Chapter 109 – Bringing the Mizukage Home
The moonlight was hazy and dreamlike.
Tonight, few in Kirigakure would find rest easily.
Within the village, countless torches blazed through the darkness. The streets, which should have been calm and quiet at this hour, were now packed with shinobi. Troops were gathering everywhere.
Even off-duty ninja had been mobilized—but no one dared to complain. The discipline and professionalism of Kirigakure's shinobi had always been among the best.
"Captain, to summon everyone back this urgently, and with the village in this state…"
No one complained out loud, but that didn't mean questions weren't asked. One of Hoshigaki Kisame's trusted comrades couldn't help but voice his doubts in a low voice.
"The entire ANBU has been deployed, and the village is under full lockdown. Has something happened?"
"You were assigned to the eastern sector today, so it's not surprising you don't know. But yes, something has indeed gone wrong."
The captain cast a glance at the shark-faced Kisame before slowly speaking.
"It seems the Mizukage's intel was correct. We've got intruders in the Land of Water—and they're not your average enemy."
"Not your average?"
Kisame remained respectful, but in his heart, he couldn't help but grumble. What exactly did "not your average" mean?
After all, he was a member of the Hoshigaki clan—naturally gifted with monstrous strength and enormous chakra reserves. That was something they took pride in. Sure, some people might be stronger than him, but not by much, right?
"Yes. Far beyond average."
The captain saw right through Kisame's thoughts with a glance, and a trace of somberness darkened his expression.
"From what we've gathered, there wasn't just one group—multiple parties have entered our borders. And the shockwaves from their battles alone have already caused nearly a hundred casualties on our side."
"And that's before reinforcements could even arrive. If those forces had clashed in a concentrated zone…"
He trailed off, but the implication was clear. Kisame's expression changed.
Just the aftershocks had done this much damage?
He was starting to realize just how serious this situation might be.
"So that's how it is…"
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village, within an ancient building steeped in quiet authority, Elder Genji's face was clouded with unease.
Earlier, the Sensory Division had reported intense chakra fluctuations coming from the western edge of the Land of Water—triggering a wave of apprehension in his gut.
That area had been under patrol by his own orders, per the Mizukage's directive.
And now such intense chakra activity erupted there… it wasn't hard to connect the dots.
Especially since his relationship with the current Mizukage was—let's say—not ideal.
To avoid worsening that already-tense relationship, he had made a point of keeping up appearances of cooperation. He'd even sent some of his best people to that sector—like Aoi, bearer of the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, and Terumi, the kunoichi he had personally trained over many years, gifted with not just one but two kekkei genkai.
The entire afternoon, he'd been on edge. And once the casualty reports from the front started arriving, his mood soured even more.
But it wasn't until later—when Mei Terumi returned safely—that he finally exhaled.
Only for Meu to drop a piece of information that left even someone of his rank and composure stunned.
"Elder Genshū, that's what the man said."
Mei nodded solemnly, raising her head to meet his gaze.
"And some of it can be verified. He seemed to know everything about Zabuza."
Zabuza, who had been quietly lowering his head, glared at her. Was now really the time to bring him into this?
"Elder, I have a question as well," Aoi cut in, noticing Zabuza's displeasure and trying to redirect the topic.
"How did Konoha manage to infiltrate this deeply? Who exactly is this Danzo?"
Haruta had praised Danzo in no uncertain terms. On the surface, it didn't seem suspicious—but to Aoi, the name "Shimura Danzo" meant nothing.
And for many of the younger generation in Kirigakure, it was a name shrouded in obscurity. Given how isolated the village had been for years, even hearing of the man was rare.
"Danzo, huh…"
Genji took a deep breath, calming himself. He looked at the three of them and sighed heavily.
He wanted to call Shimura Danzo nothing more than a sneaky little clown—but given everything that had just happened, he couldn't bring himself to dismiss the man so lightly.
"Shimura Danzo. He was the student of the Second Hokage and a classmate of the Third. He's known as the 'Darkness of the Shinobi World.'
