[Mizukage Office, Hidden Village of the Mist - Kirigakure]
The mist clinging to the tower's black and humid walls thickened to a suffocating fog as the Third Mizukage read the report. Blood dripped from his clenched fist, the parchment crumpled in his grip dissolving into pulp.
"Konoha…dared", he fumed
His voice was a blade dragged across stone. The ANBU captain kneeling before him flinched as the room's temperature plummeted. The aura of a kage was not easy to bear, its weight crackled across the floor, consuming the Suikazan clan's testimonies. The charred Uchiha crest, the fire-scorched walls, the stolen Hiramekarei.
"My lord", ventured an advisor, sweat freezing on his brow, "the survivors swear it was the Uchiha. Their eyes showed black patterns on red eyes, fitting the description of the mighty Sharingan. Additionally, the fight shows remarkable forces of Fire Release. Even the—urk"
The Mizukage's hand shot out, chakra condensing into a watery vise around the man's throat. "Do you take me for a fool?" he hissed. "The Uchiha haven't left Fire Country in the past months. The Sandaime Hokage is a monkey, he is lazy and would never think of stealing a sword"
Across the room, the shattered remains of the Seven Swords' display case glinted—two slots empty now. Hiramekarei's absence glared like a missing tooth.
"Unless it is not Hiruzen's doing, but Haruma's doing. The leaf's viper has been active among the ANBU, and has bridged the tensions between the Uchiha and the Hokage over the past months with exceptional political skills. Perhaps this internal peace came with a cost, with a reward that wasn't theirs to begin with", the advisor expressed his theory
"It looks too sophisticated still...", the Mizukage analysed, "Could it be Otogakure?"
"There is no way. Otogakure has been focused on development, and only seldomly takes missions outside of the land of Rice, using the external clans as their own forces. Their structure is filled with shadows, their organization shrouded in darkness"
He released the advisor, who collapsed, gasping. "Summon the hunter-nin. Recall the remaining swordsmen. And send word to Kiri's allies… all of them"
"Let's demand compensation from Konohagakure. If they refuse, we might just break the treaty"
[Otogakure, Underground Training Grounds]
Danzo exhaled, and the sword sang.
Hiramekarei's bandages unraveled, twin hilts humming as wind chakra surged through its core. The blade's chakra membrane flared a pale white and radiant colour, elongating into a serrated vortex, its edge shaping the form of a whirlwind.
"Showoff," Harumi smirked, her arms already melting into scaled tendrils. Matatabi's blue flames wreathed her claws. "Don't expect me to hold ba—"
*Shink*
Danzo vanished. The blade's chakra whip lashed out, carving a molten trench through the earth. Harumi's severed serpent-arm flopped, hissing as blue fire cauterized the stump.
"Lovely," she purred, regenerating limbs sprouting in its place, "But you are underestimating me, Danzo. Go harder"
She lunged. Blue infernos met howling wind.
*Clang—CRACK*
Hiramekarei's chakra sheath shattered her scaled carapace, the raw wind biting deeper than steel ever could. Harumi staggered, her chest seared where the blade had grazed—a scratch by jinchūriki standards, but a message.
"Efficiency", Danzo said, lowering the sword.
The blade's glow dimmed, its chakra reservoir still half-full.
"No wasted motion. No flashy seals. It harmonizes with futon nature perfectly. Its only defect is the chakra pool necessary to wield it proficiently, but I guess it is none of my concern, considering the four-tails' reserves"
[Greedy human], the four-tails, Son Goku, roared.
Harumi prodded her wound, the flesh knitting under Matatabi's flames.
"Harmonizes, hm?"
She stepped closer, her remaining snakes coiling playfully around his arm.
"Funny. I recall you saying the same about me once."
A flicker of a smile—rare, genuine—crossed Danzo's face. He sheathed Hiramekarei, its whisper fading.
"You're improving. Two years ago, that strike would've severed your heart."
"You know we are married, right? There is no need for flattery"
She leaned in, fangs brushing his ear.
As she melted into the shadows, Danzo stared at the blade.
This was a worthy sword.
Hiramekarei - One of the seven legendary Hidden Mist Swords
Hiramekarei [S]
A sword befitting a kage-level figure
A sword befitting an overlord.
As he contemplated the treasure he had just tested, Eiji interrupted his train of thoughts.
"Otokage-sama!", Eiji shouted, "The Kazekage has sent a missive...regarding a potential trade"