiraiya was taken aback before smiling helplessly. Today was full of surprises.

“I thought Lord Torifu was to be the Fifth Hokage?”

“Lord Torifu is merely an acting Hokage, a temporary measure. He’s not young, and the position of Hokage is not easy for him,” Shikaku said sincerely, trying to persuade Jiraiya to take the role.

For the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Torifu becoming Hokage was a great honor. But after talking with him, Shikaku realized that it might not be the best move, as some members of the trio’s clans had already begun to act more arrogantly.

Instead of risking decline, Shikaku thought it best not to compete with the Uchiha or Hyuga clans for prominence.

After speaking, Shikaku held his breath, awaiting Jiraiya's response.

Finally—

“I’m sorry, Shikaku. I can’t give you a definite answer right now. I need time to think it over,” Jiraiya said, opting to buy some time rather than outright refuse. “Please inform Lord Torifu that I’ll be staying in the village for a while. If you’re worried about me leaving, you can have some Anbu keep an eye on me.”

Shikaku was surprised. He had expected Jiraiya to refuse without hesitation, not to delay his decision. Could it be that Jiraiya might actually become the Fifth Hokage?

“I will relay your words exactly, Lord Jiraiya,” Shikaku replied.

“Good. Shikaku, Hiashi, if there’s nothing else, go ahead with your duties. I’m going to explore the village for a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve been back; I wonder if it’s still as beautiful as before.” Jiraiya’s tone was light, but out of Shikaku’s sight, his expression was serious.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 132: The Silent and Cold Mist Village

As Jiraiya roamed the streets of Konoha gathering intelligence on the "Demon Fox," the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, along with Sougen, stepped onto the streets of the Mist Village. The boy curiously observed this ninja village, which was vastly different from Konoha.

The most distinctive feature of the Mist Village was the mist itself—a fog that seemed to hang like a thin veil in front of one's eyes.

And there was something else:

It was desolate.

Before entering the village, they had looked down from a mountaintop and saw a village almost as large as Konoha. Yet, the streets were eerily empty, with barely a soul in sight. It was unclear if this was due to a lockdown for the Konoha delegation's arrival or for some other reason, but the Mist Village felt abandoned.

"Master, is this really the Mist Village?" Yakumo, walking beside Sougen, asked as she gazed at the deserted streets, wondering if they had somehow taken a wrong turn or even walked into a trap. She glanced suspiciously at the female Mist ninja leading them, a woman with long reddish-brown hair and a blue dress.

"This is indeed the Mist Village," Terumi Mei, the Mist ninja, replied, glancing back at the girl walking beside the Uchiha clan leader.

Mei had heard from the Mizukage about this child, Yakumo Kurama, the disciple of the Uchiha leader. The Kurama clan, once a prestigious family in Konoha, had a unique and rare kekkei genkai, though the family had now fallen into decline.

Even the Mizukage, Yagura, was unsure of what the Kurama clan's kekkei genkai truly was.

Perhaps…

They would need to ask Master Genji for more information.

"Then why is no one around? It's still daytime, after all," Fujika, walking alongside Yakumo, asked.

"Well…" Mei opened her mouth but couldn't find the words. The question hit too close to home.

Why were the streets empty?

It was because of the Mizukage's oppressive rule. Not only had the ninjas suffered under his reign, but the common people as well. It had become unbearable for the villagers to open their doors each morning only to see fresh bloodstains or, sometimes, bodies that hadn’t been cleared away.

As a result, many villagers fled, either to the daimyo's estate or to the countryside. The Mist Village became more desolate by the day. If not for the Mizukage's harsh external travel restrictions, preventing people from leaving without permission, the entire population might have fled by now.

"Maybe everyone's just resting today!" Mei forced a ridiculous lie, knowing full well how absurd it sounded. But discussing such grim matters with children seemed even worse, so she chose what seemed like the lesser evil.

"But it’s not even a rest day. Does the Mist Village have a different schedule?" Fujika pressed further.

"…I’m not sure, maybe something came up," Mei replied vaguely, her face showing a trace of bitterness.

Yakumo and Fujika exchanged glances, clearly unsatisfied with the answer and ready to ask more questions. Before they could, a hand descended from above and knocked them lightly on the head.

