CHAPTER 107 & 108

CHAPTER 107

It stood to reason that Mizuki could have discovered these issues long ago, but due to his busyness and constant distractions, he had pushed aside what he considered minor matters. Yet in hindsight, it was a stroke of luck—during the analysis of a misclassified agent, he discovered its devastating effect on cells. Rather than merely disassembling an organism, the substance could forcibly split it into independently functioning biological units.

At first glance, it didn't seem all that useful. But with the right context, it could be a formidable tool. For example—if they were ever able to capture a White Zetsu—how would they safely and efficiently extract cells of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, which Zetsu contains? That's where the splitting agent could shine: reconstituting Zetsu into separate entities, each easier to cultivate and manipulate. Using the same crude cloning methods that Orochimaru once used, the offspring could be stabilized and controlled—without the typical backdoors or mental failsafes.

Of course, that kind of application was still a long way off.

What interested Mizuki even more was a newer idea: if the link between body, soul, and elemental chakra could be mapped and quantified, it might pave the way to create a low-end version of a jinchūriki—artificial Tailed Beast hosts. That kind of research could save years of development.

"It'd be amazing if you could split someone apart and still preserve the soul's will—like Suigetsu's Hydrification Technique from the Hidden Mist..."

For a long time, Mizuki had hoped to create a clone—what he privately called his Shanzhai Jinchūriki—that could share memories and chakra in real time. A living extension of his own will. A true incarnation of his ideals.

To that end, Mizuki pinned his hopes on natural energy and Sage Mode chakra. After all, techniques like Inorganic Reincarnation—a jutsu used by the former Akatsuki member Kurozuchi—could breathe life into stone. Surely natural energy and senjutsu held the potential he needed. But it was also volatile and extremely difficult to master. He wasn't even close to entering Sage Mode. If he could decipher the principles behind Suigetsu's hydrification and apply it to a reliable clone body, it could work as a temporary solution.

"But I don't have an affinity for Water Style... None of my elemental chakras have high compatibility. Should I try a Yang release-based approach?"

Mizuki had long felt the imbalance of Yin and Yang in his chakra due to his use of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. He deeply appreciated medical ninjutsu for its utility in keeping him stable, but without talent in that field, he could only try to restore his internal balance through experimentation.

So far, there hadn't been side effects—but who knew how long that would last? Cursed Seals were unpredictable.

"Yang release? Maybe someone from the Akimichi clan? But I don't really know Chōji... and the Expansion Jutsu isn't relevant to me. Who else specializes in Yang release?"

He thought about it. No one besides Naruto came to mind—Naruto, with the reincarnated chakra of Asura Ōtsutsuki, had an absurd level of Yang release. That wasn't something Mizuki could ever replicate.

"Spiritual Possession Jutsu is useless... and Asura's reincarnation is a privilege of the so-called 'Child of Prophecy.' Medical ninjutsu doesn't touch that level of soul structure either... What about the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?"

He shook his head. That path led nowhere but death. And dealing with the likes of Orochimaru or Kabuto to learn forbidden techniques like Reaper Death Seal was suicide.

Closing the scroll in his hands, Mizuki leaned back and fell asleep without realizing. When he opened his eyes again, faint sunlight was creeping through the window. From the kitchen came the sounds of pots and pans.

He hadn't slept well, but he dragged himself up. After a cold rinse and a quick wash, he came out to find breakfast already set—and Tsubaki waiting.

"Why go through so much effort for breakfast?"

He glanced at the table: sushi, stewed pork, curry, and several side dishes. Way too much for an early meal.

Tsubaki only smiled and pulled out a large bento.

"Take this on the road. I added charcoal to the container lining—it'll keep the food warm all day."

"Huh?" Mizuki blinked. "How'd you know I had a mission today? I haven't even mentioned it."

"I overheard Yūhi Kurenai and Asuma-senpai talking in the hospital last night."

"Ahh." Mizuki chuckled. "Not that it's a classified mission, but… Jonin sure have loose lips. After a war, everyone's gotten lax."

Tsubaki poured tea and said with a gentle smile, "Will you be even busier if you get promoted to jōnin? There are already so many missions, we hardly see each other."

