Hōzuki Yuzuki searched the entire room for Mitsuki Kōmei, not even sparing the decades-old mouse holes in the corners, pulling out his long-time neighbors to ask if his house had any guests today.
One hundred percent certain that Mitsuki Kōmei had already left with someone, Hōzuki Yuzuki looked up at the pills Mitsuki Kōmei had left on the table.
He walked over, picked up a pill with two fingers, and examined it carefully, but couldn't see anything special about it.
He thought, is Lord Shimotsuki serious? Can a few pills solve the Hozuki Clan's predicament? It seemed utterly unreliable no matter how he thought about it.
Treating a dead horse as if it were alive, Hōzuki Yuzuki picked up a pill and put it in his mouth, crunching it twice before swallowing it.
He smacked his lips twice; there was no taste. A moment later, his stomach churned, alternately swelling and aching. Hōzuki Yuzuki was in extreme pain, barely managing to utter two words: "It's poison!"
The Chakra Pill should have been swallowed whole, allowing Chakra to fuse into the body layer by layer. Hōzuki Yuzuki, however, bit it into pieces and swallowed it, causing a large amount of Chakra to surge into his body instantly. It would have been strange if it hadn't hurt.
A few minutes later, the Fusion was complete. Hōzuki Yuzuki, who looked like he had been pulled out of water, noticed the changes in his body and was overjoyed.
A few pills could indeed solve the current problem. He shouted in his heart, "Lord Shimotsuki is awesome!"
He continued to eat the remaining Chakra Pills. Each one he ate caused him discomfort, but Hōzuki Yuzuki was both in pain and happy as he tossed the last one into his mouth.
"Clan Chief! What should we do? Shingetsu absolutely cannot lose his sight!"
Hōzuki Yuzuki, who was concentrating on eating the pills, was startled. The pill went straight down his throat, almost choking him to death, and one pill was wasted in vain.
Just as he was about to get angry, he realized that the pill not only worked but also didn't hurt. He almost regretted it to death; it turned out it was meant to be swallowed whole.
They always say to follow the doctor's orders, but Lord Shimotsuki gave him the medicine without telling him how to take it. Isn't that just setting him up?
"What are you shouting for! Not sleeping in the middle of the night, what if you disturb the Clan members? They have to work tomorrow!"
"Go call the Elders. I've already thought of a solution."
A short while later, the great hall was filled with the Elders of the Hozuki Clan, their feet wet. They held the Clan Chief in high esteem in their hearts, thinking that for the Family, for Shingetsu, the Clan Chief didn't even have time to go to the toilet. He truly was a good Clan Chief.
"Clan Chief, just tell us what to do! We'll all listen to you, but some things can't be resolved anywhere, anytime."
"Second Elder, you're right. It can't be resolved in the great hall. Let's go to the Mizukage's office to resolve it."
Several Elders gave Hōzuki Yuzuki a thumbs up. "Clan Chief, you're so brave!"
Hōzuki Yuzuki, brimming with confidence, had originally intended to go to the Mizukage's office to confront the Mizukage, but then he had a change of heart, realizing that doing so would make it inconvenient for the Clan members to escape.
"Never mind. Gather the Clan members. We will leave the Hidden Mist Village tonight and develop in the Land of the Moon."
"Clan Chief, calm down. The Mizukage won't let us leave. He will definitely stop and intercept us, and the Family might suffer heavy losses," several Elders said anxiously.
Hōzuki Yuzuki, full of confidence, patted his chest. "What about the Mizukage? We all have a head on our shoulders, what's there to be afraid of? I'll handle the Mizukage. Go prepare."
In the dead of night, the Hozuki Clan's plaza was filled with Clan members, carrying luggage and bags.
"Family members, the Hozuki Clan is being targeted by the Mizukage and despised by the villagers. We can no longer stay in the Hidden Mist Village."
"Tonight is the day we run towards freedom. I will lead the way out of the Hidden Mist Village. Everyone, make sure not to fall behind. Let's go!"
There wasn't a single pedestrian on the streets of the Hidden Mist Village. Under the Gekko, the Hozuki Clan quietly left their territory and headed towards the Village entrance.
