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The ruins of Uzushiogakure lay before them, overgrown with weeds and crumbling structures.
Sasame surveyed the devastation with a sigh. "The shinobi world is truly merciless."
Mei Terumī stiffened slightly but found herself agreeing.
Uzushiogakure's destruction stemmed from fear—fear of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, and the death of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.
The man who ended the Warring States Period, established the village system, and distributed tail beasts in pursuit of peace.
His ideals had granted the world a fleeting respite.
But his death proved it all an illusion.
Peace hadn't been upheld by shared belief—only by his overwhelming power.
True peace was a luxury the shinobi world could never afford.
"Who governs Uzushiogakure now?" Sasame asked, gaze fixed on the distant sea.
"The Uzushiogakure daimyo, though his control is nominal."
Mei's voice turned icy. "After the village's fall, the land became a haven for rogue shinobi and criminals—a lawless frontier."
A no-man's-land.
The description triggered a sense of déjà vu in Sasame.
Perhaps Uzushiogakure could be claimed.
Geographically, its position was too advantageous.
"Uzushiogakure" itself meant "Whirlpool Village"—named for the confluence of ocean currents that formed swirling vortices along its coasts.
Yet none of the Five Great Nations had grasped the strategic value of transportation.
Not even land routes.
How could commerce thrive without proper infrastructure?
"Trouble."
Mei's brows furrowed, her posture tensing.
Sasame's eyes narrowed—he sensed it too.
Enemies approached from the sea.
Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu! (Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!)
Mei's hands flew through seals.
Chakra surged as the distant ocean roared to life, a massive water dragon erupting from the waves.
Screams followed as four unlucky assailants were swept away.
But more shinobi emerged, lining the horizon—kunai and shuriken blotting out the sky.
A chill ran down Mei's spine.
This wasn't an ambush for Sasame.
The killing intent was directed at her.
Only Kirigakure could mobilize so many shinobi at once.
And some faces… she recognized.
Suiton: Suijinheki! (Water Style: Water Wall!)
Another series of seals.
Seawater churned, forming a towering barrier that intercepted the storm of projectiles.
"Run!" Mei barked at Sasame.
Against these numbers, even she stood little chance—especially while protecting a "civilian."
Before the word fully left her lips, two earthen dragons erupted from the ground, their mud pellets shattering the water wall.
Neither side employed the Hiding in Mist Technique—trained shinobi could fight without visual aids.
Mei had also considered Sasame.
Mist would only hinder his escape.
A dozen shinobi charged from different angles.
Mei's cheeks puffed before she spat a stream of orange liquid.
Futton: Yōkai no Jutsu! (Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!)
The corrosive acid melted the lead attackers instantly—flesh and bone dissolving into nothing.
Sasame suppressed a shudder.
A question for later: Could a Sage Body withstand that?
The remaining assailants recoiled in horror as the acid pooled outward.
"Move!"
Mei didn't wait, grabbing Sasame and lunging away—only for a figure to block their path.
"Eigi." Her voice dripped venom. "You dare?"
For a moment, Eigi felt as if he faced the Mizukage himself.
This woman couldn't be allowed to live.
If she became Kage, his head would roll first.
"Dare? This is the Mizukage's order!" Eigi snarled.
Mei's stomach dropped.
She'd suspected—but confirmation still struck like betrayal.
She'd served Kirigakure with unwavering loyalty.
Yet for striving to secure its future, she'd been marked for death.
Her thoughts flashed to Zabuza Momochi.
The "Demon of the Hidden Mist" had once been a loyal shinobi too—until he attempted to assassinate Yagura.
Had he too seen a Mizukage who failed his people?
Gritting her teeth, Mei paled further.
At twenty, she hadn't yet reached her prime.
Stronger than the average jōnin, but with limits.
Chakra flared anew as she hauled Sasame backward—
—only for tidal waves to materialize, threatening to engulf them.
Simultaneously, other attackers combined water and lightning chakra, the elements amplifying each other.
Mei hurled Sasame away, a chakra cushion carrying him to safety.
Then she faced the electrified tsunami.
Futton: Komu no Jutsu! (Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!)
Fire and water merged into scalding vapor.
The mist expanded with her breath, consuming the waves—
—melting everything in its path, even the ground beneath.
Eigi trembled.
Too strong.
Kekkei genkai were truly heaven-defying.
But they came at a cost.
"She's running low on chakra! Finish her!"
He barked orders while edging backward.
Mei's escape routes vanished as shinobi closed in.
Yet her expression never wavered.
She was the future Mizukage.
Even in desperation, she would not falter.
Unlike Tsunade—whose demeanor often clashed with the typical Hokage's gravitas—Mei carried herself with unwavering poise.
Save for the occasional flash of temper.
Water techniques erupted anew.
From a distance,
Sasame stood atop the waves, watching the azure clashes.
Now he understood why Mei had yielded 100 Fate Points.
His shipping route plan would have gotten her killed—
—had he not intervened.
And intervene he would.
Whether for Fate Points or his schemes, letting her die wasn't an option.
The real issue was identity.
How to explain?
"Konoha shinobi" was out of the question.
That left only one option: the mysterious organization he'd founded.
He'd never settled on a name—
—but "Destiny" would suffice for now.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 140 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 35 power stones I will publish the next chapter.
(Give me all your power stones)