"This Kirigakure sure lives up to its name. Look at all this fog! We're so close, yet we can't even see the land."
Hidan shaded his eyes with his hand, straining to make out the outline of the island amidst the vast expanse of white mist.
"Kirigakure is situated on an island, but the mountains at the shoreline block the sea breeze. The moisture gets trapped, creating this perpetual foggy weather," explained Baki patiently as he stood at the bow of the ship.
"Baki-sama is absolutely correct. Fugaku, are we still on course?" Sakumo Hatake turned to ask the figure behind him.
"We've veered 15 degrees off course—northeast. We're about ten more miles away," replied a young boy, pointing ahead with a calm demeanor. His crimson eyes glowed eerily in the dim light.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? We almost missed it! Correct the course! Turn 15 degrees northeast!" Sakumo barked, his voice ringing loud and clear.
"Correct the course! Turn 15 degrees northeast!" echoed the helmsman, immediately following the order.
The ship tilted slightly as it adjusted its trajectory, then steadied again.
Bored by the monotonous white scenery on deck, Hidan turned to head back to the cabin. As he did, he nearly collided face-to-face with Fugaku Uchiha, his gaze locking directly onto those blood-red Sharingan eyes.
"You're blocking my view of the course," Fugaku said flatly, his tone far too mature for someone his age.
Hidan didn't move aside immediately. Instead, he tilted his head challengingly, staring back into Fugaku's eyes as if testing his resolve.
"Hmph. Weird kid."
After a moment, Hidan finally gave up on their childish staring contest. With a disgruntled grunt, he stepped aside and entered the cabin.
Not long after, Baki followed him in.
"Listen, kid. Don't cause any trouble, alright? We're here on a mission. We can't afford to clash with Konoha."
"That Sharingan brat is suspicious," Hidan said, dropping his usual playful demeanor and speaking seriously.
"What's suspicious about him?" Baki asked, intrigued by Hidan's sudden change in tone.
"He tried to cast a genjutsu on me."
"What? And you…"
Baki's eyes widened in shock.
"Relax, my dear Baki-sama. My body is special—I'm practically immune to ordinary genjutsu," Hidan replied with a smirk, casually draping an arm over Baki's shoulder.
"Oh, I see…"
Before Baki could finish his thought, Hidan sent a brief surge of chakra into him. Baki's own chakra flow momentarily faltered.
"See? It's probably because you look so intimidating. He didn't dare try anything on you. Hehe."
Baki couldn't help but reassess the seemingly carefree youth before him. For the first time, he saw Hidan in a new light.
"As expected of the Third Lord's direct disciple. You've got skills. I suppose there's a reason he sent you along."
Baki gave Hidan a thumbs-up in approval.
"Here, take this. I've been waiting for the right moment to give it to you, but there are too many eyes on this ship," Hidan said, pulling a triangularly folded talisman from his pocket.
"What's this?" Baki took the talisman and examined it closely.
"It's a calming charm my master got from the Yellow Immortal at Xuanyuan Tomb. It'll protect you from genjutsu for three months. But be careful—if it starts to burn, run. That means you've encountered a top-tier genjutsu master, and even gods won't save you if you're too slow. Keep it somewhere safe, and don't let it burn you."
Hidan reverted to his usual carefree tone, smirking as he spoke.
Baki nodded thoughtfully and decided to keep the talisman close.
Hidan chuckled to himself and muttered under his breath, "Hmph. That Uchiha brat… So young, yet already so full of schemes. He'll get his whole family killed one day."
So why were Baki, Hidan, Sakumo Hatake, and Fugaku Uchiha—such an odd group—on the same ship?
The answer was simple: delivering a letter. Specifically, an invitation for the Third Mizukage to attend the Five Kage Summit.
After the war between Iwagakure and Sunagakure, large-scale conflicts across the continent had mostly subsided. The Second Five Kage Summit was now on the agenda for the major ninja villages.
Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure had already agreed to participate. Kumogakure was also expected to join without issue. However, Kirigakure, isolated on its island, required a messenger to deliver the invitation. Excluding them and holding a Four Kage Summit would seem inappropriate.
But who would go?
Iwagakure and Kirigakure were mortal enemies. Both their Second Kage had died fighting each other. Any envoy from Iwagakure would likely be killed before even reaching the Mizukage.
So, who would take on the task? As the summit's initiator, Konoha naturally had to take the lead, but Sunagakure also had to step up.
Homura Mitokado suggested that Konoha and Kirigakure had too much history of conflict. Instead, Konoha could send an envoy to Kumogakure while Sunagakure handled Kirigakure.
Jinghang countered, pointing out that no one was without grievances with Kirigakure. He reminded them of Sunagakure's Valley of Triumph, named after the countless lives lost in their battles with Kirigakure. He argued that Konoha, as the strongest village, would be safer sending its people to Kirigakure, while Sunagakure had better relations with Kumogakure due to trade and mutual interests.
The two sides debated endlessly over who should go where. Finally, Jinghang proposed a compromise: both villages would send two teams of envoys, each carrying letters from Hiruzen Sarutobi and himself. They would travel together to both Kumogakure and Kirigakure.
This arrangement would demonstrate respect for the summit, ensure mutual support during the journey, and deter Kirigakure from acting recklessly against such a united front.
Homura agreed, and the two villages set a time and place to depart together.
And so, this unusual group found themselves aboard the same ship.
Kirigakure was the most politically unstable of the Five Great Ninja Villages, with a governance structure unlike any other. Unlike the single-leader system where the Kage had the final say, Kirigakure operated under a dual-leadership model.
Alongside the Mizukage was an equally powerful figure known as the Genji—a "One-Word Equal King." This Genji wielded authority comparable to the Mizukage, overseeing all village affairs. Major decisions required the Genji's consultation.
During the chaotic period between the Fourth Mizukage's death under Obito's genjutsu and Mei Terumi's ascension as the Fifth Mizukage, the Genji effectively governed Kirigakure. Even the Mizukage's symbolic blue hat was in his possession, a testament to his immense power.
The Mizukage had their administrative team, and the Genji had theirs. This structure only exacerbated Kirigakure's already fractured politics.
From its inception, Kirigakure had been plagued by instability. The First Mizukage, Byakuren, was elected by the elders of the islands. His deputy naturally became the first Genji, and the two worked harmoniously.
However, when the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, took office, the Genji faction began to grow ambitious. Gengetsu, despite his humorous appearance, was a ruthless leader who swiftly crushed dissent. During his reign, the Genji faction remained subdued.
Unfortunately, Gengetsu's untimely death in a battle with the Second Tsuchikage left a power vacuum. By the time the Third Mizukage took over, the Genji faction, now led by figures from older generations, no longer respected the younger Mizukage.
The Third Mizukage's mild temperament allowed the Genji faction to rise again, even spawning a more radical offshoot—the Martial Faction. This group, led by figures like Ren Otaki and Fuguki Suikazan, sought to expand Kirigakure's influence onto the mainland.
This left Baki and his companions with a dilemma: Who actually held power in Kirigakure? And who should they deliver the letter to?
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