Yagura Karatachi stared wide-eyed at Wen Lan.
In the next moment, he grabbed Wen Lan's shoulders excitedly.
"How did you do that? Can you make me grow taller too?!"
His eyes were filled with hope and envy.
There was none of the usual composure expected of a Kage—only a raw, desperate longing to be taller.
Wen Lan looked at him in surprise.
He had only meant to joke around, never expecting Yagura to care so deeply about his height.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Then he let out a light laugh.
At his fingertips, a thread of crimson energy gathered—
the Demonic Blood Art: Modification, an ability he had acquired later.
This blood art could restructure the human body.
It couldn't grant immortality or regenerate severed limbs, nor would it turn someone into a demon—
but altering bones and muscles was entirely possible.
The power slowly flowed into Yagura's body.
Under the influence of the demonic energy, his bones emitted faint cracking sounds.
Yagura's eyes widened in pain.
He felt every inch of his skeleton and muscles tearing apart and reforming.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
Yet he never closed his eyes.
His body began to stretch upward.
His robes tightened along with his expanding frame.
The members of the delegation nearby were horrified.
They wanted to intervene—but seeing that their Mizukage himself made no move to resist, they froze in place, not daring to act.
With a final crisp crack—
Yagura's growth stopped.
He trembled as he looked down at his long legs and broad hands.
Moisture welled in his eyes.
He now stood around 178 centimeters tall.
His once-ill-fitting robes had torn apart, revealing a sturdy, well-proportioned body.
Wen Lan withdrew his hand.
"Your bones can only be lengthened this much."
"Thank you!"
Yagura looked at his own body, his voice trembling with emotion.
He lowered his head to look at the ground—
a height he had never experienced before.
"I never imagined… this day would truly come."
Wen Lan returned to his normal size and smiled, shaking his head.
"The Hidden Mist and the Hidden Leaf have been close allies for years.
This is nothing more than a small favor."
Yagura took a deep breath and wiped the moisture from the corner of his eyes.
A confident smile—one he had never worn before—spread across his face.
He moved his newly strengthened body, each step steady and powerful, as if he had finally made peace with himself.
Since childhood, he had been mocked for his height.
Even during the council that selected the Mizukage, people had doubted him.
In the end, he earned the title through sheer strength.
But his height had always been his deepest insecurity.
And today—
that wound had finally healed.
He looked at Wen Lan again.
Now his gaze held not only gratitude, but firm respect.
"Hokage's Aide, I can't promise everything.
But as long as I live, the Hidden Mist and the Hidden Leaf will never become enemies."
Wen Lan smiled faintly.
"Of course. We're allies."
As the ship docked, Wen Lan saw a group waiting on the shore.
Among them was a very familiar figure.
Long chestnut-colored hair.
A blue dress.
Mei Terumi.
She stood by the water's edge, sea wind lifting her hair and skirt.
When her gaze landed on Yagura, she froze in surprise.
Beside her, the elderly elder Genji also stared in shock.
They had only been apart for a few minutes—
How had he suddenly grown taller?
Genji was already quite old, his back bent and supported by a cane.
In the past, he had needed to look down at Yagura.
Now—
he had to look up.
…He was not pleased about that.
When Wen Lan and Yagura stepped off the ship, the shinobi on the shore looked at Yagura as if they had seen a ghost.
Everyone knew their Mizukage had been short.
How had he suddenly grown taller?
If not for his unmistakable chakra signature, they might have thought some fool was impersonating him.
Yagura led Wen Lan forward and introduced the group.
"This is the soon-to-be Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
And this is our village elder, Genji."
Mei smiled gently, her eyes warm.
"Welcome to the Hidden Mist, Lord Wen Lan."
Her tone carried no distance at all, as if they were already familiar.
Genji nodded as well, though his expression remained complicated, his cane tapping lightly against the ground.
Wen Lan returned the gesture with a polite nod.
His gaze lingered briefly on Mei—
before shifting toward a man in green clothing standing within the crowd.
One eye covered.
Ao.
The Hidden Mist shinobi who had taken a Byakugan from the Hidden Leaf.
Ao felt Wen Lan's gaze and stiffened.
He knew exactly which village that eye in his socket belonged to.
Instinctively, he stepped back half a pace.
His hand rose unconsciously to cover his eyepatch, his knuckles whitening from the pressure.
But Wen Lan had no intention of reclaiming it.
During earlier negotiations between the Hidden Mist and the Hidden Leaf, Konoha had paid the Hyuga clan a substantial financial compensation.
After all—
one Byakugan was not worth destroying the hard-earned alliance between two villages.
The Hyuga clan had not pressed the matter further.
They now possessed two Tenseigan, and the enormous financial compensation from Konoha was enough to sustain the clan's development for decades—far exceeding the value of ten Byakugan.
The Hyuga valued the Byakugan—
but they valued profit even more.
A major clan had enormous expenses.
Each generation required massive resources.
Once they weighed the costs and benefits, the answer was obvious.
Back then, when they argued fiercely with Hiruzen Sarutobi over the Byakugan incident, it was because Hiruzen wanted to settle the matter without compensation.
No accountability.
No payment.
That was unacceptable.
Now, however, the villages were allies.
So they chose restraint.
But everyone understood one thing:
If war ever broke out between the two villages—
given Wen Lan's famously vindictive nature—
that eye would absolutely be taken back.
Wen Lan merely glanced at Ao, then shifted his gaze away.
Seeing that he did not press the issue, everyone quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The Byakugan was one of the two great dōjutsu in the ninja world.
Losing one for the sake of an alliance was painful—
but acceptable.
Because once resentment formed, even a small crack in relations could grow larger over time.
Yagura raised his hand with a smile.
"Hokage's Aide, the succession ceremony will take place the day after tomorrow.
For these next two days, please rest well and enjoy the customs of the Hidden Mist."
"Then I'll gladly accept your hospitality," Wen Lan replied with a smile.
Yagura, Mei, and Genji personally escorted him to the diplomatic guesthouse.
The interior was elegant, with delicate furnishings and the gentle aroma of tea drifting through the air.
Yagura personally poured a cup of the Hidden Mist's specialty pre-rain tea.
The tea was clear and bright, carrying a subtle fragrance of fresh vegetation.
Wen Lan lifted the cup and inhaled.
His eyes lit up.
He took a sip.
The flavor was rich and smooth, followed by a refreshing aftertaste reminiscent of mountain spring water—instantly lifting the spirit.
"Excellent tea."
"If you like it," Yagura said with a smile,
"I'll prepare some for you to take home."
Then he added:
"Also, please join my family for dinner tonight.
Back then, it was thanks to you that I escaped the genjutsu.
My wife and children have long wanted to thank you personally."
—------------------------------
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