Chapter 128: Chapter 128: The Fourth Mizukage of Hidden Mist Village!
This was the first time Soma saw an increase in reputation, yet he couldn't muster much excitement.
Third Mizukage's personal abilities might not be that strong.
His actions and decisions were still too radical. But for Soma, Third Mizukage hadn't done anything to wrong him. Despite his warnings being ignored, and according to the original plot, Third Mizukage was already dead. Now, however, he could still cling to life through the Skeleton Emperor. Soma knew that he had basically done all he could.
...
In Kamui's Dimension, Konan looked at Pain's decaying arm, with the decay's power continuing to spread up the arm. The entire arm was withering away. Konan had lost some of her usual composure.
Pain's Deva Path was a Puppet, but it was made using Yahiko's corpse.
"What is this strange power?"
"Nagato, what should I do?"
Nagato was silent for a moment.
"Cut off Pain's arm. This strange power can spread up the arm. Only by severing the arm can we stop it."
"Konan, don't hesitate."
At that moment, Obito made his move first.
Crack!
With a single slash, Pain's arm was directly severed. The severed arm fell to the ground. Soon, under the effect of aging power, it turned into a mass of pitch-black substance.
Obito looked at Pain's severed arm on the ground, his expression turning serious.
"I didn't expect Hidden Mist Village to possess such terrifying power."
"It decays upon contact and it spreads."
Konan looked at Pain, her gaze becoming somewhat complicated. Yahiko, who was already dead, now had one less arm. A hint of guilt arose in Konan's heart. Yahiko had died originally to save Konan.
Returning to her senses, Konan looked at Pain and asked, "Nagato, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Nagato controlled Pain and shook his head.
But in reality, Pain's severe injuries also affected Nagato.
Obito glanced at Nagato and Konan.
"Despite its terrifying nature, that power can only be used once."
"Before dying, he erupted all of his chakra, pouring all of it along with his soul power into that ninja tool to unleash such power."
"If not, he would have used it long ago."
"After he used that power, I saw that phantom directly shatter. Without surprises, he probably can't appear in that form anymore, completely dead."
Obito saw the fear in Konan's eyes, so he said that.
Under the guise of Uchiha Madara, Obito naturally couldn't appear weak.
But in reality, Obito was also shocked by Skeleton Emperor's abilities.
Previously, Third Mizukage's strike not only fell on Nagato's arm but also invaded Obito's Kamui's Dimension.
At that moment, Obito keenly felt that a corner of Kamui's Dimension was collapsing and decaying.
However, Obito didn't want Konan and Nagato to see this.
Konan hesitated for a moment.
"But Hidden Mist Village has other people. If everyone can wield that ninja tool and use such power, even at the cost of their lives, they probably won't mind."
"Impossible."
Obito shook his head and reassured, "Zanpakuto is different from ordinary Ninjato. It chooses its user, and if it's not satisfied with the user, the abilities of Zanpakuto cannot be fully utilized."
"This is the information I obtained from the ANBU Ninja of Hidden Mist Village."
"Very few people can wield that Zanpakuto. It might even be just Third Mizukage alone."
"And even if there's more than one, they certainly won't be able to use it many times."
"They use it once, and it consumes one of their lives."
"The power seems astonishing, but the spread of its effects isn't very fast. As long as the wound is dealt with promptly, you can avoid further harm from that power."
With that, Obito paused.
"Furthermore, that Third Mizukage has a special condition and cannot be controlled by my Genjutsu."
"But Third Mizukage is already dead. In the future, the Fourth Mizukage who succeeds him will certainly fall under my control."
"At that time, these Zanpakuto will be ours so don't worry."
However, as soon as Pain and Konan were sent out of Kamui's Dimension, Obito immediately looked grimly at the corner where Skeleton Emperor's ability had invaded.
"What the hell is this ability? It can even corrode my Kamui's Dimension. How should I deal with this?"
"Should I cut it off like Pain's arm? But if I do that, it won't just affect the size of my Kamui's Dimension; it will also decrease the power of my Sharingan."
"A decrease in Sharingan power means a corresponding decrease in my strength. Maybe I should retrieve my eye from Kakashi."
"I need to be more cautious about my actions against Hidden Mist Village."
"Especially those Ninjato."
...
An elderly man, accompanied by two young ninjas, arrived at Forging Island.
"Elder Genji, this way."
Ao led the way ahead.
Near the forging room.
Upon hearing movement, Third Mizukage forcibly opened his eyes.
"Soma, has Genji arrived?"
"Yes"
"How many?"
"Three."
"Let Genji come in. Keep the others from seeing my current condition."
"What about Ao-senpai?"
"Let Ao and the people Genji stay together."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
Soma stepped out.
"Elder Genji."
Genji scrutinized Soma seriously.
"Chief Uehara."
"Elder Genji, if it's convenient, please come with me alone."
Immediately, Soma looked towards Ao.
"Ao-senpai, please guard the door."
Ao nodded.
The two ninjas brought by Genji became instinctively vigilant.
Genji waved his hand.
"Don't worry, you two wait at the door."
With that, Genji walked towards Soma.
"Elder Genji, please come in."
The two entered, and Soma casually closed the door to the forging room, their footsteps echoing in the spacious workshop.
"Chief Uehara, what exactly happened?"
Soma didn't rush to explain.
"Elder Genji, you'll find out when you meet Mizukage-sama."
Approaching Skeleton Emperor, Soma stopped.
Genji followed suit.
"Genji."
A familiar voice entered Genji's ears, causing him to pause in surprise because he hadn't seen the presence of Third Mizukage. He looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice.
"Genji, no need to look. I'm right here."
