The Kirigakure ninja unleashed wind jutsu, dispelling the thick fog that had blanketed the forest. As expected, the masked man had long since vanished.
"We just let him escape like that?!"
Nearly every Kirigakure ninja present voiced their frustration. No one could stomach the revelation that their village had been manipulated for so long, like puppets dancing to an unseen puppeteer's strings.
"This individual is highly skilled in space-time ninjutsu," Terumi Ryuunosuke explained gravely. "Even the Fourth Hokage failed to kill him. We simply don't have the capability to capture him."
Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, was widely acknowledged as the strongest ninja in the world today. He too was a master of space-time ninjutsu, yet even he couldn't prevent the masked man from escaping Konoha. The ninjas of Kirigakure certainly couldn't hope to succeed where the Yellow Flash had failed.
"That's correct," Mei Terumi admitted reluctantly, swallowing her anger as she acknowledged the bitter truth.
She turned to Shō and said, "Have the ANBU return to the village immediately. There are too many people gathered here."
With the commotion that had just occurred and the ANBU who had been stationed in ambush positions, nearly half of the Hidden Mist Village's elite forces had congregated in this forest. Now that the masked man had fled, there was no purpose in keeping so many people here.
More importantly, there were sensitive matters to discuss that weren't meant for so many ears.
"Understood," Shō nodded in agreement.
Both Mei Terumi and Shō issued orders to their respective ANBU units. With the Mizukage dead, they were now the two highest-ranking members of the ANBU command structure.
"Ensure no one else views the Mizukage's body," Mei Terumi instructed firmly. "And the events that transpired tonight must remain strictly confidential—absolutely nothing can leak outside these woods!"
Mei Terumi personally prepared Yagura's body and handed it over to trusted ANBU operatives to transport back to the village. She then addressed Shō, Terumi Ryuunosuke, and Asato Karatachi with grave seriousness.
They all understood the catastrophic impact it would have on both the Hidden Mist Village and the Land of Water if news spread that their Mizukage had been controlled by an outside force and had died alongside the Three-Tails. The other major ninja nations would undoubtedly seize upon this vulnerability to extend their influence into the Water Country.
They immediately relayed orders to their subordinates and clan members. Hundreds of ninjas departed, returning to the village in staggered groups to avoid drawing attention.
In the end, only four people remained in the forest: Mei Terumi, Shō, Terumi Ryuunosuke, and Asato Karatachi.
"The Fourth Mizukage is dead, and the Three-Tails has perished with him. We don't know when or where it will eventually be reborn," Terumi Ryuunosuke said, seizing the opportunity to advance his agenda. "Our most urgent priority now is to select a new Mizukage to stabilize the situation."
Though he didn't explicitly name his preferred candidate for the Mizukage succession, everyone present understood his meaning perfectly.
"Indeed," Shō replied with a slight chuckle. "Otherwise, all of us ANBU would be left rudderless."
The subtext of his words was clear—he remained committed to his role in the ANBU and had no intention of competing for the position of Mizukage himself.
The Hidden Mist Village had suffered under manipulation for years, and the fact that they had uncovered this deception today meant that he and Mei Terumi were the most significant contributors to this revelation. Combined with the considerable force of ANBU operatives under his command, he certainly possessed the foundation to vie for the Mizukage position.
But Shō knew his own limitations. His strength and capabilities, while considerable, weren't sufficient to bear the mantle of a village's shadow.
Terumi Ryuunosuke's eyes flickered, betraying a hint of satisfaction. As long as Shō stepped aside, it was almost certain that his daughter would become the next Mizukage.
Now, the only potential voice of dissent could come from Asato Karatachi. He had been supported by the previous Mizukage to ascend to a position of power and had been among the first to endorse the controversial Blood Mist policy. With his qualifications and the strength and status of his clan behind him, he might still contend for the Mizukage position.
Hozuki Haoyu understood precisely what Terumi Ryuunosuke was implying. It would be a lie to claim he didn't desire the position of Mizukage for himself. Yet he also recognized that his chances of prevailing against Mei Terumi in such a competition were slim.
Nevertheless, he wasn't prepared to concede so easily.
"The matter of the Mizukage candidacy cannot be decided by just the four of us discussing it here," Mei Terumi suddenly interjected.
She looked directly at Terumi Ryuunosuke and Shō. "The village has undergone a monumental change. Our immediate priority must be to inform the other elders and stabilize the current situation. Only then can we properly address the election of a new Mizukage."
Although they had all issued orders to maintain secrecy, there was no guarantee that the night's events wouldn't eventually leak. Engaging in a power struggle for the Mizukage position before addressing these more pressing concerns would only destabilize the village further.
As soon as she finished speaking, she tapped her toes against the ground and rushed off toward the village.
Shō had already chosen to yield to Terumi Ryuunosuke, and the Mizukage candidate in his mind was undoubtedly Mei Terumi. Her decision to prioritize the village's welfare over rushing to claim power only increased his respect for her.
He exchanged a meaningful glance with Terumi Ryuunosuke, and they both departed.
Asato Karatachi lingered briefly before following suit.
In a dimly lit house within the Hidden Mist Village, a tall figure stood with his back to the door. On the table beside him rested a massive sword tightly wrapped in white bandages.
"Hmph!"
Space distorted behind him as the masked man materialized from the vortex.
"Have you been discovered?" the tall man asked, turning around.
In the darkness, his extremely distinctive features became visible—an unusually ugly face with very small eyes and gill-like markings on both cheeks. His skin had an unnatural light blue hue that distinguished him from normal humans, and his teeth were unnaturally sharp.
True to his name, he resembled nothing so much as a human-shaped shark.
Hoshigaki Kisame, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
The masked man remained silent.
"You can no longer remain in the Hidden Mist Village," Kisame observed with a smile. He walked to the table beside him, gripped the massive sword Samehada, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
"They'll soon begin to suspect me as well, so I have no choice but to become a rogue ninja."
His promotion to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been abruptly proposed by the Fourth Mizukage. With the tumultuous events unfolding in the village and his conspicuous absence, suspicion would inevitably fall upon him.
But Kisame didn't particularly care. He had grown weary of this false world long ago. Why should he concern himself with the Hidden Mist Village or his reputation as a traitor?
"Yes," the masked man finally responded. "However, before you leave the Hidden Mist Village, there's one task you must complete."
"What might that be?" Kisame asked, his interest piqued.
"Assassinate the person who will become the Fifth Mizukage," the masked man stated flatly.
"Haha!" Kisame laughed. "The Fourth Mizukage has barely cooled, and you're already asking me to assassinate his successor? You could at least tell me their name."
The masked man ignored Kisame's request and continued as if speaking to himself: "Whether the assassination succeeds or fails, I will extract you afterward."
With those words, the space before his eye distorted once more, and his figure vanished into the vortex.
"How boring," Kisame remarked after the masked man's departure.
Yet despite his words, his shark-like features twisted into an expression of genuine intrigue.
"A candidate for the Fifth Mizukage? Now that does sound interesting..."