"Most of our expeditionary army is gone. The Mizukage's fate is unknown. We've just survived two rebellions. Ten years of progress wiped out overnight—our strength is at its lowest. The sharks that used to lurk beneath the surface are about to show their teeth. I'd bet everything Suikazan Fuguki's hidden faction will make a move to seize power. Our disaster-plagued Mist Village might be staring down a third rebellion any moment now. Everything could collapse in an instant."
Ao's jaw clenched, grief and rage burning in his eyes. For ten years, the Mist Village had thrived. He and his comrades had backed Yagura, steering clear of petty conflicts, focusing on development, recruiting talent, building up the ninja army, and stabilizing the islands. For a time, Mist was stronger than ever, and everyone believed they could finally stand toe-to-toe with the great powers of the continent.
But Sunagakure, with nothing more than a single corpse as bait, spun a massive trap that shattered a decade of progress. How could Ao not be furious?
Jinghang of the Sand was just too damn cunning.
Still, Ao forced himself to compress all that grief and rage into the shortest possible moment. Life had to go on. The Mist Village couldn't afford to wallow.
Right now, the other villages were locked in brutal conflict. None of them had the strength to cross the sea and attack Mist in the short term. External threats could be ignored—for now. But internal threats? They were about to erupt.
Ao had always kept tabs on Suikazan Fuguki's network. He'd figured out most of the details. But Fuguki was a senior figure in Mist; forming a little faction wasn't a crime, and without open rebellion, it wasn't wise to act rashly.
Besides, as long as Yagura was alive and well, his authority was absolute. Crushing Fuguki's thousand followers would be child's play.
But now? Yagura's fate was unknown, and most of his loyalists had died on the Yuexi Peninsula. Fuguki's thousand ninja were now a ticking time bomb. If they exploded, with Mist's battered remnants, it was anyone's guess who'd win.
Ao looked at Utakata, his gaze softening for a moment.
"Good thing you brought the Iron-Blooded Youth Corps. At least we have some leverage for quelling any rebellion."
Utakata nodded crisply. "The Iron-Blooded Youth Corps—418 ninja, awaiting your orders."
Ao nodded, relieved, then turned to Ōpeng.
"This rebellion cost us most of the elite we spent years cultivating. Utakata, Mist can't take another hit. We need a foolproof plan for whatever comes next."
Utakata met Ao's eyes. "If you have a plan, say it straight."
Ao nodded. "Alright, I'll cut to the chase. Hoshigaki Kisame—do you know him?"
Utakata paused, thinking. "I remember him. He's one of ours—came up through the Iron-Blooded Youth Corps, debuted before me. After graduation, he just disappeared."
"Find him. Recruit him. Promise him anything. With Kisame on our side, Fuguki won't be able to make waves."
Ao's tone left no room for doubt.
To keep it brief, Mist's fate unfolded exactly as Maki predicted—they never recovered for thirty years, fading from the ninja world's stage of power.
Mist's story is just one thread in this tale, so let's keep it moving.
Through Utakata's introduction, Ao met the young "shark-face" Hoshigaki Kisame and promised him the world—essentially Fuguki's position (Seven Ninja Swordsmen and a seat on the village council). Kisame took the offer, and a plan was set in motion against Fuguki.
When the battered remnants of the Mist expeditionary force returned, Ao immediately announced that Yagura had suffered a humiliating defeat, was gravely injured and comatose, and could no longer serve as Mizukage. He called for Suikazan Fuguki to be promoted as the Fifth Mizukage.
Fuguki, who'd expected a bloody fight for the island, was blindsided by the opportunity. Joy and suspicion warred on his face.
Ao explained, "After this disaster, the village needs a strong leader to hold things together. Yagura is out of commission. Master Genshi has suffered a second stroke and can barely speak. Of the Four Young Masters, only Ōpeng remains—and he's so badly wounded he might lose a leg. Of the Seven Swordsmen, only you and Kurosuki Raiga are left. Do you really think Raiga's got the brains for Mizukage?"
Utakata, Mei Terumī, and the others were still too green. As for Ao, he was a support-type ninja. Right now, only Fuguki had the experience and authority to step up.
Fuguki considered it. It was true—no one else had his standing. He was about to accept when Ao made one last suggestion.
"The village is reeling. It needs a victory to lift morale. You, as Fifth Mizukage, need a win to cement your reputation. If you don't deliver, people won't accept you."
Fuguki nodded. Made sense. But Mist's forces were depleted. Where could he find an easy target?
Ao pointed east. "There's one—Kiri Island. The Kaguya clan took advantage of our absence to attack, causing massive losses. Now, their fighters are gone; only the old, weak, and sick remain. Perfect for you to make an example."
Fuguki's mood flipped instantly. He rallied his thousand "tiger shark" loyalists and marched on Kiri Island.
The outcome was inevitable. The few hundred surviving Kaguya, though desperate, were no match for Fuguki. After losing a few hundred men, he wiped out the clan completely.
But as Fuguki returned in triumph, Ao made his move. Fuguki raised his great sword, Samehada, ready to fight—but was betrayed by his own trusted subordinate, Hoshigaki Kisame. Fuguki fell, and his followers were wiped out by the Iron-Blooded Youth Corps. Only Kurosuki Raiga escaped, his whereabouts unknown.
With that, Mist's three rebellions came to an end. The losses were catastrophic—an entire generation nearly wiped out. Six months later, Yagura recovered and returned to duty, but it was too late. Mist, once one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, never regained its strength, slipping into a long, slow decline.
One last note: When Maki withdrew from Yuexi Peninsula, a kunoichi named Tsukihime followed close behind. After a thorough background check by Sand's intelligence, they found she genuinely loved Maki (with a dash of Stockholm syndrome). In the end, Kazekage Jinghang signed off on a "special talent introduction certificate," made Tsukihime an official resident of Yuexi Peninsula, and ordered Maki to marry her—putting an end to all gossip. But that's just a side story, not worth dwelling on.
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