T/N: Just realized i.posted chapter 270 twice.
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The Land of Water, Kirigakure.
The village, enveloped in mist and nestled by the vast sea, serves as the maritime gateway to the Land of Water.
Among the five great nations, Kirigakure stood out as the ninja village most adept at water warfare. The sea and lakes were favored combat environments for Kirigakure ninjas.
After the morning's busy political affairs, Yagura was accustomed to ascending to the roof of the Mizukage Building, gazing at the endless sea, a ritual that brought him both physical and mental relaxation. The prolonged pressure of his responsibilities had burdened Yagura with numerous troubles.
When he first cane to power, many elders criticized him, and the inclusion of Kisame as a candidate for the Seven Ninja Swords only fueled further discontent.
Although Kirigakure had rapidly regained strength in recent years, with the council elders have seemingly calmed down. However, Yagura was aware they still watched his every move, ready to seize any opportunity to cause trouble.
The recent assassination of the daimyo and Kisame's defection have provided these people with reasons to attack Yagura. Consequently, he had to compromise during a council meeting, acknowledging the incident's roots in his misjudgment of people.
This compromise further strained relations between Kirigakure and the nobles of Land of Water. Some nobles even viewed Kisame as a mere instrument of destruction wielded by the Mizukage, alleging the swordsmen's defection occurred under thr Mizukage's instigation. Lack of evidence and insufficient testimony, however, rendered these accusations baseless.
Gazing at the boundless sea, Yagura exhaled, feeling a release of the tension accumulated in the past few days.
Only a handful of people in Kirigakure know the truth about Kisame. These people were trusted confidantes handpicked by Yagura, they had unquestionable loyalty to both him and the village.
From the beginning, Yagura hesitated about removing Kisame from Kiri. Following the civil strife, Kiri's strength had declined, and Kisamewas an indispensable asset.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a group of elite jounin representing the pinnacle of Kiri, requiredd the most skilled ninja to join their ranks. Kisame, as an exemplary member, possesses formidable strength. However, considering future plans, Yagura saw sending Kisame on the spy mission as more beneficial than retaining him in Kiri.
Given the circumstances, Kirigakure needed to step up in developing talents and cultivating a new generation of excellent ninjas to uphold its future pillar as soon as possible.
From Genji's intentions, he will abdicate the Mizukage position in a few more years, allowing another ninja assume the role. But before then he had to make preparations to ensure a smooth transition.
After mentally going in circles awhile, Yagura went down from the roof to his office.
Ao was diligently organizing documents.
"Don't you need to rest a little longer, Mizukage-sama? You've been working late at night for the past few days. Perhaps you should seek a medical ninja to restore your energy?" Ao asked, expressing concern.
While diligence in political affairs was admirable, Ao believed that if Yagura exhausted himself, the gains were not worth the losses. Having emerged from the shadow of the blood mist, Kirigakure, under Yagura's leadership, has rapidly resumed development. Ao thought it was an appropriate time for Yagura to relax.
"Don't worry; my body is fine. Go ahead and summon a medical ninja if you insist. But i'm not as fragile as you think, Ao." Yagura reassured. After all, he was middle-aged and could manage over a fortnight of high-intensity work.
"If you say so, Mizukage-sama. But please do pay more heed to your health."
"I understand. However, when it comes to physical recuperation, I truly miss the warmth of the Land of Demons. I visited there not long ago, but i had to rush back. I couldn't enjoy there properly. In the future, after I abdicate, I plan to retire for a while." Yagura stretched and voiced something as it crossed his mind.
"You are Kirigakure's Mizukage. Is it proper to say such things?" Ao gave Yagura an admonishing look.
"You're too strict, Ao. As per the agreement with Elder Genji, I will be abdicating in a few years, giving way to the virtuous."
"Terumi Mei...huh? Her influence has indeed been on the rise recently under Elder Genji's operations."
Ao pondered for a moment, understanding the situation. It wasn't difficult for him to see that, barring accidents, she was the presumed Fifth Mizukage. Even in the event of an accident, Yagura would remove the obstacles to ensure Terumi Mei inherited his position. Given ther cooperation with the Land of Demons, she was a trusted insider and a consenting party.
