The next morning, the five selected children arrived at the Mizukage Building on time. Led by the reception staff, they were taken to the Mizukage's office.
It was only when they arrived at the door that they realized they were all in this together.
Mangetsu and Mei Terumi recognized each other but weren't particularly familiar. They had arrived one after the other and exchanged simple greetings.
Mukumo, unlike Mangetsu, was not considered an heir within his clan. He knew who they were, but they didn't know him. Coupled with his naturally reserved nature, he hadn't spoken a word.
Onime Kaede, however, inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity—like he had encountered a kindred spirit.
The door opened.
"Excuse us."
Being the oldest, Mukumo took the initiative to step forward first, leading the group into the office.
"Good morning. Looks like everyone's here."
Seeing the group enter, Yagura put down his pen, stretched lazily, and greeted them.
"Morning," Zabuza replied through gritted teeth.
His eyes narrowed as he glared at Yagura with an expression that practically screamed murder.
This bastard!
He had silently become the Mizukage!
And after taking the position, it was as if he had completely forgotten about them!
Zabuza could somewhat understand why.
But that didn't mean he forgave him. He really wanted to punch something.
Compared to Mangetsu, at least Zabuza's attitude was better.
Seeing Zabuza's reaction, Yagura was amused. He playfully winked at him and said,
"Take a seat and wait for someone. There's breakfast from the cafeteria on the table—I hope it's to your taste. Even if you've already eaten, try it out."
Wait for who?
Yagura didn't elaborate, and they didn't ask. They'd find out soon enough when the person arrived.
One extra breakfast portion sat on the table—probably for the person who had yet to show up.
Rumor had it that the food at the Mizukage Building's cafeteria was excellent.
Well then—time to eat.
They lined up one after another and took seats at the guest table.
Mukumo, Zabuza, Onime Kaede, Mei, and finally Mangetsu.
From the moment they stepped in, Mangetsu had been hiding behind Mei. Yagura hadn't even gotten a proper look at his face.
Even when he turned toward the guest seating, his movements were oddly hesitant.
"Mangetsu."
Yagura called out to him, and the boy immediately stiffened.
"Tch! Stop being such a wimp!"
Clearly annoyed, Zabuza spun around and stomped toward Mangetsu, shoving him forward.
"Get out there and apologize!"
Mangetsu stumbled, completely caught off guard, and nearly lost his balance as he was pushed directly in front of Yagura.
"Pfft!"
The moment Yagura got a full view of Mangetsu's face, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
His cheeks were covered in bruises that even medical plasters couldn't fully hide. One eye was swollen into a perfect black-and-blue panda mark.
Mangetsu gave an awkward grin, baring his teeth.
Judging from Zabuza's attitude, Yagura had a pretty good guess about the culprit.
"You did this?"
"Yeah."
Zabuza answered without hesitation, chin raised in satisfaction.
"He came looking for me last night, whining like a little girl. I couldn't stand it, so I gave him a few punches."
Yagura glanced at Mangetsu, who looked like he wanted to say something but held back, and asked curiously, "What exactly did he say?"
Zabuza rolled his eyes. "Didn't listen. Forgot."
Who could stand listening to that?
Barely a few sentences in, Zabuza had felt his stomach churn and immediately resorted to a more practical solution—beating Mangetsu up.
That was just how he handled things.
Yagura gave Zabuza an approving nod and shot Mangetsu a glare.
Just yesterday, he had said Mangetsu might need some time to accept the situation.
Well, looks like Zabuza had beaten the problem out of him overnight.
Signaling that they could talk about this later, Yagura clasped his hands behind his head and grinned.
"Alright, alright, no need to dwell on it. As long as you've figured things out. Now, can you drop the act?"
He was looking at Mangetsu.
"You're a Hozuki—your body can liquefy. Are you seriously trying to tell me physical injuries stick around?"
Mangetsu let out a sigh, and the bruises on his face faded as he laughed.
