Konoha's current order is, for the most part, stable. However, it has been many years since the village last experienced the chaos of open war. When battles inevitably erupt, a period of unrest follows. On the surface, daily life continues much as usual—shops open, villagers go about their business—but there are far more patrols than normal, both from the ANBU operating in the shadows and from uniformed shinobi in plain sight.
With the Hokage's seat vacant and uncertainty hanging over the village, gossip spreads quickly. Mizuki had already overheard at least five different rumors about who would become the Fifth Hokage. Tsunade and Jiraiya were, of course, the obvious candidates, but some claimed even Sarutobi Asuma, son of the Third Hokage, or the famed Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi had a chance. The eccentric Might Guy, despite his strength, had no such rumors—most considered him too unorthodox, a "comedy act" unfit for Hokage.
As Mizuki strolled through Konoha's streets and back alleys, he quietly observed the villagers beginning their day. At times like this, change happened quickly. Ninja power was not only for battle—it could also be used to build and create. Yet the structure of shinobi villages was shaped by their relationship with the feudal daimyō of their respective countries. In every nation, the civilian leadership deliberately kept ninja power tied to military functions rather than civilian development.
Konoha, for example, is technically under the authority of the daimyō of the Land of Fire. This balance of power is delicate: the Hokage and daimyō depend on each other, but they also watch each other warily. If Konoha's shinobi were to fully devote their abilities to civilian infrastructure and economy, the village could quickly become self-sufficient—no longer reliant on the Land of Fire. Such independence would threaten the daimyō's authority, and no ruler would tolerate it.
This tension was at the heart of Sarutobi Asuma's youthful disagreements with his father, the Third Hokage, which eventually led him to join the Twelve Guardian Ninja serving the Fire Country's daimyō. In the eyes of many, the Hokage and the daimyō represented opposite poles: the ideal of protecting the people versus the realities of political power. When those ideals could not be reconciled, conflict was inevitable.
"Hey, you there—want to come over and chat?"
The voice interrupted Mizuki's thoughts. It was Mitarashi Anko, calling to him in the early morning. Mizuki hadn't expected to see her out so early; she didn't seem like the type.
"What do you want from me?" Mizuki asked.
"I just got back from a mission. I heard Kurenai's been injured—want to go visit her together?" Anko replied casually.
"I was at the hospital myself yesterday. I'm in no hurry to go back." Mizuki refused without hesitation.
"Don't be so cold," Anko said. "We're comrades, after all."
Mizuki was unmoved. Anko was outgoing and sharp-witted, but she had a knack for reading people too well. That made her dangerous to someone with secrets—like Mizuki, whose curse mark from Orochimaru could be discovered if he wasn't careful.
Just then, salvation arrived.
"Mizuki, sorry to keep you waiting!" It was Tsubaki, bringing him breakfast.
"See? I'm busy," Mizuki told Anko with a relieved smile.
Anko wasn't fooled, but she let it go. She walked off without pressing the matter, though Mizuki knew her intuition was sharp enough to suspect more than she showed.
Once Anko was gone, Mizuki thanked Tsubaki. She smiled knowingly. "I just figured you'd rather not talk to her. Anyway, it's not like anyone will call me out for lying to help you."
"Do you dislike her that much?" Tsubaki asked.
Mizuki didn't answer directly. But her next words struck him—she pointed out that lately, he seemed to carry preconceived notions into every interaction, judging people based on secondhand impressions rather than firsthand experience. She was right.
Ever since regaining the memories of his past life, Mizuki had relied on what he "knew" of people—Naruto, Sasuke, Anko—without truly knowing them in this life. And the reality often differed from memory. Hatake Kakashi, for example, valued his comrades deeply but wasn't always as dependable in mundane matters. Iruka's talent as a teacher was stronger than Mizuki had assumed. Even Shimura Danzō, despite his ruthless methods, acted within what he believed to be Konoha's best interest.
Danzō's greatest flaw wasn't selfish ambition, but his belief that he could reshape Konoha—and the shinobi world—through sheer will, despite lacking the means to match his vision. Mizuki understood that it was dangerous to underestimate such a man, especially one with access to powers like the Kotoamatsukami. Until Mizuki knew whether he could defend against it, he had no intention of meeting Danzō alone.
Shaking off his thoughts, Mizuki turned to Tsubaki. "You're right. I've been letting my biases cloud my judgment lately."
They changed the subject, but Mizuki couldn't shake one lingering concern: Anko's appearance earlier might not have been coincidence. Her history with Orochimaru and her instincts made her a potential threat if she caught on to his secrets.
Later, Mizuki planned to visit the hospital—not just to check on the injured, but to speak with Kakashi. The timeline of events was already shifting from what he remembered. Orochimaru's condition was worsening, perhaps before he could secure Sasuke as his next vessel. If Sasuke's defection didn't happen as in the original sequence, his frustrations might spiral into something even more dangerous.
And looming ahead was another threat: the arrival of Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, seeking to capture Naruto. In canon, they injured Kakashi badly with Tsukuyomi, forcing his recovery under Tsunade's care. Without proper preparation, Konoha's defense could falter—and Mizuki knew better than to count on Danzō stepping in to save the day. Discussions with Kakashi, Guy, and Asuma could not be delayed.
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