In the original tale, Zabuza Momochi's rebellion stemmed from a desperate desire to reshape Kirigakure's blood-soaked future. His attempt to assassinate the Mizukage ended in failure, forcing him to flee as a rogue ninja. Yet even in exile, Zabuza never wavered. He took on mercenary jobs, hoarding wealth to recruit talent, dreaming of a second strike to liberate his village. Tragically, his ambitions crumbled in the Land of Waves, his life snuffed out before his vision could take hold.
Ye Liangnai, reflecting on Zabuza's story, felt a quiet reverence. "It's that kind of spirit that keeps Kirigakure—and so many other factions—alive, isn't it?" he murmured, his voice soft but resolute.
Terumi Mei's voice came from behind, her tone warm yet deliberate as she stepped into the room, her presence commanding yet familiar. "Zabuza Momochi," she said, her lips curving slightly. "A fine partner to have, don't you think?"
Ye Liangnai nodded, his respect for Zabuza deepening. "He's a man worth admiring."
Mei's emerald eyes fixed on him, a glint of curiosity in their depths. "So, who's next on your recruitment list?" Her voice held a playful challenge, but beneath it lay a growing realization—she was struggling to keep up with her brother's cunning. Ye Liangnai's plans were unfolding faster than she'd anticipated, his mind a labyrinth she couldn't fully decipher.
Ye Liangnai didn't answer with words. Instead, he drew his katana and carved a name into the dirt floor: Kisame Hoshigaki. The letters were sharp, deliberate, a declaration of intent.
Mei's brow arched, surprise flickering across her face. "Kisame? Why him?" If memory served, Kisame was a subordinate of Fuguki Suikazan, relegated to the ANBU's cryptography unit—a second-tier role, far from the spotlight. What had caught Ye Liangnai's eye?
"Is he reliable? Are you sure about this?" she pressed, her tone probing.
Ye Liangnai's grin was all confidence, though his eyes held a calculated edge. "Reliable? Absolutely. Sure? Not quite. That's why we'll need a failsafe—something to erase memories if things go south."
Kisame Hoshigaki was a powerhouse, his strength rivaling the elite, but his true value lay in his loyalty. Disgusted by Kirigakure's betrayal of its own, Kisame saw the village's lack of camaraderie as a festering lie. Paint him a vision of a reformed Kirigakure, one worth fighting for, and there was a solid chance he'd pledge his blade. In the original story, hadn't Uchiha Obito swayed Kisame to the Akatsuki with a similar promise?
Mei's lips pursed, her mind racing. Memory erasure was child's play for her—she knew a dozen techniques to wipe a mind clean. "If you're set on this, go for it," she said, her voice firm. "I'll handle the contingencies."
Hours Later, Mizukage's Office
Yagura Karatachi's gaze was a blade, cold and unyielding, as he stared down at Zabuza kneeling before him. "Visiting Terumi Mei without clearance, Zabuza? Are you plotting treason?" His voice was ice, each word laced with suspicion. "Private meetings among Jonin are forbidden. You know this. Explain yourself."
Zabuza's expression remained calm, his voice steady as stone. "Lord Mizukage, I assure you, there was no meeting with Commander Mei. I sought out Ye Liangnai to study his Hidden Mist Jutsu. His mastery surpasses mine, and I gained much from the exchange."
A sharp laugh escaped Yagura, his eyes glinting with mockery. "You expect me to believe you consulted a fresh Genin about Hidden Mist Jutsu? That's your excuse? It's laughable, Zabuza. Try again."
Zabuza didn't flinch, his tone earnest. "Lord Mizukage, you've been busy with village affairs and may not know the details. But I speak the truth. Ye Liangnai's Hidden Mist Jutsu is exceptional—ask anyone in the village. His skill ranks among the top three, far above my own."
Yagura's brow furrowed, his skepticism wavering. Zabuza's conviction was unshakable, and doubt crept into the Mizukage's mind. "You'd better hope you're not lying," he snapped. "Deceiving the Mizukage is a crime you can't afford. Dismissed."