"Alright, Yakumo, Fujika, that’s enough. Don’t always rely on others to answer your questions," Sougen said, gently flicking the foreheads of the two curious girls. "You need to learn to think for yourselves. A ninja isn't just muscle; brains are important too. And learn from Naruto—don’t go looking for trouble."

Naruto, who had been quietly observing, scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile. The boy, who would one day make art on the Hokage Rock to get attention, was now a well-behaved and thoughtful child, though he still retained a bright and clever spirit despite the hardships he'd endured.

Fujika pouted, clearly unhappy, but she fell silent for the moment, though the way she exchanged glances with Yakumo suggested the quiet wouldn’t last long.

While the two girls’ antics might have seemed like mere mischief, their questions had, in fact, revealed some valuable information. Sougen noted from Mei’s evasive responses that the situation in the Mist Village was dire. Combining this with what they had seen on their way into the village, he couldn't help but feel pity for the Mist ninjas. Uchiha Obito had truly wreaked havoc here.

If things weren’t so grim, Konoha might not have been able to win the war against the Mist ninjas without paying a heavy price, even with Sougen’s considerable abilities.

Mei, for her part, felt a subtle sense of relief. These painful questions were hard to bear, and she was grateful that the Uchiha clan leader had intervened to stop his disciple and sister from prying further.

Quietly, Mei quickened her pace, leading them through the long streets and around several corners until they arrived at a large, sprawling complex in the northwest corner of the village. Unlike Konoha’s haphazard, unplanned layout, the Mist Village’s buildings were mostly cylindrical, with tall towers rising like sticks, their rooftops covered in lush greenery. It was hard to tell if these buildings had been abandoned or if this was simply the village’s unique architectural style.

Mei stopped in front of the complex, and Sougen realized they had reached their destination.

— — —

Meanwhile, in the southern part of the Mist Village, in Master Genji’s house, inside the tea room:

"Mizukage-sama, have Konoha’s guests arrived?" Master Genji asked, sitting at a long table, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the Mizukage, Yagura, who was seated across from him.

"We entered the village together," Yagura replied, holding a ceramic teacup, steam rising from the green tea inside.

"So, Mizukage-sama, instead of hosting Konoha’s guests, you’ve come to my house just for a cup of tea?" Genji asked, breaking the silence again.

"Might there be any loose ends from the incident at the port?" Yagura raised his eyes, his tone serious.

When the attack at the port first happened, Yagura had thought it was yet another assassination attempt. But when Uchiha Sougen was involved, he realized it wasn’t just a simple plot against him. The Uchiha clan leader might have been the true target all along.

"Mizukage-sama, you can rest assured. All the masterminds behind the attack have been apprehended. You can interrogate them at your convenience," Genji replied calmly, his demeanor as steady as an ancient tree deeply rooted in the ground, unmoved by the storm.

"As long as it’s resolved. The village can’t afford any more losses." Yagura sighed, not probing further. He trusted that Genji wouldn’t let Sougen have any more leverage to blackmail the village. "In your opinion, how should we handle our relations with Konoha?"

Master Genji, surprised by the question, raised his brows. "Mizukage-sama, this is a matter for you to decide. I am but an old man—"

"This isn’t a joke," Yagura interrupted, setting down his teacup and straightening his back. "I’ve already explained the situation clearly in my letters. For the past five years, I’ve been under complete control, and I’m running out of time."

"Running out of time?" Gen asked, confused.

"I won’t live much longer," Yagura said bluntly. "After five years of being manipulated by that one-eyed bastard’s genjutsu, my mind is falling apart. My mental energy is draining away, and I can feel it. I have, at most, a year left. If I’m forced into battle, it’ll be even less."

Short-term genjutsu might not cause much harm, but being controlled for five years had left Yagura’s mental state in ruins. Unless someone with Tsunade’s level of medical expertise could be found, his condition was irreversible.

But there was only one Tsunade.

And Yagura didn’t have the will to prolong his suffering any further. Though he wouldn’t run from his responsibilities, he had no desire to extend his life just to endure more pain and humiliation. His only remaining wish was to do something meaningful for the village before he died.

"I sincerely ask for your advice on how we should handle our relations with Konoha," Yagura said, his tone filled with genuine concern. "I’m leaving a mess for my successor, but I want to clean up what I can."

Master Genji lowered his head in silence for several moments before finally looking up. "As long as Uchiha Sougen lives, don’t make enemies of Konoha. That’s my advice."

