Kaguya Kimijiro's question plunged Kisame, Zabuza, and Terumi Mei into deep thought.
Changed by that man, have you experienced the peace and beauty of life?
No...
Do you want to see for yourself how you've been changed?
Terumi Mei rolled her eyes at Kaguya Kimijiro's slight smile, somewhat irritated.
Does everyone have to be like you?
Do they have to be beaten all over their bones before they can listen to others properly?
"Although Suikazan Fuguki is directly under the Third Mizukage's Anbu, our two opposing factions working together probably won't be discovered by the village..."
Kisame said in a deep voice: "We're not trying to betray the village, we're just trying to survive!"
Terumi Mei frowned and slowly analyzed:
"That guy Suikazan Fuguki, according to the original plan, should be pegged as a spy bought by Shimura Danzo, so that the Third Mizukage's attention won't be focused on us."
"The cooperation between the Hidden Mist Anbu and the Bloodline Ninja Clan can be justified only if there's an insider, making this story stand firm."
Kaguya Kimijiro shrugged: "If you feel happy staying in this village, I don't mind. Today's incident can be considered as if it never happened, and we can each continue our lives..."
"But since we've collaborated, that counts as having some bond, I can share a secret with you."
Kaguya Kimijiro's eyes flashed with a hint of complexity:
"Lord Aomi's Dead Bone Pulse is stronger than me, a genius acknowledged by the clan. He also has Uchiha bloodline, and is even proficient in Lava Release and Boil Release..."
"Have you seen that? Under those Sharingan eyes, even Kisame's chakra absorption was copied."
"With such talent and strength, the ultimate display of the Dead Bone Pulse of the Kaguya Clan might be seen in him!"
Kaguya Kimijiro became excited and his face temporarily returned to a frenzied look:
"In the Ancient Era, being able to evolve the Dead Bone Pulse to another level! Just like the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"The Kaguya Clan has pursued this for a hundred years, and now I finally see a glimmer of hope..."
"Not only is he very powerful, but also very gentle-hearted, towards me, a clan member, even with his mighty strength, he patiently guided me, letting me experience the beauty of life..."
As Kaguya Kimijiro started to mutter, Terumi Mei, Zabuza, and Kisame automatically tuned out his words.
But just as he said, Aomi indeed spared their lives.
A man with such strength, and of the Uchiha Clan, does he need to spare their lives just to appease Konoha?
Previously, they might have thought Aomi was apprehensive of the peace treaty...
But seeing the grandson of the Hidden Sand Village's advisor, that genius Puppet Master had his hands severed, dispelled their doubts.
A puppet master losing both hands is akin to death.
But even with the same proactive attack, Sasori ended up maimed, while Aomi was very gentle in his dealing with them.
Why is this so?
He even proactively said some recruiting words, thinking that they wouldn't be happy harming their comrades...
Terumi Mei's eyes flickered, pondering silently:
"Is it the blood of the Hidden Mist? Uchiha Aomi has Kaguya Clan's bloodline in him, so he's half a Hidden Mist Ninja too."
"He also knows Boil Release and Lava Release, being the first man in this ninja world apart from me to master Lava Release."
"If he were to become the Third Mizukage..." Terumi Mei's heart skipped a beat at this crazy thought.
But on second thought, Aomi becoming the Mizukage doesn't seem abrupt; looking back, it isn't hard to accept. His appearance and combat style coincide with it well.
A ninja who can do Lava Release, Boil Release, and is proficient in Dead Bone Pulse – isn't that the ideal template for the Mizukage of Hidden Mist?
If he knew a couple more Water Release moves, he'd look even more the part.
"What a pity, he's from the Uchiha Clan—a ninja should be proficient in Fire Release, not Water Release, right?" Terumi Mei contemplated internally.
The internal situation of the Hidden Mist could be described as a dark forest, suffocatingly oppressive.
This village, in the original timeline, produced the most traitorous ninja, even the Mizukage's direct Anbu, and most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist defected.
Biwa Juzo, Hoshigaki Kisame, Momochi Zabuza, Kurosuki Raiga, even the Six-Tailed Jinchuriki defected...
The remaining Hidden Mist Ninja either didn't want to defect or were thoroughly purged by the Mizukage, leaving one of the Five Great Hidden Villages with no choice but to appoint Chojuro as the Sixth Mizukage.
In Konoha, that's like Gekkou Hayate becoming Hokage, indicating they truly ran out of personnel.
Kaguya Kimijiro and Terumi Mei exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thoughts in each other's eyes.
Can Konoha defeat the Ninja World Alliance Army?
To be honest, even if Aomi could kill them in a second, they aren't optimistic...
After all, the Kage and the Jinchuriki from each village aren't sitting idly by, and Konoha isn't exactly unified, with the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha's upper echelon already out in the open.
But!
Konoha is Konoha, the Uchiha are the Uchiha, and Aomi is Aomi...
Even if Konoha is defeated, as long as the Uchiha Clan remains, or rather as long as Aomi remains, it is enough.
The Hidden Mist today lacks a cornerstone figure in the Bloodline Ninja Clan who can oppose the Third Mizukage head-on...