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On the field, as Hozuki Suigetsu's words fell.
Terumi Mei's heart tightened, and she glanced at Uchiha Shi.
She bit her lip and immediately shouted, "He has nothing to do with this!"
"Does it matter whether he's involved or not?" Hozuki Suigetsu shook his head, his eyes, dulled by too many killings, coldly glanced over.
"You should know the duty of a Chaser Ninja."
Terumi Mei took a deep breath, her brows furrowed as she looked at Hozuki Suigetsu.
Chaser Ninjas are the most brutal and relentless pursuers of rogue ninjas in the Mist Village, and currently, one of the most formidable forces in the Land of Hot Springs.
Hozuki Suigetsu calmly looked at the two of them and said calmly, "While I don't know why the Third Mizukage ordered the killing of the Kiramei Clan's Jōnin squad leader, Yagura."
"But that's how things are in the Mist Village."
"We are merely tools and pawns for those above us, meant to follow orders."
"That is the purpose of our existence."
Hearing this, Terumi Mei clenched her fists, shook her head, and her gaze turned cold.
"No!"
"That's just the Third Mizukage's way of covering up the truth."
"The bloody elimination system in the Ninja Academy, the terrifying political climate where one wrong word can cost you your life, the utilitarian view that teammates can be discarded for mission efficiency, and the ruthless and cold-blooded pursuit of rogue ninjas—"
"All of this is unreasonable. The ninjas of the Mist Village deserve a better path!"
Hozuki Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, stared at Terumi Mei, and frowned, asking, "So, where is that path?"
"Are you, who claim to uphold 'justice,' any better?"
Hozuki Suigetsu sneered, his voice cold, "Everything you experience as unjust is a result of the Third Mizukage's orders."
"Yes, he is the one who has pushed the Mist Village to the brink of destruction."
Hozuki Suigetsu narrowed his purple eyes and asked, "But what would you do?
"In a village where ninjas fight each other to the death over mission rewards, where missions are scarce and funds are tight, what would you do if you held power?"
Under Hozuki Suigetsu's questioning, Terumi Mei fell silent.
She had no answer.
After the Second Mizukage gambled the nation's fate in the previous Great Shinobi War by fighting the Rock Village, resulting in mutual destruction, the decline of the Mist Village had already begun.
The Daimyō of the Land of Water had no trust in the Third Mizukage.
Since Hozuki Suigetsu's death, he had become suspicious and indecisive, reducing funding year by year and secretly cultivating his own power within the village.
Yagura's Rain Cutter and most of the Bloodline Clans in the Mist Village's Elder Council
had only been able to develop gradually in the cracks with the Daimyō's support.
While the Third Mizukage's actions were excessive, they had, in a way, forced the village to coalesce.
One could even say that, given the current resources, he had done a decent job.
"Unfortunately."
"Any drastic action would cause this rotten village to fall apart."
"All you can do, in the end, is to continue this system, silence everyone, turn a blind eye, and let it rot."
Terumi Mei clenched her fists, her trembling hands revealing her inner turmoil.
Hozuki Suigetsu glanced coldly, then slowly drew his ninjatō from his waist.
"It seems you have no answer."
"You are a tool, a means of communication between the Elder Council and Yagura."
"Tools never need their own thoughts."
"As each other's tools, you won't tell me Yagura's whereabouts."
"And I won't let up in my pursuit to cut off his head."
Hozuki Suigetsu's eyes, already numb, grew even colder.
He asked this question every time before he killed his target.
But unfortunately, no one ever gave him an answer.
In the end, this was a village beyond saving, so why did he keep asking such a foolish question?
---
Terumi Mei watched as Hozuki Suigetsu slowly drew his blade, her pupils constricting, and her whole body trembling.
She had witnessed Hozuki Suigetsu's strength, being from the same village.
He was definitely not an opponent she could face now.
Compared to her, he was a true prodigy, a true 'wonder child.'
But to have her will negated like this, she still felt a deep sense of frustration.
She clenched her fists, her gaze struggling, and argued, "There must be a way to make the Mist Village better."
Terumi Mei couldn't help but recall the words Uchiha Shi had once spoken under the moon, gritting her teeth, "If we don't act, there will be no future!"
"The Elder Council placed their hopes on Yagura for a reason!"
