4. In the Blood Mist of Simple Folk

One day later.

The news of Kurosu Reiya’s death reached the Hidden Mist Village, quickly plunging the entire village into uproar. Everyone was certain that this was the work of the Hidden Sand, yet there wasn’t a shred of evidence to prove it, which left the villagers feeling both aggrieved and furious.

As the only survivor of the incident, Kisame was first taken to the hospital for basic treatment and bandaging upon his return, and then escorted by the Anbu to stand before the Third Mizukage.

Mizukage Tower.

The Third Mizukage, with long jet-black hair, sat behind his desk, eyes closed as he listened to Kisame’s report. This Mizukage, known for always keeping his eyes shut, had once served at the side of previous Mizukage, witnessing many a great battle. After Gengetsu Hozuki’s death, he succeeded the title of Mizukage and had held the position for nearly twenty years—a man both highly capable and greatly respected.

In recent years, however, the Third Mizukage had resolved to turn the Hidden Mist into the “Village of the Bloody Mist.” While this had created a legion of ruthless, iron-blooded shinobi, it also drew considerable criticism.

Before this Mizukage, Kisame recounted his underwater escape in detail, placing the blame for Kurosu Reiya’s death squarely on Ye Cang’s shoulders. His explanation was simple but seamless, giving the Mizukage no reason to doubt him. After all, Kisame before him was only a twelve-year-old boy, an earnest and unremarkable genin; there was no reason to suspect him.

“Go home and rest. Focus on your recovery for a while,” the Third Mizukage instructed after listening to Kisame’s report, offering a few words of comfort.

“Yes, sir.” Kisame bowed to the Mizukage, then turned to leave.

Tap, tap, tap.

In the dim office, the Third Mizukage rhythmically tapped his fingers on the desk, lost in thought.

Moments later.

“Send out the Merciless Duo. Bring back Ye Cang’s head,” he ordered.

The so-called Merciless Duo, like Kurosu Reiya, were members of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist: Jinin Akebino, wielder of the Blastsword: Shibuki, and Kushimaru Kuriarare, master of the Longsword: Nuibari. Both men were notorious for their brutality and ruthlessness, killing indiscriminately and ranking among the most formidable of the Seven Swordsmen.

Assassinating Ye Cang would be a simple task for them.

Once his subordinate left to relay the order, the office was left in silence, with only the Third Mizukage remaining. His expression blank, he turned stiffly in his chair to face the wall.

Then, at a certain moment, he opened his long-shut eyes.

They were a pair of crimson Sharingan.

…

After leaving the office, Kisame frowned slightly.

In his memory, the Third Great Ninja War would erupt in just two or three years. During that conflict, Uchiha Madara not only ordered the Mist Anbu to abduct Rin Nohara but also implanted the Three-Tails, Isobu, into her, making her the Hidden Mist’s new jinchuriki.

This proved that Madara had already seized control of the Hidden Mist, becoming the village’s shadowy ruler.

So, was the Third Mizukage whom Kisame had just met already under Madara’s control?

The thought of Madara—the ancient schemer—made Kisame realize he’d have to act with even greater caution. Yet at the same time…

He recalled the giant, gourd-shaped fan over two meters tall, adorned with six tomoe, that Madara always kept at his side.

The Flame Fan.

That legendary weapon, passed down through the Uchiha clan, was said to be forged from the God Tree itself: resilient, unyielding, and capable of reflecting any ninjutsu. The Flame Fan was, without a doubt, a true divine treasure—and Kisame coveted it deeply.

Thus, his objectives in the Hidden Mist now included not only the remaining six swords, but also this legendary fan.

Kisame was a patient hunter, well-versed in biding his time.

Such a man would always seize the right moment to claim all that he desired.

After passing through the corridor, Kisame entered the main hall on the first floor of the Mizukage Tower. This was the mission-issuing hall of the Hidden Mist, and at this hour, it bustled with a constant flow of shinobi, lively and crowded.

