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But before his muscles could tense, two figures, a man and a woman, appeared, blocking their path.
Zabuza's pupils constricted.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, Mei Terumī—How can it be you?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with apprehension.
"Kisame!" the other six swordsmen reacted instantly, surrounding the two figures, their newly forged blades drawn, awaiting Zabuza's command.
Zabuza raised his hand, signaling them to stand down.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Kisame, will you join us?"
"Us?" Kisame, clad in the green spandex custom-made for him by Gojo Kaigetsu, crossed his arms. "What is it you intend to do?"
Zabuza produced his sword, the Kubikiribōchō, pointing towards Kirigakure Port. "Cleanse Kirigakure Port, restore the glory of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and rally the common Shinobi of Kirigakure to our cause—until those corrupt elders are forced to abolish their unjust system."
Kirigakure couldn't survive another Bloody Mist era.
Gengetsu himself had made that clear.
Once the younger generation, led by Zabuza, gained momentum, even the high and mighty elders would be forced to compromise.
What did the elders possess?
A loyal Mizukage, their own clan Shinobi, and the Anbu, their minds warped by the Bloody Mist...
Zabuza wasn't yet strong enough to challenge these established powers. He needed to build his reputation, to gain enough influence to rival the Mizukage and the elders' forces.
"Kisame," Zabuza's voice was cold, "I know you are a Shinobi of Great ambition."
"Join us now!"
"And you, Mei Terumī. You haven't forgotten your own position, have you? Your clan is constantly monitored by the Anbu—Shinobi like us—we must unite!"
Kisame Hoshigaki remained silent, drawing his Samehada. He looked at Zabuza with a mix of nostalgia and pity, as if seeing a naive version of himself.
"You're right," he said finally, "but I have my principles. There are four I will not kill."
"The young with elders to care for, for they bear responsibility. Virtuous women, for they are pure. Guards, for they are loyal. And Konoha Shinobi, for they truly seek peace..."
Kisame paused, his expression serious. "And—if you've gone to such lengths, stained your hands with blood, just to eat the scraps left by the village elders—isn't that a bit pathetic?"
"Your imagination, your vision for Kirigakure's future—is this all you can muster?"
"What did you say?!" Zabuza's face contorted with rage, his grip on the Kubikiribōchō tightening, his hands trembling. Kisame's words—had completely negated his Shinobi way.
"You arrogant bastard! It's easy for you to talk, having defected from the village! But I, Zabuza Momochi, will forge my own path within this village, igniting a revolution from below!"
"It seems—you're determined to stand in my way. I have nothing more to say to a traitor like you. I have no interest in your current loyalties—Seize them!" Zabuza waved his hand, signaling the other six swordsmen.
The hunt was on!
Mei Terumī sighed, exasperated. She formed hand seals, unleashing her Boil Release, surrounding the Seven Swordsmen, blocking their path.
The greatest value of ninjutsu—was making idiots listen to reason.
This was a truth Mei had learned in Konoha...
Momentarily halting the Seven Swordsmen, Mei produced a sealing scroll from her pouch, and from it, an official decree.
"Not interested in our loyalties? That won't do. While we have no interest in you, certain matters must be clarified." Mei's full, sensual lips parted, her words stunning Zabuza.
"We now represent the Daimyo of the Land of Water!"
"Attacking us, Zabuza-senpai—are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen rebelling now?"
"?" Zabuza hesitated, unable to comprehend Mei's words.
Representing—who? The Daimyo? That figurehead?
The Daimyo might be a figurehead to the Shinobi, but in Kirigakure's caste system, the Daimyo was the supreme authority. Even Gengetsu, compared to the Daimyo, was of a lower standing.
Publicly, when Gengetsu met the Daimyo, regardless of age or seniority, he had to stand and offer a toast, his cup held lower.
Mei's voice was calm, yet firm. "The Daimyo has decided to dissolve Kirigakure. From now on, the legitimate hidden village of the Land of Water is Konohagakure! Konoha will assume full responsibility for the Land of Water's national defense..."
"As of tomorrow morning, all former Kirigakure Shinobi who continue to obey the orders of Gengetsu and the acting Mizukage, participating in the war against Konoha, will be charged with treason!"
Mei looked at Zabuza, her former upperclassman, a smug look on her face. She raised her right hand, her thumb and index finger forming a small gap.
This gap—didn't refer to Gojo Kaigetsu's—length, but rather...
"Your Shinobi way—is only this big? How much effort have you truly expended?"
Desperately trying to overthrow Kirigakure's corrupt elders, only to eat their leftovers—Mei couldn't agree.
She'd once desired vengeance against the village that had betrayed her, that had hurt her so deeply. Not vengeance, but—justice. The way to achieve it was to become Mizukage, to bring those at the top to their knees...
She was a woman.
Becoming Mizukage through her own efforts would take too long. Better to use her—assets as a kunoichi, to attach herself to the most powerful man in the Shinobi World.
And now...
Gojo Kaigetsu had presented her with an unimaginable gift.
Before Mei could even return to the village, Kirigakure had been dismantled—From now on, there was no Kirigakure, only the Konoha-Kiri Special Administrative Region. And she, Mei Terumī, would be its first Chief Executive!
The elder system? The caste system? The Mizukage system?
All were established with the Daimyo's approval.
Now, the Daimyo of the Land of Water had granted final authority to Konoha. The highest Brahmin in the Kirigakure Special Administrative Region—would be the Konoha officials appointed to govern it.
What of the Brahmin? Kneel!
No Mizukage, only a Chief Executive!
Yes, Chief Executive!
"Your struggle—how much effort have you truly expended?"
Her light words struck Zabuza like a physical blow. He stared at the Daimyo's decree in her hand, the official seal clearly visible.
No doubt—this was a decree from the Daimyo!
The decree was harshly worded, listing the various transgressions committed since the Third Mizukage took office...
A litany of crimes, unforgivable!
As of midnight tonight, the appointments of the acting Mizukage, Elder Gengetsu, and all other Kirigakure high-ranking officials were revoked.
Simultaneously, Mei Terumī, formerly a hostage sent by Kirigakure to Konoha, was appointed the first Chief Executive of the Konoha-Kiri Special Administrative Region, with full authority over the former Kirigakure's affairs. Kisame Hoshigaki's crimes were pardoned, the bounty on his head rescinded, and he was appointed captain of the Water Daimyo's personal guard.
Their statuses—reversed.
A hostage, a rogue Shinobi—overnight, they had become the highest authorities, above all other Kirigakure Shinobi.
No nomination, no election, no consultation with the elder council—The Water Daimyo had made his decision. While this violated protocol, the hidden village was ultimately a military branch of the nation. The Daimyo's command was absolute. If it violated protocol, the protocol would be changed. Theoretically, the hidden village had no choice but to comply.
But if the Daimyo didn't follow the rules, neither did the Shinobi below.
Before, they'd respected the Daimyo, needing his "mandate of heaven" to sway the commoners. Now, he'd shattered their livelihood. Perhaps—he shouldn't be Daimyo anymore.
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