The Land of Water.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Kisame Hoshigaki's life trajectory.]
Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Exploding Water Colliding WaveX1.
[Ding! Successfully recruited Hoshigaki Kisame.]
Congratulations to the host for acquiring: water affinity.
Kisame and Miru went to have a meal. Unaware of the conversation between them, Natsuki decided to continue leading.
With the newfound water affinity, he found learning water release to be twice as efficient, making it much simpler to locate water sources.
Ninjutsu was better than nothing; however, it still required personal practice, a task that would consume some time.
Unfortunately, he received no reward in Miru. It remained unclear whether this was due to her not leaving her name in the story.
Initially hesitant to part with Samehada, Natsuki found both Mei and Yagura remarkably amenable.
They willingly provided the information Natsuki sought and handed it over to Kisame.
Mei expressed her commitment to being a perpetual ally of the Uchiha clan, promising mutual support and maintaining a humble demeanor.
There was little Mei and Yagura could do. Kirigakure lacked high-end combat power, and Yagura had fallen under the control of the Sharingan.
As the winner, Natsuki naturally possessed stronger ocular abilities.
Even without relying on Sharingan, Yagura proved to be no match for Natsuki.
The now fractured Kirigakure could not afford to make enemies.
...
News of the Mizukage being manipulated by genjutsu scandalized the region. After Yagura provided a comprehensive explanation, he passed the title of the Fifth Mizukage to Mei Terumi.
He, himself, was imprisoned. Despite his crimes deserving death a hundred times over, his status as a Jinchuuriki made him a crucial strategic asset for the village. Until a suitable successor could be found, his life was preserved.
The transition to the new Mizukage had little immediate impact on the current state of Kirigakure Village.
The prolonged reign of the Bloody Mist and the annihilation of the Kekkei Genkai Family had plunged Kirigakure into chaos.
Isolated overseas, the Land of Water and Kirigakure, nestled deep in the mountains, shrouded in perpetual fog, maintained a relatively closed environment. This led to a closer relationship between the Daimyo and Kirigakure.
The turmoil in Kirigakure not only marked the decline of a ninja village but also triggered a significant chain reaction.
The national power of the Land of Water experienced a considerable downturn.
Had their country not been situated so remotely from the landmass, preventing other major powers from harboring ulterior motives would have been a challenging task.
Natsuki obtained the desired information and departed from Kirigakure, setting forth on a journey to find someone.
The land's island, while not small, possessed distinctive topography with numerous peaks.
The main island was surrounded by large and small islands, each with its unique customs and traditions.
Numerous islanders attached to their respective practices, and the weather seemed consistent throughout the year in various regions.
The distance from the mainland and the ocean's expanse explained why the Land of Water rarely interfered in past shinobi wars.
In just a few years, Obito had managed to throw the entire Kingdom of Water into chaos.
As Natsuki traveled, he encountered lean and pale civilians, with many ninjas resorting to robbery and displaying questionable origins.
Some eyed Natsuki as an easy target.
He eliminated several groups along the way, but troublemakers persisted.
If he weren't in search of someone, he would have preferred to avoid these small villages.
Eventually, he simply instructed Kisame to wear Kirigakure's forehead protector, reducing the frequency of harassment.
...
The weather turned colder, and snowflakes gently descended from the sky.
Nestled beside a garbage pile, gaze blank, a figure reached out and caught a snowflake, watching it quickly melt in their hand.
A nearby cart, loaded with garbage, arrived, and the person immediately stood up to search for something to eat.
"Evil...! Woof! Woof!" A dog barked at him.
Coldly, the person kicked the dog away, and it whimpered before settling on the ground.
At that moment, two small dogs emerged from a nearby corner. They sprinted forward to defend the larger dog, snarling at the person.
The person lowered his eyes, revealing a mix of emotions.
Ignoring the dogs, he refrained from rummaging through the trash and turned away.
"Finally found you."
A voice sounded near his ear, and then a loose robe was draped over him.
A warmth enveloped him, and he turned around, a hint of shyness in his expression.
To his surprise, two men and a woman stood behind him, the man in front smiling at him.
The man in the back, with blue skin and a fierce face, carried a giant weapon on his back.
"Who are you? Are you looking for the wrong person?"
Ten-year-old Haku appeared very thin, not tall, with a delicate dirty face, black hair, and hollow eyes. A dog-like chain adorned his neck.
Natsuki withdrew the knife, shattering the chain around Haku's neck.
"It's you I'm looking for. I need a companion like you. Can you come and help me?"
Haku stared blankly at the fallen dog chain, the same one that had restrained him before.
"Do you need me?" His eyes reflected a flicker of emotion.
He gently touched Haku's head. "Yes, I need you."
It felt like a beam of light had pierced through the sky.
He smiled gently. "My name is Haku."
Natsuki retrieved a bun from his belongings. "Eat something first, and I'll take you to wash up. My name is Uchiha Natsuki."
