After a restful night, Mutsuy returned to his workshop, eager to oversee the production of their latest large-scale orders. The heat from the forge made the air thick with sweat, and after hours of hard work, he finally sat down with his employees for a well-earned break.
One of the workers let out an exasperated sigh. "It's really hot today… and even worse inside this inferno."
Mutsuy, half-listening, was already scribbling on a piece of paper. "Air Conditioning no Jutsu…" He muttered, initially considering an electrical system. But then he stopped, staring at the title he had written. Jutsu…
His mind raced. Air conditioning wasn't just an electrical process; it was a sequence of five key steps: Compressor, Condenser, Expansion Valve, Evaporator, and Cycle Restart. He quickly drafted a new set of sealing formulas, meticulously adjusting the kanji and chakra flow patterns. Once satisfied, he grabbed a steel box, affixed the seals in order, and activated the mechanism.
"Jutsu: Gas Release."
"Jutsu: Refrigerant Liquid Compression."
After fine-tuning the energy flow, he crafted a small external panel with a switch to turn it on and off and a dial to adjust the temperature. Placing the device in the corner of the room, he pressed click and waited.
Moments later, a clan member entered, pausing in confusion. "Young master… this is strange. That room over there feels like a furnace, but here… it's so cool. I'm so jealous—" sigh.
Mutsuy let out a villainous laugh before resuming his work, his pen flying across the paper. "Modernization…? Circuits…? Wireless transmission…?" He grinned.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Sealing Jutsu at its highest level."
Later that evening, Mutsuy made his way to the Sarutobi compound for a meeting with his uncle, Hiruzen—the current Hokage and patriarch of their clan. Sitting comfortably in the spacious study, he took a sip of tea and asked,
"Uncle, how's the clan's economy looking?"
Hiruzen handed him a financial report. Mutsuy's eyes widened as he scanned the staggering numbers.
"This… dammit, we're already trillionaires?!" He grinned.
"How do we compare to Konoha's industrial and agricultural clans?" he continued.
Hiruzen stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Perhaps only the Yamanaka clan comes close, thanks to their flower business. The pigments derived from their flowers are in high demand."
Mutsuy glanced at his own dark blue clothing and smirked. "Makes sense."
"And what about Konoha as a whole?"
Hiruzen sighed. "That little 'incident' with the merchants caused a temporary decline in revenue. However, we still sustain ourselves through land leases, agricultural special zones, and, of course, missions."
Mutsuy nodded in understanding. Then, an idea struck him.
"Uncle, what if we create a Sealing Jutsu Department?"
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
"We could turn sealing techniques into a profitable industry—selling high-end products to nobles at ridiculous prices." Mutsuy grabbed a sheet of paper and sketched an intricate seal to demonstrate.
"This rune generates heat," he explained, marking a stone with the seal. "And this one turns it off."
Placing a linked seal on a smaller stone, he hovered it above the first. Moments later, their tea remained hot, sustained by the invisible chakra flow.
Hiruzen watched in fascination. "This… could actually generate wealth." He took another sip. "How would you structure the department?"
Mutsuy leaned back, thinking. "Well, Mito-sama is practically retired. She spends most of her time tending her garden and complaining about being bored. We could build the department near the Senju complex—in the shape of a pentagon."
Hiruzen blinked. "Pentagon…? Wait, are you thinking about… the Nine-Tails?"
Mutsuy smirked. "Exactly. If we continue advancing our Sealing Jutsu, we'll eventually be able to contain the Nine-Tails in an open field. More importantly, we could create countermeasures against the Uchiha's Sharingan influence."
Hiruzen's expression turned serious. He carefully took the notebook Mutsuy handed him.
"This is filled with ideas," Mutsuy continued. "I recommend reading it at your own pace. Who knows? It might even help refresh your memory after a long day of work."
Standing up, Mutsuy stretched. "Well, Uncle, I'm heading out. I heard a new ramen shop is opening, and they say it serves food made by the gods themselves."
Hiruzen chuckled, nodding in farewell.
The small ramen shop buzzed with energy as cheers and laughter filled the air.
At one table sat Jiraiya, the middle seat was occupied by a young man in a green jumpsuit with a very questionable fashion sense, screaming "Eternal Youth!" with every bite, and at the other end sat Mutsuy—wrapped in the glory of one hundred empty ramen bowls.
As he finished the last bowl, he stood up and declared with an unwavering voice,
"I, Mutsuy, proclaim myself the greatest eater of all time!"
The entire restaurant erupted into laughter. Shinobi and civilians alike found themselves entertained by the ridiculous yet oddly majestic scene.
After leaving the shop, Mutsuy walked through the village alongside Jiraiya. The young sage-in-training hesitated before speaking.
"Mutsuy… I think I've fallen head over heels for Kaori."
Before he could continue his nervous lament, Mutsuy cut him off.