He's in charge of Konoha's intelligence and black ops. If the intel you got really came from him, then… it's probably all true."
"Was one of his subordinates among the intruders?" he asked.
"Seems likely," Mei nodded. "There was a guy who used Mokuton—and he also claimed to know the Flying Thunder God Technique. Apparently, he's under Danzo."
Genji's brow furrowed even more. Every new piece of information today was like another nail in his skull.
Two separate groups had breached their borders. One of Danzo's subordinates had both Mokuton and the Flying Thunder God?
Each one of those details was enough to give him a migraine.
Especially the second one. He knew all too well the terrifying reputation of the Flying Thunder God. Both the Second and Fourth Hokage had carved their names into history with it.
And Mokuton…
As someone who had lived through that era, he knew just how fearsome that power truly was.
"A new generation… combining the power of Tobirama and Hashirama?"
The thought made Genji's scalp tingle.
But what chilled him even more… was the other name that had been mentioned—
Uchiha Obito.
A more advanced Sharingan, one that had clearly mastered space-time abilities—it looked, without question, like a Mangekyō-level power.
And that wasn't all.
He had stolen Konoha's Wood Release, integrated it into his own chakra system, and could now use it as if it were his own!
"A fusion of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama…?"
The trauma Uchiha Madara inflicted on Kirigakure had never truly faded. The scars from that era still ran deep, and the hatred passed down through generations.
That, alongside countless entanglements of interest and vengeance, was precisely why—whenever the great ninja nations went to war—Kirigakure would always be the first to strike at Konoha.
But now, a man with that level of power… had been hiding in Kirigakure all this time?
And worse—he might've already seized control of their Mizukage?
They hadn't even discovered it on their own. It was Konoha's pursuit of the man that had tipped them off!
How far had Kirigakure fallen?
How deeply had their village been infiltrated by Konoha?
The more Genji thought about it, the darker his expression became. Damn it all, how had the village come to this?
"Please, Elder, don't be angry," Aoi said softly, seeing the storm brewing on Genji's face.
"No one can blame you for the village's state. It's impossible to govern properly when you're surrounded by parasites."
"…You're right."
Genji nodded slightly. After a moment of silence, he continued, "I need to meet that boy. There are things we need to discuss—seriously."
"But…" Mei Terumi hesitated. "We… we can't contact him. And even finding him again might be…"
"You all should check your bodies carefully."
Genji shook his head and sighed. "Don't be fooled by his little act. Letting you go back may look generous and sincere—but the moment he said he knows the Flying Thunder God, it should've been obvious.
If he marked you with a seal, then you'll never escape him. Ever."
...
Meanwhile, in a mountain cave, Yugao was carefully tending to Jiraiya's wounds while glancing curiously at Haruta.
"Are you saying Uchiha Obito was the one controlling the Fourth Mizukage?" she asked.
Beside her, Kakashi and Yamato wore strange expressions. Kakashi was deep in thought over Obito's motives, while Tenzo's eyes flicked subtly between Pakura and Haruta—he couldn't help but notice that she kept stealing glances at the two of them.
"Mm. That's more or less the situation."
Haruta nodded, then turned to Jiraiya with a smile. "Right, Captain Jiraiya?"
"…"
Jiraiya pressed his lips together. You've already explained everything—why the hell are you tossing it to me now?
That's not what respect looks like, dammit!
"…Yes," Jiraiya finally admitted, sounding more tired than anything. "Based on the intel, Uchiha Obito likely was the one controlling the Fourth Mizukage.
Just like Haruta theorized, all of this traces back to revenge.
This time, I believe he's moving to eliminate anyone who might stand in his way."
"Including that 'elder' Haruta mentioned… Genji, the Grand Elder of Kirigakure?" Kakashi asked, sounding unsure even as he said it.
"Exactly," Haruta said with a nod. "Remove Genji, and there'd be no one left in the village with the power to counterbalance the Mizukage. Obito would effectively control everything."
