Kirigakure.
A group of shinobi huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
One of them sighed.
"That was so sudden. The Third was in his prime—why step down so abruptly?"
Another chuckled and teased, "Maybe all those years of overwork finally caught up to him. Guess even the strongest can't handle too much stress! Hahaha!"
The first shinobi shot him a look.
"Cut it out! The Third Mizukage isn't like that."
But then he leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Although… I did hear some rumors. You know, things only certain people might understand."
Before the conversation could continue, a commanding voice interrupted.
"That's enough gossiping about the Mizukage!"
A more senior shinobi, clearly their leader, stepped forward. His stern gaze silenced the group instantly.
"The Third dedicated his life to this village. Show some respect. And Yagura's appointment as the Fourth Mizukage? That's what's best for Kirigakure. So keep your baseless chatter to yourselves!"
The two shinobi immediately straightened up, their playful demeanor gone.
"Understood."
"Yeah, yeah. We're fully behind Yagura-sama. We were just feeling a little sorry for the Third, that's all."
The sudden resignation of the Third Mizukage, Kujo Kurotsuru, had indeed stirred a flurry of curiosity in the village. Still, the transition of power seemed seamless, as Yagura had long been groomed for the position.
When news spread that Kurotsuru planned to leave the village to enjoy retirement after a lifetime of battles, most found it understandable. Surely, he deserved a peaceful life after such service.
...
Inside the Mizukage's office.
Kurotsuru stood with a smile, addressing a figure seated in the Mizukage's chair—Uchiha Setsuna.
"Everything is prepared, my lord. We can leave whenever you're ready."
Setsuna rose from the chair with a calm nod.
"There's no time to waste. I've lingered here long enough."
Kurotsuru bowed slightly. "As you command."
Setsuna turned to Yagura, who stood quietly to the side.
"The village is yours now. Take good care of it."
Yagura gave a curt nod, his expression impassive.
"Hmph. I will."
Without another word, Setsuna adjusted the straps of the travel pack on her shoulder and motioned for Kurotsuru to follow. As they left the office, Yagura watched them from the window, his gaze turning cold and intense.
"Uchiha Madara… one day, I'll make you pay for everything."
He sat down at the Mizukage's desk, closing his eyes as dark memories surfaced.
...
A night long ago.
Her childhood friend, surrounded by enemies. By the time Setsuna arrived, her friend had already fallen, his body bloodied and lifeless. The enemy shinobi didn't leave—they mocked the corpse, toying with it as if it were a mere object.
In the agony of that moment, Setsuna's dormant Mangekyō Sharingan awoke, granting her the fearsome dojutsu, Huangenzun. Fueled by rage, she manipulated the enemy shinobi, forcing them to tear each other apart in gruesome fashion.
For a brief moment, she felt the satisfaction of revenge.
But it was fleeting.
...
Konohagakure.
The ANBU headquarters buzzed with quiet activity as Obito Uchiha adjusted his gear. After securing his equipment, he made his way to leave when another ANBU operative stopped him.
"Hey, rookie! You forgot something important!"
Obito raised a brow.
"Everyone's wearing masks—how'd you know I'm the new guy?"
The operative pointed to his left arm.
Obito glanced down and realized, with dawning embarrassment, that everyone else had a tattoo on their arm. Men had theirs on the left arm, women on the right.
"Ah… of course. A totally normal initiation," he muttered.
"Where do I get it done?" he asked the operative.
The shinobi smirked, pointing toward a small room. "Right over there."
Five minutes later, Obito emerged pale and sweating, his new tattoo burning on his arm.
"That hurt like hell!" he muttered to himself, massaging the fresh ink.
Still, as he inspected it, a small grin crept onto his face.
"Well, this is just the start. I'll rise through the ranks—ANBU captain next year, commander in two years. And in ten years? Hokage, baby."
Feeling a surge of ambition, he made his way to report to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who now worked from his luxurious home office.
Hiruzen greeted him with a grandfatherly smile.
"Ah, Obito. You look ready for action! I'm counting on you."
Obito scratched his head sheepishly, chuckling.
"You can count on me, Hokage-sama!"
The Third nodded approvingly but kept the assignments light, allowing Obito a chance to settle in.
One day, in the quiet of his home, Obito summoned the System, a hint of irritation in his tone.
"Hey, System Bro. It's been weeks! Where are my new missions?"
The System sighed heavily.
[Obito, your strength is already nearing the limits of this world. Isn't that enough?]
Obito scoffed.
"I'm fifteen and not even close to Six Paths level. How is that enough?"
[Fine, fine. Complete your current tasks, and I'll give you a new set of options.]
Obito grinned. "Deal."
A month later, after an exhausting mission, Obito returned home only to find an unexpected guest waiting for him.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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