"Lord?"
Neji raised an eyebrow when he heard the soft voice. Turning around, he saw two figures standing by the doorway—one tall, one short.
He immediately recognized the shorter one—it was Haku, the boy who disguised himself as a girl in the original story. But Neji's gaze didn't linger there. Instead, it shifted to the taller girl standing beside Haku.
She was strikingly beautiful, with sharp, elegant features and an aura so strong it seemed to press down on the air itself.
This presence… familiar, Neji thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. He was sure he had seen her somewhere before, but the memory danced just out of reach.
The izakaya was nearly empty that night. Apart from Neji and Uchiha Hikari seated on the second floor, there wasn't another soul. The atmosphere was quiet, almost too quiet.
As Neji studied the newcomers, the tall girl seemed to notice him as well. Her eyes flickered with a faint light, observing both Neji and Hikari with equal curiosity. The moment their gazes met, Neji instinctively turned away.
Orochimaru—disguised as the woman—did the same, lowering his eyes as if disinterested, then calmly led Haku to a nearby table.
Neji's eyes narrowed further as the realization struck him like lightning.
That's why she felt familiar.
The tall "woman" wasn't a woman at all—it was Orochimaru, who had once again changed bodies using the Fushi Tensei technique. In the original timeline, Orochimaru had fought the Third Hokage in a woman's body during the Konoha Crush. Judging by the current flow of time, that event wasn't too far off.
But the story had long since deviated from the original, and no one could say for sure what Orochimaru's plans were now—or if he still intended to destroy Konoha.
Neji's eyes flicked toward Haku. The sight of the boy standing calmly beside Orochimaru sent a ripple of confusion through his thoughts.
Haku? With Orochimaru? That shouldn't be possible. Didn't Zabuza escape?
If Orochimaru had taken Haku in, then the balance of power in Kirigakure had already shifted. Perhaps even unknowingly, Uchiha Hikari's presence in Kumogakure had already begun to influence the Hidden Mist's political landscape.
Neji quietly took another bite of his dango, glancing once more toward Orochimaru, then rose to leave with Hikari.
From behind, Orochimaru's serpentine eyes followed them. The corner of his mouth curved up as his tongue flicked out briefly.
"Interesting," he murmured, "those two are quite fascinating."
---
That night, Neji and Hikari made their way to an inn. The others—Pakura, Uchiha Izumi, and the rest—had gone out to gather intelligence and hadn't yet returned.
In his room, Neji summoned a Maneki-neko to secretly contact Raiga Kurosuki and his team. Plans needed to be set in motion quickly.
Meanwhile, not far from the izakaya, in a large residence filled with tension, Zabuza Momochi stood at the front of the room. His cold eyes swept across the fifty or so shinobi gathered before him—his most loyal followers.
Zabuza, known as one of the most gifted assassins of the new generation, looked grimmer than ever.
The Fourth Mizukage had launched a disastrous war against Kumogakure. Eight thousand Kirigakure shinobi had perished, and resentment now simmered throughout the entire village.
Worse still, word had spread that the Fourth Mizukage intended to send the children of the Ninja Academy to the front lines next.
That was the final straw.
In the original story, Zabuza had fled the village much earlier. But here, he had stayed—and now, unable to tolerate the madness any longer, he planned to overthrow the Mizukage himself.
"Tomorrow," Zabuza said coldly, his deep voice echoing through the hall, "we will change the fate of Kirigakure and carve our names into history."
A thunderous shout followed as all fifty men responded in unison.
"For the village!"
Zabuza gave a curt nod, though his face remained expressionless. The time for hesitation was over.
He believed that as long as he could strike quickly, storm the Mizukage's office, and kill the tyrant in one blow, the future of the Mist would be brighter—no matter who took the title next.
But what Zabuza failed to notice was the crow perched on a nearby branch, its red Sharingan eyes quietly reflecting the entire scene.
---
Elsewhere, in an old, dimly lit building near the residence—
Aoba, a jōnin of Kirigakure, stumbled through the door, breathing heavily. Mei Terumī frowned and asked, "What happened to you?"
Aoba waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing. I just overused my Byakugan. I'm a little drained."
Byakugan didn't burden the body as severely as the Sharingan did, but it still required immense concentration. Even someone with Hyuga blood could not use it recklessly for long periods.
Mei silently poured a glass of water and handed it to him. "Drink. Then tell me what you found."
After a brief rest, Aoba's tone turned grave.
"I've confirmed that about fifty men are gathered at Zabuza's hideout. Those are all his trusted subordinates. From what I overheard, he plans to make his move tomorrow."
Mei Terumī's brows furrowed deeply.
Even she had sensed strange activity from Zabuza lately. If she could detect it, then surely the ANBU under the Fourth Mizukage had as well. That meant the Mizukage was either setting a trap—or had gone completely mad.
"What's the defense around the Mizukage's office?" she asked after a moment of silence.
"The same as always," Aoba replied. "Two ANBU squads and the regular patrol team guarding the perimeter. But the internal defenses—I couldn't see. The seals around the building block even my Byakugan."
Mei sighed softly. "Then it's as I feared. The Mizukage's office is already armed and waiting. Zabuza's walking right into a trap."
Though she said it calmly, her voice carried a quiet sorrow.
The Fourth Mizukage had lost the people's trust. Even Mei, who had once respected him, had considered overthrowing him. But she knew better than to act rashly.
Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, was terrifyingly powerful. Since his rise to power, he had survived countless assassination attempts. Those who tried to kill him either died horrible deaths or were forced to flee the village, becoming missing-nin.