"Can't a guy put on a little act? Playing the victim gets sympathy points."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Quit messing around," Yagura scolded before adding, "We'll talk later."
Mangetsu surrendered, raising both hands. "Okay, okay."
Onime Kaede, watching from his seat, turned to Yagura and asked,
"What about breakfast? Aren't you eating?"
Yagura waved him off. "Oh, we already ate earlier."
Kisame, ever the serious one, added, "We trained for an hour at the practice field at six, showered, ate breakfast, then came here."
The others were stunned.
Eight o'clock wasn't particularly early. For modern people, maybe. But for shinobi? Not so much.
Still… waking up at six? Training before work?
The painful truth hit them hard.
Their breakfasts suddenly felt much heavier in their hands.
Damn it! They'd been outpaced before they even started!
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Good morning, kiddo~"
Without waiting for a response, Jinin Akebino stuck half his body into the room.
"I'm not late. Nope. Not at all."
His eyes locked onto Yagura for confirmation.
"Right on time."
Yagura wasn't going to argue. This time, Jinin really wasn't that late.
Satisfied, Jinin stepped fully inside. His gaze swept across the room, meeting the five young faces staring at him in shock. He raised an eyebrow.
He immediately took two steps back, raising his hands in mock defense.
"Whoa, whoa! What's going on here? Since when did this place turn into a daycare? A bunch of little brats? Did I walk into the wrong room?"
...
Jinin Akebino had no interest in sitting down for a meal with a bunch of kids who were at least two generations younger than him.
He simply grabbed a carton of milk and, on his way out, swiped a steamed bun from Mangetsu's plate, raising an eyebrow at him in playful provocation.
"What the—? Are you seriously picking on me again?!"
Mangetsu instantly recalled the first time Yagura and Jinin had gotten into a fight at the ramen shop. He had somehow ended up footing the bill and even got chewed out for it at home.
Screw this! Did you hear me? Screw this!!
Meanwhile, Jinin stood in the corner, quickly finishing his food. As expected of an old-timer, he ate with impressive speed.
Noticing this, the five younger shinobi at the table hurried to finish their own meals as well.
"Alright, alright, now that everyone's here and the food's gone, let's get to business."
Yagura tapped his chin in thought, feigning a troubled expression. "Now, where should we start?"
Jinin wasn't one for small talk and immediately cut in. "Quit wasting time and get to the point! I've got better things to do."
Unbothered by the interruption, Yagura smiled and addressed the group.
"Then let's begin with the formation of the next generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
After Might Duy had obliterated the previous generation, the so-called Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had been left in a state of disarray. And since the team was still officially under the Mizukage's direct command, replacements had to be found.
As an elite unit representing the Hidden Mist, the selection process was largely at the Mizukage's discretion. Of course, those chosen still had to be strong enough to uphold the village's reputation. These weren't just any shinobi—the Seven Swordsmen were a symbol, a display of the village's might. A weak lineup would damage the Mist's standing and shake the confidence of its financial backers.
Fortunately, Mangetsu and the others possessed the necessary talent.
The moment Yagura mentioned the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, both Zabuza and Mangetsu—who had now fully processed the conversation—had the gleam of a hungry wolf in their eyes.
"That's the spirit," Yagura said with a satisfied grin. "Jinin-sensei, what do you think?"
Jinin knew that today's meeting was just a formality. Yagura had already made up his mind about these two kids.
Sooner or later, they would be his new comrades.
Jinin sighed in resignation. He didn't really have a choice—there weren't many other decent candidates in the Mist. These brats, at least, had some talent and the potential to become formidable shinobi.
Still, he wasn't about to admit that out loud. Suppressing a yawn, he lazily muttered,
"They'll do for now, but their skills still need refining."
"Glad to have your approval."
