The windows of the Hokage's office reflected the deepening dusk over Konoha, while bright lights had already been lit inside.
Chiya sat behind the spacious desk, his fingertips gliding over scrolls delivered through Root's encrypted channels.
His gaze was calm and swift.
Most of the intelligence concerned routine matters such as border skirmishes, trade route security, or disturbances in some minor countries, which to him were no more noteworthy than reading the daily weather report.
However, when his fingers touched a scroll with slightly worn edges and the distinctive style of the Land of Water, his movements paused.
Chakra flowed through his fingertips, easily dispelling the seal, which was nowhere near the level required to restrict someone of his caliber.
The scroll unfolded, revealing concise information that even carried the uncertainty of a rumor.
Target Area: Eastern waters of the Land of Water, Oki Island (remote and difficult to resupply).
There is a boy on the island whose appearance changes when his emotions become intense, accompanied by immense strength and seemingly uncontrollable behavior, with no memory of what happened afterward.
The characteristics are highly consistent with a suspected outbreak of natural energy.
Abnormal beast roars have occasionally been heard in the surrounding waters, while the vegetation grows in ways that defy common sense.
Assessment: The information comes from indirect sources and requires verification, but the described characteristics are potentially consistent with the target, Jugo.
Recommendation: Dispatch an elite team for preliminary contact and confirmation.
'Looks like it's Jugo...'
A barely perceptible glint flashed through Chiya's deep eyes.
He had previously issued orders to keep watch for individuals with unusual characteristics, especially those connected to natural energy.
The power of Sage Jutsu was an essential piece of his future power puzzle, while someone like Jugo, who was naturally capable of resonating with natural energy, was undoubtedly valuable.
Perhaps he could even become a key to unlocking the deeper mysteries of that power.
He simply had not expected the trail to lead to the Land of Water, especially at such a sensitive time.
He then pulled out another scroll from the ones he had just received.
Its contents concerned the unrest within the Land of Water, specifically the Hidden Mist Village.
The major bloodline-limit ninja clans had been oppressed for far too long, and they were probably already on the verge of erupting.
Chiya pondered for a moment, his fingertips lightly tapping against the smooth surface of the desk.
Oki Island was located in a remote part of the Land of Water, and the intelligence surrounding it was vague.
Sending ordinary ANBU would not only be inefficient, but mishandling the situation could also alert the target or even cause an unnecessary international dispute.
Orochimaru would have been the ideal person to handle this kind of matter, but he was currently obsessed with his experiments while working through the research materials in his possession.
Chiya raised his eyes and looked toward Mei Terumi, who was quietly standing in the shadows at the corner of the office.
She was lowering her head as she organized a stack of documents waiting for his approval.
The light softened her profile, but there was a faint crease between her brows, and every so often, her unfocused gaze drifted toward the window.
"Mei Terumi."
Chiya's voice broke the silence of the room.
It was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
Mei immediately raised her head, quickly suppressing her emotions before respectfully responding.
"Hokage-sama, what are your orders?"
She quickly walked forward, her demeanor impeccable.
Her figure also seemed to be slowly developing.
After all, in Konoha, especially under Mikoto's excellent cooking, she was able to eat her fill every day.
At this point, Mei was already beginning to develop the makings of the mature woman she would become in her previous life.
Chiya gently pushed the scroll concerning Jugo toward the edge of the desk.
"Make preparations. Tomorrow morning, accompany me out of the village on a mission."
Mei was slightly stunned.
She stepped forward, accepted the scroll with both hands, and quickly read through it, a trace of surprise appearing in her eyes.
They were looking for a boy suspected of possessing a special physique?
The mission sounded rather unconventional.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. What is the destination?"
"The Land of Water. The eastern waters. Oki Island."
Chiya's voice remained calm.
"The Land of Water..."
Those words caused Mei's heart to clench.
It was as though a huge stone had been thrown into a lake, creating countless ripples.
She forcibly suppressed the excitement surging within her.
The Land of Water was her homeland.
She had been away for so long, and deep down, she had already been longing to return and see it.
Mei quickly lowered her head and replied.
"Yes, I understand. I will immediately prepare the itinerary, necessary supplies, and identities."
She tried her best to keep her voice steady, but Chiya still caught the faint tremor in it.
"Mm."
Chiya said no more and pressed an inconspicuous communication device at the corner of his desk.
A moment later, the office door was gently pushed open, and three figures entered one after another.
