Terumi Mei did not withhold any intelligence. She even handed over the scroll intact, a clear sign of her trust in this information.
In truth, Kita, as an outsider, should not have been present for matters concerning the village's secrets. Yet given the current situation, she had no reason to be absent. She had expected the Mizukage to ask about the source of the intelligence and had prepared a response. Surprisingly, the Fourth Mizukage didn't ask about that at all, instead posing a question entirely unrelated to the current situation.
"Are you comfortable with your lodgings?"
Kita nodded slightly, acknowledging the question.
——The inn is fine. Thank you, Mizukage-sama.
"To be honest, you're the first guest in the Mist Village in years. I was worried you might find the constant fog uncomfortable."
Huh, was this a soft approach to win trust? Kita felt a flicker of doubt but replied politely.
——You are too kind, Mizukage-sama. Even as a wandering ninja, I am still a ninja.
Terumi Mei translated faithfully. The boyish Yagura nodded, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration.
"Indeed, you are an excellent ninja. Living alone must be difficult."
Kita shook her head.
——It used to be difficult, but I've grown accustomed to it now.
"Really? Don't let my appearance fool you; I'm forty-eight, though I look twelve. I have the right to give such advice, but you are young, and the road ahead is long."
——I appreciate your guidance.
Kita spoke respectfully.
"Have you considered a different way of life?"
Kita understood immediately. Bowing respectfully, she rose and said:
——A comfortable life is tempting, but it wouldn't include Uchiha Madara.
Terumi Mei showed no trace of disappointment, simply relaying it to Yagura. After a long pause, he spoke.
"You truly are the one who would cause trouble for Uchiha Madara. If I tried to persuade you further, I'd be the one out of place."
Kita nodded, showing a deep apology.
Yagura looked at Mei and said, "You may leave, Mei. I need to speak with Kita-sama alone." Mei hesitated, then nodded and withdrew, closing the door behind her.
Kita retrieved pen and paper from her satchel as Yagura rose from his desk. He sat on a sofa, speaking casually:
"Sit here."
He began cleaning a tea set, casual and approachable. Kita, though slightly awed, complied without resistance.
"I'll consider you a wandering ninja for now. I have a mission unrelated to Uchiha Madara—lucrative, if you're interested."
By the time he finished speaking, the tea set was clean. He emptied dry leaves into a teapot, poured hot water, and a rich tea fragrance filled the air.
——What kind of mission?
"The intelligence came from you. I don't question its accuracy. This mission will not be recorded; it's confidential. Do you accept it?"
——Dangerous?
"For you, not really. I cannot send Mei, so you are the most suitable candidate in the village. No probing. Just tell me yes or no."
Yagura poured a cup of hot tea for Kita.
——I'm not a fool, Mizukage-sama.
"Even a fool wouldn't persist so much against Uchiha Madara," he said simply, sipping his tea and exhaling slowly.
"If you had agreed to my previous request, I wouldn't have assigned you this mission. Mei needs capable aides; Ao is a remnant of the old era. The rest are loyal but not reliable. The Hozuki Mangetsu Party is proud—they won't serve Mei willingly. You may have an unknown background, but you can carry responsibility."
——I'm surprised you trust her completely.
Kita admitted. She remembered the embarrassment of the Fourth Mizukage refusing orders—this was no small matter for one in power.
Yagura laughed.
"I am the Mizukage, Kita-sama."
Kita nodded, recalling Nagato's attitude toward Madara and the Junan team. Knowing their dual intentions, he never treated them lightly. Junan's missions may be minor, but none were trivial. Madara's solo missions were simple yet essential.
——As you say.
"The Kaguya clan must be removed eventually. It's only a matter of time. This intelligence serves as proof. Regardless of foreign collusion, it saves me trouble. I will not send Mei this time." He paused, then added, "She is excellent, but this task is unsuitable for her."
Kita pondered for a while, intuitively grasping the Fourth Mizukage's intent, feeling reassured.
——Hozuki Mangetsu?
"You are perceptive."
——Then what is my mission?
Yagura smirked. Kita understood.
"Do you accept?"
——No reason to refuse. Mei and I had a good conversation.
Yagura nodded, smiling: "Drink tea, and let's discuss your reward."
