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[Konoha] Chapter 253: If Someone Refuses, Just Eliminate Them!
🕑 Added 2024-12-05 11:30:01 +0000 UTCNovember, Year 50 of Konoha.
Fire Nation Daimyō Residence, Research Base.
Shūichi stood before Suigetsu and Haku with a boy around five or six years old by his side. "This is Kimimaro, whom I rescued from Kirigakure. From now on, he will be your companion."
Haku immediately nodded. "Lord Shūichi, we’ll take good care of him."
He smiled at Kimimaro and introduced himself, "Hello, I’m Haku, from the Yuki clan."
Kimimaro quickly responded, "Hello, I’m Kimimaro, from the Kaguya clan."
Suigetsu gasped, "The Kaguya clan? The barbaric clan that only knows how to fight and kill?"
Realizing his words, he quickly covered his mouth.
Haku intervened, "Don’t mind him. Suigetsu didn’t mean it that way."
Kimimaro shook his head. "What he said is true."
As the three young ones began to interact, Shūichi left without further involvement, disappearing instantly.
He had no time to babysit. The three children would later be taught by the likes of Mizu and Pakura. As for learning the Shikotsumyaku, there was no rush—he needed to research it first.
After all, Kimimaro suffered from a Kekkei Genkai-related illness.
For Shūichi, the Sharingan and Ice Release currently took priority.
He arrived at a nearby training room, where Mizu was already waiting.
Sitting opposite each other, they pressed their palms together, beginning their synchronized training.
Time passed, and evening arrived.
After completing his training, Shūichi returned to Konoha, heading straight to the Hokage’s office.
Knocking and entering, he found Minato Namikaze still at work. Minato looked up with a smile. "Shūichi, what brings you here at this hour?"
Shūichi chuckled, "Kushina-san asked me to tell you to come home for dinner."
Minato blinked, then laughed. "You almost had me there."
Kushina had just taken Naruto home.
"Alright, I’m actually here about Kirigakure," Shūichi said, his smile fading as he grew serious. "The Kaguya clan rebelled and was wiped out by Kirigakure. Only one child survived, and I’ve brought him to the Daimyō’s residence for safekeeping."
Minato’s expression grew solemn. "So, are you planning to reveal that the Fourth Mizukage is being controlled?"
Shūichi nodded. "If Obito is allowed to continue playing his games, Kirigakure will truly collapse."
Minato pondered. "Given the current situation, we can’t do to Kirigakure what we did to Kusagakure, right?"
Despite the rebellions weakening Kirigakure, it remained far stronger than any village outside the Five Great Nations.
Shūichi nodded in agreement. "Sealing the Tailed Beasts requires starting with Shukaku. Given the situation, the Akatsuki will likely have to launch direct assaults on the major villages to capture the Tailed Beasts."
"Nagato’s Rinnegan has the power to obliterate an entire village."
"Among the Five Great Nations, only Konoha can withstand such an assault. Not even the Third Tsuchikage could stop him."
Minato understood and nodded. "Let’s get started, then. If we can solve this problem now, Naruto and the others won’t have to face such powerful enemies in the future."
He smiled at the thought, and Shūichi nodded in agreement.
After all, he also intended to have children of his own.
Asuka and the others had been waiting for him for quite some time.
Waiting for Naruto and Sasuke to grow up to fight Kaguya? That would take far too long.
---
After his discussion with Minato, Shūichi began his preparations.
Three days after the Kaguya clan’s destruction, White Zetsu Tobi reported that he had located the rogue ninja Zabuza Momochi from Kirigakure.
While training with Shisui, Shūichi immediately sent a clone to act, teleporting to the Land of Water using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Blending into a tree with only his face visible, Shūichi watched as Zabuza killed several bandits and decapitated their leader.
He followed Zabuza as the rogue ninja presented the severed heads to a merchant in exchange for a bounty.
The fact that the Land of Water relied on a rogue ninja to deal with bandits was a testament to the level of chaos within Kirigakure.
Although this area was a remote island—a backwater region—it reflected the greater turmoil of the nation.
After Zabuza received his bounty and left the village, Shūichi slowly emerged from the ground.
"Hm?"
Zabuza stopped in his tracks and looked at the figure before him. His pupils contracted. "This guy... Could it be... the God of Shinobi from Konoha!"
