CHAPTER 268: CHAPTER 268: YOUR MIZUKAGE HAS BEEN MANIPULATED!

The legacy of the Second Mizukage was enough for the Hōzuki clan to coast on their merits for decades. And now, with a prodigy like Hōzuki Mangetsu in the current generation, the clan’s standing was stronger than ever.

So basically—

As long as Hōzuki Chikage didn’t commit some unforgivable crime like defecting, the village would turn a blind eye to his mistakes for the clan’s sake.

Compared to that, what Chikage had done... really wasn’t much.

He hadn’t leaked any intel or betrayed the village. He had merely escorted Kanda Kyoichi into the Land of Water.

With strength like Kyoichi’s, if he had really wanted to enter the Land of Water, no one could have stopped him anyway. The fact that he chose to come through "proper channels"... actually showed he didn’t want to spark unnecessary conflict with Kirigakure.

In that sense, this could even be seen as a good thing.

Hōzuki Chikage gradually calmed down, growing more composed. Of course, one thing hadn’t changed: his attitude toward Kyoichi was still... hard to watch.

This guy...

He was so enthusiastically submissive, even Kyoichi felt awkward.

Kyoichi much preferred the arrogant, rebellious version of Chikage—it at least looked like he was still a proper jōnin. Now? After being captured once, the guy acted like he had Stockholm syndrome.

It was honestly pathetic.

Then again...

From another perspective, a man this terrified wasn’t likely to pull any dirty tricks. Still, Kyoichi maintained a full range of sensory detection, to make sure nothing happened to Kakashi, Kurenai, or Shisui.

They stayed in the town for a couple of days.

On the third night—

An old man and Terumi Mei quietly entered the outskirts of the town under the cover of darkness.

Elder Genji had arrived!

"Elder Genji, shouldn’t we head into town?"

"No need. He’s already here."

Genji leaned on his cane and slowly stepped aside.

Kyoichi emerged from the ground and, upon seeing Genji, offered a faintly respectful smile. "No wonder you’re still the backbone of Kirigakure, even at your age, your mind remains sharp."

"Haha, I just knew you wouldn’t come to the Land of Water without a good reason. Mei, you’re dismissed. I’d like to speak with Kyoichi privately."

"Yes, sir."

Terumi Mei didn’t argue.

She knew that in matters like this, a newly minted chūnin like her had no voice and no place. Besides—

The more you know, the more dangerous things get.

After Mei left, Genji turned toward Kanda Kyoichi.

It was a shadow clone.

But—

From its chakra signature alone, this clone was nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. Its presence surpassed most jōnin, and Genji, with his aged body, certainly couldn’t break it.

Of course...

That was just a passing thought. If it came to a real fight, he wouldn’t be here in the first place.

Once Mei was out of earshot, Genji cleared his throat. "Apologies for making you come all this way, Kyoichi. I more or less understand your purpose here."

"How’s Yagura doing?"

Kyoichi didn’t bother being coy.

He wasn’t particularly close to Yagura, but when it came to dealing with Uchiha Madara, their interests aligned. That was the only reason he made the trip.

Otherwise...

Why would he care whether Yagura lived or died?

"He recently became the Three-Tails’ jinchūriki. For now, he’s stable and not fully under control, but the real problem is public perception."

Genji sighed.

The stigma of being a jinchūriki had completely destroyed Yagura’s public image. Most of the civilians who once supported him had now turned to back other candidates.

That was also why the Mizukage selection had come to a halt.

Kyoichi chuckled.

These Kirigakure fools...

No wonder Madara and Obito played them for so many years. It served them right.

He shook his head and said, "So just the fact that he became a jinchūriki made everyone flip on him?"

"Sigh..."

Genji let out another heavy breath.

Even though this was the reality of Kirigakure, it was still hard to swallow.

He paused, then asked, "So, Kyoichi, what kind of cooperation are you hoping for in Kirigakure?"

"What do you think?"

"Uh..." Genji didn’t know how to answer.

The situation in Kirigakure was a mess. If he wanted to clean it up, he had no right to bargain with Kyoichi. Even Chūkichi had defected...

He had no usable manpower left.

After a long silence, he finally said, "As things stand, I don’t have any manpower to offer. And frankly, we know almost nothing about the Mizukage’s condition."

