Chapter 71: Promise

Flames roared into the sky, and explosions echoed from the heart of Kirigakure, shattering glass across the village. For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze.

Then came the scorching wind, howling past the shattered remnants of the battlefield.

Fourth Mizukage Yagura stood in the ruins of the courtyard, looking down at Zabuza Momochi, Terumi Mei, Ao, and a cluster of mid- and lower-ranking Kirigakure ninja.

Ghost Lantern Mangetsu lay crumpled on the ground, his condition unknown—alive or dead.

Obito and Pain had vanished long before the others arrived.

A strong gust blew away the dense fog, revealing a black staff spiraling down through the air. Its hooked end latched onto Elder Yuanshi's throat and yanked him into the air like a lifeless fish.

Yagura reached out and grabbed the old man's head, twisting it cruelly until it faced Terumi Mei and the others.

"Old man," Yagura said coldly, "I wanted you to live out your days tending crops, raising flowers… maybe even find a respectable old lady to marry. But unfortunately, they wouldn't let you."

He tightened his grip until Yuanshi groaned in pain.

"Take a good look, elder. Don't forget their faces."

Yagura's fingers curled tighter around Yuanshi's skull, and a horrible crack rang out.

"Help!" Terumi Mei shouted, her hands forming rapid seals.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bomb!"

A jet of high-pressure water erupted from her mouth, surging forward like a spear aimed at Yagura's heart.

Simultaneously, Zabuza and Ao launched their own attacks from both sides, flanking the Mizukage.

Together, Terumi Mei, Zabuza, and Ao were the strongest combatants Kirigakure had left after the former generation of Seven Ninja Swordsmen had perished.

But Yagura didn't move. He didn't even glance their way.

He simply whispered to the elder:

"You died because of them."

Snap!

With a sickening crunch, Yuanshi's neck twisted grotesquely. His body fell limp in Yagura's grasp.

Elder Yuanshi was dead.

But Terumi Mei's attack had already closed in.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

A thick barrier of stone and earth erupted from beneath Yagura's feet, shielding him from the incoming torrent of water.

Dozens of Kirigakure ninja sprang forward, intercepting Zabuza and Ao before they could reach the Mizukage.

Yagura didn't lift a finger in retaliation.

He didn't need to.

He knew full well—many wanted him dead.

But even more wanted him alive.

"The diehards…" Ao muttered, eyes narrowing.

The Kirigakure loyalists vastly outnumbered the Reformists. They emerged from the shadows, their expressions icy and full of disdain as they stared down Terumi Mei and her allies.

To them, the Reformists were fools. The path to money and power was clear—Yagura provided it. Why overthrow what was already working?

Zabuza kicked a ninja away and swept a brutal glare across the courtyard.

"You've got guts showing your faces," he said, voice dripping with scorn. "Don't you know the Daimyo of the Land of Water is in the village?"

Ao clenched his fists. His Byakugan had seen it clearly—Yagura was under a Genjutsu. The truth was right there. If Yagura had any dignity, he'd let someone break the illusion and prove his innocence.

But that would never happen.

Because the masked man behind it all—Obito—wouldn't allow it.

And with that, Yagura's legitimacy crumbled.

Now, with the Daimyo himself present, anyone still siding with Yagura was unmistakably a traitor.

Even if the loyalists killed Terumi Mei and the others, what then? The Daimyo would never recognize their rule. Without his financial support, how long would their power last?

Without money, even the most diehard loyalists would fall apart.

They should've hidden in their beds and waited to see who came out on top. If Yagura lost, they could just beg for forgiveness. If he won, they could pretend they'd always been neutral.

But instead, they stood here—fighting.

Ao's eyes flashed with fury. The loyalists weren't under Genjutsu. They'd come of their own volition—to protect Yagura.

"Are they insane?"

Click. Click. Click. Click.

The sound of synchronized footsteps echoed in the distance, followed by the faint clatter of swords brushing against armor.

Terumi Mei turned her head.

There, seated on a lavish sedan chair and surrounded by a phalanx of samurai, was the Daimyo of the Land of Water.

Hundreds of elite sword-wielding guards flanked him on all sides, their cold, disciplined gazes scanning the battlefield.

Though they lacked ninjutsu, their swordsmanship rivaled most Chūnin and Jōnin. Their formations were deadly. Their presence—intimidating.

These men were a force to be reckoned with.

From his perch, the Daimyo spoke lazily: "What are you waiting for? Arrest the rebels."

Terumi Mei exhaled, a sliver of hope flickering in her chest.

But then—

Shing!

The samurai drew their blades.

And turned them toward her.

"What?!" she gasped.

It didn't make sense. The elder had sent the Daimyo a letter explaining everything. Just hours ago, he had met with the Daimyo personally to explain Yagura's condition.

Surely the Daimyo understood.

She turned to her old comrade.

"Qing!"

Ao's face was grim. He shook his head.

The Daimyo wasn't under an illusion.

The fan in the Daimyo's hand fluttered open as he spoke rhythmically: "Mizukage Yagura, you've worked tirelessly for the good of our nation, only to be slandered by petty villains. Today, I bring order and justice. These rebels—"

He trailed off with a bored sigh and waved his hand.

"Kill them."

Terumi Mei's expression hardened.

Logan was right.

The Daimyo didn't care about justice, or Kirigakure, or illusions.

He cared about money.

And in that regard, Yagura had always delivered.

Yagura smirked. "Gentlemen," he said smoothly, "send our old friends off properly. Give them a swift death."

"YES!"

The diehard ninja charged.

The samurai sealed the perimeter, making escape impossible.

Yagura's hands formed seals. A massive wave of chakra gathered in his mouth.

"Water Style: Iron Cannonball!"

A shockwave of condensed water, ten meters high, surged forward like a battering ram.

Terumi Mei stared up at the towering blast.

Yuanshi was dead.

The Daimyo had turned on them.

The village's moral compass was shattered.

How were they supposed to fight this?

Her heart sank, pulled into an abyss of despair.

Then—

A massive blade spun through the air.

It smashed into Yagura's water blast, splitting it apart, sending shockwaves through the crowd. Dozens of ninjas were knocked flying. The blade embedded itself into the ground with a thunderous crash.

The earth trembled. The Daimyo's sedan toppled, sending him sprawling.

And then, he appeared.

Logan.

He stepped forward, one hand gripping the Blade of Destruction. He turned, eyes calm, voice firm.

"Don't forget your promise," he told Terumi Mei.

Promise?

Yes.

She'd sworn—no matter who stood in her way—Yagura, the Daimyo, Akatsuki…

She would kill them all with her own hands.

No rebirth without blood. No survival without sacrifice.

There was no third path.

In that moment, despair vanished.

Figures dropped from the sky behind Logan.

Sasuke and Momo landed gracefully, swords drawn.

Mayuri adjusted a chakra disc in her chest—Orochimaru's invention.

Zabuza bared his teeth in a savage grin. "Finally. No more waiting. No more rules. If they block our path…"

He raised his sword.

"Cut. Them. Down."

Logan unsheathed the Sword of Destruction.

His voice rang out, calm and clear:

"Do it."

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

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