Instinctively, Zabuza’s right hand went to his sword hilt, but he couldn’t stop his hand from trembling slightly, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
He had witnessed Shūichi’s battle against the Third Mizukage and knew just how terrifying this man was. No matter how composed he appeared, he couldn’t suppress the fear welling up within him.
What puzzled Zabuza was why such a powerful figure would target someone as insignificant as him.
"Are you the Blue Flash of Konoha, Lord Shūichi?" Zabuza asked cautiously.
Shūichi smiled and nodded slightly. "Zabuza, there’s no need to be so tense."
"I’m here because I admire your courage and ambition."
Zabuza frowned. "Although I have great respect for someone as strong as you, there’s no way I would ever join Konoha."
Shūichi chuckled. "Your vision and perspective are too narrow."
"But I don’t blame you. It’s your environment and the times that have limited you."
"That’s why your outlook is confined to one village and one nation."
Zabuza removed his hand from his sword hilt. "If I understand correctly, you’re asking me to serve you—not Konoha."
Shūichi replied, "You can think of it that way."
"Of course, I’d prefer you to serve your own ideals, your own dreams, and your own ambitions—not any single person."
Zabuza mulled this over. Wasn’t he already serving his own ideals and ambitions?
For a moment, as Zabuza looked at the man before him, he felt an unexpected sense of kinship.
"So, Lord Shūichi, what are your ideals, ambitions, and vision?" Zabuza asked.
Shūichi replied, "The First Hokage ended the Warring States Era and ushered in the era of the One Nation, One Village system."
"As for me, I aim to end the One Nation, One Village era and bring about an age without war."
"There will be only one ninja village in the Shinobi World, and only one country."
Zabuza's pupils shrank in shock. "I see."
"A small man like me indeed cannot compare in ambition."
"With your strength, it’s certainly possible."
"But I’m curious. If the Shinobi World has only one village and one country, will it truly end all wars?"
"If it doesn’t, I might end up betraying you as well."
Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Of course. That’s precisely why I admire you."
"If that day ever comes, you should indeed seek a new path."
"After all, there’s no such thing as absolute right in this world."
"The One Nation, One Village system once solved the chaos of the Warring States Era. For that time, it wasn’t the wrong choice."
Shūichi stepped forward, placing a hand on Zabuza’s shoulder. "Now that you’ve made your choice, follow me."
As his words fell, the two vanished.
---
Somewhere in the Land of Water.
In a hidden base, Mei Terumī suddenly opened her eyes. Leaving behind a clone, her real body slipped away quietly, heading into the forest.
Mist swirled through the area. As she approached, two figures came into view.
"Zabuza!" Mei gasped.
Zabuza, equally surprised, exclaimed, "You!"
Mei turned her attention to Shūichi. "So you’ve recruited Zabuza. Are you planning to make me betray the village as well?"
Hearing this, Zabuza was taken aback. So Mei hasn’t chosen to defect.
Shūichi simply smiled. "No, it’s the same as before—you are suited to becoming the Fifth Mizukage."
"Of course, becoming the Fifth Mizukage doesn’t mean you can’t also be my ally in the future."
Mei frowned. "I’ve already told you, I will never betray the Mizukage."
Zabuza snorted coldly. "Foolishness."
Mei cast a sidelong glance at Zabuza, thinking that if it weren’t for Shūichi standing here, she’d melt him into a puddle.
Shūichi didn’t mind Mei’s attitude. The harder the challenge, the more interesting it was.
However, today Mei’s resolve would inevitably waver.
"Mei Terumī, I have some regrettable news for you today," Shūichi said with a deliberately serious expression.
"The Fourth Mizukage you’re so loyal to... isn’t truly the Fourth Mizukage."
"What?"
Both Mei and Zabuza exclaimed simultaneously.
"What do you mean?" Mei asked, fixing her gaze on Shūichi. "Are you saying someone is impersonating the Fourth Mizukage?"
"That’s impossible!"
Shūichi replied, "You misunderstand."
"What I mean is that the Fourth Mizukage has been placed under genjutsu and is being controlled."
Mei’s pupils contracted sharply. "Genjutsu control?"
"That’s impossible! The Fourth Mizukage is a Jinchūriki who controls the Three-Tails. Not even the Sharingan’s genjutsu can manipulate a perfect Jinchūriki!"
