Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

So she really does?

The Three Snake Princesses immediately perked up. After all, they were drawn to powerful lifeforms—and Kekkei Genkai among shinobi was as direct a mark of power as it got.

Kazuyama was himself a Kekkei Genkai user, possessing both Transparent Escape Technique and Crystal Release.

The former could even be fused seamlessly with Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu.

They hadn't expected this little girl to be a Kekkei Genkai user too.

"Don't judge her by how she looks now. Both of her Kekkei Genkai are high-damage types."

"Melt Release, combining water and earth."

"Boil Release, combining fire and water."

"Both are seriously lethal."

Kazuyama had high regard for Terumi. Once fully matured, she was undoubtedly Kage-level.

Unlike Yugito, who mainly relied on the Two-Tails Matatabi inside her, Terumi had risen to that level purely on her own strength.

That was exactly why he chose her. Letting a potential asset like this slip away would be a waste.

"Tagitsuhime, release the genjutsu. We need to talk."

Kazuyama still wanted to try the diplomatic route. Unless he absolutely had to, he wouldn't repeat the method he used on Yugito.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Wake her up."

Tagitsuhime nodded and extended a finger.

A burst of red light flared again—this time even stronger than the one she'd used back in Kirigakure.

As the light pulsed, Terumi, who had been sound asleep, instantly jolted awake.

And the moment her eyes opened, she sprang upright, leaping backward in shock.

"Heh, pretty quick on the reflexes."

Kazuyama let out a soft chuckle at her reaction. He didn't move, but Tagitsuhime beside him did.

A red silhouette shimmered into view, and a ribbon of red energy wrapped tightly around Terumi.

Before she could react, a wave of intense numbness flooded her body. It was Tagitsuhime's Ryūchi Cave Immortal Binding Technique.

"Oi, Tagitsuhime—you paralyzed her. How am I supposed to talk to her now?"

"Relax. I only numbed her body. She can still think and talk."

She shot Kazuyama a look of mild annoyance. Did he really think so little of her?

She was one of Ryūchi Cave's Three Snake Princesses—a master of Senjutsu.

"Who are you people?! Where am I?!"

"Why did you kidnap me?!"

Terumi couldn't move at all, her body frozen, teetering on the edge of panic. But she was still a trained shinobi, and she forced herself to stay calm.

The man in front of her looked oddly familiar, but she couldn't place him.

"Hahaha, Kazuyama, she seems to recognize you."

"Since when did you get so famous?"

Kazuyama hadn't activated Transparent Escape Technique, and his Sage Mode was openly visible. The three Snake Princesses were also standing at his side in human form.

So to Terumi, it looked like there were four people in front of her.

Kazuyama...

No way... Konoha's Ghost, Kazuyama Gekkō?

Her eyes widened with terror. As a Kirigakure ninja, she hadn't fought in the Third Shinobi World War, but she knew the stories.

Konoha's Twin Stars—Minato Namikaze the Yellow Flash, and Kazuyama Gekkō the Ghost. Two legends. Two reapers.

"Tagitsuhime... seriously..."

"You just ruined all the mystery."

Kazuyama could tell from her expression—she'd recognized him.

No wonder she was this shaken.

"Hey, calm down, kid."

"The war's over. I'm not here to hurt you. I brought you here for another reason."

Terumi stared at him warily, still unsure. The war might be over, but ambushes and revenge killings still happened.

That said, she had heard someone from Konoha was in the village for ceasefire talks. Could this be him?

But why would he take her?

She was still young, and the whirlwind of questions spinning in her head was close to frying her brain.

Seeing her still silent, Kazuyama gave a soft smile and leaned back against the ship's railing...

"Kid, what do you think of your village, Kirigakure?"

"Blood Mist Village, huh..."

At the mention of "Blood Mist Village," Terumi's pupils shrank sharply, and a flicker of resentment and discontent crossed her face.

That was the policy implemented by the Third Mizukage.

Though the original intent was to make the village stronger, the methods were brutal to the extreme.

It started with a purge—ninja with Kekkei Genkai were systematically slaughtered, resulting in the deaths of many powerful shinobi within Kirigakure.

If she hadn't been clever enough to conceal her own abilities, she might have been killed along with them.

Later, when the Third Mizukage died, many had hoped that the era of blood and mist would end. But the Fourth Mizukage doubled down, continuing to uphold the policy.

Though the outright slaughter of Kekkei Genkai users ceased, giving people like her a slim chance at survival, the village turned inward—shifting that cruelty into the academy and training grounds.

All of it, even the exams, was soaked in blood.

Still silent?

Kazuyama narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Not talking? I take it you've got your own thoughts, huh?"

"To be honest, I've got some opinions about your village's policies too."

"That blood-stained rule the Third Mizukage started... it's done a lot of damage. Must've been exhausting, hiding your abilities all this time, right?"

Thunder rumbled overhead.

Terumi's eyes widened. How did he know?

Could he read minds?

She'd heard of the Yamanaka Clan in Konoha—specialists in mind-reading and mental manipulation techniques.

But no, Kazuyama Gekkō was from the Gekkō Clan, not Yamanaka.

So how did he know?

"Kid, this village is rotting."

"Why not come with me? I can give you a different life—one where you can unleash your full potential."

"Become someone truly powerful in the ninja world."

Kazuyama offered the words calmly, like extending a hand across the void.

Terumi froze in disbelief.

What was this? A shinobi from Konoha inviting a Kirigakure ninja?

Was he insane?

"I'm not asking you to join Konoha—I want you to join me."

"Konoha is Konoha. I'm my own force. I have my own people."

"And I see potential in you."

"With two Kekkei Genkai, you shouldn't be stuck here wasting away."

Terumi was stunned, overwhelmed.

He had uncovered everything—even her two Kekkei Genkai?

This man really did live up to the name Ghost of Konoha. Terrifying.

What was she supposed to do now...

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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