The western side of the nameless island was originally a mudflat. After arriving on the island, the Mist Ninjas gathered several who specialized in Earth Style Jutsu to work together and reshape the terrain, creating a man-made harbor. This allowed the Mist Ninjas to move in and out more easily, with direct access to the eastern coast of the Land of Fire.
Sōgen stood calmly on the deck, gazing at the nameless island ahead.
Under the clear sky, smoke curled up from the island, which lay atop a vast ocean. Through his Sharingan, he could see a blurry, almost illusory barrier covering the island. It was a traditional sensory barrier, designed solely to enhance perception, sacrificing defensive strength.
Infiltrating the island without triggering the barrier seemed nearly impossible.
Sōgen turned around. "Who wants to take the lead?"
This question immediately sparked infighting, an internal conflict within the Uchiha clan. Clan members, eager to prove themselves, nearly got into a brawl before even engaging the Mist Ninjas. In the end, someone unexpected was chosen to lead the charge.
Yagura took the lead.
No joke—this Fourth Mizukage was the first to act. He submerged underwater, calmly passed through the familiar barrier, and knocked out the sentries with just a few punches and kicks. He was heavy-handed, breaking the arms and legs of the Mist Ninjas.
The Mist Ninjas, now incapacitated, had lost their ability to move or fight, becoming helpless.
In Yagura's view, breaking a few bones and letting them recover for a few months was far better than letting the Konoha Ninjas slaughter them. If possible, he wished to end the war without unnecessary casualties, though he knew this was a dream.
After all, how can there be a war without deaths?
After neutralizing three teams of Mist Ninjas, Yagura's stealth couldn't last much longer. The Mist Ninjas weren't weak enough to be completely defenseless. When the forward sentries lost contact, the Mist Ninjas in the rear immediately sensed something was wrong and threw kunai with explosive tags without hesitation.
The sound of explosions was the clearest signal.
"Are you in that much of a hurry to die?"
His attacks became even fiercer. The Mist Ninja who threw the explosive tag had his arms and legs completely broken by Yagura.
Although the nickname "Village of the Bloody Mist" came about after Uchiha Obito began controlling Yagura, this baby-faced Mizukage was no saint. In fact, it's surprising that such a brutal place like the Mist Village could produce someone as gentle as Chōjūrō.
Before being controlled by Uchiha Obito, Yagura had already ruled Kirigakure with an iron fist. His cute appearance and gentlemanly behavior were just a façade. In reality, Yagura was just as ruthless as the previous Mizukages. There was no room for soft-hearted people in the Mist Village.
"You... you... Mizukage-sama?"
The fallen Mist Ninja was a tough one. Despite having his arms and legs broken, he hadn't passed out. Seeing Yagura unmasked, he was so shocked that he could barely think. As a sentry, he was at least a sensory ninja.
Others might have thought this was some kind of transformation trick.
But he relied on his sensory abilities to confirm Yagura's identity. This was indeed the Mizukage. Transformation techniques could only change appearance, but they couldn't alter a person's chakra.
"Mizukage-sama, what's going on? Why are you with Konoha Ninjas?" The Mist Ninja was utterly bewildered as he saw Konoha Ninjas appear beside Yagura. Was their Mizukage collaborating with Konoha to attack their base?
If he remembered correctly, Mizukage-sama hadn't left the island recently. But the Yagura in front of him felt real... it didn't seem like an imposter.
"I don't have time to explain. If you don't want to die, lie still. You'll get your chance to understand the truth." Yagura stepped over the fallen Mist Ninja and pressed deeper into the island.
It was no longer just his show.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Uchiha Akitarō stood at the edge of the forest, releasing a massive fireball that engulfed a large section of the woods, incinerating several Mist Ninjas hiding within. This was only the beginning. The Uchihas, masters of fire techniques, showed no fear even when facing the Mist Ninjas, who were water specialists.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Uchiha Hokuto leaped into the air, raining down fireballs like falling rain.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Uchiha Chihaya used Wind Style Jutsu.
Wind fanned the flames.
In an instant, the flames surged like a tsunami.
Brilliant firelight illuminated the forest as the Uchiha clan's jōnin showed no signs of self-preservation. Every single one of them charged headfirst into battle.
They fought recklessly, with abandon, letting their burning battle spirit run wild! Though the older, battle-worn Uchihas might have grown tired of war, the younger generation couldn't wait to prove their strength on the battlefield, eager to show off their power. Not even Death could stop them from rushing into battle!
