The newly appointed Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, stood at the shore with a furious Mangetsu and the "older shota" Yagura, watching Akio's group of three gradually disappear across the misty sea.
From this trip to the Mist Village, Akio had not only abducted Kimimaro… he'd even picked up Kisame along the way.
"You've got three days to pay back your debt!" Akio shouted over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Senior," Mei replied.
Mangetsu merely snorted and turned back, his severely injured father was still bedridden and needed him.
After the succession ceremony, the former Fourth Mizukage, had confidently approached Akio to be "sent to heaven," convinced that with his Hydrification Technique, even a fall from over a thousand meters wouldn't injure him too badly.
Akio told him he was too young.
Entering Sage Mode, Akio launched him four thousand meters into the sky…
It took over a full minute for him to hit the ground again. A squad of Water-natured ninjas caught him with ninjutsu, but even with Hydrification, he was left gravely injured, on the edge of death.
He should have thought twice, after assaulting the Uzumaki Kingdom and calling Akio an "old immortal," how could Akio possibly show mercy?
Nearly fifty years old, this injury meant he would likely "retire forever."
"God, are we going to your land now? Wah!"
Kimimaro stumbled, nearly falling into the sea.
Akio grabbed him. "Careful. Don't get distracted."
Thanks to Akio's land reclamation, the Uzumaki Kingdom and Water Country were now less than ten kilometers apart. If not for the heavy mist, the two nations could practically see one another.
Akio didn't fly him back because he'd discovered something… despite having almost chūnin-level strength, Kimimaro still couldn't walk on water.
"It's not my land, it's my country. No, our country."
Kimimaro was thrilled, but didn't dare lose focus, carefully maintaining chakra as he walked across the waves.
Akio looked back, Mei and Yagura were still watching from the shore. About two hundred meters away… which meant at Kimimaro's current speed, roughly a twenty-minute walk.
"What a long road between the Uzumaki Kingdom and Water Country."
Kisame looked more and more uneasy about his future. Then again, his face had never looked very pleasant in the first place.
"Senior… basic water-walking can be practiced anytime. Why do it now?"
Akio shook his head. "You don't understand."
Kisame: "…"
How would I possibly understand?
Half an hour later,
"Good progress, Kimimaro. You've crossed almost half the distance. Keep going."
Akio searched the water, curled a clawed hand, and yanked up a fat fish.
Channeling Fire-nature chakra, he roasted it within seconds and handed it to Kimimaro.
"It's noon. Eat and rest a bit before we continue."
"Thank you for your divine blessing!"
Akio sighed inwardly. This child…
He pulled up another fish and handed it to Kisame.
"You eat too."
Kisame paused. "Thanks, Senior… but I don't have Fire-nature chakra."
Akio blinked. "Shark, you eat cooked food?"
Kisame gave him a withering dead-fish glare and refused to answer.
…
As evening fell, the three finally reached the Uzumaki Kingdom. After half a day of practice, Kimimaro had completely mastered water-walking.
Akio returned without notifying anyone. When elite patrol shinobi spotted him, he waved them off.
Even with this quiet return, someone still waited for him at the shore, which moved him a little.
"Aren't you Zabuza-without-a-sword? Planning to join the Uzumaki Kingdom?" Akio teased.
"Kisame Hoshigaki?"
Zabuza ignored Akio and eyed the "famous Mist shinobi" instead.
Akio didn't mind. "Kisame was personally invited by me. You, on the other hand, came bundled with the little girl next to you. Your treatment is leagues apart."
Even knowing Haku was a boy, Akio insisted on calling him "little girl" out of sheer stubbornness.
"Zabuza-san," Haku whispered softly, afraid of hurting his pride.
"Tch."
"How long have you been waiting for me?" Akio asked with a grin.
Zabuza didn't respond. Haku quietly answered, "Three days."
"Haku, don't talk."
Watching Haku press his lips together nervously, Akio sighed. Not only did he look like a girl—he moved like one. A shame he wasn't actually a girl…
Suddenly remembering something, Akio pointed at Haku and turned to Kimimaro.
"Remember, he's a boy."
Kimimaro nodded blankly. Kisame rolled his eyes again.
"Come with me. The ancestor will give you all official positions."
Akio grabbed Kimimaro's hand, then Haku's.
One shota in each hand, followed by two ugly brutes, that was the full harvest from the Mist Village trip…
Inside the clan's main hall, Akio brought the four to Nagato and Minato.
The two had spent a lot of time together recently and had grown close. Under Minato's guidance, Nagato's leadership ability had visibly improved.
Aside from his persistent "yo yo yo," he was finally shaping into a proper leader.
"Yo! Teacher!"
"Great Elder!"
Both had been informed of Akio's return and that he'd brought Mist shinobi with him, so they were already waiting.
Akio nodded toward Kisame and Zabuza.
"These two were originally Mist nin, you should recognize them. Now they've chosen to abandon darkness for the light and join the Uzumaki Kingdom."
Zabuza raised an eyebrow. Kisame rolled his eyes.
Akio ignored them.
"With Kisame's Samehada, we have five of the Seven Swords. It's time to form our own Swordsmen. As for the remaining two blades, I'll secure them soon."
Back in the Mist Village, Akio could've taken the Twin Sword, Hiramekarei, but it didn't appeal to him.
Too heavy, and its strength depended on accumulated kills, too gimmicky.
"Give the Executioner's Blade to eyebrowless over there. As for the other three swords, choose the wielders yourselves."
Zabuza looked stunned. He didn't care about the eyebrow insult; he just hadn't expected to receive a sword so easily. He'd assumed proving loyalty would be required.
Nagato nodded, indicating he'd taken note. Then he hesitated.
"Teacher, the Swordsmen?"
Akio scratched his head. "They don't need specific missions or group action. Just consider it a special jōnin rank, independent ops."
"Understood."
Akio nodded and turned to Kimimaro and Haku.
"These two have special talents. The regular academy won't suit them. I'll train them for a while. Afterward, we can hand them to Konan or Kushina… or you two."
He paused, his gaze resting briefly on Haku's delicate face.
"Still… it'd be better to add a girl to their group. Preferably a good-looking one."
If Kimimaro and Haku spent too much time alone together… Akio had some concerns.
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