"Jinchūriki?! Do you think I don't want to find the Six-Tails' Jinchūriki?" Mei Terumi snapped. "But that man doesn't trust the village anymore."
Ao beside her looked helpless. It was true—aside from Mei Terumi herself, there was no shinobi in Kirigakure who could reliably face a Tailed Beast.
Recovering a Tailed Beast wasn't a simple retrieval; it was a mission for someone with true power. Letting the Mizukage wander the world hunting beasts while the village ran itself was no solution. A few defeats out in the field could invite disaster: Tailed Beasts were strategic-level weapons. Who would tolerate sending nuclear bombs on a stroll?
"Don't you have me?" Shigure spoke up suddenly.
"Leave this to me. I'll bring the Tailed Beasts back. I'll recall the Jinchūriki."
Mei Terumi stared, a flush of relief and disbelief on her face. This—this was what it felt like to have someone take a burden off your shoulders. Like the Hokage in Konoha, issuing an order and knowing your strong shinobi will act.
"Before we go after the beasts," Ao interjected, voice tight, "there's one problem. Many of those people were branded traitors. If someone powerful comes back voluntarily—can the village simply lift their treason? Can we pardon them?"
Mei Terumi faltered. The matter was not hers alone to decide. Kirigakure had been ruthless with rebels; traitors were hunted without mercy. The weight of old law pressed on her.
Shigure read the hesitation on her face and smiled. "I understand."
"You're the one who makes the final call on this," Ao added.
Shigure's smile turned wry. "Don't worry. I'll silence those who object."
Mei's eyes widened. Silence them? The boy was twelve—how could he speak like that?
"Don't be absurd!" Mei snapped, alarmed.
Shigure shrugged.
"I won't kill them. There are many ways to shut people up. Killing only proves you're ruthless. I want them to know Kirigakure's fist is larger than theirs—so large they won't dare open their mouths."
Mei Terumi's look softened as she considered what he meant. The idea made sense—if the village could demonstrate power without needless bloodshed, rumors and fear could accomplish more than executions ever would.
"It's not easy," Ao said. "Controlling public opinion is messy."
"We'll weaponize it," Shigure replied.
"Spread word—quiet but deliberate—about the strength of the outsiders we can call upon. Let the village believe that mighty shinobi stand ready to return. Make the networks of merchants, mission clients, and neighboring officials panic a little."
He leaned forward, eyes bright with strategy.
"If we control the narrative—if we make everyone think Kirigakure can quickly bring back Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts—then opposition becomes costly. People will choose silence over conflict."
Mei Terumi breathed out, the tension in her shoulders loosening.
"So we use fear as a shield—show strength, avoid bloodshed, and coax defectors back under the promise of pardon?"
"Yes." Shigure's tone was calm, absolute.
"First, we claim we've located leads on the Six-Tails. Then we leak that there are negotiators, protected return channels, and—most importantly—force ready to back them up. Let them see the choice: cooperate and return, or be trampled by consequences."
Ao considered the plan, then nodded slowly.
"It's risky, but it preserves the village and gives us a chance to recover what really matters."
"And if anyone resists?" Mei asked quietly.
Shigure smiled, but not cruelly.
"Then they find out our fist is real. But I'll try everything to avoid blood. The goal is to restore Kirigakure's deterent—bring back Jinchūriki and the beasts—without burning the village's remaining goodwill."
A new resolve had formed in the group. The stakes were clear: reclaim the beasts, recall the Jinchūriki, and use power—both real and perceived—to make Kirigakure whole again.
Shigure folded his arms.
"We start by tracing the Six-Tails. Next, we make them think we already have eyes everywhere. And when the time comes… we bring them home."
Mei Terumi's expression hardened into determination.
"Then let it begin."
Ao's voice was calm but sharp:
"Let the village panic, and you'll spark a new wave of rebellion. What exactly do you intend to do?"
"Because Kirigakure… needs a hero," Shigure replied firmly.
