Silent Control

"Where is Ao, Mei?" Enkai asked, his tone turning slightly dismissive as they moved out of Chojuro's sight.

"Ao is Inside The Third Mizukage-sama's treatment tent," Mei informed, her voice laced with enthusiasm that momentarily blinded her to Enkai's change. "He will break him free of his genjutsu any minute now, and then, if what you said is true, the treatment of the medic-nins will begin."

They strolled the mountains in the golden hour, the brightening sunlight casting a warm, amber glow over the rugged terrain. Unaware of the subtle transformation in Enkai's demeanor, Mei's excitement bubbled over as she shared the news, her words carrying the hope of imminent relief for her village.

"I see," Enkai nodded, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation. "Then shall we discuss my reward for saving your village, future Mizukage-sama?"

"D-Do we have to?" Mei stuttered, her hesitation as clear as a crystal.

"Why, is there a problem?" Even though his words were passive his mood was not.

Enkai met Mei's gaze, but his eyes, like glaciers, held no warmth, only an icy distance. She swallowed hard as memories of Enkai's fight with Yagura refreshed itself in her mind, her cracking voice barely audible as she continued,

"P-Please, listen. Most of the high-ranked jutsus were meticulously safeguarded in the Mizukage's building, and now that it's reduced to ruins... Of course, we can attempt to restore some of them, but that will take years of effort. There are a handful of high-ranked jutsus that were hidden elsewhere, but their true potential can only be unlocked by exceptionally rare kekkei Genkai users." 

Enkai observed Mei's nervous demeanor, her voice shaky with apprehension. Despite his earlier display of power, he realized he had unintentionally pushed her too far. Softening his expression, he stepped closer, prompting Mei to let out a surprised yelp, anticipating the worst.

"It's okay, I get it. No need to be so scared," he reassured her, his voice gentle and understanding.

His attempt at comfort wasn't just for the negotiation's sake; it was a genuine response to her fear. Enkai, despite his formidable abilities, wasn't a monster. He empathized with Mei's anxiety, having faced his fair share of isolation in the past, albeit in a different context.

In that moment, he saw in her eyes a reflection of the distance he had felt during his years in a wheelchair in his previous life—an outcast in a world bustling with life, where he couldn't partake in the simple pleasures others took for granted. He knew the pain of being on the fringes, the silent isolation that came from being different, and he didn't want to feel it in this life as well, at least not like this.

Mei, still shaken, met his gaze, and for the first time, she sensed something beyond his usual, intimidating aura—a shared understanding, a flicker of empathy. 

Enkai's eyes, once as icy as glaciers, softened with a newfound warmth that didn't seemed anything like the fake smiles Enkai was giving them all this time, bridging the gap between them, if only momentarily. And in that shared moment of vulnerability, Mei found a glimmer of hope, a spark of connection, in the midst of their intense circumstances.

Following the next few instants, they spent their time making small talk, their words dancing in the air like butterflies in the sunlight as they shared smiles together. 

The light of dawn crept over the mountains, casting long shadows as Mei and Enkai continued their conversation, their dynamic now relaxed and familiar.

"Welp, since you can't give me any jutsus, how about a couple of favors as the Mizukage?" Enkai proposed, his tone lighthearted.

Mei, still smiling, feigned mock tiredness. "I am not the Mizukage yet, and look!" She gestured toward the village. "The center of Kiri is gone! We're basically broke right now."

"It's fine, I know you will be fine," Enkai said mysteriously, his confidence unwavering.

"As if," Mei scoffed. "We will have a lot of problems pushing through with this amount of damage. There's also the elders' council who will want to save their own asses while the village is dying, and money... don't even get me started on that."

"Hmm," Enkai scratched his masked chin with his fingers for a while before saying, "You can increase the flow of money in your village by taking advantage of your environment."

"But nothing grows in this harsh land," Mei lamented, her voice a whisper against the wind.

"That doesn't include seafood, does it?" Enkai's gaze flickered with a spark of creativity.

"Seafood? Most people don't like those, and even if they did, catching fish is not easy in these harsh waters, even for experienced fishermen," Mei explained, her doubts still lingering.

Enkai's response was like a beacon of innovative light. "I bet the Chunins can do it. Imagine this: one group constructs a mud wall on land while another controls massive waves of water, crashing it against the wall. The collision forces water back into the sea, trapping fishes on land," he explained, his words carrying the weight of possibility.

"And for those who don't like fish," he continued, a spark of excitement in his eyes, "let me introduce you to the world of seafood people from my homeland used to enjoy. Before I leave, I will teach you all about how to cook crabs, shrimps, clams, swordfishes, and many, many more!" Enkai's words wove a tapestry of culinary delight, painting a future where the village thrived on the bounty of the sea.

Mei, now caught up in the vision Enkai painted, nodded in reluctant agreement. "That's... actually a great idea, but unfortunately, the clan elders will never agree to such an unorthodox idea, believing it is some form of power play or scheme from the Mizukage."

Enkai's smile widened, his confidence unwavering. "Then you just have to control the clan elders," he said, as if suggesting a simple task.

He continued, "If you can't be with them, then be against them. Give them small gifts, small favours, this might feel counter intuitive, and I am also sure that they will think that you're scheming something but because they are still recieving things from you they will co-operate with you, and you can use that time to grow."

Mei's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's not that easy. If I gave them small favors and gifts, eventually, the elders would get too greedy and demand bigger favors. When I refuse, they will try to rebel."

A knowing glint sparkled in Enkai's eyes as if he expected her to ask that, "Oh, just that. I think now is the time to explain what I meant when I said, 'If you can't be with them, then be against them'," he said, his voice a soothing melody in the calm surroundings.

