Sometimes, if you want respect, the best way is to be direct.
Otherwise, who knows how long people will keep whispering and complaining?
"What kind of monster is this!?"
"In just a moment, we were all—!"
Everyone stared at Shigure in shock, their eyes wide with fear.
Mei Terumi, however, smiled with satisfaction at his response. If Shigure had done nothing, it wouldn't have been a problem, but it would have made integrating him into the village far more troublesome later.
Now things were simpler.
Mei Terumi rose to her feet and declared, "Quiet! Shigure is no traitor. He possesses the bloodline limit of Kirigakure. Do you have any objections to me bringing him back to the village?"
The murmur of protests quickly shifted.
Although the Yuki clan had once been branded traitors, their children still carried the Hidden Mist's bloodline limit. And Shigure himself was not a traitor.
Since he was not guilty of treachery and wielded a kekkei genkai belonging to the Hidden Mist, then what fault could there be in the Mizukage bringing him home?
"Understood. Shigure."
At Mei Terumi's command, Shigure released his technique. The ice that had bound the others melted away, freeing the shinobi he had frozen.
The group began the walk back toward Kirigakure.
The Mist-nin stepped aside to give him room, their gazes wary, replaying in their minds what had just occurred.
If the Mizukage hadn't intervened, every one of them might have been frozen where they stood.
Such a terrifying mastery of Ice Release… clearly this boy had inherited the Yuki clan's power. But when had the Yuki's techniques become so overwhelming?
For the village, a child with such frightening talent was a blessing.
While Mei Terumi was occupied with arranging Shigure's return, word spread quickly through the Hidden Mist. The Mizukage had brought back a terrifyingly gifted Ice Release user.
"Elder, Lady Mizukage has actually brought back the child of those missing-nin. Isn't this—?"
The elder fixed the speaker with a sharp look. "Is that child a traitor?"
"Well… no, but he has a kekkei genkai and—"
"Mei Terumi has a kekkei genkai. What exactly are you trying to say?"
The shinobi faltered. "That's different… but that child—"
"That child is no traitor. So what if he bears a kekkei genkai? He formed a seal with one hand and subdued an entire squad instantly. Such talent is invaluable for Kirigakure."
The meaning was clear. With no further arguments, the shinobi fell silent.
The elders knew full well: because of the Bloody Mist era, the village had grown hostile to those with kekkei genkai. Mei Terumi's very position as Mizukage was meant to ease that hatred.
Now she had brought back a boy carrying the Yuki clan's bloodline limit. The elders understood.
If the Mist could not raise strong successors, by the time of the Sixth Mizukage, the village would risk losing its place among the Five Great Nations.
Shigure was assigned to live at Mei Terumi's residence.
Living with the Mizukage herself—was it a sign of trust, or merely disguised surveillance?
It hardly mattered. Shigure's first action upon arriving in the village was to write a letter and send it to the Land of Snow.
All that was left was to wait.
It would take roughly ten days for the message to travel there and back. In the meantime, Shigure devoted himself to training quietly, keeping a low profile to put Mei Terumi and the others at ease.
Eat. Train. Sleep. Repeat.
Up at six every morning for kenjutsu. Ice Release practice in the afternoon. Physical conditioning at night.
Day after day.
Mei Terumi and Ao soon understood why Shigure had reached such terrifying strength at his age.
The elders, secretly observing him, saw the same: this boy was a genius among geniuses.
His swordsmanship was frightening. Even prodigies like Chōjūrō seemed fragile in comparison.
And in those ten days, Shigure even instructed Chōjūrō, whose kenjutsu improved rapidly under his guidance.
Not only was Shigure strong, he had a gift for teaching. The elders found no reason to oppose his place in the village.
Ten days passed quickly.
On this day, Shigure did not train in the morning. Instead, he waited at Kirigakure's port with Chōjūrō at his side.
Soon, a ship docked.
From it stepped Haku—followed by another figure.
Koyuki Kazahana, accompanied by several shinobi of the Land of Snow.
"It seems Zabuza agreed," Shigure said with a smile.
Haku nodded. "Sir Zabuza didn't say it outright, but I could tell. After hearing the latest news of the Hidden Mist, he truly wants to return and see the village again."
Zabuza Momochi—he might have schemed against the Mizukage once, but at heart, he was a man who loved Kirigakure. Otherwise, he would never have fought so hard to overthrow the Bloody Mist.
"So, you came," Shigure said.
"Mm."
While speaking with Haku, Koyuki Kazahana turned to Shigure.
"Thank you for allowing them to come to the Land of Snow and for helping us train a group of shinobi."
Shigure shook his head lightly.
"I should be the one thanking you. By becoming a vassal, the Land of Snow is doing me a favor."
Koyuki smiled. "It's also good for the Land of Snow."
The next step was to take Koyuki to meet Mei Terumi.
When Shigure first spoke of making the Land of Snow a vassal state, Mei Terumi thought he was joking. But now, after only ten days, it had become reality.
Naturally, Mei Terumi had no reason to refuse such an arrangement.
After concluding matters with Koyuki, Mei Terumi's attention turned to Haku.
"And who is this boy?" she asked, curious.
"He's also of the Yuki clan. His name is Yuki Haku," Shigure explained.
Mei Terumi was taken aback. Shigure wasn't supposed to be of the Yuki clan… so why did he speak as if he were one of them?
Before she could press the question, Shigure broke the silence.
"It's time for me to set out."
Mei Terumi blinked. "Set out? You're leaving Kirigakure?"
"Didn't I say before?" Shigure replied evenly.
"We need to recall the Jinchūriki from the Hidden Mist. Now that my ninja team is assembled, it's time to leave the village and take action. Otherwise, how could I become Mizukage within a year?"
Mei Terumi froze, staring at him. Then her gaze shifted—past Shigure, to Chōjūrō standing faithfully at his side, and to Haku as well.
A team had been formed.
A true shinobi squad under Shigure's lead.
...
TN:
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