"Maybe he doesn't even need to go that far."
Pakura had been silent until now. She'd been quietly watching Haruta and Yugao while chewing on her thoughts—and now, she couldn't help but speak.
She finally understood what "cooperation" really meant. Apparently, it meant Haruta completely hiding things from Jiraiya.
She'd known Haruta was representing Danzo three years ago. He'd even sat at the negotiation table as Danzo's envoy.
But from what she could tell, Haruta's current teammates barely knew any of that. At most, they knew he had once worked under Danzo and was now full ANBU.
You're even hiding this from your own teammates? she thought, bemused—but she didn't call him out. Secrets were sometimes more useful unspoken.
Of course, she also didn't think it would make much difference. Danzo was a major figure in Konoha, after all…
"I remember him saying Obito's goal was revenge against Kirigakure," she continued, pointing toward Haruta, who was slacking nearby.
"If it's revenge, then he doesn't need to control the whole village like you're thinking.
Chaos is the goal.
If Kirigakure's two major factions turn on each other, the result would be total internal collapse.
Whoever wins… inherits a broken, bloodied ruin. That kind of wound—that kind of lasting damage—is the real revenge."
"Well said, Pakura."
Haruta nodded at her, smiling faintly. "Control means nothing to Obito. He's already pulled the strings of the Fourth Mizukage, after all.
If he wanted to take control, all he needs to do is act rationally and use his puppet's authority.
But to destroy… that's a different game. He'll go for whatever causes the most chaos and suffering. That's likely his true aim."
"What an evil little Uchiha brat…" Jiraiya groaned, rubbing his temple. Everything had spiraled far beyond his expectations.
He usually didn't judge people by their clan, but damn it—he couldn't help himself this time.
Haruta glanced at him, a little surprised. Wow. Even Jiraiya's cracking.
"So what do we do now?" Yamato asked, finally tearing his gaze away from Pakura.
"That guy's got the Mizukage under control—this is probably way above our pay grade, right?
Or are we… actually going to sneak into Kirigakure again and assassinate the Mizukage?"
He phrased it as a question, but the gleam in his eyes made it clear—he really hoped the answer was yes.
"We might have to," Haruta said before Jiraiya could speak. He stroked his chin with a thoughtful grin.
"Now that we've confirmed Obito's presence, we can't just go back empty-handed. That'd basically count as a mission failure."
"You two need to shut up."
Yugao glared at the two former Root operatives, then turned to Jiraiya, who had once again lapsed into thoughtful silence.
"Jiraiya-sama is the team captain. Haruta, stop trying to steer the direction—we're waiting for the captain's orders."
"Got it," Haruta said, smiling at her, while Yamato mimicked his blink—he knew full well Jiraiya's decisions didn't matter much. They followed Haruta anyway.
"Those two… sure seem close."
Pakura tilted her head, shooting a glance at Yugao before lowering her eyes to the bandages inside her shirt. She let out a quiet snort.
That bastard had complimented her figure with such confidence, and now it was her who couldn't stop thinking about it. She was already brainstorming ways to get her revenge.
"…We'll stay for now. Keep observing."
Jiraiya finally broke his silence, glancing briefly at Haruta.
"After all, we've come this far. And Obito is our primary target. We can't let this go unresolved.
So—stay sharp. We might need to move out at any time."
"Huh?" Kakashi blinked in surprise. That sounded like they were really going to sneak into Kirigakure—and possibly go after the Mizukage?
This… was the same cautious Jiraiya-sama?
Even Yugao was stunned. But she immediately suspected Haruta must've whispered something to Jiraiya.
Unfortunately, she had no proof. And Jiraiya had already gone quiet again.
Still, his thoughts drifted back to earlier that afternoon, when he and Haruta had stepped outside to talk privately…
...
"That guy's out of his damn mind," Jiraiya said in a low voice as they stood at the mouth of the cave.
"This is beyond our mission scope. We should leave while we still can. The situation in Kirigakure is far worse than we thought."
