Boom. Rumble.
The sky grumbled with the sound of rolling thunder, threatening a violent storm.
Upon the vast, endless sea, a giant warship cut through the waves.
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, stood on the deck railing, his eyes fixed intently on the horizon.
"Commander,"
Kakashi dropped down from the mast, his silver hair a stark contrast to the gloomy weather.
"We've just received word. The Left Route flank has begun a full-speed advance into the Land of Waves."
"A full advance?" Yagura's brow furrowed deeper. "That's... rash. Do we even have any intelligence on what's waiting for them over there?"
"Wasn't mentioned in the report," Kakashi replied, his tone neutral.
"I highly unlikely," Mei Terumī added, stepping forward. Her expression was serious. "Every spy we've sent into the Land of Waves has gone silent. Their counter-intelligence must be formidable. Gathering reliable intelligence in such a short time is practically impossible."
"Then why would the Hokage order a charge headfirst into the dark?" Yagura muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He rubbed his chin, bewildered.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the deck. It was a question neither Kakashi nor Mei felt qualified or willing to answer
"What about that Uchiha of yours who knows the Land of Waves well?" Yagura's gaze shifted to Kakashi, his tone casual. "Didn't he provide any useful information?"
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly.
"While Obito did spend time there, Commander... he was a prisoner. His perspective was... limited."
"Uchiha Obito, right?" Yagura said the name slowly, letting it hang in the salt-tinged air. "He only recently returned to Konoha, didn't he?"
A note of caution entered Kakashi's voice. "Commander, are you suggesting—"
"Nothing, just asking."
"Our Commander was once controlled by an Uchiha's Sharingan genjutsu," Mei interjected calmly, not bothering to hide the fact. "It led to a series of tragedies for Kirigakure."
"Something like that happened?" Kakashi's face showed genuine shock.
Internally, his heart gave a loud thump. That... actually made a lot of sense! Obito himself had never admitted it to his face, but Kakashi always had a feeling that Obito from back then was capable of doing something like that.
"If it's possible," Yagura's voice was flat, devoid of emotion, "I'd like to have a word with that Uchiha."
"Commander, I'm not sure that's—" Kakashi started, his concern evident.
But he was interrupted.
"No need to trouble yourself Kakashi. I'm right here."
Dressed in a black cloak, Obito materialized on the deck, his crimson eye locking directly onto Yagura.
"So it is you!" Yagura recognized him instantly, his right hand moving towards the weapon on his back.
Shing.
Mei also drew a kunai from her tool pouch, her brow furrowed tightly as she stared at obito.
"Commander, Obito has... turned over a new leaf," Kakashi said nervously, stepping forward. "For the sake of the Shinobi Alliance, please, let it go for now."
"Let it go?" Yagura's voice was icy, his glare cutting past Kakashi to Obito. "Did he 'let go' of the Kekkei Genkai clans he slaughtered? Do you have any idea what the 'Bloody Mist' era cost us?"
Hearing this, the hesitation on Mei's face vanished, replaced by a flash of killing intent. Her own family had suffered greatly under the village's policies during that time.
"Are you so sure you can kill me, Yagura?" Obito's expression showed not a hint of remorse, even taunting. "You weren't up to it last time I saw you."
"You bastard!" Yagura gritted his teeth so hard they might crack, the oppressive chakra of the Tailed Beast within him beginning to leak out.
"Hmph. Those years, it was actually I who—" Obito began, but before he could finish, his eyes suddenly widened. His gaze snapped towards the coast and his body began to tremble.
"Obito, what's wrong?" Kakashi asked, concerned.
Yagura and Mei were also taken aback by his sudden change, exchanging puzzled looks.
"It's her. She's coming," Obito muttered, his eyes filled with a complex mix of dread and another unreadable emotion.
"What?"
"Who's coming?"
Before the others could process it, Ao, who was on watch atop the mast, shouted, "Commander! An unknown figure is approaching from the southeast! Heading right for us!"
"How many?" Yagura's voice was low.
Before his words even faded, the figure was already upon them.
Wine-red hair danced in the wind, stark white robes fluttered. Using the very air as a stepping stone, she hovered high in the sky, ethereal and aloof like a goddess descending to the mortal world.
"This... impossible!" Kakashi stared, utterly stunned, his eyes wide. "Why is it her–?"
"A shinobi from the Land of Waves?" Mei murmured, deeply frowning at the familiar uniform. She remembered running into Pakura, who had displayed overwhelming power! This one seemed to have an even more intimidating presence than Pakura. Could she also be an Espada?
"Long time no see, Kakashi," the woman said, her voice cool and clear, cutting through the wind.
"You... could it really be...?" Kakashi stammered, his mind reeling.
"Enough talk."
Kushina, fresh off a frustrating gaming session that had put her in a decidedly foul mood, cut straight to the chase. "You have two options. Jump in the sea, get soaked, and be captured by me. Or be captured by me with you dignity intact."
"Are those two different options?" Mei couldn't help but twitch her mouth. The outcome was the same—capture!
"Of course they are. At least you can choose not to get soaked," Kushina stated impassively. "As for you, little girl," she added, her eyes settling on Mei. "I'll give you an extra choice. Become our leader's personal chamber maid."
Pfft.
Watching from a monitor, Mikoto burst out laughing while Yuto's face instantly darkened.
"Ch-Chamber maid?!" Mei was stunned, sucking in a sharp breath.
"Yes. Consider it a special offer, based on your rather... pleasing looks," Kushina said with a light laugh.
'Is this really the Kushina-sensei I knew?'
Kakashi was dumbfounded. Since when did she become so...?
"Don't be absurd!" Yagura suddenly spoke up, his voice loud and rejecting. "What do you take us shinobi of Kirigakure for? And you think you alone can just waltz in here and—"
"You get one chance," Kushina interrupted him, raising her right hand and giving a gentle flick.
BOOM.
A violent sonic boom erupted through the air.
The entire sea was split cleanly in two. The dark clouds in the sky scattered instantly, allowing sunlight to pour down, casting a golden glow around Kushina.
"Now. Choose."
Yagura's eyes darted from the number "1" etched on the back of Kushina's hand to the chasm in the ocean that was now slowly closing. He swallowed hard.
"I've heard... the Land of Waves treats its prisoners well?"
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