"This is so embarrassing—how could we let Gusion-kun take on a high-risk mission alone?"
Orochimaru said politely, without flatly refusing.
"Kumogakure can't hold me anyway, you know that, Orochimaru. I'm just going to take a look; I might not even make a move. Pain also said if I can't win, I can retreat."
Gusion smiled. "Orochimaru, hurry up and help me research the First Hokage's cells."
In his eyes, Orochimaru was his researcher. He had no intention of letting him slack off.
If Orochimaru failed to produce results before his stay ended, his hidden quest would be for nothing.
"Then be careful, Gusion-kun. I'll have results very soon."
Orochimaru's smile was cold and slithery.
After they finished talking, Orochimaru dove into the lab, while Gusion went to find Zabuza.
"Zabuza, we've got a job."
Gusion called out to Zabuza, who was helping Haku train with throwing weapons. When Orochimaru wasn't teaching Haku to develop his kekkei genkai, Zabuza handled taijutsu and shurikenjutsu.
"Lord Calamity, what do you need me to do?"
Zabuza was already prepared to sell himself completely. As long as Gusion could help him achieve his goal, he had no qualms about working for him. Murder and arson—he could do it all.
"You're in luck. There's been a change in Kirigakure. I'm sending you back to become Mizukage."
Gusion grinned, leaving Zabuza stunned.
It took Zabuza several seconds to react. "Lord Calamity? What happened in Kirigakure?"
"The Fourth Mizukage seems to have had an accident. The Organization wants us to capture him. Once the Fourth Mizukage falls, won't that be your chance?"
Gusion said. Although the Deva Path hadn't spelled it out, he suspected Yagura had been released from genjutsu, which was why they were suddenly in such a hurry to hunt him down.
"From what you're saying… the Akatsuki is going to attack Kirigakure?!"
Zabuza's voice rose several notches. He did intend to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage and take the seat himself, but he didn't want to destroy his own village.
"Don't get so worked up. The one officially in charge is Orochimaru, Jūzō Biwa, and he's not capable of facing Yagura. He'll probably just observe."
Gusion said, "In the end, the one who'll actually do the work is me."
Zabuza let out a breath. Hearing that it was Gusion, he knew there was room to negotiate. They could minimize Kirigakure's losses.
Seeing Zabuza's expression shift under the bandages, Gusion asked seriously, "Zabuza, how's your acting?"
"Acting?"
Zabuza blinked. "What's my acting got to do with anything?"
"Everything."
Gusion said, exasperated. He'd always thought he wasn't that bright, but in these derivative worlds, his IQ seemed to rise—purely by contrast.
He stared into Zabuza's eyes. "Zabuza, you don't actually think that just because you're a missing-nin, once the Fourth Mizukage dies, you can just take over, right?"
"I had high prestige in the village back then. I led the uprising…"
Zabuza trailed off. He suddenly realized he'd left Kirigakure for two years. There were probably new power-brokers already in place. The person closest to the Mizukage's seat had never been him.
Besides, as far as he knew, there was still a powerful member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who hadn't defected—Kisame Hoshigaki, a terrifying opponent.
"Figured it out? My intel channel tells me that the one with the greatest prestige and clout in Kirigakure right now is a woman named Mei Terumi. She's got two kekkei genkai, frightening strength, and sharp political instincts. What are you, a missing-nin, going to fight her with?"
Gusion's soul-baring question left Zabuza silent.
After a long moment, Zabuza asked, "Lord Calamity, what do you think I should do?"
Gusion's expression grew solemn. "Zabuza, I want you to become the hero who saves Kirigakure."
Zabuza: "Huh?"
…
Dawn broke, and the morning glow washed the distant ridgelines.
Verdant peaks floated in and out amid mountain mist, as if carved by nature's uncanny hands into ever-shifting scrolls. The sigh of pines and the clear birdsong lent the morning a spark of life.
At the foot of the mountain, smoke rose from a tiny village, twining with the mist for a hazy, mysterious tableau.
Sunlight spilled through rents in the clouds, dappled across the face of a traveler at the village entrance.
After drinking from the old well, Gusion walked into the mountains and connected to the Raikage's secure line.
"Got any new intel?"
The Raikage's voice came through. Maybe the distance was shorter—the sound was much clearer.
"I've got major intel—this concerns the very survival of Kumogakure. I'm in a good mood today, so how about I give you one for free."
Gusion said as he wandered along the ridges. "The Akatsuki has begun collecting Tailed Beasts."
"That intel is valuable, but I already know the Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beasts. I've tightened security. So that one doesn't count."
The Fourth Raikage said.
"Raikage, that's a bit stingy, isn't it? Do that, and you'll make me want to wipe Kumogakure off the map."
Gusion sneered. "The intel I hold—and my current attitude—can determine Kumogakure's trajectory in the shinobi world. I don't bluff. Think carefully about your answer."
Silence on the other end of the communication tag. "Use summoning. I'll send you a secret art."
Gusion's mood improved. "That's more like it."
He then performed a summoning and received a legendary-grade secret technique scroll. "Raikage, you're a bit tight-fisted. For something like this, you'd need to send ten to match what this intel is worth."
"Don't push it!"
