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After leaving Kirigakure, Kisame arrived at a seaside cave not far from the village.
The cave was close to the ocean, and the seawater carried a strong fishy smell that permeated the entire space.
Having grown up here, Kisame was very familiar with this odor and didn't find it unpleasant, but others were different.
Holding a torch, he walked deep into the cave but found no sign of anyone.
It seemed even "Madara" couldn't stand the smell.
As soon as Kisame turned around, he saw a masked figure standing before him.
"I thought you couldn't stand the smell?" Kisame took a deep breath.
Running into someone suddenly after turning around was startling; not crying out was impressive enough.
"It is a bit. The location you chose is rather unique," Obito said.
"This spot is relatively good. Close to Kirigakure, yet not easily discovered," Kisame replied with a grin.
"How is the village?" Obito asked.
"Compared to when I left, it's changed somewhat. However, Kirigakure is still Kirigakure; it can't just become the Akatsuki's vassal. I suspect Igawa Bu might be planning something too." Kisame extinguished the torch.
"It doesn't matter. I'm also considering something... should we directly kill Igawa Bu, or should we reclaim the Three-Tails?"
"Reclaim the Three-Tails? What about Kirigakure?" Kisame was puzzled.
"Does the current Kirigakure still have any value to exploit?" Obito countered.
Kisame recalled Igawa's earlier responses and shook his head.
Kirigakure's strongest combat forces were none other than the Mizukage and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Now, only one member of the Seven Swordsmen remained, and from what Igawa implied, Ringo Ameyuri's situation didn't sound good either.
A Kirigakure missing both its Mizukage and the Seven Swordsmen would suffer a severe loss of power, requiring a long period of recuperation. They might not even recover by the time the Akatsuki collected all the Tailed Beasts.
"Exactly. If we're really planning to reclaim the Three-Tails, we might as well make a big scene, preferably destroying half of Kirigakure. That way, they won't have the energy to concern themselves with affairs of other ninja villages," Obito said.
Kisame's mouth curved into a smile. "I don't mind either way. But what about those rebels? Do we deal with them?"
"I've thought of a plan. What if we let the Mizukage handle the rebels?" Obito suggested.
"You mean..."
"Let the Mizukage and the rebels fight it out, then we eliminate them all. That way, Kirigakure would be left with no power whatsoever," Obito explained.
"But dealing with two forces simultaneously would put pressure on us too, wouldn't it?"
"Then we'll bring in two more Akatsuki members. This time, we'll act according to the situation. At the very least, we must eliminate Kirigakure's rebels. By the way, we absolutely must locate the rebels' trail. If they don't show themselves, they'll be the ones to 'pick the fruit,'" Obito reminded him.
"Mmm, I'll press Igawa."
"Igawa Bu? I hope he can stir up something that makes me happy," Obito murmured, staring at the vast sea ahead.
***
"Hey, Zabuza-nii, can't you hit a little harder?" Hōzuki Suigetsu was pinned under Zabuza, one eye blackened, the corner of his mouth split, yet he seemed excited.
Only by sparring with high-level opponents could he improve his skills.
"Are you sure?" Zabuza was somewhat bewildered.
He'd never heard such an "excessive" request.
"Really..."
Before Suigetsu could finish his sentence, his other, relatively undamaged eye received another punch, adding a second black eye to his face.
"Ouch!" Suigetsu covered both eyes, tears welling from the pain.
"You were the one who said you wanted to get hit," Zabuza stated. "I obliged."
"Couldn't you at least let me get up first?" Suigetsu complained.
"Ah... I thought you liked being beaten?" Zabuza stood up from Suigetsu.
Suigetsu sat up, using his liquefied arms to heal his injuries. Soon, the two black eyes vanished.
"You two are really something. You've destroyed the 'training ground' we painstakingly set up," a middle-aged man outside the training area remarked with a smile.
It was called a "training ground," but it was really just a stretch of beach bordering the sea. High tide would quickly smooth it over.
Seeing the man, Zabuza also smiled. "I didn't expect this kid's skills to improve so fast either... probably close to catching up with his brother now."
Suigetsu straightened his back, a proud grin spreading across his face.
"By the way, you came looking for us because something's up, right?" Zabuza asked.
"Mmm. The ninja we sent to Kirigakure has returned," the middle-aged man said, his smile fading.
"And Hōzuki Mangetsu?" Zabuza inquired further.
"He's in the meeting room."
Zabuza patted Suigetsu's shoulder. Suigetsu understood and, along with Zabuza, followed the middle-aged man away from the beach.
Kirigakure and the Land of Water were on an island, making them easily isolated. This meant outsiders had difficulty entering, and islanders had trouble leaving.
Moreover, in recent years, Kirigakure's policy had been "isolation," making it even harder for ordinary people to bypass the village's vigilance and leave the island.
The island wasn't small, but rebels hiding in a specific location could easily be discovered by Kirigakure.
After multiple confrontations, the rebels had gained some experience. The best way to avoid detection was to blend into the Land of Water's population.
Thus, each person, according to their abilities, assumed different professions and backgrounds, becoming citizens of the Land of Water.
Of course, most belonged to the lower classes. But people like the Hōzuki brothers, who possessed some family assets and extensive connections, became part of the middle class within the Land of Water.
The three men skirted around a slum, scaled a wall, and arrived at the back door of a hotel.
Zabuza and Hōzuki Suigetsu checked their surroundings to ensure no one was tailing them. Then the middle-aged man produced a wire, picked the lock, and the three entered the four-story hotel one after another, making their way to a room on the second floor farthest from the stairs.
A light knock, the door opened a crack, and the three slipped inside.
Inside the room, besides Hōzuki Mangetsu, there were three others.
One was the Hōzuki family's steward, who handled Mangetsu's personal affairs and was also a reliable ninja. The second was a young man with a very ordinary appearance—not particularly handsome among men, but not ugly when disguised as a woman either. His slender build gave him the "assets" for such disguises.
This young man was named Hinizumi Ayamaru. He was the one who had gone to Kirigakure this time.
The third person was a middle-aged woman with purple hair and red eyes, her face cold and indifferent. Seeing Zabuza and Suigetsu enter, she gave a slight nod.
Kawakita Makoto possessed a "Kekkei Genkai." Her daughter had been killed by villagers because she had a Kekkei Genkai, driving Makoto onto a path of vengeance and making her a representative for Kekkei Genkai users.
"Any gains this time?" Zabuza asked eagerly, not even bothering to sit down first.
"I met Mei Terumī," Hinizumi Ayamaru said.
Zabuza's eyes lit up.
Mei Terumī's strength was undeniable. Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen might not be her match. Moreover, she had always been under Genji's protection. Bringing her into their fold would mean including Genji and the other elders in a direct confrontation with the two Mizukage.
That would force the ninja who obeyed the Mizukage to also consider the elders' stance.
"What did she say?" Zabuza asked.
"She rejected our proposal for cooperation." Hinizumi Ayamaru took a deep breath. "She said many people are watching her, and she can't join us in action. However, as long as we make a move, she and Genji will provide us with support."