Even Biwa Jūzō and Raiga Kurosuki met grim fates, Mei thought bitterly. And yet he still stands.
She was patient. Her time would come.
When she finally ascended as Mizukage, it would not be through rebellion—but through strength and wisdom.
Aoba broke her thoughts. "Lady Mei, it's strange. We haven't seen Mizukage-sama in months. He's been living in isolation, refusing to meet anyone. Could there be some hidden reason?"
Mei tapped her fingers on the table, lost in thought.
Indeed, Yagura's behavior had changed after the Third Shinobi World War. Once an idealist opposed to the Bloody Mist policy, he had suddenly become its greatest supporter. Many in the village suspected foul play.
But even the wildest rumors could not have guessed the truth—that Yagura was under genjutsu control by an outside force.
---
Suddenly—BANG! BANG! BANG!
Urgent knocks broke the silence.
"Enter," Mei said calmly.
A Kirigakure shinobi rushed in and handed her a scroll. "A message from Lord Gengetsu, ma'am."
"Gengetsu?" Mei's expression shifted. She quickly unrolled the scroll and scanned its contents.
It was a detailed list—names and records of foreign agents who had infiltrated Kirigakure over the past ten days. The handwriting was clear and concise, leaving no room for doubt.
Every single infiltrator came from another great village. The majority were spies from Kumogakure.
Mei's eyes darkened. "Those bastards… Do they think Kirigakure is their playground?!"
She slammed the document onto the table in anger.
Aoba sighed. "My lady, these are only the ones we've identified. There are surely more hidden in the shadows."
"Of course," Mei muttered bitterly. "The village is in chaos. Order has crumbled. What we're seeing is only the tip of the iceberg."
After a long pause, she continued, "Yagura must know of Kumogakure's actions, yet he remains silent. It's as if he doesn't care anymore."
Aoba shrugged helplessly. "Given his recent behavior, that's not surprising."
Mei closed her eyes for a moment, then said firmly, "Kirigakure will not be humiliated. Send word to monitor every infiltrator closely. If any of them act out of line, eliminate them immediately."
"Understood."
---
Night faded into dawn. Mist thickened, swallowing the village in gray silence. The streets were empty, shrouded in an eerie calm.
A lone guard, stationed outside a quiet shop, stifled a yawn as he fought against sleep.
Then—shhk!
A sharp, wet sound.
The guard froze, staring down in disbelief at the bloodstained wooden stake protruding from his chest. His mouth opened soundlessly as he collapsed to the ground.
From the fog emerged several white silhouettes—ghostly figures moving swiftly and silently through the mist. Within moments, screams echoed faintly, then were cut short.
By morning, dozens of bodies were found piled before the shop—shinobi and civilians alike.
Mei stood over the corpses, her usually warm expression hardened into ice. The shop had been an intelligence post, manned by three elite informants and a special jōnin. All wiped out in one night.
A medical-nin approached, clutching a report. "Lady Mei, except for the special jōnin, everyone died in their sleep. The killer's technique was clean, precise—professional. Impossible to trace. However, the special jōnin's wounds suggest battle. The cuts were infused with Lightning Release chakra—matching the Secret Sword Style of Kumogakure."
Mei frowned. "The Hidden Cloud's Secret Sword Style?"
She folded the report thoughtfully. "Understood. You may go."
When the medic left, Aoba stepped closer. "My lady… I don't think it's that simple."
Mei nodded slightly. "No. Whoever did this wants us to believe it was Kumogakure. Either they're trying to frame them—or they're bold enough to think we won't dare strike back."
The truth was uncertain. Kumogakure was unpredictable—driven by power and ambition, often beyond reason. They had once invaded the Hidden Sand after the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, sparking the Third Shinobi World War.
Attacking Kirigakure now would be foolish, but not impossible for them.
"Regardless," Mei said coldly, "we'll confirm the truth ourselves. Contact our agents among the Cloud spies. I want to know the Fourth Raikage's stance. If he refuses peace, we prepare for war."
Aoba nodded grimly. "There are several Cloud operatives staying at the Hidden Mist Inn."
"Good," Mei said, her eyes narrowing. "Bring the special jōnin's body. Let's pay them a visit."
---
At that same inn, Neji was quietly eating breakfast with Uchiha Hikari when his senses suddenly sharpened. Through the Tenseigan's perception, he felt several powerful chakra signatures approaching—including one that burned like molten steel.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Mei Terumī… is coming to see me?"
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. The timing was interesting.
The Hidden Mist was at its weakest. The Mizukage was controlled. The Jinchūriki were captured. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were shattered—some dead, others defected. Only a few figures like Gengetsu, Mei Terumī, and Aoba still upheld the village's dignity.
Without their ancient foundations, Kirigakure would already have fallen from the ranks of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
When Neji's thoughts settled, he turned to Hikari and nodded toward the door. "Let them in."
Moments later, Mei Terumī ascended the stairs with several trusted guards.
She stopped briefly at the open door, surprise flickering in her emerald eyes. The young man before her radiated confidence, his expression calm yet unreadable.
Neji stood to greet her, studying the woman he had only known from the original story—brown hair flowing down her back, a blue dress that brightened the dim room, and eyes both sharp and soft.
Her lips curved slightly.
"It's an honor to finally meet the man everyone in the Mist seems to be whispering about," Mei said.
Neji smiled faintly. "The honor is mine, Lady Mei Terumī."
As the morning mist swirled outside the window, two prodigies—one from the Hidden Leaf, one from the Hidden Mist—faced each other for the first time, their meeting marking the quiet beginning of a storm that would soon engulf both villages.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)