Saw this yesterday and felt I had to post it for everyone xD.
---
All 42 surviving Uchiha stood up, silently expressing their resolve.
The children didn't fully understand, but they knew the murderer was Uchiha Itachi. The adults, however, understood the broader picture and acknowledged that Yami was right.
The story was a tangled one, rooted too far in the past, and beyond their control.
But the only clear executioner and beneficiary was Uchiha Itachi.
Killing him would at least bring comfort to the souls of their fallen clansmen and families in the afterlife.
Yami looked around.
Not bad. No one was pretending—not for now, at least.
Whether anyone would betray in the future would need to be observed carefully.
He placed Flying Thunder God marks on all of them. It was both a means of teleportation and a tracking method. If any of them betrayed him, no matter how far they ran, there would be no escape.
Yami formed a hand seal, summoned multiple Shadow Clones, surrounded the group, and activated the Flying Thunder God formation.
After executing the jutsu three consecutive times, the group traveled from the northwest of Konoha to a coastal port in the southeast.
Uchiha Shisui couldn't help but marvel. "Yami, your Flying Thunder God Technique is getting more and more refined."
To teleport this many people across such long distances required not just massive chakra reserves, but deep understanding of the technique.
Yami didn't pay the compliment any mind. "Don't butter me up. I know exactly how strong I am."
Shisui's mouth twitched.
"Let's go. The boat's ready."
"Where are we headed?" Shisui asked curiously. He still didn't know what Yami's long-term plan was.
"Land of Snow."
While Yami was leading the group to his rear base, far away in the Land of Water, Yakushi Kabuto was faithfully carrying out the tasks he had been assigned by Yami.
Hoshigaki Kisame, a member of Kirigakure's Anbu, was born in the infamous Blood Mist Village. Every ninja who graduated from Kirigakure had blood on their hands.
Kisame was extremely gifted. Not only did he possess a massive chakra pool, but he was also highly proficient in Water Release, swordsmanship, and taijutsu.
This attracted the attention of one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Fuguki Suikazan, and Kisame was soon brought into the village's special assassination unit.
After several missions, Kisame, who once thought he could start anew, realized this place was no different from the academy.
In the academy, one had to kill their classmates to graduate.
After becoming a ninja, most missions involved killing their own comrades. To protect village secrets, he had to eliminate fellow shinobi who either betrayed or were at risk of being captured.
Over time, Kisame's heart grew numb and conflicted.
Was this the inescapable fate of all shinobi?
After finishing another mission, Kisame returned home. He paused when he noticed an extra scroll on the table. He picked it up, read it, then summoned a shark and fed it the scroll without emotion.
This type of scroll had been appearing for months.
At first, it was filled with empty flattery and attempted persuasion. Kisame dismissed it as a clumsy recruitment attempt from another village.
But gradually, the scrolls discussed the value and meaning of being a ninja. Many of the words resonated deeply with him.
Even so, he never acted on them.
This time, however, the scroll openly invited him to serve a mysterious master and escape his inner confusion.
So the real purpose had finally been revealed.
Kisame sneered and cast the scroll aside.
The next day, Kisame received a mission from Fuguki Suikazan. He was to carry out a covert information exchange with Kumo.
Konoha's shinobi were watching, so the operation had to be conducted with utmost secrecy.
Kisame was assigned as both the supervisor and the executor.
Even though he had laid traps and erased all traces, things still didn't go as planned.
Konoha's Morino Ibiki had anticipated their retreat route and successfully ambushed them.
During the escape, Kisame found himself on a cliff's edge. In order to protect the mission, he once again raised his blade against his own team, stabbing each comrade without hesitation. He halted in front of the last one.
A female ninja, unlike most in the Land of Water, who had been cheerful and had once promised to treat him to a meal after the mission.
Knowing what was coming, she didn't resist. She simply looked down at the blade in her chest.
Her final words struck Kisame like thunder.
"Your life must be so hard…"
Kisame completed the mission and returned to the village. He was rewarded.
Another familiar scroll appeared.
This time, after reading it, he didn't throw it away.
Soon after, Kirigakure's direct Anbu told him that Fuguki Suikazan had committed treason and passed information to an enemy nation. Kisame was ordered to eliminate his superior.
He found it laughable.
Fuguki had always ordered him to kill their own comrades for the village's sake, yet now he himself had betrayed the village?
What a joke this world was.
Everyone was a hypocrite. Himself included.
So Kisame carried out the mission without hesitation. He killed Fuguki Suikazan and took possession of Samehada.
As he prepared to leave, someone unexpected appeared in the corridor.
"Good work, Kisame."
Though the man looked like a young boy, Kisame didn't dare take him lightly.
This was Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. Despite his youthful appearance, he was elderly and had grandchildren.
He was powerful and a perfect jinchūriki of the Three Tails, able to control the tailed beast completely.
"From now on, you're my subordinate."
Kisame bared his shark-like teeth in a grin. "Until the day you dispose of me, Fourth Mizukage."
"I know the kind of person you are. You've carried out countless dirty missions for the village."
"But only someone like you understands how fake this world truly is."
Again, it hit home...
Kisame lowered his head. His face remained calm, but his heart was in turmoil.
"Let me release you from the false pain."
A masked man with long hair emerged from behind the Mizukage. Kisame instinctively gripped Samehada.
"Who are you?"
"I am Uchiha Madara. From now on, you'll fight by my side."