Replacing the Mizukage with someone else might jeopardize the cooperation with the Land of Demons, negatively impacting Kirigakure's future development. With Mei in charge, such risks were minimized.
Ao had no objections to this. Whoever lead Kirigakure as Mizukage, as long as they guide it towards strength and prevent a repeat of the Blood Mist tragedy, it didn't matter to Ao who assumed the role. His relationship with Mei was relatively harmonious. Although she worked as a Mizukage guard, she rarely visited.
"Before then, I will get everything in order for her."
Yagura said as he resumed his seat. It was indeed regrettable not to continue as the Mizukage, but compared to Kirigakure's path towards reform and improvement, clinging to power was inconsequential.
Moreover, being the Jinchuriki of the Three Tails meant he would eventually become a target for Akatsuki. In case of an accident, falling into Akatsuki's hands would be detrimental. Preparing for the worst in every aspect was essential. Planning ahead and considering all possibilities was the responsibility of a Kage.
"I feel too many people keep on misunderstanding Mizukage-sama." Ao sighed.
Bearing the burden of suppressing the blood mist alone, it was challenging to fathom the pressure Yagura endured during the coup d'état. Facts have proven Yagura's approach correct. The extermination of the blood mist severely damaged Kiri but brought long-term stability, laying a solid foundation for future development.
They also received technological support from the Land of Demons secretly. With their assistance, Kiri's medical system underwent significant changes. The decrease in the number of ninja teams going on missions in recent years reflected it was a wise decision.
"Well, It doesn't matter. After all, I pursued the Mizukage's power then. Well, let's not dwell on it. Anyway, enough of the past. Are there any talented academy students worth noting this year?" Yagura inquired.
"There are quite a few, especially from the Kaguya clan. One from the clan has achieved many notable combat results which would be difficult for ordinary genins to achieve."
Ao picked up a report, scanned it, and relayed the information to Yagura.
"Kaguya? That battle-crazy clan? I thought they were all dead."
"Please refrain from making such terrible jokes, Mizukage-sama. Their kekkei genkai is still invaluable for the village, and in the world, those who could match them in taijutsu are quite rare."
Ao spoke earnestly.
The Kaguya clan possesses the blood succession limit called the 'Dead Bone Pulse' (Shikotsumyaku). Although, few ever awakened it due to the scarcity of heirs, those who have exhibited terrifying physical abilities.
The Kaguya clan's obsessive pursuit of battle was on par with Konoha's Uchiha clan. In battles, ninjas from the clan fearlessly charge to the forefront, engaging enemies in bloody combat.
Sometimes, even the reigning Mizukage found this group of combat enthusiasts challenging to handle.
"Really? Anything else?"
"Also from the Yuki clan."
"Kekkei Genkai... truly a unique talent."
In response to Ao's information, Yagura sighed.
Similar to the Kaguya Clan, the Yuki Clan was a ninja clan with Kekkei Genkai. Members of this clan possessed the Ice Release. However, the chances of awakening their bloodline was higher than that of the Kaguya clan.
"Blood is a form of power, understandable. It's the precious legacy of their ancestors, but using it skillfully isn't easy."
Ao nodded, acknowledging that bloodline limit ninja often surpass ordinary ninjas in their potential. So calling it a ninja's strength is valid.
"What are their names?"
"Kaguya Maro and Yuki Shiro are in the fourth year, but from the assessment, there's no issue with them graduating early. Both have strength surpassing most genins, and... they are showing signs of awakening their kekkei genkai."
The Yuki's Ice Release was power, and has a higher probability of awakening, Ao didn't find it too surprising. However, the Kaguya's Bone Pulse was extremely rare. The ability to manipulate bones freely, with bones harder than steel, serving as both a sharp weapon and a sturdy shield.
"Is that so? It seems these two are likely the top students in their grade.".
"No, the situation may differ from your expectations, Mizukage-sama." Ao smiled wryly.
"What's wrong?"
"They are ranked second and third in their year, not first and second."
"Second and third? Another student?"
Ao shrugged helplessly.
"Mahiru Kazuhime... No, it should be Chiba Kazuhime; she's the chief of the fourth year."
"Her... huh."
