Chapter 302: Command
"Haha... Lord Fourth, I was just... strolling around," Tonari chuckled lightly.
Seeing it was one of the villagers, Utakata relaxed his tense stance. Although he couldn't remember the man's name, he recognized him as someone from Kirigakure—just an ordinary Chunin with nothing remarkable. He didn't bother to remember such people.
As the newly appointed Fourth Mizukage, Yagura had been making it a point to familiarize himself with all the shinobi and clan relationships within the village, so he knew the name.
"Strolling around?" Yagura's brows knitted tighter.
He didn't know much about Sasaki's personality, but he did know that after the Bloody Mist era, Kirigakure shinobi weren't exactly known for casually strolling around. More importantly, he hadn't sensed this Chunin's approach at all—something highly unusual for someone of his rank.
Even if the person had good stealth techniques, it shouldn't have been enough to avoid Yagura's perception as a Kage-level shinobi.
When "Sasaki" moved closer, Yagura suddenly felt a chill run down his spine—a sense of danger gripped his heart.
"Stop!" Yagura shouted.
Tonari paused for a moment, and just as Yagura thought he was overreacting, Tonari's figure suddenly vanished. His instincts flared, and Yagura barely had time to respond.
When Yagura whipped his gaze around, Tonari was already beside Utakata, calmly placing a hand on his shoulder.
Suddenly, Tonari's vision shifted to the sealed space inside Utakata's body—a damp, muddy environment, well-suited for the creature that dwelled within.
There, chained and looming ominously, was the Six-Tails, Saiken. Its slimy body looked unsettling, even more so compared to the graceful Slug Sage of the Shikkotsu Forest.
With his arrival, Saiken emerged from the shadows, its six milky white tails swaying cautiously.
"Who are you?! How did you get here?!" Saiken roared.
Seeing Tonari's real appearance—his crimson eyes—Saiken's body instinctively tensed.
"I'm just a passerby, but I brought along a couple of old friends who wanted to see you," Tonari said calmly.
Two enormous figures loomed behind him, their tails coiling in the dark like serpents—Kurama, the Nine-Tails, and Matatabi, the Two-Tails.
Kurama sneered, his eyes glinting with disdain.
"Yo, long time no see, slippery slug."
Matatabi elegantly walked forward, her movements fluid and graceful.
"Saiken, it's been a while... You've been sealed for so long, haven't you?"
Saiken's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Fox? Cat? How are you here? Isn't this... Utakata's sealed space? Why are you with that human?"
Before Saiken could react further, its gaze was drawn to the spinning pattern in Tonari's right eye—a Mangekyō Sharingan.
The kaleidoscope pattern seemed to engulf its consciousness, and Saiken's massive form stiffened. Its tails drooped lifelessly, and the light in its eyes faded into hollow submission.
Watching Saiken become a mere puppet, Kurama couldn't help but scoff.
"Hmph... That look of helplessness... I've been there too. It's frustrating."
Tonari glanced at his two tailed beast companions, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
"You two keep an eye on him. I have something to take care of outside."
Leaving the two massive tailed beasts to "play" with Saiken, Tonari's consciousness returned to the real world.
When he opened his eyes, his face bore a calm and collected smile as he looked at Yagura, whose face was pale and drenched in cold sweat.
Yagura's eyes narrowed, instantly recognizing the danger.
"Those eyes... Sharingan?! No, that pattern... Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
Tonari didn't deny it, merely offering a faint smile.
"It's been a while, Yagura."
Before Yagura could fully comprehend the situation, Tonari's eyes spun again, releasing an overwhelming surge of visual power. Yagura's mind wavered as his vision warped and distorted.
"Damn it!" Yagura's mind screamed in panic, realizing he had inadvertently locked eyes with Tonari for too long.
Having limited experience with Uchiha and their eyes, Yagura had grossly underestimated the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Instantly, Yagura found himself bound to a wooden cross, his limbs nailed by thick wooden stakes. Every stab felt as if his very soul was being pierced.
"Magic: Binding Crucifixion!"
Tonari waved his hand casually, and more stakes shot forth, impaling Yagura's body in multiple places. The pain was excruciating, sending shivers through his entire being.
"Ugh—" Yagura gritted his teeth, his forehead drenched in sweat.
Smiling slightly, Tonari leaned closer.
"A thousand wooden stakes, one for each of your sins. Ready to atone, Yagura?"
The excruciating pain and mental strain threatened to crush Yagura's spirit, but his willpower kept him conscious, though barely.
After what felt like an eternity, the illusion finally faded, and Yagura collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"You... Fourth Hokage of Konoha... What do you want from Kirigakure?" Yagura demanded, struggling to stand.
Tonari casually dusted off his clothes.
"To help you, of course. You'll thank me later... though it might hurt a bit for now."
Before Yagura could question further, Tonari tapped his forehead, and his consciousness was forcefully subdued.
A few minutes later, Yagura stood back up, his eyes devoid of emotion—a puppet under Tonari's complete control.
Turning to Utakata, who still looked dazed, Yagura smiled warmly.
"Utakata, meet Sasaki. He'll be joining the Mizukage's Guard from now on."
Utakata blinked in confusion but quickly bowed his head.
"Understood, Mizukage-sama."
Tonari's lips curled into a sly smile. With Yagura under his control and gaining a foothold in the Mizukage's Guard, Kirigakure was essentially in his grasp.
With careful planning and subtle maneuvering, Tonari had secured his influence over the Mist—a village that had once been shrouded in blood and chaos.
Though the future remained uncertain, Tonari knew one thing for sure: his influence would extend far beyond Konoha, into the very heart of the Mist itself.
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