"Right, I haven't asked yet. How is Kirigakure after my death?"
Gengetsu said as if he'd just remembered. "You're a Mizukage too, little guy?"
"Don't let my looks fool you, I already have a grandson."
Yagura had a black line on his forehead. He just had a baby face.
It didn't mean he was young.
"Oh, I see. Right, you haven't said how Kirigakure is doing."
Gengetsu laughed heartily.
"Before I died, Kirigakure was doing well. At least we didn't suffer many losses after the war."
Sandaime Mizukage still had his eyes closed. "It's also related to our geographical location."
"Indeed, our location makes it hard to invade, though it's not fertile either, except for abundant aquatic products."
Gengetsu nodded, looking at Yagura.
"Kirigakure has declined. At least under my rule, it did."
Yagura sighed, his eyes full of dejection.
He launched a coup to change Kirigakure, but in the end, he accomplished nothing. Instead, he plunged Kirigakure into an irredeemable situation.
"Is that so?"
Gengetsu looked at him carefully. "Anyway, we're already dead. Worrying about those things is useless."
"Right, do you know who succeeded you?"
"I can only guess. I didn't choose a Godaime Mizukage before I died." Yagura looked up. "If it's her, she definitely won't fail like I did. She'll surely elevate Kirigakure to greatness."
"Her?"
Gengetsu raised an eyebrow.
"That's right. Her name is Terumi Mei. A lovely junior."
Yagura couldn't help but show a slight smile.
However, Gengetsu was utterly stunned.
"After a blind man and a kid, Kirigakure actually let a woman take over?"
"It seems the world wants to destroy our Kirigakure!"
…
Amid Gengetsu's grumbling, the three, following Orochimaru's instructions, headed towards Konoha.
Orochimaru and Kabuto followed secretly behind.
"Orochimaru-sama, are you sure they can do it?"
Kabuto voiced the doubts he had suppressed earlier. "Even if they can unleash their peak strength, they aren't necessarily stronger than the Shodaime Hokage!"
"Though their frontal combat power might not match up, they have an advantage: they are Kirigakure's Shinobi."
Orochimaru explained slightly. "In terms of stealth and assassination skills, Kirigakure's Shinobi are first-rate. In this aspect, they are not inferior to Shodaime."
"So that's how it is."
Kabuto nodded in understanding.
"This time, it should be foolproof."
A smile appeared at the corner of Orochimaru's mouth, as if he could already see Takumi being brought before him.
…
Meanwhile.
Konoha.
Takumi had just finished his mission in the Land of Snow and returned to Konoha with Kakashi and the group.
'After so much time, those people should have given up the assassination plan and gone home, right?'
Just after submitting the mission report and receiving some praise from Hiruzen, Takumi walked home, thinking this.
'Better simulate it to be sure.'
'System, initiate targeted simulation for the next 24 hours.'
Takumi gave the order. At least for today, he wanted to rest.
He wondered if he'd have the chance.
[Simulation Begins!]
[One hour later, you return home and have a passionate reunion with Kurenai.]
[Two hours later, feeling refreshed, you stroll around the streets, receiving a warm welcome at Ichiraku Ramen from Teuchi and Ayame.]
[Three hours later, thick fog shrouds Konoha, raising alarms. Three faces, some familiar, some unfamiliar, appear before you.]
[You recognize two of them: the Nidaime Mizukage and the Yondaime Mizukage, deducing the unknown one is Sandaime Mizukage.]
[Currently, the only person in your knowledge who can summon the dead is Orochimaru, who masters the Impure World Reincarnation.]
[After a fierce battle, Yagura uses the Water Mirror Technique to summon a clone with strength equal to yours. Gengetsu uses Steaming Danger Tyranny, causing massive damage to Konoha.]
[Four hours later, other Konoha's Shinobi arrive, but suffer heavy losses facing Gengetsu's extremely powerful explosive Ninjutsu.]
[Five hours later, you finally locate Orochimaru and force him to retreat. The three Mizukage are also forced to retreat.]
[After the battle, Konoha suffers heavy losses, with many buildings destroyed.]
[At night, Orochimaru repeats the tactic, attacking with the three Mizukage again, causing further massive damage and many casualties.]
[Simulation Ends.]
'Holy crap?!'
'They're back again?'
Takumi frowned deeply.
'Damn... I thought those assassins had gone home, and now a new wave shows up!'
'And this time, it's troublesome.'
'Three Kage-level Impure World Reincarnations again.'
'The Nidaime Mizukage's Steaming Danger Tyranny is an infinite explosive Ninjutsu with immense power and range.'
'If he successfully uses it inside the village, it will cause massive damage.'
'The Yondaime Mizukage is also a problem.'
'Not only is he a perfect Jinchuriki, but that Water Mirror Technique is also very tricky.'
As for Sandaime Mizukage, Takumi wasn't familiar with him.
But being a Kage of a village, Takumi believed he isn't an easy opponent either.
So the battlefield must be restricted outside the village.
He wasn't worried about himself getting hurt.
But Kurenai and the others are in the village.
And the girls with whom he's been intimate… how could he just watch them die?
"Sigh..."
"I just got back from a long journey, and now I have to face this."
Takumi sighed helplessly, thinking Orochimaru was a real scourge.
He'd damn well forced him to become Konoha's number one workhorse!
Just as Takumi was considering countermeasures, another group was quietly approaching the forests outside the Land of Fire.
"You! Why drag me along?"
Kakuzu looked displeased. He had just finished checking the accounts when Kisame forcibly dragged him out.
"Heh heh, Kakuzu-senpai is a great senior who's been active in the Shinobi World for decades. You must have seen a lot of Ninjutsu, right?"
Kisame smiled apologetically. "I just want to borrow your wisdom to help me find a way to deal with that Takumi."
"Takumi?"
Kakuzu's face darkened, recalling that dark chapter of his history.
That sense of powerlessness, no matter how he attacked, he couldn't hit his opponent.
Thinking about it now still filled him with frustration.
"Fine, if that's the case, I'll reluctantly help you think of a way."
Thinking of this, Kakuzu immediately agreed. "But don't take too long. I still need to find a few bounty targets. The organization's funds seem a bit short again recently."
"Then thank you, Kakuzu-senpai."
Kisame looked satisfied.
He and Kakuzu headed towards Konoha.
Yet, by sheer coincidence, when they arrived within Konoha's borders, they accidentally discovered another group heading for Konoha.
It was the three Mizukage.