Strongest Hidden Mist Village [137]

"Really, I... I can't go on anymore..."

At this moment, Miroku stared blankly at the sky, lying weakly on the beach.

Every energy conversion and power extraction Yoru performed on her was extremely painful.

Forcibly separating the chakra from the sage power in her body, then fusing it with Shinigami power..

This process was like cutting a complete person into pieces, reassembling them, then cutting them apart again, over and over.

However, as the Shinigami power replaced the chakra and fused into Miroku's body, becoming part of the sage power,

The feeling it brought, so different from chakra, kept stimulating Miroku, allowing her to find a trace of strange sensation amidst the intense pain.

Time passed in this indescribable process.

Logically, Miroku in her sage state should not experience fatigue or exhaustion from this level of experimentation.

But Miroku's spirit was ultimately not that of a true "sage" who had lived for thousands of years.

As a mere inheritor, after three days and nights of energy conversion and fusion, she finally couldn't bear it anymore and collapsed on the ground.

"I'm... I'm so sorry... I really can't go on..."

"Alright then."

Looking at Miroku, who appeared completely worn out, Yoru stopped his operations with the thought of not exhausting the resource.

Miroku had brought him too many surprises.

Balancing the four powers with a living body was completely beyond the current research scope of Yoru and the Hidden Mist. It opened up a whole new path of research for Yoru.

As long as this path could be developed, Yoru would be able to fully promote the power of Shinigami, rather than just using a few souls to establish some Soul Society.

He could create an empire!

An extraordinary, self-reliant empire that belonged solely to him, in this world overflowing with chakra!

"You've done amazingly well, Miroku. You will be the core of my future plans. Everything you've sacrificed now will be remembered by me and the future citizens of the empire."

Yoru gently pinched Miroku's chin, smiling at her dazed and unfocused eyes: "I can allow you to spread your teachings in the Hidden Mist, to form a 'Holy Land.' I'll even support you, letting you become a Sage of the 'Fourth Great Sage Region of the Shinobi World.'

"The Great Shinobi Villages won't sit idly by while a country or force rises, but they would certainly welcome the emergence of a new place of spiritual heritage."

"Mōryō is a mountain spirit, a plague deity, a black shadow. From now on, you shall be called the Witch-Shadow Sage."

"A-Arigato"

Miroku didn't understand everything Yoru was saying at the moment. She only knew that this inhuman torment was temporarily over...

...

The matter with the priestess was settled for now, but how to deal with a lost young man still wandering life's path was another problem entirely.

When Hoshigaki Kisame returned to the village, the elite of Kirigakure found himself completely lost—even forgetting how to get to the Mizukage Tower. After hesitating throughout the village, he finally made up his mind and headed to the Mizukage's office.

"What's wrong, Kisame? You're one of our newly appointed Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Why the long face? Even if a mission fails, you should stay spirited, don't lose your composure!"

Mangetsu Hōzuki, who had just walked out of the Mizukage's office, was surprised to see Kisame Hoshigaki's strange expression.

He had never seen this look on Kisame before. In his mind, Kisame had always been a calm, emotionless machine—a living weapon.

How come he looked so troubled today?

"Mangetsu."

Kisame instinctively wanted to ask something, after all, Mangetsu Hōzuki had always been Yoru's man and was probably the person in the entire Hidden Mist Village who had the most contact with Yoru. If there was any information related to Shinigami, Mangetsu Hōzuki would surely know something.

But after a moment of hesitation, Kisame decided not to speak.

He had already come to the Mizukage's office. If he had any doubts, he might as well ask the person directly!

"Hehe, Kisame, guess what? My little brother was just born! We hadn't even named him yet, but the Fourth Mizukage gave him the name 'Suigetsu'!" Mangetsu Hōzuki's face was full of smiles, his mouth almost splitting to the back of his head.

"Little brother?"

Kisame was stunned, and a smile appeared on his gloomy face: "Congratulations. Suigetsu Hōzuki, that's really a good name."

"Of course! It's a name given by the Fourth Mizukage!"

"He will surely be a genius like you in the future."

"Hehe, enough talk, I'm going back to see my little brother." Mangetsu's face was alight with an irrepressible smile. As if remembering something, he looked at Kisame with a teasing expression. "By the way, you're not bad either. When did you hook up with that girl from my Cipher Division?"

