As the Kirigakure delegation approached the main gates of Konohagakure, they could see the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, standing at the entrance with her retinue of officials and guards. The sight was both welcoming and impressive, a clear display of respect befitting such an important diplomatic visit.
This time, Terumi Mei had come to Konoha as the reigning Fifth Mizukage, which made this visit vastly different from Ōnoki's previous arrival. When the former Tsuchikage had visited, he had already stepped down from his position and came for personal matters. Tsunade and her people were able to welcome him based on his status as an elder and his former rank, but the protocols were much more relaxed.
Now, however, Terumi Mei was not only the active Mizukage but was also visiting on official state business. In such circumstances, it was essential to show Kirigakure proper respect and follow appropriate diplomatic procedures. The relationship between the two villages depended on these careful gestures of mutual recognition.
For this reason, Tsunade had not only come personally to greet the delegation but had also brought along a group of Konoha's high-ranking officials. This show of respect gave Kirigakure the recognition they deserved as one of the great shinobi villages.
The sight immediately put Terumi Mei at ease. The fact that Konoha had invested so much effort into this welcome meant that her journey would not be in vain. If they hadn't been serious about negotiations, there would have been no need for such elaborate preparations.
Before reaching the main gate of Konoha, the Kirigakure delegation took a moment to straighten their appearance and ensure their uniforms were pristine. At this moment, they were representing their entire village, and they could not afford to lose face or appear unprofessional.
Shihouin Naraku led the procession, and the group soon arrived at the gates of Konohagakure. The massive wooden doors stood open in welcome, flanked by Konoha shinobi in their distinctive green vests.
"Welcome, Mizukage-sama!" Tsunade called out warmly.
As the host of this diplomatic meeting, Tsunade took the initiative, stepping forward with a genuine smile as she extended her hand toward Terumi Mei in a gesture of friendship and respect.
"Thank you very much for this warm reception," Terumi Mei replied graciously. "I can truly feel the sincerity of Konoha's welcome, Hokage-sama. I am honored to be here as the Fifth Mizukage, and I believe that together we can reach a meaningful peace treaty that will benefit both our villages."
"Of course, I share that hope completely," Tsunade responded with equal warmth.
The Fifth Mizukage removed her distinctive Mizukage hat and walked forward several steps, reaching out to clasp Tsunade's outstretched hand. Both leaders had come with genuine intentions to show goodwill and establish better relations between their villages, so the atmosphere became harmonious and promising almost immediately.
As the senior leader present, Tsunade exchanged pleasantries with Terumi Mei for several more minutes before gesturing toward the village entrance, preparing to escort the delegation into Konohagakure proper.
Naraku followed without question, understanding that his escort duties were far from over. His responsibility for the Mizukage's safety would continue throughout her stay in the village.
This mission had proceeded remarkably smoothly so far. Throughout their journey to Konoha, the village's ANBU forces had been responsible for maintaining security in the outer perimeter, efficiently dealing with any minor threats or troublemakers who might have posed a risk to the delegation. Naraku himself had not needed to engage in combat even once during the trip.
At most, his fearsome reputation alone had been enough to discourage those who might have considered causing trouble. The mere presence of Shihouin Naraku was often sufficient to make potential enemies think twice about their plans.
However, the mission was not yet complete, and Naraku remained vigilant and responsible for the safety of his charges.
Wait...
Naraku raised his right foot to take another step forward, but before it could touch the ground, his all-encompassing Observation Haki detected something that made his eyes narrow with sudden alertness. Something was wrong.
Swoosh!
In an instant, his figure became little more than a blur of light and shadow as Naraku appeared before a hideous-looking Mist shinobi like a ghost materializing from thin air. The man's appearance was wrong—his chakra signature felt off, and his positioning was all wrong for a member of the official delegation.
Without hesitation, Naraku grabbed the enemy's collar with one powerful hand, twisted his own body to generate momentum, and then applied tremendous force through his arm as he threw the attacker to the ground with a devastating shoulder throw.
BOOM!
The ground at the gate of Konoha shook violently from the impact, and the people nearby who hadn't reacted in time staggered and nearly fell from the shock waves. Dust and debris scattered in all directions from the point of impact.
"Gah!" A spray of blood erupted from the impostor's mouth.
The fake Mist shinobi had been hurled to the ground by Naraku with such force that blood immediately began seeping from the corners of his mouth. He lay motionless in a deep crater that had formed from the impact, spider-web cracks radiating outward through the stone. The overwhelming power had penetrated deep into his body, destroying his internal organs. He was clearly dying.
"Sealed," Naraku stated calmly as he withdrew his hand.
A sealing technique flashed across the impostor's body, ensuring that whatever technique he had been preparing to use was now completely suppressed and harmless.
"Naraku!"
"Shihouin Naraku!"
"Attack! Konoha is trying to harm Mizukage-sama!"
"Stop this!"
"Everyone, stand down!"
Because of Shihouin Naraku's sudden and violent action, the previously harmonious atmosphere immediately became tense and dangerous. The air itself seemed to crackle with hostile energy.
All the legitimate Mist shinobi reacted instantly to what they perceived as an attack on their delegation. They quickly formed a protective circle around Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei, drawing their weapons and glaring at everyone present from Konoha with deep suspicion and readiness for battle. It seemed as though a full-scale fight might break out at any moment.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...
