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"Boom!"
A moment later, Kagaya and Zabuza burst through the wall of the Mizukage's office, charging out from within.
The Fourth Mizukage, transformed into a tailed beast form, seemed to be moving slowly due to the constant pain from his severed arm, allowing Kagaya and Zabuza to escape.
As for the pursuing Anbu ninjas, they were nothing worth mentioning to Kagaya and Zabuza.
"We failed, huh."
On the escape route, Kagaya teased Zabuza.
"Well, I didn't expect the assassination to succeed anyway. Cutting off one of his arms already satisfies me."
Zabuza replied to Kagaya indifferently.
"If you didn't think the assassination would succeed, why attempt it? You could have chosen another method."
"Are you an idiot? It was the Fourth Mizukage who approached me first. From the moment he did, I had to make a choice. If I did nothing, it would be equivalent to becoming one of the Fourth Mizukage's people. I don't want to team up with a Mizukage like that."
"Hmm..."
With that, the two fell silent afterward, continuing to flee without a word.
Not long after, they reached beyond the borders of the Land of Water and stopped.
Kagaya spoke first. "How am I supposed to find you in the future?"
Zabuza replied impatiently.
"That's your problem, isn't it? If you can't even find me, don't expect me to help you attack Konoha."
Kagaya shrugged helplessly. "Fine. Then, farewell for now."
"Hm."
With that, the two parted ways.
For Kagaya, tonight's events were just a rather peculiar experience, but for the entire Kirigakure, it was earth-shattering news!
The Fourth Mizukage's left arm had been severed!
The next day, Terumi Mei listened to Ao's report with an expression that said "as expected" and spoke.
"That child really got involved after all. Otherwise, with Zabuza alone, it shouldn't have been enough to sever the Fourth Mizukage's arm. I have to say, possessing such terrifying strength at such a young age—he must be the most astonishing genius I've seen so far."
Ao bowed his head and asked.
"Lady Mei, regarding the matter of the Mizukage's severed arm..."
Terumi Mei spoke without hesitation.
"Spread the word. It's about time for us to take action as well."
The Mizukage's side would definitely try to suppress the news of the Fourth Mizukage's severed arm. But Terumi Mei wanted to spread it! As she said, it was about time for them to act!
Kirigakure would soon usher in a new era.
A few days later, upon receiving the news of the Fourth Mizukage's severed arm, most of the villagers were secretly rejoicing.
Even the previously desolate streets saw a few pedestrians appear.
If a village's Kage were assassinated, in any other ninja village, it would only bring panic. But in Kirigakure, it instead brought a touch of warmth.
In the darkness, Obito's eyes widened, bloodshot veins clearly visible. The Fourth Mizukage had lost an arm, his strength greatly weakened. Obito knew very well that this pawn had truly reached its end.
"Uchiha Kagaya..."
In the end, Obito could only hastily control the Fourth Mizukage to move on to the next target—Hoshigaki Kisame!
In the room, Terumi Mei smiled faintly as she stood up from her seat. She was in a great mood. She knew that it wouldn't be long before she could end Kirigakure's current wicked rule of blood mist, and all of this owed at least a little thanks to that suddenly appearing little guy.
"Uchiha Kagaya, huh? Heh, I've remembered you. The next time we meet, I'll give you a kiss that will melt you."
No matter what the people affected by this incident thought, for Kagaya, it was already in the past and had no impact on him.
Several days had passed since the night of attacking the Fourth Mizukage. Kagaya had recently received a notification from Pain, asking him to return to the Akatsuki organization base first. It seemed something had happened on the Akatsuki side.
But that worked out perfectly, as Kagaya had originally planned to bring Haku to report to the Akatsuki organization. He wanted Haku to become his partner.
As for why Pain suddenly summoned Kagaya back, this matter traced back to the previous Akatsuki organization meeting. Not long after Jūzō Biwa's death, Kagaya received the meeting order and projected himself to the Akatsuki base to report.
After the meeting ended, on a long staircase, Itachi and Orochimaru encountered each other.
The instant they passed each other, a snake slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeve and bound Itachi.
"Do you know what eternal life is, Itachi? I don't know yet, so I need a new body—a perfect vessel to achieve eternity."
Itachi spoke unmoved, as if the one bound by the snake wasn't himself.
"In the end, this is just a matter of your desires."
With that, the next second, the scene changed. Orochimaru stood before Itachi, unable to move.
Everything just now had been Itachi's genjutsu!
Orochimaru felt his extremely immobile body and barely spoke.
"I didn't expect to fall for a paralysis technique. What powerful ocular power—how marvelous!"
Orochimaru struggled, barely lifting his hands, then decisively chopped off his left hand with his right.
Pain was also a way to break genjutsu.
Itachi drew a kunai and spoke indifferently.
"Orochimaru, none of your techniques have any effect before these eyes."
Orochimaru clutched his bleeding left hand.
"Big words."
Itachi continued.
"I don't know how to deal with you."
Itachi aimed the kunai in his hand at Orochimaru's forehead.
"Should I kill you now, or use you for something else?"
The kunai slowly approached Orochimaru's forehead.
"Itachi!"
Orochimaru cried out in shock. He didn't want to die here.
"You're not enough—no, you've already had too much. Your desires. You treat human lives—"
"Swish swish swish!"
Before Itachi could finish, several kunai flew toward him. Itachi jumped back, dodging them.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
A white-haired youth appeared in front of Orochimaru, holding a kunai and facing Itachi.
"I'll definitely repay this favor."
Orochimaru said this, unclear if it was thanks to the white-haired youth or a warning to Itachi.
Then, several explosive tags landed beside Itachi and detonated.
Itachi easily dodged again, but when he looked back at where Orochimaru had been, the person was already gone.
Itachi didn't pursue. As if nothing had happened, he called out behind him.
"Izumi, come here."
"Oh, okay."
Izumi appeared from not far behind Itachi and ran toward him.
Itachi seemed to have anticipated this scene and had Izumi wait behind him in advance, only coming after his call.
A few days later, when Kagaya brought Haku to the Akatsuki organization base, he heard Pain announce this news.
"Orochimaru has betrayed the organization and fled."