Kisame, Zabuza, Juzo Biwa! Whitebeard Attacks! (Part 1)
...
Whitebeard, Naruto, Uzumaki Fushi, Karin, Kakashi, Shisui, and Mei Terumi… these seven each harbor their own thoughts.
Whitebeard's aim isn't simply doing a job for money.
As the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, all he does is naturally for the sake of his pirate crew—
And for his family.
Once he learned Kirigakure is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, Whitebeard became restless.
Pirates…
Are born for treasure!
Whether it's that final one hundred million ryo needed to build the Moby Dick, or stockpiling more treasure to develop his old homeland, or leaving a huge inheritance for his sons and daughters… Whitebeard's attention is already fixed on Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
If, before, seizing Kusagakure was only because he disliked seeing someone threaten another's family—so he stepped in heroically once—
Then now, targeting Kirigakure is simply what pirates do.
Naruto, for his part, is brimming with excitement, because it was his suggestion. As the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, he never expected to have so much say in the crew.
His dad actually listened to his idea!
That leaves Naruto deeply moved.
In Konoha, no one ever wanted to hear him, and he was basically a mute presence in the village.
Yet to Dad, his voice is as weighty as a mountain.
Whitebeard didn't ignore his proposal; he even let Naruto make the choice. This act warms Naruto's heart.
For Uzumaki Fushi and Karin, mother and daughter, their thinking is simpler: whatever Dad says, they'll follow without hesitation.
Invading Kirigakure, plundering Kirigakure, taking part in the Kirigakure coup—
In others' eyes, that may be practically suicide.
Who doesn't know the Fourth Mizukage is a perfect Jinchuriki?
They're about to face the power of a major ninja village!
But there's no trace of fear in Fushi or Karin.
No thought of retreat.
Such is the worth of the word "family" in their eyes.
"Shisui, why are you coming along?" Along the road to Kirigakure, Kakashi sighs every few steps, giving Shisui a fish-eyed stare.
Currently, some of Shisui's bandages have been removed. His internal injuries are in much better shape than before.
At least he's no longer a wounded man needing protection.
Shisui can now gather chakra,
And has the power to fight.
"I guess…call it repaying a favor," Shisui answers after thinking a bit. "Whitebeard saved me, so I should repay him somehow. I'm not the sort who forgets kindness."
"Then why are you, Kakashi-senpai, getting involved?" Shisui suddenly asks.
"Do I really need to say it? It's for Naruto," Kakashi rolls his eyes. "You know how important he is to Konoha. Besides…I have a mission from Lord Hokage. If I don't keep Naruto in check, I fail that mission."
"Is that really the only reason?" Shisui muses. "From your behavior, you're not just worried about Uzumaki Naruto. It seems you're worried about others, too."
"…" Kakashi is silent for a moment. Then he denies it three ways. "No, I'm not, I didn't, stop talking nonsense."
Shisui doesn't let it drop, pressing with a soul-searching question: "Kakashi-senpai, are you unwilling to face your own feelings?"
Face his own feelings?
Kakashi stuffs one hand in his pocket, sighing. "Fine, you got me. I'm also worried about Karin, is that enough? After all, she's just a kid. An innocent kid. She's way too young to be wrapped up in this kind of danger."
"No idea what Whitebeard is thinking, bringing such a little girl on a mission like this," Kakashi adds in a low voice, so Whitebeard won't hear.
"Is it only that?" Shisui asks softly. "Kakashi-senpai, from my point of view, you also seem to care about Whitebeard. Why would that be?"
"Hey, hey!" Kakashi jumps. "Don't say that!"
Their conversation is muted.
Walking at the head of the group, Mei Terumi leads Whitebeard toward Kirigakure, mind awhirl.
She never imagined bringing Whitebeard in would turn the entire coup plan into chaos.
Right now, she's anxious and worried. If the coup fails…
What becomes of Kirigakure?
What becomes of the Land of Water?
She and her like-minded companions worked out a detailed plan, but Whitebeard smashed it with a single punch. He wants to run the coup his own way.
What kind of method does a pirate have?
From her limited knowledge, Whitebeard will probably just go about it in some extremely direct manner—charging into Kirigakure with brute force.
He's vetoed her well-crafted plan without any alternative.
Ah, damn!
Of course she regrets it. She's realizing that what she brought in isn't an ally or a strong reinforcement—
She brought in a "master."
"…How will I explain it to them?" Mei murmurs in a daze. She admits she was too young and naive. Her idea was too simple.
Summoning Whitebeard was her suggestion.
She overcame everyone's objections.
