Yagura would rather have died the moment he learned what the Hidden Mist had become during the years he was controlled.
The ever-intensifying Bloody Mist policy.
The near-total collapse of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
The hollowed-out treasury, bled dry.
And worst of all—the complete loss of authority and trust.
Every revelation felt like a blade carving into him.
"Fourth Mizukage," the Elder said quietly, "the Village still needs you."
That single sentence was the only reason Yagura remained alive.
He could not fall—not yet. He could not even seek release. As the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki and the nominal leader of Kirigakure, his life no longer belonged to him alone.
Until the next generation could stand on its own, he had to endure—if only as a symbol, a stabilizing pillar holding the village together.
"I understand," Yagura said hoarsely. "From now on… only inform me of matters that require my presence."
He lowered his gaze.
"Genji… I have failed the Village."
With trembling hands, he removed the Mizukage's hat and passed it to the Elder. From this moment on, he would be Mizukage in name alone.
The Elder accepted it with a heavy sigh, gripping the hat as if it weighed more than iron.
"The mercenary forces we hired have failed and scattered. The conflict with Konoha ends here."
He continued steadily, "Anbu captured several stragglers. They confirmed that the individual who coordinated their recruitment wore a black cloak patterned with red clouds."
"The eyes that controlled you—the Sharingan." The Elder's voice darkened. "Why a Konoha bloodline would interfere with our village remains unclear."
"But we lack the strength to pursue this further. And at present, it would be unwise to entangle ourselves any deeper."
As for revenge? Kirigakure no longer had the luxury to consider it. A Mizukage being controlled by genjutsu was not a truth the Village could afford to expose.
Left alone in the office, Yagura did not return home. He hadn't since the day his will was stolen—and now, even in freedom, he saw no reason to go back.
Outside the Mizukage Building, Genji paused and looked up at the sky, forever shrouded in fog.
To dispel the Bloody Mist.
To guide the village toward rebirth.
To nurture the next Mizukage.
It seemed these old bones would have to endure a while longer.
—
"Shisui believes you wouldn't do such a thing," Roshi said calmly, facing Enjin. "And I trust his judgment."
He met Enjin's gaze evenly.
"But that doesn't mean you're free of suspicion."
"You'll return to the Village with me for further investigation and questioning."
He turned slightly, voice turning colder.
"If you still insist on biting at Kakashi, that's fine."
"I'll simply observe how ugly the so-called Uchiha elite can become when survival is on the line."
Leaving behind Enjin's vacant stare, Roshi exited the holding area.
Outside, Kakashi had already completed a rapid sweep of the camp.
"No signs of external infiltration," Kakashi reported, a trace of frustration in his voice. "No gaps in patrol routes or alert posts either."
"I came to the same conclusion," Roshi nodded. "Which makes this the worst-case scenario."
"A crime without traces."
Shisui stepped closer, concern etched across his face. "Roshi… what you said to Enjin just now—"
"I told him I trust you," Roshi replied. "I just needed him to stop running his mouth."
After that mental blow, Enjin would think twice before making reckless accusations once they returned.
As for the truth behind the stolen Sharingan, Roshi already had his answer.
Uchiha Obito.
Either Kamui… or Zetsu's Mayfly Technique.
Soft earth beneath their feet. Dense forest all around.
This terrain was ideal for something like Zetsu.
He would have to find another way to deal with that thing—later.
For now, the board had shifted again.
"Any new movements from the Hidden Mist along the Land of Waves front?" Roshi shifted the conversation.
Kakashi shook his head. "Nothing. Since the last engagement, they've gone completely quiet."
"According to reconnaissance, the rogue ninja they gathered have already scattered. It looks like the Hidden Mist has abandoned any attempt at further attacks."
So even hiring mercenaries had been scrapped.
Was Obito cutting his losses, or had resistance within the Hidden Mist finally grown strong enough to force him to rein himself in?
"Prepare to rotate out," Roshi decided. "I'll return to the Village this afternoon with the wounded and Enjin."
"As for the rest—especially monitoring the Hidden Mist—I'll leave it to you for now."
Once the handover was complete, the return march proved slower than their arrival. Many of those rotating back were injured, and caution took precedence over speed.
Enjin was placed at the center of the formation. His expression was dark, but the sharp hostility from before was gone. Roshi's words seemed to have lodged themselves in his mind.
From a law enforcer's perspective—one honed through years in the Police Force—Roshi's reasoning… wasn't entirely unfounded.
With no evidence of outside intrusion, the person who had guarded the bodies most closely truly was the prime suspect.
That realization weighed heavily.
They returned to Konoha late at night.
The bodies of the two fallen Uchiha were transferred to Konoha Hospital for temporary preservation. Enjin, meanwhile, was escorted directly to the Hokage Building by Roshi.
As expected, Itachi was on duty inside.
"Itachi," Roshi said evenly, "take him to the interrogation room and wait for the Hokage's instructions."
At the sound of that name, Enjin abruptly lifted his head.
Itachi… Anbu.
And stationed at the Hokage Building itself.
So the Clan Head's plan had truly succeeded.
If that was the case, then perhaps their sacrifices hadn't been meaningless after all.
Being handed over to a clansman steadied Enjin's heart somewhat. With Itachi present, there might still be a chance—through the Sharingan—to explain his negligence, to make it clear he would never defile his comrades' bodies.
Itachi answered in a low voice. Normally, a Hokage guard wouldn't follow another's orders so readily—but Roshi was an exception.
He would explain everything to Lady Tsunade afterward.
Roshi entered the office. Tsunade had clearly heard the commotion outside.
"Who was detained?" she asked without preamble.
"Uchiha Enjin."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "I told you to bring him back to rest. His return might stir the clan, but he fought on the front lines for the village."
"And that's exactly why this has to be handled carefully," Roshi replied.
He gave a concise report: the stolen Sharingan, Enjin's accusation against Kakashi, and the Hidden Mist's sudden withdrawal.
Tsunade clasped her hands beneath her chin, thinking.
The stolen Sharingan were serious—but more pressing was how to contain an emotionally volatile Uchiha capable of igniting internal conflict.
As for the Hidden Mist… "What are they scheming now?"
"On that front," Roshi said, "we could formally request negotiations with the Hidden Mist."
Whether Obito had truly gone quiet or was merely regrouping, probing through official channels might expose something.
Tsunade nodded slowly. "It's worth considering. We'll decide after a fuller assessment."
Her gaze sharpened. "And Uchiha Enjin?"
"Keep him in the interrogation room for one day," Roshi answered. "Consider it punishment for recklessly accusing a front-line commander and disrupting morale."
He paused briefly.
"After that… I'll have a proper talk with him."
The storm wasn't over yet—but for now, it was contained.
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