Hozuki Suigetsu shook his head; such words clearly did not sway him.
"I'm sorry, but I need more than just empty words that serve no purpose."
With that, Hozuki Suigetsu transformed into a puddle of water, merging with the ground.
The next moment, he appeared behind Terumi Mei, emerging from a splash of water, and slashed at the girl's neck with his blade!
As the blade approached, Terumi Mei's eyes widened, completely caught off guard.
"How is this possible? So fast?!"
She hadn't seen Hozuki Suigetsu make any movements indicating the use of the Body Flicker Technique!
Just then, Clang!
Sparks flew, a pair of crimson Sharingan eyes lit up, and Uchiha Shi, who had been quietly observing, immediately drew his blade to block.
"Stupid woman, you're hopeless!"
"Standing before you was just a water clone; he had already hidden in the rainwater at your feet."
Uchiha Shi kicked Terumi Mei's small behind, sending her flying.
Then, he locked eyes with the masked Hozuki Suigetsu, a sinister smile on his face.
"Under these eyes, all your movements are laid bare!"
"What prodigy, you're just a despicable coward!"
Hozuki Suigetsu remained silent, this move had indeed been effective.
He would use words to break his opponent's resolve, then strike suddenly.
As a Chaser Ninja, he was an assassin.
Hozuki Suigetsu braced his hand against his blade, the other hand swelling like a balloon, muscles bulging, veins popping, growing to several times its size.
Water Release: Great Water Collar Technique, activated!
He launched a punch, striking Uchiha Shi's smiling face!
Bang!
Uchiha Shi was sent flying.
But Hozuki Suigetsu frowned, feeling that the boy's face was as hard as a diamond.
"Uchiha Shi, you!" Terumi Mei, feeling a hard kick to her behind, stumbled and almost fell flat on her face, turning back to glare in anger.
But she didn't have time to blush, as a black shadow was already flying towards her.
Fortunately, Uchiha Shi, a semi-acrobat, quickly spun in mid-air and landed steadily, though his face, struck by the Great Water Collar Technique, was now swollen.
"He-tui!"
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Uchiha Shi raised his chin, looking at Hozuki Suigetsu across from him, and sneered, "Don't you want an answer?"
"I'll give you one!"
"How to save the Mist Village!"
Hozuki Suigetsu thought the boy's brain had been damaged by the punch, his thoughts turned to mush, and he sneered, "Ridiculous, why would I need an Uchiha to tell me what to do?"
He took a step forward, his foot splashing water, and launched another powerful punch!
However, this punch, stopped in front of Uchiha Shi after his next words.
The wind from the punch was so strong it lifted his hair, Uchiha Shi sneered, looking at Hozuki Suigetsu, who was inches away, and slowly said, "All your words, weren't they just to lure her into giving you an answer that fits your desires, to wait for someone to tell you—"
"You can start now!"
Then, he stared directly into Hozuki Suigetsu's eyes with his crimson Sharingan, the black tomoe spinning, these captivating eyes reflecting Hozuki Suigetsu's eyes behind the mask, as if piercing through the disguise hidden behind the tearful mask, delving deep into his heart, trying to uncover his hidden madness!
"Hozuki Suigetsu,"
Uchiha Shi's lips curled into a demonic smile, tempting him, "The one who most wants to take the king's life, isn't it you, the tool who has devoted yourself to a tyrant?"
"Then why not follow the deepest desire of your heart?"
"Take the first step,"
"Launch a coup, assassinate the Third Mizukage!"
"Reach the future you crave—"
"The Hidden Mist Village in ruins, existing only in your fantasies!"
The next moment, a message appeared before Uchiha Shi, [Hozuki Suigetsu is greatly shocked, thinking your brain has been eaten by a dog.]
---
In the shadows of the hall, an old man and a pale, ghastly creature stared at the battle with expressions of disbelief.
They fell silent.
Upon hearing Uchiha Shi loudly plotting the assassination of the Mizukage in front of a Chaser Ninja loyal to the Third Mizukage, Uchiha Madara almost lost his balance on his cane, his eyebrows raised slightly, he fell silent for a moment, then glanced at the Third Mizukage, who stood behind him like a puppet.
"Hmm, this is quite interesting."
Gently, he requested a follow.
(End of Chapter)