She personally made the invitation.
She pulled fifty million ryo out of the coup funds—half the budget—handed it over to Whitebeard.
Even offered him the promise of Kirigakure's entire annual budget.
All that is on her shoulders alone.
If it leads to total defeat, she'll be the sinner of Kirigakure and the Land of Water.
She'll be nailed to the pillar of shame!
"If we fail…" Mei clenches her fists, speaking to herself. "Then maybe the only thing I can do is atone with my death… Yet we had such a complete plan at first…"
"Mist brat!"
Whitebeard's hearty laughter cuts through Mei's depression. "Gurararara! Don't underestimate the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Did he hear me?" Mei is taken aback.
Was her voice that low, and he still heard it?
She laughs awkwardly. "Naturally I trust you, Whitebeard-san, and believe in the Whitebeard Pirates."
Her only comfort: Kakashi and Shisui are around.
If they assist wholeheartedly, maybe they can succeed.
"Whitebeard-san…" Mei hesitates. "Shouldn't we find a safe place to leave the two small children? Do you really plan to bring them into so much danger?"
She's worried that Naruto and Karin, both mere kids, will become Whitebeard's weak spots.
"Hey! Auntie, don't underestimate me!" Naruto protests on the spot, carrying a tall flagpole topped with the Whitebeard Pirates' Jolly Roger.
Naruto yells, "I'm gonna surpass the Hokage! I'm not weak at all!!"
"…Auntie?"
Mei ignores everything else Naruto said.
She only heard that word.
"You little brat, what did you say?!" she hisses, turning to grab Naruto's face.
But…
She grasps at empty air.
He dodged.
"Huh?"
Mei freezes.
She's quite confident in her taijutsu ability. If she grabs someone's face so suddenly, even a Chunin might not evade it.
But this brat got away?
She's astonished.
Was it a coincidence?
"Auntie, I'm really strong!" Naruto's face turns serious. "Even Dad said that with the strength I have now, I could join fights between pirates, or between pirates and navy, at sea."
"You brat! Don't call me Auntie!" Veins bulge on Mei's forehead, and she glows furiously at Naruto.
"I'm only twenty-one! Twenty-one!!!!"
She lunges to grab him, but Naruto, as though sensing her move, steps back.
She misses again.
"You damn kid…"
Mei realizes something's off.
If she can't grab a brat, she's not worthy to be a ninja.
"You really do have something going on," Mei says, eyeing him with curiosity. She figures it must be some unique sensory ability or extraordinary reflex.
So maybe he can't fight an enemy head-on, but at least he can protect himself.
If he doesn't run into large-scale ninjutsu, he should manage.
…
Kisame, Zabuza, Juzo Biwa! Whitebeard Attacks! (Part 2)
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Meanwhile,
Inside Kirigakure—
"Lord Ao, the Fourth Mizukage has recalled many Kirigakure ninja on missions. He may want the entire village's strength to wipe out Whitebeard holed up at the shipyard," a Mist ninja reports to Ao.
"Several hundred have returned already. Along with the ninja in the village, that's over a thousand in total. Of course, Genin won't be participating."
"So the fighting force is likely a few hundred, all at least Chunin-level. And from the Seven Swordsmen, Hoshigaki Kisame is back too," the Mist ninja continues.
"Plus the older generation's Juzo Biwa is also in the village. Looks like the Fourth Mizukage really cares about Whitebeard, spending so long gathering so many people."
"…A big move indeed," Ao remarks, his single uncovered eye gazing into the heavy fog. "Who will act first—the Mizukage or Mei Terumi?"
Ao knows exactly what Mei's been up to these few days—
She went to invite Whitebeard to join them.
If Mei acts sooner than the Mizukage—meaning she warns Whitebeard of the looming threat, Whitebeard can escape death. Then Whitebeard might recognize their sincerity, forming a joint plan for the upcoming coup.
It's not bad, uniting whatever allies they can find.
The only real risk is "human nature"!
Ao worries Whitebeard might pretend to cooperate, only to betray them, leading them into a deadly trap.
After all, he's still a pirate!
"Mei is too naive," Ao sighs. "I hope her choice isn't a mistake, or we're all doomed."
After finishing, he glances at the Mist ninja. "Did they say when the Fourth Mizukage might set out?"
"At most three days, perhaps two," replies the ninja.
…
"Whitebeard, Edward Newgate."
At this stage, Biwa Juzo has yet to betray Kirigakure. He's currently sitting by a river in the village, his massive Executioner's Blade stuck in the ground nearby.