"Then I can rest easy," Yagura said, relieved. "I will do my best to handle things with Konoha, but the future of the village will be in your hands."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 133: The Candidate for the Fifth Mizukage*

“Your body... is it beyond saving?”

Genji hesitated for less than a second but still expressed his concerns. Though Yagura was no longer the Mizukage, as the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails, he remained a valuable asset to Kirigakure.

“The medical ninja have done all they can. With the village's current medical technology, my condition can't be resolved,” Yagura said as he took a sip of tea to soothe his throat.

“Genji, don't worry about me. Death doesn't scare me; in fact, it feels like a release. Instead of wasting time on meaningless efforts, it would be better to make full use of me in my final moments. It’s time to seriously consider the candidate for the Fifth Mizukage.”

Genji, with his face full of wrinkles, showed little emotion. He had seen enough death—he had already sent off three Mizukages, starting from the First, Byakuren. Losing another one, Yagura, was not much different, though it was a pity to lose the Fourth’s power.

To be honest, without Yagura, Kirigakure was lacking a strong figure to earn the respect of most of its ninja.

Even though Genji was considering abolishing the old tradition that only the strongest could become Mizukage, ninja still respected power above all. Weakness had no place bearing the title of 'Kage,' and there were only a few viable candidates for the Fifth Mizukage.

The two candidates Genji favored most were Mei Terumi and Mangetsu Hozuki.

In Genji's eyes, these two were the best options among Kirigakure's thousands of ninja to inherit the position of Fifth Mizukage.

However, Mei Terumi was a woman, and no woman had ever been a 'Kage' in the Five Great Ninja Villages. Genji feared that pushing her into power would lead to unprecedented opposition, and Kirigakure, in its current state, couldn't afford more turmoil.

As for Mangetsu Hozuki... That kid resembled the Second Mizukage too much!

The Second Mizukage had been a battle-crazed warrior who died alongside the Second Tsuchikage over spoils of war from Konoha. That incident nearly angered Genji to death, losing their Mizukage over mere spoils was a disastrous loss.

He feared Mangetsu would follow the same path.

“The Fifth Mizukage, huh?” Genji pondered for a moment, shaking his head lightly, unable to make a decision. He turned his gaze back to Yagura and asked, “Mizukage-sama, in your opinion, who is the most suitable successor?”

“Mei Terumi,” Yagura replied without hesitation.

“What about that kid from the Hozuki clan?”

“Mangetsu?” Yagura shook his head. “That boy and I are not fit to be leaders. People like us are better suited for the front lines, not sitting in the Mizukage's chair. We'd only make things worse.”

Genji nodded in agreement, as this was his concern as well.

“Compared to Mangetsu Hozuki, Kisame Hoshigaki, Ameyuri Ringo, and Zabuza Momochi, Mei Terumi has the best leadership skills,” Yagura praised Mei without reservation.

“I will give the matter of the Fifth Mizukage careful thought. There's one more thing, Mizukage-sama. Before your return, the village successfully transitioned to a new Six-Tails jinchūriki. However, this new jinchūriki is unable to control the Six-Tails' power yet. If you have time, I hope you can take a look.”

Hearing this, Yagura was momentarily taken aback. “Has Senior Jin died already?”

Before Genji could respond, Yagura continued, “I see. I'll take a look at this new jinchūriki when I have the time. Since we're talking about the tailed beasts, there's something about the Three-Tails I need to mention.”

“I plan to release the Three-Tails into the wild when I near death.”

Yagura's calm tone revealed a startling decision.

“Why?” Genji asked, sitting motionless like a rock.

Having lived so long, he had seen it all. Yagura's words didn't shake him; he was only curious about why Yagura would abandon such an important asset as the tailed beast.

“I’ve lost control of the Three-Tails,” Yagura replied calmly. “Although the Three-Tails is still sealed within me, Uchiha Sōgen can forcibly control it whenever he wants. This control will likely last until his death.”

Until then, there was no point in creating a new jinchūriki for the Three-Tails.

Genji understood this without it needing to be said.

As expected, Genji fell into a prolonged silence after hearing Yagura’s words.

Even the Three-Tails had been taken. Was Uchiha Sōgen really going to become another Uchiha Madara? But now, was there anyone in the ninja world like Senju Hashirama? The answer was no. Genji knew what this meant—it meant that Konoha would likely rise again and reclaim its place at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

“I’ve noted everything you said, Mizukage-sama,” Genji nodded with a sigh of helplessness. “Looks like it’s time for Ao to take that Byakugan.”