They were the three core members of the cabinet currently assisting Chiya with Konoha's daily affairs: Shikaku Nara, Minato Namikaze, and Teuchi.
However, since Teuchi normally had to run his restaurant, he did not spend much time here.
They would only consult him about matters concerning ordinary villagers.
Routine ninja missions and similar affairs were handled without involving him.
"Hokage-sama."
The three greeted him in unison, their manner respectful.
Chiya's gaze swept over them as he spoke concisely.
"I have important business that requires me to leave the village for a while. My return date is uncertain. During my absence, the three of you will jointly discuss and decide Konoha's daily affairs. You may handle routine matters yourselves. If you encounter anything major, urgent, or contentious, record the details and wait for my return before making a final decision."
Shikaku was the first to respond calmly, his voice carrying a reassuring composure.
"Understood, Hokage-sama. Please leave without worry. We will ensure the village continues to operate smoothly."
Minato's smile remained unchanged, but his tone was especially serious.
"I will keep a close watch on the village's defense system. There will be no oversights."
The Flying Thunder God Technique gave him the ability to respond to most sudden threats.
Teuchi appeared somewhat nervous, but his eyes were resolute.
"Hokage-sama, I will make sure to visit the villagers regularly and ensure their lives are not affected. If any problems arise, I will discuss them with Mr. Shikaku and Jonin Minato."
He knew the responsibility resting on his shoulders.
Chiya was quite satisfied with the combination of abilities the three possessed.
This was also the foundation that gave him the authority to leave the village temporarily.
"Good. I will leave Konoha in your hands for now."
The next morning, before dawn had broken, a thin mist covered Konoha.
Chiya changed into an inconspicuous dark-gray travel outfit and wore a large cloak over it.
The brim of the hood concealed his distinctive face and hairstyle, while the ceremonial Hokage robes symbolizing his authority were left behind at the residence.
Mei was also ready.
She wore a dark-blue outfit suited for movement, concealing her graceful figure as much as possible.
Her long hair was tied up, and she wore a wide-brimmed travel hat.
She had also applied simple makeup to disguise her appearance and soften her naturally alluring features.
Without alerting anyone, the two silently left Konoha like shadows merging into the morning mist and hurried eastward along the road.
At first, after leaving the borders of the Land of Fire, the differences in the environment were not particularly noticeable.
But as they went deeper, the changes gradually became more pronounced.
The fertile plains, dense and orderly forests, and well-maintained roads of the Land of Fire were gradually replaced by the scenery characteristic of the Land of Water.
The roads became muddy, while rolling hills covered in dense moisture stretched on both sides.
The air was constantly saturated with a sticky mixture of dampness, rotting vegetation, and the salty smell of the sea.
The sky also seemed perpetually gray, with sunlight struggling to penetrate the thick clouds.
"The roads here... are still this difficult to travel."
Mei could not help muttering, her voice carrying a faint bitterness.
Ever since arriving in the Land of Fire, she had memorized information about various parts of Konoha.
The Land of Fire truly deserved its reputation as the wealthiest of the great nations.
Its roads were all properly maintained.
Compared with the Land of Water, it was far more developed and placed considerably more emphasis on the quality of everyday life.
Chiya's eyes swept across the small villages along the way.
Most consisted of low, dilapidated wooden houses or thatched huts.
The villagers were dressed in tattered clothes, their faces pale and thin.
When they saw the two unfamiliar travelers, their eyes were filled with numbness, vigilance, and even a trace of fear.
Some hurried back into their homes, while others quickened their pace to leave.
The crops in the fields were sparse and appeared poorly tended.
"It seems the Land of Water is not being governed very well."
Chiya stated it plainly, without revealing any emotion.
Mei bit her lip but did not argue.
She could not defend a village that was deteriorating with every passing day.
Before long, they entered the eastern coastal region of the Land of Water.
The atmosphere here was even more oppressive.
Patrolling teams of Mist shinobi appeared with noticeably greater frequency.
They hurried from place to place, exhaustion and tension written plainly across their faces.
"Has something happened to the village? Why are they on such high alert?"
Concern appeared in Mei's eyes.
How could she fail to notice the tension in those shinobi?
Their eyes beneath their forehead protectors were as sharp as an eagle's, scanning every passing traveler.
There was also little trust in the way they communicated with one another.
They looked more like a group of temporary soldiers forced together than a cohesive team.