He holds a wanted poster in his hands. "A bounty of a hundred million. The 'Kage' of any Great Ninja Village is about that amount. Tch! That guy summoned us all back, turns out it's to deal with a man like that."
Judging by Juzo's tone, he has no respect for the Fourth Mizukage.
He already harbors rebellious thoughts.
"What do you think, Zabuza?" Juzo flicks the bounty poster. Behind him, a hand grabs it.
Right now, Momochi Zabuza is still Juzo's subordinate. He hasn't become the next wielder of the Executioner's Blade.
Zabuza glances at the poster a few times, then crumples it, saying coldly, "All for some worthless shipyard, summoning us back to go against Whitebeard—someone might think Whitebeard's already broken into the village."
"As a Mizukage, he's forever making outrageous decisions. Risking the lives of the ninja for some shipyard," Zabuza sneers. He also holds no respect for the Fourth Mizukage.
"Mizukage? Long overdue for a change."
His attitude is even more reckless than Juzo's, which is why he'll eventually attempt to assassinate the Mizukage.
"Hahaha," Juzo laughs emptily. "But we're Mist Village ninja, so we have to do as the Mizukage orders."
"That said, once this is done, I'm leaving." Juzo's statement startles Zabuza.
"Leaving?" Zabuza frowns.
Juzo explains, "There's an organization called 'Akatsuki.' A woman named 'Konan' found me. Three months ago, we fought. I lost."
"She wants me to join Akatsuki, giving me half a year to think it over. I've decided."
He throws Zabuza an olive branch: "Zabuza, you're a capable young guy. Want to come with me to Akatsuki? You and I together, even outside Kirigakure, can carve out a future."
"No," Zabuza replies.
Murder gleams in his eyes. "I'll remain in the village. I have something more important to do."
"Oh?" Juzo says. "That kid? He was quite cute. At first I thought he was a girl—until I saw him in the men's latrine. Gave me a start."
Zabuza freezes, turning his face aside. "Hmph! It has nothing to do with him. He's just a killing tool I'm cultivating."
…
Hoshigaki Kisame roams aimlessly in Kirigakure.
His shark-like appearance makes him stand out, even in this village under the Bloody Mist policy.
Strange looks follow him wherever he goes.
But he pays them no mind.
"Been half a year since I've been here…" Kisame carries his "Samehada" blade, wrapped in bandages.
He frowns at the dismal Kirigakure.
"Still no improvement."
Kisame shakes his head.
The entire village seems lifeless. Everyone who passes by wears a numb expression.
Shops on the street have very few goods, and what they do sell is ridiculously expensive, pricey even by shinobi standards.
Most people look malnourished.
It's outrageous.
Who'd believe such a Kirigakure is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages? The Fourth Mizukage's Bloody Mist policy has, in just a few short years, taken countless lives.
"What's with me? I never used to feel confused," Kisame mutters quietly to himself.
For years, he did what a ninja is supposed to do.
Carrying out the village's orders…
He's killed many Mist ninjas.
He's killed many who sneered at him, and also many who were friendly to him. He used to never doubt. He'd assumed if the village said so, they had their reasons.
But as such missions multiplied—
As he killed more comrades,
Kisame began to doubt himself,
And now, the village.
"As a Mist ninja, the mission I've done most is killing my own. So to them, am I their enemy or their ally?"
Unconsciously, Kisame has stopped at a crossroads.
Passersby come and go around him.
"Which way should I go? Where do I stand? What's my real goal? Do I… even have a self? Seems that's why I'm lost."
He stands there, unmoving, until—
"Kisame Hoshigaki!" A sudden voice interrupts his thoughts. Turning, he sees a Mist Anbu.
The Anbu doesn't come too close—
Staying in a spot he believes is out of Kisame's attack range, showing how the village sees Kisame. After all, the man has done many shady deeds: he's killed a lot of his own comrades, even if under orders.
"Mizukage's order—head to the Mizukage Building right now!"
"…Got it," Kisame clicks his tongue and suppresses his stray thoughts. Then casually, he asks, "What's up?"
The Anbu replies, "Whitebeard has shown himself!"
"Huh?" Kisame raises his brows.
The Anbu explains, "We learned Whitebeard has changed direction. He's headed for Kirigakure! His huge frame can't hide. Once our people realized something was off, they came straight here to report to the Mizukage. Now the Mizukage is calling everyone together."
"Interesting." Kisame grins wide, baring pointed teeth.
He strokes the hilt of Samehada and murmurs, "As expected of the man who single handedly destroyed a ninja village—charging into Kirigakure is certainly bold."