Chapter 31: Make Kirigakure Great Again
Before long, Terumi Mei and the other three were brought in one after another.
Upon seeing Terumi Mei, Kagemasa, Ao, and Chōjūrō all captured, Kōjitsu Ryūichi and Hōzuki Kirizuki were overjoyed.
“Ahahaha…”
“The right and left arms of the former leader are now in our hands!”
Terumi Mei and the others, upon facing the high-ranking members of Blood Mist, were both shocked and furious.
Though the outcome was unexpected, it was not entirely unreasonable.
Kōjitsu Ryūichi belonged to the same clan as the Fourth Mizukage, Kōjitsu Yakura, and the Hōzuki clan maintained close ties with the Kōjitsu family.
Moreover, both Kōjitsu Ryūichi and Hōzuki Kirizuki were elder statesmen within the village.
The upper echelons of Blood Mist couldn’t contend with the former leader without figures of such stature.
Terumi Mei glared angrily at the two old men, Kōjitsu Ryūichi and Hōzuki Kirizuki, and demanded:
“You are also elders of the village. Why would you do this?”
“Isn’t the suffering brought by Blood Mist’s policies to the village already enough?”
“The current Hidden Mist Village improves with each passing day. Are you blind to see this?”
Terumi Mei was about to continue when the two elders, trembling with fury, interrupted her.
“Silence!” Kōjitsu Ryūichi cut her off sharply, then continued.
“What do you understand?”
“You and that self-righteous old man, the former leader, are turning the village into a mess!”
“The youth are growing weak, the village has lost its fierceness, like a beast stripped of its claws and fangs!”
“Only Blood Mist can restore greatness to the Hidden Mist Village!”
Kōjitsu Ryūichi’s anger intensified, and he began to cough uncontrollably. Yet, Hōzuki Kirizuki’s stubbornness was no less.
Before Terumi Mei could retort, Hōzuki Kirizuki took the floor.
“You have allowed the village to openly connect with the outside world.”
“You have let dangerous figures like Uzumaki Shika and Kisame openly roam the village.”
“If the established path of Blood Mist continues, how could such threats ever infiltrate the Hidden Mist Village?”
Hōzuki Kirizuki’s words left Terumi Mei at a loss for rebuttal.
Still, she wished to argue that even with the Fourth Mizukage Kōjitsu Yakura guarding the village gates, no one could defeat a ninja of Uzumaki Shika’s caliber.
Realizing this, Terumi Mei composed herself and said quietly, “This is merely a special circumstance, unrelated to the village’s developmental path.”
“Uzumaki Shika is a ninja comparable to a village’s leader. Cooperation with him will only benefit the village.”
“The current Hidden Mist Village is worlds apart from the past.”
“The villagers’ lives are improving; smiles are more frequent.”
“Under the leadership of the former master, all aspects of the village continue to progress.”
What Terumi Mei spoke were facts.
Facts speak louder than words!
No matter how much Hōzuki Kirizuki tried, he could not deny these evident truths.
Yet, they still refused to acknowledge the former leader and the present Hidden Mist Village.
In the past, Blood Mist was the village’s supreme will.
Its iron-fisted policies brought them ultimate power!
They held the greatest authority in the Hidden Mist Village and enjoyed the most benefits.
The former leader’s combined efforts had shattered Blood Mist’s dominance.
Now, the villagers and shinobi were no longer so easily controlled or managed.
How could this continue?
Both Kōjitsu Yakura and Hōzuki Kirizuki had heard of the Uchiha clan’s fate in Konoha.
Because they failed to grasp the highest power within the village tightly, the once-mighty warlords from the Warring States era were gradually marginalized and even annihilated.
They could never allow the Kōjitsu and Hōzuki clans to suffer the same fate as the Uchiha!
Therefore, the former leader must die!
As for Terumi Mei and the others, if they refused to submit, death was their only path!
Hōzuki Kirizuki ceased trying to reason with Terumi Mei, for he had no logic to offer, only sophistry.
He bluntly asked, “Terumi Mei, do you want to live or die?”
After his words, expressions flickered across Terumi Mei and her companions’ faces.
