Chapter 385: Otogakure

Chapter 385: Chapter 385: Otogakure

But Zetsu knew perfectly well that Konan was Nagato’s person. She had always remained wary of Obito and would never follow his orders.

As for Shinichi...

He had clearly realized by now that once the ocular power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was consumed, it could never be completely restored. Every use permanently depleted a portion of its ocular power.

Because of that, he had already begun using his Mangekyō Sharingan dojutsu far less frequently in battle.

Therefore, despite Akatsuki’s fearsome reputation throughout the shinobi world, they actually had no particularly good way of dealing with Orochimaru in the short term.

After pondering for a moment, Obito said, "I recruited a few fairly capable guys in Kirigakure. Give me Orochimaru’s whereabouts. I’ll have them deal with him."

Zetsu immediately tossed a scroll toward Obito.

"Orochimaru appeared in the Land of Rice Fields last month. His exact location is recorded in that scroll. Hopefully, the people you recruited can give us a pleasant surprise."

"The Land of Rice Fields?"

Obito paused for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "I heard that little country recently established a small shinobi village."

Zetsu replied, "Yeah. A small village called ’Otogakure.’ The daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields has already issued an official declaration to the neighboring countries and formally begun allocating funds to Otogakure."

"Orochimaru... Otogakure..."

After a brief pause, Obito asked, "Could there be some connection between them?"

Zetsu shook his head. "No idea. Orochimaru is always so secretive. Nobody knows what disgusting things that guy is scheming in that head of his."

Obito rose to his feet.

"Let’s go. Our arrangements in the Land of Water have already been exposed. There’s no point staying here anymore."

With that, Obito stepped into the twisting vortex first and disappeared from the cave...

...

Kirigakure.

With the Fourth Mizukage finally freed from Obito’s control, order was quickly restored throughout the village.

Once the situation in Kirigakure had stabilized, the first thing the Fourth Mizukage did was personally lead a group of Kiri ANBU in expelling every foreign spy whose identity had already been exposed.

Since they were waiting for Shisui to arrive, Hyuga Kagami and Itachi had remained inactive these past few days. As a result, they inadvertently avoided the investigation personally overseen by the Fourth Mizukage.

Standing by the window and watching Kirigakure gradually regain its order and vitality, Itachi sighed. "I never imagined that the Mizukage was actually being controlled by Akatsuki!"

Hyuga Kagami had never mentioned to anyone the possibility that the Mizukage was under Akatsuki’s control.

Therefore, whether it was the Third Hokage who had issued the mission or Itachi who was participating in it, everyone had previously assumed only that the Fourth Mizukage might have been colluding with Akatsuki. None of them had ever imagined that the Fourth Mizukage was actually Akatsuki’s puppet.

After all, the Kage of an entire village being reduced to a plaything in someone else’s hands was simply too shocking to believe!

Hyuga Kagami, meanwhile, lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as he mulled over the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days.

After the night Zabuza launched his rebellion, the truth that the Fourth Mizukage had been controlled by Akatsuki quickly came to light. Within just a day or two, the story had already spread throughout the entire village.

Logically speaking, Kirigakure’s higher-ups should have done everything in their power to cover up a scandal like this.

Even if the matter was too serious to be completely concealed, information leaking out and spreading would still take time. There was absolutely no way it should have become common knowledge throughout the village in such a short period.

There were even rumors that the Fourth Mizukage had committed suicide out of shame.

Hyuga Kagami could smell the scent of conspiracy in all of this.

Someone was clearly manipulating public opinion, deliberately undermining the Fourth Mizukage’s authority in an attempt to force him to step down as quickly as possible.

Itachi walked over to the bedside and asked, "Senpai, now that the Fourth Mizukage has broken free from Akatsuki’s control, there’s no longer any need for us to carry out our mission, right?"

From Konoha’s perspective, a Fourth Mizukage who hated Akatsuki was far more useful alive than dead. Therefore, Itachi felt that once the Third Hokage learned about the upheaval within Kirigakure, he probably wouldn’t blame Hyuga Kagami for abandoning the assassination mission.

