Chapter 126: Justified in Name and Deed
The matter of Uchiha Sasuke was deeply entangled and complex. It wasn't that Mizuki couldn't intervene—but whether it would arouse suspicion or dissatisfaction from others was hard to say.
Looking at Sasuke's life before his joint effort with Naruto to seal Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, his entire journey was one continuous tragedy. From the very beginning, he had been walking a path laid out by others. His so-called struggles were merely deeper and deeper dives into a web of lies and manipulation. Lacking the insight to pierce through the fog and the wisdom to break free of the chains placed upon him, he had no choice but to follow the expectations others imposed—whether passively or actively. Compared to Naruto, Sasuke's life was laughable. Naruto may not have had the talent Sasuke did, but his willpower, his spiritual strength, far exceeded Sasuke's. Naruto's ninja way might seem foolish, and had he not been the protagonist or blessed by fate, he probably would've died countless times. Yet, no one could deny his unwavering commitment to his goal: to be acknowledged and become Hokage. He had never wavered, always pressing forward with relentless effort. Compared to that, Sasuke was little more than a sad joke.
But even that wasn't entirely Sasuke's fault. Expecting someone who had just graduated from the Academy, and at most fifteen years old three years later, to resist the schemes of a group of cunning veterans was unrealistic. Being toyed with wasn't all that shameful.
After parting with Kakashi, Mizuki returned home. He tidied up his messy study, packed away exposed medical samples and experimental records, and hid anything that shouldn't be seen.
'It probably won't stay quiet for long… Who knows when Tsunade will return…'
Though he had deflected attention again tonight, how long that would last was another matter. Useful and powerful techniques were the most precious resource in the ninja world. And just because someone refused to speak didn't mean others couldn't find ways to extract the information. Sasori could turn people into puppets to inherit Kekkei Genkai, the Edo Tensei could summon the dead to fight, the Yamanaka clan had their mind-reading jutsu, and then there was genjutsu—like the legendary Kotoamatsukami. Of course, Mizuki doubted Danzō would waste a precious Kotoamatsukami usage on someone like him. Judging by the current intel his clone had leaked, Mizuki hadn't reached that level of threat yet. But if the day ever came that they wanted to force the knowledge out of him, he doubted he'd survive Morino Ibiki's interrogation.
Fortunately, Mizuki was currently a free agent and didn't have many suspicious points that could be used against him. Sure, he had a few questionable "incidents" in his past, but those were behind him. By now, Mizuki could almost be considered a low-key hero of Konoha. Battle-tested and alive through countless fights, in just a few days, he'd saved who knows how many lives with his medical ninjutsu. His presence was undeniable. Without a solid reason, targeting him would be difficult.
…
On a remote battlefield, the sky had fully brightened. Mizuki, having rested a bit and recovered some strength, continued tending to Kurenai's wounds while casually chatting with Asuma Sarutobi. Mizuki wasn't surprised that Asuma knew some inside information most ninja didn't. After all, not only was he the son of the Third Hokage, but the Sarutobi clan itself was quite influential. Coupled with his former status as a Guardian Ninja of the Daimyō, his standing far exceeded most ordinary shinobi.
"Mizuki, is Kurenai really out of danger?" Asuma asked distractedly, clearly focused on the unconscious woman before them. "She's still not waking up…"
"You're too impatient," Mizuki said with a helpless smile. "With injuries this serious, you expect her to wake up immediately? Well, there are ways to force it… but are you sure you want to try?"
Waking someone by force using chakra or stimulation wasn't impossible, but not advisable either. Still, there was no harm in bluffing—after all, it's not like anyone would actually try it.
As expected, Asuma chuckled awkwardly and shook his head. Clearly, Mizuki's tone suggested whatever method he had in mind wasn't exactly gentle.
"You're too obvious with your feelings," Mizuki teased. "But relax. She's not in danger for now. We can worry about the rest once we get back to the village."
"Alright," Asuma nodded, unable to refute him.
Having stabilized Kurenai's condition, Mizuki let out a long breath and stretched his tired body. Even with Breath Suppression and his massive chakra reserves, treating himself and others was taking its toll.
Soon after, Might Guy returned from his pursuit. Mizuki hadn't held high hopes; Guy was strong, but tracking wasn't his forte. He'd have to rely on instinct, which made it unlikely he could find Sasori. That's why Mizuki wasn't disappointed—after all, the original objective had simply been rescue. Capturing enemies and extracting intel could come later.
However, reality far exceeded his expectations. Mizuki stared in disbelief as Guy casually tossed the unconscious Deidara onto the ground.
'Just what kind of future is this world heading toward…?'
Sasori ran for his life and left Deidara behind. Even worse, Zetsu—very likely watching nearby—didn't even lift a finger to help. With no sense of team spirit, it's no wonder the Akatsuki ended up being taken down one by one by the so-called Child of Prophecy.
"This unconscious boy is one of the enemies, right?" Guy said energetically. "Didn't manage to catch the puppet guy, but one of them is good enough."
