Thick fog is the eternal theme of Kirigakure.
Even the morning sun struggles to completely penetrate the heavy moisture that perpetually shrouds the valley. The entire village seems soaked in gray-white, damp cotton wool, building outlines blurred, voices seemingly absorbed by the fog, appearing oppressive and gloomy.
Five years ago, the [Bloody Mist] policy was officially abolished after internal upheaval, but the wounds and fear left by that dark period still permeate every brick of the village, deep in the hearts of every Kirigakure's villager.
The air is thick not only with moisture, but also with a difficult-to-dispel, faint rusty, iron-like fishy smell, and an even deeper shock and confusion towards the past and the future.
The Hozuki Clan's Compound, located in the southeastern corner of the village, are a traditional building complex built against the mountain, appearing even more lonely in the thick fog.
Once upon a time, this place was thriving, one of Kirigakure's most prominent Ninja Clans, renowned for their mastery of Water Release, unique Hydrification Technique, and holding the title of the [Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist].
But now...
Squeak—
A heavy wooden door was pushed open.
Hozuki Suigetsu yawned, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and staggered out.
He had short white hair, the tips dyed a light blue, and wore only a loosely fitting, dark blue bathrobe, tied loosely at the waist, exposing most of his chest.
The remnants of sleep still lingered on the youth's face, his skin appearing particularly pale in the mist.
"Ah… ha…"
He stretched languidly, his bones making faint 'cracking' sounds.
Then, shuffling in his wooden sandals, he slowly walked to the sink under the eaves, picked up a wooden ladle, scooped up the cold mountain spring water, and splashed it haphazardly on his face.
"Hiss… So cold." Suigetsu muttered, shaking his head, water droplets flying everywhere.
After washing up, the sleepiness on his face dissipated slightly, replaced by an almost numb calm.
He turned and pulled open another, more ancient sliding door.
Inside was an exceptionally tidy room, yet so empty it was disconcerting.
In the center of the room, a simple Buddhist altar was set up.
In front of the altar, three memorial tablets were neatly arranged.
His parents and his brother… that genius hailed as the most talented in Hozuki Clan's history, who could skillfully use all seven of Kirigakure's Ninja Swords… had ultimately succumbed to illness and passed away three years ago.
Suigetsu knelt before the altar, his back ramrod straight, a completely different person from his usual slacker self.
He took three incense sticks from a wooden box beside him and lit them with the flame of the eternal lamp.
Blue smoke curled up, carrying the scent of sandalwood, dispersing in this silent room.
He didn't speak, just put his palms together and closed his eyes.
In his mind, his father's image had long blurred, only some fragmented pieces remained. His mother's face was even more distant, just the warmth of an embrace and faint humming sounds in his memory.
The clearest was his brother, Hozuki Mangetsu.
That brother, always with a relaxed smile, strong yet never putting on airs, would pat his head and say, "Suigetsu, the future of the Hozuki Clan depends on you."
After his brother died three years ago, the vast Hozuki Clan's Compound really had only him left.
Hozuki Suigetsu, the last bloodline of the Hozuki Clan.
He opened his eyes and inserted the incense into the burner.
In the curling smoke, the three tablets seemed to be quietly gazing at him.
"I'm heading out." Suigetsu said quietly, as if reporting or talking to himself.
Then he stood up, picked up a long, narrow object carefully wrapped in dark oilcloth, strapped it to his back, and fastened the straps.
It was the scroll sealing the remaining Ninja Swords of Kirigakure.
Leaving the room, closing the sliding door, locking that heavy silence back behind him.
The sunlight seemed to strive to penetrate more of the fog, casting light and shadow on the damp moss in the courtyard.
Suigetsu stood under the eaves, looking at the empty courtyard, where the scenes of children playing and clansmen coming and going had long vanished.
He took a deep breath of the damp, cold air, pushing that bit of untimely sentimentality back to the bottom of his heart.
"Alright, time to work!"
His tone returned to its usual casualness. He walked out of the Hozuki Clan's gate without looking back.
The Mizukage Building stands in the center of Kirigakure, one of the few tall structures visible through the thick fog.
Its stone outer walls are covered in dark green moss and vines. At the entrance, two Ninja wearing Kirigakure's forehead protectors stand like statues, their sharp eyes sweeping over the occasional passerby.
Suigetsu swaggered up to the building and happened to see a familiar figure standing somewhat awkwardly at the bottom of the steps, as if hesitating about something.
It was a boy about his age, slightly shorter than him, with dark blue short hair.
He wore a blue sweater with a light gray vest over it, and carried a Ninja Sword on his back.
At this moment, he was looking down, unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes, looking very nervous.
"Yo, Chojuro!" Suigetsu raised his voice and gave a lazy greeting.
Chojuro flinched as if startled, his body trembling slightly, and he looked up abruptly.
Seeing it was Suigetsu, he relaxed and responded softly, "G-good morning, Suigetsu."
