"Don't worry. Our mission is to rescue as many Konoha ninja as possible."
Haku nodded at Tenten, offering a brief look of reassurance.
In the next instant, Tenten and Rock Lee were transported to Kirigakure using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
They appeared outside the Mizukage Building, on a specially prepared reception platform.
Tenten looked up at the dazzling sunlight overhead, her mind going blank for a moment.
Where… am I?
Did I really arrive in Kirigakure?
Medical ninja quickly surrounded them. After a brief examination, they immediately began treatment and rushed both Tenten and Rock Lee to the Kirigakure Hospital.
—
As Tenten was being moved, her gaze swept across the area before locking onto a familiar figure.
She had seen this Mizukage before during the Konoha Chūnin Exams.
"Lord Mizukage!"
Mei Terumi stepped forward at once. "Child, don't worry. You're safe here in Kirigakure. Just focus on receiving treatment. We will handle everything else."
Tenten nodded. Hearing those words directly from the Mizukage put her at ease.
Earlier, even after seeing Haku and the others, she had remained cautious. After all, she had no way of knowing Kirigakure's true intentions.
But now, as proper treatment began and no hostility appeared, she finally relaxed.
This time, Kirigakure truly seemed to be acting for the sake of the entire shinobi world, not just for itself.
—
Konoha Village.
Haku and the others continued their search, locating surviving Konoha ninja and teleporting them to Kirigakure one after another using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Eventually, inside an abandoned building, they found another person Shigure had specifically ordered them to locate.
"You're Ino Yamanaka?"
Haku looked at the pale kunoichi before him. She was barely conscious, her body trembling as if she could collapse at any moment.
Ino frowned weakly. "You… Kirigakure ninja… what… are you… doing here…?"
She was trying to question their purpose, but her condition made it impossible to form a full sentence.
At that moment, Kiba Inuzuka, standing nearby, frowned. "Kirigakure? What, are you here to take advantage of Konoha's fall? Don't bother. Another group already destroyed it. You can get lost."
Before he could finish, a blade appeared right in front of him.
Zabuza Momochi stared at him coldly. "Watch your mouth, brat. Don't act tough in that state. You're from the Inuzuka Clan, aren't you? Just a pack of dogs."
Kiba clenched his teeth, fury flashing in his eyes. But in his current condition, he couldn't even stand properly, let alone fight back.
Ringo Ameyuri spoke up calmly, "Zabuza-senpai, that's enough. Our mission is to rescue as many Konoha ninja as possible."
Zabuza didn't respond. He simply lowered his blade slightly and stepped aside, his expression still cold.
From the group, Shikamaru Nara slowly rose to his feet. "A mission… Did the Mizukage send you?"
Haku looked at him. "That's right. This is a direct order from the Mizukage. We are to rescue as many Konoha ninja as possible."
Shikamaru paused. "Why?"
Guren answered, her tone steady. "Because the enemy's target isn't just Konoha. They intend to threaten the entire shinobi world."
Shikamaru fell silent for a moment.
If that was true, then everything made sense.
Konoha had been destroyed, and yet Kirigakure sent reinforcements without warning.
And not just any ninja, but the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
These were elite shinobi directly under the Mizukage. Aside from the Mizukage, no one else in Kirigakure had the authority to command them.
Which meant this operation carried absolute weight.
"When the Mizukage… what about him?"
Haku frowned slightly. Normally, there would be no need to explain the Mizukage's whereabouts. But since Shikamaru had asked directly, he chose to answer.
"Mizukage-sama went to rescue Uchiha Sasuke, so he didn't come to Konoha."
"Sasuke…"
Shikamaru murmured, then nodded faintly.
That made sense.
Compared to Konoha, Sasuke held greater importance to Shigure. Moreover, Sasuke and the Uchiha Clan had already joined Kirigakure. As Mizukage, it was only natural for Shigure to prioritize rescuing his own ninja.
"I didn't expect Shigure to truly let go of his feelings toward Konoha."
Shikamaru gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.
Haku, standing nearby, replied calmly, "Mizukage-sama let go a long time ago. The ones who couldn't let go… were the people of Konoha."
Shikamaru fell silent.
That was the truth.
Anyone with clear judgment would feel regret. Even ordinary Konoha ninja had begun to wonder why they hadn't kept Shigure in the village back then.
If he had stayed, everything would have been different.
Even during this invasion by the Ōtsutsuki Clan, when Konoha was barely holding on, some had quietly said that if Shigure were still a Konoha ninja, would these enemies even dare to run rampant here?
Even with ten thousand times the courage, they probably wouldn't.
Shikamaru exhaled slowly, then looked at Haku again.
"You… besides rescuing Konoha ninja, do you have any other mission?"
"You said these enemies are targeting the entire shinobi world. Who exactly are they? Why attack Konoha? What's their goal?"
Haku closed his eyes briefly, as if organizing his thoughts.
"I can't answer everything at once," he said. "But I can tell you this. They are not from the shinobi world."
"They've come for the tailed beasts… or to destroy this world entirely."
"In other words, they are enemies of the entire shinobi world. No matter which village it is, all will be dragged into this storm."
Boom!
A violent explosion suddenly echoed from outside, followed by tremors that shook the building.
Shikamaru turned toward the source of the noise, watching dust and smoke rise into the sky.
"A battle… what's happening now?"
Haku's expression grew serious.
"It's Kaguya Kuji, the captain of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. To make it easier for us to rescue Konoha's ninja, he went alone to draw the enemy's attention."
"He's currently fighting the Ōtsutsuki Clan… by himself."
"Alone?"
Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly.
Just as the Hokage had once said, each member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist possessed strength approaching the Kage level.
Not all of them were truly Kage-level, but every one of them had the power to contend with such opponents and pose a real threat.
That was the level of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
And it was only after Shigure joined Kirigakure that this group had been reformed into its current state.
From them, one could clearly see Shigure's influence.
His power did not only make himself strong.
It elevated everyone around him as well.