The chaos erupted suddenly, and neither side had time to gather their full forces. Yet, even with such limited numbers, the sheer destructive power of these high-level "players" was astonishing.
The Mizukage Building resembled a massive version of the blockhouses constructed during wartime, albeit hundreds of times larger. Its design was rigid and crude, even bordering on ugly.
To resist the corrosive effects of water vapor, the entire structure was built from half-meter-thick granite blocks, stacked and sealed with a mixture of black tar and glutinous rice paste instead of cement. The result was an exceptionally sturdy building, impervious to most ordinary jutsu.
But even such a robust structure could not withstand the ferocity of the battle. By the end, the Mizukage Hall was left in ruins. Apart from a few load-bearing walls, everything—tables, chairs, screens, counters, ceilings, and floors—was utterly destroyed. The intensity of the battle was evident from the devastation.
In this skirmish, Yagura Karatachi's faction suffered a crushing defeat. Yagura himself was struck across the right cheek by Yoake's iron hook, narrowly avoiding the loss of his right eye. The prodigious swordsman Mangetsu Hōzuki met a tragic end when Yoake's hook pierced his throat, killing him instantly. Two other newly-inducted members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Taro Aohira and Taro Benibana, also perished in the battle. Meanwhile, Yuri Hayama, another member, was critically injured when the Second Advisor, Siren, stabbed her in the lungs, rendering her unable to fight.
Yoake's faction, on the other hand, sustained minimal losses, with only two of his protectors killed. Just as Yoake was preparing to press his advantage and annihilate Yagura's faction entirely, Yagura decisively ordered a retreat. His forces fled in disarray, taking with them the "corpse" of the Third Mizukage. This marked a significant, albeit temporary, victory for Yoake and his militant faction.
Afterward, Yoake rallied a large number of armed followers and surrounded the residence of the Elder Master. His intentions were clear: submit to his authority, and all would be well; resist, and the very concept of the Elder Master might cease to exist in Kirigakure.
Not long after, the Second Advisor, Ao Peng, emerged carrying the Mizukage's blue conical hat (a tradition in Kirigakure where the Mizukage's hat is held by the Elder Master when the Mizukage is incapacitated).
"The Elder Master is advanced in years and frail in health. He will no longer involve himself in the village's affairs. You… do your job well."
With that, Ao Peng handed the Mizukage's hat to Yoake.
Yoake was overjoyed. The Elder Master's gesture not only tacitly acknowledged his claim to the Mizukage title but also signaled a complete withdrawal from power. This meant that once the old man passed away, the position of Elder Master would be abolished, leaving Yoake as the sole authority. The dual-power structure would become a single-power system, making Yoake the most powerful Mizukage in Kirigakure's history!
Amidst the cheers of his supporters, Yoake donned the Mizukage's hat and publicly declared himself the Fourth Mizukage.
As the cheers subsided, Ao Peng leaned in close and whispered into Yoake's ear, "The Elder Master's condition has worsened, and he won't be able to attend your inauguration ceremony. In five days, I will personally introduce you to the Daimyō of the Land of Water."
Yoake's delight grew even greater. The Elder Master was no longer a concern. As long as the Daimyō, the financial backer, officially recognized him, his position as Mizukage would be unassailable.
"Second Brother, you've always been kind-hearted and magnanimous. In my opinion, when the Elder Master passes, you should take his place."
"I only wish to serve our master well. I dare not think of anything else. But let me warn you, Elder Brother—if anyone disturbs the Elder Master's peace in his final days, I will remember it. And so will my fists."
With those words, Ao Peng turned and left without looking back.
Hmph, just an old man with one foot in the grave, Yoake thought. Since he knows how to read the situation, I'll grant him a few peaceful years.
Yoake then turned to his cheering followers, raising his hand to silence them. He issued his first command as Mizukage—a bounty order. Yagura Karatachi and his faction were declared rogue ninjas. Any of his followers who surrendered within three months would be pardoned; those who failed to do so would be permanently labeled as rogue ninjas, to be killed on sight.
For Yagura's head, Yoake announced the highest bounty in history: 100 million ryo. The staggering sum even made Sakumo Hatake feel tempted when he heard the news.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Donning the Mizukage's hat and a newly tailored white robe, Yoake made his way to the Elder Master's residence to meet the Daimyō of the Land of Water. He brought only Siren as his bodyguard.
"Shouldn't we bring more men?" Siren suggested.
"It's just a meeting with the Daimyō. Why bring so many people? We don't want to give the wrong impression—we still need his financial support."
Having recently ascended to power, Yoake was riding high on the realization of his long-held political ambitions. His next plans included eliminating all opposition, consolidating the island's resources, and firmly securing all power in his hands.
The Leaf and Sand are pushing for a second Five Kage Summit? Perfect. I'll make sure Kirigakure claims a greater share of influence in the ninja world.
With the Second Shinobi World War freshly concluded, the Leaf, Sand, Stone, and Cloud were all severely weakened. Yoake believed that by leveraging Kirigakure's hidden forces across the continent, they could challenge the Four Great Nations and potentially dominate the ninja world in the future.
"Lord Mizukage," Ao Peng greeted Yoake politely with a bow.
Yoake smiled and nodded in return.
"The Daimyō of the Land of Water has arrived. Please follow me."
"Really? We mustn't keep him waiting. Lead the way."
Yoake followed eagerly.
Before long, the three reached a guest room.
"As per protocol, you must relinquish your weapons," Ao Peng said, extending his hand to Yoake and Siren.
"Of course," Yoake replied without hesitation, handing over his iron hook to Ao Peng. Siren, however, refused to part with his greatsword.
"My head never leaves my shoulders, and my sword never leaves my side."
Yoake frowned at Siren's lack of decorum but knew the man's habits well.
"Then wait outside," Yoake ordered.
Siren nodded silently.
Ao Peng opened the door. "Please."
The Elder Master's reception hall was spacious, spanning over a hundred square meters. Walking past the entrance, Yoake saw four figures seated in the room's depths. Each wore a veil and formal attire, sitting upright in silence.
It was another overcast day in Kirigakure, and the dim light made the room even darker once the door was closed. Yoake approached cautiously.
As he drew closer, something felt off. He had met the Daimyō of the Land of Water before, and the figure seated in the main position didn't resemble him at all.
When he was just four or five meters away, Yoake suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Something's wrong! It's a trap!"
Before he could react further, the figure in the main seat sprang to life. In a flash, a dull black dagger shot toward Yoake's throat.
Instinctively, Yoake raised his left hand with astonishing speed, catching the blade mid-air. But the dagger's edge dug deep, blood pouring from his palm.
The assassin didn't hesitate, twisting the blade to sever half of Yoake's hand.
"Argh!" Yoake screamed in agony. Despite the pain, his body reacted instinctively, rolling away to escape the assassin's reach.
The four veiled figures advanced, weapons drawn, ready to finish him off.
Yoake scrambled toward the door, shouting desperately, "Siren! Siren!"
The four assassins pursued him closely.
Yoake burst through the door, shattering it as he stumbled into the courtyard. To his relief, he saw Siren and Ao Peng waiting, weapons in hand.
"Quick! Siren! Assassins!" he yelled.
But before he could finish, Siren's blade slashed across Yoake's chest, sending blood spraying.
Yoake stared at Siren in disbelief. The man's scarred face twisted into a sinister grin, making him look more terrifying than ever.
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