"It's the Konoha Ninjas!"
Receiving this expected information from the frontline, Mangetsu Hōzuki lowered his gaze. The mocking smile that had hung on his lips disappeared, leaving only a cruel killing intent, colder than the autumn frost. His purple eyes, as beautiful as stars, gleamed with icy malice.
"Zabuza, Kisame, Ameyuri, it's time to hunt!"
The four of them formed a team.
This team wasn't assigned by higher-ups but came together after each of their former teammates had died several times over. Only geniuses could keep up with other geniuses. Mediocre ninjas who tried to follow would ultimately be left behind.
"Mangetsu, don't try to boss me around. I don't need your orders."
Momochi Zabuza spoke with disdain.
His ambition was to become the Mizukage and reform the Mist Village, which he found utterly intolerable.
"I was just making a suggestion. After all, our team doesn't even have an official captain yet, right?" Mangetsu Hōzuki's light, bloodthirsty smile returned.
Kisame Hoshigaki remained silent. The reason their team still didn't have a captain was the ongoing rivalry between Mangetsu and Zabuza. As for Kisame himself, he remained focused on being a proper ninja, just as his mentor, Fuguki Suikazan, had taught him.
The group left their camp and headed toward the western side of the island, where the sounds of fire and explosions echoed.
Thick fog had already spread across the area without anyone noticing. The Hidden Mist Technique was one of the Mist Village's signature moves, a staple of their ninjutsu arsenal.
While the jutsu itself wasn't particularly complex—most chunin-level Mist Ninjas could use it—the true strength of the technique lay in its combination with the Silent Killing Technique.
The fog robbed the enemy of sight, while silent assassins avoided detection by sound. When someone became both blind and deaf, they were little more than helpless prey.
The Hidden Mist Technique and Silent Killing Technique worked together like coffee and milk—an exquisite combination.
The two techniques complemented each other perfectly.
In the blink of an eye, Zabuza had disappeared from Mangetsu's view. Even Mangetsu had to admit that Zabuza's skill in Silent Killing surpassed his own.
All four members of this team were considered geniuses within the Mist Village.
Mangetsu's greatest strength came from the Hōzuki clan's secret techniques. In his clan, he was seen as someone who could one day rival the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki. Kisame, despite coming from a small clan, had emerged as a master of Water Style Jutsu. Ameyuri Ringo, the Lightning Style prodigy, wielded the Thunder Swords, Kiba.
While he might not match Mangetsu, Kisame, or Ameyuri in raw combat ability, he had earned the title of "Demon" because his Silent Killing Technique was the strongest in Kirigakure. After defeating the Mist Ninja who had previously been the best at Silent Killing, Zabuza was now the undisputed master of the technique.
If Zabuza were given the chance to assassinate his teammates, perhaps only Mangetsu, with the Hōzuki clan's secret techniques, would survive. Ameyuri, who favored frontal assaults, would likely fall to Zabuza's silent blade. As for Kisame… if only he had inherited the Samehada from Fuguki Suikazan.
Unfortunately, the Samehada had fallen into the hands of Konoha.
In the mist, a flash of sparks flickered briefly as blades clashed.
Zabuza's Silent Killing strike had failed. Uchiha Shisui, his Sharingan blazing red, blocked Zabuza's silent strike with his short sword. Luckily, Zabuza had grown used to dealing with the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, so he quickly retreated after missing the first strike, preventing Shisui from gaining an advantage.
"Wow, we've got a big fish here!" Mangetsu grinned, his fingers flicking with anticipation.
"Shisui of the Body Flicker." This text is hosted at novel★fire.net
In the depths of Kisame Hoshigaki's eyes, a murderous intent arose. He gripped the hilt of the sword on his back and silently, slowly drew it. Just as Mangetsu Hozuki had said, this was indeed a big fish. Shisui of the Body Flicker—this was a formidable warrior that even Ao, the "Byakugan Killer," feared. If they could take down Shisui Uchiha here, it would surely be a significant achievement.
No words were necessary.
In that instant, Zabuza Momochi, Mangetsu Hozuki, and Kisame Hoshigaki teamed up to hunt down Shunshin Shisui Uchiha.
As for Ringo Ameyuri, no one knew where she had run off to. This lightning-style prodigy wasn't fond of or skilled in the assassination tactics that the Mist Ninjas often employed. What she loved most was using her Lightning Blades, Kiba, to crush her enemies head-on, cutting them down with the twin swords in her hands.