As a pivotal Kekkei Genkai clan in the Hidden Mist Village, the Kaguya clan naturally had its own influence and eyes within the Mizukage building.
The news of Naoto Kaguya being taken away for investigation was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples throughout the Kaguya clan grounds.
Inside the Clan Head's mansion, several key members gathered, the atmosphere oppressive like the calm before a storm.
Anger and humiliation filled the air, with dissatisfaction written on everyone's face.
"This is bullying! Clan Head Naoto was perhaps just trying to find new supply channels for the family, yet he's humiliated like this."
"I said it before, those people in the Mist high command are bastards. They're clearly making a fuss out of nothing to suppress our Kaguya clan."
"If we don't avenge this insult, how can our Kaguya clan stand in the Land of Water? I propose we all go to the Mizukage building and show them the power of our clan."
These inflammatory words immediately received a response from the crowd. Naoto Kaguya's confidants wanted to dissuade them, but they were completely ignored by the agitated mob.
Soon, the Kaguya clan's higher-ups returned to their respective posts and began mobilizing their clansmen, preparing to march on the Mizukage building to demand an explanation.
---
The news of the impending Kaguya uprising reached the Third Mizukage's ears immediately.
At this moment, he was facing a disgruntled Naoto Kaguya, rubbing his brow in headache.
"Clan Head Naoto, why on earth did you go to that forest? And where did that secret code come from?"
"I've answered many times already. The code came from a letter thrown into my estate by an unknown person. As for why I went to the forest, I wanted to verify if the letter was true and if that merchant was a spy."
Naoto Kaguya answered helplessly. Having answered the same question multiple times, he was starting to lose his temper.
"Where is the letter?"
"In my robe. You can take it and check."
Seeing Naoto's open attitude, the Third Mizukage fell into a dilemma.
Thinking of the imminent Kaguya riot, he had to temporarily put aside commercial interests and ordered the ninja behind him:
"Go bring that merchant kid here. I want him alive. I'll interrogate him personally."
The ninja behind him immediately acknowledged the order and rushed to the inn where Night Namikaze was staying.
---
Inside the inn, Night sat calmly at the tea table, his heart unperturbed. In reality, he had already grasped every movement through his Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
The ninja monitoring outside was a bit sleepy due to the late hour, but he forced himself to stay alert. Seeing Night still awake in the room, he assumed the merchant couldn't sleep due to shock.
Soon, the ANBU sent by the Mizukage building arrived at the inn and asked the duty ninja:
"Is that foreign merchant still here? What's the situation?"
"He's here. Maybe he's a bit spooked, hasn't slept yet," the duty ninja replied quickly.
"Perfect. The Mizukage wants to interrogate him. Come with me."
The duty ninja led the way toward Night's room.
Inside the room, Night had sensed all of this long ago. A faint smile curled his lips. He knew it was time for the "merchant kid" to take his final bow.
A few minutes later, the two ninjas felt something was wrong. The short hallway seemed endless.
"Not good! It's genjutsu!"
The ANBU snapped out of it, realizing he had unknowingly fallen into the "Sly Mind Affect Technique," walking in circles in the hallway.
He immediately flared his chakra to disrupt his own flow. The shout also snapped the duty ninja out of it.
"Release!" x2
The scene spun before their eyes, resolving into the door of Night's room. They opened it urgently.
The moment the door opened, their faces paled.
"Crap."
They tried to retreat, but it was too late. The instant they stepped inside, flames erupted. A massive explosion rocked the entire inn, the shockwave blasting both of them backward.
The experienced ANBU barely managed to stabilize himself, but the duty ninja was heavily injured.
In the flash of fire, they caught a glimpse of a ninja wearing a demon mask standing face-to-face with the "merchant kid" in what looked like an embrace—except a bone spike was protruding from the merchant's chest.
Ignoring his injured comrade, the ANBU charged into the fire. But the room had collapsed, and the masked assassin had vanished without a trace.
Searching painfully through the ruins, he found only the charred body of the "merchant kid."
Helpless, the ANBU could only bring the unrecognizable remains back to the Mizukage building.
---
The Third Mizukage looked at the charcoal-like corpse before him, his Kage-level pressure releasing abruptly.
"Excellent! Killing the witness to silence him, huh?! Find out exactly who did this!" He spoke each word with suppressed rage.
The soot-covered ANBU didn't leave immediately. He hesitated, then said, "In the firelight... I thought I saw a bone spike piercing his heart."
Hearing this, the Mizukage's eyes snapped open, his gaze piercing. The ANBU broke out in a cold sweat.
"Until there is concrete evidence, do not speak of this again."
"Yes, sir."
The ANBU didn't dare say another word and withdrew immediately to join the search for the assassin.
Alone in the office, under the flickering light, the Third Mizukage's expression was unreadable.
After a long silence, he stood up and went to the room where Naoto Kaguya was being held.
Seeing the Mizukage, Naoto asked immediately, "Did you bring the merchant? I can confront him face-to-face!"
The Third Mizukage looked at Naoto with a complicated expression and said coldly, "The merchant is dead."
"What? How is that possible!"
The Mizukage took the charred remains out of a sealing scroll and placed them in front of Naoto.
Naoto stared at the charcoal corpse. Then, spotting something specific on the body, his expression changed drastically.
He was about to explain, but the Mizukage interrupted, "Your clansmen are gathering in your territory. I want to ask you, what exactly is the Kaguya clan planning to do?"
Naoto was truly flustered now. He stammered, "No... it's not like that... this really has nothing to do with the Kaguya clan."
"I can let you go back, but I need to see an explanation. A real explanation! Otherwise, I will personally lead people to demand one. Having fought in the Uzumaki war, you should know very well the consequences of a clan going against the entire village."
Saying no more, he opened the door and left.