On a cargo ship bound from the Land of Waves to the Land of Water, Reiji and Hōzuki Gengetsu sat in the cabin, discussing what each had gained.
Gengetsu had completed the second mission issued by Kirigakure—successfully taking the target's head.
As for Reiji, while he hadn't reached his intended objective, he had come to understand himself a little more. He believed it wouldn't be long before he fully unraveled what he truly was.
As for that old man, Uzumaki Ashina—he'd escaped using Flying Thunder God Technique after Reiji broke free from the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
The cargo ship rocked gently across the sea.
Two days passed in a blink.
Reiji and Gengetsu returned to the thick mist of Kirigakure.
By now, the Mizukage Building had been fully restored. Massive pale-gray bricks formed the sturdy, still-imposing structure.
Reiji handed the scroll containing the sealed corpse to an ANBU nearby, then walked out of the building calmly and returned home.
It had been over half a year since he left Konoha.
So far, things were going smoothly. He had integrated into Kirigakure as planned. The next step was to steadily climb upward—earning the Third Mizukage's trust one step at a time.
With that in mind, Reiji gazed out the misty window.
Within the fog, Gengetsu wandered downstairs, completely ignored by those around him.
Moments later, a man with a short mustache and a long robe pushed open the door, his face full of frustration.
"Damn it! Madara Uchiha's Genjutsu is completely unbreakable!
The Third's been under control for so long, he's already internalized everything that's been fed into his mind!"
Reiji gave a side glance to the endlessly ranting Gengetsu, narrowed his eyes, raised a brow, and chuckled.
"So? What's your plan now?"
Gengetsu pursed his lips helplessly.
What could he do?
Sure, Genji controlled the village's finances, but he wasn't a ninja. He had no real strength. Maybe he could help here and there, but that help was limited.
And while Gengetsu had returned to the shinobi world with most of his power, resurrected or not, it was still way too outrageous. He wasn't fit to be seen in public.
As for the ninjas under Genji's command—honestly, Gengetsu didn't think any of them were as reliable as Reiji.
With that thought, Gengetsu shrugged and sighed.
"I don't know either. How about this—you and I team up and take down Madara Uchiha?"
"Yeah, right. Even if we teamed up, there's no guarantee we could win. And do you even know where he's hiding?"
If Reiji could open the Eighth Gate—the Gate of Death—and let youth burn, go wild with Night Guy, maybe there'd be a shot.
But right now, he could only manage up to the Seventh Gate. The Eighth would last ten seconds max.
After those ten seconds, there'd be at least a four or five-second dead zone.
And in that window, if he didn't finish Madara off, Madara would absolutely finish him.
Reiji never underestimated an opponent—especially not someone who had fought his way through the Warring States Era and was still strong enough to break belts with sheer power.
After thinking it over, Reiji shook his head.
"I'm not going along with that.
First, the two of us probably still can't beat him.
Second, we don't even know where he is.
Third, even if we could beat him, holding him down is another matter entirely.
Kirigakure getting targeted by him is inevitable. We're surrounded by ocean—easiest place to hit.
And anyway, I'm just a mission operative. You're just a walking corpse. You might protect the village for now, but can you protect it forever?"
At that, Gengetsu slapped a hand to his forehead and howled.
"Argh!!!
Even dead, I still have to worry about the damn village! Can't these brats let me rest in peace?! I swear I'm gonna die with regrets!
Then what do you suggest?!"
Watching the way Gengetsu's little mustache twitched in rage, Reiji grinned.
"It's hard—and simple at the same time.
All we have to do is weaken him. Take his eyes, and it's game over, isn't it?"
At those words, Gengetsu's frustrated face instantly vanished. A sly smile curled at his lips as he stared Reiji down.
So that annoyed expression earlier? Clearly fake.
"You little bastard, I got you! So what you're really after is those Sage Eyes, huh?
And here I thought you were just doing your mission—what mission? You're clearly lusting after his body!
You pervert!"
Reiji rolled his eyes, unimpressed.
Still, it was obvious Gengetsu was more than interested in the plan. Or more accurately, those eyes.
His gaze flicked sideways, then, like always, the irreverent Second Mizukage opened his mouth again.
"Alright then, lay out your plan in detail. Let's see where I can be of use.
Your goal is those eyes. My goal is peace in the village. There's no conflict between us.
So let's talk it out—this could be a win for both of us."
Truth be told, while this guy looked easygoing on the surface, he was anything but simple.
Reiji glanced at Hōzuki Gengetsu, a trace of satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
He didn't care what schemes Gengetsu was cooking up or what layered plans he might be hiding.
What mattered to him was control.
Gengetsu represented a part of Kirigakure, and the most critical thing in dealing with that part was keeping the upper hand.
Before, Reiji had used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hōzuki Gengetsu and proposed a partnership.
Now, the situation had flipped—Gengetsu, aware of the village's crisis, was the one initiating the cooperation.
It looked like the same deal, but the essence had completely shifted.
With that in mind, Reiji nodded decisively.
"Alright. A win-win."
At those words, a subtle smile tugged at the corner of Gengetsu's lips.
He'd already made up his mind. Sure, he was summoned by this guy—but the village's future came first.
The plan was simple: figure out what this guy was up to, then fish in troubled waters. As long as he didn't step on any toes, he'd squeeze out as many benefits as he could.
And if he could maneuver this guy into a head-on clash with Madara Uchiha—let them tear each other apart? Even better.
Reiji, unaware of Gengetsu's little schemes, began explaining his strategy.
"With someone like Madara Uchiha—someone at the top in both brains and brawn—any flashy, convoluted plan is bound to have holes.
That's why my approach is simple: rise through the ranks in Kirigakure, gradually earn the Third Mizukage's trust, and use subtle language to plant the seeds… slowly drawing closer to Madara."
"Language?" Gengetsu raised a brow in confusion.
"Exactly. Language," Reiji affirmed firmly.
"You ever heard of the Jashin cult? Ever seen the tactics those cultists use? Do you know how fanatics like that come to be?"
Without waiting for a reply, Reiji continued.
"There are two types of people most susceptible to brainwashing.
The first kind—empty-headed, narrow-minded folks. They might not be wise, but they're not necessarily naïve either.
Why are they so easily swayed? Because they're simple. Just a few words and they're hooked.
The second kind—those at the absolute peak of intelligence and strength. People like that have abilities far beyond the norm, but their aspirations often go beyond their time.
When they can't find answers—or grow too weary to keep searching—they start pinning everything on the divine.
Now, where does the Third Mizukage's loyalty to Madara fit in?
Or rather, does he fall into either of those two categories?
Clearly, he doesn't.
Which means... that loyalty of his? It's exploitable."