Yagura wasn't surprised when Ao's spoke the name.. Shiraishi had already informed him of Kazuhime's abnormality; she was essentially a human-tailed beast under seal. If it were her, defeating her l
peer from the Kaguya and Yuki clan wouldn't be surprising.
"In any case, we must increase the training for the academy students'. In the past, developing children were needlessly killed in graduation exams due to the Bloody Mist. We can't let that tragedy repeat itself."
"Yes." Ao responded solemnly.
While the blood mist policy cultivated powerful ninjas, it also sacrificed numerous promising seeds. As a result, there were few from the younger generation in Kiri who could carry the village's banner.
More were killed by batchmates in graduation duels or died attempting the exam. It was an agonizing history that Kirigakure would remember forever.
....
No matter how vigilant, lone ninja out in the wilds are never vigilant enough,
Kisame often reminded himself. He found himself pondering this as he walked along a moonlit field road surrounded by vast darkness.
In his hand, he held the lifeless body of his target for the reward mission. A ninja who had defected from Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, A-rank with a bounty of 12 million ryo.
It took Kisame ten days to gather information and two days to eliminate his target.Difficulty stemmed from tracking these rogues down as they kept moving.
His primary sources of information were now the underground market, but information came at a cost; he needed money to buy it.
Consequently, a portion of every bounty he earned had to be paid to the market platform, increasing Kisame's survival pressure. However, as time passed, bounty hunting became more manageable. Overall, Kisame was content with his current life, especially compared to the beginning challenges.
Walking on the wilderness path, Kisame looked at the crescent moon in the sky, and a grin spread across his face, revealing his sharp teeth.
"Here we go again, where is it from..."
The once bright moonlight suddenly dimmed, not due to the dark clouds in the sky, but a suspicious mist enveloping the environment. The mist, laden with killing intent, conveyed a chilling sensation through the cold air.
This was the hidden mist jutsu, a vision-obscuring ninjutsu that Kiri's hunter nins excelled at. Even the reputed Uchiha clan's Sharingan would struggle against this high-level Jutsu, and even wind release couldn't dispel it.
During the blood mist era, Kiri gained notoriety for its ruthless hunter nins, using extreme and brutal means to deter both internal and external threats. Even Kisame harbored deep fear of their power.
As a direct unit under Mizukage's authority, they consisted of elite ninjas from Kirigakure, displaying extraordinary strength. Fighting them alone would be extremely foolish.
From the dense mist, a barrage of kunai swiftly emerged, all targeting his vital areas. Without hesitation, Kisame released the bounty target's body, unsheathed Samehada from his back, with a swing he expertly deflecting the incoming kunai.
As a rogue ninja, it was inevitable to be pursued by the hunter nins. While they might be unaware of the truth about his defection, Kisame wouldn't allow them to attack him with impunity.
"Water Release - Water Shark Bullet!"
The water surrounding Kisame transformed into a ferocious shark, its sharp teeth lunging into the dense fog.
Splash!
The water shark collided with a tall water wall, causing the water flow to disperse. The splashing droplets fell like rain, bringing a sense of humidity.
Soon after, a larger water dragon emerged from the mist. The Water Release - Water Dragon Bullet was a jutsu many Kiri nins knew well.
Judging by the water dragon's size and chakra, the ninja behind this jutsu was undoubtedly a top-tier ninja
Kisame swiftly slashed, leaving the bounty target's body behind, uninterested in retrieving it. For him, the bounty hunter role was merely a means to attract 'customers.' Sustaining injuries for money in this situation seemed utterly useless to him.
Even if he lost this particular business, it wouldn't impact his means livelihood. His priority now was figuring out how to evade the hunter nins.
These hunter nisn came at the Mizukage's order despite being unaware of the defection's true circumstances. While mentally prepared for this, Kisame still found it disheartening each time. This seemingly humiliating life was just the beginning, and the road ahead promised to be even more challenging.
The one relief was that hunter nins with jutsu that could counter his Water Release would never appear. This was part of the secret agreement between himself anf Yagura to ensure his safety.
Given Kiri's extensive ninja population, there were undoubtedly those with special abilities capable of countering his ninjutsu. This would put his life at risk.
Such situations were to be avoided whenever possible, and drastic measures could be taken if necessary. The incessant swishing sounds from behind indicated the relentless pursuit of from the hunters.