He obediently accepted the bun, taking a careful bite. After chewing thoughtfully, he swallowed, feeling a warm sensation rising from his stomach.
Miru knelt down and took a kettle for him.
"Eat slowly, and be careful not to choke."
Her words revealed the seasoned familiarity of dealing with street children. However, Natsuki's distinct treatment of this child remained a mystery for her.
The news Natsuki received only mentioned a previous incident of ice release rampaging in a nearby village, with no specific location provided.
In the search for Haku, who could move independently, Natsuki explored several village markets before finally locating him.
Having had a bit of water and a handful of steamed buns, he received another bun from him.
"Eat another one if you're still hungry," Natsuki suggested.
Shaking his head, he explained, "If I've been hungry for too long and eat too much, I'll vomit it out."
Natsuki sighed and tightened Haku's robe.
"Is it still cold?" he asked.
He shook his head. "I'm not afraid of the cold."
Taking a towel from Miru's hand, Natsuki wiped his face. Haku shyly tried to dodge, but he persistently cleared the dirt from his face, revealing a delicate face beneath the dirt.
"Wow," He exclaimed in admiration, comparing the features of him to Miru's. Both were exceptionally beautiful, but...
"Haku, are you a boy or a girl?"
Growing up in a state of perpetual hunger, Haku, despite being eleven or twelve, appeared more like a seven or eight-year-old child with no distinct gender characteristics.
With a gentle smile, he clarified, "I am a boy."
While Natsuki was prepared, Miru was surprised. She had always assumed that he was a girl.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for significantly altering Haku's life trajectory.]
Congratulations to the host for acquiring: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals X1
[Ding! The recruitment was successful.]
Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Natural Affinity.
? ? ?
He found himself a bit confused. Shouldn't recruiting him grant him the ability to use water release or ice release?
Kisame, standing behind him like a bodyguard, shifted his gaze briefly before returning to his typically impassive expression.
...
Reality and illusion fused, and Obito found himself back on solid ground.
The once-confident Obito now sported an expression of immense fear, his open right eye revealing the depth of his terror.
How could this be...
Even the fabric of space had been severed.
How could this happen!?
After what felt like an eternity, Obito removed his mask and set it aside, while his hands were trembling slightly.
Turning his head, he discovered a massive hollow lying nearby.
Countless stone platforms had been consumed, and the edges were as smooth as mirrors.
'Uchiha Natsuki, how is it that your eye is so tough?'
Obito felt a chill of fear. If he had resorted to Izanagi at the last moment, he would have perished.
'Rin, are you helping me?'
There are many ways to meet one's demise, but to die by his blade is painless.
In the blink of an eye, everything faded into nothingness.
The horror of that moment only struck him when he found himself resurrected.
If it weren't for the grayed-out Sharingan in his left eye, he would have dismissed it as an illusion.
Even the seemingly invincible power had its limitations.
It took him a considerable amount of time to regain his composure.
He meticulously reviewed the battle.
Natsuki's Susanoo proved to be exceptionally powerful, boasting formidable eye power and prolonged endurance.
One of Natsuki's eye techniques evidently reduced the consumption of Susanoo.
The other enhanced Susanoo's weaponry.
Despite having numerous Uchiha scrolls acquired by Madara over the years, he couldn't recall the specific technique responsible for this enhancement.
Nevertheless, it didn't matter. Preventing Natsuki from strengthening his weapons was the key.
Without that opportunity, his power would be impossible to beat!
Natsuki's Sharingan posed a severe threat that had to be destroyed.
...
The situation in Kirigakure Village continued to grow more complicated, with factions openly clashing.
Even with Mei taking on the role of the Fifth Mizukage, dissatisfaction among the villagers lingered.
The loss of confidence in Mizukage's leadership due to Yagura's issues was noticeable.
Calls for Yagura's execution were becoming louder, leading to tensions within the village.
Attempts on his life, including an assassination by Zabuza, were unsuccessful.
If not for his desire to leave prison, Zabuza might not have survived the encounter.
Amidst these troubles, Natsuki pressed on to find the Kaguya clan after locating Haku.
Kisame, starting as a Jonin, and Miru, a member of the Kirigakure Cypher Division, effortlessly kept pace. However, Haku's untrained body lagged behind.
Concerned that Kimimaro might have wandered off, Natsuki decided to carry him to fasten their trip.
Though Haku was not a child, his slender frame made him feel like he was holding a delicate porcelain doll.
Despite his shy discomfort, he allowed himself to be carried to avoid hindering Natsuki's mission.
With the guidance of Kisame and Miru, who were locals, Natsuki was fortunate to reach the Kaguya clan's territory.
Upon arrival, the Kaguya land was bright with towering flames, creating an eerie scene against the midnight sky.
Observing the fiery spectacle, he mused, "Looks like we might be a bit late, huh?"
Uncertain about Kimimaro's whereabouts—whether he was confined in the clan's dungeon or had managed to escape the chaos—He was determined to search for him.