"Allowing shinobi from other villages to operate openly within the Land of Water?!"
Zabuza's voice was sharp with anger.
"This will only increase the risk of the village's intelligence being leaked!"
Having just returned from a mission, Zabuza had immediately discovered the new regulation—and wasted no time seeking out Mei.
There was no doubt in his mind.
This proposal had to be hers.
"Zabuza, you see the situation quite clearly," Mei said calmly, setting down her pen and looking up at him.
"Right now, Konoha, Kumogakure, Iwagakure—even Sunagakure, despite its recent defeat—have begun holding joint activities among the Four Great Shinobi Villages."
"You once represented Kirigakure and observed the situation in Konoha firsthand. You should understand what that means."
Zabuza's voice dropped low.
"I understand it perfectly well."
"It's just another scheme to make money. If they really wanted funds, they could simply send a few representatives and demand compensation."
"As for participation, Elder Genji has already dispatched delegates to Konoha," Mei replied evenly.
"But what Kirigakure needs is more than short-term compensation."
Zabuza stared at her coldly.
After a brief silence, he abruptly changed the subject. When he spoke again, his voice was even lower—tinged with unmistakable killing intent.
"There's a traitor in the village."
"While I was on my mission, I intercepted signs of intelligence leakage."
"Even with the village facing both internal strife and external threats, we still can't secure our core intelligence…"
Mei Terumī cut him off.
"I know."
"The traitor is Fuguki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
A fierce gleam flashed across Zabuza's eyes. Without hesitation, he turned toward the door.
"I'll deal with him."
Mei's voice sounded from behind him.
"Someone has already gone."
"The first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen… those who didn't die in battle have all now been confirmed as traitors."
"Doesn't that alone prove that the policies Kirigakure followed in the past were fundamentally flawed?"
Zabuza halted mid-step but did not turn around.
"The biggest problem was already resolved with the anomaly of the Fourth Mizukage."
"The enemy's infiltration only proves the necessity of certain extreme defensive measures."
Even now, he refused to abandon his stance.
"Killing Fuguki isn't something just anyone can accomplish."
"Don't let him sense the danger and escape."
He clearly intended to confirm the matter himself.
"Wait, Zabuza," Mei said as she rose from her seat. "He'll handle it."
Zabuza gave a dismissive scoff and stepped through the doorway.
At that moment, another shinobi was walking toward him.
Blue-skinned. Shark-like features.
A massive sword wrapped in bandages rested across his back.
The Demon of the Mist stopped in his tracks, his body tensing slightly.
"Kisame Hoshigaki."
He spoke the name slowly, with clear caution.
Kisame grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth—his version of a greeting.
Without another word, he stepped past Zabuza and into the room to report.
"Fuguki has been dealt with."
He lifted the weapon on his back slightly.
"This is Samehada."
Zabuza's Demon reputation had been forged the moment he graduated—through the massacre he carried out and his mastery of the Silent Killing Technique.
Kisame Hoshigaki, however, was a completely different kind of shinobi.
Within Kirigakure, he was infamous for killing his own comrades without hesitation, all in the name of protecting the village's secrets.
Would a man like that truly support Mei Terumī's new policies?
Zabuza couldn't understand it.
Yet the doubts churning in his chest made him suppress the urge to leave immediately. Instead, he remained at the doorway, silently observing the two figures inside the office.
Mei did not accept the sword Kisame presented.
"From now on," she said calmly, "you will succeed Fuguki. Samehada will be yours, and you will be responsible for safeguarding the village's intelligence."
Kisame's mouth stretched into his familiar grin, revealing a row of sharp teeth that could hardly be called a smile. He lowered his arm, casually resting the massive sword across his shoulder as though its weight meant nothing.
"Zabuza."
Mei's gaze shifted toward the silent figure standing at the doorway.
"Among the seven ninja swords, Kubikiribōchō and Kiba are currently unaccounted for. The Great Sword—Samehada now belongs to Kisame."
"The village still retains Nuibari, Kabutowari, and Shibuki."
Her voice remained steady.
"Are you willing to become one of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
Zabuza did not respond immediately.
The lower half of his face was wrapped in bandages, hiding any expression, but his eyes narrowed sharply.
"What about Hiramekarei?" he asked.
"Hiramekarei already has a wielder."
A surge of anger shot through Zabuza.
He was being invited to join the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—yet only allowed to choose from the remaining three blades?
Was Mei deliberately demonstrating her authority?
Even though the Fourth Mizukage had not formally stepped down, she already controlled the village's core power—even the right to assign the legendary swords.
Zabuza had not yet acknowledged her leadership.
Nor had he ever lost in a direct confrontation.
So instead of replying with words, he answered with action.
Without another glance, he stepped out of the office, his presence radiating a chilling hostility.
"Zabuza's angry," Kisame remarked casually. "He's not about to become my next mission, is he?"
Mei shook her head slowly.
