Chapter – 414 A Puppet Again?

Puff…

"Y…you are… cough-cough!" Suijin muttered in a horrified tone as he looked at the iron hook piercing through his chest and blood dripping from his chest.

Plop…

Unable to stand any longer because of the lack of energy due to being pierced through the chest, Suijin soon collapsed to the ground.

The sudden change of events shocked everyone.

But despite everything, their panicked face soon gained a new light, "Mizukage sama!" everyone shouted in unison and with a respectful tone.

That's right, the one to appear is none other than the Yondaime Mizukage Karatachi Yagura.

Mei asked with confusion, "Mizukage sama you are here?" She did not expect Yagura to show up here. Don't misunderstand her, Mei is certainly glad that Yagura has come to their rescue, but she was confused nonetheless, after all, he should have been in the village, how come he is here?

Yagura looked at Mei, and said faintly, "Although I gave this mission to you as a test to see whether you are ready to take the position of the Mizukage, it's not just a test, capturing Utakata involves the safety of the village. This mission must be completed no matter what."

Mei looked down in disappointment. Yagura's meaning was very clear. Being defeated at the hands of Suijin means that Mei has failed to complete the mission, as such she has failed the test too. And now he has no choice but to complete this mission himself because bringing Utakata back to the village is very important.

However, Terumi Mei soon recovered herself, she is not the kind of person who would pursue self-goals, the betterment, and safety of the village are more important to her than personal glory, so she did not let this setback affect her and nodded.

"Everyone… fear not… no that I am here! I shall ensure that none of the shinobi of my village are harmed in my presence." Yagura declared that as long as he is around, none would be harmed.

For a moment, everyone was left surprised by Yagura's words, and they can't help but look at their current Mizukage in awe.

They can't help but wonder if he is the same Mizukage, who until a few days ago was nothing more than a puppet in the hands of Akatsuki. Because at this moment, his small figure was giving off a lot of power and hope to the collapsed spirit of these shinobi, at this moment to those present here, Yagura seemed the most dependable he has ever been.

Honestly, it was overwhelming and exhilarating, nobody expected him to suddenly appear here, but not only did he comes to their unexpected rescue, he even managed to land a successful hit on Suijin, critically wounding or perhaps even killing Suijin.

When the matter of killing Suijin came, one of them muttered while looking at the corpse of Suijin that was lying lifelessly on the ground at the feet of Mizukage "Is he… is he dead? Did Mizukage sama really manage to kill him?"

Attracted by his question, everyone was out of their thoughts and looked at the corpse of Suijin.

Yagura lifted his club and poked Suijin's corps with it, he wanted to verify whether Suijin was alive or dead. And it seemed that Suijin was indeed dead, as there was no more movement from him.

Yagura nodded in satisfaction, and while everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Yagura asked Ao, "Ao San, are you alright?"

"..." Ao did not reply. Yagura was confused and looked at Ao who had collapsed on the ground. Suijin may have died, but the Ice Cuffs on Ao's hands and feet were still present.

Yagura looked at Ao with a frown, but he wasn't able to because Ao's head was bent downward.

Drip… Drip… Drip… Drip…

In the silent night where not even the sound of the wind was heard, a few drops of liquid fell on the ground. These drops were red in color and dripped down Ao's face.

Ao lifted his head and the sight of an empty right eye socket and blood dripping from it came to light, "Mizukage sama, he managed to gouge out the Byakugan."

As soon as Ao's words fell, a Suijin's corpse, which lay there lifelessly until a second ago turned into a high-pressure geyser and shot out of the ground underneath Yagura's feat. It completely engulfed Yagura inside it, and for a moment it felt as if it would drown the Mizukage inside it.

"Mizukage sama!!!" Everyone exclaimed in worry and shock.

They wanted to help but did not have the strength to do so.

As Ao's charka was still sealed, Chukichi was still a puppet, and Mei was still encased in the Ice Prison.

