Chapter 21: Isn't Calling Someone "Dad" When Asking for Help Just Common Sense?
"Shuyu, stop acting on your own."
"Honestly, getting entangled with some weird old guy…"
"If I hadn't been there, it would've turned into a fight for sure. And if that happened, our school trip might've been cancelled."
As they walked through the Mizukage's building, Boruto said this to Uchiha Itachi.
"You're one to talk. You were the one who almost started the fight. And it was thanks to Shuyu's Sharingan genjutsu that it was avoided in the first place."
Sarada adjusted her red glasses perched on her nose clip.
Uchiha Itachi merely gave a silent, unreadable smile in response to their bickering.
"Sharingan genjutsu…" Kagura muttered softly to himself, so quietly only he could hear it. Then he said aloud, "Sorry, some people in the town don't like seeing outsiders here."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. You get people like that everywhere. Besides, my friend stepped in and stopped him, so it's all good."
Boruto wasn't the type to blame Kagura for something like that. In fact, he hadn't really paid it much mind to begin with.
"Well now, what a crowd of little visitors we have here."
A middle-aged woman walked over, her face clearly lined with wrinkles.
"This is the former Mizukage, Lady Mei Terumī."
"She not only played a crucial role in ending the Fourth Great Ninja War, but also laid an important foundation for the development of our village."
Kagura stood beside Mei and introduced her to the group.
"Oh, that was all in the past," Mei said with a modest laugh, though she sounded pleased. "Besides, the future doesn't belong to us anymore. It belongs to young people like you, right, Kagura?"
Kagura looked hesitant and didn't respond to Mei's comment.
Mei didn't seem to mind and took the lead, guiding everyone to the Mizukage's office.
Mei pushed the door open and walked in without hesitation, while Kagura followed politely behind, saying "Pardon us" as he entered. The rest followed Kagura into the office one by one.
The Mizukage's office was significantly more spacious than the Hokage's. Even with this many people inside, it didn't feel crowded.
"I've brought them."
Mei announced. She seemed quite pleased with the current peace and the progress the Hidden Mist Village had made.
"Thank you," said a man with short gray-blue hair and dark-rimmed glasses as he rose from his chair. He turned to look at Kagura and the students from the Hidden Leaf Ninja Academy standing behind him. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Chōjūrō, the current Mizukage. Thank you for coming all the way from the Leaf Village. On behalf of everyone in the Mist Village, I welcome you."
"The reason I agreed to host this school trip is because I believe it could become an opportunity to strengthen the ties between our two villages. Although we live in an age of peace, there are still ninjas who harbor hostility toward other villages…"
As Chōjūrō launched into a lengthy speech focused on getting along and cherishing peace, Boruto couldn't help but yawn.
"Hey, Boruto, pay attention," Sarada whispered next to him.
Yawning during the Mizukage's speech was more than a little reckless.
"I want to pay attention, but my brain just won't let me. The Mizukage talks way too much—it's just like a lecture. So boring."
Boruto muttered as he yawned again in the middle of Chōjūrō's speech.
"It's annoying to listen to, right? Yeah. Everything he's saying could be summed up in one sentence: 'Please get along and treasure the peace we have now.'"
"It's because in the past, villages used to hate each other. We shed way too much blood. That's why we were once called the Village Hidden in the Bloody Mist."
"Because we've lost so many loved ones and spilled so much blood, we've come to truly value this peace."
"But you're different. You were born in a new era. I believe you can overcome the tragic history we couldn't and create a brand-new future."
"So please, get along with the Hidden Mist Village."
After Chōjūrō finished his speech, the group left the office one by one. Kagura was the last to leave, but Chōjūrō stopped him.
"Is there something you need, Lord Mizukage?"
Only Kagura and Chōjūrō remained in the office.
"You're still unwilling to take the test?"
"The reason I said all that just now… was because I want you to build a future with those kids from the Leaf Village."
"One day, I want to give that back to you."
Chōjūrō's eyes were filled with complicated emotions as he looked at Kagura.
He couldn't deny it—among the Five Great Villages, the Hidden Mist's strength was the weakest.
Since the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was still alive, the Hidden Stone Village still ranked above them in terms of power.
To better protect his village, Chōjūrō had become the Three-Tails' jinchūriki.
The "thing" Chōjūrō referred to was the Three-Tails—he wanted to pass it on to Kagura.
After all, Kagura Karatachi was the grandson of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
"I'm sorry. I can't become the village's Kage." Kagura bowed apologetically. "I still have to guide them around. Excuse me."
Yagura had only brought harm to the village because he had been controlled by the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan from the Leaf. Because of that, Kagura couldn't promise that he wouldn't take revenge on the Leaf if he became Mizukage.
"Kagura was the only one the Mizukage kept behind."
On their way out, Uchiha Itachi noticed this detail.
"Kagura Karatachi, a ninja from the Mist Village. Became a Chūnin two years ago. Said to be one of the Sixth Mizukage's trusted aides. He was chosen as a successor of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen and is also the next wielder of the Mizukage's beloved blade, Hiramekarei."
At that moment, Mitsuki, who had been quietly standing nearby, suddenly spoke.
"You sure know a lot."
Denki Kaminarimon commented in surprise.
"Yeah, I heard some things when I was in the Sound Village."
Mitsuki replied with a faint smile.
When the Sound Village was mentioned, Itachi suddenly remembered—that was Orochimaru's turf.
Mitsuki was connected to Orochimaru.
But Itachi didn't bring it up. Judging from everyone else's reactions, they clearly didn't know.
Naruto would've definitely looked into the people around his son, which meant he must know about Mitsuki.
If even Naruto hadn't taken action, then Itachi certainly had no reason to risk exposing himself by doing anything.
"What's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"
Boruto asked curiously. He didn't know much about history. All he knew was that the villages used to fight each other a lot—one day it was this village attacking that one, and the next day, it was the other way around.
Honestly, if Boruto knew even a bit more about history, he'd know how insanely strong Naruto was, instead of being the only one who didn't.
"The First Mizukage of the Mist Village left behind seven swords. These swords choose their wielders. The chosen ninjas form the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"They say that if all seven of them gather, they could wipe out a small nation."
Itachi explained.
"Sorry for the wait. I'll take everyone to tour the Mist Village's Ninja Academy now."
Kagura had emerged from the Mizukage's office and made the offer. Naturally, no one objected—at least, not the girls.
And so, under Kagura's guidance, the group headed to the Mist Village Ninja Academy together.