Fuguki had long positioned his subordinates throughout the Mizukage Building. The moment his trap was sprung, when the intruders entered the target zone, he gave the signal without hesitation.
"Water Release: Water Hail Jutsu!"
A barrage of high-pressure water bullets shot from every direction. Under normal circumstances, the office's walls would have offered some protection but this time, Obito had already tampered with them through White Zetsu's manipulation.
The seemingly solid walls might as well have been made of paper. Water bullets tore through them like machine-gun rounds, ripping into everything within sight.
Screams filled the air.
"Ah—ah—ah!"
Mei Terumī's operatives were caught completely off guard. Several were struck before they could react, collapsing in sprays of blood. Some were hit in vital points and died instantly; others were riddled with holes, their bodies exploding into crimson mist.
The destruction was catastrophic. Tables, chairs, scrolls, and documents were shredded into ruin. The Mizukage's once-pristine office was now a battlefield drenched in blood and splinters.
In the lounge, the restrained Yagura made no move to resist. Then, when one of the water bullets struck him, his body dissolved into smoke.
A Shadow Clone.
"Why…?" Mei Terumī demanded, glancing at Ao—who had stepped in front of her, taking several hits meant for her.
Her question carried two meanings:
Why had his Byakugan failed to detect the deception?
And why was he shielding her now, risking his life?
"I… just remembered…" Ao grunted through clenched teeth, clutching his abdomen where water had torn into flesh. "Someone attacked me the night before. They must've cast some kind of Jutsu on me…"
His voice was filled with regret and guilt.
"I need to make up for it. Get out of here, quickly! I'll hold them off, or it'll be too late!"
"Who attacked you?" Mei demanded, even as she readied her next move.
"I'm not sure…" Ao grimaced. "It seems my memories were erased."
Before they could say more, Fuguki's Anbu stormed through the shattered doors and windows, blades gleaming. The sound of steel rang out as kunai and swords clashed in a deadly storm.
"Go!" Ao barked, spinning and launching himself toward the Water Shadow's Office, cutting down two attackers with a single fluid motion. Despite his injuries, his strikes were precise and vicious, forcing the enemy back and blocking their path to Mei.
Mei's eyes flickered with anguish beneath her mask. Then, gritting her teeth, she formed a rapid series of hand seals.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"
A surge of milky-white acid burst from her mouth. The corrupted, paper-thin walls stood no chance—the corrosive liquid melted through them instantly, leaving a gaping hole.
Mei leapt through the opening. In the same motion, she flung eight kunai, each fitted with an explosive tag, back into the room.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions tore through the building, fire and smoke consuming the chaos. The shockwaves rippled through the Mizukage's compound, startling nearby guards and sending alarm bells echoing into the night.
For a brief moment, the pursuing Anbu froze, stunned by the violent sight. Then fear crept in. They hesitated, unwilling to rush into the inferno. Some even turned back to report rather than chase.
Genji had already anticipated this outcome. Before the mission, he'd secretly arranged for the families of Mei's loyal operatives to be relocated for their protection, so they could fight without fear of retaliation.
The explosions were not meant to kill, they were meant to buy time.
Using that moment, Mei disappeared into the mist, her chakra suppressed, vanishing into the dark like a phantom. The Hidden Mist Anbu regrouped quickly and began pursuit, fanning out through the fog-covered village.
The battle inside the Mizukage Building, however, was far from over.
The Anbu under Fuguki's command were all elites. They fought without restraint, unhindered by fear or hesitation. And this time, they had clear orders—not to kill immediately, but to capture alive.
That was Obito's command.
He wanted confessions, living proof that could be used as propaganda. If they could "prove" Genji had conspired in an assassination attempt against the Mizukage, Obito's control over the Hidden Mist would tighten further.
But capturing Mei's loyalists alive was no easy task.
They were fiercely loyal and utterly without fear of death. Many chose to detonate explosive tags rather than allow capture. If a comrade was about to be taken alive, another would kill them instantly.
Ao, gravely wounded and bleeding out, made one final choice.
He reached up, tore his own Byakugan from its socket, and threw it toward Hepatitis Ghost.
Then, smiling grimly, he whispered his last words—
"Return this to the Mist…"
And triggered every explosive tag on his body.
BOOOOOOM—!
The explosion was enormous. Fire and shockwaves ripped through the entire Mizukage's Office, engulfing it in a sea of roaring flames. The structure shuddered under the blast, walls collapsing in waves of smoke and heat.
