Kirigakure isn't best known for its flashy Water Release techniques or the Seven Ninja Blades, but rather for a remarkably refined ninjutsu:
Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique.
It's not particularly difficult to learn—most Jōnin from Kirigakure can master it. When cast, a thick fog blankets the area, obstructing the enemy's vision, while the user remains unaffected.
Kazuyama Gekkō activated his Transparent Escape Technique and stepped outside. Staring at the dense mist ahead, he clicked his tongue.
With such naturally heavy fog, it's no wonder Kirigakure shinobi developed such a practical jutsu.
"This weather really sucks."
Muttering his thoughts, Kazuyama rose into the air.
There weren't many places in Kirigakure that interested him.
"Chōmei, help me sense any seals nearby."
"You know what I mean."
Chōmei froze for a moment, then looked even more stunned.
Seeing no response from his companion, Kazuyama pressed him again.
"Hey, Chōmei, what are you spacing out for?"
"Uh, uh, I just blanked for a second."
Chōmei shook his head. When Kazuyama asked him to locate a seal, his mind had oddly jumped to Yugito Nii.
This guy had a record of abducting Jinchūriki—he'd already kidnapped the Two-Tails from Kumogakure. Now he was in Kirigakure… could he be up to the same tricks?
Was this bastard trying to steal all the Tailed Beasts?
"Chōmei, I can feel what you're thinking."
"You're wrong. I'm not planning to abduct Kirigakure's Tailed Beasts."
"I just need to confirm something."
Ever since Nagato had been taken, Kazuyama knew things had strayed far from the original timeline.
He needed to understand just how far the other side had progressed.
Were the Three-Tails and Six-Tails still here? When he met the Fourth Mizukage earlier, he had sensed he wasn't a Jinchūriki.
That meant the Three-Tails was probably still sealed.
In the original story, Kirigakure was infiltrated by Madara Uchiha, who manipulated events using the Three-Tails to provoke Obito Uchiha.
They had Kakashi kill Rin Nohara with his own hands.
That incident caused the Three-Tails to break free from Kirigakure's control.
But now, with the three little ones safely by his side, would that event still even happen?
"Got it. I'll help you look."
"Yeah, let's search together."
As they scanned the village from above, Kazuyama and Chōmei each used their vision to search for signs of a seal.
But before long, Kazuyama noticed something odd.
"Chōmei, hold on. I think we're being dumb."
"Why would a Tailed Beast be sealed inside the village?"
"If the seal broke and it rampaged, the whole village would be toast!"
Maybe he'd spent too long in Konoha. Kazuyama had forgotten Tailed Beasts were literal weapons of war—only Konoha was crazy enough to keep them inside the village.
Look at Kumogakure: the Eight-Tails lived out in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. Sunagakure? Bunpuku the monk was imprisoned, and Gaara was only allowed to roam free because of Rasa.
Usually, Tailed Beasts were sealed in hidden corners of the village under heavy guard.
"Ugh, why didn't you say that earlier? You made me waste all that time. Do you know how hard it is to see in this fog?"
"I forgot, okay? Quit whining and keep looking around."
Kazuyama and Chōmei began flying out of Kirigakure.
"If they're not in the village, maybe they're in a nearby mountain valley or an underground cave."
Kazuyama analyzed the possibilities mid-flight. Chōmei nodded firmly, scanning the surroundings for any unusual signs. The source of thɪs content is 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
The fog was still thick, but their pace didn't slow.
Strangely enough, there was a ridge of mountains around Kirigakure, shielding its southeast side.
Without hesitation, Kazuyama flew toward them. In his understanding, Kirigakure had two Tailed Beasts.
One was the turtle-like Three-Tails. The other was the Six-Tails, a slug-like creature.
The former lived in the ocean, and if he remembered right, the latter was once sealed inside a mountain cave.
Suddenly, Chōmei shouted excitedly, "There's a strong chakra fluctuation in that valley ahead—it's probably there!"
Kazuyama's heart leapt. He immediately sped toward the direction Chōmei pointed.
Soon, he arrived at the foot of the mountain. Shrouded in mist, the peak loomed ominously ahead...
"Kazuyama, there's a cave over there."
"I see it, and I can sense chakra fluctuations. Looks is the seal."
"Tch, I don't need you to tell me who's inside."
Hearing Chōmei's disdainful tone, Kazuyama Gekkō chuckled.
He had already guessed who it was. The only Tailed Beast that could live in a place was the Six-Tails, Saiken.
"That sour, rotten stench—definitely that bastard Saiken. That snot-nosed slug is as disgusting as ever."
Saiken was a massive slug, almost humanoid in shape with limbs. Its body was usually coated in a highly corrosive liquid and emitted a gas that caused anything it touched to decay.
Because of this, even among Tailed Beasts, it was generally disliked.
"If the Six-Tails is here, no need to go in."
"At this point, he should still be asleep."
Kazuyama didn't get any closer. He had come just to scout the area, not to actually meet the Six-Tails or the Three-Tails.
A turtle and a slug—he couldn't be less interested.
He took to the skies again, this time heading toward the coast surrounding Kirigakure.
After all, the Three-Tails was an aquatic beast—living in the sea made perfect sense.
But even after flying at full speed around the coastline, Kazuyama couldn't find any trace of the Three-Tails.
"The Three-Tails… is gone? How could that be?"
Of course the Three-Tails was gone. To provoke Nagato, Muren Uchiha and Black Zetsu had implanted it into Akaashi's body, and it had ultimately been killed by Konoha's shinobi.
With the Jinchūriki dead, the Three-Tails had entered its resurrection phase and hadn't yet returned to the world.
As dusk settled and the search remained fruitless, Kazuyama had no choice but to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to return home.
His return prompted Pakura and the three little ones to rush out to greet him.
"How was it? Find anything out there?"
Kazuyama shook his head at Pakura's question.
The absence of the Three-Tails clearly meant something had happened in Kirigakure—but what exactly, he didn't know.
For the moment, Kazuyama felt things were unfolding in ways he hadn't anticipated.
And that was never a good sign...