Kirigakure Village — The Broken
Mizukage's Office
Karatachi Yagura looked like death.
Bandages covered most of his body. His face was the color of old wax. He'd curled into his chair—already small, now he looked like a wounded animal trying to make itself smaller.
(A stray kitten,) Ao thought. (Beaten. Starving. Waiting to die.)
"You did the right thing, Utakata."
Yagura's voice was soft. Weak.
"Jinghang was there. You had zero chance." He coughed—wet, rattling. "We'd already lost the Three-Tails jinchūriki. No point throwing away the Youth Corps too."
Utakata stood rigid. His jaw was clenched.
"I know you're angry." Yagura smiled faintly. "The humiliation—being slapped like a child—I understand. We'll settle it. Later. When we're strong again."
He gestured weakly.
"Go rest. The fallen get full honors."
"Yes, Lord Mizukage."
Utakata's voice was tight.
He bowed. Left.
(I'll never forget. Never.)
The door closed.
Yagura's smile vanished.
He doubled over, coughing violently.
Blood flecked his lips.
"Lord Mizukage—" Ao rushed forward, hand on Yagura's back—
"Don't." Yagura waved him off. "Coin Harbor. Shell fragment. Punctured lung." Another cough. "They got it out, but—" He wiped his mouth. "—this cough's permanent."
Ao's fists clenched.
(We were winning. Before Sunagakure. Before Jinghang. We had momentum—territory—respect—)
The Seven Swordsmen—one left. Kisame Hoshigaki. A rookie.
The Four Great Masters—one left. Aopeng. An old man.
The rebellion—barely crushed. Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost's corpse still warm.
And their Mizukage—
"I won't last much longer." Yagura's voice was calm. Matter-of-fact. "But I'm not dead yet."
He looked at Ao.
"Help me understand something. Why is Jinghang holding a seven-village summit here?"
Ao frowned. "You don't believe his explanation?"
"'Helping a brother out'?" Yagura laughed—bitter, sharp. "We backstabbed him. Colluded with Konoha. Attacked Yuexi Peninsula." He shook his head. "If I were him, I'd be crushing us right now. Kicking us while we're down."
"But he's not."
"No." Yagura's eyes narrowed. "He's offering us money. Hosting fees. Trade deals. Two hundred guards per village—not enough to threaten us, but enough to bring income."
"So either—" Yagura ticked off fingers. "—he's genuinely merciful. Which I don't believe. Or—"
"—he wants something," Ao finished.
"Exactly." Yagura leaned back. Winced. "Jinghang thinks three steps ahead. Always. But this move—" He gestured at the summit scroll. "—I can't see the angle."
Ao thought for a long moment.
"Then we prepare for everything."
"Agreed." Yagura's smile was grim. "My generation lost to Sunagakure. That's done. But the next generation—" His eyes hardened. "—they'll have a chance. If we survive long enough to give them one."
Yagura's answer was immediate.
"We accept reality. Sunagakure will dominate the ninja world for the next twenty, maybe thirty years. So—" He coughed again. "—we cling to them. Diplomatically. Make ourselves useful. Use our ocean barrier to stay safe. Rebuild. Quietly."
He looked at Ao.
"And in twenty years, when they're complacent—when they think we're harmless—"
His smile was cold.
"What do we do about the summit?" Ao asked.
"Make it perfect." Yagura's voice was firm. "Clean the village. Top to bottom. Set up entertainment districts. Restart the ninja tournament—give them a show."
"Lord Mizukage—" Ao hesitated. "—we have fewer than five thousand combat-ready ninja. If we spread them thin for appearances—"
"We have to." Yagura's eyes were fierce. "The other villages can't know how weak we are. They'll devour us."
"Mobilize the Youth Corps. Full combat formations. Every able body on the streets. We need to look strong."
Ao nodded slowly.
(From the Seven Swordsmen to... this. Teenagers playing soldier.)
But Yagura was right.
Weakness invited predators.
And Kirigakure was bleeding.
The Cave — 32 Days
"How long has it been?"
"Thirty-two days. Exactly."
"Black Zetsu should've reported by now."
"Maybe the Youth Corps gave him trouble?"
"Even if he couldn't win, he could retreat."
Silence filled the cave.
Madara sat in darkness. His eyes—gray, clouded, blind—stared at nothing.
(Thirty-two days. No word. No sign.)
Something was wrong.
A White Zetsu tumbled into the cave. Frantic.
"What?" Madara's voice was cold. "Why are you panicking?"
"Ships!" The White Zetsu gasped. "So many ships!"
Madara turned his head slightly.
"All of them!" White Zetsu counted on his fingers. "Konoha—Sunagakure—Kumogakure—Iwagakure—Takigakure—"
"What are they doing here?"
"I—I don't know! So I caught someone!" White Zetsu's body split—like peeling off a suit—and a man fell out.
An Iwagakure ninja. Thirties. Forehead protector.
(What—what the hell—where am I—)
Madara grabbed him by the throat. Lifted him.
"Speak. Who are you?"
"I—I'm—" The man's voice cracked. "—a cook—"
"Lord—Lord Tsuchikage—"
"The Tsuchikage?" Madara's grip tightened. "What is he doing in Kirigakure?"
"What kind of meeting?"
"Seven—seven village—" The cook's eyes rolled back. "—peace summit—"
"Peace summit?" Madara's voice dropped. "The war is over?"
The cook fainted.
Madara released him. The man crumpled like a puppet with cut strings.
"Take him away."
White Zetsu dragged the body out.
Fat White Zetsu leaned closer.
"Master... do you think—" His voice was hesitant. "—the summit is about you?"
Madara didn't answer immediately.
His mind worked.
(Black Zetsu. Missing for thirty-two days.)
(Seven villages. Gathering in Kirigakure.)
(A 'peace' summit. Right where I'm hiding.)
His lips curved.
"Get me everything about this summit. Who's attending. How many guards. What they're planning."
White Zetsu scurried away.
Madara sat alone in the darkness.
His fingers twitched.
(You clever little bastard.)
[Political Mastery: Yagura = dying pragmatist (accepts Suna dominance to survive, plans revenge in 20 years). Utakata = suppressed rage (humiliation will drive future actions). Ao = loyal despair (watching village collapse, helpless to stop it). Kiri's strategy = cling to Sunagakure diplomatically while rebuilding in secret.]
[Village Devastation: Seven Swordsmen → one rookie (Kisame only survivor). Four Great Masters → one veteran (Aopeng barely holding on). Combat strength → under 5,000 (from pre-war glory to desperate survival). Youth Corps = last viable force (teenagers playing soldiers to maintain appearances).]
[Villain Isolation: Madara = 32 days waiting (Black Zetsu missing, no intel). White Zetsu's panic = fleet arrival (all major villages converging). Cook's interrogation = information extraction (summit revealed through terror). Madara's realization = trap suspected (Jinghang's three-steps-ahead strategy recognized).]
[Foreshadowing: Summit location = Madara's hideout (intentional? coincidence?). "Peace" talks = potential ambush (all villages gathering with guards). Yagura's 20-year plan = future conflict (Kiri will rise again). Black Zetsu's absence = sealed in glass tower (Madara doesn't know yet).]
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