“Is that Ao?”
Just as Ao perked his ears, feeling a thrill from the air vibrating with the shouts, a slightly resentful voice came from inside the Hidden Mist gate, snapping him back to reality.
“It’s me.”
Ao looked towards the source of the voice. There, a burly man with a face full of scars had just appeared, glaring at the belated Ao.
“Lord Mizukage wants to see you and Shisui.”
“The Mizukage?”
Ao was taken aback, looking into the distance with sudden realization. He nodded, then pointed to the person beside him.
“And what about Hiashi?”
“The Mizukage has plans for him as well. He is to follow me.”
The man immediately replied.
“That’s good.”
Ao turned back to Shisui, his expression turning serious.
“Come with me.”
Shisui pursed his lips, pretending to be indifferent, but couldn’t help feeling a bit apprehensive inside.
Being in enemy territory, with his life out of his control, Naoki was destined to manipulate his future.
Dying wouldn’t be much of an issue, but if it threatened the village and his clan…
His heart pounded faster, and he took a deep breath to calm himself, following Ao into the Hidden Mist.
Behind those Sharingan eyes was a brain that loved to think.
Before, he constantly pondered the relationship between the village and his clan, striving to find a solution.
Now, he had to figure out how the Hidden Mist managed to defeat Konoha in this war.
He immediately began scrutinizing everything around him.
It didn’t take long for Shisui to observe the dilapidated houses, the deserted streets, the stench of decay and blood. He might have mistaken this place for hell if not for the intense shouts in the air.
A ridiculous thought surfaced in his mind.
This village, in such a state, defeated us?
How could this be?
Shisui felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
Compared to Konoha, this village was weak and declining. How could such a scattered force gather the strength to oppose Konoha?
Shisui furrowed his brow. He loved to think but wasn’t good at solving the problems his thoughts created, just as he had no solutions for his increasingly rebellious clan.
But as he walked, hearing the growing chants and feeling the intense gazes from each household, he found a reasonable answer.
It was Naoki’s unparalleled strength that these people couldn’t resist.
Moreover, the long-suffering residents of the Hidden Mist, yearning for a glimmer of hope, fought with a desperate fervor despite being less skilled than Konoha’s ninjas.
Lowering his head, clenching his fists.
If these people truly saw something like hope in Naoki, the power they could unleash would undoubtedly astonish the world.
Konoha could not withstand such a Hidden Mist.
If he could return to the village, he must warn them!
——
“Aren’t you going to continue enjoying your glory, Fourth Mizukage?”
The Third Mizukage casually remarked, watching Naoki wave goodbye to his loyal ninjas, with a tone mixed with complexity and envy.
“Of course not. Why immerse myself in this unstable frenzy?”
Naoki’s tone remained icy, showing no regard for the Third Mizukage’s dignity.
“I know very well why they follow me and why they cheer for me.”
“If I forget my promises to them after becoming Mizukage, if I don’t bring them the life they hope for, a new hero will eventually point a blade at me, won’t they, Third Mizukage?”
“You are right.”
The Third Mizukage listened, silent for a long time, images of the First and Second Mizukages flashing in his mind. He then spoke in a hoarse voice, unable to hide his admiration.
“I was anxious about handing the village’s future to a young Kaguya clan member, but now, it seems you might surpass the First and Second Mizukages.”
“Wait and see, Third Mizukage. Words alone are never effective.”
Naoki casually sighed and was about to head towards the Mizukage building.
He still had many things to do and think about.
With the end of the Shinobi World War, Obito would soon come.
At that time, relying on Rin alone wouldn’t be enough.
He had to demonstrate his full strength before Obito, show Rin’s commitment to living in the Hidden Mist, and share his vision for world peace.
Otherwise, Obito wouldn’t willingly join him.
Besides that, there were also the daimyo, the Konoha peace treaty, the Byakugan, and Shisui, which helped Danzo cause chaos in Konoha. All these tasks needed to be addressed.
“Fourth Mizukage.”
“Your new era has arrived.”
“So, can an old relic like me still burn one last time for your new era?”
“Assign me something to do.”
Naoki paused, turning back to seriously look at the Third Mizukage for the first time.
“This is what needs to be done next.”
“I want you to reveal to everyone the truth about being controlled for over a decade.”
After a pause, Naoki continued.
“I initially planned just to inform you of what to do. But now, I want to explain why.”
“Using the truth about your control, we can create the illusion that Konoha might retaliate, allowing us to extract more benefits.”
“Additionally, it will sow discord between the Uchiha clan and Konoha.”
“And the only price is your reputation.”
“I understand.”
The Third Mizukage sighed.
“It’s what I should do as someone with no reputation left.”
“And?”
Naoki immediately responded.
“Also.”
“You need to submit your resignation to the daimyo and officially report my name.”
“A matter of course.”
Naoki spoke after a pause, feeling he had no more tasks for the poor Third Mizukage.
“Then go ahead, Third Mizukage.”
The Third Mizukage took a deep breath, turned, and walked to the high platform where Naoki had stood. He loudly addressed the now noisy ninjas below.
“Everyone, I am the Third Mizukage.”
“For the past decade, I have been trapped in a dream constructed by a crimson Sharingan…”
Below, amidst the noisy crowd, Shisui stopped, listening to the voice, his eyes growing blank.
Controlled by a Sharingan?
How is that possible? Who in the clan is that powerful?
How? How?
Sweat broke out on his forehead as Shisui frantically thought of a solution.
“Continue killing those Konoha scum!”
The fanatical, bloodthirsty shouts brought Shisui back to reality, and sweat poured from him!
The village would face war.
The clan would face suspicion.
More and more thoughts spun uncontrollably in his mind, leaving him utterly terrified.
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