Chapter 3: Sandaime Mizukage’s Will
I felt it was too soon for the Sandaime Mizukage to die. Too soon for me, for Yagura to step in and fill the seat as the fourth Mizukage. Yagura's appointment is keenly tied into my timeline of events I need to push forward or avoid— the five Kage summit happens to be my cold bullet to Madara and Obito's plans for this world, as Mizukage I could easily request one be arranged and with reasonable Kage like Minato and to a lesser extent A the fourth Raikage.
Though now that I think about it, calling a summit so soon after the war might not sit well even with Konoha, especially when the request is coming from the village that tried to destroy them with their tailed beast. Hell, I might as well not count on Minato being reasonable at all since it was his student we- I mean Kiri used to mount that attack.
What would I even tell him? Your lost student plans to take over the world with Madara Uchiha?
Yeah, no, this is going to be harder than I thought. I'm going to need time to ease into blowing the lid off this Infinite Tsukuyomi plot and I'm going to need more than Kirigakure behind me to do so.
"How did it happen? Where is the body?" Fuguki immediately demanded after a shared moment of silence.
The old Funato clan head shakily stepped forward with his cane and spoke, "The Mizukage died unexpectedly but has left instructions for the choosing of his successor."
Harusame, my Jinchuriki training master and the person I've spent the most time with since waking stood behind the old man wearing a grim look. He inhaled deeply before revealing a scroll from his sleeve but before he can unfurl it—
"You haven't answered the question, old man." Fuguki brandished Samehada at the clan head, the bandages at its tip unfurl and an unmistakeable row of teeth shudder with excitement.
"Fuguki! What do you think you're doing right now?" Ao stepped forward enraged at the swordsman's audacity.
Behind him Mei's youthful visage contorts with concern and I feel like I can read her mind. Despite having other priorities— staying alive long enough to see Obito defeated— Yagura's lingering subconscious causes me to feel grief at the Mizukage's loss as well. Bloody his reign might have been but he was still the Mizukage and a close ally to Yagura and many gathered here it seems.
"What does it look like? Answers, now!"
Harusame cautiously pushes Samehada away from the old, unbothered looking clan head with a kunai and shakes his head, "This is no time for in-fighting, both of you, calm yourselves and listen."
Fuguki and Ao exchange tense glares. Juzo, Raiga and Kisame who've fallen beside their teammate with their legendary swords and a katana drawn share uneasy glances as well, all ready to fight or submit according to what Fuguki does. Fortunately, he chooses peace, for now, and sets Samehada to his back.
He grins a shark's grin at Ao, "All ears."
The old clan head strikes his cane, "Sandaime-sama was found dead in his seat this afternoon by his secretary. She is being interrogated at the moment and the office has been swept for any trace of malice, thus far none has been found."
"That sti-"
Another cane strike stuffs the words back into Fuguki's mouth before he can voice them. He scowls but the clan head simply looks ahead, "The autopsy shows nothing conclusive, no poison, no jutsu, no injury, no sign of trauma, no certain cause of death. But one thing is clear…the Mizukage has perished."
Once again, everyone present swallows the old man's words, digesting it with soft and unsure glances at one another. Mei's consternated look continues to worsen as fear for her village grips her and Ao remains stoically silent ever watchful of Fuguki and his swordsmen.
"Are we under attack?" Mei stands out from Ao's shadow, her voice soft but resilient as the look in her eyes.
The clan head peers open an eye to gaze at her and he cracks a smile, "Worry not, young Kunoichi, the war is ended."
Juzo snorts, "Number of times I've heard that…not exactly a good thing anyhow." He slams the Executioner's Blade into the roof and leans against it, wearing a bored look now that the tensions diffused.
"Even if we are, let them come. We'll show them the might of the swordsmen of the mist!" Raiga exclaims, pulling his ANBU mask to the side to reveal his battle ready grin.
Bloodlust, so much of it in this village.
Keeping a level head, Ao asks, "What is the will of the Mizukage?"