"Jōnin, huh? That's still far off." Mizuki shook his head. Promotions required more than power—timing, politics, and public sentiment played huge roles. Despite working nonstop the past two months, he didn't expect any formal reward yet. But once Lady Tsunade returned and stabilized the situation, a tokubetsu jōnin rank was likely within reach. No rush.

"Eat quickly. You're running out of time."

"It's all my favorite food… Tsubaki really gets me. But I guess I can't take my time."

After scarfing down breakfast and changing clothes, Mizuki left the house with her.

It was early, but the sky was overcast. Though it didn't rain, the air was heavy. Around them, villagers wore black and carried flowers—funeral offerings. A somber procession.

"This kind of atmosphere... really doesn't suit me."

They passed several acquaintances, but no one spoke. Everyone offered silent condolences.

Mizuki wasn't indifferent to the death of the Third Hokage—far from it. But his attention was always on the living, and on the future.

"Even if the dead can't hear us… Rest in peace, Hiruzen. Konoha still has a future to protect."

Had Sarutobi Hiruzen not shown mercy, Mizuki might've been imprisoned or executed outright. If Danzo had taken over instead, he'd already be a corpse.

Eventually, the mourning passed, and the clouds parted. Sunlight broke through. The air felt lighter.

At the Konoha gate, Mizuki exchanged greetings with Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, the gatekeepers. From a distance, two teams arrived simultaneously.

Hyūga Hiashi arrived with a single branch clan escort.

And Yūhi Kurenai approached with two Suna-nin, likely envoys.

Seeing everyone gathered, Mizuki stepped forward with a smirk.

"Who says I'm just a Chūnin? Even big shots show up on time when I'm in charge. Though... they sure cut it close."

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CHAPTER 108

This so-called "mission" was more of a diplomatic performance than any real task. Judging by the personnel assigned, Konoha clearly wasn't treating it as a big deal.

"It's more about saving face for Sunagakure than anything else."

Konoha had gone out of its way to placate its unruly little brother. After suffering such a humiliating loss during the Chūnin Exams invasion, it was a miracle things hadn't devolved further. But it wasn't surprising that the two villages made peace quickly—their respective leaders had both been killed by the same man: Orochimaru. Two of the Five Great Nations fooled by one missing-nin. The losses were embarrassing enough, but the real wound was becoming the laughingstock of the shinobi world.

Still, Suna had less to lose. Their military had always been the weakest among the Five, and betrayal wasn't exactly new behavior for them. Being beaten back by Konoha hadn't surprised anyone. It was Orochimaru's betrayal that did the damage—allying with the former Leaf Sannin only to be used as pawns and discarded.

Mizuki glanced at the rest of the group. He had expected the trip to be uneventful, but this level of tedium was absurd. Hyūga Hiashi—head of the Hyūga clan—was quiet and formal, always keeping up appearances. There was an obvious gulf between him and Mizuki in rank and status. No casual conversation was going to bridge that.

The only other familiar face was Sarutobi Asuma, whom Mizuki could exchange a few words with now and then. But Yūhi Kurenai? They'd barely spoken before. She was polite, but distant. And more importantly, Mizuki didn't trust her. She was a genjutsu specialist, and genjutsu users were the worst kind to let your guard down around.

"A teammate you can't trust is more dangerous than an enemy."

No matter how subtle, illusion-users had little tells—micro-expressions, unconscious gestures, the odd flow of their chakra. Most wouldn't notice, but Mizuki, with his training in sealing and chakra control, was sensitive to such things. And that made him uncomfortable around her.

As for the two Suna captives—Temari and Gaara—they didn't speak a word. Understandably. Not even a full day had passed since the alliance was re-affirmed. Mizuki wasn't about to have a heart-to-heart with the kids of the man Konoha just helped get killed. And with both of them nearly ten years younger than him, they had nothing in common anyway.

Gaara, wrapped in sand as always, made Mizuki's skin itch just looking at him.

"Seriously... dragging around that much sand all day? Has the kid ever heard of bathing?"

Mizuki didn't catch any foul odor, but he still didn't want to be near him. Gaara gave off the same vibe as a bomb with a cracked casing. And the worst part? That sand armor he wore probably hadn't been washed in weeks.

Temari at least looked presentable—tall, blonde, clearly strong—but her hair was tied in two absurd puffs and her clothes were dusty and clunky.

"What a waste. A decent face, ruined by bad fashion sense."