With that, a force drifted out from Skeleton Emperor, coalescing into a miniature shadow of Third Mizukage.
A shrunken version of his shadow.
Genji's pupils contracted.
"Mizukage-sama?"
"What's going on?"
Third Mizukage looked at Soma.
"Soma, please explain for me. I haven't fully recovered my strength yet. Speaking even a few words is a huge burden for me."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
Soma began to explain.
"Mizukage-sama said that he was ambushed and killed by four Konoha ninjas."
"After death, his soul attached itself to the Zanpakuto known as Skeleton Emperor."
Genji paused.
"Mizukage-sama is dead? His soul attached to a Zanpakuto?"
Genji instinctively looked at the shadow of Third Mizukage, seeking confirmation.
Third Mizukage nodded.
Soma continued, "Those four ninjas were all very powerful."
"One possessed Wood Release, Sharingan, and Space Ninjutsu."
"Another excelled in using Explosive Tags and paper."
"Another mastered the Chakra Absorption Technique, capable of absorbing even Ninjutsu."
"And the last one had Ninjutsu similar to gravitational and repulsive forces."
Genji automatically disregarded the last three descriptions because compared to the first, they were incomparable.
Wood Release, Sharingan, and Space Ninjutsu alone could individually create a top-tier ninja.
Moreover, all three abilities are concentrated in one person.
Moreover, Wood Release has not been awakened in anyone since Senju Hashirama.
Genji had heard rumors of Wood Release bloodline ninjas appearing in Konoha, but there was no confirmation.
Now, what Third Mizukage said, relayed by Soma, Genji didn't think it could be false.
Adding Space Ninjutsu on top of that.
Minato Namikaze relied on the Flying Thunder God Technique and gained the title of Yellow Flash.
When all three are combined in one person, how strong would that person be?
Genji couldn't even imagine.
"Could it surpass Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara from back then?"
"Is it the product of a union between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan?"
"Was the dissolution of Konoha's Senju Clan a lie?"
"Was the Uchiha's preservation of blood purity also a lie?"
"Are the conflicts between the Uchiha and Konoha also lies?"
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Genji's mind.
Truly, the news Soma spoke of was too shocking.
"Mizukage-sama at the moment of death, forcibly unleashed his power injuring one of them causing those four Konoha ninjas to retreat, and the ANBU ninjas have enforced martial law."
"In addition, Mizukage-sama said that the plan to infiltrate Konoha with the Three-Tails Jinchuriki for an explosion was not his idea, but was formulated under the influence of Genjutsu at the time."
"The person using Genjutsu was most likely an Uchiha."
"The purpose was to make Hidden Mist Village hand over the Three-Tails to Konoha."
"The four Konoha ninjas who came this time also intended to use Genjutsu to control Mizukage-sama. When they found they couldn't control him, they decided to assassinate Mizukage-sama."
"All of this is Konoha's conspiracy."
"Konoha has hidden many powers."
"Not allowing these powers to appear on the battlefield certainly indicates a grand scheme."
"We in Hidden Mist Village must be cautious."
Genji's expression became very serious and solemn.
It took a long time for Genji to gather his thoughts.
"Genji, tell me your thoughts. How do you think Hidden Mist Village can survive Konoha's conspiracy?" Third Mizukage asked.
Genji remained silent for a moment.
"Mizukage-sama, can you confirm the information Soma just mentioned?" Genji asked.
"I can," replied Mizukage.
"In that case, there are two things we can be sure of," Genji continued.
"First, Konoha possesses extremely strong power that we in Hidden Mist Village cannot currently contend with, even though our village has significantly strengthened with the emergence of Zanpakuto and the Shinigami Squad."
However, the intelligence about Konoha from Third Mizukage now made Genji uneasy.
"Second, Konoha harbors a great conspiracy," Genji stated. "Previously, they used Genjutsu to control you Mizukage-sama in order to acquire the Three-Tails. Now they've come again, likely not just for the Tailed Beasts, especially since the Three-Tails has not reappeared yet. Konoha probably has other intentions and will come again."
"The intelligence we have on Konoha is too limited. Our only advantage is that they might not suspect Mizukage-sama, that your soul is still attached to the Zanpakuto after your death. They are unaware that we have this information. Therefore, I believe we can use this to our advantage.
Firstly, announce the news of Mizukage-sama's death.
Secondly, contract the front lines of Hidden Mist Village.
Thirdly, elect a Puppet Mizukage. When the Konoha ninjas come again, let this Puppet Mizukage be controlled by the Konoha ninja using Genjutsu.
Afterward, we can slowly gather intelligence on Konoha, quietly accumulating our strength."
Third Mizukage nodded.
"Genji, your analysis is good. However, there are a few issues.
Firstly, hold off on announcing my death. Contract the front lines, but not too drastically. Once Yagura returns to the village, then announce my disappearance."
"The next Mizukage will be Yagura."
Genji hesitated. "But would that be fair to Yagura?"
"Only Yagura can do it. No one else," said Third Mizukage. "Almost the entire ninja world knows that currently, Yagura is the only person in our village who can succeed as Mizukage. If we choose someone else, Konoha will realize that their plan has been exposed. At that point, Konoha will undoubtedly take corresponding actions. How will we respond?
"Only by having Yagura succeed will they believe their plan hasn't been compromised. This is indeed unfair to Yagura, but he is a member of the village and has an obligation to sacrifice for it. Once Yagura takes office, the village will follow his arrangements.
"After Yagura is controlled, the village will change its approach to Yagura."
"This is to minimize damage to the village and attempt to gather some secret intelligence about Konoha."
"Absolutely do not tell Yagura any information about Konoha's plans."
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