Using the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques against him—
Good.
Very good.
They had clearly prepared this for a long time.
Knowing they couldn't defeat him in direct combat, their only option was to trap him with a sealing barrier of this scale.
Shigure's expression darkened.
Was this… a setup?
His mood soured instantly.
Hashirama noticed the shift in his face and let out a soft sigh.
"These guys aren't fools. They know they can't beat you, so they chose to stall you instead."
He raised a brow.
"Think carefully, Shigure. If they trap you… what is the most likely thing they'll do next?"
The reminder hit Shigure immediately.
Kirigakure.
If the Akatsuki intended to delay him, there was only one reason:
To attack the Hidden Mist Village.
He closed his eyes, instantly linking his senses to the information flowing from his thirty-six Cloud Pigeons, each carrying the power of the Cloud Eye—sharing sight, sound, and chakra perception.
Kirigakure was calm for now.
But that meant nothing.
Shigure immediately directed one Cloud Pigeon toward Terumi Mei.
He couldn't speak through them, but writing was possible.
If he could warn her—keep her alert—Nagato wouldn't be able to abduct any Jinchūriki.
Inside the Mizukage Office
Terumi Mei sorted through stacks of documents with a tired sigh.
"I'm not even the Mizukage anymore, yet I'm still doing the Mizukage's work."
She clicked her tongue. "Can't that brat Shigure stay in the village for once and handle things properly?"
Still grumbling, she looked up—
A pigeon fluttered into the office.
Terumi blinked.
"…That bird looks familiar."
Of course it did. With her sharp senses, she had long noticed the Cloud Pigeons stationed throughout Kirigakure—but she never cared enough to pay attention. After all… who pays attention to a bird?
The pigeon hopped onto her desk and immediately began scratching letters and symbols onto a sheet of paper.
Terumi's eyes widened in recognition.
"Right! Shigure sent out these pigeons before—used them for scouting!"
But this wasn't reconnaissance.
This pigeon was delivering a warning.
At the Borders of Kirigakure
The sea rippled unnaturally.
Space folded.
One by one, the members of the Akatsuki appeared above the water's surface.
Nagato gazed down at the waves.
"Why didn't we teleport directly into Kirigakure?"
Obito let out a helpless sigh beneath his mask.
"If it were that easy, we would've done it.
Shigure has surveillance techniques everywhere—the moment we warp inside, he will detect it.
This is the closest safe point."
Nagato clicked his tongue. Now that Shigure was sealed away, Obito still worried about being discovered?
Even if Shigure sensed them, what could he do now?
Nagato shook off the irritation and motioned forward.
"Let's move. We're taking every Jinchūriki, and Kirigakure's own Six-Tails and other assets. After this, only the Nine-Tails will remain."
His voice trembled with excitement.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi—the Eye of the Moon Plan—was about to reach its midpoint.
Everything was accelerating.
Yahiko smiled warmly, unaware of the darker layers in Nagato's intent.
"Nagato, your plan worked. With Kirigakure's Mizukage trapped, the village has no real combat power left."
But Obito threw a cold splash over the optimism.
"No resistance? Don't be naïve."
He listed them off, one by one:
"The Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku—the Dead Bone Pulse.
The Yuki Clan's Ice Release.
The Hōzuki Clan's Hydrification.
The Yumujō's Boil Release.
And the Hoshigaki Clan's monstrous chakra reserves."
Obito's voice dropped.
"Kirigakure is full of Bloodline Limit users. If they get organized, they're not easy prey."
Nagato narrowed his eyes.
But his confidence didn't falter.
"We don't need to defeat the entire village.
We only need their Jinchūriki."
And with Shigure trapped inside the barrier—
Nothing would stop them.
"…The Chishan Clan with Lava Release,
the Red Valley Clan with Scorch Release,
and the Chidori Clan with Retreat Release."
As Obito listed each clan, Yahiko's jaw dropped.
"When did Kirigakure get so many Bloodline Limit clans? Seriously?"
Obito didn't even bother looking at him.
"And that's not all. There are still three Jinchūriki inside Kirigakure."
Nagato frowned. "Wasn't it four? How did it become three?"
Obito sighed.
"The Three-Tails' Jinchūriki, Yuki Haku, is also one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
He should still be at their base right now."
Nagato nodded. "So we won't be able to get Haku, then."
Obito continued without pause:
"Our main targets:
Akayama Hiroshi — Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Lava Release.
• Hōzuki Gin — Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Hidden Release—can turn completely transparent and erase his presence.
• Namigumo Yūko — Six-Tails Jinchūriki, monstrous chakra even without the beast. With the Six-Tails, even worse.
These three alone are each at least Kage-level.
Stronger, even, because of their tailed beasts."
Yahiko swallowed hard.
"It seems… Kirigakure's strength really is terrifying."
He already knew how powerful the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were—people comparable to Kage-level fighters.
And these Jinchūriki were said to surpass even them.
Obito wasn't finished.
"And don't forget—Kirigakure still has the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei.
She abdicated, yes—but only to give way for Shigure.
She still handles the village's affairs and is a real Kage in all but title."
Yahiko stared blankly.
"Wait… so there are two Mizukage?"
Konan shook her head.
"No. Only one.
The one trapped right now is the Sixth Mizukage, Shigure.
The one in the village is the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei.
She stepped down early to make room for him."
Yahiko turned to Nagato.
"So we have to deal with another Mizukage?"
Nagato nodded calmly.
"Don't worry. Compared to Shigure, this Mizukage is… average."
Yahiko nearly choked.
They were both Mizukage—how could he describe one as "average"?
A Kage was a Kage. None of them were weak.
But Obito wasn't done.
"And," Obito added.
Yahiko blinked. "…There's more?"
Obito gave him a look, then continued:
"Shigure also trained a special unit of Ninja Swordsmen—different from the Seven.
If the Seven are Shigure's personal elite, then this group is the new backbone of Kirigakure."
He gestured sharply.
"Fifty fighters.
All trained in Shigure's personal style—Breath of Water Swordsmanship.
All masters of Water-Style ninjutsu on top of that."
"Fifty…" Yahiko muttered weakly.
Fifty elite swordsmen.
Three Jinchūriki.
Eight powerful Bloodline Limit clans.
A retired Mizukage who still fights like one.
Suddenly, Yahiko realized—
Even with Shigure trapped…
Kirigakure was still an absolute monster of a village.