Zaraki Kita was confident the Fourth Mizukage wasn't a match for her. Indeed, the facts supported that confidence. The only complication was Terumi Mei lurking behind, watching with a predator's gaze. Kita had to consider the possibility of "killing the donkey after the grind." If she defeated the Mizukage only for Mei to strike from behind, even she could be injured. And Mei had already made it clear she might stab from behind. Showing her full strength for a quick victory would only hasten Mei's action, but holding back meant contending with a truly tenacious opponent. Decisions, decisions…
"What are you?!"
A coral palm attack came hurtling in. Kita swung her blade, the earth chakra coiling around her weapon cleaving the coral crystal stone produced by water chakra. Thanks to Nagato's teachings, she had mastered five chakra natures. So far, she had only demonstrated earth chakra to Mei. As someone who annoyed Uchiha Madara, it would be impossible for her to be suspected of manipulating elemental changes. Against a powerful water-style ninja, lightning chakra was more appropriate. Perfect. Dual natures: lightning and earth, a ninja skilled in taijutsu.
After gauging the degree of restraint, Kita abandoned pointless grappling. Twin blades were drawn, left and right. The left blade had a thin layer of sand and earth, while the right shimmered with faint lightning. She planted the earth blade into the ground and gripped the lightning sword with both hands.
Speed surged, shattering the Mizukage's Water Mirror Technique. Her exact clone dissipated. Kita remained cautious, leaving no margin for error; half a misstep could have ended the Mizukage instantly.
As the Mizukage's wind-style jutsu brushed her kimono, impatience welled up. This is my favorite yukata, she thought—pure white with azure wave patterns, a gift from Konan last year at the festival. She treasured it, not just for its beauty, but because it was from Konan.
Her impatience turned to anger—but to anyone secretly observing, it looked like frustration turning into indignation, the result of repeated failed attacks.
As she launched a slash, forming hand seals with her left, the Mizukage avoided the lightning strike—but in the next instant, a lightning tiger erupted from behind him. Its gaping mouth engulfed the Mizukage, lightning chakra flooding into his body. The next moment, Kita felt countless weapons press against her back.
Terumi Mei emerged from the shadows, walking gracefully to the paralyzed Mizukage. She pressed a small amount of chakra on a vital point—still in the form of a twelve-year-old boy—without withdrawing.
Indeed… this woman is ruthless. Kita thought, abandoning all resistance.
The Mizukage murmured as he awoke.
"Where is… this…"
It was real.
Mei, after a brief flicker of surprise, quickly knelt on one knee, pledging loyalty.
"I apologize, Mizukage-sama. I overstepped my bounds."
True loyalty—or mere performance—was hard to discern. Kita intended a precise hand strike, but a kunai inched forward, cutting skin—likely leaving a small hole in her clothing.
"You… Mei?"
"Yes." Mei answered respectfully, keeping her head bowed. The intense pain radiating through the Mizukage's mind made even the veteran controlled for years groan aloud.
"Mizukage-sama!"
Worried voices were obvious. Kita acknowledged Mei's acting as convincingly real; she herself might not have distinguished truth from pretense.
Even after years of control, the Mizukage remained formidable.
"This isn't the place to talk." He glanced at Kita, standing motionless nearby, then said: "Release her for now, Mei. You, come with me. And you too." The last words were directed at Kita. Yagura quickly noticed something subtle.
The kunai pressing against Kita's back remained in place. The other ninjas poised to attack did not move at all until Mei waved, granting Kita freedom.
Yagura's expression remained unchanged as he observed everything. When struggling to rise, Mei supported him, and after a brief stiffness, he accepted her help.
The scene shifted to the Mizukage's residence. Dimly lit, it resembled a shadowed dungeon. All necessary furnishings were present, but the light was scarce.
"So, you already know everything?" Yagura asked, voice weak and tired. Mei didn't deny anything, which surprised Kita—she had expected Mei to withhold details, such as plans to kill the Mizukage. If Mei refrained from action, the Mangetsu faction would likely not move either. This could be a problem.
"You guessed right. I was controlled. Sorry for the trouble these years." Yagura's apology sounded genuine, though Kita doubted its sincerity.
"So, that person… really is Uchiha Madara?" Mei asked seriously, tense. Yagura did not answer, turning to Kita.
"You're not from this village. Why risk your life to do this?" The question sounded childlike. Kita suppressed all displeasure from deviations in the plan and responded nonchalantly:
——I hate him.
The Mizukage looked confused. Kita blinked—apparently, the Kirigakure Village wasn't full of experts; she had assumed everyone would know sign language.
"Mizukage-sama, she means she hates Uchiha Madara."
Yagura paused, then nodded, muttering quietly after a moment:
"Luckily, it's you."
Mei looked puzzled at the comment, but before she could ask, the Mizukage spoke again.
"Regardless of who you are—even a spy from another nation—you've saved the Mist Village once. For that alone, I'll let you leave alive." Subtle wording: alive, not safe. Kita processed the distinction in a second, then complied quietly.
——Killing me doesn't matter. I'm just a wandering ninja. Nobody cares. Besides, I've already irritated Uchiha Madara. If I die, so be it.
Her expression truly seemed indifferent. Mei's translation drew Yagura's curious gaze. Kita appeared barely in her twenties; whether twenty-two or twenty-three made little difference. How could a wandering ninja harbor such deep hatred for Uchiha Madara?
"Why do you hate him so much?"
Yagura asked. Kita's objective was achieved.
If the explanation involved the murdered family, it would seem implausible—Madara wouldn't flaunt survival or commit outrage against nobody. Claiming simple hatred was more believable. Kita prepared her story:
——I was born into a wandering ninja group. Grew up taking small jobs to survive, barely scraping by. At fifteen, our leader accepted a mission to eliminate a troublesome bear for villagers. After completion, he accidentally entered a cave where I saw Uchiha Madara. The leader pushed me off a cliff to save me. I survived. Only later did I learn the masked man was Madara—alive and scheming. I couldn't kill him, but for the leader, I vowed to make his life miserable.
Two tears slipped from her eyes.
Yagura doubted the truth, as did Mei. Yet neither spoke; they simply observed, as if humorously indulging her story.
Kita wiped her tears, saying:
——Believe it if you want.
"No, that's not what I meant." Mei hurriedly denied, though she indeed thought so. Yagura cleared his throat, feigning calm:
"It's late. Rest tonight. Tomorrow we'll send you out." He spoke to Kita, signaling Mei with a glance. Mei nodded, commanding her subordinates before bowing politely to the Mizukage.
"Mizukage-sama, I won't disturb your rest further."
She stepped out, unhurried. Yagura watched carefully—her steps, her breath, even her heartbeat remained as calm as still water.
"Wait."
As she began to open the half-closed door, the Mizukage spoke.
"There's something I need to tell you. Close the door."
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
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