Chapter 179: A Heart Gone Astray
As the ashes of the message slipped through his fingers, carried away by a light breeze and vanishing into nothingness, Mizuki felt a stir of excitement rise within him.
"There really are quite a few smart people in this world…"
Among the prominent figures operating at the highest levels of the shinobi world, those who stood out did so with exceptional strength and intelligence. Of all the legendary names passed down through the ninja world, the First Hokage—Hashirama Senju—stood at the very pinnacle. The view he once saw was undoubtedly much broader than Mizuki's. Even without Mizuki's detached perspective and intelligence, Hashirama likely noticed many of the same signs.
"If that's the case, then maybe I don't have to tread so cautiously. At least, not over trivial matters."
Now that the door to Sage Mode had been opened, those at the higher levels were beginning to acknowledge Mizuki as one of their own. A vague sense of unspoken camaraderie now surrounded those who shared the same goals. That, at least, helped ease some of Mizuki's lingering anxiety.
With clarity about what needed to be done, Mizuki glanced toward his companions walking ahead, temporarily cast aside his thoughts, and quickened his pace to rejoin them.
…
Upon returning to Konoha, Mizuki really just wanted to rest—but as the squad leader, it was his responsibility to report in first.
When he arrived at the Hokage's office and knocked, the room was empty save for Tsunade herself.
"Jonin Mizuki, reporting to submit the mission report," he said formally.
Tsunade looked up and said, "Can't wait to flaunt your promotion, huh?"
"Well…" Mizuki smiled and placed the completed report on her desk. "I think I did a decent job."
"You did," Tsunade replied, casually picking up the document, though she didn't open it. "Too bad Deidara got away—but I don't blame you for that."
"Nothing ever goes perfectly. Still, I feel like we gained a lot."
Mizuki didn't feel any regret. Facing three S-class rogues and walking away alive was already a miracle. If things had gone any worse, they wouldn't have walked away at all.
"You did well. Honestly, it was my miscalculation," Tsunade admitted. "I underestimated our enemies' determination and complexity. The damage could have been far worse. We were lucky to have you—an unexpected asset."
"I didn't expect it to end this way either," Mizuki said. "I just pushed myself beyond my limits, side effects be damned. In the end, I saved myself and my comrades."
"You read what I sent you?" Tsunade asked suddenly, shifting the topic.
"I did. It was… surprising."
"What do you think?"
"There are too many people in this world who don't value their lives," Mizuki replied.
Tsunade chuckled. "That's a new way of putting it. But yes, 'reckless' sums it up."
"I couldn't think of a better word."
"Jiraiya isn't in the village right now. But when he returns, you should talk with him."
"Got it." Mizuki had always wanted to speak with Jiraiya. In the past, he never had the chance—or the status—to approach him as an equal. He wasn't quite there yet, but he was far from a background character now.
"That's all for today. I've seen your report, and there's nothing I need to ask for now."
"Then I'll take my leave," Mizuki said, bowing slightly before turning to go.
"Wait. About your injuries—I don't have time now, but come see me in a few days so I can check on them."
"Understood. Thank you."
While Mizuki was a skilled medical-nin in his own right, he was nowhere near Tsunade's level. A check-up from her wouldn't hurt.
…
At the flower garden in the forested rear of Konoha, Mizuki stood face-to-face with his pseudo–Jinchuriki clone, looking grim.
"You're saying my mental state has deteriorated that much?" Mizuki asked.
"Yes," the clone replied. "This subtle influence has already started leading you away from your original purpose. Do you even remember why you started training in Sage Mode in the first place?"
"To solve the issue with my cellular vitality—and save my life."
"And now? What are you constantly striving for?"
"For strength. Because I need power to survive."
"See? The cause and effect haven't changed much, but your priorities have flipped. Now that you've gained Sage Mode, when's the last time you worked on your longevity problem?"
The clone's words left Mizuki speechless.
Upon returning to the village, Mizuki had immediately sought out his pseudo–Jinchuriki clone—not to exchange memories, but to examine whether his fears had come true.
Their thoughts and will were identical. So theoretically, their deductions would be the same. Mizuki had purposely exchanged information through spoken word and writing rather than memory transfer, so his pre–Sage Mode self could evaluate the present objectively.
And the result, unfortunately, confirmed his worries. His main body's mindset had indeed shifted.
"We originally had a clear roadmap for what to do next. But you've grown complacent. One misstep, and you could die. Worse, you've started to revel in the glory of killing Sasori. Have you forgotten that soon, your enemies won't be Sasori—they'll be people like Obito Uchiha and Madara Uchiha. We've still got a long way to go."
"You're pretty blunt about this," Mizuki sighed. "Is there any good news?"
"The good news is: it's not too late," the clone said. "You may have been avoiding it, but we already accounted for this risk long ago. We even prepared countermeasures. So why haven't you started implementing them? Konoha isn't restricting you much right now."
"You're right… There's no more time to waste. Let's do it."
"I've given you all the facts. Are you sure you don't have any other questions? Because once we exchange memories, this objective self-evaluation will be lost."
"Let's sync. I want to know what kind of 'major discovery' you've been hinting at."
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