Zabuza bowed and retreated, his face a mask of respect. But beneath it, his teeth ground together, his thoughts a storm of defiance. You're unfit for that seat, Yagura. The old you wouldn't have let Kirigakure rot like this. I won't let you destroy our future.
Once Zabuza was gone, Yagura summoned his aides, ordering a thorough investigation into Ye Liangnai's Hidden Mist Jutsu. The reports came back unanimous: the village's shinobi hailed Ye Liangnai's technique as extraordinary, lending credence to Zabuza's claim. Yagura's surprise was fleeting but genuine. This boy… he's more than he seems.
He dug deeper, probing Zabuza's visit to Mei's home. The ANBU's report was clear: Zabuza had met only Ye Liangnai, their conversation limited to ninjutsu, with no trace of seditious talk. Satisfied, Yagura let the matter drop, burying himself in the mountain of tasks left by the Kaguya clan's fall—resource allocation, land redistribution, ninjutsu recovery, and secret scrolls. Each decision was a delicate balance of power and profit, a headache that consumed his focus.
What Yagura didn't know was that the ANBU's second report was a fabrication. As a former ANBU commander, Mei's skill at manipulating information was unmatched, even against the Mizukage's scrutiny. A few whispered orders, a subtle shift in reports, and the truth was buried.
Ye Liangnai, oblivious to the political chess game, had simpler concerns. His days were spent swinging his katana, each motion a grind for Enhancement Points. To him, the blade was more than a weapon—it was the key to strength, to survival, to his ambitions.
Three Days Later
A system chime broke Ye Liangnai's focus as he trained in the courtyard, his muscles burning from relentless practice:
Ding! Special Jonin-level attributes: Stamina enhanced successfully. Cost: 20,000 Enhancement Points.
Ding! Chunin-level swordsmanship enhanced to Special Jonin level. Acquired sub-skill: Multi-Hawk Flash. Cost: 20,000 Enhancement Points.
Host: Ye Liangnai
Age: 12
Skills:
Special Jonin Swordsmanship: Multi-Hawk Flash,
Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Jutsu, Water Clone Jutsu, Water Formation Wall, Water Gun Jutsu,
Genjutsu: Binding Illusion
Weapon: Hundred-Refined Katana
Rank: Special Jonin (Genin → Chunin → Special Jonin → Jonin → Elite Jonin → Kage → Super Kage → Six Paths)
Enhancement Points: 1,000
Ye Liangnai exhaled, sweat beading on his brow. With his three-day break ending, he'd poured all 40,000 earned points into boosting his agility, stamina, and swordsmanship. The only attribute left unenhanced was strength, a deliberate choice. Strength can wait. Chakra's the real game-changer. In a fight, wits could compensate for raw power, but without chakra, you were dead in the water. Kirigakure had no soldier pills to replenish reserves mid-battle.
He sheathed his katana and headed to the ANBU headquarters, his steps light despite the looming mission. Sky Armor awaited, his masked face unreadable. Ye Liangnai met his gaze, exchanging a brief nod before settling into a quiet wait.
Two minutes later, his teammates arrived: Haruha Yuya, codename Eagle, and Natsuka Rin, codename White Wolf. Their presence was familiar, their silence a shared anticipation of what lay ahead.
Sky Armor's voice cut through the tension, his words heavy with authority. "Your mission: hunt down A-rank rogue ninja Yukuchi Mitsuta, alongside B-rank rogues Asakura Yoroi and Nobutomo Suke. This is a high-risk operation. Death is a real possibility."
His gaze swept over them, cold and unyielding. "But from the moment you joined the ANBU, you should've been ready to die. True Mist shinobi are forged in blood and survival. Kirigakure has no place for cowards or the weak. Understood?"
His words dripped with the ruthless ethos of the Blood Mist, each syllable a reminder of the village's brutal creed. Ye Liangnai's jaw tightened, but he nodded, the weight of the mission settling in his chest.