"She likes you. Go for it."
Jiraiya stopped dead in his tracks. "I… what?"
-SMACK-
Mutsuy slapped the back of his head. "Wake up, oh great Jiraiya! Go claim your bunny!"
Rubbing his now sore forehead, Jiraiya suddenly sprinted away, shouting,
"I'm going to do it! I'M GOING TO WIN HER OVER!"
Mutsuy shook his head with a chuckle as he watched him disappear into the night.
"Well… that should be interesting."
A masked ANBU knelt before him. "Lord Mutsuy, the Third Hokage urgently requests your presence."
Mutsuy nodded, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Seconds later, inside the Hokage's office, a swirling cocoon of water materialized, and from within it, Mutsuy stepped out, smiling.
"Lord Third, what's the situation?"
Mutsuy knew exactly when to address Hiruzen informally and when to use titles of authority—a habit that spared him from unnecessary political intrigues and misinterpretations from onlookers.
Hiruzen acknowledged him with a nod. "This is an SS-rank mission. We've discovered traces of the Zero-Tails in the Land of Sky. Your mission is to locate and attempt to recover it. For that, we've prepared a sealing vessel, stored within this scroll."
He handed the parchment over, and before Mutsuy could respond, Danzo spoke up.
"For the Root's mission, I need you to infiltrate the unusual facilities within the Land of Sky and gather information on their floating technology. Any intelligence you recover could be invaluable."
Mutsuy gave a firm nod. "Understood. I'll be leaving within the hour… I'll send updates through a cell phone."
Without another word, a puddle of water formed beneath his feet. In a swift motion, he slipped into it and disappeared.
Watching Mutsuy's departure, Danzo sighed. "That travel method of his… it's no worse than the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Turning back to Hiruzen, he continued, "Did you review the candidate list I submitted? The ones chosen for the Water Release Battalion? I prioritized those with natural talent and at least a basic understanding of nature transformation."
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, I reviewed it this morning. Thirty candidates have been selected. However…" He exhaled slowly. "I'd prefer to have at least a hundred."
Danzo folded his arms. "I understand… but we'll work with what we have. I'll arrange a selective recruitment for civilian-born shinobi. Perhaps we'll uncover some hidden talent."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. It was worth a try.
According to the latest intelligence, overwhelming chakra surges had been detected in the southern region of the Land of Sky—violent bursts of energy, unleashed night after night.
Reaching the location, Mutsuy quickly set up a concealed hideout, positioning himself in an ideal vantage point.
He exhaled, settling into a patient stance.
"When it comes to chakra explosions… all I have to do is wait. Eventually, you'll lose control and detonate… and when you do—"
"—I will find you."
In the dead of night, Mutsuy sat quietly, sipping tea while his water clones patrolled the area, hidden within puddles and raindrops. The night was calm, save for the occasional rustle of leaves carried by the wind.
Suddenly, a massive chakra explosion erupted in the distance, accompanied by a thunderous gust of wind. The force of it rattled the earth beneath him, sending vibrations through the air.
Mutsuy exhaled slowly, narrowing his eyes. It's as if the tailed beast is in pain… What are they doing to it? Without wasting another moment, he vanished, heading toward the commotion.
Upon arrival, he observed a heavily fortified military installation, its perimeter well-guarded. The source of the explosions was underground. The beast was likely being held captive, subjected to experiments of some kind.
Mutsuy looked up at the sky, and with a mere wave of his hand, a torrential downpour began. The heavy rain pounded against the facility's exterior, masking all other sounds. Then, as if he had never been there, Mutsuy disappeared.
Inside the facility, he quickly assessed his surroundings. There were no shinobi—only civilians dressed in combat uniforms. They were clearly armed, but their strength lay in something else. At the heart of the room, within a massive water tank, the Zero-Tails lay dormant, its immense chakra siphoned through large conduits, feeding some unknown power source.
Without hesitation, Mutsuy performed a silent hand sign, summoning a dense mist that engulfed the entire facility. Confusion spread among the scientists as their visibility dropped to nothing.
"Is this coming from the tailed beast?" one of them muttered.
"Should we halt the experiment for now?" another questioned as hushed conversations filled the air.
Mutsuy wasted no time. Submerging himself into the liquid, he swiftly performed the sealing technique. In an instant, the Zero-Tails vanished, sealed within the prepared vessel. To the scientists, all they heard was a faint puff of smoke, a sound too insignificant to raise suspicion amidst the usual noises of their work.
Glancing around, Mutsuy noticed stacks of documents—files detailing their experiments, research, and technology. He swiftly gathered them, sealing them into a scroll before vanishing once more.
Now, with his mission completed, he found himself in a coastal town, walking at a leisurely pace. The ocean breeze was refreshing, a welcome change after the tense infiltration. He enjoyed the beach, bought a few seafood snacks, and then began his journey back to Konoha on foot. He rarely ventured this far south, near the border of the Land of Snow, so he decided to take his time.