As the voice fell, Sharingan light flashed in both the masked man's and Yagura's eyes.
"I knew it... this world really is fake."
Kisame slowly lowered his arms, surrendering to the illusion.
Back in his room, he didn't see another scroll this time—but a white-haired boy wearing glasses.
"So you were the spy all along… Kabuto."
He recognized the young man as Yakushi Kabuto, an inconspicuous medical-nin in the village.
Because he kept a low profile and knew medical ninjutsu, nobody bothered him. Even Mist shinobi needed doctors.
"I've been waiting a long time," Kabuto greeted respectfully.
Samehada swung down with a roar of wind, landing on Kabuto's shoulder in an instant. Kisame could have taken off his head with ease.
Yet Kabuto's expression remained unchanged.
"Please calm down. This is just a clone. Destroying me won't harm my original body. I think you'll want to hear the news I bring."
Kisame scoffed and lowered Samehada.
"Which village are you from?"
"I'm from Konoha."
Kabuto replied humbly, "But I'm only here on behalf of my master. What I do has nothing to do with Konoha. The information I sent earlier was a show of sincerity. You must have confirmed its accuracy."
"You won't even tell me your master's name. Is that what you call sincerity?"
"You'll naturally find out once you join us. I don't dare reveal that information without permission."
"Hmph."
Kisame scoffed again.
Everything that had happened so far had already been predicted in the previous scrolls—the Mizukage being controlled, the appearance and recruitment by the masked man…
"This is from my master." Kabuto respectfully offered a scroll.
Kisame took it and opened it. His shark-like eyes narrowed after reading the contents.
[In this cruel ninja world, the important thing isn't survival—it's understanding why we live.]
[Follow me, and you will see the real world, where you will never again need to raise your blade against your comrades.]
After a long silence, Kisame crushed the scroll.
A world where you never stab your comrades…
Perhaps these words wouldn't mean much to others, wouldn't even move them.
But to Kisame, they struck a deep chord.
Because that was exactly what he longed for.
To be a proper ninja, to fight with his comrades for a true purpose. To wield his blade and ninjutsu only against enemies, even if it cost him his life.
But even such a simple wish was unattainable in Kirigakure.
Someone he had never met, yet who understood him completely.
Kisame grew more and more interested in this "master" Kabuto spoke of.
"Kabuto, let me ask you a few things."
Kisame suddenly asked, "This master of yours, he's from Konoha, right?"
Kabuto hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes."
Kisame grinned. "But judging from how you speak, he doesn't seem very loyal to Konoha. How can someone like that deserve my loyalty?"
"Because he has a higher ideal." Kabuto's eyes burned with conviction.
"The village and the clan are both outdated constructs. One day, my master will change the entire world."
"What about you?" Kisame found this more and more amusing. "Why do you serve him?"
"A twelve-year-old child went deep into enemy territory as a spy. What did he promise you that made you so loyal?"
"It wasn't a promise."
Kabuto shook his head solemnly. "He gave me meaning. He gave me a chance to use my power to protect those I care about. I think you know how precious that is."
Kisame stared at him, stunned.
He saw the similarities between them… and also their differences.
There was light in Kabuto's eyes.
At that moment, Kisame finally made his decision.
Since this person already knows so much… I'll see for myself what this "truth" and "ideal" really are.
"Tell me, Kabuto, what does your master want me to do?"
---
Land of Snow
After seven days at sea, Yami and the last surviving Uchiha finally arrived in the Land of Snow.
Before disembarking, he used the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique to modify the memories of all the sailors to avoid future complications.
Not because he was worried about people finding out and causing trouble.
He just wanted to reveal them at a more… interesting time. That would be far more entertaining.
They boarded a train to Kazahana City and soon arrived at the capital.
After several years of recovery, the destruction caused by Dotō Kazahana's rebellion had been completely repaired. The sun and moon now shone peacefully.
Upon arriving at the palace, Yami encountered Asama, who had just stepped out.
Seeing Yami appear so suddenly, Asama was stunned, then overjoyed. "Yami, what brings you here?"
In recent years, Yami had only come to the Land of Snow twice. This was the first time in a long while.
"I need to speak with Lord Sōsetsu."
"He's in the palace. Come, I'll take you to him."
Asama led Yami in. They soon met Sōsetsu Kazahana without issue.
He was surprised by Yami's sudden visit. After a brief greeting, Yami got straight to the point.
The surviving Uchiha were settled in the ruins of Snow Village. After training, they would also take on missions for the Land of Snow.
Sōsetsu agreed without hesitation.
After the destruction at Kumo, he had already formed a cooperative relationship with Yami. A Root team had been stationed in the Land of Snow, rotating annually. A few more people wouldn't make a difference.
As for so-called national sovereignty, that was beside the point. Yami didn't care about this small border country, and even if he did, they had no power to resist.
An entire Snow ninja village had been wiped out. What could a bunch of palace guards do?
With the right mindset, Sōsetsu had already let go of such concerns.
All he wanted now was to develop the economy, improve the lives of her people, and watch his beloved daughter grow up. Nothing else mattered.
As they discussed daily supply logistics, a figure suddenly burst into the palace.
Koyuki ran toward Yami with sparkling eyes and dove into his arms.
"Yami-sama!"
Crash.
Sōsetsu's smile froze.
He didn't care about national sovereignty…
But that was his only daughter!
(To be continued.)