The consciousness, long imprisoned by the ominous eye, returned in the final moments of life.
Yagura Karatachi gazed at the fist that had pierced through his body, instinctively raising his eyes to the pink-haired girl before him.
There was no hatred, no anger, no despair in his gaze.
Only release, peace, and even a trace of gratitude.
As the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, Yagura Karatachi had been manipulated by genjutsu from the very beginning. In these last moments of life, as that ferocious fist tore through his body, his consciousness finally resurfaced.
He opened his mouth, blood and fragments of his innards spilling forth.
Clutching the fist that had run him through, he looked at Sakura.
"Haruno…"
"You've saved… Kirigakure…"
Tsunade and Terumi Mei, who had just arrived, stared in shock at the dying Yagura Karatachi.
What was happening?
The Mizukage, on the verge of death, faced his killer not with hatred or rage, but with an expression of gratitude?
"Mei…"
Perhaps due to his status as a Jinchuriki, even with such a grievous wound, Yagura Karatachi still had time to speak his final words.
His pink eyes locked onto Terumi Mei, who stood beside Tsunade, her expression calm, even cold.
"You've done well…"
"From this moment on… you are the Fifth Mizukage."
Yagura let out a bitter smile.
As the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, he had been a puppet from the day he took office.
What bitter irony. What… incompetence!
Because of him, the bloodline clans of Kirigakure had been wiped out one after another.
The Kaguya clan, the Yuki clan—families with centuries of history—had vanished in just over a decade.
"Haruno…"
Yagura felt his body growing cold, his consciousness fading, and even the Three-Tails within him was beginning to perish.
"You've… saved me…"
Sakura remained unmoved, watching the dying Yagura Karatachi.
"You will step over my corpse and rise to the throne of Hokage."
Yagura's words quickened, his eyes gleaming with sudden clarity, his grip on Sakura's hand tightening with newfound strength.
Sakura knew this was the final flare of life before death.
"We share a common enemy."
"You will sweep away everything, crushing all who stand in your way."
"Go forth, trample over my decayed bones."
"Shatter everything, ascend to the pinnacle, and taste the loneliness that awaits…"
"When you stand alone, with no one by your side."
"The four seas will kneel, and the shinobi world will know peace."
"With absolute power… suppress… everything…"
In his final moments, Yagura seemed to unleash years of suppressed resentment, his eyes blazing red as he stared at the girl before him.
He was done—done with oppression, done with a life under someone else's control.
He placed all his hopes on Sakura, the one who had killed him but also set him free.
This was his freest moment, and his most significant.
Sakura watched as Yagura's life ebbed away completely, pulling her hand from his body.
With her movement, Yagura Karatachi collapsed to the ground.
The Fourth Mizukage, a man both steeped in sin and bound by forces beyond his control, met his end.
You don't need to tell me that.
Sakura silently responded to Yagura's final words in her mind, her bloodied hand gently clenching into a fist.
Terumi Mei looked at the fallen Fourth Mizukage with a complicated expression. In his final moments, she understood.
The Blood Mist policy had never been Yagura's intention—it was the machinations of the one pulling the strings.
The entire village of Kirigakure had been under their control.
Akatsuki…
At that moment, Mei's anger and hatred toward Akatsuki reached its peak.
"Hey, looks like you're the Fifth Mizukage now," Tsunade said, nudging Mei with her elbow.
"It's no longer possible," Mei replied with a sigh.
Her actions in aiding Konoha against Yagura had been witnessed by all. Regardless of the truth, she could never return to Kirigakure.
"Tch, that's a shame," Tsunade said, clicking her tongue.
If Mei had become the Fifth Mizukage, her ties with Konoha would have made the two villages inseparable allies.
Unlike the superficial relationship with Iwagakure.
"What now?" Kakashi asked, looking at Yagura's body, his heart heavy with both shock and sorrow.
It didn't take much thought to know that Akatsuki was behind Kirigakure's manipulation.
"Immediately begin the pursuit of Kirigakure's remaining forces," Sakura said, glancing at Mei before continuing. "Those who surrender live. Those who resist, die. Those who flee, die. Those who act with malice, die."
"Then launch an offensive on Kirigakure. No exceptions, no mercy—those who wage war without authorization will face consequences."
"If they surrender and admit their crimes, have them sign a surrender agreement immediately."
"Follow the terms of the agreement to the letter."
Sakura paused, as if remembering something, and continued, "Oh, and leave this matter to Koharu Utatane, that old hag."
Though she disliked the woman, Sakura had to admit Koharu was a shrewd negotiator.
Tsunade slung an arm around Sakura's shoulders, her tone a mix of exasperation and teasing. "Hey, she's still from the same generation as the old man. Show a little respect, will you?"
"Ugh…" Sakura shot Tsunade a sidelong glance, her lips twitching.
Of all people, Tsunade had the least right to lecture her about respect—she showed none for Koharu herself.
Ignoring Tsunade, Sakura looked down at Yagura's body.
I acknowledge that in your final moments, you entrusted me with the hope of defeating Akatsuki.
But that doesn't change the fact that you'll become my trophy.
Mei's body stiffened as she watched Sakura seal Yagura's corpse into a scroll, but she was powerless to intervene.
As Sakura had said, Mei could no longer return to Kirigakure.
She gazed into the distance, toward the direction of her village.
The wind stirred her hair, and a sense of melancholy settled over her.
Ao, I leave Kirigakure to you…
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