Terumi Mei rubbed her eyes hard, then closed them and silently counted to three before opening them again. The massive wooden figure, resembling a temple's arhat, was still right before her eyes. This wasn't an illusion, nor had anyone cast a genjutsu on her. The wooden figure was real.
"Wood Release?"
"Wasn't that supposed to be a lost art?"
Terumi Mei muttered softly, placing her hand on her forehead in disbelief.
She wasn't the only one. Anyone with a basic understanding knew what Wood Release signified. From the name, it seemed similar to other Kekkei Genkai like Boil Release, Lava Release, or Ice Release. However, the man named Hashirama Senju, who had never lost a battle, had elevated **Wood Release** to a legendary status in the ninja world, thanks to his overwhelming power.
Even today, the legend he left behind deeply influenced the shinobi of the land.
"What is going on? Wasn't the Mizukage supposed to be here? Why is there Wood Release? Is this Konoha's doing?" Uttered a pale Hozuki Mangetsu, his voice faint and weak. He had just survived two powerful Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu attacks from Uchiha Shisui, and the fact that he wasn't dead was a testament to his remarkable ability to escape death.
"It was **Enma** Uchiha Sougen who cut off the wooden figure's head earlier," Zabuza Momochi retorted.
His voice was also weak, and compared to Hozuki Mangetsu, who just looked pale, Zabuza was in worse shape. Thick bandages covered his chest and right arm, placed by the few medical-nin in Terumi Mei's team. The Village Hidden in the Mist wasn't like Konoha, where medical-nin were plentiful.
He had survived two strikes from Uchiha Shisui, and though his life hung by a thread, he had made it through.
Among the three, only Kisame Hoshigaki was in somewhat decent condition, thanks to his chakra reserves, which were ten times greater than the average shinobi. His mastery of Water Release and teamwork with Mangetsu and Zabuza had allowed him to retreat safely from Shisui. Of course, this was also because Shisui hadn't pursued them relentlessly. Otherwise, survival might not have been possible.
"If it's not Konoha, then who could it be?"
Though he didn't voice it, Mangetsu felt something was off, just as Terumi Mei had sensed. He squinted his eyes, focusing on the approaching figure of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
"Mizukage-sama?"
Terumi Mei noticed Yagura as well. She quickly formed hand seals, adopting a defensive stance. "Please don't come any closer. Until we verify your identity, forgive me for my caution."
With the issue of the two Yaguras still unresolved, how could they trust this one?
"... You're quite cautious. That's a good habit," Yagura said, halting his steps. He looked at Terumi Mei, recalling the girl who had once followed the previous Mizukage to learn. She was the heiress to one of the village's two bloodline clans.
He also saw Mangetsu, considered a genius by the Hozuki clan and destined to restore the clan's former glory. Zabuza Momochi, too, though from a small family, had changed the way the Hidden Mist conducted its ninja graduation exams by killing all his classmates to ensure his own graduation.
Then there was Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the Hidden Mist's most promising Anbu, and the next wielder of the sword Samehada—had it not been taken by Uchiha Sougen.
Yagura's expression softened as he looked at the group before him.
"You've all grown," he murmured, almost nostalgically. "You've done well. But now, we don't have time to talk. Terumi Mei, use your authority to tell every surviving Hidden Mist shinobi to stop fighting the Konoha shinobi. We... have been defeated."
The word "defeated" was painfully dragged from his lips.
In that moment, Yagura began to understand why the Third Mizukage had stepped down so soon after the Third Great Ninja War and passed the title to him. He had once thought it was simply old age. Now, he realized it had been the Hidden Mist's defeat in that war that had sapped the life from the Third Mizukage.
Admitting defeat was an unbearable humiliation for a Kage. Even in death, the memory of failure would remain.
Though Yagura thought he was prepared, the bitter taste in his mouth told him otherwise. He could barely bring himself to speak, but he knew he had no choice.
"Move quickly. We've shed enough blood. Any more would be meaningless. We've lost."
His face was filled with anguish, but for the sake of the village, for the sake of the Hidden Mist's future, he was prepared to give everything.
Life, soul, honor... there was nothing he wouldn't sacrifice.
"Defeated?" Zabuza repeated, his eyes wide. His anger flared like a fire, and his bandaged arm bled again from where the wound had reopened. But he didn't seem to notice.
"Mizukage-sama, are you saying we've been defeated again?"
Zabuza's tone was accusatory. He had always believed he would change the Hidden Mist, even if it meant attempting a coup in the future. His ambition and love for the village ran deep.
Yagura avoided Zabuza's burning gaze, looking instead at a puddle on the ground. Pain and frustration welled up inside him. "Yes. We've lost. We've lost to Konoha again."
Zabuza clenched his fists tighter, trembling with rage.
"Zabuza, stop!" Terumi Mei snapped. "Mangetsu, Kisame, what are you standing there for? Keep him in check!"
Mangetsu and Kisame moved to flank Zabuza, making sure he didn't do anything reckless. Like Zabuza, they were also seething with frustration, but Terumi Mei remained the most composed. Despite the sting of defeat, she had already ordered the lower-ranked ninja to retreat, understanding that the Hidden Mist needed to preserve its strength.
"Mizukage-sama, have you not regained control?"
A dark ink hawk swooped down from the sky, landing before them and transforming back into a pool of ink. Uchiha Sougen approached Yagura and said casually, "Need help? Seems like your authority isn't holding up well. Want me to take out that angry guy without eyebrows?"
Everyone bristled at the casual remark. How could the Mizukage be so familiar with the Uchiha? Was this really Yagura? Or had he betrayed the village?
"No need for that," Yagura replied calmly. "By the way, is that imposter dealt with?"
"Of course," Sougen lied without hesitation. "Too bad there's no body left—he blew himself up with explosive tags."
Though Yagura would have liked to investigate the imposter further, the immediate priority was ending the battle.
"If he's gone, then so be it," Yagura sighed. He then turned to Sougen and said, "Uchiha clan leader, please rein in your Konoha shinobi. Continuing the fight would only lead to more pointless deaths. We've lost this time."
And with that, Yagura bowed his head.
(End of chapter)