For Kiri, a wandering S-rank rogue was likely to endanger the security and stability of the village and the country in the future.
Especially Kisame, one ninja of ninja swordsmen who defected from the village, he knew too many secrets about Kiri. Once part of the secrets were revealed, it would cause an extremely disadvantageous situation for the village. This dangerous and unstable defected ninja needed to be eliminated as soon as possible..
"How annoying. At this rate I'll never shake them off." Kisame muttered.
Ignoring the hunting troops from other villages, Kisame was well aware of the relentless attitude of Kirigakure's hunting troops. The group seemed to have a twisted sense towards traitors, encountering them meant it wasn't easy to shake them off.
Kisame then went deep into the forest. The color of the surrounding dense mist had faded as he escaped from the coverage of the hidden mist jutsu. The bright moonlight shone on the earth again, bringing new light to the dark forest. The footsteps of the hunter nins behind him had disappeared from his ears at some point.
"Hmm?" Kisame raised his eyebrows, realizing things were getting complicated.
With their' attitude towards defectors, it was impossible for them to let him go so easily. He was even ready for a tough battle when escape seemed unlikely. But the chasing squad had disappeared inexplicably, which made him feel things had become strange.
While he was in thoughts, the land in front of him changed, as if something was about to emerge. Kisame jumped back without hesitation, holding his sword tightly and showing vigilance.
The creature which emerged from the ground was no ordinary being or could hardly be described as human. Half black, half white, surrounded by plant-like structures resembling pitcher plants, it appeared as if two distinct people were stitched together.
"Who are you?"
Kisame didn't relax his vigilance; rather, he became more cautious once this strange creature surfaced. As intelligence had suggested, they excelled at concealment. Only when they revealed itself did he become aware of teri presence.
"Just call us 'white and black'." The white half of the creature giggled while answering Kisame's question.
"You?" Kisame asked.
"Yes, my name is White Zetsu, his name is Black Zetsu, and our name after fusing is White and Black Zetsu. But why the vigilant attitude? It's rare for us to divert Kiri's hunter nins for you. Shouldn't you be grateful to us?" White Zetsu said nonsensically.
Black Zetsu on the right half was expressionless, seemingly dominated by White Zetsu, just silently staring at Kisame. But Kisame could vaguely sense that the silent Black Zetsu was far more dangerous than the talkative White Zetsu.
"I didn't ask for your help. If there is nothing else, I'll be taking my leave first." Kisame said, putting his sword behind his back. He turned to leave without hesitation.
"If you go on like this, it will be very difficult to survive in the world, Hoshigaki Kisame, the outcast of Kirigakure." Black Zetsu suddenly said, breaking the silence.
"So you've investigated me. It seems you came prepared." Kisame said, narrowing his eyes dangerously.
"We are from an organization and hope you can join. Once you join, Kiri will no longer be of any threat to you. You've seen our excellent ability to distract the enemy. Even Kiri's most elite hunting troops were blinded by the illusion we created."
Black Zetsu said. He understood that for Kisame now, the most significant pressure was the issue of survival, which came from his lack of intelligence, making him an easy target for Kirigakure's hunting troops. Every time he escaped danger, he had to spend substantial effort to safely get away from the chasing ninjas.
"Sorry, although you helped me, I'm not interested in joining any organization. Don't bother me again" Kisame frowned, dissatisfaction evident on his face.
"Don't rush to refuse us. We came today to greet you and solve your troublesome issue. A traitorous ninja like you will undoubtedly become the village's key hunting target. Only we can help you." Black Zetsu followed up well, not rushing to recruit Kisame into Akatsuki but slowly plotting.
"Hmph, boring. Forget it. Don't bother me again in the future. I'm known for my bad temper." Kisame snorted coldly, completely disregarding Black Zetsu's threat. He turned and immediately used the body flicker, disappearing from the night forest.
"Oh, the recruitment failed. He left without hesitation. It seems he can't even be bothered to listen to our nonsense." White Zetsu said, never taking it too seriously and laughing.
"No, I didn't expect instant success in recruiting him, but our sincerity will eventually leave an impression." Black zetsu commented, gazing in the direction Kisame departed. After these words, he slowly sank into the ground, disappearing along with White zetsu.