"What are you doing? Standing guard at the door?" Suigetsu hopped up the steps, sidled up to Chojuro, and tilted his head to look at him. "Struggling again over whether to step in with your left foot or your right foot first today?"
"N-no, that's not it!" Chojuro quickly waved his hand. "I was just... thinking about something."
"Thinking about something?" Suigetsu raised an eyebrow and very naturally put his arm around Chojuro's shoulder.
"Think while you walk. Standing here won't get you anywhere. Besides, keeping the old man Genji and Mei-nee waiting won't be good."
With that, he pulled Chojuro along and walked into the building.
Chojuro clearly wasn't used to this kind of intimate physical contact, his body a bit stiff, but he still obeyed and followed Suigetsu's lead.
After walking a bit, Suigetsu suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
"Hey, Chojuro."
"Yeah?"
"Have you decided about the Ninja Sword?" Suigetsu turned his head, looking at this always overly shy genius youth beside him.
"Only three are left… Longsword: Nuibari, Blunt Sword: Kabutowari, Explosive Sword: Shibuki. You have to pick one, right? Old man Genji and Mei-nee have urged you more than once."
Mentioning the Ninja Swords, Chojuro's head hung even lower, his voice barely a whisper: "I... I can do any of them. Any sword is fine... what matters isn't the weapon, it's the person using it..."
"Come on." Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "My brother said that too, but he could play all seven swords like a charm. You? 'Any is fine', 'It doesn't matter'. You act like that on the battlefield, the enemy won't go easy on you."
He paused, his tone carrying a rare seriousness: "Chojuro, you have talent. Inheriting a Ninja Sword isn't just about giving you a powerful weapon... it's a responsibility. Kirigakure now... needs young faces who can be put forward."
Chojuro was silent.
Suigetsu looked at him like that, suddenly sighed, and tightened his arm around the other's shoulder.
"You know, sometimes I envy you."
"Eh?" Chojuro looked up in surprise.
"I envy that you can still hesitate, still say 'any is fine'." Suigetsu looked towards the dark end of the corridor ahead, his voice revealing a trace of vicissitude beyond his years.
"My brother... he didn't have a choice back then. The genius of the Hozuki Clan, born and destined to inherit all the swords. He had to be the strongest, had to support the clan, had to become the symbol of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist... even if it eventually cost him his life."
His voice dropped. "If he could still be alive... how great that would be. With him around, we wouldn't have to worry about all this troublesome stuff."
Silence fell again in the corridor, broken only by their footsteps and the faint sound of dripping water in the distance.
Chojuro stole a glance at Suigetsu.
This companion, always laughing and seemingly carefree about everything, his side profile now looked somewhat stiff, and a flicker of some emotion he couldn't read passed through those always half-squinted eyes.
"Suigetsu..." Chojuro opened his mouth, wanting to say something comforting, but clumsily didn't know how to begin.
"Alright, alright, don't look at me like that." Suigetsu suddenly returned to his lazy self, vigorously patting Chojuro on the back. "Just thinking out loud. Let's hurry up, we'll really be late."
The two quickened their pace, winding through several corridors, finally arriving before a heavy oak door carved with the Kirigakure symbol.
Above the door frame hung a simple wooden sign engraved with the characters, [Mizukage Office].
Chojuro took a deep breath, as if psyching himself up, then stepped forward, raised his hand, and knocked lightly.
"Come in." A gentle yet not without authority female voice came from inside.
Chojuro pushed the door open, Suigetsu followed behind him, and the two entered one after the other.
The Mizukage's office was much more austere than imagined.
The room was spacious, but furnishings were few.
Against the wall was a row of tall bookshelves crammed with various files and books.
On another wall hung a large map of the Land of Water and surrounding sea areas, with various information marked in different colors.
In the center of the room was a large, dark wooden desk.
At this moment, sitting behind the desk was Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage… Karatachi Yagura.
This Kage, once known for his childlike appearance and immense strength, now looked very tired.
He wore a blue Mizukage robe and a sedge hat, but the face under the brim had lost its former vitality. His eye sockets were sunken, his skin an unhealthy pale.
He had his hands folded on the desk, his gaze somewhat vacant, staring ahead as if in a daze.
Beside the desk sat two other people.
On the left was a stooped, bald elder.
His face was covered in deep wrinkles, his eyes almost squinted shut, making his gaze unreadable.
His teeth were gone, making his mouth slightly sunken.
He wore a simple brown robe and held a strangely shaped dark wooden staff, its top carved with a snake head.
At this moment, he sat quietly, as if asleep, yet naturally radiated an authority precipitated by years.
The elder of Kirigakure, Genji.
On the right was a beautiful young woman.
She had smooth, light brown hair, curled at the ends, bright green eyes that were intelligent and wise, wearing a blue off-the-shoulder robe, with black fishnet stockings on her lower body, her disposition capable and calm.
But at this moment, a trace of worry also gathered between her brows.
Terumi Mei.
The candidate for the next Mizukage of Kirigakure, also the person who actually handles most of the village's administrative affairs.