Not to mention, Konohagakure's inheritance is one of the most stable among the five great nations.
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki from Iwagakure is old but still vigorous, Kumogakure is brimming with talent—a perfect jinchuriki, one who can skillfully harness the tailed beast's power, and the inherited "Ai" lineage.
Even Sunagakure has a young genius of the new generation like Yura.
Only Kirigakure lacks such a leading figure.
Half of the previous generation's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were killed by Might Duy, and to this day, the vacancies haven't been filled.
The extra swords are still with Hozuki Mangetsu.
Kirigakure needs time, and only time can slowly restore it.
"Konohagakure's older generation has the Sannin, the new generation has the Golden Flash, and in the even younger sapling generation, there's talent like Shimizu Uchiha. In the future, Konohagakure is bound to usher in a period of rapid strength development, and allying with them through marriage wouldn't be a bad thing."
The Third Mizukage rambled on for quite a while, and everyone listened quietly.
It wasn't until his words were completely finished that they dared to leave the Mizukage Building.
At the same time, they knew that the transfer of power had been completed in this moment.
The Third Mizukage's faction and its rooted influence would inevitably support Yagura Karatachi.
They could only obediently follow instructions.
"Shimizu Uchiha, I have something to say to you."
After Shimizu and the others emerged from Kirigakure's training grounds, Terumi Mei called out to Shimizu.
"Minato-sensei, I have some business with Terumi Mei."
"Hm... Be careful."
Minato Namikaze thought for a moment. Shimizu had always been the calm type; he probably wouldn't cause any major incidents.
Shimizu then followed Terumi Mei to another training ground.
The terrain here was remote, with a ceaselessly flowing river rushing by with a whooshing sound.
"As you said, I hated you, loathed you, and lived uglily until now—just for this day."
Terumi Mei's fair skin gradually darkened to a tawny brown, curse seal patterns emerging on her body.
"To kill you, I've lived until now!"
Not just for herself.
But even more for the comrades Shimizu had killed!
With a ripping sound from Terumi Mei's back, bat-like wings sprouted forth.
The wings were gaunt and bony, covered in dense spikes, looking utterly deformed.
Shimizu listened quietly.
There was always this strange sense of déjà vu.
Itachi and Sasuke?
Was Terumi Mei about to unleash Chidori in the next second?
But Terumi Mei enduring the Curse Mark of Heaven didn't disappoint Shimizu.
It was still the first stage for now.
Through his modifications, the transition time from stage one to stage two had lengthened, which also meant reduced risk and corrosiveness.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
Circular water currents appeared around Terumi Mei, drawing from the flowing river and forming a massive dragon.
"You haven't changed a bit from back then."
Terumi Mei was growing stronger, but Shimizu's growth was even faster.
The gap between them would only widen, until it became an uncrossable chasm.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan."
Shimizu's three-tomoe suddenly flashed with a red gleam, the pupillary power emitted pinning Terumi Mei in place.
Snap!
The condensed water dragon, losing its chakra sustenance, scattered to the ground.
"Why... is the gap so huge?"
Terumi Mei couldn't believe it.
"When facing the Sharingan, there are only two ways to handle it: first, don't meet the enemy's eyes; second, run away."
Terumi Mei was too impatient, so eager that she didn't avoid Shimizu's gaze at all.
Shimizu slowly walked up to Terumi Mei.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Terumi Mei looked more mature now.
Not just in appearance, but in strength too.
Only someone like her could better control Kirigakure.
In Kirigakure, after the Fourth Mizukage was controlled by Obito, he ruled tyrannically.
The higher-ups in Kirigakure grew dissatisfied and eventually propped up Terumi Mei to take power.
In this process, Terumi Mei was merely a puppet.
Just like the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze—after taking office, Sarutobi Hiruzen still handled affairs personally.
On the day of the Nine-Tails incident, he was dealing with government matters; he didn't act like a retired elder at all.
They were all just puppets pushed forward.
"You're very weak because your hatred for me isn't enough yet. You need more, deeper hatred."
Shimizu brushed aside the strands of hair covering Terumi Mei's eyes.
He unleashed Sharingan genjutsu on her.
The scene where Shimizu had once electrocuted Terumi Mei looped in her mind for a full ten hours.
In the outside world, only a few minutes had passed.
Shimizu lowered his hand, letting Terumi Mei collapse limply to the ground.
She was drenched all over, slick with fragrant sweat.