Again, the clan head strikes his cane and all listen with rapt attention, but he is not the one who speaks. Harusame unfurls the scroll and clears his throat, "It is the will of the Sandaime Mizukage that the traditions and precedents for class advancement he has set during his tenure be followed in regard to the choosing of his successor. All worthy candidates within the village are permitted a month preparation and no more before facing their final tests. As always, candidates may decline to participate."
"Huh? Does that mean what I…huh?" Juzo starts to stutter.
Kisame who has yet to utter a word steps beside Juzo, nodding, "Yes, it means exactly that. But I wonder how easy it is to qualify as candidate given present company." His eyes fall on Mei and Ao as he says this, piecing them apart as unworthy of being part of what is essentially the Third Mizukage's way of saying 'Want it? Fight for it.'
I feel Ao's gaze fall on me for a moment and I meet it, his eyes betray nothing and he soon turns away as he steps back from the informal circle of Mizukage candidates.
"Another bloody mist trial and this time for Kage? Count me out then, I won't kill good shinobi for power." Resolute in his words he turns to Mei, "What about you?"
"What about you, Yagura Karatachi?" Fuguki demands before Mei can utter a word, his sharp tooth baring a slight scowl as he watches me carefully, "You haven't said too much since you arrived, not feeling like a gentleman tonight?"
Honestly, the Mizukage pulling this kind of shit stunt left me baffled and quite pissed. It's like every day living in this misty village got harder and now it's clearly a massive pain in the ass for me.
While I'm certain the Mizukage's death has something to do with Madara's own and the end of the genjutsu cast on him— essentially the very same thing that happens to Yagura— I am not as certain who is responsible for this cruel rite of passage.
My gut tells me it's Madara's farewell attempt to further cripple Kiri's fighting capability by subjecting even Kage candidates to the bloody mist trials.
Kill everyone to become what you seek.
I look at my fellow Kage candidates; Fuguki, easily an S-rank even without Samehada. Juzo, also a capable near S-rank shinobi but less intimidating than Fuguki even with Kubikiribocho. Raiga with the Twin Kiba doesn't break S-rank but he's still an opponent worth looking out for. Kisame, younger and without the Samehada poses as much a threat as Raiga, perhaps more if he has even half the jutsu I faintly remember him capable of unleashing without Samehada— his massive chakra reserves rival Fuguki's already as well.
With my paltry knowledge and experience handling chakra, casting Ninjutsu and non-existent fighting ability, things aren't looking so hot for me right now and I need to become Mizukage.
If Ao or Mei don't participate then of the swordsmen of the mist, Fuguki is the most likely to cut down everyone and seize the title if I don't do something.
I've already considered not doing anything about the Fourth Mizukage title and letting someone else take it. After all, I'm not exactly Kage material either, I am literally impersonating Yagura in his own body and I've never held government position in either life. It might be a better idea to work against Obito from the background even if I don't wield absolute power over one of the five great nations.
But I remain resolute in my decision, "I won't kill any of my comrades but I won't sit back and watch you become Mizukage either."
My words seem to bolster Mei to a decision as well, "I don't want to fight anyone either, not to the death."
Fuguki snorts at both of us and swings Samehada in a dramatic arc so it rests on his shoulder, "I will do what I must."
"Juzo, Kisame, Raiga, what will you choose?" the old man strikes his cane, demanding swift response.
The three swordsmen share a look amongst themselves. Kisame wordlessly sheathes his katana and Raiga sighs but sets the Twin Kiba aside as well. Only Juzo eyes me and Fuguki with a gleam of bloodlust.
In the end he says, "Yagura, a fresh Jinchuriki and Fuguki-sama…huh." He licks his lips and cackles, "Not worth my life."
Another cane strike cracks through the air at that and the old man pins me with both eyes, "Yagura-kun, the Third's will demands blood for the honour, you must abide."
If this is how it happened in the canon I don't know and I'm sure I never will, all I have is the world in front of me and the knowledge of its perilous future— my perilous future.
Even if I secede and let Fuguki have the title, Obito will still manipulate him with genjutsu to fund the Akatsuki and come after me because of the Three-Tails anyway. If anyone should be Mizukage, it has to be me.
Looks like I might have to kill Fuguki after all.
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