Hearing Yuto's words, a flicker of amazement crossed Mei's eyes. She couldn't help but think—truly worthy of being Yuto-sama. With just a fragment of information, he could deduce so much.
As Yuto continued scanning the report, his eyes lit up. It mentioned that Kurosuki Raiga was often seen carrying a child.
If the story hadn't diverged, then that child must be Ranmaru, possessor of the red eyes—a kekkei genkai!
An ability capable of countering the Byakugan, even surpassing it in perceiving chakra.
A faint smile curved Yuto's lips. He looked up at Mei and said lightly:
"The child Kurosuki Raiga carries is quite intriguing."
Mei nodded. A man like Raiga would never carry dead weight.
That child must have a talent significant enough to earn his regard.
"With the village stabilized, it's time to rebuild the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
Her tone turned serious.
Now that she had fully taken over Genji's faction, the problems once hidden beneath the surface had surfaced completely.
The state of the Mist was worse than she had imagined.
Yuto smiled faintly. Her thinking matched his own. High-level power wasn't the issue—so long as he stood with them, the Mist outclassed every other village at the top.
But in mid- and low-tier strength, the Mist lagged behind the other four.
The rebirth of the Seven Swordsmen was inevitable.
"As for the matter of Kurosuki Raiga, who should handle it?" Mei asked quietly, thoughtful.
Raiga was an experienced jōnin. And this involved one of the Seven Swords—Fang. Naturally, she was cautious.
"I have two candidates in mind."
Yuto smiled, formed a short sequence of hand seals, and water vapor gathered at his hands. Slowly, it shaped itself into two blue butterflies.
With a push, he sent them fluttering out the window.
The technique wasn't powerful—any genin could learn it with practice.
But few bothered. It had no offensive use, serving only as a communication jutsu.
So no one wasted time on it.
———
In a small courtyard.
A petite figure kept forming hand signs, fumbling them out of order.
"Haruna! Keep daydreaming like that, and you can forget lunch today!"
Ringo Ameyuri's sharp voice came from behind, followed by a wooden stick rapping Haruna on the head.
"Aw, sis, we've been training forever! Can't we take a break?"
Haruna rubbed her head, whining in protest.
"Forever? It's been ten minutes!"
Ameyuri's face darkened as she clenched her fists, holding back her temper.
"I never said I wanted to be a ninja…" Haruna muttered under her breath.
"Oh? Then I suppose you don't want dinner either?"
"No! I'll definitely become a ninja as strong as you!"
Haruna straightened, her tone suddenly earnest.
Satisfied, Ameyuri allowed herself a small smile.
Whoosh—
A blue butterfly drifted down before her, circling once before dissolving into mist.
She blinked, then turned to Haruna. "Train properly. Don't slack. Or else—you know."
She raised her fist for emphasis, then leapt onto the rooftop and bounded off toward the Mizukage's office.
A few leaps, and she was gone from Haruna's sight.
Haruna pouted, then sprinted off in the opposite direction.
Training? What was that—something you could eat?
———
On the far eastern edge of the Mist Village.
Compared to the bustling center, this area was nearly deserted.
Leaning back against a thick tree trunk, Utakata sprawled on a branch, face calm but tinged with quiet sorrow.
Though Mei had told him he was free to walk the village, he had no desire.
The villagers despised him. He wouldn't walk among them just to invite scorn. Besides, he had always preferred silence.
This place—where he had once trained with his master—was where he chose to stay. Whether from memory or regret, he couldn't leave it.
Peaceful. No watchers. No interruptions.
For someone like him, it was perfect.
When bored, he could blow bubbles. Or talk with Saiken inside him.
At the thought of that youth who had defeated him so effortlessly, Utakata's expression shifted faintly.
Through his conversations with Saiken, he had learned Yuto's true identity—the legendary figure of the Mist.
"What a terrifying man," he murmured.
Hmm?
His half-closed eyes opened slowly. Before him, a blue butterfly fluttered.
He stared at it, stunned.
He knew exactly what it meant.
A mission.
In the past, as a jinchūriki, he had never been allowed to leave the village—never trusted with missions.
So despite being a jōnin, his experience with assignments was negligible.
"The Mizukage's office, huh? …Then I'll go. Though first, I'd better find out where it is."
He stood, watching as the butterfly dissolved into mist, and set off.
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