Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been standing nearby, no longer paid attention to Shigure's Flying Nimbus. He listened instead—every word, every tremor in Shigure's voice.
"Threaten me?" Kisame thought. Who would dare threaten this monster? That would be a death wish.
"Here!"
Without warning, Shigure tossed Samehada from his hand.
The black, living blade erupted into being like a coiling shark, its maw and scales shimmering with a terrible hunger. Kisame's breath hitched as he watched it manifest—was this some storage ninjutsu? Reclaiming Samehada, he felt a wave of stunned recognition wash over him.
So Shigure had found it. He wasn't bluffing. He wouldn't have returned to Kirigakure just to kill Kisame—there was no need to make things complicated. Killing would be instant given Shigure's strength; the real point was the message.
"I—" Kisame started.
"Shut up," Shigure said coldly.
The single word landed with the force of a blade. Kisame's mouth closed and he kept silent; anywhere else he might have scoffed, but the murderous intent radiating from Shigure now was genuine—and enormous. It made the hair on his arms stand up.
The presence alone was terrifying.
Shigure did not delay. He escorted Kisame straight to the Mizukage's office. Word of the arrival and the palpable aura spread fast; two Kirigakure shinobi who were mid-report glanced up, curiosity prying at them. They regretted it instantly.
"Stay kneeling!" Shigure's voice cut through the room and the air thrummed with hostile chakra. The two reporters dropped to their knees without question, faces paling.
Even Mei Terumī's usual composure faltered. The smile she wore most days drained away as she felt something she had rarely, if ever, felt from Shigure: unfiltered killing intent. She blinked, concerned and surprised. What had provoked this fury? Whoever had angered him to this degree—were they even still breathing? If they were, they were either impossibly strong or absurdly lucky.
Her gaze slid to the figure near the door and froze.
Samehada—hung across his back. The great sword of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. And the man who held it… Kisame Hoshigaki: a Missing-nin of the Hidden Mist.
Mei stood abruptly, agitation bubbling up. The two kneeling shinobi exchanged bewildered looks. What could have startled their Mizukage so?
"You two, leave," Mei said, voice clipped.
"Shigure is in a bad mood. Come back later with your report."
When the pair had gone, Shigure stepped forward and bowed once before Mei. His voice, now steady, carried a decision. "Kisame Hoshigaki is a Missing-nin of the Hidden Mist. Let him remain the wielder of Samehada."
Mei blinked. She hadn't expected that. A Missing-nin—allowed to carry Samehada as one of the Seven Swordsmen? The thought seemed absurd. Could she trust someone who had once betrayed Kirigakure?
"You trust him?" she asked bluntly.
Shigure's answer was immediate.
"I trust him. If he dares betray me, I will make his life worse than death."
The words made Kisame tremble in a way he hadn't in years. Shigure didn't promise execution. He promised something darker, more patient. The implication was enough to chill any mind.
Mei lowered her eyes to consider. Finally she nodded slowly. "It's possible. I have no objection—provided we take precautions."
"And the others?" she asked.
"The Council, the elders, the Swordsmen…"
"Let him change his name, wear an Anbu mask, serve undercover as an Anbu," Shigure replied.
"He's done similar work before; it won't be unfamiliar."
Mei considered the proposal again, weighing risk against the unique advantage Samehada offered—if allied. After a long breath she agreed.
"Alright. Make it official, then. We'll give him a new identity and place him under surveillance. But the badge stays under my command."
Kisame's jaw went slack. It was almost too easy—too simple. How could the Fifth Mizukage so readily accept the return of a Missing-nin? The answer was the boy before her: Shigure's authority carried weight few could ignore.
Mei exhaled, then demanded the reason for his fury. "Now tell me—what outraged you so?"
Shigure's expression darkened. He met Mei's gaze with stone-cold resolve. "Danzo Shimura asked Konoha to support him as Hokage."
At those words, Mei's face changed instantly. Color drained, then anger flashed. "That is the greatest taboo in the Ninja World," she snapped.