Hyuga Kagami shook his head. "No. You’re thinking about this too simply."

Itachi looked puzzled. "Are you worried that the Fourth Mizukage might act against Konoha?"

Hyuga Kagami curled his lips. "I’m worried he won’t be able to hold onto the Mizukage’s seat."

Realization immediately dawned on Itachi, and he nodded. "Public opinion within Kirigakure really is extremely unfavorable toward the Fourth Mizukage right now."

Because Obito had been worried that the truth about the Fourth Mizukage being controlled by genjutsu might be exposed, over the past year or two he had specifically targeted the Fourth Mizukage’s most loyal subordinates.

As a result, by now the Fourth Mizukage had barely any loyal subordinates left. His control over Kirigakure had fallen to its lowest point, leaving him completely incapable of reversing the tide of public opinion against him.

"Caw..."

Just then, a crow landed on the windowsill.

Itachi hurriedly opened the window, removed a secret letter from the crow’s leg, and unfolded it.

"Senpai, Brother Shisui will reach Kirigakure tonight!"

Hyuga Kagami nodded.

Shisui was already the fastest shinobi in Konoha aside from Hyuga Kagami himself. When it came to the Body Flicker Technique, his speed was comparable even to Hiruko’s Swift Release.

On top of that, Hyuga Kagami had arranged for the Third Kazekage human puppet to pick him up and carry him across the sea.

So Hyuga Kagami wasn’t surprised in the slightest that Shisui had managed to reach Kirigakure so quickly.

Time flew by, and night descended.

Under the cover of the dense mist, Shisui quietly infiltrated Kirigakure and rendezvoused with Hyuga Kagami and Itachi inside the residence.

Hyuga Kagami quickly recounted everything that had happened in Kirigakure over the past few days, leaving nothing out.

After hearing the whole story, Shisui stared at him dumbfounded. "The Mizukage—the Kage of an entire village—was controlled by genjutsu for that long, and no one in Kirigakure noticed?"

Itachi nodded. When he had first learned about it, he had found it equally absurd.

Hyuga Kagami then revealed his plan to Shisui and Itachi.

"We need to control the Fourth Mizukage and make sure he keeps his position as Mizukage!"

Shisui immediately asked, "Hasn’t the Fourth Mizukage already broken free from Akatsuki’s control?"

Hyuga Kagami explained, "Public opinion in Kirigakure is extremely unfavorable toward the Fourth Mizukage right now. I’m worried he won’t be able to hold onto his position."

Itachi agreed. "En-senpai is right. Right now, the entirety of Kirigakure is questioning the Fourth Mizukage. His situation is very precarious."

Shisui replied, "Don’t forget, this is the Village of the Bloody Mist. As long as the Fourth Mizukage himself refuses to step down, is Kirigakure really going to launch another coup?"

If something like this happened in Konoha, then even with the Third Hokage’s prestige, he would have no choice but to quietly step down.

But Kirigakure was different.

Due to its years of constant internal strife, the village known as the "Village of the Bloody Mist" had always respected one thing above all else—strength.

And the Fourth Mizukage was undoubtedly the strongest shinobi in Kirigakure, at least among those publicly known.

Hyuga Kagami said solemnly, "That’s exactly why we need to strengthen the Fourth Mizukage’s resolve and make sure that, with his hatred for Akatsuki, he holds firmly onto the Mizukage’s seat!"

Shisui asked uncertainly, "You’re worried the Fourth Mizukage will voluntarily step down?"

Since Itachi wasn’t familiar enough with the Fourth Mizukage, he chose to remain silent.

Hyuga Kagami, however, nodded. "There’s a very real possibility of that!"

Shisui asked, "Then how are we supposed to strengthen the Fourth Mizukage’s resolve to hold onto the Mizukage’s seat?"

Hyuga Kagami smiled faintly.

"Didn’t Akatsuki just give us a demonstration?"