"Wait!"
Kisame was stunned. "That's... Kirigakure's three Mizukage? How is that possible? Aren't they all dead?"
Kakuzu was also stunned, but he quickly understood.
"The intelligence Konan brought back earlier said Orochimaru has a forbidden technique that can revive the dead. This must be Orochimaru's doing."
Kakuzu looked at the three Mizukage, his expression serious.
Kakuzu, active since the Warring States Period, had naturally seen many Kage-level figures.
Among these three, the only one that made him wary was the Nidaime Mizukage. "I never thought that explosion maniac would be here too."
"Explosion maniac?"
Kisame didn't understand. He was born long after Gengetsu died.
"That's right. If possible, don't engage with that idiot. His technique is too troublesome."
Kakuzu warned.
"Oh, okay."
Kisame replied blankly, then showed a smile. "But this is perfect. Judging by their direction, they're heading to Konoha too. We might be able to use this chance to probe Takumi's technique. You can also help me confirm how to counter it."
"Mmm, it's indeed much safer than us taking the risk ourselves."
Kakuzu also nodded.
The three Mizukage didn't notice the Akatsuki duo.
They chatted along the way, soon arriving at Konoha's border.
Coincidentally, they encountered Asuma, who was on patrol.
Because Ino-Shika-Cho wasn't complete, Asuma was patrolling alone this time.
"Hey, who are you?"
Asuma narrowed his eyes. "Dressed like Kirigakure's Shinobi? What business do you have in our Konoha?"
Though alone, Asuma still stopped the three.
"Sarutobi Asuma, son of Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen."
As the youngest of the three, Yagura took the initiative to speak, introducing this person's identity to the other two.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Gengetsu stroked his chin, thinking. "That name sounds familiar... Oh right, isn't he Tobirama's student?"
"I never thought he'd become Hokage. I thought it'd be that gloomy-looking guy."
"What do we do? For the mission, we can't alert them."
Sandaime Mizukage asked.
"Since we've encountered him, there's no choice."
Yagura took out his weapon. "Let's eliminate him first."
"So, you mean trouble."
Asuma immediately drew his two Chakra Blades. "I don't know who you are, but this is Konoha. If you don't want to be captured and tortured, you'd better leave quickly."
Asuma looked relaxed, as he didn't recognize the identities of the three before him.
If he knew, he definitely wouldn't be so careless.
At the very least, he'd send up a signal flare first.
"Brave lad, let me have a go with you."
Gengetsu was a battle fanatic, otherwise, he wouldn't have perished together with the Nidaime Tsuchikage.
"Make it quick. Don't waste too much time."
Seeing this, Yagura stepped back two paces, giving them room.
"Don't worry, it'll be fast."
Gengetsu showed a contemptuous smile.
"So I'm being looked down upon. In that case, taste my power."
"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!"
Asuma spewed a large amount of high-temperature ash, enveloping Gengetsu and the others.
Gengetsu and the others didn't dodge, letting the ash surround them.
Asuma bit down hard, and the ash violently exploded.
"So! Still dare to look down on others?"
Asuma looked triumphant.
However, when the exploding ash cleared, the three were sheltered behind a water wall, completely unharmed.
"Damn it!"
Asuma's face immediately darkened.
"Now it's my turn, right?"
Gengetsu raised his hand, pointing his index finger at Asuma.
"Water Gun Technique."
Whoosh!
A water droplet shot out like a bullet.
Pfft!
Asuma was sent flying by the immense force. The water droplet, carrying great piercing power, penetrated through his chest.
'Th-this? What is this?'
'The power is so strong!'
Asuma immediately sensed something was wrong.
These three weren't ordinary Kirigakure's Shinobi.
Their strength was very high!
At the Jonin-level!
Feeling the danger, Asuma immediately retreated two steps.
But Gengetsu's attack didn't stop there.
"Water Gun Technique: Rapid Fire!"
Water droplets spewed in large numbers from Gengetsu's index finger.
Instantly becoming a hail of gunfire.
'It's over.'
Asuma's hopes were dashed. He could only try to minimize his body size to reduce the chance of being hit.
But the dense attacks still left him riddled with wounds in an instant.
"The son of the Hokage, and yet only this level of strength. Truly disappointing."
Gengetsu walked over, looking down at Asuma.
Asuma, his consciousness fading, couldn't see Gengetsu's face, but he could feel the contempt in the other's gaze.
"Your commotion is still a bit loud. Someone's approaching."
Yagura said with dissatisfaction.
He looked to the right, where several Shinobi were approaching rapidly.
"Can't be helped. My Ninjutsu is just like this, very showy."
Gengetsu looked self-satisfied.
"You did it on purpose, didn't you."
Sandaime Mizukage suddenly said. "To alert Konoha? What a good guy."
"Haha, you saw through me?"
Gengetsu didn't mind being exposed, laughing and admitting it.
"Damn it! These guys, doing unnecessary things!"
Orochimaru, observing from the shadows, couldn't help but grit his teeth.
He should have known not to give them personalities.
They could actually resist him this way.
"Don't forget the mission this time."
Yagura said. "You don't want to be completely controlled either, do you? Right now we can still control our bodies, but if we anger Orochimaru, we won't even be able to control our bodies."
"Tch."
Gengetsu clicked his tongue. "Fine, fine, you're such an unfunny junior."
A vein popped on Yagura's forehead.
'Damn it, this irresponsible guy is the Nidaime Mizukage?'
'It's really hard to imagine!'
"Anyway, we're close enough here. Let's just start directly."
Sandaime Mizukage said.
"Alright."
Gengetsu and Yagura nodded.
Then the three simultaneously formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Instantly, vision-obscuring mist spread at an incredible speed.
In just a few seconds, it spread from the forest towards Konoha.
The spreading speed was very fast, and within minutes, it enveloped the entire Konoha.
This was the effect of three Mizukage simultaneously using the Hidden Mist Technique.
"Excellent! This is the effect!"
Orochimaru excitedly watched the mist spreading towards Konoha. "Amidst the chaos brought by the mist, take Takumi by surprise and bring him directly here!"
"Truly a good plan. As expected of Orochimaru-sama."
Kabuto praised from the side.
And now, in Konoha.
Seeing the all-encompassing mist, countless villagers stepped out onto the streets in surprise, discussing in confusion.
"What happened? Why is there such heavy fog?"
"I've never seen fog this thick! Can't see anything two meters away!"
"Not good! Is it an enemy attack?!"
"Quickly inform Hokage-sama! The enemy is attacking!"
Clearly.
Fog of this level wasn't caused by ordinary weather.
Konoha had never seen fog this thick since the village's founding!
So someone must be behind it!