“Mizukage-sama, let’s call it a day for now. I still have to deal with the Konoha ninja,” Yagura said as he rose to leave, planning to meet the Konoha delegation himself despite having left Mei Terumi in charge of hosting them.

---

Kirigakure remained cold and indifferent despite the arrival of Konoha's ninja. To a village that once boasted a population of over 200,000, the arrival of just over a hundred Konoha ninja was like a drop of water in a pond, causing no noticeable ripples.

Under Kirigakure’s oppressive regime, the villagers had learned how to survive: restrain your curiosity, don't speak out of turn, mind your own business, don't argue with ninja, avoid the Anbu at all costs. Even the arrival of Konoha ninja did not draw any attention.

In the northwest corner of Kirigakure, a cluster of buildings served as a temporary base for the Konoha ninja.

At the top floor of the tallest building, in a spacious meeting room, Uchiha Sōgen sat, listening to a report from his subordinate.

“The situation in Kirigakure is grim. It's only held together by sheer force. The village hasn’t collapsed yet, but that's only because their military strength hasn’t decayed entirely. Without that, they’d be swept into... uh, clan leader, what's that phrase again?”

Uchiha Sougen scratched his head, trying to recall the phrase.

“Into the dustbin of history?”

“Right! That’s it! Into the dustbin of history,” Sougen clapped excitedly. “You said it once, and I thought it was so cool. I finally got the chance to use it.”

Did I really say that? Sōgen thought for a moment and realized he had indeed said it back when he was forming his faction within the clan. He had not only used force but also fed his followers all sorts of rhetoric to win them over.

“So Kirigakure is really not in a good state,” Sōgen mused. Given this, the bleeding of Kirigakure could be slowed down. Squeezing the village dry would be foolish—there was no need to destroy Kirigakure completely.

---

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 134: The Ninjas Who Have Been Caught in Endless Strife for Nearly a Millennium

The guest who arrived was the Fourth Mizukage, the current nominal leader of the Hidden Mist Village.

Yagura, the Mizukage, sat down without speaking immediately. After glancing around, his eyes lit up when he saw the board game set in the display cabinet. Without asking, he eagerly grabbed it and set up a game on the coffee table between the sofas. Watching this, Sōgen couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly.

"Can someone really be addicted to Gomoku?"

The thought flashed through Sōgen's mind as he personally made two cups of tea and then sat down across from Yagura.

The battle on the game board began in silence.

"Uchiha Clan Leader, how do you feel about your visit to the Hidden Mist Village?" Yagura asked after making his move.

"It's just as bad as I expected," Sōgen replied bluntly, twirling a pitch-black piece between his pale fingers. "Honestly, can you guys even get any missions in this state? I'd imagine most clients are too afraid to come to the Mist Village."

The mission system is the foundation of a ninja village.

Clients issue requests, and ninjas take on missions based on the difficulty and their own abilities, earning rewards upon completion. No missions mean no income, and when ninjas have no income, it’s not hard to imagine what desperate measures they might resort to in order to survive.

As for why ninjas don't simply seize control of countries by force instead of relying on missions, the reasons are complex. Part of it has to do with traditions that date back to the Warring States period. Back then, ninja clans were hired by various countries to wage wars, forming the early version of the current mission system.

There were times during the Warring States era when ninja clans directly overthrew local lords, ruling regions by force. However, these clans met disastrous ends, as other noble families would unite, hiring powerful ninja clans to destroy them, erasing them from history.

Unless ninjas could unite—at least a significant portion of them—to stand together, they would never truly replace the ruling nobles.

To give an example:

If the Uchiha Clan overthrew the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and took their place, the Uchiha wouldn't receive blessings from other countries. Instead, the nobles of those nations would spare no expense in hiring ninjas to wage war and eliminate the Uchiha.

At that point, the Uchiha would either need unrivaled power or the ability to win over most of the world's ninjas so that the nobles couldn’t hire them. The former is straightforward—if Senju Hashirama had wanted to, he could have wiped out all the old noble families and buried the past rulers, establishing a unified empire.

But due to his limited vision and overly kind nature, Hashirama never considered such a thing. Instead, he merely turned the chaotic, lawless battles of the Warring States into the more regulated wars we now see between the Five Great Nations and the Five Great Ninja Villages.

