Uchiha Sasuke's situation is complicated.
It's not that Mizuki couldn't get involved—but stepping in might provoke others. There were political landmines everywhere in the Hidden Leaf, especially regarding Sasuke.
Looking at Sasuke's life up to the point when he and Naruto sealed Kaguya Ōtsutsuki together, it had been nothing short of tragic. From the beginning, Sasuke was set on a path decided by others. His so-called struggle for freedom was merely a deeper descent into manipulation and illusion.
Without the clarity to pierce through the lies, nor the wisdom to resist, Sasuke became a pawn—sometimes willingly, sometimes not—for forces beyond his control.
Compared to him, Naruto's life, while difficult, was almost straightforward. He lacked talent early on, yes—but his sheer willpower was unshakable. While Sasuke had prodigious skills, Naruto had a fire in his spirit. His perseverance, foolish as it might seem, was also his greatest strength.
If Naruto hadn't been the protagonist of fate, the child of prophecy blessed by Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki himself, he might've died long ago. But even so, no one could deny the purity of his determination: to be acknowledged, to become Hokage, and to protect those dear to him.
Sasuke?
Sasuke was a different story. A darker one.
But Mizuki couldn't fully blame the boy. He was still just a child fresh out of the Academy. Even three years later, he'd only be fifteen—still far too young to resist the cunning schemes of Konoha's political elite. It wasn't exactly shameful to be outplayed by men with decades of experience.
After parting with Kakashi, Mizuki returned to his residence. The moment he entered, he began organizing the mess left behind—sorting and sealing all exposed research samples, notes, and experimental materials. Some of these could never be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
"Things won't stay quiet for long," he thought.
"Tsunade... when will she return?"
Tonight's half-hearted explanations might not hold much longer. Powerful and practical jutsu were the currency of survival in the shinobi world—and no, keeping secrets didn't mean others couldn't guess their shape.
There were precedents:
Sasori's human puppets allowed him to preserve kekkei genkai.
Orochimaru's Edo Tensei could summon the dead.
The Yamanaka Clan could read minds.
Genjutsu legends like Kotoamatsukami, Shisui's ultimate technique, could rewrite a man's will entirely.
Mizuki didn't believe Danzo would waste Kotoamatsukami on him, not when Danzo barely saw him as qualified enough. Still, Mizuki knew that if one day he were forced to give up his research methods... even Morino Ibiki's torture chamber might not keep him alive through the ordeal.
Luckily, Mizuki still held the high ground—for now. He wasn't under suspicion, at least not openly. Any past "convictions" were behind him. As things stood, he was seen as a war hero—a healer, even. People owed him their lives. There was no political gain in attacking him without cause.
By dawn, in the outskirts of the Land of Fire, Mizuki—slightly recovered after a short rest—was chatting with Sarutobi Asuma while tending to the injured Yūhi Kurenai.
It wasn't surprising that Asuma was privy to things most shinobi didn't know. He wasn't just the son of the Third Hokage—he came from a respected lineage and had served as a guardian of the Daimyō.
"Mizuki... will Kurenai be alright?" Asuma's voice was calm, but the tension was unmistakable.
"She's still unconscious. Shouldn't she have woken by now?"
"You're too impatient," Mizuki smirked. "After a wound like that, waking up immediately isn't exactly common. Sure, I could force it... but are you sure you want that?"
It was an empty boast—more bark than bite. But Asuma got the message and let it go, chuckling dryly.
"She's stable. No need to worry right now. You should head back to the village when you're ready."
"Alright," Asuma said with a nod.
After tending to Kurenai, Mizuki stretched, sore from chakra exertion. His own injuries hadn't fully healed, and treating others on top of that pushed him to his limits. Even with chakra-conserving methods like his breath-holding technique, he was wearing thin.
Soon after, Might Guy returned from the pursuit. Mizuki hadn't expected much—Guy's sensory and tracking abilities weren't his strength. He relied on instinct, not analysis. Catching Sasori would have been wishful thinking.
But then—
Thud.
Guy tossed an unconscious ninja at their feet.
"One of theirs, right?" Guy grinned. "Didn't catch the puppet master, but I caught this one."
"...Deidara," Mizuki muttered. He hadn't planned for this.
Hyuga Hiashi confirmed it. "Yes. He's one of them. Explosive style user. Dangerous."
"Then let's get him back to the village for interrogation," Guy said confidently.
But Mizuki didn't share their optimism.
Deidara wasn't just another rogue ninja—he was Onoki's disciple, the Tsuchikage's pride. Bringing him back could lead to complications—diplomatic ones. Not to mention Akatsuki might retaliate, and Konoha wasn't in the best shape for a direct confrontation.
"If he dies, that's one thing. But a captured Deidara is a liability."
Imagine if another village captured Orochimaru. Konoha would've launched a retrieval mission or silenced him. A hostage with that much sensitive knowledge was a walking spark in a dry forest.
"This could blow up in our faces—literally and politically."
Unbeknownst to Mizuki, Hiashi Hyuga had been silently observing him, taking mental notes.
By midday, the team returned to Konoha. Medical squads were already prepared. Kurenai was rushed to the hospital. Asuma departed. Guy and Hiashi submitted their reports. Mizuki received light treatment and was discharged—his healing abilities and experimental medicine had done most of the work.
The damage to the village was still evident, but thanks to Earth Release users, repairs were already underway. Despite his curiosity, Mizuki hurried home—and reconnected with his clone, who had been active in his absence.
"So much happened?" Mizuki frowned. "Has the Hokage succession gotten that intense?"
"Compared to what I've been through, your side was nothing," his clone grumbled. "We almost wiped out Deidara and Sasori. If not for exhaustion, they'd both be corpses."
Based on what he remembered, the Rinnegan's Shinra Tensei had shielded them, and a botched Chibaku Tensei nearly ended everything. It was incomplete, but terrifyingly effective.
"You did what you had to do," Mizuki said flatly.
"If I hadn't, I'd be dead. But now what? How do we explain that kind of power?"
They would have to stall. Perhaps once Tsunade returned, a political reset would happen.
Kurenai was unconscious. Gaara and Temari wouldn't raise a fuss—they were allies, but still outsiders. Hiashi and Hizashi, however… they knew. And the Hyuga Clan didn't play games.
"Hyuga Hiashi... what are you going to do?"
Elsewhere, as Hiashi and Hyuga Ko made their way back to the clan compound:
"Patriarch..." Ko began hesitantly, "Are you sure it was wise to say nothing?"
In the Hokage's office earlier, Hiashi's report had skirted details. The village elders were clearly skeptical.
"When did the Hyuga need to bow to so-called 'advisors'?" Hiashi replied coolly. "Homura and Koharu hold power only temporarily. Their era is already passing."
"But... should we inform the branch house?"
"Are you questioning the main house?" Hiashi's tone sharpened. "Everything I do is for the good of our family. If the elders of the branch have questions, they can come to me directly."
He paused, then warned:
"But you are not to spread what happened during this mission. My report is final. If anyone disagrees, they can bring their objections to me. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Hiashi," Ko said with a respectful bow.
"Rinnegan, Tenseigan... legendary eyes. If I truly possessed such a treasure," Hiashi thought, "why should I have to grovel and beg like the Uchiha once did?"
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