Faced with Uchiha Obito's icy words, Yagura Karatachi said nothing more. He simply replied, "Yes," and left in silence.
Uchiha Obito watched Yagura Karatachi's retreating figure with a sneer.
He knew very well that Yagura's true consciousness was still awake—fully aware of everything happening outside, yet utterly powerless to intervene. All he could do was watch as events unfolded, forced to personally carry out policies that ravaged the Hidden Mist Village, forced to watch himself drive away the very talents that should have belonged to Kirigakure.
---
Yagura Karatachi's Inner World
Tears covered Yagura Karatachi's face.
He had lost count of how many times he had cried.
As the Fourth Mizukage, he should have been the guardian of the Hidden Mist Village, the one who protected its people. Yet reality was the complete opposite.
After sealing the Three-Tails, Isobu, within his body, he had been full of ambition, ready to sharpen his blade and lead the village toward greatness.
Then Uchiha Obito appeared.
That strange intangibility rendered all of Yagura's attacks meaningless. Obito approached him calmly, activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, and with a single glance, imprisoned him in this world.
Yagura could hear everything.
He could see everything.
He could sense everything.
Yet he could do nothing.
All he could do was rage helplessly within this space.
The Three-Tails, Isobu, had advised him countless times not to waste his strength. This was the Mangekyō Sharingan of the Uchiha—an ocular power capable of enslaving even tailed beasts, let alone a human.
Even the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of them all, could not escape such control. How could Yagura possibly hope to?
At first, he struggled endlessly.
He refused to believe it.
Refused to believe a genjutsu could be this absolute.
Refused to believe that he, the Fourth Mizukage, could not even break an illusion.
Isobu only glanced at him, shook its head, and went back to sleep.
Ignorance truly was fearless.
One month.
Two months.
Three months.
Yagura never rested. He tried again and again, but each attempt was like a stone thrown into the sea—ripples at first, then nothing.
In the end, he gave up.
He lay motionless in his inner world, expressionless, watching Hidden Mist shinobi slaughter one another during the Bloody Mist era.
Silent tears slid down his face.
---
"Lord Mizukage?" a guard asked hesitantly. "Is something wrong?"
Yagura snapped back to reality.
"Has Ibara Kumaji's family been dealt with?" His voice was cold, carrying a chilling intent.
The guard nodded. "Everything has been handled. Not even an earthworm was spared."
As he spoke, a twisted smile appeared on his face—one of satisfaction.
Yagura's expression eased slightly. He nodded.
"Very good. Also, list Mei Terumī, Genji, Ao, and the others as rogue ninja."
"Mei Terumī and Genji are to be classified as S-rank. Kill on sight. No need to take them alive. The bounty is two hundred million. I want results—dead or alive."
The guard froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "Understood! I'll see to it immediately!"
As the guard turned to leave, Yagura gave him a long, complex look—emotions he himself could not clearly name surging in his chest.
Once outside, the guard's warped smile faded, replaced by conflicted hesitation.
"I hope Lord Mei Terumī… can make it out safely."
He walked to a secluded spot and whistled softly.
A gyrfalcon descended, wings beating as it landed. The guard tied a small slip of paper to its leg and released it.
The bird had flown barely three seconds when a cold voice rang out:
"Water Release: Water Gun Technique."
A jet of water pierced the air.
The gyrfalcon was struck and fell.
A pale hand caught it midair and crushed it.
"Akiyama Rin," Yagura Karatachi said indifferently, "what are you doing here?"
The man stiffened, his face turning deathly pale.
So… he had already been suspected.
With a bitter laugh, Akiyama Rin pulled a kunai from his pouch and thrust it toward his own throat.
A hand seized his wrist.
He froze, then looked up—only to see his own Water Mirror clone holding him back.
He smiled weakly. "Lord Mizukage… do whatever you want. Since I've fallen into your hands, I have nothing to say. Just… make it quick."
He knew he would die today. No ruler would tolerate a traitor.
"From the moment they withdrew early, I knew there was a mole beside me," Yagura said quietly. "I just never thought it would be you."
Akiyama Rin laughed bitterly.
"Lord Mizukage, are you really still the Mizukage now? Look at the villagers under your rule—starving, skin and bones. You see it all and ignore it."
"You extort endlessly in the name of military funds. If it were truly for the army, that would be one thing—but the Twelve Mist Camps haven't replaced their ninja tools in three years."
"Even their armor is patched. So tell me—where did all that money go?"
Yagura said nothing.
Veins bulged on his right hand, killing intent surging in his eyes.
Knowing death was inevitable, Akiyama Rin sneered.
"You're no longer the man who stepped up in a time of crisis, determined to change the fate of the Hidden Mist Village."
"You're a puppet. A puppet manipulated by someone else. A puppet that feeds on its own people."
"I know I won't survive. And I know the one controlling you can see everything through your eyes."
"So do it."
"Please… let me call you that one last time."
"Lord Mizukage."
He closed his eyes.
Suddenly, Yagura roared.
His left hand shot up and seized his own right arm. His face twisted—half feral, half anguished.
"Get out! Leave! Don't come back!" he shouted. "Go to Mei Terumī! Get out—now!"
At that moment, Yagura was fighting himself.
One voice demanded blood.
The other desperately resisted.
"Lord Mizukage… you're not killing me?" Akiyama Rin asked in disbelief.
He looked closer.
One half of Yagura's face was drenched in tears.
The other burned with murderous intent.
"I can't hold it much longer," Yagura growled.
With his left hand, he hastily formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
The torrent blasted Akiyama Rin away.
He realized he wasn't badly hurt—only forcibly pushed to a safe distance.
The struggle ended.
Yagura Karatachi's expression returned to its usual emptiness.
He glanced once in the direction Akiyama Rin had fled… then turned and walked back into his office.
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