Yagura's thoughts weren't far from Jinin's. Mangetsu and Zabuza had the talent, but they were still young. Unlike him, they didn't have Isobu's power to cheat their way to the top. At best, they were chunin-level shinobi, and even with a legendary blade in hand, they wouldn't stand a chance against true elites.
Turning to Kisame, Yagura gave a nod. "Kisame."
"Understood."
Without hesitation, Kisame pulled out a scroll containing the remaining four swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
With a flick, he unfurled it. Seven kanji were inscribed on the scroll, each representing one of the fabled blades: Executioner's Blade, Hiramekarei, Blunt, Nuibari, Explosive Blade, Samehada, and Lightning Blades.
Mangetsu and Zabuza swallowed hard, their eyes glued to the scroll with an almost feverish intensity.
A puff of chakra-infused smoke erupted from the kanji for "Hiramekarei" and "Executioner's Blade." Two massive swords leapt from the scroll.
Mangetsu and Zabuza each took hold of their respective weapons—Hiramekarei and the Kubikiribōchō.
The weight of the blades settled in their hands, making their breathing grow heavier with excitement.
As the two stood there, lost in their silent euphoria, Yagura turned to Onime Kaede. He had promised him the longsword Nuibari. "Kaede."
Unlike the others, Kaede hadn't let his emotions show. Yagura wanted to hear his thoughts.
"I'll pass."
Kaede had anticipated this moment and had already made his decision. Raising a hand, he declined without hesitation.
"I'm not good with swords. I'd rather not."
Since Kaede had made his stance clear, Yagura didn't push the issue.
"Understood," he acknowledged with a nod, waiting for Kaede to elaborate.
Unlike Mangetsu and Zabuza, whose goal was to become part of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kaede had already chosen his own path.
"I'm going to study medical ninjutsu."
"Medical ninjutsu?" Yagura raised an eyebrow. "You want to be a medical ninja?"
"Yes. That's what I want to do." Kaede added, "I've already started training."
"Got it." Yagura respected his decision.
That said, the Mist's medical ninja program was… lacking, to say the least. As far as Yagura knew, it was a mess—practically nonexistent. He hadn't had time to reform that part of the system yet.
Running through his mental list of potential mentors, Yagura realized he didn't know anyone particularly suited to the task. Scratching his head, he admitted, "I'll ask around the medical corps, see if I can find you a decent teacher."
"No need, don't trouble yourself."
Kaede quickly waved his hands, cutting off the thought.
"My family already made arrangements. In fact, I've been working in the medical unit since I graduated."
"I see. Good."
Man, he really hadn't been keeping up with his friends' situations.
Kaede understood that Yagura had been swamped with responsibilities as Mizukage and didn't hold it against him. Instead, he firmly stated,
"I'll do my best to become the greatest medical ninja in the Mist."
Jinin suddenly chimed in with an approving nod. "That's a solid goal. Much better than that brat from the Hozuki clan."
Mangetsu, caught in the crossfire, felt the metaphorical arrow pierce his knee.
"Jinin-senpai! Why are you picking on me all day?!"
"Nothing much, just felt like picking a fight with you today."
Jinin grinned, baring his teeth. "Hey, you over there—Zabuza, right? I like you, kid. You've got some real backbone."
That was basically a roundabout way of saying he thought Mangetsu had none. He just straight-up didn't like him.
And the worst part? Mangetsu couldn't even argue.
He figured Jinin was probably referring to how he'd been feeling lost over Yagura's progress these past few days.
Last night, after meeting with Yagura, he had gone to see Zabuza and ended up blurting out his inner frustrations.
Before he could even get three sentences in, Zabuza decked him straight to the ground.
Then proceeded to beat the crap out of him.
"Sigh…"
Folding his arms across his chest, Mangetsu resigned himself to the mockery. If he had been dumb enough to make a fool of himself, he at least had to have the courage to take the ridicule that came with it.