"I understand, Captain Jiraiya."
Haruta gave him a polite smile, blinking slowly.
"I respect your caution, and admire your flexibility. But I do have… an idea."
Caution? Flexibility? Jiraiya squinted. Words like that should be compliments—but from Haruta's mouth, they sounded suspicious as hell.
And when Haruta said "I have an idea," it terrified him.
The intel Haruta had already shared had made his skin crawl—and now, things were far more complicated than Jiraiya had ever imagined.
He had initially thought Obito was controlling some high-ranking official in Kirigakure. Nothing they couldn't work around.
But now? They were talking about a Kage.
That changed everything.
"I don't want to hear it. Just stop right there—we're not doing this," Jiraiya said, shaking his head firmly.
Haruta nodded in response. "If that's the case, then I suppose I should report something truthfully."
"…Report what?"
"Well, for example—I ran into one of your other students. Through our talk, I learned some rather interesting things."
"…"
"Like how Lord Orochimaru once tried to kill them… but you intervened and trained them for three whole years."
"…"
"And because of your teachings, they grew stronger. But for some unknown reason… they've come to hate Konoha again."
"Wasn't that Danzo's fault…?"
"Doesn't matter. What matters is, you made a promise to them. And now they've turned on the village."
"…"
"So, Jiraiya-sama… don't you want to meet them again?
And surely… you wouldn't want that little story to make its way back to Konoha, would you?"
Jiraiya's face darkened.
It felt like a threat—but he knew Haruta wasn't the kind to play dirty.
No, this was Danzo's style through and through.
Danzo had coveted the Hokage's seat for years. If he got even the slightest chance, he'd strike ruthlessly.
And now, Jiraiya had to decide… how far was he willing to go?
Now he understood—Haruta wasn't threatening him at all. He was warning him. Warning him exactly how Danzo would use this situation to ruin his teacher.
"You little…"
Jiraiya was shaking. Literally shaking.
Though not from anger at Haruta—after all, he had a duty to report the mission truthfully. Haruta couldn't lie on official records even if he wanted to.
No, Jiraiya couldn't blame Haruta. In fact… he probably owed him thanks for the heads-up.
Yep. Being around Haruta, he was destined to get dragged into a pit.
"And by the way, Captain Jiraiya, Pakura—the representative from Sunagakure—has also learned quite a bit," Haruta added with a blink, smiling as if they were chatting over tea.
"But no worries. I've already had contact with some of the people in Kirigakure. You've forgotten already?"
"…You mean—?"
Jiraiya sighed, resigned. "The ones you met were Elder Genji's people?"
Haruta's smile widened. "Exactly. Let's give it a little more time. I believe Genji will make a move soon."
"Who knows… maybe we can even win over a new ally for Konoha.
One that won't randomly attack us every time war breaks out.
One we can trade with, share information with.
Even if it doesn't go that far, reducing tension in the Land of Waves and Land of Whirlpools would already be a major win for us. Isn't that contributing to the village?"
"…"
Jiraiya was breathing hard. Not with excitement—with dread.
Haruta hadn't said it outright, but Jiraiya knew what he meant. This was dangerous. World-shakingly dangerous.
"Do you even know what you're saying right now?"
"What did I say, Captain?" Haruta said innocently, giving Jiraiya a light pat on the shoulder.
"We're all working for Konoha. Sometimes, for the sake of peace, we have to take risks. We all want peace, don't we?"
"…"
Jiraiya didn't dare reply.
Haruta kept grinning. "So for the sake of Konoha, we should put in some effort. And besides, Captain, don't you want to see your student again?
If we handle things right with Genji, not only can we shift the environment in our favor—we can make your wish come true."
"…"
"So, Captain—don't hesitate. Hesitation leads to defeat. Let's charge forward for our dreams!"
"…"
Thinking back to Haruta's midday monologue, Jiraiya had to admit—this guy would be right at home in a tavern, talking nonsense over sake.