"What?"

Kisame was stunned.

"Don't play dumb with me, bro. Ayako, Ayako Mizuuchi!"

Mangetsu Hōzuki snorted. He was now the deputy director of the ANBU, taking over Yoru's original position. The Cipher Division was a subdivision under ANBU, so it naturally fell under his management.

"That girl came back with Dentaro, and she's been asking me about your situation ever since. I told her you were still on a mission and hadn't returned."

"You should have seen that worried look in her eyes! You usually keep such a low profile, I didn't expect you to quietly snag the prettiest girl in the Cipher Division. You're something else!"

"This..."

Kisame instinctively wanted to deny it, but Ayako Mizuuchi's gentle smile immediately appeared in his mind.

'Kisame-senpai, I'm still waiting for you to treat me to a meal.'

'Kisame-senpai, please make sure to come back safely!'

"Alright, alright, I'm going back to see little Suigetsu. You go report to the Fourth Mizukage quickly. Remember to keep that date. She really is a nice girl."

Mangetsu Hōzuki patted Kisame on the shoulder and left cheerfully. Kisame stood there dazed, not knowing what to do for a moment. He didn't even realize when he had pushed open the door to the Mizukage's office.

It wasn't until Yoru's voice sounded that he was brought back to reality.

"Learning to think is a mindset a successful ninja should possess."

Yoru sat behind his desk, looking at this top genius of the Hidden Mist with a half-smile: "But I'm curious, are you thinking about that girl, or about what the Second Mizukage said to you?"

"Both, Lord Fourth..."

Kisame came to his senses, looking at the Fourth Mizukage who had overthrown the Bloody Mist and led the Hidden Mist into a new era.

"That's good. Think it through, then take it step by step." Yoru said with a smile.

"She's a good girl. Go on that date first, enjoy the sweetness of love and the taste of life."

"But!"

"No buts, Kisame."

Yoru shook his head and said: "Life is like this. No one knows whether an accident or tomorrow will come first. Solve the present, face the future. This is what we all should do."

"You're not ready to face those things yet. This is not because you're not excellent or outstanding enough, but because you deserve to experience better things before facing the bloody reality."

"Everyone deserves it, like Mangetsu, like you."

"But I can't turn a blind eye to those things, especially now that I know about them!" Kisame growled: "The deception of chakra, the Shinigami and Soul Society, the things you bear on your shoulders, Lord Fourth. I am a member of the Hidden Mist, a member under your command, Lord Fourth. I cannot disregard any of this!"

"Then what do you want to know, or what do you want to do?"

Yoru spoke softly: "Is it because of the curiosity in your heart that you want to open the door to a new world and explore the world and secrets you don't know? Or is it that you can't stand by and watch us bear such great pressure, and want to join us and become one of us?"

"I..."

Kisame's expression faltered.

He didn't know if it was curiosity or some other reason. Perhaps it was both.

"Then, if I tell you that if you truly want to know all of this, and want to join us, you would have to give up everything you currently possess, would you accept?" Yoru spoke again. "Give up your newly acquired Seven Ninja Swordsman status, give up all the power, authority, and emotions you've gained, including the girl waiting for your date."

"Give up all of this and become a departed soul like the Second Mizukage, then you can access a whole new world. Would you accept this condition?"

"I..."

Kisame's face froze.

Could he... really accept such a condition?

He had been lost his entire life, nearly succumbing to the twisted world shrouded in the Bloody Mist. Now, in this new era under the Fourth Mizukage's leadership, he had finally found his sense of existence and belonging.

And now, he was being asked to give up everything, just to uncover an unknown mystery...

Kisame wanted to speak but held back, struggling internally.

"I..."

"Alright, alright, I'm just kidding."

Yoru interrupted Kisame's emotional buildup with a smile: "The Soul Society's existence is the vanguard against chakra, but that doesn't mean there aren't other options."

"You are a genius of the Hidden Mist, Kisame. In terms of talent, intelligence, character, and capacity, you are someone I acknowledge. So I have plans for you as well."

"Really?!"

Kisame raised his head in surprise.

"Of course, but the time hasn't come yet. It still needs some time for preparation."

