Chapter 120: The Mist Enters the Leaf
Outside the Gates of Konoha.
Elder Genji, the ancient patriarch of the Hidden Mist, hobbled forward, his
weight supported by a gnarled wooden cane. Behind him trailed a phalanx of Mist
shinobi, their auras cold and damp.
Fuguki Suikazan and Yagura Karatachi followed closely at his heels, accompanied
by several elite Jonin. Further back walked the "prodigy wing": Mei Terumi,
Kisame Hoshigaki, an Ice-Style user named Yuki, and a bone-pulse genius from the
Kaguya clan named Nakamaro.
These were the current crown jewels of the Mist.
Their mission was a classic piece of "Ringer" diplomacy: they were to masquerade
as ordinary Genin to display overwhelming combat prowess during the cultural
exchange. This would provide the Mist with much-needed leverage at the
negotiating table.
It was an old strategy, but a reliable one. A village's count of "monstrous"
young geniuses was the primary indicator of its long-term military potential.
Usually, a village would only risk sending one or two such prodigies into a
rival superpower's heartland. The risk of "culling"—having your future leaders
assassinated or "accidentally" killed during a spar—was normally too high. The
Cloud Village, for instance, was notorious for "harvesting" talent from joint
exams. No one went to Kumogakure for a friendly match unless they brought an
army.
"Mei, Kisame, Nakamaro, Yuki—"
Elder Genji spoke slowly, his voice raspy with age. "Do not hold back. Show the
Leaf ninjas the true weight of your talent."
"Lord Hiruzen is currently obsessed with his international image. He uses the
legacy of the First Hokage as a shield, but it's also a cage. He won't risk his
reputation by hurting you. Use that safety to display the majesty of the Bloody
Mist."
"It is the Mizukage's decree."
Fuguki Suikazan, the massive wielder of the Samehada, shot a glance at Genji and
barked in agreement. "The Mist has no room for trash! Shinobi who cannot bleed
for the Mizukage are better off as fertilizer!"
"The Blood Mist policy is designed to make the Mist great again! If any of you
hide your strength out of cowardice, you'll answer to my blade!"
Fuguki shifted his massive shoulders, causing the Samehada to writhe and hiss on
his back. It was a terrifying sight. Since the purges began, Fuguki had used his
sword to "liquidate" dozens of dissenters within his own village. His status as
the Mizukage's favorite butcher had never been higher.
"Well said, Fuguki," Genji nodded.
"I am merely the hand that executes your wisdom, Elder!" Fuguki bowed his
massive, pufferfish-like body, a fawning, oily smile splitting his face. He
leaned in, his long whiskers twitching. "I hope you'll continue to 'correct' my
movements in the future. I am your humble student!"
Fuguki wasn't just being polite; he was genuinely in awe of Genji. To survive
three separate Mizukages and remain the most powerful man in the council was a
feat of political survival that defied logic. Genji was a rock that even the
tide of the Bloody Mist couldn't erode.
"Remember," Genji whispered to the group, "follow the Mizukage, and you follow
the path to power."
"To forge a closed fist, you must first drain the pus from the abscess. We are
losing numbers, yes, but the survivors are becoming more lethal by the hour.
That is the logic of our era."
This was Genji's true belief. As a veteran of the Warring States, he hated the
factionalism that had plagued the Mist since the First War. He viewed the
current purges as a "surgical necessity"—a painful price for a unified future.
Kisame and Mei Terumi shared a look, nodding reflexively. They were geniuses,
but they were still young. They hadn't developed the critical thinking to
question the high command—not yet.
Mei had seen the reality of the purges. She had seen friends she grew up with
vanish in the night.
If this leads to a better Mist, she thought, then I can endure it.
But the bone-man, Nakamaro Kaguya, was different. He didn't care about politics.
He just wanted to kill.
"The Blood Mist is a glorious policy!" Nakamaro laughed, his voice sounding
slightly unhinged. "Every day is a hunt! I want to taste the blood of a Leaf
'Genius'! I want to prove the Kaguya are the strongest clan in the world!"
Nakamaro threw his arms wide, a manic grin on his face. "Praise the blood!
Praise the Mist!"
Instinctively, the rest of the delegation—even the "Evil" Fuguki—shuffled a few
steps away from the Kaguya brat. He was the personification of the madness that
plagued the bone-pulse bloodline. Everyone else was thinking about "Goals" and
"Resources." Nakamaro was just a shark that had been taught how to speak.
"So, you're the ones from the Mist?"
A cold voice drifted down from the canopy of a nearby oak. Hizashi Hyuga,
wearing his embroidered High Commissioner's mantle, stood on a branch, looking
down at them with a mask of pure professional indifference.
"I am Commissioner Hizashi, here to escort you to the gates. I hope your
'apology' is worth the Hokage's time."
"Konoha gold fed your prisoners for three months. Remember: that was a gift of
mercy, not an obligation. Don't waste it."
Hizashi hopped down, landing soundlessly. He gestured toward the village and
began walking without looking back.
RUSTLE. RUSTLE.
Elder Genji's eyes narrowed. He could hear the faint sounds of a massive swarm
moving through the trees—not humans, but insects.
"An Aburame tracking swarm," Genji noted. "They've been marking our chakra
signatures for the last forty-seven minutes."
"Konoha's perimeter is tighter than the reports said," the Elder whispered.
Hizashi stopped. "You've been under surveillance since you crossed the border.
Do not ask about our security protocols. Move."
Genji felt a cold weight in his chest. Hizashi Hyuga? A Branch member acting
with this level of authority? And wearing the robe of a High Official? Hiruzen
has dismantled the clan hierarchy...
"Lord Hokage will receive your 'tribute' later," Hizashi added. "Your captured
ninjas were an embarrassment to your village. We've disciplined them for wasting
our rations."
Genji's brow twitched. Calling our elite scouts 'trash'? The Leaf's arrogance is
growing along with their treasury.
"Hey! You!" Nakamaro Kaguya shouted, stepping toward Hizashi. "You're a Hyuga,
right? A 'Byakugan' user? How strong are you? Are there many more like you in
this village?"
Hizashi didn't even turn his head.
"Why are you ignoring me?! Do you think your eyes make you a god?" Nakamaro's
knuckles began to protrude from his skin as he gathered chakra.
"If you strike, you die," Hizashi said, his voice flat. "Genji, is this child's
behavior the official stance of the Mist?"
"Nakamaro, stand down!" Genji barked, though he offered a sharp, secret wink to
the boy.
The message was clear: Wait until the 'Cultural Exchange' in the Academy. Then
you can break their toys.
Inside the Leaf Gates.
As the Mist delegation entered the village, Mei Terumi and Kisame found
themselves staring in shock.
It's... a different world.
Konoha was undergoing a massive urban expansion. Following the success of the
Sovereign Sage Pills, the village was flooded with investment. The "Inner Ring"
was a hub of high-end traditional architecture, while the "Outer Ring" was
filled with new construction—cinemas, gourmet restaurants, even specialized
"Shinobi Spas."
"Look at all the weapon shops," Mei whispered. "And the restaurants... and is
that a bookstore?"
"They have a movie theater?" Kisame muttered, his shark-like eyes wide. "That's
only supposed to exist in the Capital! How does a Hidden Village afford this?"
Mei saw ninjas walking around with the relaxed confidence of people who knew
they were valued. At that moment, she spotted Asuma and Kurenai walking out of
the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Asuma was carrying a massive, vibrant bouquet,
laughing as he joked with the girl beside him.
"Asuma! You're too young to be playing 'Prince Charming'!" Inoichi Yamanaka
called out from the storefront, laughing.
"We're just friends, Uncle Inoichi!" Asuma shouted back, his face turning red.
Mei Terumi watched the interaction with a deep, aching envy. Why? she wondered.
We're both ninjas. Why is my life a constant struggle, while these kids are
living in a fairy tale?
Nakamaro Kaguya, sensing Mei's interest, gave a bark-like laugh. "You want those
flowers, Mei? I'll get them for you!"
He lunged toward Asuma, his chakra flaring into a violent, jagged spike.
But before he could even take three steps, a shadow dropped from the sky.
THUD.
En Uchiha, the one-armed veteran, landed directly in front of the Kaguya boy.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun with a cold, terrifying intensity.
He flooded Nakamaro's mind with pure spiritual pressure. Nakamaro froze. In his
mind, he was being sliced into a thousand pieces by a blade he couldn't see.
"Leaf Police protocols are very clear," En said, blowing a thick cloud of smoke
into Nakamaro's face. "Lord Hokage and I are 'friends,' little scavenger. I'd
hate to have to execute a Mist-brat on my first day of duty."
Nakamaro collapsed to his knees, his eyes unfocused. I... I couldn't even see
the attack...
Genji stepped forward, bowing politely to defuse the situation. "My apologies,
officers. The boy is young and impulsive."
En puffed on his cigarette, staring at Genji. "You look familiar, old timer.
Can't put a name to the face. Hizashi, tell the Hokage this one gives me a
'shifty' vibe."
En waved them off like they were children.
Hizashi turned to the group. "Anbu squads will escort you to the guest quarters.
Lord Hokage will see you when he's ready."
Hizashi stopped, looking at Yagura. "And you—the green-haired kid. Follow the
Anbu to the Academy. The Hokage Office isn't a playground for toddlers."
Yagura's face turned bright red, a vein popping in his forehead. "I AM AN
ADULT!!"
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