Early morning.
As the sun rose, the villagers of Kirigakure stepped out of their homes with unease and apprehension. The sounds of last night's battle had been neither too loud nor too faint—just enough for them to hear the desperate cries of those who had met their end.
Though the fighting hadn't lasted long, something significant had clearly happened. The air in the village felt strange, heavy with an unfamiliar stillness, and even the thick fog that usually cloaked Kirigakure had thinned noticeably.
"All villagers assemble! The Mizukage-sama has an important announcement!"
The announcement rippled through the village like a gust of wind.
Important?
What could be so important? Another tax collection? A new decree forcing their children into the Ninja Academy? Such things had happened before. Living in this village, refusal was never an option—obedience was all they had left.
Even those of Kekkei Genkai lineage who had once dared to oppose the village's leadership had been completely wiped out. The joint rebellion of the Minazuki, Kaguya, and even the Hōzuki clans had failed to change anything.
Rumor had it that the last surviving member of the Kaguya Clan, the so-called "human shield" Kimimaro, had disappeared not long ago. Apart from the Kaguya, the remnants of the Hōzuki and Yuki clans were either dead or in hiding.
After such a bloody history, who among them still had the courage—or the right—to resist the Blood Mist?
Like lifeless puppets, the villagers moved step by step toward the base of the Mizukage Tower. A deathly silence fell over the crowd as they waited.
Then, as the shinobi and civilians of Kirigakure gathered, a striking figure suddenly appeared atop the high platform.
Terumi?!
At that moment, she wore the conical hat that only the Mizukage could bear.
"I, Terumi, hereby declare, as the Fifth Mizukage of the Mist Village—"
"The Blood Mist Era of Kirigakure is officially over! From this day forth, the mutual killing system of the graduation exams is abolished!"
Her clear yet trembling voice echoed through the air. For a moment, the villagers stood frozen, their confusion slowly melting away into disbelief—then tears. Tears of relief, of joy, of release.
They didn't know what had truly happened. But the result… the result was everything.
The Fifth Mizukage, Terumi, had declared an end to the Blood Mist.
As the first cry of celebration broke out, the emotion swept through the crowd like wildfire. The entire village erupted in cheers. People shouted the Mizukage's name, running through the streets to spread the news.
Above them, the rising sun painted the eastern sky in gold and red.
It was as if, at long last, Kirigakure was stepping out of the mist and back into the light.
No longer would parents fear their children dying in the academy that was meant to protect them.
Heat. Excitement. Exhilaration.
This was the dawn of a new era—a true rebirth.
...
"See?"
Atop the Mizukage Tower, Hakken reclined against Kurama's soft belly, drinking sake.
Beside him, Jiraiya stared, mouth agape. As the cheers of the villagers rose from below, his mind finally cleared.
"If you're expecting to reason with people like these—telling them about the price of the Blood Mist name, trying to make them reform—"
"—and hoping they'll understand the pain of parents who've lost their children... do you really think they would?"
Taking another long sip, Hakken let out a quiet sigh.
Some things, he thought, you can only truly understand by seeing them with your own eyes. Otherwise, mutual understanding is just an empty fantasy—almost laughable in its idealism.
Just like this so-called sage beside him, who once went to Amegakure to gather intelligence but never understood how Nagato became the man he was.
How important first-hand experience really is.
Maybe Nagato did lose his mind later on. But when Yahiko—his brother in all but blood—died in his arms, his entire world collapsed.
Pity and hatred, both sides of the same coin.
Those we pity have their own flaws. Those we despise have their own pain.
How to weigh such things? Hakken had his own way of measuring them.
He could never be like Naruto—offering forgiveness so easily, letting everything go with a smile.
"I think I understand now," Jiraiya murmured, exhaling softly as he looked down at the cheering crowd.
When this brat had charged into the meeting room, sword in hand, cutting down anyone in his way, Jiraiya had thought it was a mistake.
Back then, Hakken Yoru didn't seem like the Child of the Prophecy at all.
But now, watching the true transformation of Kirigakure, seeing all that he had done for Konoha, that belief in Jiraiya's heart began to solidify again.
It was contradictory—but undeniably real.
He saw change.
A village once drowned in silence now teemed with life. That kind of rebirth wasn't something just anyone could bring about.
"Pfft. Humans are hypocrites," Kurama grumbled, his deep voice rumbling beneath Hakken's head. "Eat, drink, live freely, and have someone to stand up for you when you're bullied."
"That's enough for me. Hmph—though, of course, no one's strong enough to bully me."
Free and unfettered.
Someone to stand up when you're knocked down.
Bonds, huh?
Jiraiya froze for a moment.
Was a Tailed Beast seeing more clearly than he was?
Turning to Hakken, he drew in a deep breath.
"I'm more certain than ever—you are the Child of the Prophecy!"
"Not my problem."
Hakken frowned, rising from his place with an indifferent snort.
The coup in Kirigakure was over. From today onward, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages would become a vassal of Konoha.
The mission in the Land of Water was complete.
Now came the time for true retribution.
Swish!
A figure leapt gracefully up from below.
Terumi landed beside him, her movements elegant.
Her face no longer burned with the fury of the previous night. Though still tired, her spirit was vibrant—her mind already turning over ideas for reforming the Mist Village.
After glancing briefly at Jiraiya, she coughed softly and looked toward Hakken.
"Um... thank you..."
Though her voice was faint, the words were clear enough for Hakken to hear.
Thanking the demon who had slaughtered so many of her people?
Had she finally reached enlightenment—or was it just resignation? Either way, it was awkward.
Yet even she had realized how intoxicating it felt to stand before her people and receive their admiration as the Mizukage.
"No need to thank me just yet. Just make sure you fulfill your quarterly duties on time," Hakken said flatly. "Oh, and there are two people I want from you."
He raised two fingers, his eyes glinting with interest.
"First, Kimimaro of the Kaguya Clan."
"Second, Kisame Hoshigaki. While you're at it, eliminate that traitor Fuguki Suikazan—the one who sold Kirigakure's intel—and hand Samehada over to Kisame."
Kimimaro and Kisame—two names that stood out for one reason above all: loyalty.
One followed Orochimaru with absolute devotion. The other would rather die than betray his beliefs.
Men like that made reliable subordinates.
"The place where Kimimaro was imprisoned seems to have been breached. He's no longer there," Terumi said after a pause. "As for Kisame Hoshigaki... yes, I know him. His talent with Water Release is remarkable."
She frowned slightly, still uncertain why Hakken wanted those two in particular.