The moment Kisame appeared, he drew countless stares, and the previously noisy hall quieted noticeably.

People eyed the young, bandage-wrapped genin, whispering among themselves—was his survival due to luck, or had he abandoned his comrades to save his own skin?

If it were the latter, no one would want to team up with him on future missions.

Kisame paid no mind to the murmurs.

He walked through the crowd toward the exit, and in doing so, spotted two familiar figures.

One was a girl about his age, a former classmate from the Shinobi Academy. She had long, wavy auburn hair, emerald eyes, pink lips, and wore carefully applied makeup—already displaying a precocious beauty.

Mei Terumi.

In the original story, she would become the Fifth Mizukage, who ended the era of the Bloody Mist, opened the village to peace, and led its revival—a woman both beautiful and powerful, and wise to boot.

Though they had been classmates for several years, Kisame and Mei Terumi had little interaction, barely more than acquaintances.

Mei, too, noticed Kisame and gave him a nod in greeting.

Beside her stood a shorter, younger kunoichi—a petite girl with the same auburn hair, styled in two upright braids. She grinned at Kisame, exposing a set of sharp, fang-like teeth.

Ameyuri Ringo.

In the original story, she was one of the second generation of the Seven Swordsmen, dubbed the “Lightning Release Prodigy,” who wielded the Lightning Blade: Kiba to its utmost potential, though she died young from illness.

Ameyuri tiptoed up to Mei Terumi’s ear to whisper mischievously, her expression suggesting she was saying nothing kind about Kisame.

Little did she know that the Lightning Blade: Kiba, which should have been hers by right, now resided within Kisame’s body as his new tail.

If she knew, she’d probably burst into tears.

Passing the two by, Kisame exited the Mizukage Tower.

His plan now was to keep a low profile, recover from his injuries as quickly as possible, and then slowly set his sights on the remaining swords.

Unfortunately, things rarely go as smoothly as planned.

He had barely stepped outside when he was confronted by an old enemy and his entourage.

This man, Kurokawa, was tall, burly, and bore a sinister expression—a chunin of the Hidden Mist. On a recent patrol, he had been Kisame’s temporary superior and had abused his rank to bully him, only to be taught a painful lesson by Kisame’s fists, losing face in front of his peers.

Kurokawa had nursed this grudge ever since, seeking a chance for revenge.

Hearing that Kisame was wounded, he saw the perfect opportunity and came with four henchmen to settle the score.

The atmosphere of the Hidden Mist could not have been more different from that of the Leaf. The Leaf Village was founded on the “Will of Fire,” with unity at its core. At least on the surface, brawls between shinobi within the village were unheard of.

But ever since the rise of the Bloody Mist, many in the Hidden Mist took pride in their savage ways.

Here, the law of the jungle ruled supreme, and street fights over personal grudges were nothing unusual.

Violence was often the simplest and most direct solution to problems.

In a sense, one could say the Mist had a “straightforward” culture—when trouble arose, people just fought it out, without much scheming or intrigue.

Thus, as Kisame and Kurokawa’s confrontation escalated, nobody tried to intervene. On the contrary, villagers and shinobi gathered eagerly to watch.

Mei Terumi and Ameyuri Ringo were among the crowd.

Within the throng, Mei Terumi frowned.

Growing up in the Mist, which was isolated overseas and rarely involved itself in the ninja world’s affairs, she had always known a peaceful environment. But in recent years, the village’s atmosphere had darkened—more and more people became belligerent and cold, which deeply troubled her, even at the age of twelve.

After all, the so-called “straightforward” culture often masked brutality, backwardness, and ignorance.

By contrast, Ameyuri Ringo seemed carefree, relishing the spectacle and even cheering on both sides to hurry up and fight.

Yet, what most people did not expect was this—

Facing the prepared Kurokawa and his men, Kisame’s expression shifted, then he raised his hands in surrender and said:

“I’m sorry. I apologize. Please let me go.”

With that, he bent at the waist and bowed ninety degrees to Kurokawa before the crowd, offering his public apology.