Shigure paid no attention to Naruto and the others' discussion.
As the cloud platform rose into the sky, several Konoha shinobi let out startled cries.
Before they could even adjust, the cloud suddenly accelerated.
It felt like flying.
Carrying everyone with it, the cloud shot forward at incredible speed, heading straight for Kirigakure.
A powerful wind rushed past them, pressing against their bodies. Every Konoha ninja was stunned.
They couldn't even process what was happening.
It was too fast.
Even Tsunade, experiencing Shigure's Cloud Release for the first time, was momentarily speechless. At this speed, she finally understood how Shigure was able to appear across the shinobi world so quickly.
With such terrifying mobility, reaching any location was almost effortless.
Ten minutes.
In just ten minutes, the cloud began to descend.
Before anyone could react, they had already arrived.
Kirigakure.
The Konoha shinobi stood there in a daze, as if they had turned into ghosts.
Just moments ago, they had been in Konoha.
And now… they were already in the Hidden Mist Village.
As the surrounding Mist shinobi gathered, their voices rang out:
"Mizukage-sama!"
The greeting snapped the Konoha ninja back to reality.
They had truly arrived.
Shigure raised his hand slightly.
"Arrange accommodations for the Konoha shinobi. Treat their injuries as well."
"They've come to assist Kirigakure against the allied forces of the three great ninja villages."
Hearing this, a Mist shinobi stepped forward and looked toward Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama, thank you for bringing Konoha's forces to support us."
Several Mist ninja quickly moved to guide the Konoha group away.
"Please rest first. It will still take some time before the enemy forces reach Kirigakure."
Tsunade nodded and led her people away without hesitation.
She understood the situation well.
As Mizukage, Shigure would now have more urgent matters to handle. There was no need for her to interfere.
Mizukage Office
Shigure pushed open the door.
Inside, Terumī Mei stood before a map, studying it intently. Beside her, Ao was pointing at various locations, explaining the deployment of Kirigakure's forces in detail.
Neither of them looked up when the door opened.
Shigure remained silent, standing to the side and listening.
After Ao finished, Terumī made several adjustments, repositioning units and slightly altering troop numbers.
The battle plan was nearly complete.
In fact, most of Shigure's work had already been done for him.
Only then did Terumī lift her head.
"You're finally back."
Shigure smiled faintly. "I would have come in earlier, but you seemed busy, so I didn't interrupt."
Terumī sighed softly. "Since you've heard everything, give me your opinion."
"Is there anything that needs improving?"
Shigure shook his head. "No. Your arrangement is solid."
Terumī frowned slightly. "Then what's the problem?"
Shigure walked over and sat down at the Mizukage's desk.
"You didn't account for the Ōtsutsuki clan."
Ao froze. "But… didn't you already deal with them?"
Shigure shook his head.
"Not completely."
"Many of them escaped. By now, they've likely regrouped."
"And more importantly… I never encountered their leader."
His expression turned serious.
"The sudden alliance of the three great ninja villages and their attack on Kirigakure…"
"It was most likely orchestrated by that person."
As he spoke, Shigure's expression gradually turned serious.
"I suspect the Kage of the three great ninja villages have already been placed under this person's control."
"Controlled?"
Terumī Mei froze for a moment, clearly startled. "Why would you think that?"
Shigure gave a faint smile.
"If even Orochimaru can be controlled… then you should understand."
Terumī nodded.
Even without Orochimaru personally delivering the message, there was no way the Mist shinobi would hide such critical information from her.
And if Orochimaru's original body had truly been taken over…
"Then controlling the Kage of the other villages wouldn't be difficult either," Shigure concluded calmly.
Terumī's expression shifted instantly.
"If that's the case… then the situation we're facing is far worse than expected."
Shigure nodded. Now she fully understood the gravity of the situation.
If Orochimaru had been controlled, then he would undoubtedly use the Impure World Reincarnation technique to summon powerful shinobi from the past.
That meant their enemies would not only consist of the combined elite forces of the three great ninja villages and the Ōtsutsuki clan…
…but potentially an army of legendary figures revived from across the history of the shinobi world.
However, Shigure was not particularly worried about them.
There was only one thing that concerned him.
The Ōtsutsuki patriarch.
In the original history, members of the Ōtsutsuki clan could awaken the Rinnegan through immense power combined with the Byakugan.
But this situation was different.
At this point in time, Hyūga Hinata was still just a child. Her Byakugan had not yet fully developed.
So how exactly had the Ōtsutsuki patriarch awakened the Rinnegan?
That question lingered in Shigure's mind.
As for the Hyūga clan in Konoha…
Most of them had already been wiped out.
Only a few survivors remained.
One of them was Hyūga Neji.
Shigure looked at Terumī.
"You handle the battle plan. But this time, factor in both the Ōtsutsuki clan… and the possibility of Edo Tensei reinforcements."
Terumī hesitated slightly. "Shigure… you're not thinking of—"
Shigure stood up and nodded.
"That's right. I need to leave for a while."
"Leave? At a time like this?" Terumī frowned. "Where are you going?"
"To find someone."
"Who?"
"Hyūga Neji."
The Hyūga clan had suffered devastating losses.
As one of its last remaining members, Neji had to be found.
Otherwise…
Shigure didn't need to say it out loud.
Hinata would be completely broken.
Terumī looked at him, clearly not understanding.
"You're leaving the village at a time like this… just for one Hyūga?"
Shigure let out a quiet sigh.
"He's a friend. And if Neji managed to escape Konoha, then I have to find him."
Terumī could only shake her head helplessly.
At a time when the village stood on the brink of war, her Mizukage was worried about a single person.
But… this was Shigure.
And there was nothing she could do to change that.
At the same time…
Ōtsutsuki Shinji stood before a group of shinobi revived through Impure World Reincarnation.
A faint smile spread across his face.
"Impressive… truly impressive."
"To think such a technique exists."
He slowly looked over the reanimated figures, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"In that case…"
"There's no need to worry about combat strength anymore."