At this moment, creepy low laughter echoed throughout the valley, "Hahaha…. Ahahahahaha… I finally did it, I managed to take the Mizukage by surprise. Now then, it's time for Amatsukami to take control over Kirigakure, otherwise, there would have been no point in making Kirigakure free from the clutches of Akatsuki! And to do so, we must first make Karatachi Yagura a puppet…"

'Ice Release: Ice Collar of Subordination!'

With Suijin's Jutsu, an ice Collar similar to the one on Chukichi's neck appeared around Yagura's neck.

By the time the Water Geyser that had engulfed Yagura disappeared, Suijin made sure to use one of his most practical Jutsu, 'Ice Collar of Subordination' on Yagura.

Harusame having had the taste of this Jutsu firsthand while facing Chukichi informed others, "Everyone please be careful, this Jutsu makes others into a mindless puppets, there is no telling if the Mizukage sama is still himself or has fallen into Suijin's control."

The 'Ice Collar of Subordination' is a Jutsu that steals away its target's ability to make coherent thoughts, as a result, the subject under the effects of this Jutsu becomes nothing more than a mindless puppet who would follow all of Suijin's command without any question or thoughts.

"What? You are kidding Harusame-san, even Mizukage sama?!" Someone exclaimed in disbelief. Mizukage has already once become a puppet in the hands of Akatsuki, and that has done too many losses to the village. Now, if Yagura was to become a puppet in the hands of Amatsukami too, then there is no telling what would happen to them and to the village.

And looking at those dull eyes of Yagura, those dull pink eyes that seemed to have lost any light of self-consciousness, everyone knew their worst fear has come true, 'He is really fallen into the hands of the enemy!'

"Yagura kun, now come… and kill your former subordinates…" Suijin ordered without making his presence known, "I want you to use Hiramekarei to do this job… after all, it's only fitting if the puppet Mizukage kills his former subordinates using one of the famed swords of Kirigakure."

Yagura did as he was ordered, and with a dull expression, he picked up the separated Hiramekarei lying close to his feet.

"Very Good… now kill all your subordinates, and how about you start with this Lava Release girl?" Suijin said as he appeared behind Mei and after releasing the ice prison entrapping her, he lifted her up in the air by her hair all while instructing Yagura who under his command started to walk towards Terumi Mei.

Mei tried to struggle, but those cuffs that appeared around her hands and feet did not allow her to pose any resistance, so any struggle was futile.

Mei gulped nervously as she looked at Yagura walking toward her step-by-step. Hiramekarei in one hand, and his iron hook in the other. His eyes were dull and lifeless. There were faint signs of struggle on his face, but it seems that Suijin's Jutsu was much more powerful.

She again tried to break free of Suijin's grip but was unable to, and could only helplessly wait for her impending end.

When Yagura had walked to just a distance of two steps away from her, he lifted the hand holding Hiramekarei up, and looking at that sword about to kill her, Mei thought 'Is this the end for me?' Death was only a step away from her, and her face seemed pained, was she afraid of death? No! The Kunoichi named Terumi Mei has never been afraid of death. What she is afraid of is the future that awaits Kirigakure from here on out. 'In the end, I couldn't do anything for the village, huh?' she thought with a saddened expression.

"Any last words girl?" Suijin asked Mei as he traced his cold fingers over Mei's chin.

Mei trembled at that cold touch, it was different than being encased inside the ice prison, the cold this time was not chilly, but rather scary, it frightened her.

There were thousands of things she could have wished for, but when it came down to it, all she could say was, "Mizukage sama… please regain yourself, you are the dignified Mizukage of Kirigakure, not someone's puppet! The village needs you more than ever, you are not allowed to become a puppet in the hands of the enemy!"

Suijin smirked, and said with a mocking tone, "Unfortunately for you girl, your last wish will never come true, the Jutsu I have used on him is my second strongest when it comes to controlling others, no one can break free of it. Even if he is a perfect Jinchuriki he can not break free of it!"

Mei did not speak any further, there was unwillingness in her eyes, 'If only…' countless possibilities raged in her mind, but in the end, she could only close her eyes… accepting her death.

With this action of Mei, Yagura waved Hiramekarei, lopping the head off of his target.

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