As for the latter option, can ninjas, who hold such deep grudges against one another, truly set aside their old hatreds and work together for a better future for all?

Almost impossible!

Put simply, being a ninja is just a profession, and a highly competitive one at that. Ninjas lack any sense of solidarity—they only care about the interests of their own clans, at best extending that care to their villages.

For example, when Cloud Village ninjas see Leaf Village ninjas being treated like dogs by the nobles, they'll laugh—they won’t express any sense of shared empathy.

That’s just how ninjas are.

All of these factors have led to the current situation:

Nobles don't interfere with the internal affairs of ninja villages. They simply hire ninjas to do their bidding by issuing missions. In return, ninjas don't attack or harm the nobles on their own initiative but instead rely on these missions for payment. This dual-track system—one country, one village—was the creation of Senju Hashirama, and the mission system is at the core of this setup, serving as the bridge between the country and the village.

"There are still a few. The aristocrats of the Land of Water are numerous, and the conflicts between the smaller lords on the islands never cease. They've been regular clients. As long as we complete the missions well, they don’t care about the village’s condition. Additionally, the village occasionally issues internal missions, but we’re barely holding on. To be honest, I’m not sure how long we can keep it up with morale so low," Yagura said with a sigh, not bothering to hide the dire situation in the Mist Village.

"Seeing your miserable state, I almost feel bad asking for compensation," Sōgen said, pressing his piece down onto the board.

Yagura glanced at the board and replied, "Almost feel bad? That’s a shame. I thought we might be able to lighten the load a little."

The regret in his voice was genuine.

"If this were a personal matter or something to do with the Uchiha Clan, I might consider it as a favor between friends. But this concerns the village. Even though the Hokage has given me decision-making authority, I can’t just give up the village’s interests. Whatever was agreed upon, that’s what it is. Not a penny less," Sōgen said firmly.

Yagura's true purpose had become clear—he was there to negotiate the large war reparations owed. It wasn't that Yagura wanted to break the original agreement; he simply wanted to make Sōgen aware that the Mist Village was financially incapable of paying such a large sum at the moment. Even repaying it in installments would take an uncertain amount of time.

Yagura hoped that Sōgen might feel sympathetic or find it troublesome and reduce the amount. That was his plan. He wasn’t trying to break the agreement but rather hoped that if Konoha took the initiative to reduce the compensation, it wouldn’t be considered a breach of contract.

That’s why Sōgen had made it clear that he wouldn’t help reduce the compensation, as that would mean betraying Konoha’s interests.

Click!

The sound of the piece landing on the board echoed crisply.

Yagura’s youthful face showed a hint of helplessness.

He asked cautiously, "Is there really no other way?"

"Mizukage-sama, there's no room for negotiation on this. If I were to yield here, it would become a stain on my reputation that I could never wash away," Sōgen said, his eyes scanning the board. "As the leader of the Uchiha Clan, any dishonor I carry would also disgrace the clan."

Yagura sighed again. Though he had mentally prepared himself for this outcome, it was hard not to feel disappointed.

"However, there might be a way," Sōgen added, twirling a piece between his fingers, dangling a thin thread of hope before Yagura’s complete despair.

Yagura’s eyes lit up, and he stared intently at Sōgen. "Clan Leader Uchiha, please speak plainly. As long as it’s within reason, I don’t care if it costs me my life."

"Your life isn’t necessary. If I were interested in that, it would’ve only taken one swing back then. As for my solution... Mizukage-sama, ninjas have value," Sōgen said with a meaningful smile, placing another piece on the board.

Yagura furrowed his brow.

"Ninjas have value?"

Of course ninjas have value, but what's the point of saying that? Could he possibly be suggesting selling Mist ninjas to Konoha?

"The situation in the Mist Village isn’t great, and Konoha is also in a tight spot. Both Cloud and Stone ninjas seem to think Konoha is weak right now, and they’re making moves. While it’s manageable for now, if a real war breaks out, Konoha will likely be short on manpower."

Although Sōgen was no longer in the village, he still had contact with it. Any major movements in Konoha would be relayed to him, albeit with some delay. For instance, the news about the return of a certain Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku was only now on its way to him. However, the latest updates were enough for Sōgen to grasp the situation.

He was well aware of the skirmishes happening on the borders with the Cloud and Stone villages.