Mei Terumī's eyes lit up. Shigure's idea was clever—if he became a hero in the eyes of the village, his integration into Kirigakure would be perfect.
"And how do you plan to become this hero?" she asked.
"Simple," Shigure said coolly.
"When everyone else is helpless and resigned to despair, only the one who sacrifices and turns the tide can be called a hero."
He then looked directly at Mei Terumī.
"You promised to help me become Mizukage. If I declared that I would replace you as the new Kage within a year… would you object?"
The question left Mei Terumī, Ao, and even Chōjūrō momentarily speechless.
"A year?" Ao narrowed his eyes.
This wasn't something achievable through strength alone. With Shigure's talent, it wasn't impossible for him to reach Kage-level ability in a year. But becoming the actual leader of a village required more than strength—it demanded prestige. That kind of respect was far easier to earn during war, but in peacetime… it was almost impossible.
Mei Terumī smiled faintly.
"Very well. If you can do it, I'll step down and let you take the position. But if you can't?"
"You want to bet?" Shigure asked, not the least bit intimidated.
A year was more than enough time. To him, twelve years old was already late—he wanted to be remembered as the youngest Kage in history.
"If you lose, you'll have to grant me one request."
"What request?"
"You'll find out when you lose."
Shigure sighed. "Then it's already decided. Because I'm going to win."
He countered with his own condition:
"And if I win, you must also grant me one request. Anything I choose."
Mei Terumī chuckled, reaching out to hook his chin with a teasing finger.
"Anything?"
Ao and Chōjūrō instantly flushed red, while Shigure stiffened in embarrassment.
"Enough—let's go," he muttered, quickly turning away.
Mei Terumī only laughed softly, her gaze almost predatory. Shigure had the distinct feeling that if he looked at her too long, he'd be devoured on the spot.
"You're actually shy?" she teased.
"Lord Mizukage…" Ao sighed, clearly helpless.
To return from Konoha to the Hidden Mist, they had to pass through the Land of Waves, cross the Great Naruto Bridge, and board a ship back to Kirigakure.
On the way, Shigure observed the scarce number of ships and frowned. If the Land of Waves struggles with trade routes, then Kirigakure is even worse off.
The Mist Village was an isolated island nation. Without proper ports and trade, both the economy and shinobi strength would stagnate.
As they finally neared the Mist's harbor, Shigure noted the port's size.
"It's so narrow… almost smaller than the Wave's port," he remarked.
Mei Terumī raised a brow.
"Why would it need to be any bigger?"
"For trade," Shigure replied firmly.
"Without trade, there's no income. Without money, how do you expect to raise strong shinobi? A village needs wealth as much as strength."
She blinked, taken aback by the simple logic. "…You might be right."
"Let's save that discussion for later," she said at last.
"I'll arrange your accommodations once we dock."
But as soon as they disembarked, a crowd of Mist shinobi gathered to welcome their Mizukage.
The sight of the young boy at her side immediately drew whispers.
"Lord Mizukage, this child is…?" a jōnin asked cautiously.
Mei Terumī's gaze swept the crowd.
"I found him in Konoha. His name is Yuki Shigure."
The words rippled through the gathered shinobi like a shockwave.
Yuki. Everyone in Kirigakure knew that name—it belonged to a clan once branded as rebels.
"Why would the Mizukage bring back the child of a traitorous clan…?"
Before the murmurs could spread further, two shinobi suddenly stiffened. A sheen of frost spread across their bodies, encasing them in ice.
Gasps filled the air as all eyes darted to Shigure. His left hand still held Mei Terumī's, but with his right he had formed a one-handed seal, thin frost curling over his frame.
One-handed seals?!
The next instant, several shinobi tried to draw their weapons—only to freeze mid-motion as their legs were caught in a sudden burst of ice.
A collective shock swept through the port.
What kind of Ice Release ninjutsu is this? To freeze opponents instantly… at that distance?!
The Mist shinobi's eyes widened in disbelief as the boy's cold gaze swept over them.
...
TN:
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