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Chapter 54 — Hyōton, Shikotsumyaku
The brazier's fire dwindled; the hot tea cooled.
Genshi's head bowed completely, his breath gone.
The sitting room fell into silence.
Alex watched the dead elder with mixed feelings. Though they stood on opposite sides, the man was undeniably worthy of respect. Ninety years of life spent worrying over the village until his final breath.
Konan stared at Genshi for a long while, then turned her gaze to the two vials on the table. Her heart was similarly conflicted.
She had expected a battle when coming to Kirigakure — instead, matters had resolved far more smoothly than imagined. The Hyōton and Shikotsumyaku samples had been handed over by a dying man, along with a plea: do not harm Kirigakure.
Genshi, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, Madara Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, even Obito Uchiha — each had his own shinobi path and convictions, willing to dedicate life and everything to their ideals. What a pity that in this already warped shinobi world, they only sank further from their original dreams.
Konan reached into her shinobi pouch and pulled out sealing scrolls. With two loud snaps she sealed the vials into the scrolls and stowed them back in her pouch.
She rose, glanced once more at Genshi's head bowed over the table, and walked toward the door.
The cup of tea in front of her had gone cold. The mossy-green brew sat level with the cup's rim, undisturbed, the aroma faint. The untouched cup would be his farewell tea.
Konan stepped outside the sitting room. The black-clad retainer stood quietly at the door, bowed, offering two jet-black scrolls in both hands. He did not meet her eyes; his silence said everything.
These scrolls had been fetched at Genshi's command after retrieving the vials. Each scroll was plainly labeled: Hyōton and Shikotsumyaku.
'This old man... really thought things through. Hard to feel much malice toward him...' Alex observed the two jutsu scrolls.
No doubt they contained the Hyōton technique and the Shikotsumyaku technique. Genshi had given the bloodline samples in life and left the clan's jutsu after death — one last act for the village.
Perhaps it would matter; perhaps not. Still, it was all he could do for Kirigakure in the end. Maybe his gesture would spare the village some lives in the future.
Konan said nothing, expression unreadable. She took the scrolls from the retainer, spread her wings, and rose into the sky.
The retainer stepped into the sitting room and knelt before the fallen Genshi, wailing softly. "Master Genshi, your final command has been carried out. Rest now. Do not worry for the village any longer — rest in peace..."
Soft sobs echoed through the room.
...
Mizukage Hall.
"What?! You left Genshi undefended and returned?!" On the rooftop terrace, Mei Terumī's icy glare cut through the returning Anbu as she reprimanded them sharply.
"Mi—Mizukage-sama, we had no choice. Master Genshi spoke with a stern tone and ordered us to depart; fearing his health might worsen if he grew angry, we withdrew to report to you," one replied.
Mei frowned. "You mean Genshi insisted you leave the residence?"
"Yes. And thinking back now, Master Genshi seemed very urgent about it."
Mei turned to another Anbu. "Search results — any trace of Akatsuki's White Tiger?"
"Mizukage-sama, Anbu have been fully mobilized and, together with other village shinobi, swept the village. White Tiger's whereabouts remain unfound."
Mei's expression hardened. "No good."
"Genshi is in danger! He must have sensed White Tiger's arrival and told you to leave immediately!" She vanished in an instant, a streak of black across the sky as she raced toward Genshi's residence. The other Anbu followed in a flash and sent signals out.
Kirigakure erupted. Figures bounded across rooftops — Anbu, jōnin, chūnin... even genin. Nearly every shinobi rushed toward the elder's home. This village's living fossil and pillar could not be harmed.
"Genshi must not be hurt!" Mei led the charge, all traces of coy charm gone; only resolve remained. To her, Genshi was a wise elder who had repeatedly saved a collapsing Kirigakure. He had even pushed for her to succeed to the Mizukage seat. She would not allow harm to come to him.
"I'm here!" Chōjūrō's voice cut through the commotion as he leapt up from below, blue hair bristling. He gripped a flat, absurdly large shinogatana and roared, "Hiramekarei — Liberation!"
Instantly, one of the Seven Ninja Swords' twin holes sprayed a massive torrent of blue chakra that wrapped the blade, forming a gigantic blue hammer. He slammed it downward, aiming to strike Mei's landing feet.
"Water Dragon! Watch out, Mizukage!"