The sun rose as usual, its morning light piercing through the clouds, yet it could never fully dispel the thick mist shrouding Kirigakure.
In the ruins of the Kaguya Clan's territory, Hoshigaki Kisame, an Anbu's member, was leading a team to eliminate the remaining remnants of the Kaguya Clan.
After Juzo was abruptly summoned away by the Mizukage, Kisame had taken charge of the cleanup operation.
"Captain, we've finished clearing the bodies from the Kaguya Clan's compound." A Kirigakure's Anbu came to Kisame and reported, "A total of 325 bodies were recovered. However, when we arrived, we found that several courtyards in the rear had already been littered with bodies. Additionally, the Kaguya Clan's prodigy, Kaguya Kimimaro, is missing."
Unlike the Uchiha Clan, every member of the Kaguya Clan who awakened the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai suffered from an incurable genetic disease, ensuring that none lived past thirty. This was why the Kaguya Clan was far smaller than the Uchiha.
The stronger the bloodline of the Kaguya Clan's members, the more severe their illness.
As the next target of Yagura, or rather, Obito, the Hozuki Clan had long been under surveillance by Kirigakure's Anbu, much like how Konoha's Anbu had monitored the Uchiha Clan after the Nine-Tails Rampage.
So when the Anbu's Ninja delivered this report, Kisame's small eyes narrowed, his blue-gray face tightening.
"Kimimaro is missing?"
Kimimaro is the Kaguya Clan's genius, said to possess the purest Shikotsumyaku in generations. Naturally, he had been on the Anbu's watchlist.
"Continue clearing Kaguya Clan's compound. I will report this to the Mizukage-sama!" After leaving behind a few Anbu's Ninjas, Kisame went towards the Mizukage Building.
As he passed through the battlefield from last night, Kisame paused atop a building, his mind heavy as he surveyed the ruined village through the mist.
'Kirigakure… when did it become like this?'
In the Mizukage's temporary office, the Fourth Hokage, Karatachi Yagura, sat silently in the shadows.
"Mizukage-sama!" Kisame knelt on one knee.
"Is the cleanup complete?" Yagura, who was sitting on the chair, asked coldly.
Kisame reported truthfully: "There are no survivors in the Kaguya Clan's compound. However, it seems someone took advantage of the chaos to attack the rear courtyards. Kaguya Kimimaro has also disappeared."
"Oh?" Yagura lifted his head slightly, the scar running from his right eye to his jaw stark against his doll-like face. His pale purple eyes were hollow and unsettling.
Meanwhile, Obito, who was secretly controlling Yagura, immediately suspected that Shura had taken Kimimaro… likely targeting the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai.
However, during the years that Obito controlled Yagura, he was very familiar with the situation of the various Ninja Clans in Kirigakure.
He knew that the Kaguya Clan's genetic disease was incurable, and the more talented a Kaguya, the faster they would die of the disease.
'Even if Shura took him, that kid won't live much longer.'
Yagura spoke, "A mysterious Ninja known as Shura appeared in the village last night. Kimimaro's disappearance may be related to him."
"Shura?" Kisame frowned, trying to recall where he had heard that name before.
Then, he suddenly remembered that Shura was the mysterious Ninja who caused chaos in Konoha and Kumogakure last year and was later given a 70 million Ryo bounty!
"Take two squads and patrol the southwestern coastline. If you encounter Shura or any Kaguya Clan's remnants, eliminate them immediately." Yagura's tone left no room for refusal.
"Me? Eliminate Shura?" Kisame's shark-like face stiffened, his small eyes widening in disbelief. The gill-like markings on his cheeks twitched.
'The other party is a super powerful powerhouse who was able to cause havoc in Konoha and Kumogakure and escape unscathed. He was even offered a reward of 70 million Ryo by Kumogakure!'
'How am I, an Anbu who has just been promoted to a Jonin, supposed to kill him?'
"Suikazan Fuguki and Biwa Juzo have already inflicted heavy injuries on him. He shouldn't have gotten far." Yagura said.
Not only did he lie, but he also failed to mention that Fuguki and Juzo were already dead by the enemy's hands.
"...Understood." Regardless of his doubts, Kisame dared not refuse the Mizukage's orders.
"One more thing." Yagura's voice dropped lower, "You are Suikazan Fuguki's subordinate, a Ninja specifically tasked with protecting Kirigakure's secrets. If the mission risks failure, you know what to do, right?"
'Perfect timing to use Shura's hand to eliminate more of Kirigakure's rising generation of Ninjas.' Obito, who was hiding in the dark, had some understanding of Kisame's strength.
Known as the [Tailless Tailed Beast], Kisame had performed exceptionally during the Third Great Ninja War. So he absolutely couldn't be allowed to grow stronger.
"Understood." Kisame bowed deeply, recalling the mission his superior, Suikazan Fuguki, had once assigned him.
To protect Kirigakure's secrets, whenever weaker Ninjas were at risk of being captured by enemy forces, he was responsible for eliminating those comrades… ensuring they wouldn't leak the village's secrets to the enemy.
After leaving the Mizukage's temporary office, Kisame arrived at the plaza below the Mizukage Building.
Two squads, totaling six ninjas, had already gathered there. Most were Chunin, with only the squad leaders being Special Jonin.
'All recently promoted ninjas from the village…' Kisame's small eyes swept over the six, quickly gauging their approximate strength.
'Makes sense. A powerhouse like Shura has probably already left. For a border patrol mission like this, there's no need to dispatch elite Ninjas.'
Typically, border patrols were C-Rank missions, only escalating to B-Rank if hostile Ninjas were encountered.
However, due to their unpredictability, border patrol rewards were set at the highest tier for C-Rank missions. If hostile Ninjas were encountered, the mission would immediately rise to B-Rank, with rewards scaling further based on the number and strength of the foes… potentially even reaching A-Rank.
Without much discussion, Kisame simply briefed the two squads on the patrol route and some basic details.
As for the possible encounter with the mysterious Ninja Shura, it is classified information.
Once the mission was assigned, the group quickly mobilized. Under Kisame's lead, they left the village and headed toward the southwestern coast of the Land of Water for patrol.
Throughout the journey, Kisame spoke little, maintaining an aloof, unapproachable demeanor.
Moreover, Kisame's appearance is also very scary. He has blue-gray skin, a shark-like face, and small, piercing eyes. He looked like a character straight out of a horror movie.
The six Kirigakure's Ninjas chatted quietly among themselves as they leaped through the trees, occasionally stealing glances at Kisame, who led the group.
Kisame didn't stop their behavior as long as it didn't interfere with the patrol mission.
As they moved, the Kirigakure's Ninjas grew louder in their discussions, even bringing up last night's rebellion by the Kaguya Clan. Their lively chatter contrasted sharply with Kisame's silence.
It also caught the attention of one Kunoichi in the team.
After leaving the Kirigakure, the patrol team headed south, reaching the southern coastline of the Land of Water's main island before turning west to continue their patrol.
This stretch of coastline faced the Land of Fire across the sea.
By lunchtime, the six Kirigakure's Ninjas sat together, sharing their packed rations and chatting animatedly. Some even pulled out a deck of cards for a casual game.
Meanwhile, Kisame set up perimeter traps before sitting under a nearby tree. He pulled out his canteen and drank silently, isolated from the others… a solitude he was accustomed to.
Just as Kisame sipped his water, lost in thought about the details of the mission assigned by the Mizukage, a shadow fell across the grass in front of him.
Kisame looked up and saw a delicate, pretty face.
"Captain Hoshigaki, come join us for lunch." The brown-haired kunoichi said with a smile, extending an invitation to Kisame.