Though they knew Uzumaki Shika was nearby, Hōzuki Kirizuki and his group stood so close.
If Shika failed to arrive in time, they could die at their hands at any moment.
Terumi Mei only snorted coldly in response.
Seeing her attitude, Kōjitsu Ryūichi and Hōzuki Kirizuki understood her resolve.
Hōzuki Kirizuki then turned to Kagemasa and the others.
“Terumi Mei is tired of living. How about you?”
Kagemasa exploded with anger.
“I will never betray the former master!”
“Only the former master truly works for the village’s progress!”
“Under the former master’s guidance, the Hidden Mist Village improves bit by bit!”
“Only by steadfastly following the former master can the village have a brighter future!”
“As for you, no matter how grand your words, you are nothing but refined selfish opportunists!”
Kagemasa’s words struck a nerve with Kōjitsu Ryūichi and Hōzuki Kirizuki.
Indeed, that was their motive.
They did what they could to claim their share of the cake, all while claiming to serve the village.
After all, the village was established by powerful clans like theirs.
Once the village prospered, why should so many commoners rise to high ranks and steal power from them?
Without wasting words, Hōzuki Kirizuki produced a kunai and said to Kagemasa:
“Death is imminent, and yet your mouth is so stubborn!”
Kagemasa met Hōzuki Kirizuki’s gaze unflinchingly, showing no fear.
Hōzuki Kirizuki was unsettled by the intensity in his eyes and ordered Kondō Takashi:
“Kondō Takashi, kill him!”
“Yes!”
Kondō Takashi drew his ninja sword without hesitation, stepping before Kagemasa ready to strike and sever his head.
“Bang—”
However, the blade never fell.
Not only that, Kondō Takashi was suddenly struck by a figure with brutal, unreasonable force and sent flying backwards.
“Boom!”
The next moment, Kondō Takashi crashed into Hōzuki Kirizuki’s desk, shattering it to pieces.
“Swish! Swish! Swish!”
The sudden upheaval summoned numerous Blood Mist shinobi, who appeared in the room in an instant using Body Flicker Technique.
They immediately shielded Hōzuki Kirizuki and Kōjitsu Ryūichi.
The one who had just appeared and struck down Kondō Takashi was a red-haired ninja clad in a black Heavenly Fire and Cloud robe.
He was none other than Uzumaki Shika.
“Clang—”
The sound of a sword echoed as Uzumaki Shika raised and swung his blade.
Several hand seals followed, placed upon Terumi Mei and the others.
With each seal, the binding seals on their bodies were undone effortlessly.
In the blink of an eye, the ropes binding Terumi Mei and the others fell to the floor.
Their sealed chakra was restored at the same moment.
After completing this, Shika smiled and said:
“Let me introduce myself. I am Uzumaki Shika, a ninja from the Hidden Rain Village.”
“This time, I have accepted a long-term contract with the Hidden Mist Village to strategically deter all those who threaten its safety.”
Kōjitsu Ryūichi and Hōzuki Kirizuki understood the implied meaning behind Shika’s words.
Kōjitsu Ryūichi’s expression darkened.
“Is it your professional ethics to renege after accepting a task?”
Shika tilted his head, defiant, and pointed at Kōjitsu Ryūichi, loudly retorting:
“Don’t spout nonsense! I’ll sue you for slander!”
“The one who took on the bounty was Kakuzu, not me, Uzumaki Shika.”
“I only helped a little when Kakuzu was capturing people.”
“I have nothing to do with your missions.”
Kōjitsu Ryūichi angrily pointed at Kakuzu.
“You are clearly in cahoots! You even wear the same clothes!”
Shika shrugged indifferently.
“What? Wearing the same outfit is a crime now? If you keep slandering me, I’ll flip!”
Shika’s rambling plunged the room into silence.
Really?
Could it get any worse?
Kakuzu was dumbfounded.
Every time Kakuzu thought he had seen Shika’s lowest point, Shika managed to shock him anew.
Is this why he had to go through this routine before every mission?
So this was all part of your plan, Uzumaki Shika!