Through the window, the village lay beneath its familiar veil of thick mist.
"The extreme brutality and isolation of the past never brought Kirigakure true strength or stability," she said quietly.
"Instead, the village continued bleeding within this Bloody Mist… slowly declining."
She folded her arms.
"Meanwhile, the other hidden villages have protected their interests through fierce competition—without resorting to such extremes."
Turning back to Kisame, her tone softened slightly.
"I still want you to protect Kirigakure's intelligence from outside threats."
"But at the very least… you no longer need to be as ruthless as before, Kisame."
Kisame let out a low, hoarse laugh.
"Change…"
"It makes things a little interesting, doesn't it… future Mizukage."
The Kirigakure of the past had already lost its place for him.
He no longer understood what he himself was supposed to be.
He had killed enemies.
He had killed comrades.
He had killed those he was meant to protect.
He had even killed the superiors who gave him orders.
What did a shinobi gain after enduring everything… after trampling everything?
Nothing but a chaotic emptiness.
Kisame tightened his grip on Samehada resting on his shoulder, feeling the faint pulse of life within the blade.
The answer still eluded him.
But the village was changing.
Mei intended to create a different Kirigakure.
And perhaps… just perhaps…
When that future arrived, he might finally understand what kind of existence he truly was.
—
Within Konoha, there were very few places Roshi had never set foot in.
Even the Uchiha clan compound—famous for its isolation—considered him a frequent visitor.
Only the Hyūga clan estate remained a place he had truly never entered.
In some ways, the Hyūga might have been even more closed-off than the Uchiha.
After all, the Uchiha district—even the Naka Shrine—allowed outsiders to visit during the day to draw fortunes.
The Hyūga estate was another matter entirely.
Stepping inside meant exposing oneself to the silent scrutiny of countless Byakugan at any moment. It was hardly surprising that most Konoha shinobi preferred to keep their distance.
Today, however, Roshi had come at the invitation of Hyūga Hiashi.
When he stepped through the gates of the Hyūga mansion, Hiashi himself stood waiting—along with several white-haired clan elders arranged in a formal line.
Even Hinata, who should have been attending the Academy, stood quietly beside her father.
She wore a small kimono, her head lowered. Her pale little face was tense with nervousness, and her small hands were clasped tightly in front of her.
"Lord Roshi, welcome to the Hyūga clan."
The grand reception caught Roshi slightly off guard.
Then a faint sense of regret crossed his mind.
He hadn't seen Hiashi's wife.
'Should I ask where his wife is…?'
'No. That would definitely make me look like a pervert.'
Roshi suppressed the thought.
Led by the group, he entered a spacious and refined reception room. The paper doors were gently closed behind them, sealing off the view of the courtyard.
The timid young heiress of the main family disappeared from sight as well.
Inside the room, only Hiashi and several clan elders remained—none of them bearing the Caged Bird Seal upon their foreheads.
After tea was poured into the cup before him, Roshi did not touch it.
Instead, he went straight to the point.
"Regarding the establishment of a branch of the Military Police Force, all preparations have been coordinated," he said calmly.
"Next month, the village will formally issue the order to establish it."
Then, without warning, his tone shifted.
"However, the village does not wish to see every key position—from squad leaders to rank-and-file members—monopolized by members of the Hyūga clan after the branch is formed."
The statement was blunt.
There was no attempt to soften it.
The expressions of several Hyūga elders darkened instantly.
They exchanged quick glances with one another, their dissatisfaction obvious.
For the past two years, the Hyūga had endured immense pressure from the Uchiha while fighting fiercely for influence. Wasn't their goal precisely to obtain the same authority the Uchiha once held within the military police force?
"To avoid any misunderstandings in the future," Roshi continued evenly, his gaze settling calmly on Hiashi, who sat at the head of the room.
"I will make this point very clear."
"The personnel appointments of the branch must ultimately pass the village's review."
"However, under normal circumstances, the village will not reject the candidate list submitted by the branch commander."
He paused slightly.
"Provided the personnel arrangement is sufficiently reasonable."
One of the elders swallowed.
Looking at Roshi carefully, he asked in a cautious tone,
"Lord Roshi… what exactly does the village mean by 'reasonable'?"
A cold smile tugged faintly at Roshi's lips.
"Reasonable means this."
"If the branch establishes ten regular squads, the village does not wish to see five of their captains named Hyūga."
"If there are two Hyūga captains, and their abilities have been properly evaluated and confirmed as qualified, that is considered reasonable."
"If there is only one Hyūga captain—and that individual's position truly matches their character and capability—that is also reasonable."
The implication was obvious.
Positions obtained purely through connections would not be tolerated.
The elder frowned deeply.
"Isn't that standard… somewhat too strict?"
Roshi slowly raised his eyes.
His gaze swept across every Hyūga elder present before finally resting on Hiashi.
His voice remained calm.
"I am not here to negotiate."
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