Shūichi shook his head slightly. "It seems your time in the isolated Kirigakure has left you unaware."
"My genjutsu isn’t the strongest in the ninja world, but even I can control a perfect Jinchūriki for a short time."
"A three-tomoe Sharingan may struggle to do so, but the Mangekyō Sharingan can."
Mei gasped. "So, it’s the Uchiha clan’s Mangekyō Sharingan."
"But only Shisui of the Body Flicker in Konoha has awakened the Mangekyō, hasn’t he?"
Shūichi said, "No."
"There’s another."
"You should remember that Kirigakure once implanted the Three-Tails into a Konoha ninja, right?"
Zabuza interjected, "I heard about it after joining the assassination squad. They said our forces were completely wiped out in that battle."
"The only surviving member of that team is Kakashi Hatake, the son of Konoha’s White Fang."
Mei had no knowledge of this incident.
Shūichi said, "In Kakashi’s team, there was a member of the Uchiha clan who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after the death of a comrade."
"But even he ended up being controlled!"
Mei Terumī and Zabuza were both dumbfounded. "That… how is that even possible?"
Mei swallowed hard. "The Mangekyō Sharingan… wasn’t Uchiha Madara at that level back in the day?"
"Someone like that, with such top-tier genjutsu capabilities, how could they possibly be controlled?"
Shūichi replied calmly, "That’s where your understanding is too limited."
"The Mangekyō is not the strongest. At least, in front of me, the Mangekyō Sharingan is nothing special."
Mei and Zabuza fell silent.
His words were incredibly arrogant, but the man standing before them clearly had the strength to back them up.
"You’ve known all along that the Fourth Mizukage was being controlled, haven’t you?" Mei asked, looking straight into Shūichi’s eyes. "Even before you approached me about becoming the Fifth Mizukage, you already knew."
Shūichi admitted openly, "That’s right."
Mei gritted her teeth. "Then why didn’t you say anything?"
"The one controlling the Mizukage is someone from Konoha!"
Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Why should I?"
"To Konoha, Kirigakure is an enemy."
"Even for me, a weakened Kirigakure only makes it easier for me to unite all the ninja villages."
This despicable man! Mei bit her lip in frustration. "Then why are you telling me now?"
Shūichi’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, finding the sight rather enticing, but he maintained his composure. "Consider it a gift for you."
"However, there’s something you must know."
"Their target is the Tailed Beasts. Their power is immense, so much so that even I can’t take them down."
"Destroying Kirigakure would be effortless for them."
Mei’s mind reeled. Though she didn’t want to believe it, she knew Shūichi had no reason to lie to her.
"What kind of enemy could even you not handle, Lord Shūichi?" Zabuza asked.
Mei also stared at Shūichi, desperate for an answer.
Shūichi’s voice turned grave. "The Rinnegan."
"The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Eyes said to hold the power to destroy and recreate the world."
Mei and Zabuza were once again left speechless, stunned into silence.
After a long pause, Mei turned and began to walk away.
Zabuza called after her urgently. "Hey, if you go back now, you’ll die!"
Mei stopped for a moment but then said, "I am a ninja of my village!"
Zabuza turned to Shūichi, who gave him a slight nod. "Go."
Zabuza bowed respectfully before leaping after Mei.
As he caught up, Mei said, "You’re no longer part of the village. There’s no need for you to risk your life by returning."
Zabuza scoffed. "Don’t act like you’re the only one who cares about this village."
"I didn’t betray the village; I betrayed the Fourth Mizukage who’s being controlled, and the Blood Mist!"
"But why don’t you ask him for help?"
Mei snorted coldly. "His goal is to subjugate me and make me the Fifth Mizukage so he can control the village."
"How is he any different from the one controlling the Fourth Mizukage?"
Zabuza sneered. "Women really do have flawed logic."
"If Lord Shūichi wanted to control Kirigakure, he could simply kill anyone who resisted and install a compliant Mizukage."
"He wouldn’t even need to bother with that. He could just destroy the village outright."
"In my opinion, Lord Shūichi is far too merciful. To unite the entire ninja world, sacrifices are inevitable."
"Those who resist—just kill them."
Mei growled in frustration. "Right now, I really want to melt you!"
(End of Chapter)
Comments
Sil3nt
Zabuza has a point lol
