On the third day after the Mizukage building was destroyed, an urgent and strange order rang out: All of Kirigakure's shinobi—except a small
On the third day after the Mizukage building was destroyed, an urgent and strange order rang out:
All of Kirigakure's shinobi—except a small guard detail—were to head to the border of the Land of Whirlpools.
At the same time, a fleet of large ships docked at the port of a small town outside Kirigakure.
Following orders, Reiji boarded one of the ships with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Before dawn, the fleet set sail silently, aiming to reach the Uzushiogakure border by evening.
...
On the empty deck, Reiji and Hōzuki Gengetsu stood side by side, watching their village fade into the morning fog.
"Patrick Star, now you believe me, right?"
Gengetsu rolled his eyes in silent exasperation.
"How many times do I have to tell you—don't call me Patrick Star! Call me Lord Gengetsu, or Second Mizukage, or just Hōzuki Gengetsu!"
Reiji shook his head stubbornly.
"No! Too long. Patrick Star is catchier. Besides, you love shellfish, right? Starfish love shellfish too! And you always call me little fatso—I never complained!"
"Absolutely not!" Gengetsu shook his head vehemently, refusing to accept the nickname. He thought it sounded absurd.
Seeing Gengetsu's stubbornness, Reiji sighed and muttered,
"Fine—then I'll call you SpongeBob."
Gengetsu was now speechless.
SpongeBob?
Baby?
What a genius name.
I'd rather be Patrick Star!
He must have cotton candy for brains.
For a moment, Gengetsu felt despair for his future.
After a long pause, Reiji's mischievous grin faded and he spoke seriously.
"Madara Uchiha can't wait. Facing you took a toll on him."
"Hm." Gengetsu considered the words, then nodded.
He hadn't wasted his three days in Kirigakure. He'd reconnected with his loyal friend and mentor—and gained a clearer understanding of the village's condition over the past decade. Not good. Military strength and economy were both weak. The economy was barely hanging on thanks to his friend's efforts—a clear sign of how much Madara had exploited the village.
Now, the Third Mizukage was hurriedly organizing a secret strike on Uzushiogakure—completely under Madara's control.
What did that mean? Even if Gengetsu didn't know Madara's exact plan, it showed one thing clearly: the guy was panicking.
He glanced at Reiji, almost imperceptibly.
In these three days, Reiji had done everything he said he would—and he'd done it without restraint. He was a man of his word.
If it meant true cooperation, Gengetsu didn't see any issues.
As they each pursued their own goals, the journey continued on.
Soon, the sky darkened, and thick fog drifted over the fleet as it quietly docked on the shore without a hitch.
Years of peace had clearly lulled this small country and village into a false sense of security. With the Land of Water's isolationist policies, Uzushiogakure—right next door—had grown soft and complacent.
Time had fattened this village like livestock, and tonight, the butcher's blade would descend.
Just as the Third Mizukage was assigning the mission, Reiji's clone army had quietly embedded the Flying Thunder God Technique throughout Uzushiogakure. He intended to seize the village completely—nothing would stand in his way.
These red-haired ninja boasted massive chakra reserves, lineage from the Ōtsutsuki clan, and—most importantly—they were masters of sealing jutsu. They were a perfect fit for a strategic takeover of Amegakure's ally.
How lovely it would be: all of them, hiding beneath umbrellas in the drizzle…
At that moment, one of Reiji's clones suddenly exploded—and a strange memory flashed through his mind.
The culprit wasn't White Zetsu. Only Black Zetsu could have taken out a clone so silently. They'd appeared at exactly the right time, probably to abduct Nagato, who'd already been identified as their target.
Just as Reiji pondered this, the Third Mizukage finished laying out the plan. The crux of the operation was the Village Head's house in the center of Uzushiogakure—and whoever beheaded the leader first would earn a hefty reward!
At the command, Kirigakure's ninjas surged forward through the dense fog, their eyes gleaming red with bloodlust.
Reiji mentally issued the order to begin capturing hostages. The great clash erupted.
Uzushiogakure's ninja realized something was wrong and mounted a half-hearted defense—but they were no match for seasoned Kirigakure assassins, hardened by death missions and combat. Even with their exceptional chakra and lifespans, against absolute power, they were fragile.
A small village facing the nations of the Five Great Shinobi Lands was doomed.
Reiji and Hōzuki Gengetsu glided along the battlefield's edge under cover of the mirage.
"SpongeBob, Uzushiogakure is Konoha's ally. Aren't you going to do something?" Gengetsu teased, one corner of his mouth curling with amusement.
Reiji scratched his head and chuckled.
"If Konoha wanted to intervene, they would've sent word to me. Since there hasn't been any message, it's not my problem."
At that moment, a kunai flew toward Reiji and Gengetsu's hiding spot.
In the deserted alley, Reiji gripped Samehada, parried the weapon, and stepped into view.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"