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Mist swirled and fog billowed.
Through the hazy air, one could vaguely make out peculiar buildings resembling those in Bikini Bottom. An atmosphere of terror and oppression permeated the entire village.
This was Kirigakure, known as the Village of the Bloody Mist.
Kirigakure's unique charm was something one had to experience firsthand.
Ever since the Third Mizukage implemented the Bloody Mist policies, the entire village had been hurtling towards an abyss of madness and destruction.
Whether other villages were free or democratic was a separate matter, but most were meritocratic. Clans with powerful Kekkei Genkai were often respected and admired, forming an integral part of the village's structure.
However, Kirigakure was different.
It had a distinct class system, with social hierarchy determined by lineage, not ability.
In Gojo Kaigetsu's words, Kirigakure's hierarchy could be roughly divided into three classes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas!
The native inhabitants of Kirigakure held the highest status, represented by the Mizukage's advisor, the elders - the Brahmins of Kirigakure.
Next were the families and individuals who had earned prominence and a voice through distinguished service in the long history of Kirigakure's wars.
At the bottom were the Kekkei Genkai clans absorbed by Kirigakure, the ordinary ninja clans… They were assigned the most dangerous missions, treated as mere tools, even less valued than ninja hounds.
One of the graduation requirements for the Kirigakure Ninja Academy was to kill a classmate.
Considering all this, Gojo Kaigetsu's "Anti-Terrorism Declaration" wasn't entirely slander; it merely exposed and magnified the reality of Kirigakure.
Through such extreme internal attrition policies, Kirigakure gradually declined.
The milestone of this decline was arguably during the Third Shinobi World War when Might Duy single-handedly decimated the Seven Mist Swordsmen.
Due to its isolationist policies, the flow of information into Kirigakure was significantly slower compared to other villages.
…
…
However, the oppressive and bloody policies couldn't extinguish the flames of ambition and change burning within the hearts of progressive ninjas.
Seventeen-year-old Kisame Hoshigaki sat brooding in his home.
Kisame was a true ninja, prioritizing missions above all else. He was ruthless in achieving his objectives and absolutely loyal to the Mizukage and the village.
For years, he had dutifully carried out unimaginable tasks for Kirigakure. On occasion, to complete his missions, he had even resorted to killing his comrades to prevent them from falling into enemy hands and revealing information.
He had even killed the only female ninja who understood him. But before her death, she didn't blame him, instead uttering the words, "Your life has been hard, hasn't it?" These words plunged Kisame into deep contemplation.
Just yesterday, he had eliminated his former superior, Fuguki Suikazan.
The reason for the assassination… Fuguki had been exposed for selling information to Kumogakure, resulting in a warrant for his arrest issued by the Fourth Mizukage.
It seemed that after escaping from that Konoha ninja, Might Duy, his former superior had lost the integrity expected of a Kirigakure ninja.
"As a Kiri-nin, I have to kill fellow Kiri-nin. Then who am I?"
"Am I an enemy or an ally? What is my purpose? Where do I stand? Where am I going? Where can I find peace?"
"The only thing I can truly feel is my own falsehood."
Kisame's confusion wasn't unique.
Similar doubts plagued other Kirigakure ninja who had grown weary of the endless killing.
Kisame seemed to have foreseen his own fate: inheriting Samehada, the greatsword of his deceased superior, becoming its second wielder.
Continuing to serve as the lowest tool of the Village of the Bloody Mist, carrying out the most inhumane missions.
A sudden wave of unease washed over Kisame. He decided to step out for a walk, aimlessly wandering through the streets.
Due to Kirigakure's crushing defeat in the war against Konoha and several rounds of internal purges, the streets were noticeably less crowded.
Through the hazy mist, he spotted a female ninja with brown hair in the distance.
"That's… Mei Terumi."
Mei Terumi, possessor of the Lava Release and Boil Release Kekkei Genkai, might very well be his next target, should he receive the order.
"I'm a bit envious…" Kisame thought wistfully. He had heard that a recent graduate of the Ninja Academy had killed all their classmates, forcing the village elders to change the graduation policy.
Students like Mei Terumi no longer needed to kill their classmates to graduate and become ninjas.
Such a commonplace graduation policy in other villages had cost an entire generation of Kirigakure students their lives.
Kisame, currently susceptible to "Talk no Jutsu," naturally bypassed the ninja tool shop he usually frequented, instead stopping in front of a bookstore.
Before inheriting Samehada and fully embracing his role as Kirigakure's executioner, he wanted to read. The female comrade he had killed, the one who understood him, had loved reading.
The bookstore in Kirigakure was eerily quiet. Despite being a holiday, only a handful of people were browsing inside.
Due to the high humidity, the books felt damp to the touch.
"Ninja-sama, can I help you with anything?"
The bookstore owner rubbed his hands together, his demeanor obsequious. Seeing Kisame's attire, his back was drenched in sweat.
"Do you have… any books that girls like to read?" Kisame finally asked.
