"Well, we're all missing-nin now…" Kisame said, letting out a long sigh. His voice was deep and filled with resignation. "Let's get out of this fog first and then decide where to go."
He didn't want to kill his comrades, but if Jinpachi and Kushimaru returned to Kirigakure, they would be hunted down by the Third Mizukage himself.
As someone born in Kirigakure, Kisame did not wish to shed unnecessary blood. However, he would not allow others to finish him off either.
Jinzaburo had a headache. "Although the fog created by Mei is less dense and she was able to clear a safe area. But this is still a problem... I feel like my organs are on fire."
"It seems I'll have no choice but to rely on Shikotsumyaku's regeneration and force our way through."
Zabuza stared silently at Jinzaburo, his expression a mix of disbelief and mockery.
Since when did a fight-loving madman from the Kaguya clan offer to pave the way for his companions?
It had to be admitted: since he was physically 'corrected' by Kazuki, Jinzaburo's character had changed noticeably. So much so that even his own clan members accused him of having lost his fighting spirit.
But Jinzaburo didn't care. Fighting spirit? What good was that in the face of Kazuki's overwhelming power? That spirit was nothing more than something that could be broken with a simple snap of the fingers.
"Jinzaburo, I can try to open a path with my Water Release. I still have some chakra left." Kisame said, glancing sideways at Miru, who was coughing up blood. His heart tightened at the sight of her in that state. An unfamiliar feeling washed over him.
For some reason, he didn't want Miru to die.
But compared to the physique of these people, Miru, who was just an ordinary Chunin, couldn't even withstand the acid mist diluted by Mei.
Zabuza raised the Shibuki and Nuibari and shook his head. "For now, let's survive as best we can. We need to recover, and the future is still uncertain."
He paused and added sarcastically, "If we come before Kazuki to surrender, much less him, even I won't believe it..."
Everyone nodded silently.
From the moment Kisame and the others arrived at the chunin exams in Konoha, the wheels of fate had slowly begun to turn. Conflicts of interest, suspicions, and Kiri's distrust had doomed the future of these prodigious shinobi.
And, as if by fate, right after Zabuza's words, the fog began to mysteriously dissipate.
In front of them appeared Kazuki, with a calm smile on his face. "Don't worry. I've heard everything."
"As I promised, Konoha will always welcome the exceptional shinobi of Kirigakure."
He waved his hand, indicating that they should follow him. "Come with me."
Mei and the others' eyes widened. That man, whom they longed to see just as they feared to meet, had appeared like a ghost.
[From Mei, Kisame, Jinzaburo, Zabuza: You have obtained a special talent: the Heart of Kirigakure!]
[Heart of Kirigakure]: When you take control of Kirigakure, the strength of its shinobi will feed back into you, including (but not limited to) kekkei genkai, chakra, ninjutsu, taijutsu among others. The degree of feedback will be directly related to the loyalty of the Kiri shinobi towards you. This skill unlocks a final challenge. Completing it will grant a special reward: Ocean Contract.
Kazuki looked at this special talent and chuckled inwardly.
The Uchiha clan truly has a wonderful destiny with Kirigakure.
"The contract with the ocean?" Kazuki muttered to himself, deep in thought.
He had no idea what exactly this contract with the ocean was.
It is true that Tobirama's Water Release ninjutsu was broad and powerful.
However, they were still far from being final.
From a technical standpoint, ninjas like Kisame at his peak, or the Second Mizukage, took Water Release ninjutsu to another level.
But if Kazuki managed to master all the Water Release ninjutsu and sign a contract with the ocean, then he would be the true master of Water Release.
Even if the Six Paths Sage comes, with the help of the natural energy of the ocean, Kazuki will try to sink him to the bottom of the sea...
"Unlock the Final Connection... The difficulty of activating this is quite high." Kazuki muttered while frowning.
To obtain the contract with the Ocean, you will first have to take the Heart of Kirigakure to the extreme, and only then complete the Final Connection.
So far, only one person had reached this point: Senju Tobirama.
This evil old ghost Senju who is with him day and night and is deeply influenced by Kazuki.
The rest of the people close to him, including Shisui, have not reached this point.
"Tobirama managed to activate the Final Connection because his discontent with the current situation in Konoha reached its peak. It all started with the small cracks in his faith in the Will of Fire, but exploded with the pursuit of Sakumo, orchestrated by Danzo. In the end, his former determination and beliefs crumbled... And all of this has something to do with me."
"If I am to lead the Heart of Kirigakure to its final challenge, I must first make the shinobi of Kiri surrender to me, show them what a prosperous peace means. Make them see me as their only salvation. First, I must cultivate positive emotions..."
"After that, find a way to make them feel extreme emotional fluctuations, whether it is negative or positive, it depends on the situation..."
While searching for the ideal method to unlock the Final Connection, an idea crossed his mind, and a smile appeared on his face.
Perhaps, the white-haired big sister can help.
But to contact her, he first had to keep an eye on Black Zetsu, that strange creation linked to Otsutsuki Kaguya.
"If Kirigakure is connected to the ocean, what do the other villages represent?"
"What about Konoha?"
"With my influence on Konoha, I should have awakened something like the Heart of Konoha long ago..."
"However, I only have the Heart of the Uchiha, an ability that only affects one clan."
Kazuki thought for a moment and shrugged.
Perhaps, Konoha, a village founded by the reincarnation of the children of the Sage of the Six Paths, is rewarded with the strength of his lineage, while the other villages represent the powers of nature, of the planet itself.
Of course, these are all hypotheses, and Kazuki is not sure.
But what is clear is that no matter whether it is Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure or Kumogakure, Kazuki can always find the secrets behind them as long as he attacks them one by one.
It was a long and arduous road.
Even getting Tobirama to that level had taken a long time, and doing so with an entire village would be even more challenging.
The most urgent task is to subdue Kirigakure and cultivate the village's loyalty towards him.
Mei watched Kazuki's back. Amidst the faint mist, under the sunlight, he seemed to be surrounded by a golden halo. Her eyes went out of focus.
With light steps, she followed him without hesitation.
If Kazuki hadn't appeared, they would have tried to break through the acid mist and minefield.
If he had intended to kill them, in their disadvantaged situation, not even Kisame and the others would have had a chance to defend themselves. They would have fallen dead instantly.
When the power difference between two parties is overwhelming, and the stronger one shows benevolence, that is what moves people the most.
Zabuza remained silent as he followed him.
And Jinzaburo was even more joyful. Did Kazuki-sama take him away? That's great!
Since Kazuki had made him 'understand' the beauty of life, the aggression in Jinzaburo's heart had dissipated. He now deeply respected him.
When he returned to speak to his clan elders about Kazuki's special Shikotsumyaku, he was harshly criticized.
The elders of the Kaguya clan considered Jinzaburo to be delusional.
Jinzaburo was worried. If they met Kazuki on the battlefield, how could he surrender in a way that wasn't humiliating?
Now everything was settled. He had already given up!
Kisame, carrying Miru, who was still coughing up blood, sighed and also quickened his pace to follow them.
...
Konoha Camp.
Hizashi watched the group behind Kazuki with a wry smile. He looked at their forehead protectors and shook his head.
It was obvious that they were not prisoners.
Kazuki always did the same thing. Somehow, he managed to get sworn enemies to follow him loyally.
It is said that Kakuzu-sama, the finance minister of the Root, was once an enemy of Kazuki-sama...
However, only Tsunade had mentioned this once, out of the blue. Any attempt to investigate the matter ended with Kakuzu imposing three-month pay cuts for absurd reasons.
Over time, that topic became a taboo within the roots, something that no one dared to mention.
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