Regarding Kisame Hoshigaki and Mangetsu Hōzuki, Yoru had actually considered at first whether to directly turn them into Shinigami.

Both Kisame and Mangetsu were top geniuses in all aspects, not just for the Hidden Mist Village, but for the entire ninja world. Apart from those with Six Paths bloodline, they were the most outstanding geniuses in this world.

If they could become Shinigami, they would surely become captain-level existences no less than Yagura in the future.

But after careful consideration, Yoru gave up on this choice.

In an era where the concept of life and death was already well-defined, asking them to abandon everything they had, even their lives, to embrace something entirely new, was clearly far more difficult than resurrecting the dead to begin a second life.

Therefore,

Yoru originally wanted to wait a bit longer.

To wait until their lives ended, or until they had reached a point of understanding life, before doing those things.

After all, there were still decades until Ōtsutsuki era.

But now it's different.

As he delved deeper into Shinigami power and the fusion of various powers in this world, Yoru found a completely new direction!

"When everything is ready, I'll need you to step forward. I hope at that time, you won't refuse me."

"I could never refuse any order from you who saved me from the mist," Kisame said solemnly.

"Alright, alright, relax and adjust your state. I heard from Mangetsu that you still have a date to go to. With such a stern face, the girl won't like it," Yoru teased. "I've already filed the mission report. The ANBU will deliver your payment later."

"Rest well for these two days and seize the opportunity. She's a good girl."

"Lord Fourth, actually, she and I..."

"What 'she and I'? Have you forgotten the policy I set? The Hidden Mist Revival Plan relies on talented people like you. The Hoshigaki clan doesn't have many people left. If you don't work hard, how can our Hidden Mist revive? How can your Hoshigaki clan revive?!"

Yoru sternly said, "Go back, get yourself together, change your clothes, and talk to that girl properly."

"This..."

"This is a mission, Kisame Hoshigaki."

"Yes, Lord Fourth!"

Hearing Kisame's agreement, Yoru's face finally showed a smile again: "Alright, go now."

"Yes... By the way, Lord Fourth, about Kakuzu and Sasori..."

"Leave them to Yukiko."

"Understood!"

...

Thanks to Yoru's intervention, the Land of Demons incident concluded without causing much ripple in the ninja world.

Although the new Priestess, Shion, was young, the unique nature of the priestess made her an irreplaceable existence. Thus, there would never be a coup or power struggle like the one in the Land of Snow, with brothers usurping power or uncles and nephews clashing.

Fine, you can have the throne, but don't come looking for me when Mōryō arrives.

The appearance of Mōryō would only further strengthen the priestess's position in the Land of Demons, which also made Miroku, far away in the Hidden Mist Village, breathe a sigh of relief as she fully settled down in the village.

The Hidden Mist Village once again returned to peace.

Outside the Land of Water and the Hidden Mist, the entire country focused on developing industry and commerce, vigorously promoting the fishery resources of the Land of Water, trading with various countries, and using the Wave City to put various delicious seafood on the dining tables of major nations.

Internally, the Hidden Mist Battle Tower grew increasingly popular. More and more Hidden Mist ninja entered it, constantly honing themselves. While improving their combat abilities, their soul strength also quietly increased.

The experiments on Shinigami transformation, Hueco Mundo, and Miroku's sage power control were all progressing smoothly.

Compared to the thriving Hidden Mist, other ninja villages also began to lick their wounds after the war, each entering a period of development where hawks lay low and doves rise.

The various Kage worked hard to heal the wounds left on their villages by the war while guiding their villages to develop in the direction they hoped for.

The ninja world, which had been filled with smoke and constantly erupting in conflicts and wars, thus entered a brief period of relative peace. Although everyone knew this peace wouldn't last long, those who longed for peace still cherished this brief time.

But in some corners of the ninja world, various disturbances were still playing out, and explosive news was coming out, such as the defection of Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, and the Land of Rain closing its borders.

Amidst these disturbances, there were always figures wearing haori moving about, carrying out some kind of mysterious missions...

...

Land of Wind, Sunagakure.

"So Nagato has finally made his move against Hanzō."

On top of the Kazekage building symbolizing Sunagakure's highest authority, a figure wearing a black robe and a spiral mask looked at the village standing in the yellow sand. The blood-red three-tomoe Sharingan flickered behind the mask.