Sōgen didn’t mind revealing Konoha’s difficulties to Yagura. Holding the Three-Tails, he wasn’t worried about the Mist Village doing anything reckless—if it came to it, he could sweep through the village with the Three-Tails by his side.

"I... I can't make a decision on this right now," Yagura Karatachi did not immediately give a clear answer to Sōgen.

What Sōgen suggested wasn’t impossible. Currently, Konoha and Kirigakure were no longer in an adversarial relationship. In fact, they would soon cooperate due to that one-eyed bastard, so the two villages could roughly be considered allies. If it was under the banner of aiding an ally, mobilizing manpower was feasible.

However, just as Sōgen mentioned, ninjas are valuable.

Kirigakure’s revival also relies on the support of manpower, this precious resource. Konoha might be stretched thin, but wasn't Kirigakure in the same situation? Aside from the casualties from the previous great war, the port incident took the lives of many more, not to mention the population decline Kirigakure has been facing over the years.

"No worries, Konoha's situation isn't dire yet. We still have time to discuss this thoroughly," Sōgen said, pointing at the chessboard, signaling Yagura to make a move.

Yagura shook his head, setting aside his thoughts for now. This was not something that could be decided in a short time. He still needed to discuss it with Genji and the higher-ups of the village. For now, his attention should be on the game at hand.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 135: The Crow and the Snake*

Lead-colored clouds blocked out the sunlight. Cold mist dampened the hem of his coat. Even though it was just past noon, the gloomy sky made it feel like night was about to fall. Uchiha Shisui walked along a mostly deserted street, tightening his coat and scanning the shops on either side. After walking halfway down the street, he finally saw a small diner that was open for business.

At this point, he clearly had no room to be picky.

His stomach growled loudly.

After days of eating cold food on the road, he missed a hot bowl of red bean soup with mochi and stir-fried udon.

The diner was small, with fewer than ten seats. The dim yellow light brought a touch of warmth, and the floor was spotless. There was little noise, with only two customers quietly enjoying their lunch in the farthest corner.

Shisui pulled out a chair at an empty table near the entrance and sat down.

"Welcome! What would you like to order?"

The waitress was a short girl with bright, curious eyes—probably the owner’s daughter. Small family-run shops like this often didn’t have the luxury of hiring extra staff. Whether in the Land of Water or the Land of Fire, the lives of ordinary people were the same: tough and unrelenting.

The old man with fully white hair, likely her grandfather, was also wiping down tables that were already clean.

Shisui took the menu and scanned it. Luckily, he immediately spotted stir-fried udon and red bean soup with mochi. "Do you have everything on the menu?"

"We do! What would you like?"

Her voice was bright and clear.

"Hmm… I'll have the stir-fried udon and the red bean soup with mochi," Shisui said, patting his rumbling stomach. He decided to treat himself today and glanced over the menu again. "Also, give me an order of grilled pork and fried chicken cutlet."

He had only eaten a cold plum rice ball for breakfast while rushing on his journey, and now that was long gone. His stomach was completely empty.

He couldn't help but sigh at his own indulgence.

Back on the battlefield, there were times he wouldn’t have a hot meal for days, surviving on military rations. But now, just skipping one meal left him feeling ravenous. Living in peace truly softened one’s resolve.

The wait felt endless.

Shisui’s mind began to wander, thinking about his mission to find the Six Paths Tools. The intelligence he received from Sougen was frustratingly vague, with only some islands of various sizes circled on a map of the Land of Water. But once Shisui arrived, he realized that those circles represented areas much larger than they appeared on the map.

A tiny dot of an island on the map could actually take half an hour to cross.

And that was measured by a ninja's speed.

To find a few ancient tools that could be hidden in any random corner, he couldn’t just dash across the island and be done. He needed to comb every inch of land. After searching two small islands without any luck, Shisui realized this approach wasn’t going to work—he needed a better plan.

But he hadn’t come up with one yet.

It had been decades since the tools were lost. If they were easy to find, someone would have discovered them by now. Many of the islands were desolate, with no one to ask for help or even share old stories. All he could do was search every inch of the land.

"Where could they be?"

Shisui rubbed his temples, frustrated.

The sooner he found the Six Paths Tools, the sooner he could go home. But given the current situation, he doubted he’d finish this mission quickly. It might drag on until his time ran out, with nothing to show for it. This needle-in-a-haystack task was wearing him down.

