The Harbor Defense Captain hurried over at once. When he saw Uchiha Ran's face, a wide smile immediately spread across his own.
"Hokage-sama! I've already prepared the ship for you!"
Uchiha Ran nodded. "Good. So it was you." He remembered now—it was this man who had previously reported that people from the Hidden Mist Village had come to Konoha.
"Yes, yes, that's right, it's me," the captain said with a chuckle. He didn't dare ask where Uchiha Ran was headed. No matter what, the Hokage was the supreme authority of the Village. As a mere harbor defense captain, he was still far removed from Konoha's true upper echelon.
Uchiha Ran laughed lightly. "Since we already know each other, that makes things simpler. Captain, I need a ship—"
Before he could even finish speaking, a large ship was already being brought alongside the pier.
Uchiha Ran paused, momentarily stunned. Was it really this smooth?
At once, the Harbor Defense Captain explained, "Hokage-sama, as soon as I heard you'd come to request a ship, I immediately had one dispatched."
"You're quite thoughtful," Uchiha Ran said, patting him on the shoulder before walking straight toward the ship.
Seeing him approach, the helmsman hurried forward to greet him. The captain had already warned him that the Hokage himself would be boarding and that he was to select the largest vessel and the most experienced crew.
"Welcome, Hokage-sama," the helmsman said with a grin. "This is the best ship in Konoha, and I've been steering vessels for ten years. Wherever you wish to go, I'll get you there without fail."
"Heh, old man," Uchiha Ran replied casually. "Set course for the Hidden Mist Village."
The helmsman visibly shuddered. "Hokage-sama… you truly intend to go there?" he asked solemnly.
"That's right. Why the reaction?" Uchiha Ran raised an eyebrow. "Is the Hidden Mist Village some kind of man-eating place?"
"No, not exactly," the helmsman said with a bitter smile. "It's just… the Hidden Mist isn't peaceful. Any ship that docks there—merchant or otherwise—has to pay three million taels of silver. If you don't, they arrest the crew and torture them for a while before releasing them."
"If I hadn't been transporting high-ranking Konoha officials for negotiations back then, I might've been detained myself."
"Just sail without worry," Uchiha Ran said calmly. "I guarantee your safety."
The helmsman nodded heavily. "With those words from Hokage-sama, even if it means climbing a mountain of blades or plunging into boiling seas, I'll see this through!"
With that, he ordered the crew to set sail.
Soon, the massive ship cut straight toward the Hidden Mist Village. About an hour later, the helmsman approached again.
"Hokage-sama, we're about to reach the pier."
"Good," Uchiha Ran said, opening his eyes. "Find a proper place to dock. If anything happens, come to me."
The helmsman acknowledged and directed the ship in.
Waves slapped rhythmically against the hull as the anchor dropped. The ship settled at the Hidden Mist Village pier.
Boom.
A group of Hidden Mist ninja rushed over, blades drawn and pointed at the helmsman.
"I saw you three years ago," one of them barked. "You should know the rules of the Hidden Mist Village!"
The helmsman said nothing, only turning his gaze toward Uchiha Ran.
Uchiha Ran stepped forward. "What rules? Explain them to me."
"Oh?" The ninja sneered. "Looks like a fat sheep wandered in. Those clothes—fine material. Since you want to know, I'll tell you."
"Any ship that docks here pays tribute. Three million taels per ship. If you don't pay, we charge you with smuggling, seize everyone aboard, and detain them for a month before release."
"What an overbearing rule," Uchiha Ran said with a faint smile. "What if I say this is an official mission ship, and I've come to see the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, Yagura Karatachi? Would you still dare collect money?"
The ninja's arrogance vanished instantly. His body trembled as if struck by frost.
"So… so you're an envoy," he stammered. "Might I ask if you have proof?"
"Proof?" Uchiha Ran replied calmly. "What kind of proof do you want?"
His natural bearing and commanding presence made it instantly clear that he was no ordinary person. The ninja quickly forced a smile.
"Generally, an envoy would carry letters or a token representing their nation…"
Uchiha Ran raised an eyebrow, then pulled an item from his storage scroll and handed it over.
"How about this?"
The ninja accepted it casually—then froze.
"Holy—!"
His face went deathly pale as he stared at the object in his hands.
"A… a Hokage hat?!"
His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees at once.
"Forgive me! Forgive me, Lord Envoy! I was blind and failed to recognize your status! How could we ever dare demand money from someone sent by Hokage-sama?! Please disembark immediately—we'll arrange the finest accommodations for you at once!"
"After informing Lord Mizukage, we'll escort you to meet him personally!"
Cold sweat poured down the ninja's face as he carefully returned the Hokage hat with both hands.
If this had been the Third Hokage, the Hidden Mist might not have been so deferential—perhaps only refraining from collecting money.
But the Fifth Hokage was different.
The tale of Konoha's Fifth Hokage single-handedly suppressing three Villages had already spread throughout the entire Ninja World. Even the isolated Hidden Mist Village had heard of it.
If their carelessness offended Konoha and provoked retaliation, these men wouldn't be able to atone even if they died ten thousand times.
Uchiha Ran had no intention of revealing his identity outright. These low-ranking ninja were useful enough as messengers, making it easier for him to reach the Mizukage.
After all, he had already promised Mei Terumī a complete Hidden Mist Village. Taking the Three-Tails and Six-Tails afterward would leave him without the slightest guilt.
Escorted with forced smiles and excessive caution, Uchiha Ran was led into the Hidden Mist Village. After passing through multiple layers of reporting, the news finally reached Yagura Karatachi.
"A confidant of the Hokage of Konoha has come to the Hidden Mist Village… and wants to see me?" Yagura Karatachi asked coldly.
"Yes, Lord Mizukage," the kneeling ninja replied. "My subordinates personally saw him present a Hokage hat."
Yagura Karatachi slammed his hand onto the table. Instinctively, he wanted to report this to Uchiha Obito—but Obito's earlier command echoed in his mind, telling him to handle matters himself.
His fingers slowly relaxed.
"Arrange for the envoy to meet me immediately."
He turned to prepare for a bath, then suddenly paused.
"No," he said coldly. "Tell me where the envoy is. I'll go see him personally."
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