MTLNOVEL Chapter 444: Kirigakure
Dropping the argument with the system, Kazuyama looked out into the distance.
The sea was now blanketed in thick fog—sign they were officially entering the territory of the Land of Water.
"You three still haven't gotten used to this?"
"After all that training, and you're still getting seasick?"
"Whatever. Let me help you out."
Kazuyama casually pulled out a bottle of pills, walked over, and handed one to each of them. Then, with a wave of his hand, chakra surged from his palm and wrapped around their bodies.
He waited until the medicine kicked in.
"Kazuyama-sensei, what was that you gave us?"
"Whatever it is, it works! I'm not seasick anymore!"
Freed from the clutches of nausea, Obito perked right up, immediately curious about what his teacher had given them.
"That? Seasickness pills."
Kazuyama shook the bottle in his hand, then tucked it away under the gaze of the three kids.
"Wait, what? Sensei, you had that all along and didn't give it to us sooner?"
"You let us suffer for nothing!"
When they heard it was a seasickness cure, Obito looked like he'd just been betrayed. Kakashi and Rin stared at him, completely exasperated.
Kazuyama laughed out loud, clearly enjoying their misery.
"How was I supposed to know you'd get seasick?"
"Alright, enough about the pills. Let's talk about the mission."
"Kakashi, Rin, Obito—tell me what you know about Kirigakure."
Kazuyama sat back down and waited for their response.
As usual, Kakashi spoke up first. But instead of answering, he raised a brow and asked:
"Sensei... haven't you asked us that before?"
Obito and Rin nodded in agreement.
Kazuyama paused, suddenly a bit embarrassed. Right—he had asked them that once already.
But Kazuyama was not the kind of man to get flustered over something like this. His skin was thicker than Konoha's outer wall.
He just laughed it off.
"Well, Kakashi, at least that means you've got some understanding of Kirigakure."
"Anyway, we're officially in the Land of Water now."
"Let's finish this job and get back home."
"I don't know what Minato was thinking, signing an agreement with those people."
"That village, wrapped in blood mist... tch. They don't deserve anything."
It wasn't that Kazuyama simply looked down on Kirigakure—he had never had any respect for it to begin with.
A village that turned its blade on its own people... what kind of future could that place have?
And then...
A flicker of unease crossed Kazuyama's mind. He thought of the second Madara Uchiha.
With how those types operated, it was very possible they'd already embedded themselves within Kirigakure by now.
If that was true, then this whole mission might be walking straight into danger.
Damn Minato. Of all places, why send them to Kirigakure?
This was going to be trouble.
As the fog thickened, the group officially crossed into Kirigakure's territory in the Land of Water.
...
At that same moment, deep within a hidden corner of Kirigakure—
"Hmph. Konoha really strutted their stuff this war. First they shoved back Sunagakure and crushed Kumogakure."
"Then they held the line against Iwagakure and Kirigakure on the front lines. Tch... Yellow Flash, Konoha's Ghost..."
Staring at the intel in his hands, Muren Uchiha's face twisted in disdain.
Beside him, Zetsu and Nagato stood silently. Their expressions didn't flicker in the slightest—as if none of it mattered.
"Hey, what's with you two? You made of wood?"
"Konoha sent people to Kirigakure—should we just wipe them out?"
It had been a while since Muren had fought. He was itching for action.
But Black Zetsu only sighed and shook his head, quickly shutting down his reckless idea.
"Don't stir up trouble. Kirigakure is already under our control. Let them come."
"Minato Namikaze becoming the Fourth Hokage—it makes sense he'd pull something like this."
"Hmph, but we're not letting them bask in the spotlight for long. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is already married to Minato. Once she gets pregnant... hmph, that'll be the perfect time to release the Nine-Tails."
"Even if we can't take it back, just unleashing it will be enough to seriously cripple Konoha's strength."
Black Zetsu's voice dripped with malice. The plan was already in motion.
They would never sit by and watch Konoha rise. If the other villages couldn't hurt it, then they'd create the opportunity themselves.
"Tch, fine, fine. I'll go along with it."
"It's just waiting a bit longer."
Muren Uchiha waved his hand dismissively. The moment he imagined the chaos the Nine-Tails would cause, the urge to fight vanished. Better to conserve energy for when the real chaos began.
Nagato stood silently by, his tone icy cold.
"I'll go when the time comes. I have no reason not to take revenge on Konoha."
After the death of his friend Akaashi, Nagato's hatred for the village had only deepened.
The plan didn't allow him to strike directly just yet—but he'd make sure they paid with interest.
"Right. Madara, Nagato—what about the Three-Tails?"
Muren and Nagato both nodded.
"No worries. Once it's revived, we'll reclaim it. Karatachi Yagura will become its Jinchūriki. That'll ensure the Three-Tails is secured."
Watching the plan move steadily forward, Black Zetsu was clearly satisfied.
...
A day later, Kazuyama, pushing ahead at full speed with his wife and students, finally arrived at Kirigakure.
The moment he stepped off the boat and into the dense mist, his mood soured.
As they reached shore, a dozen figures rushed toward them. Sensing their presence, Kazuyama spoke calmly.
"Looks like someone's come to greet us."
Right after he spoke, the figures revealed themselves—masked shinobi, all except the one leading them.
Kazuyama's eyes landed on the familiar face, and he was the first to speak.
"Well, well... isn't this an old friend?"
Indeed, standing in front of him was none other than someone he'd fought before—Biwa Jūzō.
"Hmph. Never thought it'd be you."
"Come on, Lord Mizukage sent us to receive you."
Jūzō was seething just looking at Kazuyama's smug grin.
But what could he do? He wasn't stupid enough to think he could beat this man. Kazuyama's strength had reached a level that made even seasoned warriors nervous.
"Konoha's Ghost"—that title wasn't earned lightly. Even though Kirigakure was closed off, they still had intel.
And Jūzō knew well—Kazuyama had gone toe-to-toe with the Ninja World's Demi-God, Hanzō of the Salamander, more than once.
"Heh... the Kubikiribōchō. Still looking sharp as ever."
"Makes me wanna take it for myself."
Kazuyama grinned, resting his right hand casually on the hilt at his waist. His gaze on Jūzō was lighthearted—but unmistakably provocative.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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