The southern thirteen districts of the Land of Rivers were all coastal regions. Compared to the endless sands of the Wind Country, this environment was extremely favorable to Kirigakure's combat style.
In the original course of history, Sunagakure withdrew from the southern thirteen districts after its defeat at Kikyo Mountain.
Later, because Konoha needed Sunagakure's help to counter Kirigakure, the area was handed over to Sunagakure for joint defense.
Then Rasa secretly conspired with Kirigakure to divide the southern territories of the Land of Rivers and avoid war. Because Pakura took a hard-line stance, she was sacrificed by Rasa for advocating war and died in Kirigakure.
But in this timeline, Rasa had fallen into a coma after being ambushed in the Enlightenment Mountain Range. The pro-war faction within the Elders seized control, appointing Pakura and Shiraishi to command the overall situation. This clearly announced Sunagakure's stance to the outside world.
Pakura and the main Sunagakure force were stationed beneath a waterfall on the border between the Wind Country and the Land of Rivers. A large number of Suna ninja were deployed there.
Sensory-type ninja searched desperately for Shiraishi, hoping to provide reinforcements—but they discovered that they could not detect his chakra at all.
"Shiraishi…"
Maki was distraught. As a member of the barrier unit, she went to the sensory division every day to confirm his status.
"Don't worry. With his current strength, Kirigakure won't be able to handle him with just one or two ninja."
"Sensei… I want to go look for him, too."
"Don't be foolish. Focus on your own duties."
Pakura gestured for Shikasa to take Maki away, a trace of helplessness in her eyes.
Without Black Mist Shiraishi, the most renowned strategist of Sunagakure, and with Pakura—a commander of courage but little subtlety—leading the front, Kirigakure had launched multiple probing attacks over the past few days. All of them had been repelled, but the pressure was mounting.
Meanwhile, inside Pakura's command tent, a black-cloaked Shiraishi puppet sat behind a desk, handling piles of military dispatches and deployment orders.
Explosive tags had been partially replenished, but soldier rations and other supplies were still scarce. This war against Kirigakure had to be decided quickly.
Although Shiraishi's real body was being hunted across the battlefield, one of his human-puppet clones had been stationed in Pakura's camp to manage internal affairs.
"Kirigakure's encirclement of you seems airtight."
"My connection to the main body is frequently severed," the puppet Shiraishi replied. Their barrier techniques are extremely strong. Combined with my main body's Black Mist, even receiving data from me is difficult."
Kirigakure's blockade was brutal. Kirigakure troops could be found across most of the southern thirteen districts.
Deep inside the vast forests of the Land of Rivers, Shiraishi moved cautiously, increasingly unsettled. This area was not far from the Wind Country—so why was the natural vitality here so powerful? These enormous forests should not exist.
Even his chakra consumption was reduced inside these woods compared to the Wind Country's deserts, though his Sand Gathering Technique was severely weakened.
More than a day had passed, and Shiraishi had barely advanced. He was in an extremely dangerous situation—Kirigakure was tightening its net.
Have they locked onto my chakra?
Although Black Mist could block some detection, it could not fully conceal him. And Kirigakure's mastery over water and ice far surpassed that of other villages.
At the same time, countless tiny fish swam through rivers and streams, forming a massive surveillance network.
Far away, Fuguki Suikazen, wielder of Samehada, coldly observed the fluctuations in chakra.
Black Mist Shiraishi's position had been rediscovered.
As the most powerful wielder of Samehada in history, Fuguki's strength was unquestionable. After meticulous tracking, Shiraishi's operational range was shrinking.
Samehada, wrapped in bandages, hid a deep-blue blade lined with jagged scales. It was a living sword—it only acknowledged those it liked, attacking all others. It could absorb an enemy's chakra and transfer it to its wielder.
Originally, Samehada had been a small fish that followed the Three-Tails, helping it absorb and process chakra. It fed on Isobu's energy and returned refined chakra to the beast.
It could extract five times the normal chakra from food and store it inside itself, endlessly feeding Isobu during battle.
Now bound to Fuguki, Samehada absorbed opponents' chakra, stimulated cellular regeneration, and could even merge with its wielder to create a fish-man form.
With Samehada, Kisame was a nightmare to every great village.
Yet he did not plan to confront Shiraishi personally. Instead, he let Kirigakure's assassination squads and Juzo Biwa strike first.
"Fuguki is as gloomy and calculating as ever," Juzo muttered. "And he's huge, too."
This operation involved many Kirigakure elites, including bloodline clans. All were under Fuguki's command, pushing Shiraishi into a desperate situation.
"Black Mist Shiraishi… the man who holds the Second Mizukage's techniques," Fuguki murmured. "Through him, I might uncover the true secrets of the Hōzuki Clan."
His true goal was to obtain the Mizukage's lost techniques.
Shiraishi was suddenly attacked by a Kirigakure squad. Senbon rained down like needles.
He formed sand shields to block them, but in this forested environment, sand control consumed far more chakra.
Not wanting a prolonged battle, he slashed with his silver blade, releasing a storm of Cyclone Blades, then retreated.
Suddenly—
A massive sword crashed toward him.
Biwa juzo!
Dense Kirigakure mist engulfed the forest.
Juzo's executioner blade spun violently, becoming a storm of slaughter.
Shiraishi blocked with his silver blade. Juzo kicked violently—Shiraishi counter-kicked.
But Shiraishi absorbed the rebound through his calf, redirected it through his thigh and waist, and launched a devastating right hook.
So fast!
"Water Style – Water Fang Bullet!"
Shiraishi cleaved through it—
"Water Style – Exploding Water Shockwave!"
A massive water sphere detonated. Shiraishi charged straight through it.
Close combat?!
Juzo unned. Shiraishi's first kick alone shocked him.
His speed was insane—getting faster with every second.
Juzo tried to retreat, but Shiraishi pressed relentlessly.
A desperate slash—
Suddenly, Shiraishi dissolved into bubble afterimages.
Water clone!
Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen were monsters indeed.
Mist thickened again.
"You're impressive, brat," Juzo admitted. "No wonder Kisame is cautious."
Shiraishi struck.
"Got you!"
Water Prison—
Steam Explosion!
The prison shattered. Juzo slashed.
Bubble Shadow Impact!
Juzo's fist crashed down.
Shiraishi's blade crackled with lightning.
The two clashed ferociously.
Kirigakure troops began pouring into the mist.
"Idiots, stay out!"
Screams erupted.
Shiraishi decapitated one, bomb-tagged another, then killed a third with a ricocheted kunai.
The ground collapsed—
Steam erupted.
"Damn!"
A water-gun barrage blasted Shiraishi's head apart.
Hōzuki Mangetsu.
"I'm a genius!"
But the corpse turned into mud.
Earth Style – Mudstone Prison!
Shiraishi emerged.
Round Eyes activated.
"If you are a genius…"
His blade pierced Mangetsu's chest.
"Then I am the one who stands above geniuses."
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