—Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—
The Mizukage's office was eerily quiet. The Third Mizukage was attending to paperwork while Elder Genshi sat with his eyes closed, resting.
The return of the Anbu team had caused quite a stir, something the Third Mizukage immediately took note of.
His sharp gaze swept over the three returning Anbu. It should have been four of them, yet only three stood before him. His brows furrowed in displeasure.
"Where is he?"
The cat-masked Anbu hesitated slightly before responding, his voice lacking the usual cold detachment expected of an Anbu.
"Karatachi Yagura… he's following behind us."
Realizing the unsteadiness in his tone, the Anbu immediately clamped his mouth shut and lowered his head.
The Third Mizukage's frown deepened. Just as he was about to reprimand them, a faint but distinct chakra signature appeared outside the door.
"Fang."
A child's voice?
The Third Mizukage raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting toward the shadow cast on the door.
...
Outside, Yagura retracted his Lightning Release chakra, panting slightly as he stood before the half-open door.
The plaque on the wall, displaying the words "Mizukage's Office" in simple yet imposing characters, made his heart race with excitement and tension.
He stepped inside.
Originally, Yagura had planned to act composed and take in the room's layout. But the moment he entered, his gaze was involuntarily drawn straight to the old man sitting behind the desk.
This was nothing like the younger, squinting face he remembered from the anime's first Five Kage Summit.
Forty years had passed since that meeting.
The face beneath the Mizukage hat was aged and weary. His Mizukage robe draped loosely over his shoulders as if his frame could no longer support its weight.
But his eyes—his eyes were sharper than anyone Yagura had ever seen. Piercing, probing, locking onto him with unwavering focus.
So this… was the Third Mizukage.
Yagura felt a mix of nervousness, excitement, curiosity, and even a bit of confusion as he met the Mizukage's gaze head-on.
The reaction surprised the Third Mizukage.
This boy… he's no ordinary child.
For a few seconds, silence filled the room, neither side making a move.
Finally, the Third Mizukage broke the silence, crossing his hands atop his desk.
"You are Karatachi Yagura?"
Yagura straightened up, his own attempt at seriousness feeling unnatural. "Yes, Third Mizukage."
The Mizukage gave a small nod. "You kept up with the Anbu's pace on your own?"
He hadn't been escorted—he had followed behind and still arrived at the same time.
Though a bit hard to believe, the Mizukage wanted confirmation.
His gaze shifted to the three Anbu standing silently at the side. They gave a subtle nod.
"..."
The Third Mizukage's deep, unreadable eyes bore into Yagura, making it impossible to tell what the old man was thinking.
For the first time, Yagura felt something unfamiliar—true uncertainty.
Not even the day he first arrived in this world had he felt such an overwhelming sense of the unknown.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His body tensed involuntarily, beads of sweat forming and sliding down his temple.
Seeing his reaction, the three Anbu exchanged glances, all having the same thought: So he's not actually a monster.
After all, they had just witnessed a seven-year-old matching the speed of Anbu-level Jonin. That alone was enough to shake them to their core.
A seven-year-old keeping pace with Anbu?
Who the hell would believe that?
...
The tense atmosphere stretched on.
"Hah…"
Yagura let out a slow breath, swallowing back the overly formal response he had planned to give.
Damn it. Why am I acting nervous?
If the others found out I gave such a stiff, proper response, how would I keep my reputation as the boss?
With his usual shameless confidence, Yagura pushed forward, stepping closer to the Mizukage's desk.
Five steps.
Four steps.
Three steps.
Two steps.
One step.
Standing before the Mizukage, he lifted his head and met the old man's deep, probing gaze.
And then… he did something that left everyone in the room utterly speechless.
"Yare yare yare, Third Mizukage," Yagura said, grinning unapologetically. "As expected, our village's Anbu are far superior to regular shinobi. It was tough keeping up with them."
He tilted his head playfully. "Say, Third Mizukage, this seat of yours… You've been in it for decades now."
His smirk widened. "I'd like to sit in it too. What do you think? Will you save me a spot in the future?"
...
"?!?!"
The three Anbu and Elder Genshi felt their minds explode like six billion paper bombs going off simultaneously.
This kid… did he just say what I think he said?!
Did he just casually tell the Third Mizukage he wants his seat?!
This wasn't Konohagakure, where the Third Hokage would simply ruffle a kid's hair and say, 'Work hard and maybe one day you'll be Hokage.'
This was Kirigakure.
...
"Interesting."
If an adult shinobi had said something like that, the Third Mizukage would have ordered their execution on the spot.
But this was just a seven-year-old boy.
There was no point in taking a child's words seriously.
Though mildly displeased, the Mizukage let out a faint chuckle. "So you call me 'Third Mizukage,' do you, Karatachi's brat?"
Yagura, seeing that he hadn't been immediately punished, grew bolder.
"Blue hair, purple eyes. My name's Yagura—remember it."
...What nonsense.
Are all kids in Kirigakure like this now?
The Mizukage felt the weight of a generational gap. He couldn't keep up.
But he had no time to argue with a child. Cutting straight to the point, he asked,
"Do you know why I summoned you?"
"The Three-Tails Jinchūriki."
His confident answer made the Mizukage raise an eyebrow.
"You understand what that means?"
"For the village, a tailed beast is a weapon of war. And only by sealing it within a Jinchūriki can that weapon be controlled and used properly."
Yagura clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with determination.
"For me, the tailed beast means power. If I can master that power—I will become stronger!"
Not only did he understand, but he understood too well.
It was like turning in a test worth a hundred points but scoring a hundred and fifty.
For the first time, the Mizukage was genuinely intrigued.
"You wish to master the power of a tailed beast? Big words for someone so small. In history, only Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara have truly succeeded."
Yet the Mizukage couldn't deny it—he felt something about this kid.
Something electric.
An itch, like a thousand ants crawling under his skin.
If only this brat had been born a few years earlier!
He could already sense the looming Third Great Ninja War.
With a few more years, Yagura could have been a major force for Kirigakure.
"One week. I'll have the sealing squad prepare for the tailed beast's transfer."
No hesitation.
Whether Yagura succeeded or not, the Three-Tails would be a valuable asset.
The Mizukage smirked at the small, audacious brat before him. "Try not to die, Fourth Mizukage."
So soon?
Yagura barely had time to process it.
But this was good.
Meeting the old man's gaze, his grin widened.
"You too, Third Mizukage—old man."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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