When confirmation came that the intruders had no intention of razing Hidden Mist Village to the ground, Yagura Karatachi finally allowed himself a shallow breath.
"Send all Konoha ninja corpses here," he ordered quietly, turning to Biwa Jūzō. "Have ANBU and elite squads surround the four traitors. If they resist—kill them on the spot."
Biwa Jūzō nodded, expression grim. "Hōzuki Chien died blocking the cold wave. Kisame Hoshigaki and Fuguki Suikazan failed to escape in time. The ones who fled are Kuriarare Kushimaru, Munashi Jinpachi, and Suikazan Fuguki. Jinpachi is gravely wounded. I can—"
"No," Yagura interrupted, shaking his head. "Do not leave the village. You still need to relay the Mizukage's final orders. Have Zabuza Momochi organize the pursuit."
He paused, then added, more cautiously, "And the storage pouches must be returned."
Ao glanced toward Shui Bing'er and the others. Seeing the fury barely contained in their expressions, he spoke up himself. "Those items were temporarily entrusted to us by Boss Li. They must be returned intact."
Once the pouches' appearance was confirmed, ANBU were dispatched to comb the ruins.
No further words were exchanged.
Facing the Ink Dragon and the Azure Luan—beasts that could shrink, expand, and hover freely in the air—Yagura had no intention of provoking another catastrophe. An uneasy stillness settled between the two sides, heavy with blood and frost.
Not long after, an elderly man arrived, leaning lightly on a snake-shaped staff. ANBU and young ninja followed in his wake. The moment he appeared, every ninja present bowed instinctively.
Even Yagura stepped back, positioning himself half a pace behind the old man, and reported everything he knew.
This was Genshi—Hidden Mist's elder, the figure the dying Mizukage had named with his last breath. The true pillar of the Elder faction.
He was a relic of an older era, a man who had once stood beside the First Mizukage during the village's founding. After the Third Mizukage ascended, Genshi had opposed his policies—but never openly. Political struggle was a blade that once drawn could not be sheathed. Instead, Genshi withdrew into the shadows, preserving strength, nurturing the younger generation, waiting for the day correction would be possible.
He had never imagined the truth would be this cruel.
After confirming the ANBU reports, Genshi stood silently before the Mizukage's corpse for a long time. His hand tightened around the staff, knuckles whitening.
If only he had realized sooner.
At last, he looked up toward the figures in the sky. "This incident is Hidden Mist's responsibility," he said slowly. "We will bear all consequences."
Only then did Shui Bing'er lead the others down.
The Ink Dragon shrank further, coiling protectively around them at roughly ten meters in length. The Azure Luan remained aloft, vast wings spread wide, watching every movement below.
"First," Shui Bing'er said, forcing her voice steady, "we were ordered by Boss Li to post a mission in Hidden Mist Village."
She produced ten sealed boxes, clearly outlining the task and its requirements.
Genshi listened without interruption. "Hidden Mist accepts."
He turned slightly. "Yagura Karatachi—you will lead this mission."
Yagura bowed. He understood perfectly.
The Blood Mist faction had been exposed. Cleansing the village would follow. Sending him away now both removed him from the coming storm and entrusted him with maintaining relations with the Sacrificial Shop—a mark of confidence, and a path to legitimacy.
When he returned, power would no longer need to be seized.
"Second," Shui Bing'er continued, "we will return to Konoha to confront the Hokage. Hidden Mist must send representatives—and evidence."
"Agreed," Genshi replied without hesitation. "Yagura Karatachi and Biwa Jūzō will accompany you. The Third Mizukage's body will serve as proof."
Desecration or not, he no longer cared. If Konoha did not bleed for this, Hidden Mist would have no future standing in the ninja world.
"Third," Shui Bing'er said, eyes cold, "we will take the bodies of the Konoha ninja—and the four who attacked us."
Genshi raised his staff.
"Hear me," he declared. "By the authority of the Hidden Mist Elder, I pronounce Kuriarare Kushimaru, Munashi Jinpachi, and Suikazan Fuguki rogue ninja. Hidden Mist will hunt them to the ends of the earth."
Huo Wu cut in sharply. "Select your people. We leave now."
No one objected.
Anger burned too fiercely on both sides to allow delay.
Within minutes, nearly ten ninja squads were assembled. Corpses were recovered. Buried storage pouches were unearthed.
Shui Bing'er and the others ascended onto the Ink Dragon's head. Hidden Mist ninja clung along its tail as the great beast surged into the sky, streaking toward Konoha.
Inside the Hokage's office, a high-level meeting was in progress when a communication ninja burst in, ignoring all protocol.
"Hokage-sama! Emergency report from the Land of Water border!"
He dropped to one knee. "Two giant beasts are approaching Konoha. A black serpent over a hundred meters long, and a blue avian beast with a wingspan exceeding a hundred meters. Their energy fluctuations have reached Tailed Beast levels. They are approaching at extreme speed!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted.
Not chakra—energy.
That distinction alone told him everything.
He rose immediately. "Evacuate civilians. All ninja—Level One combat readiness."
In one motion, he removed his ceremonial Hokage robe, revealing the combat uniform beneath. Silence fell across the room.
Since Tsunade's departure, he had worn it every day.
Utatane Koharu merely nodded, unsurprised. But Danzo Shimura and Homura Mitokado felt a chill creep up their spines.
They knew Hiruzen.
This vigilance was not against an external raid.
It was preparation—for betrayal.
Danzo said nothing. He followed, leading clan elites toward Hokage Rock.
Hiruzen gestured for ANBU to relay the intelligence to all assembled forces. Then he turned, gazing toward the Land of Water.
The sun shone brightly overhead.
Yet an unshakable cold settled in his chest.
_____________________
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