When Kita left the Mizukage's office, it was already late. A few ANBU followed her, only symbolically—two in number. Within five minutes, Terumi Mei appeared again. Kita felt a strange mix of emotions. She could not tell if Mei's fortune allowed her to have a man like Yagura silently watching over her, or if Mei truly controlled fate. Either way, Kita envied her immensely. Trying to follow Mei's methods seemed impossible.
Kita recalled why she had left the village this time.
She couldn't even calmly face Konan, let alone confront a superior capable of ending her life in an instant and trust subordinates fully.
Her composure had nothing to do with the mission—it was personal.
"Feeling upset?" Mei asked softly. Kita shook her head, smiling, thinking of Yagura and his words.
Yagura had said that the era soon to belong to Mei should have a stable internal structure; she would lead a new age.
——Not exactly, just feeling lucky to meet you.
"I'd say the same—I'm lucky to know you."
Mei's gaze was soft, warm, like sunlight.
"That line was very touching."
——Which line?
"The one about Uchiha Madara." Mei laughed, placing a long, gentle hand on Kita's face. As Kita tried to pull away, Mei stepped past her, striding toward the Mizukage building. She waved over her shoulder:
"I've changed my mind again."
Kita was bewildered.
Overall, the Kaguya clan's strength was formidable, particularly their Bone Pulse technique. Yet against Hozuki Mangetsu, it was insufficient. Not annihilating the entire clan spared effort, but it was clear why the Fourth Mizukage wanted Mangetsu eliminated. If Mei ascended and Mangetsu retained his power, a new coup could split the Mist Village.
Should we leave Mangetsu as a threat? Nah—if he joined Akatsuki, it would be trouble.
Kita's mission: ensure Hozuki Mangetsu did not return alive. After the clan's decimation, Mangetsu could not match her, even at full strength. She finished the task swiftly—boom—a lightning blade pierced his heart, staining the water red.
For the remaining Hozuki Mangetsu Party, Kita showed mercy. Several talismans shot from her sleeve, embedding in their hearts, turning them into her puppets.
"Can I have the body?"
A familiar hoarse voice sounded behind her. Kita looked up—it was Orochimaru, dressed in a kimono.
"Nice clothes."
He was feigning civility to acquire Mangetsu's body.
——No. This is the Mizukage's mission.
"Helping out in the Kirigakure Village?"
——Private work. The leader doesn't know.
Orochimaru let the body go, adding: "Thanks. You saved me a big hassle."
——You're welcome. Not fetching your little boy?
"I will. Did you enjoy the sake I sent?" Kita admitted Orochimaru was unusually talkative today.
——It was fine; we shared it.
"I'll send more if you like. Nothing special."
——Need my help with anything?
"Yes. I researched something fun that greatly boosts chakra. Interested?"
——No.
"Change your mind. Survival rate is 10%, but I believe you'll succeed."
——Then why seek me out?
"To confirm my hypothesis."
Kita smirked. Orochimaru went off to the Kaguya territory.
She selected the strongest corpse from the clan and sealed it in a scroll. The seven surviving Hozuki Mangetsu Party members carried Mangetsu's body. Thanks to her jutsu, her Mist Village agents remained hidden. Kita decided to give Orochimaru a little gift.
As she moved forward, something caught her eye—a tree.
The tree itself wasn't unusual, but its exposed roots resembled a human figure.
She slashed with her blade. The whole tree uprooted, revealing intact roots.
Wait, can a human brain grow a tree?
Kita touched the root fused with a man. Pale skin, bald, merged with the tree at the forehead. Hard body, almost wooden.
Was it a tree shaped like a human or a human like a tree? Kita was puzzled.
Naked, limbs turned to wood, only rough contours remaining. No hair, eyes, or genitals; short thorns dotted the body, soft like wooden bark. Kita swung her blade, cutting off one arm—the sound of wood hitting the ground resonated.
"Still not leaving?"
Orochimaru appeared with a small boy in tow. Kita glanced back; the boy had white hair and delicate features, beckoning to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru approached, noticing what Kita saw.
"What is that?"
——Dug up here. Interested?
The boy looked confused; Orochimaru nodded.
——Take it.
Two scrolls went to Orochimaru; Kita kept the severed arm. Orochimaru was pleased.
"I'll send two more bottles later."
——Three?
"Also that arm."
——Forget it. Two bottles will do.
Kita swiftly confirmed and departed for the Mist Village.
━━━━ ❖ ━━━
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