Ao's last act had a dual purpose:
To ensure the Byakugan remained within the Hidden Mist, preserving it as a symbol of pride, and to destroy any evidence that could be used to incriminate Genji's faction.
The explosion echoed across the village, the flames reflecting in the dense fog like hellfire.
Ao was gone.
And with his death, Mei Terumī's rebellion became irreversible.
Fuguki, scorched and bleeding but still alive, ordered a portion of his men to secure the ruins. The rest he dispatched to alert other Anbu units and to pursue Mei personally.
Obito, controlling Yagura from the shadows, wasted no time either. Through the Mizukage's authority, he issued village-wide orders: Mei Terumī was to be hunted down and captured at all costs.
He didn't bother using White Zetsu for the chase. He didn't believe Mei could possibly escape.
"All ports must be sealed," he commanded through Yagura's mouth. "No ship leaves the island. If she attempts to flee by sea, she dies."
Trying to cross the sea without a boat was suicide.
Even a jonin would perish in the freezing depths.
Obito also sent word to allied outposts on the surrounding islands, ordering them to patrol the coastal waters and intercept any escaping shinobi.
To him, Mei Terumī's escape was impossible. Unless she could fly or use Space-Time Ninjutsu, her fate was sealed.
The explosions and alarms from the Mizukage Building soon awakened every high-ranking official in the Hidden Mist. Panic spread. One by one, they rushed toward the scene.
Genji, as expected, was the first to arrive.
He ascended the rooftop platform of the Mizukage Building, his old frame steady despite the chaos. Yagura, his body still under Obito's control, stood at the far edge, the wind tugging at his robes, eyes cold and mocking.
Yagura regarded him quietly, then sneered. "Genji… the night is deep, the wind is cold, and the damp will shorten your old life. Shouldn't you be resting?"
Genji chuckled hoarsely. "Heh… For the sake of the Hidden Mist Village, shortening my life means nothing. Even if this old body were to crumble here and now, it would be worth it."
Yagura smiled faintly, but his eyes were sharp. "So loyal, aren't you?"
"'Seems' loyal?" Genji's smile hardened.
Yagura's tone dropped. "Your people dared to assassinate the Mizukage. Tell me, is that your idea of loyalty?"
"My people?" Genji replied calmly, stroking his beard. "There must be some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Yagura hissed. "Aren't Mei Terumī and Ao your protégés?"
Genji shook his head lightly. "No, no. They are children of the village, not mine. This old man merely enjoys mentoring the younger generation, perhaps that closeness caused confusion."
He sighed, feigning deep regret. "I'm shocked myself. I never imagined they'd go so far… But tell me, Lord Mizukage—shouldn't you reflect a bit as well?"
Yagura's brow furrowed. "What?"
"You're the first Mizukage in history to be assassinated by your own villagers," Genji said softly, almost kindly.
The words struck like a blade.
Even Obito, controlling Yagura from within, was momentarily silent.
Being nearly killed by your own people—there was no pride in that.
Yagura's lips twisted into a cold snarl. "Your ideology is outdated, old man. Only through pain and fear can a village forge the strongest shinobi. My policies are correct. The suffering is temporary—when it ends, the Hidden Mist will rise again, stronger than ever!"
Genji gave a low, weary chuckle. "Hmph. I hope so."
He turned away and began to walk slowly toward the stairwell, his sandals tapping faintly against the wet stone.
"Genji," Yagura called after him, forcing a smile. "You won't object if I classify Mei Terumī as an S-rank rogue ninja, will you?"
Genji paused.
An S-rank rogue ninja, in any village, was declared kill-on-sight.
If captured or slain by an outsider, their home village would offer a heavy bounty.
Such a title meant eternal exile… and certain death.
But Genji said nothing. He simply continued walking, vanishing down the stairs without a word.
Yagura smirked, laughing loudly into the fog so Genji would hear him.
His laughter echoed like a curse.
Later that night, Genji gathered his most trusted subordinates in his residence. His face was pale, his eyes shadowed with sorrow.
"Mei has been declared an S-rank rogue ninja," he said quietly. "Pass the word—our people are to turn a blind eye. If she can escape, let her."
"Yes, sir."
"But don't make it too obvious," Genji warned. "If the Mizukage's men catch wind of it, I won't be able to protect you."
"Understood," they replied solemnly.
"Go."
They bowed and left.
When the door finally shut, silence fell. Genji stood alone in the dim light, the weight of years heavy on his shoulders.
He exhaled softly.
"…Sigh…"
The sound was old, tired—and deeply human.