Ōnoki said angrily, "Damn Akatsuki! Do you not take this old man seriously?"
Iwagakure had cooperated with Akatsuki many times, yet now they had stolen Jinchūriki right from under their noses.
Was this not like a flood washing away the Dragon King's temple? How could Iwagakure just swallow this insult?
The next second, Ōnoki let out a painful groan.
"Argh, my back!"
Beside him, his son Kurotsuchi could only sigh, his face full of exasperation.
"You should calm down, old man. You're not as young as you used to be."
Meanwhile, Akatsuki's hunt for tailed beasts had been temporarily stalled due to the unexpected death of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Nii Yugito.
No one had expected the first to fall would be a perfect Jinchūriki like her.
For someone to eliminate a perfect Jinchūriki, they had to possess Kage-level strength—or be an S-rank rogue ninja like themselves.
But the most intriguing detail was that Nii Yugito had died in the Land of Fire, with the corpses of Konoha's Anbu also found at the scene.
This raised many questions.
The Land of Water – Kirigakure
Ao approached the elder, Master Genji, with urgent news.
"Master Genji, our spies have confirmed that the group controlling the Fourth Mizukage has begun to move again."
Genji's aged, clouded eyes narrowed. His voice was deep with restrained fury.
"Akatsuki!"
Kirigakure had an undeniable grudge against Akatsuki.
It was Akatsuki who had manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, leading to the horrors of the Blood Mist era.
If it weren't for Ao's Byakugan exposing the genjutsu control, Kirigakure might have never broken free.
If the tyranny had continued, the Village Hidden in the Mist might have been wiped from history altogether.
"Damn Akatsuki... We will never let them go unpunished," Genji muttered.
Among Akatsuki's members was none other than Hoshigaki Kisame, former wielder of the Samehada sword and one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Now, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had collapsed, and even the wielder of the Executioner's Blade had deserted the village, becoming a rogue ninja.
The root of all these tragedies lay in the accursed Blood Mist era, orchestrated by none other than Akatsuki.
During the Third Shinobi World War, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had fought together against Konoha.
Even though they had been defeated by Might Duy, they had at least stood united as Mist Shinobi back then.
But after the war, everything changed.
And it all started with him—Uchiha Obito.
When Nohara Rin was killed, Obito, blinded by grief and hatred, had unleashed his vengeance upon Kirigakure.
Little did he know, everything had been orchestrated by Madara Uchiha from the shadows.
Still, Obito directed his fury at the Mist, taking control of the Fourth Mizukage and plunging the village into darkness.
It was a time of terror, where bloodshed was law and paranoia ran rampant.
The world knew Kirigakure as the Village of the Bloody Mist, but few understood the truth behind that name.
Kirigakure had been a puppet, its strings pulled by Akatsuki.
This disgrace could never be allowed to come to light.
Thus, Genji had buried all information regarding the Fourth Mizukage's manipulation.
Now, Kirigakure was finally on the path to recovery.
Ao furrowed his brows as he recalled something important.
"Master Genji, there's also news from Kumogakure. They're proposing an alliance with us... against Konoha."
Genji let out a quiet scoff.
"How laughable."
After all, not long ago, Konoha had decisively defeated Kumogakure in the Frost Country conflict.
And now, suddenly, Kumo wanted to form an alliance?
How ridiculous.
Throughout history, alliances between great nations had never ended well.
Whether the war was won or lost, mistrust would inevitably grow.
If they lost, both villages would suspect each other of betrayal.
If they won, there would only be endless disputes over the spoils of war.
No one fought for anyone but themselves.
"Ao, ignore Kumogakure. Let them play their games alone," Genji ordered.
"Understood, Master Genji. I will not send them a reply."
Genji then turned his attention to Terumi Mei, who stood nearby.
He smiled slightly. "Terumi Mei, don't you have a mission to attend to?"
She gave him a knowing smirk.
"Yes, Master Genji. Then, I shall take my leave."
Ao watched as Terumi Mei exited the chamber, then turned back to Genji.
"Master Genji... You sent her away on purpose. What's on your mind?"
Genji sighed and coughed lightly.
"Ao, do you know why I haven't chosen the Fifth Mizukage yet?"
Ao hesitated before responding.
"Is it because of Lord Mugetsu?"
"Yes. It is a difficult choice."
Ghost Lantern Mugetsu—the last remaining leader of the Hōzuki Clan.
He was a prodigy, skilled in Water Release and possessing an impressive combat record.
He had completed numerous A-rank missions and even several S-rank assignments.
His reputation among the ninja of Kirigakure was undeniable.
The Hōzuki Clan had once been one of the village's greatest clans, and the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, had hailed from their lineage.
Though the clan had declined, Mugetsu was their shining hope.
Compared to Terumi Mei, who wielded both Lava and Boil Release, Mugetsu had the advantage of lineage and the loyalty of Mist's Anbu.
The village was split—Anbu supported Mugetsu, while many Jōnin and Chūnin favored Terumi Mei.
If Genji chose one over the other, it could spark internal conflict.
It was a choice that could not be made lightly.
But perhaps... it was time.
With a deep sigh, Genji finally asked,
"Ao, tell me. Who do you think is the better choice for Mizukage—Terumi Mei or Ghost Lantern Mugetsu?"
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