In Naruto, build the strongest Hidden Mist Village.

Chapter 19: The Commander-in-Chief of Kirigakure, Kaguya Naoki! (Please continue reading!)

"Why aren't you back yet?"

A female ninja with fiery red hair leaned against the gate of Kirigakure, looking into the distance with a worried expression.

Following his gaze, there was no one there.

Everyone else has returned, so why is Naoki's team still on their way?

Mei Terumi sighed; her worries went far beyond that.

Although many of those who carried out that mission have returned.

However, most of them were taken away by the secret police as soon as they entered the village, and not a single word of them came out.

This has never happened before.

This unusual behavior went unnoticed by others, but how could it escape the watchful eyes of Mei Terumi?

Naoki, please be alright.

Mei Terumi prayed silently and waited.

But as time went by, Naoki was still nowhere to be seen.

Mei Terumi's worries grew heavier and heavier.

The information she had gathered over the past few days led her to diagnose things that only made her more unsettled.

First, this mission must be of great importance, so the Mizukage is not allowed to reveal any information.

Secondly, the chances of this mission succeeding are slim.

Based on the information revealed by Kaguya Naoki, this mission was a military operation against Konoha Village specially signed by the Mizukage.

You must know, war is about to begin.

Special operations conducted before the start of a war, if they achieve significant results, will certainly be documented extensively.

But judging from the current situation, that mission probably failed.

The mission failed, and Naoki Kaguya, the commander-in-chief, has yet to return.

Based on all of the above, a possibility that can be deduced sends chills down Terumi Mei's spine.

If they still can't come back, I'm afraid it really will be...
Mei Terumi leaned against the wall alone, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears.

From childhood, Mei Terumi, a bloodline monster, only had a few friends.

Naoki is the most handsome, sunny, gentle, and strong, and he seems to have a slight preference for Mei Terumi.

Naturally, the two grew closer and closer.

After graduation, the two bloodline ninjas became inseparable and supported each other.

In this desolate, bloody world filled with discrimination, misunderstanding, and betrayal, the two found an absolutely warm haven.

The deeper the memories, the more turbulent the ripples become, causing a tremor in the ocean of the soul.

Immediately afterwards, a deep sense of worry swallowed up Mei Terumi's mind like a black hole.

Her eyes were somewhat vacant as she gazed into the distance.

It wasn't until a figure came into view that her eyes regained their light.

Is it Naoki?
It's Naoki!
Mei Terumi stood up, very excited.

He strode forward, ready to leap out.

At that moment, two members of the Anbu arrived near Kaguya Naoki, immediately dissuading her from her plans.

Seriously, those two bastards.

Then I'll talk to Naoki about it later.

. . . . . . . .

"Naoki Kaguya, the Third Hokage wants to see you," two Kirigakure ANBU members said solemnly in slightly hoarse voices.

"Lead the way."

Ignoring the two men's blatantly malicious gazes, Kaguya Naoki turned her attention to the Mizukage Building.

His expression was undeniably serious.

Madara Uchiha was no saint. He tormented Kirigakure for decades while he was alive, and as he was dying at a crucial moment in the war, he was bound to make things difficult for Kirigakure.

Naoki Kaguya sighed.

Influenced by Kaguya's bloodline, he had gone all out when he fought Obito Uchiha.

Because Madara Uchiha defeated Obito Uchiha so easily and effortlessly, he must have doubled his assessment of his own combat strength.

In this situation, whether Naoki will still be allowed to participate in the war in Konoha is uncertain.

War is the stage. The simplest way for a person to make a name for themselves is to establish outstanding military achievements through war.

Naoki Kaguya, who was determined to stage a coup at the end of the war, knew very well that if he failed to establish military merit and gain prestige during the war, the backlash caused by the coup would be an unacceptable consequence for him.

Madara Uchiha, don't be so stingy, at least give me a separate team.

Or at least, let me participate in the battle?
Naoki Kaguya thought silently as they drew near to the Mizukage Building.

Putting aside all my thoughts, I stepped into the Water Shadow Building, entered the room, and pushed open the door to the Water Shadow office.

"Sandaime-sama."

The Third Mizukage, who concealed his face in the shadows, said in a deep voice.

"Tell me about this mission, Kaguya Naoki."

Naoki Kaguya immediately lowered his head and slowly recounted in detail everything that had happened in the past few days, including how he had inadvertently allowed Kakashi Hatake to escape his control.

Having said that, he fell silent, waiting quietly for the Third Mizukage to make his decision.

"So, how could you, as a member of the Kaguya clan, break free from the Uchiha's genjutsu?"

Even after learning of the mission's failure, the Kirigakure ANBU's infiltration by numerous unidentified spies, and the Mitsui Isobu's prolonged cooling-off period, the Third Hokage showed little emotional reaction.

Instead, he asked some unimportant and rather private questions.

Uchiha Madara.

Naoki Kaguya knew that such an inquiry could only come from Madara Uchiha; he wanted to know the truth behind his resistance to genjutsu.

Fortunately, he was prepared.

Naoki Kaguya stuck out his tongue, on which a clear groove was visible, and a considerable amount of flesh and blood tissue could even be faintly seen.

"That Uchiha was releasing his genjutsu a little too slowly."

This gave me time to react, so I bit my tongue and successfully woke up.

Naoki Kaguya showed a helpless expression.

"After all, as a member of the Kaguya clan, I have few means to resist illusions."

Only in this way can they break free.

The Third Mizukage nodded thoughtfully, then spoke in a deep and serious tone.

"Well, there is another important thing."

"Is it true that the Mangekyou Sharingan and Wood Release exist in one person at the same time?"

"It's true."

Kaguya Naoki answered immediately.

Judging from the content of this inquiry, Naoki Kaguya knew that Madara Uchiha had brought back a portion of the Third Hokage's consciousness.

This pitiful Kage-level powerhouse only diligently governed the village during this brief period of peace; the rest of the time, he was completely under Madara Uchiha's control, wantonly destroying everything in the village.

"That would be extremely disadvantageous for our battle situation."

The third generation leader's tone wavered slightly as he sighed.

"There are probably very few skilled fighters in our entire village who could withstand such a powerful expert."

Upon hearing this, Kaguya Naoki silently complained to himself.

At the time when Mei Terumi and Kisame hadn't grown up yet, there were clearly no two of them.

Third Hokage, you really have a lot of confidence in the Hidden Mist Village under your rule.

The Mizukage, unaware of Kaguya Naoki's thoughts, spoke with a slightly heavy tone.

"The sudden appearance of such a powerful figure in Konoha Village could very well turn the tide of the battle, leaving Kirigakure with nothing."

After the Third Mizukage finished his reflection and was about to continue, he suddenly stopped.

A pair of evil pupils swirled deep within his mind. After a long while, he finally looked up and spoke in a somewhat mechanical voice.

"Since you were able to defeat the Mangekyou Sharingan and Wood Release ninjas in a head-on confrontation, Kaguya Naoki, do you have the confidence to be a leader of a faction?"

Naoki Kaguya's heart skipped a beat, followed by a surge of joy.

Head coach?

Not only did they involve me in the war, but they also made me the commander-in-chief of the Hidden Mist Village?
Was this Madara Uchiha's decision?

Naoki Kaguya sensed a conspiracy.

But the meaning behind the words "Commander of the Hidden Mist" made his heart flutter!

(End of this chapter)