With such an unsociable group, Mizuki had little to do but stew in boredom.

"Should've brought a scroll to study… or even a couple of trashy ninja novels. Anything."

They walked in uncomfortable silence for most of the day. At dusk, they finally made camp by a riverbank. Three tents were pitched, and the six of them gathered around a small campfire for dinner.

For the first time all day, Mizuki relaxed. He wasn't a gourmand, but eating was always a highlight—especially when the food was made by someone he liked. He took out the large, elaborate bento Tsubaki had packed for him, unfolded the lid, and dug into the steaming assortment of sushi with delight. The others gave him strange looks.

Kurenai finally couldn't keep quiet.

"Isn't that bento a bit... extravagant for a mission?" she asked, frowning slightly. "What if it hampers your mobility in combat?"

Mizuki paused mid-bite, surprised she spoke. "Combat readiness? That's what we've got these two for." He gestured to Temari and Gaara with his chopsticks—Temari rolled her eyes; Gaara didn't react at all.

Honestly, if not for a specific reason, Mizuki wouldn't have been chosen for this mission. Escorting high-value captives required higher-ranked shinobi. With Hiashi here, clearly the mission had symbolic weight. Mizuki's presence likely had more to do with availability and his recent service during the invasion.

Kurenai, ever serious, didn't let up. "Even if this is a peacekeeping gesture, we still need to be alert. Those two are our leverage with Sunagakure."

"Are you two planning to run away?" Mizuki asked dryly, turning to Temari and Gaara.

Temari gave him an exasperated glance and shook her head. Gaara didn't even look up.

"See?" Mizuki grinned. "They're on their best behavior."

In truth, both sides wanted peace now more than ever. Orochimaru's betrayal had left Suna isolated and weakened. They had no reason to cause trouble. And Konoha, still reeling from the Hokage's death, needed stability.

Bandits? Rogue ninja? None had dared to appear so far.

Kurenai fell quiet, clearly dissatisfied. But Mizuki wasn't finished.

"And anyway," he added with a smirk, "this bento was made by Tsubaki. Full of love. What about you? Never made one for Asuma?"

Kurenai flushed. "W-Why would I cook for Asuma? This is a mission. He has nothing to do with it."

"Oh? But he's bought flowers from Tsubaki's shop several times. Didn't give them to you?" Mizuki feigned confusion. "That's weird…"

"Twisted love. Deny it all you want, everyone sees it."

Still, something had been bothering Mizuki since Kurenai brought up Sand Ninja.

"How did your brother, Kankurō, escape?" he asked Temari. "He was pretty banged up when I last saw him."

Temari blinked. "Jōnin Maki found us during the retreat. He carried Kankurō out."

Mizuki nodded. That made sense. Suna's emphasis on elite shinobi meant they'd prioritize saving puppet users like Kankurō. They were valuable assets.

"I wonder how Moonlight Hayate's doing…"

Each passing day made it less likely Hayate would wake. Physically he should've healed by now—if he hadn't woken, then his life force must've been nearly gone.

"If only Tsunade-sama were here..." Mizuki thought aloud. "She'd know what to do."

Hayate had been a respected jōnin. Sarutobi Asuma, Kurenai—they'd all known him. It wasn't surprising that they were concerned.

"By the way," Mizuki added, "how's Asuma's arm? He got hit pretty badly yesterday."

"It's fine," Kurenai said, this time without hesitation. "Just superficial. He'll heal in a few days."

"That's good." Mizuki popped the last sushi into his mouth.

"Finally, I managed to finish eating without being scolded."

He packed away his bento neatly, then leaned back against a tree, eyes closed, listening to the crackle of the fire.

"Everyone else had dry rations. Hiashi and Hinata ate rice crackers. No wonder Kurenai finds me obnoxious… too flashy. But hey, in a world where guys like Deidara call explosions 'art,' what's wrong with enjoying good food?"

The last of the group finished eating. Then—

"Cough. Cough."

Mizuki glanced over. Hyūga Hiashi, of all people, was about to speak.

"I've not expressed my gratitude properly. Hinata was under your guidance… I thank you both deeply."

Mizuki raised a brow.

"You're thanking us both? It makes sense for Kurenai—she's Hinata's jōnin sensei. But me? I was just a teacher at the Academy. Talk about formal…"

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