"Interfering in another village's succession—no matter the circumstances—is forbidden. If Kirigakure sides with Danzo, we'll bring ruin upon ourselves. There will be no peace."
She paused, chewing the words over, and her voice softened only a touch as she steadied herself.
"Who whispered this to Konoha? Who reached out to Danzo?"
Shigure's lips pressed thin. He had seen the strings being pulled—Hayate used as a pawn, threats wrapped in titles, Danzo's ancient ambition scraping at Konoha's bones.
Mei's mind ran through consequences: diplomatic isolation, reprisals, reputational collapse. The Hidden Mist could not afford to be branded an instigator. Not now.
Her decision formed as quickly as the threat had come. "Prepare for counsel," she ordered.
"Call the Council. We will decide our stance—and we will not be bullied into betrayal."
Shigure nodded, but the fire in his eyes did not dim.
Danzo had begun a game. And now Kirigakure, its Mizukage, and a boy riding a cloud of wrath would decide whether to answer with silence—or with a storm.
Would you like the next scene polished as well—where Kirigakure's Council meet
Mei Terumī understood immediately—if she could think of the problem, then Shigure could too.
And since he was the one to bring it up…
That meant he couldn't turn it down.
From the anger that had flared in Shigure's expression earlier, Mei had already guessed the situation.
Someone from Konoha must have found his weakness—someone had leverage over him.
It made sense. Otherwise, Shigure wouldn't have been that furious.
After thinking it through, Mei realized that if Danzō Shimura had threatened Shigure, that might actually work in the Hidden Mist's favor.
If Konoha became his enemy, then Shigure would have no reason—no desire—to ever return there again.
"I'll agree for now," Mei said after a pause, her tone measured.
"But don't be hasty. The situation in Konoha is still uncertain. There's no reason for us to get involved too early."
Shigure nodded. "I know that."
"What's the situation in Konoha now?" Mei asked casually, not realizing that Shigure had recently been there himself.
"Tsunade has returned to the village," he said.
"She's performing surgery on the Third Hokage. From what I saw, even if the operation doesn't fully restore him, the old man should at least wake up… though he won't last much longer."
Mei's brows furrowed.
"So, this is to have the Third Hokage wake up—just long enough to appoint a successor?"
Shigure nodded. "That's my guess as well."
"What about you?" she asked. "Are you just going to wait quietly?"
"No." Shigure's tone sharpened as he glanced toward Kisame. "Waiting isn't my style."
He turned back to Mei, eyes burning with conviction.
"I said it before—I intend to become the Mizukage."
His words carried a quiet power.
"Becoming the Jinchūriki of two Tailed Beasts—this was my way of establishing authority, to make the people of the Hidden Mist fear me."
"Rebuilding the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—this is how I earned their gratitude and trust."
He clenched his fist. "And now… this is the final step."
"Shigure," Mei said carefully, a trace of worry in her voice, "to become Mizukage… you'll have to do something truly earth-shattering."
That kind of ambition could lead to greatness—or disaster.
One wrong move, and the entire village could suffer.
"Kisame," Shigure said suddenly, his tone shifting to command.
"There's still one sword left unclaimed—Kiba, the Twin Lightning Blades. I'll leave their recovery to you."
Kisame grinned. "No problem."
Shigure then turned toward Mei once more.
"Longblade—Haku. Twin Blades—Chōjūrō. Severing Blade—Zabuza. Greatsword—Kisame."
That made four of the Seven Swords already accounted for.
Ringo was recovering well, and once the Lightning Blades were retrieved, that would make five.
Only two swords remained: the Blast Sword (Shibuki) and the Blunt Sword (Kabutowari).
Shigure frowned slightly.
"As for the last two… I haven't found suitable candidates yet. If necessary, I'll choose from among the strongest Mist-nin."
He looked at Mei.
"Help me pick two powerful Jōnin—preferably younger ones."
Mei nodded thoughtfully.
"You know… if you truly rebuild the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the entire village will be stirred. People will believe again."
A small smile curved her lips.
"Even I'm looking forward to it."
...
TN:
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