Hearing Shigure's arrangement, Naruto immediately spoke, "Shigure, I'll go to Konoha too!"
Shigure glanced at him. "Stay in the Hidden Mist Village. Don't worry—I've already sent the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to Konoha to scout the situation. They're not there to act."
Naruto frowned. "Then what are you planning to do…?"
"After the reconnaissance, I'll return from the Hidden Sound Village. Then we'll deal with them. And when that time comes, it won't just be me—the Hidden Mist will deploy elite ninja forces as well."
Although Shigure believed he could handle it alone, bringing Mist's elite forces would make things easier.
And there would be no need to hold back.
Minato, standing nearby, frowned slightly as he studied Shigure.
Were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen really sent just for reconnaissance?
If that were true, they wouldn't be the best choice. The Yuki Clan would be far more suitable for infiltration. Their concealment abilities were excellent—while ineffective against the Byakugan, their ability to suppress their presence was still remarkable.
As long as the Ōtsutsuki didn't activate their dōjutsu, detecting them would be difficult.
Which meant… Shigure likely had other intentions.
Minato understood one thing clearly—if Shigure chose not to tell Naruto, then it was something Naruto shouldn't know.
"Alright, Naruto. Come with me and get some rest."
Minato led Naruto away.
Now, only Shigure and Terumi remained in the office.
Terumi looked at him. "Are these Ōtsutsuki really that troublesome?"
Shigure nodded. "For me, they're manageable. But for ordinary shinobi, they're extremely dangerous. And… I still don't know the full extent of their abilities."
Terumi's eyes narrowed slightly. It was rare to see Shigure show even a hint of uncertainty.
"How do you know so much about them?"
Shigure smiled faintly. "I know many things. Not just this."
Terumi had long held her doubts.
His mastery of ninjutsu could be explained by talent. But this knowledge—these secrets—shouldn't exist in any recorded history of the shinobi world.
Yet Shigure spoke of them with complete certainty.
"You've already become the Mizukage of Kirigakure," she said. "And you still intend to keep secrets from me?"
Shigure paused for a moment, then chuckled. "What's wrong with a little mystery? As long as I fulfill my role as Mizukage, isn't that enough?"
Terumi exhaled softly, then changed the subject. "Who are you taking with you to the Hidden Sound Village?"
"No one. I'll go alone."
"Alone?" Terumi frowned.
Shigure didn't hesitate. "Sasuke's trail was clearly released on purpose by Orochimaru. He wants me to come. As for why… it likely has something to do with the Ōtsutsuki."
"So it might not even turn into a fight," he continued. "There's no need to bring anyone."
More importantly, bringing Mist shinobi would only become a burden. No matter who it was, they wouldn't be able to help him—and might even distract him.
Terumi nodded slowly. "If this is Orochimaru's doing, then you need to be careful."
Shigure's eyes flickered with a faint red glow.
"Don't worry. No matter what he's planning… it doesn't matter."
At worst, he would simply devour Orochimaru.
With the power of the King of Gluttony, consuming him would take only minutes.
Terumi studied him for a moment before asking, "When you return… how many troops will you mobilize against the Ōtsutsuki?"
Shigure thought for a moment.
Numbers alone meant nothing. Too many weak shinobi would only become cannon fodder.
What he needed… was strength.
"Every shinobi must be at least elite jōnin level," he said calmly. "I need specialists in combat, sealing, and medical ninjutsu."
"You'll handle the selection. Around three hundred would be ideal—but fewer is acceptable."
Terumi nodded. "So you want an elite force—not expendable bodies."
"Exactly."
At that moment, Hisashi entered, followed by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"Lord Shigure, everything is ready."
Shigure stood. "Then let's move."
He led them out of the Mizukage building.
Minato was waiting at the entrance.
"What about Naruto?" Shigure asked.
"He's been taken to rest," Minato replied.
Shigure nodded. "If you're thinking of coming with me, forget it. Even with the Flying Thunder God Technique… I won't need it."
Glancing at the shinobi standing beside Kuji, Shigure's gaze sharpened slightly.
That man… was a Flying Thunder God user from the Hidden Mist.
Why call him a Flying Thunder God user?
Did they really think that, after obtaining the sealing scroll, Shigure had only learned the Impure World Reincarnation?
Everything Shigure mastered could be passed down through his "food chain" to those beneath him.
This shinobi was a carefully selected member of the Yuki Clan.
Not only did he possess the clan's kekkei genkai, but his mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique was already impressive.
He might not yet rival Minato, but in time… surpassing him wasn't impossible.
"I'm not here to go with you."
Shigure paused, slightly surprised.
Not coming with him?
Then what was Minato's intention?
Minato looked directly at Shigure. "You didn't send the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to Konoha just for reconnaissance, did you?"
Shigure narrowed his eyes slightly.
He hadn't expected Minato to see through it so quickly.
"…Not entirely."
If it were only reconnaissance, there would be no need to dispatch the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Those blades were meant for battle.
The real reason Shigure sent them… was to save people.
Konoha's situation was still unclear. If Ino and the others had been captured, then the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—working together with the Flying Thunder God user from the Yuki Clan—would extract them immediately.
At the same time, Shigure was also concerned about Tsunade.
If he had to personally go to retrieve Sasuke, then sending the Seven Ninja Swordsmen ahead was the most efficient choice.
Minato exhaled softly.
"I don't know exactly what you're planning," he said. "But if possible, have the Seven Ninja Swordsmen try to rescue Konoha's shinobi."
He paused briefly, his expression turning serious.
"Of course… if it puts their lives at risk, they can abandon the rescue."
(End of Chapter)
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