"Books for girls? Yes, yes, Ninja-sama, please follow me."
The owner hurriedly retrieved a brand new copy of "Iki II" from the front display and handed it to Kisame. "Sir, this is it. It's on the house."
Kisame nodded and walked out of the store, book in hand.
He began flipping through it listlessly.
Books held little appeal for a ninja who relished killing, compared to, say, a kunai.
Kisame had expected something mundane like "The Wandering Ninja" or "Travels Through the Shinobi World." But upon reaching the first article, he froze, reading aloud involuntarily:
"Adaptability in the Shinobi World?"
"What a strange title…" He had to admit, the title intrigued him.
His adaptability was probably maxed out by now.
No matter the village's orders, no matter who he had to kill, he could adapt perfectly and execute without hesitation.
Such was the nature of books; even if one could vaguely guess the content, the desire for emotional resonance compelled one to continue reading.
Even a powerful ninja like Kisame wasn't immune.
His gaze moved downwards.
He saw-
Gojo Kaigetsu, a mere Chunin, becoming a Kage's advisor simply by working over eighteen hours a day, something anyone could do…
He saw-
Gojo Kaigetsu being arrested by the village ANBU and imprisoned. Yet, Konoha's future Hokage empowered him with the courage to "speak the truth" and "pursue freedom of speech."
He saw-
The Fire Daimyo praising Gojo Kaigetsu for his actions.
Kisame felt a wave of dizziness, as if caught in a genjutsu, drawn into the mental world created by "Adaptability," transported to the Konoha within the book.
As he took his first breath of Konoha's air, the shark gills on his cheeks seemed to tremble. The air was so fresh and sweet, a rare luxury.
"Konoha's air…"
Unlike the heavy, blood-tinged air of Kirigakure, which stained his lungs with every breath, in the book, he could only feel Konoha's invigorating atmosphere.
"Life, freedom, trust in comrades…"
Kisame murmured, tears welling up in his heart.
For a seasoned killer like him, the concepts presented in "Adaptability" struck a chord within his most vulnerable core.
Others might simply view it as a story, but to Kisame, it represented his ideal Kirigakure.
Even an ordinary ninja, even the lowest-ranking member of Kirigakure, could achieve equal status through hard work;
Kirigakure should be open and inclusive, where even speaking out against injustice resulted only in temporary imprisonment. In Kirigakure, there was no opportunity for dissent; possessing a Kekkei Genkai was a sin punishable by death;
A nation's Daimyo could express their opinions on internal village matters, unlike in Kirigakure, where the Bloody Mist policies had driven ninjas to the point of assassinating their own Daimyo;
There should be warmth and trust between Kirigakure ninjas, not just cold interactions between tools…
"My stance… my position…"
An unknown seed was planted in Kisame's mind, a seed different from that of a killing machine. It quickly took root and sprouted.
What could he do? This village he had dedicated his life to…
Kisame began to ponder.
But before he could find an answer, Kirigakure ANBU silently appeared behind him:
"Kisame Hoshigaki, the Fourth Mizukage summons you."
"Ah, what must come, will come…" Kisame closed the book and returned to the bookstore, placing "Iki" back on the shelf under the owner's surprised gaze.
Before leaving, he cast a profound look at the owner and said, "Give it to a Kiri-nin lost in confusion."
Moments later, Kisame arrived at the place where he had killed his former superior yesterday.
Inside the dark and damp building, Fuguki's body was gone, leaving only Samehada, the greatsword, deeply embedded in the ground, as if awaiting its new master.
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, emerged from the passage behind Kisame.
His voice echoed softly, "Kisame, do you see Samehada before you?"
"Originally, the selection process for the wielders of our Seven Mist Swordsmen was rigorous."
"Samehada, in particular, required nine trials."
"The first trial: Carry a heavy load up 333 steps; the second trial: Break through a circular blockade and traverse Kirigakure without killing any Kiri-nin; the third trial: Endure twelve hours each day on a chakra-conducting metal pillar; the fourth trial: Withstand the detonation of an explosive tag under the Mizukage's supervision…"
"…The final, ninth trial is to gain Samehada's recognition through your own strength and pull it from the ground!"
Yagura launched into his Talk no Jutsu: "I know your character and trust you. Only those who have carried out countless dirty missions for the nation and the village, who have betrayed many times to complete their tasks, understand that this world is nothing but a falsehood."
"So let me release you from the pain of this falsehood. All this time, you have been fighting by killing your comrades…"
Whoosh-
Before Yagura could finish, Kisame interrupted him with a brutal attack, wielding Samehada.
A sinister grin spread across Kisame's face. Through the spray of blood, he met the Fourth Mizukage's shocked and terrified gaze without flinching:
"You're right. If you had told me this half an hour ago, I might have listened."
"But now, I have found my stance."
"Today, This Kisame, rebel!"
Simultaneously, the rebellious forces that had been secretly gathering strength within Kirigakure coincidentally erupted at the same time.
The Kirigakure Civil War officially began-!Â
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