I felt it was too soon for the Sandai Mizukage to die. Too soon for , for Yagura to step in and fill the seat as the fourth Mizukage. Yagura’s appointnt is keenly tied into my tiline of events I need to push forward or avoid— the five Kage summit happens to be my cold bullet to Madara and Obito’s plans for this world, as Mizukage I could easily request one be arranged and with reasonable Kage like Minato and to a lesser extent A the fourth Raikage.
Though now that I think about it, calling a summit so soon after the war might not sit well even with Konoha, especially when the request is coming from the village that tried to destroy them with their tailed beast. Hell, I might as well not count on Minato being reasonable at all since it was his student we- I an Kiri used to mount that attack.
What would I even tell him? Your lost student plans to take over the world with Madara Uchiha?
Yeah, no, this is going to be harder than I thought. I’m going to need ti to ease into blowing the lid off this Infinite Tsukuyomi plot and I’m going to need more than Kirigakure behind to do so.
“How did it happen? Where is the body?” Fuguki imdiately demanded after a shared mont of silence.
The old Funato clan head shakily stepped forward with his cane and spoke, “The Mizukage died unexpectedly but has left instructions for the choosing of his successor.”
Harusa, my Jinchuriki training master and the person I’ve spent the most ti with since waking stood behind the old man wearing a grim look. He inhaled deeply before revealing a scroll from his sleeve but before he can unfurl it—
“You haven’t answered the question, old man.” Fuguki brandished Sahada at the clan head, the bandages at its tip unfurl and an unmistakeable row of teeth shudder with excitent.
“Fuguki! What do you think you’re doing right now?” Ao stepped forward enraged at the swordsman’s audacity.
Behind him i’s youthful visage contorts with concern and I feel like I can read her mind. Despite having other priorities— staying alive long enough to see Obito defeated— Yagura’s lingering subconscious causes to feel grief at the Mizukage’s loss as well. Bloody his reign might have been but he was still the Mizukage and a close ally to Yagura and many gathered here it seems.
“What does it look like? Answers, now!”
Harusa cautiously pushes Sahada away from the old, unbothered looking clan head with a kunai and shakes his head, “This is no ti for in-fighting, both of you, calm yourselves and listen.”
Fuguki and Ao exchange tense glares. Juzo, Raiga and Kisa who’ve fallen beside their teammate with their legendary swords and a katana drawn share uneasy glances as well, all ready to fight or submit according to what Fuguki does. Fortunately, he chooses peace, for now, and sets Sahada to his back.
He grins a shark’s grin at Ao, “All ears.”
The old clan head strikes his cane, “Sandai-sama was found dead in his seat this afternoon by his secretary. She is being interrogated at the mont and the office has been swept for any trace of malice, thus far none has been found.”
“That sti-”
Another cane strike stuffs the words back into Fuguki’s mouth before he can voice them. He scowls but the clan head simply looks ahead, “The autopsy shows nothing conclusive, no poison, no jutsu, no injury, no sign of trauma, no certain cause of death. But one thing is clear…the Mizukage has perished.”
Once again, everyone present swallows the old man’s words, digesting it with soft and unsure glances at one another. i’s consternated look continues to worsen as fear for her village grips her and Ao remains stoically silent ever watchful of Fuguki and his swordsn.
“Are we under attack?” i stands out from Ao’s shadow, her voice soft but resilient as the look in her eyes.
The clan head peers open an eye to gaze at her and he cracks a smile, “Worry not, young Kunoichi, the war is ended.”
Juzo snorts, “Number of tis I’ve heard that…not exactly a good thing anyhow.” He slams the Executioner’s Blade into the roof and leans against it, wearing a bored look now that the tensions diffused.
“Even if we are, let them co. We’ll show them the might of the swordsn of the mist!” Raiga exclaims, pulling his ANBU mask to the side to reveal his battle ready grin.
Bloodlust, so much of it in this village.
Keeping a level head, Ao asks, “What is the will of the Mizukage?”