Beside him, a black and white figure resembling a Venus flytrap nodded slightly.

"Hanzō didn't run away either. He just locked himself up in his fortress, wrapped in layers upon layers, living a life of debauchery."

"When Nagato came knocking, he was even drunk and didn't put up any resistance before being dealt with," White Zetsu said with some emotion. "It's hard to imagine, that was the Demigod, the man who once stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world."

"The so-called Demigod had long been corrupted by power and desire," Obito sneered. "How could there be a future if the world is left to such rulers?"

"Any news from the Hidden Mist?"

"Can't detect anything."

Black Zetsu's hoarse voice sounded: "There's a huge special barrier in their village. My spore clones are discovered and dealt with as soon as they enter, making it impossible to scout anything."

"Looks like they're researching something extraordinary, Yuki Yoru..."

Obito's expression was complex. That day on Higashimatsuyama, he had also witnessed the terrifying power of that young man. Even though it was just a glimpse, it was enough to leave a deep impression on him.

"But there's no need to worry. He's been staying in the Hidden Mist Village during this time, with no souls for him to absorb. Even if his strength has improved compared to the Third Ninja War, it wouldn't have improved much."

"On the other hand, there's been quite a situation in Konoha."

"Oh?"

Obito narrowed his eyes.

"The Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze has succeeded as the Fourth Hokage; Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, has defected from Konoha after his human experiments were exposed; a top-tier genius has appeared in the Uchiha clan, named Itachi Uchiha."

"The Third Hokage has completely relinquished power, even handing over the ANBU to Minato Namikaze. Among them, there is an experimental subject who possesses Wood Release. Also..."

"Minato Namikaze's wife, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki Kushina Uzumaki, is pregnant!"

Obito's body suddenly trembled, his hands under the black robe clenching involuntarily.

"Sensei's wife... is pregnant, huh?"

For that "gentle" red-haired woman, Obito still had quite a bit of fondness in his heart, but these feelings dissipated in an instant.

He could never forget everything that happened on Higashimatsuyama.

His dearest teacher had, with his own hands, killed the girl he loved most.

"Rin..."

Obito stood with his hands hanging, as if swallowed by a huge shadow. The aura he emitted was so chilling that even Zetsu, in the scorching hot desert, felt a bit of coldness.

Zetsu shrewdly remained silent at this moment, not interrupting the sorrowful period where Kamui could not hide tears. After a long while, Obito finally reined in his emotions and slowly spoke.

"How's the investigation on the Tailed Beasts going?"

"Uh..."

This question hit the nail on the head.

Zetsu quickly organized his thoughts and words: "We currently have information on the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails."

"Among them, the One-Tail is in our hands, the Two-Tails is inside Yugito Nii of Kumogakure, the Eight-Tails is inside Killer B of Kumogakure, and the Nine-Tails is inside Kushina Uzumaki of Konoha."

"As for the Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails..."

Seeing Zetsu hemming and hawing, Obito narrowed his eyes.

The information about the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails had already been exposed during the Third Ninja War. There was no need for Zetsu to investigate at all.

What Zetsu really needed to investigate was the information on the remaining five Tailed Beasts.

Now, there was no information on the five Tailed Beasts at all. It seemed like you've been investigating nothing all this time?!

"The Four-Tails and Five-Tails originally belonged to Iwagakure, but due to the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki died in succession. Although Tailed Beasts are immortal, we can't determine where they will be reborn, and calculating the time, they probably haven't revived yet," Zetsu immediately said.

"Then what about the Three-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails?" Obito's tone was grim.

"Uh, the Three-Tails died on Higashimatsuyama... calculating the time, it should have revived already, but we don't have specific information yet. As for the Six-Tails and Seven-Tails... we don't have any news at the moment..."

"No news? Then go investigate!" Obito roared. "All of our plans fundamentally revolve around the Tailed Beasts. And now, we don't even have basic information on the Tailed Beasts! How are we supposed to execute the plan?!"

"Un-understood..."

White Zetsu muttered.

I'm hurt, but I have nowhere to complain.

I really have been trying my best to investigate, but I genuinely can't find anything!