Suigetsu and Chojuro stopped about three steps from the desk and bowed respectfully simultaneously.
"Fourth Mizukage-sama, Genji-sama, Mei-sama." The two said in unison.
Yagura seemed to just then come back to himself, focusing his gaze on them.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but coughed twice first, his voice hoarse: "Mm... you're here."
He looked at Genji beside him, his gaze questioning.
Genji's almost shut eyes moved slightly, and his fingers holding the snake-head staff lifted almost imperceptibly, a signal.
Yagura nodded, looked back at Suigetsu and Chojuro, and tried to make his voice sound stronger: "The reason I called you here is to assign you an important mission."
He paused.
"Konoha Village is about to hold an unprecedented [Joint Chunin Exams]. Not only will traditional small and medium Ninja Villages participate, but the newly emerged Land of Stars and Kumogakure will also send their Genin." Yagura said slowly.
"Kirigakure has decided to send several teams to participate."
Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, while Chojuro looked serious, listening carefully.
"After discussion." This time it was Mei who spoke, taking over the conversation. "It has been decided that the two of you, plus one more suitable Genin, will form a three-man team and go to Konoha as Kirigakure's Genin to participate in this exam."
The office was quiet for a moment.
"Ha—?"
The next moment, a drawn-out, incredulous question broke the silence.
Suigetsu picked his ear, his face full of 'are you kidding me' expression.
He looked at Yagura, then at Mei, finally resting his gaze on Genji, who seemed as composed as an old monk in meditation.
"Um... sorry, Mei-nee, I might not have woken up yet, did I mishear it?" Suigetsu pointed to his own nose, then to the equally bewildered Chojuro beside him.
"Send us... to take a Chunin Exams? Play this game of house with a bunch of little brats?"
Suigetsu's tone was full of absurdity.
"What's this? You're asking us to bully some little Genin brats?" Having grown up through the Bloody Mist policy, Hozuki Suigetsu naturally looked down on Genin from other Ninja Villages, even though he himself was only a Genin now.
"Suigetsu!" Mei snapped, a flicker of displeasure in her green eyes.
Not because of Suigetsu's complaint, but because of that 'nee'.
"Watch your language."
"I'm just stating facts." Suigetsu shrugged, but his voice still lowered.
Although Mei was usually mature, dignified, when angry she was also a tigress.
The silent Genji suddenly moved.
His hand holding the snake-head staff lightly tapped it on the ground.
Tok.
The sound was not loud, but unusually steady, as if striking the heart.
The office immediately fell silent, even Suigetsu shut his mouth, looking at this true pillar of Kirigakure.
Genji still squinted, his aged voice slowly rising, like worn sandpaper rubbing: "This is not just an exam, Suigetsu."
He paused, as if giving the youth time to digest.
"It is a stage, also a battlefield. It is observation, also probing."
"Konoha has widely issued invitations. Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and that... Land of Stars will all send representatives. This is an unprecedented scene since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, and an opportunity."
Genji slightly raised his head, though his eyes were still squinted, both Suigetsu and Chojuro felt a sharp gaze fall upon them.
"Kirigakure has been closed off for too long. The wounds of the Bloody Mist are too deep. We have lost too many Ninjas, too much time, and also... lost channels to communicate with the outside world." The old man's voice carried a heavy sigh.
"We don't know what the other villages have become, what strength the emerging forces have, nor where the future of the Ninja World is headed."
"Your primary mission this time is not the exam, not promotion." Mei took over, her tone serious. "It is observation, gathering intelligence."
"Observe the strength, characteristics, and combat styles of the new generation of Ninja from each village. Observe the internal situation of Konoha, observe the true strength of those Land of Stars' Ninja. Understand the current structure of the Ninja World, analyze potential allies and enemies."
Yagura also supplemented with difficulty: "Kirigakure... needs to reintegrate into the Ninja World. But we cannot be blind. We must base our judgments and choose our path on understanding."
After speaking, he had another fit of suppressed coughing.
The dismissiveness on Suigetsu's face gradually disappeared.
He understood.
This was not some playing with Genin in Chunin Exam... this was an intelligence war and diplomatic probe under the guise of an exam, with multiple participants.
The two of them were Kirigakure's sounding stones, the eyes peering out through the thick fog.
"But..." Chojuro spoke softly, his face uneasy. "Why us?"
"Because there are no stronger Genin left in the village to send." Mei's gaze swept over them. "Chojuro, although you and Suigetsu are still Genin, your strength is already close to Special Jonin. It's only because of your age that you haven't been promoted, which actually works to our advantage."
