"I've never actually tried using the Mangekyo Sharingan to control a Jinchuriki or a Tailed Beast before," Itachi mused, listening to the explosions getting closer.
"Don't bother," Makoto waved his hand dismissively. "We're just here to offer 'civilian' support. Trust in the Hidden Mist's ability to clean up their own mess."
"Besides," Makoto added, "even if you did control Yagura, the Mist ninja would just stop attacking him and start attacking us. That defeats the purpose."
Their goal was to secure the Land of Waves and build a network.
Saving the Mist was just a means to an end.
As for Yagura, the guy was tragic.
Based on future history, Yagura wasn't inherently evil. He was actually one of the few Jinchuriki who fully cooperated with his village.
But history records him as the one who expanded the "Bloody Mist" policies. This implied that he was being controlled long before Obito took over—likely by Madara.
Madara had controlled the Three-Tails to hunt Rin and Kakashi. If he was also controlling Yagura, the host, it explains everything.
It also explained why a "Perfect Jinchuriki" like Yagura could be caught in a Genjutsu at all.
Normally, a Perfect Jinchuriki is immune to Genjutsu because they have two conscious minds sharing one body.
If the host gets hacked, the Beast wakes them up.
But Yagura was a special case.
He was controlled before the beast was sealed, or the beast was controlled first.
Since both the host and the beast were under the influence of the Sharingan, they didn't conflict.
They were both asleep at the wheel.
This was why Makoto stopped Itachi.
If Itachi broke the Genjutsu now, Yagura would wake up.
A sunny, cheerful guy suddenly realizing he's been murdering his own people for years? His mind would shatter.
He'd either commit suicide or let the Three-Tails rampage out of grief.
Either way, the Mist would blame Makoto and Itachi for killing their Kage.
Plus, Itachi was sick.
Using Susanoo to subdue a Tailed Beast would burn through his lifespan like jet fuel. Makoto wasn't going to waste his MVP on a fucking side quest.
...
"Ha! Finally here! Everyone, push him to the coast!"
The rebel faction burst out of the treeline.
Dozens of Mist ninja formed hand seals mid-air, drawing water from the ocean to launch massive attacks.
It was obvious why they chose this spot.
Water Style users are god-tier near the ocean, but average on dry land.
Even the future Sixth Mizukage, Chojuro, was useless without a water source.
By dragging Yagura to the beach, the rebels were leveling the playing field.
"Ao, check the perimeter! Any civilians?"
"Negative... Wait," Ao's Byakugan flared. "No civilians, but there are two unfamiliar ninja... Well, one seems to be a ninja, and he's quite powerful. The other is a weirdo but he has no Chakra."
"Keep an eye on them. Everyone else, focus on the Fourth!"
Tap.
A woman with waist-length reddish-brown hair landed gracefully in front of Makoto and Itachi.
She looked ready to kill them!
"Fifth Mizukage, no need to be tense," Makoto smiled, raising his hands. "We're here to help. And maybe talk business."
"Fifth... Mizukage?" Mei Terumi blinked, thrown off by the title.
Yagura was the Fourth. There was no Fifth yet.
But she was sharp.
She realized he was implying something.
"Help? Cooperation?" Mei narrowed her eyes, steam beginning to rise from her lips. "If you want to help, stay right there and don't move. And if you want to cooperate, show some sincerity. Who are you?"
She sensed no killing intent from Makoto, but she wasn't stupid enough to lower her guard.
Itachi, noticing the "Fifth Mizukage" taunt, realized Makoto was doing it intentionally.
"Since the Mizukage insists," Makoto said, glancing at his partner, "Itachi, stand down. Only intervene if someone is about to die."
"Understood."
Whoosh.
Itachi vanished with a Body Flicker.
"Itachi? Uchiha Itachi?!" Mei's eyes widened. "The S-rank psycho from the Leaf?"
She watched him disappear, noting that he actually obeyed this weirdo order.
He was just watching from a tree with arms crossed.
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. But now she had more questions.
Who the hell was this kid without chakra who could treat Itachi Uchiha like a bodyguard?
"Who are you?" Mei asked again, her voice steadying. "What do you want?"
"Like I said, assistance and cooperation," Makoto shrugged. "As for who I am... think of me as a traveler from the future, here to change the fate of the ninja world. Sound good, Mizukage-sama?"
"The Mizukage is Yagura," Mei snapped, forming a seal. "I don't have time for riddles. And 'from the future'? Do you really think I'm that stupid?"
If this guy was going to lie to her face with such a ridiculous story, he was clearly an enemy.
"Don't be so impatient. I have proof," Makoto said, reaching into his pocket. "Though, it's a bit... personal. You have to promise not to get angry before I show you."
He pulled out a scroll.
"Proof?" Mei hesitated, loosening her hand seal slightly.
'Could it be true? The world was full of strange jutsus.'
"Fine," she said, curiosity winning out. "I promise. Show me."
She ignored the warning about getting angry.
What kind of proof could possibly piss her off?
"Alright."
Makoto unsealed an item.
It was a photo and... a tape recorder.
Click.
He pressed play button on the tape recorder and a woman's voice—slurring, clearly wasted, and sounding exactly like Mei—crackled from the speaker.
"Ugh... hic... The enemy is the legendary Uchiha Madara... and look at my four teammates..."
Mei froze.
The recording continued.
"One is a stubborn old fossil who's lived long enough to dust twenty-five Susanoos... hic... freaking Tsuchikage..."
"One is a muscle-brained psycho who isn't afraid of death... tries to karate chop a Susanoo while he was on fire... stupid Raikage..."
"One is a female pervert who won't die even when you cut her in half... show-off Hokage..."
"One is a sandy little brat who died once and doesn't even need to sleep... creepy Kazekage..."
"And me? Hic... I'm just an old, unmarried woman who can only spit water... Why can't I find a husband?! Why?! Waaaaah!"
Mei Terumi: "..."