With his decision made, Uchiha Gen rose, straightened his robe, and departed his home. Space rippled as he vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving Konoha behind and heading directly toward the Land of Wind.
Less than ten minutes later, after crossing vast forests and endless stretches of desert, Gen arrived at the southeastern border of the Land of Wind—where the Hidden Mist army camp was stationed.
Though both the Mist and the Sand had ceased hostilities in preparation for peace talks, the Mist had yet to withdraw their forces.
Gen halted at the perimeter, then used the Spirit Transformation Technique to slip unseen into the camp. Locating Suikazan Fuguki, he relayed a message before summoning his true body via Flying Thunder God.
Inside the commander's tent, space twisted and Gen appeared out of thin air.
Suikazan Fuguki—unchanged in appearance, his massive form still clad in the same garments—immediately dropped to one knee. "Greetings, my lord."
Gen inclined his head, then seated himself with unshakable poise in Fuguki's chair.
"I received your message," he said evenly. "Well done."
"Thank you for your praise, my lord. This is nothing more than my duty," Fuguki replied respectfully.
Gen's lips curved faintly. "Though you serve under my control, I do not allow my subordinates to work for nothing. Considering your past efforts and this most recent contribution, I intend to reward you. Tell me—what is it you desire?"
Fuguki had never been one for silent loyalty. Each time he secretly shielded Pakura, he reported it through the Conscience Envoys as merit earned. He did not hesitate now.
"My lord," he said solemnly, "I wish to become the Anbu Captain of Hidden Mist. With that position, I can serve you far better."
"Very well," Gen said calmly. "How would you have me assist you?"
"It's simple. I already hold the post of Anbu Vice-Captain. If the Captain dies, the position will fall to me without question. Regardless of whether Lady Pakura is involved, the war is ending soon. The higher-ups have already decided. Once I return, I will take command."
"Good," Gen replied. "I will kill him for you. Provide me with the intelligence."
"Yes, my lord."
Prepared for this moment, Fuguki immediately drew a scroll from his pocket and presented it with both hands.
Gen opened it, scanning quickly, then snapped his fingers. The parchment ignited and disintegrated into ash.
"Wait here. Five minutes."
With that, his figure vanished.
Through the seals he had long since placed in the Land of Tea, the Land of Whirlpools, and even on a small island in the sea, he chained together spatial jumps at blinding speed.
To conserve chakra, he had already converted it into Senjutsu chakra before departing Konoha.
He surged across the ocean, slipped into Hidden Mist Village, infiltrated the Anbu headquarters, and—guided by the intelligence—found the Captain in his office. A single strike ended him as easily as crushing an ant. Then Gen returned.
Four minutes and thirty seconds later, his figure reappeared in Fuguki's tent. A lifeless body in an Anbu mask hit the ground with a dull thud.
Gen sat down once more, calm as ever. "See if it's him."
Gulp.
Fuguki swallowed hard, his massive frame trembling as he knelt and lifted the mask. The face beneath was unmistakable, though twisted, purplish-blue, tongue protruding, and the neck marked with vivid strangulation bruises.
In just minutes, this man had crossed oceans and infiltrated one of the most heavily guarded strongholds in the shinobi world. And there, in the heart of the Mist's Anbu, he had slain their commander as if it were nothing.
Even if it had been a surprise attack, the feat was terrifying beyond words.
"My lord," Fuguki whispered, "it is him."
"Good. Then I did not kill the wrong man. You can handle the body?"
"No problem," Fuguki said quickly. "I will see it disappears without a trace. Anbu work makes such tasks… familiar."
"Excellent. With your matter settled, it is time to discuss mine."
Fuguki straightened, thumping his broad chest with false bravado. "My lord, give the order. No matter what it is—even the assassination of the Mizukage—I will complete it."
Though the words rang bold, bitterness twisted inside him. Three orders at once? Too much, too heavy. But before this man, resistance was death.
"There's no need to risk your life," Gen replied coolly. "Three tasks. That is all."
"Please give your orders."
"First, recruit Biwa Jūzō and Hoshigaki Kisame for me."
Relief flickered across Fuguki's fierce face. "That will be simple. They are both here in camp. I can arrange it at any time."
"How are they?" Gen asked lightly. "Strength. Ideology."
"Biwa Jūzō's growth has been steady but slow. His combat power is now at a quasi-Kage level. Kisame Hoshigaki, however, has advanced swiftly. His chakra reserves already rival a true Kage, and his strength surpasses Jūzō's."
"As for their hearts, both resent the Village's increasingly cruel and twisted policies. If this continues, defection is inevitable."
Gen nodded. "And your own strength?"
Fuguki chuckled awkwardly. "I have been… too busy in recent years. Power struggles, political duties. My training has lagged. I am only slightly stronger than Kisame."
Gen's gaze sharpened. Slightly stronger? Likely weaker. Fuguki had wasted his years chasing profit and influence instead of true power. Still, Gen had no high expectations for him. What mattered were Jūzō—and Kisame most of all.
"Very well," Gen said. "After you recruit them, the three of you will kill two men for me at the proper time. Two I find inconvenient to eliminate myself."
"My lord, who are these two unlucky souls?"
"The first is the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa."
Fuguki's eyes blazed. "Him? He's not unlucky—he deserves it! To plot against my wife… My lord, allow me to lead the strike myself. I'll have Samehada shred him until nothing remains!"
Gen smiled faintly. No wonder rulers enjoyed sycophants. Their words always pleased the ear.
"A fine idea," he said. "The second is Konoha's Elder, the Root Commander, Shimura Danzō. A pest who opposes me at every turn."
"Then he, too, deserves to die!" Fuguki declared fiercely. "Anyone who opposes you deserves no less. Just give the signal, my lord, and I will strike them both down."
"You will not need to plan," Gen said. "I will arrange everything. You need only move when I command."
"Yes, my lord."
"When is Pakura expected to arrive in the Mist?"
"By the agreed date and her pace of travel, she should reach the island where the Village lies in three days."
"In that case, I'll follow a day in advance." Gen's eyes narrowed slightly. "But I will not warn her."
Without hardship, she would remain naïve. Without betrayal carved into her heart, she would never turn fully from the Sand. Only when she was utterly disillusioned could she abandon Sunagakure—and only then could he, as her man, wield influence through her until the Sand itself bent to his will.
Once Rasa was dead, even if Pakura did not become Kazekage, she would surely hold high authority.
"Can you arrange Jūzō and Kisame today?"
"Yes, my lord," Fuguki said at once. "I will not let your trip be in vain."
"Go."
"Yes!"