The Land of Water — Kirigakure.
All year round, the village was shrouded in a thick mist. For the people living there, a day when the sun shone brightly was more precious than a festival.
Inside the Mizukage’s office, Terumi i stood before a group of shinobi from the sealing team who had barely escaped with their lives. Her expression was grave.
"How many of them ca?"
Beside her, Ao watched the trembling mbers of the sealing team with sharp eyes. If Kiri weren’t so short on such specialists, he might have already lost his temper.
"There were eight people. They were riding so kind of monster—it was faster than our warships!"
"Not eight. It looked like two to . Those seven had identical eyes—they must’ve been puppets!"
"Yeah! Those were the eyes of legend... the Rinnegan!"
As the shinobi spoke one after another, i listened quietly without interrupting. From their reports, she pieced together what she needed to know.
Seven had the Rinnegan... aning one true body and six puppets.
If that really was the Rinnegan, those bodies could act freely without waiting for direct orders.
Sotis, pointless sacrifice was not sothing to be glorified.
But now, there was a bigger problem. Hikari’s seal on the Three-Tails’ chakra had surely been broken. So, would this person co to Kirigakure to find her next?
Even with her confidence in her own power, i wasn’t sure she could win against soone wielding a legendary eye like the Rinnegan.
Mystery ant power.
"Enough," she said finally. "Ao, take them away. Make sure none of them are under genjutsu control. Once confird, release them."
The sealing corps might not be strong fighters, but they were invaluable. Shinobi skilled in sealing were rare — every one that could be kept alive was worth keeping.
Ao obeyed and led them out, leaving i alone in the Mizukage’s office, staring vacantly into the mist outside her window.
"It seems you’re not in a very good mood."
A familiar, teasing voice echoed through the room.
i tensed, then relaxed slightly when she saw who it was — Kamizuki Hikari.
"How could I possibly be calm? That was the Rinnegan!"
Even one Uchiha Itachi with his Mangekyō Sharingan was an S-rank rogue shinobi feared across the world. The leader of Akatsuki possessed the Rinnegan itself. How could she be confident against soone like that?
"If that’s what worries you," Hikari said calmly, "then you can relax for now."
i blinked. "What do you an? Don’t tell you made so kind of deal — that he won’t target the Three-Tails?"
Hikari nodded slightly. "Orochimaru has gained partial control over the Three-Tails’ chakra through his experints. I’ve made an agreent — until Orochimaru is captured, they won’t move against you."
i’s lips curled into a playful smile.
Looking at the serious expression on Hikari’s face, she teased, "Why are you being so kind to , hmm? Could it be... you’ve fallen for ? If that’s the case, you can stay here in Kirigakure — I might even give you a chance."
"Appreciate the offer," Hikari said, stepping back. "But my goal is simply to maintain peace in the shinobi world for a little longer. I don’t want to see another war break out so soon."
i rose from her chair and walked slowly toward him.
"You say that, yet you’re the one who’s protecting . If you really didn’t care, why stop the Akatsuki’s leader from coming after ? Sounds like you’re trying to protect , Hikari."
Hikari sighed. He truly didn’t know how to deal with her narcissism.
"If you keep talking like that, I’ll leave. This is just a clone anyway. If you keep rambling, I’m not wasting my ti here."
"Oh? A clone?" i stepped closer, extending her hand. She examined him carefully, then sighed when she confird the truth.
"So that’s it. Maybe fate really doesn’t want to let us be together, huh?"
"You can keep talking to yourself. I’m leaving."
When she saw he was serious about leaving, i quickly dropped her teasing tone.
"Alright, alright, no more jokes. Let’s talk business."
She wasn’t ready to die — not yet.
With Akatsuki looming like a blade over her neck, her life as Mizukage was already full of anxiety.
"Do you have any intelligence on Akatsuki you can share with ?" she asked.
Hikari paused, glancing at her. "Forget about Akatsuki for now. Even putting aside their leader, your village isn’t strong enough to face their mbers."
Kirigakure specialized in Water Release and kenjutsu. Against ordinary shinobi, they were formidable — but against Akatsuki, the strongest organization in the shinobi world, they were little more than prey.
Tsunade could resist them because she had the Wood Release and Jiraiya’s support.
What did Kirigakure have?
The Six-Tails?
Don’t joke.
Against Uchiha Itachi, the Six-Tails would fall to a single glance.
Against Konoha, Itachi would hold back. But against Kiri? He might unleash Susano’o, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi without hesitation, just to show what it ant to defy the pride of the Uchiha.
"This isn’t fun anymore," i pouted. "You won’t tell about Akatsuki, you won’t flirt with ... so why are you even here?"
Hikari rubbed his temples. This woman was exhausting.
"I ca to tell you that if Akatsuki captures you, try to negotiate. Don’t throw your life away aninglessly. They’re after the Tailed Beast, not you. I’ll help you extract it if it cos to that."
"Liar!" i snapped. "Once a Tailed Beast is sealed, its host’s life rges with it. If you’re trying to trick , you’ve got way too much free ti!"
"Believe what you want," Hikari said indifferently. "That’s all I can do for you. Whether Akatsuki will move against you... even I can’t say for sure."
He had thought about bringing i to Konoha. If she stayed there, Akatsuki would be forced to focus on Orochimaru instead.
But even before he voiced the idea, he dismissed it himself.
She might be a woman, but she was still the Mizukage — the leader of a village.
She had long accepted that a Kage must be willing to die for their people. Asking her to abandon her village and run would be impossible.
"You really won’t stay and protect ?" i tried one last ti. "If you were here, Akatsuki wouldn’t dare touch . Konoha already has Tsunade with her Wood Release — she doesn’t need you. But ? I’m just a delicate woman who could use a strong, broad chest like yours to rely on."
A lying woman’s tongue was sharper than any kunai.
Hikari didn’t believe a single word.
This was the sa woman who could match Uchiha Madara’s Fire Release with her own Water Release. If Tsunade didn’t have Wood Release, who knew which of them would actually win in a fight?
"If you ever run into trouble, co to Konoha. I’ll be waiting there."
With a sharp pop, Hikari’s clone burst apart like a punctured balloon, vanishing before her eyes.
i stood in silence for a long mont, scanning the room as if expecting him to reappear.
When she was certain he was truly gone, she sighed softly.
"That bastard... really left."
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Read 45 advanced Chapters on my P@treon.
/KakuzuTL
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