Fuguki Suikazan, the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, may have grown rusty from years of political maneuvering rather than frontline combat, but he was still a genuine elite Jonin. The moment a long blade shot out from under Chojuro's armpit, he reacted, retreating swiftly while reaching for the great blade Samehada slung across his back.
Boom.
But at that moment, with a loud crash, a figure smashed through the roof, landing in the room and charging at the retreating Fuguki.
Fuguki had only half-drawn Samehada when the figure from the roof bound it with iron chains.
Fuguki roared in fury: "I am the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen! Zabuza, Kisame Hoshigaki, are you planning to rebel?"
Undoubtedly.
The one hiding behind Chojuro, attacking with a long sword, was none other than Zabuza, the Demon of the Mist. The one who dropped from the roof, chaining Fuguki's Samehada, was Kisame Hoshigaki, known in Hidden Mist as the 'Tailless Tailed Beast.'
Pushing Chojuro aside, Zabuza sneered coldly: "Rebel? Are you talking about yourself?"
Kisame snorted: "Traitor!"
Fuguki declared: "I am the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, second only to the Mizukage and the elders. You ambushing me—what is this if not rebellion?"
"Is that so? Looks like you're still not giving up!"
At that moment, another figure stepped into Fuguki's view—none other than Terumi Mei, the Mizukage's guard.
"I heard the Fourth is gravely injured. Instead of guarding him, you three come to gang up on me. What's the meaning of this?"
Fuguki sensed things were going south, but having heard the Fourth Mizukage was heavily wounded, his only chance of survival was to exploit the Mizukage's incapacity and his own rank to fight for a way out.
As expected, faced with Fuguki's accusation, Terumi Mei, Zabuza, and Kisame fell silent.
The Hidden Mist ninja at the temporary encampment noticed the commotion and began gathering to watch.
Seeing the growing crowd, Fuguki realized his chance to survive was at hand. He shouted: "All Hidden Mist ninja, listen! I am Fuguki Suikazan, leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen! Terumi Mei, Zabuza, and Kisame Hoshigaki have failed to protect the Mizukage and are plotting rebellion. I order their execution—attack now!"
At that moment, a voice rang out from the crowd: "Fuguki Suikazan, why… did you betray Hidden Mist?"
Fuguki froze in shock: "Fourth?"
Terumi Mei stepped aside, revealing a hunched figure wrapped in bandages, leaning on a metal crutch, slowly approaching Fuguki.
Fuguki, already bluffing to mask his fear, saw the Fourth Mizukage in this state and lost all hope, his face ashen. "I didn't betray the village! I only betrayed you!"
The Fourth Mizukage gave Fuguki a deep look and uttered a single word: "Kill!"
Swish.
Before the Mizukage's voice faded, a figure cloaked in lightning flashed by, severing Fuguki's shocked head.
Flicking the blood off her Lightning Blade, Ringo Ameyuri glanced back at Fuguki's headless body with disdain: "Pathetic!"
Though the Fourth Mizukage, Terumi Mei, Zabuza, and others had pinned him down, and Kisame had bound his ninja blade with chains, for the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to be beheaded so easily, Ringo Ameyuri had every right to scorn him.
"Terumi Mei, Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza, Ringo Ameyuri, Chojuro, Suigetsu—stay. Everyone else, leave!"
The Fourth Mizukage waved his hand.
The Hidden Mist ninja in the encampment obeyed and dispersed.
Once the crowd was gone, the Fourth Mizukage's figure grew even more hunched, as if drained of strength, leaning heavily on his crutch to catch his breath.
"Mizukage-sama!"
Terumi Mei hurried to support him.
The Fourth Mizukage shook his head: "I can still hold on."
Terumi Mei reluctantly let go and stood by his side.
After catching his breath, the Fourth Mizukage scanned the group, then looked at the great blade Samehada still clutched in Fuguki's headless hands. He ordered: "The next inheritor of Samehada is Kisame Hoshigaki!"
Kisame was stunned, then overjoyed.
For a Jonin of his caliber, most ninja blades offered limited boosts, but Samehada was perfectly suited to his style.
Without Samehada, Kisame was an elite Jonin. With it, he was a solid Kage-level powerhouse.
As Kisame gleefully claimed Samehada, envy flashed in Zabuza and Suigetsu's eyes.
The Fourth Mizukage continued: "My injuries are severe. I don't know if I'll recover or how long it will take. During my recovery, Terumi Mei will act as interim Mizukage. You are to obey her orders as you would mine!"
"What!?"
The group exchanged stunned glances, even Terumi Mei, who had just been named interim Mizukage, was no exception.
'Interim Mizukage' implied succession.
If the Fourth Mizukage couldn't recover or regained only limited ability, unable to continue as Mizukage, Terumi Mei would become Hidden Mist's Fifth Mizukage.
Snapping out of her shock, Terumi Mei said, "Mizukage-sama, you…"
The Fourth Mizukage cut her off: "What I've said was carefully considered. You are a Hidden Mist ninja, so bearing this responsibility is your duty!"
Terumi Mei's expression hardened: "Yes!"
…
Hokage Building.
Homura Mitokado sighed softly: "The Kazekage dead, the Mizukage gravely injured, the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Seven-Tails lost—this battle's losses are too great!"
Koharu Utatane's face was grim: "Akatsuki's strength far exceeds our expectations. After this battle, the situation has turned even more against us!"
Jiraiya and Tsunade nodded slightly in agreement.
Before the battle, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had naively believed that with the Five Kage acting together, Akatsuki, no matter how strong, couldn't cause much trouble.
Now, they saw how gravely mistaken they were.
Homura asked, "When will Hidden Sand decide on the Fifth Kazekage?"
Tsunade replied, "I heard the Fourth Mizukage plans to nominate Terumi Mei as interim Mizukage!"
Jiraiya immediately thought of the fierce Hidden Mist kunoichi who shone in the battle, nodding appreciatively: "Hmm, a solid choice!"
At that moment, the Third, seated behind the Hokage desk, spoke up: "We should start considering a new Hokage candidate as well!"