Mist

The three of them headed east, advancing rapidly. A few days later, they reached the border of the Land of Fire. At the ferry, Konoha's ninjas had prepared a boat for their journey. 

The waterway from the Land of Fire to the Land of Water was long. Walking on water would have drained the chakra of Shisui and Itachi, leaving only Kazuya unaffected. To avoid such a predicament, they opted for the boat.

The sea was rough, but the boat pressed on. About half a day later, they passed a desolate island—once the prosperous Land of Whirlpools, now a silent graveyard. The Uzumaki clan, once thriving, had been wiped out during the war.

"Look at that deserted island," Kazuya sighed. "When the power of protection ceases to exist, not only does the village fall, but the entire country perishes."

"Yes," Shisui agreed. "Ninja villages are the backbone of their countries. If the village falls into chaos, so does the nation. You see things clearly, Kazuya-senpai."

"Heh," Kazuya chuckled. "That's why we must protect our village. Only then can our families, comrades, and future generations live in peace."

Uchiha Itachi pondered these words, thoughtful and silent. Kazuya knew his words weren't just idle talk—they were meant to guide these two Uchiha prodigies.

They sailed for three days before finally reaching the Land of Water.

"Kazuya-senpai, there's the Land of Water," Shisui pointed to the distant shore. He had fought against Mist Shinobi at the end of the Third Great Ninja War and was familiar with the terrain.

Kazuya's mind wandered to Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in the Mist. He wondered if the Kaguya clan, where Kimimaro hailed from, had already been wiped out. Kirigakure held many treasures: the Kaguya clan, the Hozuki clan, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Hoshigaki Kisame, and the future Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei. Kazuya looked forward to the potential gains from their encounter.

Although the land seemed close, it took several more hours for the boat to dock. The three stepped onto the shore, where a dozen Mist Shinobi awaited them. 

The leader, a tall and muscular man with long orange hair and sharp teeth, stood out. His aggressive demeanor was unmistakable.

"Ah," Kazuya smirked dismissively. "The demon of the Hidden Mist, Juzo Biwa. Who are you trying to scare?"

Juzo Biwa, the infamous swordsman of the Mist, seemed unimpressed by Kazuya's nonchalance. The other ninjas were mostly unknown to Kazuya, likely minor characters. However, he did recognize two of them: Ao, with his distinctive white eye, and Terumi Mei, the future Fifth Mizukage.

[You picked up 100 Chakra points]

[You picked up 100 Chakra points]

[You picked up 50 combat experience points]

[You picked up 30 points of Water Style talent]

[You picked up 20 points of Water Style talent]

As they disembarked, clusters of golden light flew towards Kazuya, signaling the power he had just acquired.

Juzo Biwa approached with a strange, kind smile on his fierce face. "Welcome to the Land of Water, Konoha emissaries. I am Juzo Biwa of Kirigakure's Intelligence Department."

Uchiha Itachi and Shisui exchanged puzzled glances. The greeting felt odd, like a killer gently singing a lullaby.

"Konoha Anbu Captain, Nohara Kazuya," Kazuya introduced himself with a smile. 

The high-level negotiations seemed to have gone well, as the typically hostile Mist Shinobi were unexpectedly cordial. Kazuya suspected internal strife or a shaky position for Fourth Mizukage Yagura.

The Mist Shinobi ninjas' faces changed upon hearing Kazuya's name. They recognized him as the Anbu captain who had defeated two Cloud Shinobi Jinchuriki.

Terumi Mei's eyes showed a flicker of panic. She remembered him from their encounter in the Land of Fire, where he nearly killed her.

Despite their inner turmoil, the Mist Shinobi maintained their composure.

"Please, follow me," Juzo Biwa said.

"Of course," Kazuya nodded, leading his team towards Kirigakure.

Shisui's expression was one of awe. He had never seen the brutal Mist Shinobi so docile. Itachi remained impassive, but Shisui thought, "As expected of Kazuya-senpai. His presence alone can change the demeanor of even the fiercest warriors."

They entered Kirigakure, a village perpetually shrouded in mist and rain. The high moisture content in the air was conducive to Water Style jutsu, which explained why few foreign ninjas could infiltrate it.

The villagers and ninjas of Kirigakure wore relaxed, happy smiles, a stark contrast to Kazuya's expectations.

"Fourth Mizukage Yagura, you do have some skills," Kazuya mused, looking out at the mist-covered village.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of their manor. Before Kazuya could respond, Shisui opened it.

A familiar figure walked into the room.