Takizo dragged the collapsed figure into the shadows of the alley and studied the boy's face as it shifted back from fluid into solid lines.
Long blue-white hair hung over his cheeks, and his vacant purple eyes stared open. His crooked mouth revealed rows of sharp teeth.
It was none other than the genius of the Hozuki clan, later a member of Taka in the original story.
The six-year-old Hozuki Suigetsu.
Watching Suigetsu gradually regain his human form, Takizo could not help but marvel at the Hozuki clan's strange ability.
The Hozuki were a clan of secret arts in the Mist, inheritors of a unique water technique that allowed them to liquefy their bodies completely. It made them immune to most physical attacks but weak against Lightning Release.
Which was why Suigetsu had been shocked into submission by the faint current of Takizo's lightning technique.
"Damn it! That's low!" Suigetsu shook his head angrily. "Using Lightning Release on a student!"
Takizo chuckled. "Well, it's not every day I meet the future wielder of the Seven Ninja Swords, Hozuki Suigetsu. I had to go all out."
"You've got an eye for talent, old man." Suigetsu grinned wide, showing his sharp teeth—then stopped short, narrowing his gaze. "Wait… you're not a teacher, are you?"
He leaned close, squinting at Takizo. "You look kind of familiar…"
Takizo pushed his forehead protector up, revealing the two distinct dots at his brow, and raised an eyebrow.
"What?!" Suigetsu's eyes went wide. He clamped a hand over his mouth, glanced nervously outside, and whispered, "You're that brat from the Kaguya clan?"
Takizo rolled his eyes. "First of all, my name is Takizo. Second, I'm older than you. You're the brat."
Suigetsu shrugged indifferently. "Whatever. Don't sweat the details."
Takizo nodded toward the ninja academy. "But why are you even in school?"
"You don't know?" Suigetsu scratched his head with a groan. "It's my brother. He said if the Mist was going to recover, it had to start by breaking the barriers between bloodline clans and the village. So he shoved me in here."
Of course Takizo knew. The Kaguya had gotten excited when they first heard about the idea of attending the academy.
But when they learned that the graduation policy of killing classmates had been canceled, they lost all interest and returned home, cursing Zabuza Momochi as the culprit at every clan meeting.
Still, Takizo had only asked in order to steer the conversation toward Suigetsu's brother, Hozuki Mangetsu.
"It's been over half a year since I last saw Mangetsu," Takizo said. "Since I'm here, I should really pay him a visit."
As two of the oldest bloodline clans in Kirigakure, the Hozuki and the Kaguya had always maintained some contact.
Suigetsu thought about it. "Last time we met was when your clan slaughtered a squad, and Zabuza-senpai and my brother came to demand them back."
"But recently, my brother and Zabuza have been acting all secretive. I don't even know what they're up to. They're barely ever home."
"That's too bad," Takizo clicked his tongue. "I can't exactly just wait at your house for him, can I?"
Suigetsu's eyes lit up. "That's it! You can wait at my place!"
He took a few steps forward, baring his sharp teeth again. "That way it won't count as skipping school. I'm escorting an honored guest of the Kaguya clan!"
"I'm a genius!" Suigetsu declared proudly, planting his hands on his hips.
"Hahaha! Future wielder of… let's see, Hiramekarei? Or maybe Samehada? Eh, Kubikiribocho's good too. Doesn't matter—future Seven Swordsman of the Mist, Hozuki Suigetsu!"
"There's noise over here!" a shout came from nearby.
Suigetsu's face fell. "Crap, the old geezers are onto us. Let's move!"
He grabbed Takizo and sprinted off.
After several twists and turns, they reached the Hozuki compound.
"No wonder—you're descendants of the Second Mizukage!" Takizo admired the polished buildings. "What a prime location. Just two streets away from the village center."
"Like it?" Suigetsu muttered. "My brother could give you a house. There are plenty of empty ones."
Takizo smirked. "That's what makes it impressive. A clan with this much prime land, yet so many empty houses."
Suigetsu shot him a glare. "Not built empty. They became empty."
Takizo already understood.
"Well, here we are. Looks like my brother's out." Suigetsu pushed open the door. "The servants were dismissed, so make yourself comfortable. I'll bring tea."
Takizo sat cross-legged in the simple living room, noting the plain furnishings. "No servants, no luxury. Is this simplicity by choice, or something else?" he wondered.
In the original story, several major incidents in Kirigakure had been mentioned but never fully explained. One of them was Zabuza's assassination attempt on the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
Zabuza had failed, fled the village, and met Haku afterward.
But that incident was filled with unanswered questions.
How did Zabuza get past the ANBU guarding the Mizukage? Even if he had Yagura's trust, how did he survive the retaliation of both Yagura and Obito?
And after failing, how did he escape the village's pursuit alive, with enough strength left to take Haku with him?
It was clear—someone had helped him.
And who could it have been?
The answer lay in the fate of the Hozuki clan.
In the story, only three members were ever shown: the reanimated Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu; the reanimated Hozuki Mangetsu; and Hozuki Suigetsu, reduced to an experiment of Orochimaru.
But what of the rest?
The answer was obvious.
Extinction.
Like Karin of the destroyed Uzumaki, Kimimaro of the annihilated Kaguya, and Sasuke of the massacred Uchiha, Suigetsu too bore the mark of a clan wiped out.
And the reason tied back to one line in Mangetsu's character setting:
Died chasing his dream.
When the pieces were put together, the truth became clear. Zabuza's hidden ally had been Hozuki Mangetsu. Or perhaps the two had conspired together.
And Suigetsu's words only confirmed Takizo's suspicion.
A thin smile curved Takizo's lips. "The next step is finding a way in."
Suigetsu returned with tea and snacks, plopping them down. "Anyway, we've got nothing better to do. Let's spar. I'll show you what I can do."
He paused, remembering Takizo's lightning. "But no Lightning Release."
Takizo snorted. "Not interested."
"What? Why not?" Suigetsu shouted.
"You expect me to fight you with my Shikotsumyaku and Water Release," Takizo said flatly, "while you can turn into water and shrug off physical attacks and water techniques?" He gave him a look that said, You must be joking.
Suigetsu deflated, collapsing in frustration, while Takizo, still hungry from missing breakfast, helped himself to the snacks.
"Graduate first, then challenge me," Takizo said with a laugh. "You're not even a Genin yet, brat."
"You're not a Genin either! You've never even gone to school!" Suigetsu snapped back.
"No point arguing with a kid still in school." Takizo sipped his tea lazily.
Suigetsu screamed in frustration. "Arghhhh!"
Just then, the door creaked open and a shadow stepped inside.