Kirigakure.
Ever since the village adopted that brutal graduation ritual, it had lost its vitality. Especially after nightfall, the oppressive air of death became suffocating.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several figures darted through the darkness, heading straight for the Mizukage Tower at the center of the village.
This was where the strength of a well-trained assassination unit truly showed. And among them, the Night Owl Squad moved faster than anyone else.
The target was close.
A flash of cold light cut through the dark.
Splurt!
The guard stationed beside the Mizukage Tower dropped to the ground with a dull thud before he even saw his attacker.
In the shadows, Shisui gestured silently to the team behind him.
In an instant, several figures slipped into the Mizukage Tower.
The moment to taste blood had arrived.
Hakken moved like lightning, blade in hand, cutting down the Mist Village guards before him and charging straight toward the Mizukage’s office.
As the ANBU Commander, he had only one objective—eliminate the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
The rest could handle the small fry.
Reason with Yagura and threaten him into becoming a puppet Mizukage?
No. Yagura had ascended to the title at a young age, proving his strength and loyalty to Kirigakure by succeeding the Third Mizukage through his own power.
Most importantly, ever since the Blood Mist Policy began, the village had continued its brutal rule under his ideology, maintaining it for years until the eventual coup.
That alone showed that Yagura still held real authority and the loyalty of his people.
Someone like him couldn’t be easily intimidated—nor truly controlled.
Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami?
A genjutsu with a cooldown lasting more than a decade—Hakken wouldn’t waste it on Yagura.
Besides, if he could solve this problem with his own hands, why rely on Shisui’s eye technique? His eyes were Mangekyō Sharingan, not Eternal Mangekyō. Every use only weakened his sight.
Instead, he intended to leave this opportunity to Terumi.
With a swift kick, he burst through the Mizukage’s office door.
Inside, Yagura sat upright in his chair.
The Three-Tails’ jinchūriki.
A perfect jinchūriki—one who could completely control the power of his tailed beast.
But the moment their eyes met, the confusion in Yagura’s gaze told Hakken everything he needed to know.
Yagura was still under Obito’s genjutsu.
Obito was alive.
Now, Hakken was certain.
If that was the case—
His pupils contracted sharply, and without hesitation, he swung his Zanpakutō.