The Ninja on guard at the Village entrance discovered the Hozuki Clan. Good heavens, with all those bags and bundles, it was clear the Hozuki Clan wasn't just moving; they were escaping! They immediately sent out a distress signal.
As the signal flare ascended, the Hozuki members decisively launched an attack, opening the gate. The entire Hozuki Clan rushed out of the Hidden Mist Village in a short time, merging into the night.
"Mizukage-sama, it's bad! The Hozuki Clan has defected, they've broken through the gate and escaped the Village!"
The Third Mizukage rushed out of his room.
"The Hozuki Clan is indeed evil to betray the Village! Summon the Ninja in the Village and give chase!"
The Mizukage led a portion of the Hidden Mist Village Ninja in pursuit for a hundred kilometers, where they encountered Hōzuki Yuzuki and the Elders who had stayed behind to cover their retreat.
"Hōzuki Yuzuki, you dare betray the Village! Today, I'll kill you first, then go after your Clan members. Attack!"
Hōzuki Yuzuki faced off against the Third Mizukage. He had been strengthened by Mitsuki Kōmei, and he didn't want to just rush in and die, so he fought cautiously.
The two fought back and forth, a 40-60 split.
The Mizukage was extremely frustrated. When had his strength declined so much that he couldn't even take down a small fry like Hōzuki Yuzuki?
"Hōzuki Yuzuki, you bastard! At the Daimyo Manor, Kakuzu had you pinned to the ground in a few moves, and now you're acting tough!"
"You were meek when fighting Kakuzu, but you're hitting me with full force. You truly had ill intentions!"
"Say what you want, today the Hozuki Clan must leave the Hidden Mist Village! We want freedom, and if not freedom, then death!" Hōzuki Yuzuki roared.
Half an hour later, the Third Mizukage ultimately watched helplessly as Hōzuki Yuzuki led his team in retreat.
He glanced at the surrounding Ninja, all of whom were putting in effort without actually trying. A battle ended, and their clothes didn't have a speck of dust or a single wrinkle.
He deeply resented these deceitful individuals in his heart. He needed to cultivate his own trusted subordinates, a team that would only obey his orders.
In the Mizukage's office, which was silent and dark without any lights, the cold Gekko shone into the Mizukage's eyes, making his gaze even colder.
The Mizukage, deep in thought about how to cultivate his trusted subordinates, remembered the seven ninja swords in the collection room.
Hōzuki Gengetsu had once wanted to form a ninja sword unit. However, suitable owners for the ninja swords were not found, and the plan was shelved, with the ninja swords put aside. Now was the perfect time to bring them out.
The Mizukage thought all night. Early the next morning, he gathered the high-ranking officials of the Hidden Mist Village.
"The Hozuki Clan's defection has significantly weakened the Village's power. The Village's secret weapons, the seven ninja swords, must be brought out and used. Do any of you have any objections?"
The others shook their heads, indicating no objections. What objections could they have? The Mizukage had already made his decision, and with the Hozuki Clan having just defected, anyone with an objection would be asking for trouble.
"Since no one has any objections, we will use the seven ninja swords to form the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who will serve the Mizukage of each generation, continuing for generations to come."
The Mizukage still wanted to save face and didn't directly say they would serve him alone, instead bringing out all the past Mizukage to shield himself.
Once the idea was conceived, it was time to act. The Hidden Mist Village began an enthusiastic search for owners for the seven ninja swords.
The selection method was simple: the seven ninja swords were planted there, and the Hidden Mist Village Ninja would approach one by one to touch the ninja swords. If they felt a connection, then the two of them would make do and become a pair.
The Hidden Mist Village's sword-touching initiative lasted for several days, perhaps due to fate.
The first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist consisted of Suikazan Fuguki and six others. They made a grand entrance, but four were kicked to death, and three ran away.
The Mizukage saw the list of seven names and was in a good mood. After a few years of training, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist would be fully capable of standing on their own.
What Hōzuki Gengetsu had failed to accomplish, he, the Third Mizukage, had achieved. Indeed, Bai Lian was blind, and he was simply better than the junior.