"Are you looking for someone… or something?"

A raspy voice broke into his thoughts, sending a chill down Shisui’s spine.

The voice dripped with malice, coiling around him like a poisonous snake.

But—

Shisui didn’t move.

"Who are you?" he asked, calm but alert.

In the deepest corner of the diner sat two figures, one large and one small. The smaller one was a boy, about seven or eight years old, with white hair, green eyes, and red marks on his forehead. He was strikingly handsome. As for the person sitting across from him, most of their body was hidden behind a pillar, with only a glimpse of long black hair reaching down to their waist visible to Shisui.

When Shisui entered the diner, his trained eyes had quickly noticed that the boy had already refined chakra—a significant amount, too, enough for Shisui to genuinely admire his talent. The other person… made Shisui feel a sense of danger and faint familiarity.

The man hadn’t shown any hostility when Shisui entered.

Shisui, who preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble, had no intention of provoking them. But it seemed the other person had no such reservations. After a long silence, their deep malice finally surfaced.

"Shisui, we’ve met before when you joined the Anbu. Have you forgotten me already?"

The man’s voice slithered from behind the pillar as his head turned unnaturally 180 degrees. A pale face, devoid of any color, stared back at Shisui. His golden, snake-like eyes glimmered with excitement and cruelty. His purple eye shadow extended to his nose, and two blue-green magatama earrings dangled from his ears.

This man—

"Orochimaru?!"

Shisui’s expression became serious.

He hadn’t expected to run into Orochimaru, Konoha's most wanted criminal, here of all places. Was this good luck or bad?

Back when Shisui joined the Anbu, Orochimaru hadn’t yet defected, so they’d crossed paths a few times. It made sense that he found the man familiar but couldn’t immediately place him.

"What are you doing here?"

Shisui's Sharingan flared red as he glared at Orochimaru.

"Is it strange for a rogue ninja like me to wander about? But you, Shisui—what are you doing here? This isn’t Konoha, nor is it the Land of Fire. What are you searching for?" Orochimaru licked his lips, his curiosity blatant.

Though he had defected from Konoha, Orochimaru still had many followers who fed him information, including his ally Danzo. Even after leaving the village, he remained well-informed about its affairs—until Danzo's sudden death, followed by the unexpected ousting of his former teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Hokage.

This series of shocking events brought Orochimaru’s attention back to the Uchiha clan, which had seemingly fallen into obscurity.

Especially when his spies reported seeing a "deep crimson skeletal giant," reminding Orochimaru of the notes left behind by the Second Hokage. Those notes described the "Mangekyō Sharingan" and "Susanoo."

At the time, none of the Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the clan’s elite jōnin were troublesome to deal with. Starting a conflict with them would have been risky. Orochimaru had put aside his research on the Mangekyō for later.

He never imagined that later would come so soon. Uchiha Sougen had demonstrated the power of Susanoo in full view of many.

Just as Orochimaru was preparing to leave the Land of Water and return to the Land of Fire, he received more intelligence: Sougen had led Konoha’s forces in a major battle against the Hidden Mist at the eastern border. So Orochimaru decided to stay in the Land of Water, continuing his own search for two long-lost corpses.

Then—

He received word that Sougen had come to the Land of Water and was heading for the Hidden Mist Village.

And now, just as Orochimaru had finished his search and was heading toward the village, he stumbled upon another Uchiha.

"This has nothing to do with you, Orochimaru. You’d better think about how you’ll atone for your crimes once you’re in Konoha’s prison!"

Shisui stood up, pushing his chair back and drawing the small sword strapped to his back, ready for battle.

If it had been a rogue ninja from the Mist, Stone, Sand, or Cloud Villages, Shisui likely wouldn’t have gotten involved. But Orochimaru was Konoha’s rogue ninja. Now that they had crossed paths, Shisui couldn’t simply turn a blind eye.

And besides—

Orochimaru clearly had no intention of letting Shisui go. Before facing Sougen, he relished the chance to spar with another Uchiha of the three-tomoe Sharingan level. Not only would it help him brush up on his memory of fighting the Uchiha, but with a little luck, he might even get his hands on a pair of Sharingan.

"Atonement?"

Orochimaru sneered. "Such things mean nothing to me, Shisui. Now, why don’t you give me your eyes right here and now?"

(End of Chapter)