"Going to Konoha this time, ostensibly for an exam, the situation is complex, and conflict could break out at any moment. We need to send people who not only have the acuity to gather intelligence, but also the ability to protect themselves and even respond to unexpected combat."
Silence fell again.
Only the occasional suppressed cough of Yagura and the faint, ceaseless sound of waves outside the window.
Suigetsu lowered his head. He suddenly remembered words his brother Mangetsu had said before he died.
'Suigetsu, Kirigakure is our home. It is sick, wounded deeply. But home is home, no matter how broken, someone must guard it and try to repair it.'
He looked up, at Genji, at Mei, and finally his gaze rested on the haggard Fourth Mizogake.
This village was indeed full of holes.
Financial difficulties, a drying talent pool, external threats, internal undercurrents.
The former Bloody Mist policy had not only slaughtered a large number of Ninja, but also completely destroyed the village's foundation of trust and external relations.
Today's Kirigakure was like a broken ship sailing with difficulty through thick fog and hidden reefs, liable to capsize at any moment.
"Understood." Suigetsu spoke, the casualness gone from his voice, replaced by a touch of seriousness. "When do we leave? Who's the third person?"
"The third person is a bit special, still being prepared. But there will also be other genuine Genin teams participating, as cover." Yagura said.
"Remember, gathering intelligence is the priority. Promotion doesn't matter. Don't cause unnecessary trouble."
Mei looked at Chojuro: "Chojuro, what's your opinion?"
Chojuro took a deep breath, looked up, and though his face still flushed, his eyes were firm: "I... I am willing to go. For the village, I will do my best!"
"Very good." Genji slowly nodded, and the snake-head staff in his hand lightly tapped again. "Remember your mission. Watch more, listen more, speak less. Konoha is not a friend, but not necessarily an enemy either. Be especially careful of the Land of Stars' Ninja. Seven years ago, the loss Kirigakure suffered at Shura's hands has yet to be recovered."
Mentioning Shura and the ambush seven years ago, the air in the office seemed to grow colder.
Suigetsu instinctively touched the Ninja Sword scroll on his back.
Only three swords remained inside.
The Twin Blades: Hiramekarei, the Executioner's Blade: Kubikiribocho, and the Great Sword: Samehada… all had been taken by Shura in that battle seven years ago.
The participating ambushers, Suikazan Fuguki and Biwa Juzo, were killed in action. Hozuki Mangetsu, though he survived, was seriously injured, which might have indirectly led to his illness and death.
That was one of Kirigakure's most painful failures in recent years, and a great shadow still hanging over the village after the fog had lifted.
"Got it." Suigetsu's voice was a little cold. "We'll be careful."
"Specific itinerary will be detailed to you later by Anbu." Mei finally said. "These days, prepare yourselves. Chojuro, also decide as soon as possible which Ninja Sword you want. You may need it for this mission."
"Yes!" Chojuro nodded emphatically.
"Alright, go." Yagura waved his hand, his face even more tired.
Suigetsu and Chojuro bowed again, turned, and exited the Mizukage's office.
The heavy oak door closed behind them, cutting off the heavy, oppressive atmosphere inside.
The corridor was still dim, but both felt as if they could breathe a sigh of relief.
"Hey, Chojuro." Suigetsu suddenly spoke.
"Yeah?"
"This... really makes you need to pick a sword properly." Suigetsu grinned, showing his sharp teeth, a smile that could be excited or something else.
"Going to Konoha, there might actually be a chance to test those Star Ninja, see what they're made of."
Chojuro looked at the gleam in his companion's eyes, and for some reason, his heartbeat quickened.
He clenched his hands at his sides and responded quietly but firmly:
"Yeah!"
The two walked shoulder to shoulder, their footsteps echoing in the empty, dark corridor, walking towards the fog-shrouded outside world.
And behind them, inside the Mizukage's office, the conversation continued.
"Genji-sama, is this really alright?" Mei frowned. "Their strength is nothing like Genin, and the situation in Konoha is far too complex right now."
Genji was silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Eaglets must leave the nest to learn to fly. Kirigakure's future will eventually be handed over to the younger generation."
He looked out the window, his gaze as if penetrating the thick fog, seeing the Konoha across the distant continent, where storms were about to brew.
"And besides... we need to send Kirigakure's voice out to the outside world."
Knock knock—
A knock sounded. Mei called out, "Come in."
Ao, wearing a green robe, his hair spiky, his right eye covered with an eyepatch, pushed the door open and said to the three, "Mizukage-sama, Genji-sama, Mei-sama, the orphan of the Uzumaki Clan has been brought."
Yagura, Genji, and Mei looked over. A young girl with red hair, somewhat timidly, followed behind Ao and walked in.