Hell, he could probably convince someone to pay 500,000 ryō for a loaf of bread.
"Enough. Let's leave it at that."
Jiraiya sighed heavily. He didn't want to think about that conversation anymore, and he definitely didn't want to keep going down that topic.
But when he looked at Haruta, sitting there with that smug grin, he couldn't help but feel thoroughly annoyed.
Then, as his eyes swept over to Pakura, an idea popped into his head—and a mischievous grin curled across his lips.
"Yugao, thank you for your help. I'm fine now," he said, turning toward her.
Then, deliberately loud, he added, "She's our ally too—and she's injured. Haruta already patched her up as best he could, but he's no medical-nin.
So I'll have to trouble you to give her a full check-up. Make sure to examine her thoroughly, alright?"
"…Understood, Captain," Yugao replied with a nod, not suspecting anything as she walked toward Pakura.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya lowered his head and pretended to nap, but the smirk on his face was impossible to hide.
"…"
Haruta's eyes widened in disbelief. He looked from Jiraiya… to Yugao… to Pakura.
And in that moment, he realized—he'd just been set up!
...
Back in Kirigakure, the tension hadn't eased in the slightest.
Especially now, with more and more ninja arriving at the front lines and seeing it for themselves—the charred remains of entire forests, gaping craters in the earth, and lingering chakra in the air that hadn't dissipated for days.
"This… who could've done all this?"
The question echoed through every shinobi's mind. The devastation was overwhelming—on a scale most of them had never witnessed.
But speculation could wait. The village was mobilized, and the priority now was to find the intruders.
"Elder Genji, you shouldn't have come here."
On a mountaintop near the search zone, Hoshigaki Kisame stood beside Genji. His superior, Hoshigaki Fuguki, glanced at Ao, Mei, and Zabuza nearby before lowering his voice.
"You hold a vital position. A symbolic inspection is fine, but this is dangerous. If those enemies are still around—"
"Don't worry about me, Fuguki."
Genji smiled and shook his head, looking as kind and composed as ever.
"Once upon a time, I was a capable ninja myself. I've seen Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama clash with my own eyes. What we're facing now? It's nothing compared to that."
Yeah, sure, Fuguki cursed silently. That was back then. You're ancient now!
He dared not say it out loud, of course. He might look brutish like Kisame, but he wasn't stupid.
"I get it, you're worried," Genji continued, seeing Fuguki's expression. "But don't fret. Ao and Mei are both outstanding shinobi. Zabuza, too—he's among the best we've got.
With them protecting me, I'll be fine. You go handle your duties."
"This…"
Fuguki hesitated. It wasn't like he wanted to be responsible for Genji's life—but if something happened in his sector?
He'd be ruined.
Still, rank was rank. Genji outranked him by more than one level. So in the end, all he could do was bow his head.
"I understand. Should I leave Kisame here, or assign some guards—"
"No need," Genji said with a wave. "The Hoshigaki clan's elite are needed with you. Finding the intruders takes priority over guarding an old man, doesn't it?"
"…Yes, understood. We'll take our leave, then."
Reluctantly, Fuguki left with Kisame and the rest. They had more work to do.
...
"They're gone at last."
Watching the departing figures, Mei shook her head, then turned to Genji, her tone slightly worried.
"But Elder, isn't this a little too risky? Especially with those Konoha and Suna shinobi…"
"Some things are worth the risk," Genji replied calmly.
He knew exactly how dangerous this was. Requesting to come to the front lines under the Fourth Mizukage's nose was already a gamble.
Especially considering how tense things had gotten between him and the Fourth Mizukage recently.
And he hadn't come alone—he brought three people who'd been marked by the Flying Thunder God. That was as good as inviting Konoha to track them.
One wrong move, and he'd be a dead man.
But Genji wasn't here for himself. Ever since the Blood Mist policy spiraled out of control, he'd been doing everything he could to oppose it.
Still… he wasn't the Mizukage.
He may have had equivalent authority, but his role was to balance the Mizukage—not to replace him.