Giving up on arguing back, he turned to Yagura and asked seriously,
"Yagura, who are the wielders of the Longsword: Nuibari and the Explosive Blade: Shibuki?"
Two people in the room still hadn't been assigned blades, and conveniently, two swords remained.
"Mukumo and Mei have different roles. Neither of them are sword users, so they won't be part of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
That settled it.
Mangetsu felt his heart stir. He wanted those swords.
As if reading his thoughts, Yagura wasted no time, seamlessly continuing, "Well? Interested?"
Ding!
That casual nod from Yagura hit Mangetsu right in the soul.
And Yagura wasn't just saying it for show—he meant it. "If you can wield them, they're yours."
At those words, Kisame stepped forward, handing over the scroll containing the swords Nuibari and Shibuki, placing them directly into Mangetsu's hands.
Just having the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei on his back had already made his day.
Now, Yagura was entrusting him with Nuibari and Shibuki, along with the scroll of the Seven Swordsmen and the title of their leader.
Mangetsu rolled up the scroll and accepted it, smiling wryly under the weight of responsibility.
"You really trust me, huh? My Mizukage."
Yagura smirked, teasing him, "What? Getting cold feet again?"
"Hell no!"
No way in hell was he ever going to embarrass himself like that again.
Dropping his usual carefree, joking demeanor, Mangetsu straightened his expression.
Taking in the looks from the other Swordsmen, he declared seriously,
"Hōzuki Mangetsu! Looking forward to working with all of you!"
Kisame, the closest to him, extended a hand with a friendly grin. "Likewise."
Mangetsu shook his hand.
No childish contests of strength, no unnecessary bravado.
Kisame followed Yagura's decisions without question. If Yagura had chosen Mangetsu to lead the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kisame had no objections.
Reliable as always.
Carefully stowing away his prized sword scroll, Mangetsu gave Yagura a sincere nod of gratitude.
"I'll become your strongest ally."
Yagura had kept his promise.
And Mangetsu wouldn't break his own.
Deep down, ever since he agreed to lead the Seven Swordsmen, an ambition had ignited within him.
Not just three swords—all seven. Given time, he wanted to master them all.
"Big words. Careful, or you might grow fangs."
Yagura neither confirmed nor denied his statement, simply flashing a sly smile.
Then, shifting his gaze, he turned to the next person. "How about you, Mukumo? Interested in joining the Intelligence Division?"
During the Chunin Exams, Mukumo's scouting and intelligence-gathering skills had left a deep impression on Yagura.
Mukumo saw no issue with the assignment and nodded. "No problem."
"And Mei—how about becoming my assistant?"
The last unassigned member.
Yagura explained his reasoning. "Right now, my assistant is the leader of the Yuki clan. But since she's also managing clan affairs, she's often overwhelmed. I need another right-hand."
That was the practical reason.
The real reason?
Out of all the shinobi in Kirigakure, he had chosen the future Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei.
Mei had already discussed it with her clan last night and made up her mind. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come here today.
Meeting Yagura's gaze, she smiled. "No problem, Mizukage-sama."
...
With that, everything was in place.
The core of Yagura's trusted circle was officially assembled.
More importantly, what truly pleased Yagura was that the talented shinobi who would have eventually been lost to Kirigakure's bloody future… were now all gathered under one roof.
The only one missing was the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata, but he was younger than Yagura by a few years.
Scanning the room, the young Mizukage broke into a genuine smile.
"Alright, alright! From now on, we're all comrades! I have only one rule—unity, camaraderie, respect, and mutual support!"
"Of course, I'm your superior, so that rule applies to me as well."
That last part was crucial.
His mood was great.
Even as he shamelessly preached about unity, Yagura himself couldn't help but laugh.
"And with that—we're done!"
...
At first, everyone had been listening seriously.
But as he kept going, they all started developing dead-fish eyes.
(Dead. Fish. Eyes.)
Would it be too late to defect now?
Urgent—send help.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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