After once again circling around a mist-covered swamp, they unexpectedly encountered a five-man Mist patrol.
This group of shinobi was clearly more experienced and immediately noticed that something about Chiya and Mei was unusual.
"Stop!"
The scar-faced Mist Chunin in the lead shouted sternly, his hand already gripping a kunai.
"Who are you? Where are you from? Show us your travel permits!"
The four men behind him quickly spread out and formed a battle formation, faint killing intent locking onto the two travelers.
Mei's heart tightened.
She was just about to follow the story they had prepared, pretending they were medicine merchants from the north.
However, Chiya stepped forward half a pace.
Within the shadow of his cloak, the pattern of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan flashed across his deep eyes.
Genjutsu. Sharingan!
He did not even need to use the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
For these Chunin, merely possessing eyes capable of seeing through the human heart was already an irresistible form of absolute domination.
The five Mist shinobi instantly lost focus.
Their eyes became empty and vacant.
They maintained their defensive postures, yet looked like puppets controlled by invisible strings.
Chiya's voice was not loud, but it carried a force that seemed to reach directly into their souls.
"What has happened in the Hidden Mist Village recently? Why is security so tight everywhere? Where is the Third Mizukage now?"
The scar-faced Chunin's lips moved mechanically, his voice stiff and emotionless.
"The Kaguya... those madmen of the Kaguya clan... they rebelled...
"They suddenly launched an attack this morning...
"The village... the village is in complete chaos..."
"Where is the Third Mizukage?!"
Mei could no longer restrain herself.
She hurried forward and questioned them, her voice trembling.
Another shinobi under the effects of the genjutsu answered blankly.
"The Mizukage... has disappeared...
"No one saw him...
"Some say he was assassinated by the Kaguya clan...
"Others say he... he is already dead..."
"The Kaguya clan rebelled! The Mizukage has disappeared?!"
Mei looked as though she had been struck by lightning.
Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her body swayed as she nearly lost her balance.
Those Kaguya madmen, who knew nothing but fighting and destruction and had muscles where their brains should have been, had indeed dragged the village into the depths of civil war!
And now the Hidden Mist Village...
She did not dare imagine what kind of devastation awaited her.
Immense panic, anger, and concern for the fate of her village instantly overwhelmed her.
The mission, Oki Island, Jugo, all of it was thrown to the back of her mind.
She had to return immediately!
She had to return to the Hidden Mist Village that had raised her, the village she had sworn to change!
"Hokage-sama!"
Mei suddenly turned toward Chiya.
The emerald-green eyes that had begun to develop a hint of mature allure were now filled with bloodshot desperation and pleading.
Her voice was choked with tears.
"I'm sorry! Can the mission... can the mission be postponed? I have to return to the Hidden Mist Village! I have to go back! Please!"
Chiya quietly looked at her.
He saw the pain and determination that were almost overflowing from her eyes.
He remained silent for several seconds.
To Mei, those few seconds felt like an eternity.
"All right."
Chiya finally spoke, his voice still calm.
"We'll go to the Hidden Mist Village first."
He understood Mei's desperate desire to return home.
Furthermore, the scale of the unrest in the Hidden Mist Village and the degree to which it was under control were directly related to the stability of Konoha's eastern border.
He also had reason to personally assess the situation.
Jugo's matter could be dealt with later.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama! Thank you!"
Mei was overcome with gratitude and bowed deeply.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she released her chakra and shot toward the Hidden Mist Village like an arrow leaving a bow.
She did not even bother concealing her movements.
There was only one thought in her mind.
Faster!
A little faster!
Chiya waved his hand and released the genjutsu on the Mist shinobi.
Before they could regain their senses and look around in confusion, unable to understand what had just happened, his figure had already disappeared into the mist.
He followed Mei's rapidly retreating figure at a leisurely pace.
His gaze pierced through the mist toward the Hidden Mist Village, and a calculating glint flashed through his deep eyes.
The Kaguya clan had rebelled...
The Third Mizukage was missing...
The waters were even murkier and more dangerous than he had expected.
Although this sudden development had disrupted his plan to find Jugo, it might also...
Be an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of, and perhaps even influence, the future balance of power in the Land of Water.
After all, a chaotic neighbor was never as reassuring as a controllable one.
The two figures disappeared one after another into the mist-shrouded hills of the Land of Water, where danger lurked everywhere, heading straight toward the Hidden Mist Village as it was being baptized by blood and fire.
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