The Raikage's voice carried anger.
"I'm at Yugito Nii's training grounds right now. Choose your next words carefully."
Gusion's voice went cold. "You could expose my identity to the Akatsuki—but I'll grab Yugito to prove it."
The Raikage fell silent immediately. A moment later, Gusion heard a crash of smashed objects—clearly the Raikage venting.
The Raikage knew how terrifying Gusion's strength was. One-on-one, with his leg not at full capacity, he might not be Gusion's match anymore. He'd need to coordinate with Killer Bee for a chance.
If Yugito Nii encountered Gusion alone in the field, it would be a death sentence.
With one sentence, Gusion had his hand on Kumogakure's throat. The Raikage had to tamp down his anger and speak properly. "Use summoning."
Gusion smiled and, after summoning, found that the Raikage had sent three more scrolls—epic-grade this time. Among them was the Lightning Release Shadow Clone Technique, which he found genuinely useful.
"All right. Now we can trade amicably."
Gusion said with a smile. "This time I was sent to capture the Two-Tails. Be grateful. If it hadn't been me, your village's Two-Tails would already have a new owner. I'm giving you a chance to come surround me—hurry up."
"What do you mean?"
In his office, the Raikage frowned, having trouble reading Gusion's play.
"You want me to do nothing and just go back to report? If I don't put on a show, how am I supposed to keep undercover and keep feeding Kumogakure intel?"
Gusion explained. "By the way, I heard your leg isn't doing so well. True?"
Mentioning this made the Raikage's temper flare instantly. He wanted to shout, You're the one who cut it off!
Because of the severed leg, even after reattachment, there was a flaw. He no longer had the world's fastest speed, which had even dented his standing in the village.
"If you've got a death wish, you don't have to go to all this trouble. Bee and I are already on the way."
The Raikage's voice was low.
"Oh, don't get me wrong—I've no interest in getting jumped two-on-one by you and the Eight-Tails again. I'm saying I can heal your leg."
Gusion said. With his newly mastered Sage Mode, he wouldn't be afraid even if the Raikage and Killer Bee attacked together—especially since the Raikage's leg meant he could no longer absolutely dominate in speed.
But cutting down the Raikage and Killer Bee outright would yield too little. In this mission world, high-tier NPCs might drop treasure chests, but the odds were low—or so Gusion reckoned.
"What did you say? I don't recall you being a medical shinobi."
The Raikage said suspiciously. He felt Gusion was becoming more unfamiliar by the day.
"Believe it or don't. If you want your leg fixed, bring the Lightning Release Chakra Mode secret technique."
Gusion ended the call—and a visitor stepped out of the mist toward him.
"That cloak—is he Akatsuki…"
The newcomer first saw Gusion's cloud-and-red-flame cloak through the heavy fog. Drawing closer, her eyes filled with hatred. "It's you—the Calamity who injured the Raikage!"
"Your sensory ability is good. But I suggest you don't fight me."
Gusion looked Yugito Nii over. As a jinchūriki, her attributes were excellent. With a Tailed Beast transformation she'd be stronger—but in terms of actual combat, Yugito herself wasn't impressive.
Boom—
Clearly, Yugito was not one for words. She was prideful, yet gentle with her villagers. In her eyes, Gusion—who had cut off the Raikage's leg—was unforgivable.
Without a word, she launched a Fire Rat Jade at Gusion the moment they met.
Gusion sprang back and landed on a rocky peak, looking down at Yugito. "The Raikage keeps secrets well."
Unlike Killer Bee, Yugito wasn't the Raikage's confidante, so she hadn't been told that Gusion was an undercover asset.
Seeing Gusion dodge so easily, Yugito realized he wasn't someone she could handle lightly. Remembering the Raikage had suffered at his hands, she didn't dare hesitate and immediately entered Tailed Beast Mode.
The Raikage had warned her recently that the Akatsuki's goal was Tailed Beasts, and to beware those in black cloaks embroidered with red clouds. In her view, Gusion had definitely come to capture her.
Watching Yugito become the Two-Tails Matatabi, Gusion clicked his tongue. Kumogakure really did mass-produce quality jinchūriki.
It was probably thanks to the Waterfall of Truth and Killer Bee's guidance. Yugito could control her Tailed Beast well and coexist with it. The smoothness of her voluntary transformation said it all.
But he'd read in the dragon formula in his personal space that Yugito wasn't a perfect jinchūriki. He suspected that so-called perfection was tied to overall strength.
Someone who could be captured easily by the Immortal Duo wouldn't count as perfect. In high-tier fights, her personal combat power wasn't up to par.
In Matatabi's form, Yugito's agility soared. She sprinted and leapt through the mountains, closing on Gusion. Cat claws slashed down.
Clang—
The blade at Gusion's waist, Mazuko, slid half out of its sheath and parried from the side. Sparks flew and the shockwave swept the mist away.
Yugito's first strike failed. Instinct screaming danger, she retreated at once, watching Gusion warily.
Gusion hadn't retreated half a step under her attack. Only cracks spread beneath his feet through the rock. He grinned, showing white teeth. "Since you came at me first, beating you half to death… is fair game, right?"
In that instant, Yugito felt her fur stand on end.