The Third Mizukage didn't say a word. He simply cast a long, deep gaze at Yagura.
Yagura felt a chill run down his spine as every hair on his body stood on end. An instinctive sense of danger crept over him. Slowly, he began to back away, inching toward the door to leave the Mizukage's office.
But in the next moment, the creature resembling a living dumpling suddenly flashed a red light in its eyes.
Yagura's surroundings turned blood-red, like he was drowning in an ocean of crimson. His consciousness began to waver as though he were sinking deeper and deeper into an abyss.
A minute later, Yagura's eyes regained clarity. He scanned his body, occasionally patting himself as if confirming something.
"Hmm… I am both Yagura and Setsuna now… This is such an odd feeling," he muttered.
Setsuna watched the scene unfold before her—a moment of self-recognition for Yagura, or rather, for another version of herself. She was about to say something but nearly stumbled to the floor.
Her head throbbed, and an overwhelming wave of exhaustion surged through her.
"This… this is far more draining than I expected," she murmured.
Inserting a fragment of her consciousness, into another's mind was a unique application of Setsuna's dōjutsu. It allowed her to divide a part of her own awareness and implant it into another person using ten seeds of desire as a vessel, thus creating an extension of herself.
The Yagura before her now was essentially her avatar. Though Yagura still retained his previous memories, his personality and consciousness had been completely overwritten by Setsuna.
"Ten seeds of desire, lost forever… Yagura, don't let me down," she whispered, almost to herself.
Just as Setsuna spoke, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the Third Mizukage behind her. From his sleeve, a kunai shot out, aimed directly at the unsuspecting Setsuna.
"Damn it!"
By the time Setsuna noticed the sudden rush of air from behind her, it was already too late to dodge.
At the critical moment, Yagura threw a kunai, intercepting the Mizukage's attack just in time.
Setsuna turned her gaze to the Mizukage, reinforcing her control over him. His previously sharp eyes turned blank once more, and then calmness returned.
With a serene smile, the Third Mizukage walked out of the office, heading off to intercept any approaching Kirigakure Anbu who might have heard the commotion.
"Phew, that was close!" Setsuna exclaimed, patting her chest, clearly shaken.
Yagura, with a slightly feminine pout, muttered, "What are you afraid of? With Hashirama cells in your body, he couldn't kill you even if he tried."
Setsuna glared at him, her crimson eyes flashing.
"Sure, I wouldn't die, but it would hurt like hell!"
Yagura smirked. "Fair point."
The Mizukage had managed to temporarily break free of Setsuna's control earlier because the act of dividing a part of her own awareness had left her original body in a weakened state.
Huangenzun, while powerful, wasn't without its limitations. Without sufficient chakra or nourishment from strong desires, the ability would wither over time.
In moments of weakness—such as earlier—the controlled could seize the opportunity to resist, potentially breaking free. If not for Yagura's quick intervention, the Mizukage might have succeeded.
This was precisely why Setsuna had gone to such lengths, sacrificing ten seeds of desire to implant in Yagura. Huangenzun's control was reversible and inherently unstable, but it made the transformation irreversible, binding the target completely to her will.
Setsuna glanced at Yagura, who coincidentally looked back at her. Their eyes met in an odd moment of synchronicity.
"This… shared awareness is truly bizarre," Setsuna muttered, shaking her head.
Yagura chuckled dryly. "You think that's strange? Try being a man after living as a woman. Care to switch places and see for yourself?"
Setsuna opened her mouth to retort but found herself at a loss for words.
After a moment, she sighed. "You should go for now. We don't want anyone getting suspicious. Come back tomorrow, and I'll summon you again."
"Got it," Yagura replied, nodding as he left the Mizukage's office.
Alone, Setsuna propped her chin on her hand, her long legs swinging idly as she considered her next steps.
"I can't stay here indefinitely. Once I clean up the traces of my intrusion, the rest will be up to Yagura," she mused.
After making up her mind, she rapped her knuckles on the desk. The Mizukage, who had been standing guard outside, walked in with a smile.
"What are your orders?" he asked.
Setsuna's expression turned cold. "Eliminate the patrol team on the eastern side of Kirigakure and any shinobi within the Mizukage's building. Make sure they disappear without raising suspicion.
"After you've done that, pass the title of Mizukage to Yagura and end your life."
The Mizukage continued to smile as he nodded. "Understood. I'll need a month to complete these tasks."
A month…
Setsuna let out a faint hum. "Fine. A month it is. Now come over and give me a shoulder massage."
"As you wish."
As the Mizukage's hands worked at her shoulders, Setsuna's thoughts wandered to another matter entirely.
"A month should be enough to confirm my suspicions. And if it turns out that they are behind this…"
Her crimson eyes flickered with a trace of loathing as she glanced at her pale left arm.
"Then I'll make sure they pay the price."
In the early months of Konoha's 48th year, Sarutobi Hiruzen took full responsibility for the devastation that had befallen the Land of Fire during the war. He personally approached the Daimyō and requested to resign as Hokage.
After the traditional three refusals and three requests, the Daimyō, seeing Hiruzen's sincerity, finally accepted his resignation.
No one was more thrilled about this than Hiruzen's old friend—Danzo.
In the days that followed, Danzo allowed himself to fantasize about becoming Hokage, thinking, If Hiruzen nominates me… If…
But his dreams were short-lived. Hiruzen had recommended his student's student, Namikaze Minato, as the Fourth Hokage.
Danzo was furious. In his frustration, he even suggested Orochimaru would be a better candidate than Minato.
However, neither Hiruzen, the Daimyō, nor the council paid any heed to Danzo's protests. The decision to appoint Minato as the Fourth Hokage was swiftly finalized.
Storming out of the council chamber, Danzo and Hiruzen parted ways on bitter terms.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen smiled warmly at Minato, who was kneeling before him.
"Minato," Hiruzen said gently, "I've always believed you embody the Will of Fire. I want to entrust Konoha's future—and the future of the shinobi world—to you. Will you accept this responsibility?"
Minato's breath quickened as he met Hiruzen's gaze. He nodded resolutely.
"I will!"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +70 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo