A luxury liner sailed between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.
Inside a VIP cabin, Mizukage Chōjūrō sat quietly on a leather sofa. Across from him stood the triplet brothers—Kōnami, Sazanami, and Makinami.
"It's late," Chōjūrō said gently. "Head back to your cabins and rest."
Kōnami hesitated. "Lord Mizukage… when we boarded, I saw you vomiting again."
Chōjūrō smiled faintly. "Just not used to Konoha's cooking. I feel better now."
"You must be hungry!" Sazanami said quickly. "Should I order shark fin soup?"
"Sea cucumber porridge is better for the stomach!" Makinami added.
Chōjūrō waved them off. "We're on a cruise ship. No need to be extravagant. You're still genin—save your money."
Before leaving, Kōnami asked softly, "You're really alright…? You weren't injured fighting that enemy, were you?"
Chōjūrō ruffled his blue hair.
"I'm fine."
"I'm the strongest, remember?"
The door shut.
The smile faded.
His back slumped against the sofa. Dark circles framed hollow eyes. Unshaven stubble shadowed his jaw.
He looked exhausted.
His gaze drifted to the cloth bundle beside him.
From the ruins of the Izumo battlefield, he had clawed it out with trembling hands.
Hiramekarei—once the blade that won him glory—was now reduced to two broken hilts.
When he saw the shattered swords, something inside him shattered too.
Crushed.
By a man named Uchiha Akira.
"What kind of power was that…?"
"How can a human be that strong?"
"What are the Five Kage compared to him?"
"Do we even need the Five Kage anymore?"
His fingers dug into his hair.
Tears welled.
He wanted to cry.
Knock knock knock.
An ill-timed sound at the door.
"No room service, thank you," Chōjūrō replied politely.
Knock knock knock.
Again.
Three knocks meant mourning.
This was rude.
Knock knock knock.
Knock knock knock.
Knock knock knock.
"Alright, I'm coming."
His hand touched the handle—
—and instinct screamed.
He leapt back.
A red-glowing fishhook pierced through the door.
The cabin exploded inward.
Standing in the doorway was a white-eyed boy, red fishing rod resting on his shoulder.
Uratarō smiled pleasantly.
"Mizukage Chōjūrō. I've been looking for you."
Chōjūrō's eyes narrowed.
Byakugan.
But no Hyūga carried chakra like this.
If they fought here, passengers would die.
Without hesitation, Chōjūrō shattered the cabin window and leapt into the sea.
Uratarō followed.
Open Sea — Night
Moonlight shimmered across dark waters.
Uratarō tilted his head.
"Do you prefer burial at sea?"
Chōjūrō's composure returned the moment his feet touched the water.
"For a Mizukage, there is no better battlefield than the ocean."
"Worry about yourself."
Hand seals formed.
Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!
The sea surged, condensing into a massive spiraling projectile that crashed toward Uratarō.
Uratarō dipped his hand into the glowing basket at his waist.
A wisp of chakra flickered into his palm.
"Lightning Release… from a Konoha jōnin."
Crackling blue lightning formed a spear.
It pierced straight through the water bullet.
Steam exploded outward.
Chōjūrō's pupils tightened.
"That Lightning Release…!"
Uratarō dashed across the waves.
Ama no Suboshi no Mikoto!
Red hooks filled the air.
Chōjūrō responded instantly.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A towering water barrier rose from the ocean itself.
Hooks clattered uselessly against it.
Behind the wall, Chōjūrō's hands flew through seals.
The sea began to churn violently.
No holding back.
I'll drown him with the ocean itself.
Through the water wall, Uratarō's Byakugan observed everything.
At this Kāma progression, I can't open Yomotsu Hirasaka.
If I get dragged to the seabed, escape becomes risky.
I must interrupt him.
A thought sparked.
"Tell me, Mizukage…"
"Which is more terrifying?"
"This sea—"
"Or the fear Uchiha Akira -left in you?"
The name struck like a blade.
Chōjūrō froze.
Fear surged through him.
The battlefield. The shattered blades. The helplessness.
His hand seals faltered.
"That's it."
Uratarō burst through the weakening wall.
The hook shot forward.
It pierced straight through Chōjūrō's chest.
"Got you."
With a pull, a palm-sized azure flame of chakra tore free.
Chōjūrō collapsed onto the sea's surface.
"How… can I…?"
"Just hearing his name…"
"And I couldn't even move…"
He lost consciousness.
Uratarō stored the chakra flame.
He looked down at the fallen Mizukage.
Surprisingly, there was no mockery on his face.
"I would laugh at you."
"But unfortunately… I understand."
His Byakugan shifted downward.
Far beneath the waves—
Resting quietly on the ocean floor—
Covered in moss and seaweed—
Was a massive Buddha statue.
Cast there nineteen years ago.
Time had passed.
But causality had not forgotten.
Past and present had just aligned.
Uratarō turned away.
"The Raikage and Tsuchikage are already on their rail cars."
"Their chakra isn't worth the time cost."
Kāma spread across his palm.
A circular portal opened.
"Enough wild fishing."
"Time to fish in my own pond."
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"If I can hook even one before Akira -notices…"
"I'll retreat and find a proper vessel."
He stepped through—
—and returned to the Hyūga compound in Konoha.
In a quiet alley near his home stood an elderly man in a gray kimono.
Former clan head—Hyūga Hiashi.
Hiashi had been waiting.
"Taro."
"Clan members report you've been absent from duties."
"And carrying a strange red fishing rod."
"On that rainy night… there was an assault in the tavern alley."
"The victims only remember a red fishing rod."
"Care to explain?"
His Byakugan flared.
"Will you confess voluntarily?"
"Or shall I send you to Ibiki for assistance?"
Despite the threat, Hiashi had no intention of exposing this publicly.
Reputation mattered.
The Hyūga name mattered.
He planned to handle this internally.
The alley incident had no fatalities.
It could still be contained.
Confess, and it ends here.
Uratarō turned slowly.
"Roadside stray."
Hiashi frowned.
"What did you say?"
Uratarō smiled wildly.
"I said—"
"Hyūga Hiashi."
"You're just a roadside dog."
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