Again, the clan head strikes his cane and all listen with rapt attention, but he is not the one who speaks. Harusa unfurls the scroll and clears his throat, “It is the will of the Sandai Mizukage that the traditions and precedents for class advancent he has set during his tenure be followed in regard to the choosing of his successor. All worthy candidates within the village are permitted a month preparation and no more before facing their final tests. As always, candidates may decline to participate.”
“Huh? Does that an what I…huh?” Juzo starts to stutter.
Kisa who has yet to utter a word steps beside Juzo, nodding, “Yes, it ans exactly that. But I wonder how easy it is to qualify as candidate given present company.” His eyes fall on i and Ao as he says this, piecing them apart as unworthy of being part of what is essentially the Third Mizukage’s way of saying ‘Want it? Fight for it.’
I feel Ao’s gaze fall on for a mont and I et it, his eyes betray nothing and he soon turns away as he steps back from the informal circle of Mizukage candidates.
“Another bloody mist trial and this ti for Kage? Count out then, I won’t kill good shinobi for power.” Resolute in his words he turns to i, “What about you?”
“What about you, Yagura Karatachi?” Fuguki demands before i can utter a word, his sharp tooth baring a slight scowl as he watches carefully, “You haven’t said too much since you arrived, not feeling like a gentleman tonight?”
Honestly, the Mizukage pulling this kind of shit stunt left baffled and quite pissed. It’s like every day living in this misty village got harder and now it’s clearly a massive pain in the ass for .
While I’m certain the Mizukage’s death has sothing to do with Madara’s own and the end of the genjutsu cast on him— essentially the very sa thing that happens to Yagura— I am not as certain who is responsible for this cruel rite of passage.
My gut tells it’s Madara’s farewell attempt to further cripple Kiri’s fighting capability by subjecting even Kage candidates to the bloody mist trials.
Kill everyone to beco what you seek.
I look at my fellow Kage candidates; Fuguki, easily an S-rank even without Sahada. Juzo, also a capable near S-rank shinobi but less intimidating than Fuguki even with Kubikiribocho. Raiga with the Twin Kiba doesn’t break S-rank but he’s still an opponent worth looking out for. Kisa, younger and without the Sahada poses as much a threat as Raiga, perhaps more if he has even half the jutsu I faintly rember him capable of unleashing without Sahada— his massive chakra reserves rival Fuguki’s already as well.
With my paltry knowledge and experience handling chakra, casting Ninjutsu and non-existent fighting ability, things aren’t looking so hot for right now and I need to beco Mizukage.
If Ao or i don’t participate then of the swordsn of the mist, Fuguki is the most likely to cut down everyone and seize the title if I don’t do sothing.
I’ve already considered not doing anything about the Fourth Mizukage title and letting soone else take it. After all, I’m not exactly Kage material either, I am literally impersonating Yagura in his own body and I’ve never held governnt position in either life. It might be a better idea to work against Obito from the background even if I don’t wield absolute power over one of the five great nations.
But I remain resolute in my decision, “I won’t kill any of my comrades but I won’t sit back and watch you beco Mizukage either.”
My words seem to bolster i to a decision as well, “I don’t want to fight anyone either, not to the death.”
Fuguki snorts at both of us and swings Sahada in a dramatic arc so it rests on his shoulder, “I will do what I must.”
“Juzo, Kisa, Raiga, what will you choose?” the old man strikes his cane, demanding swift response.
The three swordsn share a look amongst themselves. Kisa wordlessly sheathes his katana and Raiga sighs but sets the Twin Kiba aside as well. Only Juzo eyes and Fuguki with a gleam of bloodlust.
In the end he says, “Yagura, a fresh Jinchuriki and Fuguki-sama…huh.” He licks his lips and cackles, “Not worth my life.”
Another cane strike cracks through the air at that and the old man pins with both eyes, “Yagura-kun, the Third’s will demands blood for the honour, you must abide.”
If this is how it happened in the canon I don’t know and I’m sure I never will, all I have is the world in front of and the knowledge of its perilous future— my perilous future.
Even if I secede and let Fuguki have the title, Obito will still manipulate him with genjutsu to fund the Akatsuki and co after because of the Three-Tails anyway. If anyone should be Mizukage, it has to be .
Looks like I might have to kill Fuguki after all.
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