A puddle of water formed on the ground.
Shimizu pulled a finger-sized test tube from his ninja pouch, filled with pure white liquid.
Every seven milliliters only consumed one Nohara Rin.
"Take this and reach Curse Mark Stage Two as soon as possible. The current you isn't even qualified to make me lift a hand."
Shimizu's ruthless voice echoed in Terumi Mei's ears.
Stage Two would be a qualitative change, far more powerful than Stage One.
That was when the curse mark's true power would emerge.
Her slender, jade-like fingers dug fiercely into the soil as she stared at Shimizu with her emerald eyes.
She panted heavily, still calming the recent turmoil.
"Foolish Terumi Mei, continue living uglily, constantly evading, barely surviving."
Even after a long, long time, those words still lingered in Terumi Mei's heart.
Shimizu Uchiha had already left.
She gazed at the ceaselessly flowing river, the dim forest.
And... the test tube in her hand, filled with white liquid.
A flash of anger crossed her eyes.
She had worked so hard for so long, yet she hadn't narrowed the gap with Shimizu Uchiha at all.
It had only grown wider.
After a moment's hesitation, Terumi Mei twisted it open.
A strange smell wafted out, with a hint of fishiness.
Terumi Mei frowned. What was this stuff?
And the test tube kept emitting a chill, as if it were constantly freezing the liquid inside.
Frowning, Terumi Mei extended her tongue and lightly licked the tube to taste it.
"Hmm..."
Her brows furrowed even tighter.
What on earth was inside?
"No, my power... it's increasing."
Terumi Mei carefully sensed the changes in her body.
The curse mark seemed highly compatible with this liquid, becoming active and progressing toward the next realm.
Terumi Mei vaguely sensed that the curse mark could evolve once more.
That must be what Shimizu meant by Stage Two.
"Hmph, aiding the enemy like this—you'll end up kneeling before me one day, groveling and atoning."
Terumi Mei imagined Shimizu kneeling in humiliation, forced to apologize.
A indescribable satisfaction welled up in her heart.
This was fantasy time.
For the proud.
Making them lowly was the greatest punishment.
After a brief fantasy, Terumi Mei drank all the strengthening substance in the test tube.
The effect was indeed excellent—better than swallowing a bunch of soldier pills at once.
This made Terumi Mei wonder what was inside.
Could it be a new Uchiha research, a soldier pill liquid stronger than regular ones?
Night.
Kirigakure's guest quarters.
The tailed beast handover mission was complete; Minato's team would leave Kirigakure first thing in the morning.
They hadn't left in the afternoon because the evening mist was heavy, making travel difficult.
"Kakashi."
As Kakashi prepared to close the door, a pale hand blocked the gap.
"Haku, what is it?"
Kakashi's dead-fish eyes looked listless, seeming lacking in energy.
"Nothing."
Haku's lips curved into a strange smile as his hand reached past Kakashi's forehead.
"!"
Kakashi stepped back, instinctively touching the spot Haku had just touched.
"You... what are you trying to do?"
Haku's sudden action startled Kakashi.
He wasn't interested in outsiders right now, but that didn't mean he could tolerate a man with peculiar habits approaching him.
"Hahaha, you'll find out eventually."
Haku left the room.
Kakashi felt a twinge of unease at his cryptic behavior.
He probed the spot on his forehead with chakra but found nothing.
"Just a touch?"
Kakashi muttered suspiciously and closed the door.
Haku, now outside, didn't return to his own room.
Instead, he knocked on Shimizu's door.
"Speak."
Shimizu opened the door and looked at Haku.
Just as Haku tried to pull the same trick, his outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
"You..."
Haku stared in horror at his rigid body.
Turning back, he saw Shimizu's eerie Sharingan.
This kid had been on guard from the start!
"What's wrong? Want my Sharingan?"
Shimizu sneered.
Someone like Haku was about on par with the current Kakashi, maybe even weaker.
He fused four bloodline limits, only to be taken out by Naruto's single Rasenshuriken.
He could only show off in the movie.
After fusing four bloodline limits, he immediately rushed to broadcast in Konohagakure, trying to start the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Yet Konohagakure's high-end fighters didn't even lift a finger—Tsunade, Jiraiya, including Kakashi, all slacked off the whole time.
"I just came to ask something."
Haku's face looked ugly.
Rip...
Flames ignited in Shimizu's palm; using his hand as a blade, he severed one of Haku's arms.