"…That guy from Konoha," Mei muttered, frowning. Her initial impression of Haruta had been 'sincere.'
But after Genji reminded her to check, she'd discovered the Flying Thunder God seal on her body.
So much for trust. Haruta had made sure he could eliminate them in an instant if anything went wrong.
"How considerate of you, Genji."
A voice rang out through the forest.
Turning around, they saw Haruta step out of the trees—flanked by Jiraiya and Pakura.
And judging by the movement in the shadows, they weren't alone. Konoha and Suna had people hidden in the area, keeping watch.
"I was wondering when we'd meet again," Haruta said with a casual smile. "I figured it wouldn't be long, but didn't expect it to take a few days."
"Some things require patience," Genji said evenly. "When you're in a position of leadership, every decision carries more weight."
Unlike the nervous trio behind him, Genji remained calm. His eyes shifted between Haruta and the silent Jiraiya—until a smile tugged at his lips.
"Konoha truly is overflowing with talent. With the famous Jiraiya-sama present, I would've thought he was in charge—but it seems a boy like you is leading the show. Fascinating."
I'm just the scapegoat, Jiraiya grumbled in his head, lips sealed.
"You've got it wrong, sir," Haruta said with a soft sigh. "In Konoha, we don't judge by age.
The young must be trained. If we don't give them opportunities, they'll never grow. Captain Jiraiya guides from behind the scenes—and that's more than enough.
No one can handle everything alone. Even legends need to rest, or how else could they nurture the next generation?"
Nice speech, Jiraiya thought dryly. Shame that's not really how this happened.
Mei gave Haruta a sidelong glance, frowning slightly. Is that… really how Konoha works?
Even Genji seemed momentarily caught off guard, then nodded with a sigh. "Perhaps Konoha is ahead of us after all. I nearly forgot the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze—was also young when he rose… Such a pity he passed so soon."
"Enough small talk," Jiraiya cut in, unwilling to dwell on painful memories. "Elder Genji, since you've come here, I assume you understand the situation. So I'd like to know—what does your side intend to do?"
"It's not about what we plan to do," Genji replied, tone firm. "It's about what you plan to do.
Uchiha Obito is one of your own. A missing-nin he may be, but he uses Konoha's powers. I don't care why he turned traitor.
But you've invaded our land, caused heavy casualties—and now Konoha must give us an explanation."
"Don't twist things, Elder," Haruta's smile faded, voice cool.
"Those casualties? Weren't they caused by your own civil war?"
Haruta wasn't buying it. He scoffed at Genji, eyes sharp and voice even sharper.
"And like you said yourself—Uchiha Obito is a rogue ninja. He betrayed Konoha long ago. Why the hell should we be responsible for him?
If anything, you should be thanking us. We were the ones who came and exposed all this. Otherwise, Kirigakure would've kept tearing itself apart—until there was nothing left!"
His words were blunt, merciless. And in an instant, both Mei and Ao's faces turned cold and stiff.
Sure, they knew Haruta was just stating facts—but being told in such a raw, unfiltered way? It stung more than they'd admit.
Even Jiraiya was taken aback. This kid… is really not afraid to stir the pot, huh?
Only Genji kept his expression calm, though even he fell into brief silence.
"So let's be honest with each other," Haruta continued, unfazed. "That's the only way negotiations work—and the only way we can move forward."
"…Indeed," Genji finally said after a moment, nodding slowly. "Let's hear what your side wants. It'll help me prepare accordingly."
Haruta knew you don't open with the biggest ask—start small. Build leverage.
"For starters, what are you planning to do about Sunagakure's casualties?"
"A fair question. They took heavy losses," Genji admitted, glancing at Mei, who quickly stepped forward and addressed Pakura directly.
"Your people have food, clean water, medical attention, and are under proper protection. They're safe—you don't need to worry."
"That's it?" Haruta raised an eyebrow. "If you want allies, you need to do better than just the basics."