Additional figures appeared one after another around the Konoha delegation, ANBU operatives moving to shield Tsunade and the other high-ranking officials from potential attack by the Mist shinobi. Their masks gleamed in the sunlight as they prepared for combat.
These were members of Konoha's elite ANBU forces, and their sudden appearance only heightened the tension.
Word of the disturbance had already spread throughout Konoha Village, and a large number of shinobi were rushing toward the gates to provide backup if needed. The situation was rapidly escalating toward a diplomatic disaster.
In contrast to all this frantic movement, Naraku, who had initiated the confrontation, stood calmly where he was and made no further aggressive moves. His posture was relaxed but alert, showing no signs of continuing the attack.
Tsunade and Terumi Mei looked at each other across the tense standoff, and both immediately saw the surprise and understanding in the other's eyes. Both experienced leaders quickly grasped that something more complex was happening here.
"Everyone, calm down!" Tsunade shouted with authority.
"Stand down immediately!" Terumi Mei commanded her own forces.
As Hokage and Mizukage respectively, both women had the authority to give orders to their guards and subordinates, and their commands temporarily suppressed the riot that had been about to explode into violence.
Tsunade had complete trust in Naraku and knew he would never attack a Mist shinobi without an excellent reason. He must have noticed something seriously wrong and taken decisive action to prevent a greater threat. His judgment had proven reliable countless times before.
As for Terumi Mei, she understood that with Shihouin Naraku's incredible strength and reputation, if he had truly wanted to kill her and her delegation, it would have been completely unnecessary to go through the elaborate process of escorting them safely to Konoha first. He could have eliminated them at any point during the journey if that had been his intention.
Therefore, neither leader felt the urge to escalate the situation into open warfare.
"I'm not familiar with Kirigakure's specific techniques," Naraku said calmly, addressing the crowd. "What's happening here needs to be examined by someone who understands your village's methods. Mizukage-sama, would you please come and take a look?"
Naraku gestured toward Terumi Mei, motioning for her to approach the fallen figure.
"Mizukage-sama, please be careful!"
"Don't be fooled by Konoha's deception!"
"Stay back!"
Despite the protective concerns of her subordinates, and although she knew they were acting out of genuine care for her safety, Terumi Mei firmly pushed past the Mist shinobi who tried to block her path. She walked with determination toward Naraku and looked down at the figure who had lost his life.
"This is..." Terumi Mei's expression became troubled and concerned.
At that moment, the clothing on the dead impostor's chest had been cut open by Naraku with a precisely placed blade, revealing the densely packed sealing formulas that had been engraved directly onto the man's skin. The intricate patterns covered most of his torso in dark ink.
Naraku's Observation Haki had immediately detected that something was fundamentally wrong with this supposed Mist shinobi. Not only had the man broken away from the proper formation and moved toward the positions where Tsunade and Terumi Mei were standing, but he had also been preparing to activate a technique that had been prepared well in advance.
"I'm not familiar with the specific techniques used by Kirigakure shinobi," Naraku explained matter-of-factly, "but this type of engraving and seal work appears to be designed to perform some kind of large-scale sealing jutsu."
Naraku casually tossed a katana to one of the nearby Mist shinobi. Only then did the man realize that the weapon from his back had been taken by Shihouin Naraku without anyone noticing, so swift and precise were his movements.
Ignoring the horrified expression on the Mist shinobi's face, Naraku looked directly at Terumi Mei, waiting for her expert analysis of the situation.
"So he was preparing to release the sealing technique that had been engraved on his body," Tsunade observed, moving closer to examine the markings. "He was planning to seal both you and me together."
After taking a careful look at the intricate seal work, Tsunade understood what kind of threat they had just avoided.
Terumi Mei's expression remained deeply troubled as she studied the dead impostor. She had only encountered these particular sealing techniques a few times in her career, but she finally recognized the specific type of jutsu involved, and the knowledge filled her with dread.
If this sealing technique had been successfully activated, it would have forcibly sealed all living things within a radius of one hundred meters into a special dimensional space contained within the bearer's body. Those trapped inside would have drowned in the airless void, a slow and horrible death.
The technique was incredibly powerful and nearly impossible for those affected to escape once caught. Even experienced jōnin would have difficulty breaking free from such a seal.
However, this sealing technique also had significant limitations that made it rarely used. Not only could the complex formula only be engraved onto shinobi of jōnin level or higher—the process required that level of chakra control and physical resilience—but the success rate of the engraving process was extremely low. Additionally, the materials required for each attempt were extraordinarily expensive and difficult to obtain.
Under normal circumstances, even a skilled jōnin could only attempt to have the technique engraved three times at most. If three consecutive attempts failed, the chaotic chakra involved in the process would permanently damage the ninja's chakra system, causing serious injury or even death.
Because of these severe limitations, this type of sealing technique was generally considered impractical and wasteful. After all, jōnin were the backbone and primary fighting force of every major shinobi village, and no leader would willingly sacrifice such valuable personnel for what amounted to a single-use weapon with uncertain chances of success.
The fact that someone had been willing to use such a costly and dangerous technique suggested that this had been a very serious assassination attempt, one that someone had invested considerable resources and planning to execute.
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