"I know."

"What?"

"I know what’s going on with your Mizukage—and I might even be able to help."

"But?"

Genji understood perfectly. Kyoichi wasn’t some charitable monk here to save them out of the goodness of his heart. He clearly had an agenda.

And more disturbingly...

Why did Konoha seem to know more about the Mizukage than they did?

That was deeply unsettling.

"Everything comes at a price, doesn’t it? If Kirigakure wants help from Konoha, you’ll need to offer something valuable and officially request our involvement. Otherwise, we’ll treat this as a business transaction—you pay for intel, and that’s all."

Kyoichi smiled.

He wasn’t doing charity work. Yes, he wanted to stop Madara—but he wasn’t going to do it for free.

Genji thought for a moment, then said, "I’ll buy the intel first. The price will depend on how credible it is. If it checks out, I won’t be stingy... I’ve saved up a decent amount over the years."

"Heh. Then let’s start with a promissory note."

Kyoichi pulled out a slip of paper and a pen.

Genji glanced at it, then at Kyoichi, and felt an inexplicable sense of indignation.

He doesn’t trust my word...

Well... whatever.

He said nothing more and began writing, clearly laying out the conditions.

Once it was signed and sealed, Kyoichi let the ink dry before speaking:

"Chūkichi, your missing-nin, was captured by Hiruko. One of our ANBU teams was ambushed and killed during the pursuit. While tracking Hiruko, we discovered something unusual."

"Unusual?"

Genji raised an eyebrow.

For Kyoichi to call something "unusual," it had to be extraordinary.

"They’re not powerful in direct combat, but their ability to remain hidden is terrifying. Even I—and the Byakugan—struggled to detect them. It’s as if they could merge with the earth itself. What’s more... they can manipulate others."

Kyoichi’s tone was ambiguous—some truth mixed with just enough falsehood.

Genji was stunned.

Even the Byakugan couldn’t see them?

The Byakugan was the pinnacle of ninja reconnaissance. Every village dreamed of having one in their ranks, for its insight and security value.

If even the Byakugan couldn’t spot these enemies...

Then they had no chance.

"You’re saying..."

"There’s a group of unknown beings beneath the surface of the Shinobi World. They’re pulling strings, manipulating events—and the Third Mizukage may already be under their control."

"Ah!!"

Genji’s whole body shook.

The Third Mizukage...

Manipulated?!

"Then what about Yagura?"

"During the Chūnin Exams, I warned Yagura that one of the kids on his team had been placed under a genjutsu."

"...I see."

Now he understood why Yagura had suddenly been made a jinchūriki.

That was the key.

Could it be... that the Mizukage really had been compromised?

As much as he didn’t want to believe it, Kirigakure’s bizarre actions lately made Kyoichi’s story seem all too plausible.

The Third Mizukage... might truly be under someone’s control!

"And Chūkichi?"

"Regrettably, he’s dead. Hiruko used a forbidden jutsu to steal his kekkei genkai. By the time we arrived, not even a body remained."

"...Right. Sure."

Genji was skeptical—but outwardly, he nodded. "Thank you for telling me this. Regarding the Mizukage... I’ll see what I can do when I return."

"Don’t forget the payment."

"I won’t. I’ll send someone with the money soon."

Genji nodded.

Even though Kirigakure had been weakened by war, he still had some personal funds. Paying for this intel wouldn’t be a problem.

"Oh, and one more thing—I suggest keeping a close eye on Yagura. If that guy can control the Third Mizukage, he can certainly take over Yagura too."

"Thank you for the warning. Whether or not Yagura can be saved, I’ll send someone to contact you."

Genji wasn’t about to cut ties with Kyoichi.

Saving Yagura was only one objective—more importantly, it would confirm whether Kyoichi was telling the truth. And if he was...

Then Kirigakure would definitely need Konoha’s help.

No matter the cost.

A hidden village’s Kage being controlled?

There wasn’t a single ninja in all of Kirigakure right now strong enough to face such an enemy alone.

To protect the village, any price would be worth paying.

His only worry was...

That once he returned, he too might suffer Yagura’s fate.

Still...

That was a risk he’d deal with himself.

For now, he had no intention of breaking ties with Kyoichi.

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