"Economic reparations can be negotiated," Genji replied smoothly, classic diplomat mode. "But not now—only once this conflict ends.
After all, no one knows how this will play out. I can't make promises without knowing the outcome."
"Fair enough," Haruta said. He knew this was a half-truth at best, a shiny promise without a deadline—but for now, it would do.
"Now that we've addressed Suna's situation, let's talk about Konoha."
Haruta paused, his tone shifting to something more thoughtful.
"We've been fighting for decades—over resources, over revenge. But maybe it's time we let some of that go.
The shinobi world isn't just about bloodshed. It's about politics, relationships. Sometimes, the war wasn't even our choice… We were just dragged into it, weren't we?"
Genji raised an eyebrow. That sounded suspiciously like he was shifting blame… to the Fourth Mizukage?
Classic Danzo-style maneuvering.
And that "not about killing, but about diplomacy" line? Genji almost laughed out loud at the hypocrisy.
Danzo was a snake—and Konoha had always seen the Land of Whirlpools as its backdoor. Every time Kirigakure landed troops there, it led to a conflict. Of course Konoha wanted peace—after neutralizing the threat behind them.
But even if he felt disdain in his heart, Genji nodded.
"I'm willing to talk. But let's not waste time with pretty words—let's focus on outcomes.
I'll write a formal agreement. When this operation ends, I'll personally send someone to Konoha to negotiate the details."
"I'm good with that," Jiraiya said quickly. Honestly, that was the best deal they were going to get.
A signed document was as good as a confession. Even if Genji changed his mind, the hit to Kirigakure's reputation would be irreversible.
"Then that settles Konoha and Suna's part," Genji said. He inhaled deeply and turned toward Haruta and Jiraiya, expression serious.
"Now it's my turn."
"The operation—I want you to take the lead."
"I'll provide support, resources—but the execution is on you."
"And… I have one more request. The only request."
He looked them dead in the eye.
"If you succeed—I want the Fourth Mizukage removed."
"You can't kill him—but he can't stay here either. Take him… to Konoha."
...
"This is a whole new level of trouble," Jiraiya muttered, watching Genji and his entourage disappear down the mountainside.
Back in a newly found cave, Haruta and Jiraiya sat just outside while the others rested within.
"We're not just infiltrating Kirigakure anymore—we're responsible for the fallout, too. The aftermath. The Mizukage."
"There's always trouble," Haruta replied, glancing into the cave. Inside, Yugao was treating Pakura again.
She didn't look too thrilled to be in that situation—and Haruta couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
Still, he continued, "Didn't Genji say Zabuza would lead the charge? If he wants the spotlight, let him have it."
"Tch. That's just a feint. The real work's still on us," Jiraiya grumbled. He paused, imagining what it would be like to walk into Konoha with a Mizukage in tow.
"I can already picture the old man's face when he sees it. Honestly, every time I go on a mission with you, something ridiculous happens. You're bad luck, kid."
"Oh?" Haruta gave him a look, then turned his eyes to Yugao in the cave, voice softening.
"But I like working with you, Captain Jiraiya. Your experience helps me a lot."
"You mean I get to shoulder the blame."
Jiraiya snorted. He followed Haruta's gaze and suddenly grinned.
"What's the matter? Still sulking? You've played me like a fiddle enough times—it's only fair I get a little payback.
But seriously, forget finding a girlfriend. You should try the local nightlife—hit a bar, maybe a brothel. That's how you really experience a village!"
"Is that so?"
Haruta blinked, then chuckled. "Captain Jiraiya, do you know what the saddest thing is about places like that?"
"Tch. Don't give me some lecture Tsunade would give."
Jiraiya waved a hand. "There's no sadness in those places—just joy."
"Well," Haruta sighed, patting his shoulder. "I just wonder—did she know what you were thinking when you picked her?"
"…"
For some reason, Jiraiya felt his fist clench. He really wanted to strangle this kid sometimes.
...
If you wish to read 50+ ahead and support me:
[email protected]/NahinS77
Change @ to a