Haku's face twisted in pain, his body unable to move an inch.
"I don't like being lied to. This is your lesson."
Shimizu closed the door.
Haku had motive but hadn't acted against him.
Killing him now would brand Shimizu a rogue ninja.
He was doing well in Konohagakure; no need for that.
"Hope you survive the night."
A red gleam flashed in Shimizu's eyes.
He wouldn't kill Haku, but that didn't mean others wouldn't.
Offend him and expect good consequences?
Haku quickly picked up his severed arm and fled outside.
That look in Shimizu's eyes definitely meant he wanted him dead!
As a survivor of the last Great Ninja War, Haku was extremely sensitive to such killing intent.
"Damn Uchiha brat."
Haku's pained face paled as he reattached the arm to the wound, stitching it with a scalpel.
Moments later, white smoke rose.
The bloodless arm regained some color.
Haku tested moving the reattached arm; it felt a bit sluggish.
"Hmph, my Kibara Technique isn't something you can imagine."
Haku thought disdainfully.
The Kibara Technique allowed fusion with a summoned beast; a mere severed arm could be reattached at will.
"Wha..."
As Haku prepared to leave, his body suddenly ran uncontrollably.
The sensation was identical to being under genjutsu earlier!
Under the night sky, a white-haired man wandered through Kirigakure.
Bang bang.
Hozuki Mangetsu rubbed his sleepy eyes and opened the door.
But what greeted him was Haku's attack!
Hozuki Mangetsu snapped awake in an instant, retreating backward, flipping to grab the Twin Sword: Hiramekarei.
The two fan-shaped greatswords slashed at Haku.
"Konoha ninjas, do you want to keep the flames of war burning?!"
Hozuki Mangetsu shouted in shock and anger.
This was Kirigakure territory; his guard had been lowered a bit.
But that slight lapse had nearly cost him his life.
Konoha ninjas daring to attack openly inside Kirigakure—weren't they afraid of not getting out?
Haku's face was expressionless, only occasional red flashes in his eyes.
The commotion from the fight instantly triggered Kirigakure's alarms.
A large number of ANBU rushed over.
"Konoha ninja..."
When Yagura Karatachi heard his subordinate report Konoha causing trouble in Kirigakure, his first reaction was disbelief.
He quickly dressed, armed himself, and hurried over.
"Where are the others?"
"Fourth-sama, they're still in their rooms."
A Kirigakure ANBU knelt on one knee.
"In their rooms?"
Yagura Karatachi frowned.
Committing destructive acts yet staying in their rooms.
What did that mean?
"Send a few ANBU to summon them."
"Yes."
The Kirigakure ANBU vanished instantly.
"Water Style: Water Prison Technique."
After becoming the Three-Tails jinchuriki, Yagura Karatachi's chakra reserves had exploded.
With the tailed beast sealed, he could easily draw massive amounts of chakra.
Though he couldn't yet use Bijuu Transformation to unleash the beast's true power.
His strength had still leaped forward.
The ninjutsu he released now was far stronger than before.
Water currents swirled in front of Haku; Hozuki Mangetsu flashed away as the water formed a sphere, encapsulating Haku inside.
Bang bang.
Minato, who had been resting, opened his door.
He then heard Kirigakure ninjas warning that a Konoha ninja was rampaging in the village.
Several heads poked out from the neighboring rooms—exactly the full members of Minato's class.
Minato's heart sank.
One person was missing.
Haku was gone.
So, the Konoha ninja the Kirigakure ANBU mentioned—could it be him?
Trapped in the Water Prison Technique, Haku could only expose his nostrils to breathe; the rest was submerged in water.
Seeing Minato Namikaze and the others arrive, Yagura Karatachi pointed at Haku and said coldly:
"What does Konoha mean by this? Think Kirigakure is easy to bully?"
"This..."
Minato Namikaze was utterly bewildered.
He couldn't fathom why Haku would do this.
He even suspected the Haku before him was a Kirigakure impostor.
"Because Haku wanted to steal bloodline limits."
Shimizu suddenly said.
All eyes turned to Shimizu.
Shimizu's expression unchanged, he continued:
"He just came to me too, trying to make a move on my Sharingan."
Shimizu casually twisted the facts.
He knew Haku wasn't that stupid; he only wanted to plant a Puppet Curse on him.
In Konohagakure, he could obviously get better resources than outside.
Haku wouldn't think of defecting until his experiments were discovered.
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