"Yes," Hiashi confirmed. "He clearly belongs to the same organization as the puppet master and is extremely powerful."
"Great! We'll take him back to the village and find out who they are," Guy said confidently.
While the others were upbeat, Mizuki couldn't help but look worriedly at the captured Deidara. Unlike the others, he was fully aware of what trouble they had just invited into Konoha.
If they killed him on the spot, it might end there. But bringing him back alive would stir up a storm.
First, there was the risk of Akatsuki retaliating. Konoha couldn't afford another blow right now. A few more S-class criminals appearing would be a disaster.
But worse than that was Deidara's identity—not only an Akatsuki member, but also the personal disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Bringing him back might spark a diplomatic crisis. From Mizuki's point of view, a dead Deidara would eventually just become dust, but a living Deidara was a bomb. If his deadly explosive ninjutsu got leaked to Konoha, it'd be far from a minor incident.
'This is a hot potato. There's no right way to deal with him…'
Imagine if Orochimaru had been captured by another village—how would Konoha react? It would mean the risk of forbidden techniques, ANBU secrets, and classified intel all falling into enemy hands. It could easily trigger war. The last Great Ninja War, after all, had been ignited when Suna suspected Konoha of assassinating the Third Kazekage.
Unbeknownst to Mizuki, his tense expression had already been silently observed by the ever-watchful Hiashi.
…
By midday, the ragged group finally made it back to Konoha. The village, having been informed ahead of time, had already mobilized medics and support teams. Kurenai, still in critical condition, was rushed to the hospital. Asuma went with her. Guy and Hiashi submitted their reports, while the rest were tended to by medical-nin.
Though Mizuki's mission had technically failed, he had survived what was likely the most dangerous situation since he arrived in this world. In the hospital, after a quick examination, he was cleared to return home.
Though far from fully healed and deeply fatigued, Mizuki's rapid recovery was thanks to his medical ninjutsu and the effects of his universal potion. He could at least move and function normally.
Back on the streets of Konoha after a day, he noticed a distinct shift from yesterday's destruction and despair. With so many earth-style ninja helping rebuild, the village was starting to recover at a remarkable pace.
Still, Mizuki wasted no time sightseeing and returned home as quickly as possible. Once there, he synchronized memories with his clone.
"So much happened?" the real Mizuki muttered, surprised. "Has the struggle for the Hokage seat already reached that point?"
"Compared to what you just went through, my side was nothing," the clone groaned. "But what do we do now? That Rinnegan—fake or not—was more than just a bluff. You nearly killed Deidara and Sasori with it. If your body hadn't been so weak, they'd both be dead by now."
From all current evidence, that temporary Rinnegan clearly had both Shinra Tensei and a partial version of Chibaku Tensei. Though incomplete and disrupted by Deidara's suicidal explosion, its terrifying power had been on full display.
"I didn't have a choice," the real Mizuki sighed. "If I hadn't used it, I'd be dead already. There was no time to worry about anything else."
"Still, we need a plan," the clone said gravely. "This is not something we can cover up easily."
"We'll play it by ear. All we can do is stall until Tsunade gets back. She might be the breakthrough we need."
Only six people had witnessed Chibaku Tensei: the Konoha team. Kurenai was unconscious, so no risk there. Gaara and Temari were Suna nin—technically allies, but outsiders. And even if they suspected something, their knowledge might not be enough to identify it.
That left Hiashi and his cousin Ko, who were essentially one in terms of political stance. The biggest variable was Hiashi. The Hyūga clan, cloaked in mystery and rigid hierarchy, made predicting his actions difficult.
'Don't need him to protect me—just need him to stay quiet long enough…'
Meanwhile, Hiashi and Ko walked through Konoha on their way back to the Hyūga compound.
"Lord Hiashi," Ko said cautiously, "Are you sure this is okay?"
Earlier, in the Hokage's office, Hiashi's report had several deliberately vague sections, prompting multiple questions from the acting advisors.
"When did the Hyūga clan need to tiptoe around so-called advisors?" Hiashi asked calmly. Even though Homura and Koharu currently held acting authority, they were not officially Hokage. With his status, Hiashi didn't need to bend the knee.
"But… shouldn't we at least discuss it with the branch house elders?" Ko asked nervously.
Since the Uchiha clan's downfall, the Hyūga had become increasingly cautious about internal politics. This level of defiance was rare.
"Are you questioning the Main House's decisions on behalf of the Branch House?" Hiashi asked sharply. "Everything I've done is for the clan's benefit. If the elders question it, they can ask me directly. But…"
Hiashi's tone turned cold. "No one is to speak of this mission's details. The official report is all anyone needs to know. If anyone has a problem, they can come to me. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Hiashi," Ko bowed deeply.
'Rinnegan or Tenseigan… If I could truly obtain such power, why would I need to be so cautious? I wouldn't have to live in fear of repeating the Uchiha's downfall…'
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