However, his instincts suddenly flared.
A shadow moved. Then—nothing.
Without hesitation, Mutsuy disappeared into the surroundings, merging seamlessly with the mist and droplets in the air—a technique he called Condensate Drops. Moving closer to the source of the disturbance, his eyes narrowed at the sight before him.
A Kumo encampment.
Mutsuy's expression hardened. One hundred shinobi, roughly thirty Jonin, fifteen elite Jonin, and the rest a mix of Chunin and Genin. His brief moment of respite had come to an end. Without wasting time, he executed Warp Water, leaving a marker behind before vanishing.
Reappearing in Konoha, Mutsuy immediately made his way to the Hokage's office. With urgency, he laid down the scrolls and sealing vessel.
"Mission complete," he stated firmly. Then, pulling out a map, he marked a location.
"On my way back, I encountered a Kumo camp within the Land of Fire. Approximately one hundred shinobi—thirty Jonin, fifteen elite Jonin, and the rest Chunin and Genin."
A heavy silence settled over the room as the weight of his words sank in.
Hiruzen sighed, his fingers tapping against the wooden desk in slow, deliberate motions, leaving faint indentations behind. "It seems they truly cannot remain still," he muttered, his tone laced with irritation.
His gaze sharpened. "Assemble the ANBU. Danzo will lead the mission. Mutsuy, prepare to execute Warp Water: Mass Scale."
Raising his voice, he called out, "Dragon."
A tall ANBU materialized instantly. Hiruzen's eyes met his. "Once the warp is complete, you are responsible for Mutsuy's protection. Swift execution. Take prisoners where possible."
Everyone in the room nodded in unison. Danzo stepped forward, leading the way with Mutsuy and Dragon close behind.
At a hidden location within Konoha, one hundred and twenty masked figures stood waiting. Each of them carried an aura of unshakable resolve. There was no hesitation here. Every shinobi present was of elite Jonin caliber—the pride of Konoha's black ops division.
Danzo gave the mission briefing, detailing the enemy layout and attack strategy. Mutsuy pointed out the warp's drop zone on the map, ensuring that each operative mentally mapped their trajectory.
Danzo's voice was sharp and commanding. "Very well. Execute."
Mutsuy turned to Dragon, offering a confident nod. "I'm counting on you, Senpai."
Dragon nodded in return.
You might wonder—why was such a high-ranking ANBU commander assigned to protect someone as powerful as Mutsuy? The reason was simple.
Once Warp Water: Mass Scale was activated, Mutsuy's chakra reserves would be nearly depleted. At best, with medical aid, he'd be able to engage in Taijutsu alone.
With a deep breath, Mutsuy clapped his hands together.
"Jutsu: Water Warp Mass Charge."
The once crowded ANBU base was now empty.
The moment they descended into enemy territory, the reaction time was instantaneous. In the span of milliseconds, the battlefield erupted into fierce combat.
Mutsuy moved swiftly, targeting weaker escapees, ensuring none slipped away. His Taijutsu was more than enough for this task—unless he ran into a Kage-level opponent or an elite Jonin ambush, he could handle himself.
The air crackled with elemental jutsu, explosions lighting up the battlefield. Bodies fell. Konoha's forces cut through the opposition with deadly precision.
Then, Mutsuy felt it.
A sudden coldness at his neck.
Reacting on instinct, he raised his guard just in time—a thunder-cloaked fist aimed straight for his throat. The raw power behind it sent shivers through his body.
Before impact, the Kumo ninja was ripped apart, his body collapsing in pieces.
Dragon stood behind him, White Fang blade glistening under the moonlight. He offered a single nod before vanishing into the fray once more.
Hours passed before the ANBU regrouped. One operative stepped forward, delivering the report.
"As Lord Mutsuy estimated—thirty Jonin, fifteen elite Jonin, the rest Chunin and Genin. We successfully captured three Jonin, two elite Jonin, and two elite Chunin. The rest have been… dealt with."
Danzo nodded, already calculating their next move.
He gestured toward four Root operatives, each of whom possessed summoned beasts for rapid communication. Before sending them off, Mutsuy handed one of them a cell phone.
"Use this," he said with a smirk. "You'll report directly to Konoha's command."
They nodded before vanishing.
Danzo turned to the remaining forces. "Return to Konoha at full speed. Erase this encampment from existence."
Four days later, the task force finally returned home. Not a single ANBU life was lost—a perfect execution.
Throughout the journey, Danzo's expression remained unreadable. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a lingering rage.
A general of war can smell conflict long before it arrives. For Danzo, that scent was stronger than ever.
Back in Konoha, after delivering his report, Mutsuy wasted no time. He sent word to Aiko before finally collapsing into his bed, falling into a deep, well-earned sleep.