"You see, giving them small favors and gifts will not only make them cooperate with you but will also make them united. I want you to spare a bit more effort so that the clans develop a very tight-knit connection, almost like a family. And you will be the strict mother of that family that guides them. When one of those family members starts to have naughty ideas, you can just put them against the rest of the family members, which should shut them up," he concluded, his words painting a portrait of diplomacy and strategy.

As Mei absorbed Enkai's words, she found herself drawn into his vision of unity and resilience, where the village rose like a phoenix from its ashes. The mountains stood silent witnesses, the intensifying sunlight casting a golden glow upon her determined faces, as she prepared to navigate the turbulent waters ahead.

Mei, deep in contemplation about Enkai's vision, heard him speak again, "Anyways, I am sure he will be fine, now let's talk about my favours!"

Mei rolled her eyes at Enkai's remark and shrugged her shoulders, "Speak up, what do you want?"

"Wait a minute," Enkai said, pulling out a piece of paper and a feather brush from his glove. He started writing something on it, placing the paper on top of a rock. After a few minutes, he summoned another piece of paper and wrote something on that too.

When he was done, he unsummoned his feather brush and summoned two envelopes. Slipping the letters inside the envelopes, he turned towards Mei.

"Kiri is known for their speciality in stealth and assassination, right?" Enkai said, wrapping a black string around the white envelopes. Mei noted that they didn't seem to have any definite purpose but looked aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Mei, about to puff out her chest and boast about Kirigakure to answer Enkai's previous question, was interrupted by Enkai, "I will be taking one of my favours from you right now. I want you to deliver these two letters to two people while being as discreet about it as possible."

"Heh, it's just delivering messages? I thought you would have an assassination or infiltration request." Mei chuckled out loud.

"Do not underestimate this mission," Enkai said, looking up to make eye contact before pointing towards the center of Kirigakure. "For if any of the two recipients of those letters manage to trace it back to me, then that black spot won't be the only wasteland in Kirigakure."

Mei, understanding the message, nodded with a serious expression, "When do you want it delivered?"

"I don't care, as long as it's being delivered stealthily," Enkai said with a serious expression.

"Alright," Mei let out a single word of affirmation but it seemed to be enough for Enkai as his face twisted into a small smile.

Then the duo exchanged a few more words before parting their ways.

______

In the tense atmosphere of the treatment tent, Ao stood, his Byakugan activated, providing crucial insight into Yagura's condition. Despite the strict prohibition on civilians and ordinary shinobi, Ao was an exception due to his possession of the Byakugan, which granted him extraordinary senses.

The medic-nins gathered there were on edge. The person who had ensnared the Fourth Mizukage in the genjutsu had also placed a deadly insurance, set to trigger the moment the illusion was dispelled. The tension in the room was almost visible to the naked eye.

Unsettling doubts clouded the minds of the medical ninja. None of them, except Ao, knew the identity of the individual responsible for trapping their Mizukage. The source of their information added to the skepticism, especially since it came from that mysterious figure dressed in black. The air was thick with anticipation and uncertainty as they braced themselves for the critical moment ahead.

As the room prepared for the delicate procedure, one of the elders proficient in fuinjutsu instructed Ao, "Break the genjutsu now, Ao-san."

With a determined nod, Ao took a deep breath, his hands steady as he uttered, "Kai!" The room seemed to hold its breath as his hand made contact with Yagura's chest.

In an instant, the Fourth Mizukage, previously unconscious, jolted awake with a sharp gasp. His eyes darted around the room, confusion etched on his face. "Where am I? ...Ao?"

"Yes, Mizukage-sama," Ao replied, his voice unwavering, his gaze filled with duty and concern.

"What's going on? How long was I out for?" Yagura inquired, misinterpreting the situation, believing he had been in a battle and knocked unconscious as a consequence.

Before Ao could respond, a deafening sound reverberated through the room.

Ba-Dump!

A single, thunderous heartbeat echoed, followed by a spurt of blood that Yagura forcefully expelled. 

"Ah-Ahh!!"

Yagura's scream of agony filled the air as he clutched his chest, clearly in immense pain. Ao, taken aback, stood momentarily paralyzed, unsure of what to do. The medic-nins, however, sprang into action without hesitation.

"AO-san! Tell us what's wrong with his body! Quick!" one of the medic-nins urgently demanded.

Breaking out of his momentary stupor, Ao locked eyes with the medic-nin, his Byakugan activated instantly. His voice urgent, he relayed the dire situation, "It's his heart. There's a hole in his heart. He's bleeding out!"

In the following hours, time seemed to stretch endlessly, making it the longest and most stressful period of Ao's life. The weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air, and it was only after the grueling operation came to an end that Ao and the rest of the medical team collectively exhaled a sigh of relief.

In the aftermath of the operation, Yagura, his pain gradually subsiding, looked at Ao with confusion etched on his tired face. "What is happening here, Ao? I don't remember ever having this kind of injury..." his voice trailed off, uncertain and weary.

"...Do you really not remember?" Ao asked, his internal turmoil evident. 

He understood that Yagura wasn't to blame for his actions, manipulated by a legendary shinobi who once rivaled the god of shinobi, but someone must take responsibility. What should he do, what can he do?

Despite his conflicting emotions, Ao explained the situation, hoping to provide some clarity. As he spoke, he watched Yagura, whose expression resembled a sky clearing after a storm, clouds of confusion dissipating.

Once he finished speaking, he observed Yagura wearing a thoughtful expression. Ao assumed Yagura must be wrestling with self-blame and tried to console him. "Mizukage-sama, please don't be disheartened. It wasn't your fault. Now that you've regained yourself, we can change the village for the better with your help."

However, before their conversation could continue, a voice, as sharp as a sword's edge, cut through the air. "Wait. What do you mean by 'we'? Who said anything about him staying here?" The sudden interruption startled everyone.