Chapter 74: The Bloodline Rebellion! Kaguya, Strike Down the Mizukage!
With her trademark red-brown, flowing hair, emerald-green eyes, and beautiful, refined features, Mei was already turning heads at fourteen. In a few years, she'd be as striking as Tsunade, Hinata, and Samui—the top-tier beauties.
At the sight of Kazuya standing by the window, Mei's gaze quivered slightly.
Fear.
The last time they met, she'd narrowly escaped death at Kazuya's hands. Since then, she'd heard rumors of his terrifying feats, making her nervous at the very sight of him.
"Captain Yohara," Mei steadied her nerves, speaking formally. "Under orders from Lord Mizukage, I'll be overseeing your stay in the Mist Village. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to inform me. I'll be staying in the estate next door."
"Oh, and…"
"The guards outside are Mist ANBU, here to ensure your safety. Please, try not to misunderstand."
"Understood," Kazuya replied with a nod. "Thank you."
Mei smiled. "Anything for the sake of friendship between the Mist Village and Konoha."
From her tone… he sounded rather handsome.
Mei was curious, but the mask hid Kazuya's face, so she couldn't see him. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she excused herself and left.
"A bit strange…"
After Mei's departure, Shisui commented, "It's odd seeing the usually ruthless Mist ninjas acting so friendly. It's bizarre."
Kazuya smiled. "That's the power of 'leading by example.' Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, is indeed a wise man."
"He understands that the Mist Village would only head toward ruin if it continued its bloody policies."
"Leading by example?" Shisui asked, puzzled. "What do you mean by that, Senior Kazuya?"
Without skipping a beat, Kazuya replied, "Leading by example means that the lower ranks tend to unconsciously imitate the behavior of their superiors."
"Look at the Mist Village. The Third Mizukage was bloodthirsty and volatile, encouraging his men to be the same, giving rise to the Bloody Mist policy. Soon, the entire Mist Village turned mad."
"But this Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, seems more inclined toward diplomacy. Now that he's in charge, the Mist Village's atmosphere has lightened. With time, this approach might even restore the Mist Village's strength."
Shisui nodded slowly, only half-understanding, but Itachi's expression was thoughtful.
Leading by example…
The tension between the village and the Uchiha clan had been escalating lately. Could this be part of the problem?
As Kazuya suggested, if the village and Uchiha leaders were like Yagura—open to diplomacy—might things take a better turn?
Itachi's eyes suddenly brightened.
For the first time, he glimpsed a new path forward.
The following day, in the Hidden Mist Village, within the Water Shadow Building's meeting room.
Across a round table, Kazuya sat facing the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. Behind him stood Shisui and Itachi, both dressed in ANBU attire.
"Captain Yohara," Yagura began kindly, "we in the Mist Village hold high hopes for peace, so please convey our wishes clearly to Lord Hokage."
"Certainly," Kazuya replied with a smile.
[You collected 200 Chakra Points]
[You've picked up 200 chakra points]
[You've picked up 100 combat experience points]
[You've picked up 100 water-style affinity points]
[You've picked up 50 water-style affinity points]
…
As they chatted, waves of golden energy continually flowed into Kazuya's body.
No wonder he's the Fourth Mizukage!
The quality of this energy even surpasses that of the aging Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If he could engage him in battle, the quality of that golden energy would be explosive!
Just then, while Kazuya was itching for a chance to squeeze more golden energy out of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The meeting room's walls suddenly shattered.
In an instant, fragments and dust filled the air.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Figures rushed in through the broken walls.
"For the Third Lord, kill Yagura!"
"For the Mist Village!"
"For the Kaguya Clan!"
"Attack!"
Several powerful chakra signatures erupted in the hall.
"Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!"
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
"Needle Senbon!"
The attackers who had burst through the wall immediately clashed with the Fourth Mizukage Yagura and his guards.
Swish!
In a flash of white light, Kazuya retreated from the battle's center.
Standing atop a high tower, he gazed down at the chaotic scene below.
Several attackers in white robes, with strange hairstyles and twin red dots on their foreheads, were surrounding the Fourth Mizukage Yagura and his guards.
[You've picked up 300 chakra points]
[You've picked up 300 chakra points]
[You've picked up 200 combat experience points]
[You've picked up 50 water-style affinity points]
[You've picked up 100 water-style affinity points]
[You've picked up 100 Water Style: Water Formation Wall skill experience points]
[You've picked up 200 Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu skill experience points]
…
Golden lights of high quality continuously shot out of the room. The high energy levels indicated that all the ninjas in the fray were top-tier.
"The Shikotsumyaku…"
"Kaguya Clan shinobi?"
Kazuya's eyes lit up with surprise and delight.
He'd just been pondering how to harvest more high-quality golden energy from Yagura, and now the Kaguya Clan had directly attacked the meeting!
It seems the bloodline clans of the Mist Village rebellion have already begun.
And the Kaguya Clan… they've got guts!
Boldly attacking the Mizukage in broad daylight—now that's courage!
"Good luck, Kaguya warriors! Fight hard! Today's the day—don't stop until you've killed the Mizukage!"
Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions shook the building.
The Mist Village's central Mizukage Tower began to collapse amid the thunderous blasts!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Dozens of figures emerged from the tower's debris.
Mist Village elders who had joined the meeting were being fiercely pursued by Kaguya Clan ninjas.
Particularly around the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, five shinobi were targeting him alone.
One figure, radiating intense power, seemed to be the leader of the assassins.
"Kaguya Tenkyo!"
Yagura's voice was cold: "So the Kaguya Clan is rebellious. The village cannot tolerate you any longer!"
"Hah!"
The man known as Kaguya Tenkyo, covered in bony spikes, sneered menacingly. "Yagura, you know full well what you've done since coming to power. The major clans in this village can no longer stand you."
"So go ahead and die!"
"Kill him!"
"Attack!"
"For the Kaguya Clan!"
"Charge with the clan leader!"
The four Kaguya shinobi who were also targeting the Mizukage charged forward with a battle cry.
Those skilled enough to target the Mizukage were, of course, elite fighters—each at least at the Jonin level.
And with Kaguya Tenkyo, their clan leader, on the front lines, even the Fourth Mizukage Yagura's situation was beginning to look grim.
"Protect Lord Mizukage!"
"Hurry!"
"Where's the Anbu? Join me—take down these Kaguya traitors!"
Finally, the surrounding Mist Village ninjas realized the urgency, surging forward to guard the Mizukage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Camellia!"
Bones sprouted from Kaguya Tenkyo's body, whirling around him like a deadly meat grinder as he bore down on the Fourth Mizukage Yagura.
The Shikotsumyaku!
One of the deadliest close-combat kekkei genkai!
Its fearsome power would later allow Kimimaro, an Edo Tensei, to wreak havoc on the Allied Shinobi Forces.
And now…
It was Kaguya Tenkyo, the Kaguya Clan's strongest fighter, wielding it!
The killing power was so intense that even the Fourth Mizukage Yagura didn't dare to let his guard down!
His path left a trail of destruction, the buildings along his path collapsing into rubble!
Countless white bones glimmered, emanating a chilling aura.
In no time, over 200 Kaguya ninjas gathered near the Mizukage's office.
"Attack!"
The 200 Shikotsumyaku users had become a frightening force, creating a nightmare on the battlefield.
The Mist Village ninjas immediately began to suffer huge losses.
The chaotic melee continued, blood flying everywhere—turning the scene into a horrifying spectacle.
Yet, at a distance, Kazuya watched with a satisfied smile.
"Yes! Don't hold back!"
"Push Mist Village to the brink of extinction—nobody leaves until it's annihilated!"
…