Standing on the bow, Takemi watched the sea mist rising around him, the sea breeze blowing through his short hair, making him feel exceptionally pleased.
However, Zabuza, who was tied up behind him, looked somewhat grim.
"Damn it."
Watching Kirigakure getting closer, he cursed under his breath, but he truly had no way out.
Recalling the previous battle only made him feel a sense of powerlessness.
Being manhandled by Kakashi and Jiraiya, he had no chance of winning even within the Hidden Mist Jutsu, and he couldn't even leave.
It wasn't that he couldn't abandon Haku, but that he simply wasn't confident he could escape from these two.
What was even harder for him to accept was that he had initially thought Haku could deal with that brat, but the truth was that the brat was incredibly strong, and Haku was quickly defeated by him.
"We're almost there."
Zabuza's state of mind was somewhat collapsing, while Jiraiya was in a good mood. He walked to the bow and looked out into the distance, then turned to Takemi.
"Kid, let me remind you again, this situation is different from before. Are you sure your Flying Thunder God Technique is okay?"
"Indeed, we can't be careless about this."
Kakashi wasn't reading his book anymore. He had been 'urging updates' all the way, but now he jokingly smiled at Takemi.
"Although Zabuza is 'helping,' your Flying Thunder God Technique is the key. We're all counting on you."
"Don't worry, I never do anything I'm not confident about. I'll place the Flying Thunder God mark after we land, which will make it easier for us to escape." Takemi nodded.
He wasn't proficient in the Flying Thunder God Technique, and its transmission distance was still debatable.
However, ensuring personnel transmission to the desired location was not an issue, especially since he had a lot of Chakra.
"Besides, I have some new gains…"
The battle with Haku could be described as uneventful. Haku was undoubtedly strong. But for someone like him, it was a piece of cake.
Moreover, the battle with Haku also allowed him to roughly perceive Ice Release.
Ice Release, or rather, any kekkei genkai for the matter, is truly not simple.
His bloodline could indeed enable him to control Chakra as if by instinct, but without a specific reference, the fusion would not result in a kekkei genkai.
"It's more like Sarutobi Hiruzen's and Kakuzu's 'combination ninjutsu'."
True kekkei genkai involves two types of Chakra fusing in a certain proportion, while also maintaining uniform operational trajectories and final shaping, and so on.
Every step should be perfectly aligned, and no step can go wrong.
"No wonder there are so many Ninja in the Ninja World, but so few kekkei genkai users…"
Takemi sighed and also thought of something, 'This kind of Chakra fusion could form an innate bloodline, which could then be passed down.'
'Does this mean that Chakra fusion is actually an enhancement of the bloodline?'
"If that's the case, it would be of great benefit to me." Takemi murmured to himself.
The collection, learning, and cultivation of Kekkei Genkai were part of his long-term plan.
He was naturally happy to have such a good start, and he believed that as long as he trained diligently for a period, he would naturally master Ice Release.
"And my eyes seem to be approaching a critical point in their development…"
Looking at the approaching coastline, he rubbed his eyes.
His eyes had begun to slow down in absorbing Chakra, and at the same time, a special power began to continuously overflow.
Although his eyes still looked the same as usual, he noticed that the white glow deep within his pupils was becoming more and more obvious.
"Am I getting closer to the Byakugan, the ugliest dojutsu?"
Takemi couldn't help but complain to himself, but he wasn't worried.
Tailed Beast, the Tenseigan on the Moon, he definitely wouldn't let his eyes be limited to the Byakugan.
What he was most worried about now was what to do if he grew a horn on his forehead.
.....
Night fell, and a cold wind blew.
Thick fog enveloped the entire Kirigakure, making it exceptionally quiet as it was bathed in the night and mist.
In an underground base, Genji scanned the subordinates before him.
As the person with power second only to the Mizukage in Kirigakure, especially when the Mizukage was so unpopular, he had gathered a large number of people under his command.
At this moment, these people were gathered together by him, they had important things to do tonight!
"Ao, confirm one last time, did you see clearly?"
Genji's gaze fell on Ao with a solemn expression, and he spoke in a deep voice, "You know the seriousness of this matter, we cannot make any mistakes!"
"Genji-sama, I am certain I saw clearly."
Ao knelt on the ground, his voice also incredibly serious.
"The Byakugan does not lie. Lord Mizukage's Chakra is incredibly chaotic, it's a manifestation of a Genjutsu. He is indeed being controlled!"
The Mizukage being controlled was unimaginable for ordinary people, yet it truly happened within Kirigakure.
"Everyone, did you hear clearly?" Genji nodded, his expression becoming even more solemn.
"Such a thing happening in Kirigakure is our disgrace. We must stop it no matter what! Everyone, are you ready?"
Instantly, all the Ninja knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "We obey your command!"
Genji nodded slightly at this. He truly had no ambition for the Mizukage's position. Otherwise, with his power and the Mizukage's recklessness over the years, he could have rallied support long ago.
But just because he had no such ambition didn't mean he could tolerate someone insulting Kirigakure in such a way.
This matter must be resolved, and it all happens tonight.
.....
"It's time for a conclusion."
Under the hazy moonlight, Kisame walked towards the Anbu base.
Ever since he was once again forced to kill his comrades, especially the girl who treated him kindly, he had been thinking about one thing.
What was the meaning of his life, and what kind of village was he protecting?
He knew he couldn't find the answer, and this confusion troubled him, but he knew there was one thing he could do.
"Suikazan Fuguki…"
He murmured, his gaze somewhat gloomy as he walked into the base, unaware that someone was silently watching him from behind.
"It seems to be going smoothly. This guy is finally making his move."
Obito spoke coldly from behind his mask, and Zetsu beside him also nodded.
"Yes, after he does this, as long as you guide him, he will become your most loyal follower. However, Obito, Kirigakure might not be peaceful tonight."
"It's fine. Haven't the Mizukage's loyal troops already been mobilized?" Obito shook his head indifferently, his gaze fixed on Kisame.
"Solve Kisame's problem, and then have Yagura show up to suppress those guys. Anyway, the more of them die, the more beneficial it is for us."
You might as well say you're taking revenge for Rin, why pretend?
Black Zetsu cursed a few times inwardly, but he was too lazy to point it out and just nodded.
"Yes, everything is ready. We're just waiting for them to make their move."
"That's good."
Obito nodded. He looked up at the full moon hidden behind the thick fog.
After a while, he spoke faintly, "Tonight will have a good outcome…"
"Finally here."
Under the moonlight, Takemi and the others finally arrived outside Kirigakure, led by an extremely reluctant Zabuza.
With Zabuza, everything went smoothly.
Zabuza clearly didn't want to be caught by the Kirigakure people. Even though he kept trying to escape, he didn't try to trick Takemi and the others in this situation.
Looking at the village, which was faintly visible in the mist, Jiraiya stroked his chin.
"Takemi, if you're right, then the most troublesome part comes next."
"Indeed, the Mizukage's location is not easy to find out, and Kirigakure's defenses won't be weak."
Kakashi also nodded from the side. He had now fully entered combat mode.
"Even with Zabuza's help, we'll likely face a lot of trouble once we get inside."
Zabuza snorted at these words, he was now full of a sense of crisis.
"Kakashi-sensei, Jiraiya-sama, something is very strange." But at this moment, Takemi suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
Jiraiya and Kakashi looked at Takemi in confusion, and Takemi frowned, feigning puzzlement, and said, "Although it's a bit blurry, I seem to feel a Flying Thunder God mark inside this village."
"And this Flying Thunder God mark seems to belong to the Fourth Hokage…"