Chapter 105: The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Leading his ANBU team at full speed, Kakashi once again arrived at the border between Konoha and Kirigakure, a route he knew well by now.
There, he spotted a familiar and graceful figure leaning against a tree ahead, seemingly waiting for him.
"So I finally managed to catch you again, you busy man."
A soft laugh escaped Mei Terumī as she walked toward him. With her naturally alluring features and deliberately lowered voice, every movement radiated charm and temptation.
However, Kakashi could only sigh helplessly.
"I just received the news in Konoha and rushed here without stopping, yet you're already waiting for me."
He narrowed his eye slightly.
"Looks like... things aren't as simple as they seem?"
At his words, Mei glanced toward the ANBU standing behind him.
"Wait here for a moment."
Understanding immediately, Kakashi turned and instructed the ANBU before following Mei to a secluded area.
"What happened?"
"The moment Mizukage-sama returned, he placed Elder Genji under house arrest."
The laziness vanished from Mei's expression, replaced by complete seriousness.
"A power struggle?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"After the Fourth Mizukage returned, Elder Genji voluntarily stepped aside. There was no dispute between them at all."
"But even after Elder Genji willingly returned authority to him, he was still confined."
"Not only him. Several senior Kirigakure officials who spoke on his behalf were also placed under restrictions."
She paused before continuing.
"Although the Fourth Mizukage wasn't exactly friendly toward people in the village before, he always respected Elder Genji."
"To be honest, if Ao hadn't confirmed his identity personally, we'd suspect someone was impersonating him."
Seeing Kakashi fall into thought, Mei added a warning.
"You need to be careful."
"Mizukage-sama disappeared for so long, yet after returning, he seems like a completely different person."
"Everyone in the village is on edge."
"It reminds people of the old days of the Bloody Mist."
"In short... nobody can figure out what the Fourth Mizukage intends to do."
If anyone familiar with Mei's position in Kirigakure overheard these words and reported them back to the village, they might very well suspect her of treason.
"At least he hasn't proposed severing ties with Konoha."
Kakashi nodded calmly.
"And retrieving Uchiha Shisui's body is the reason I'm here in the first place."
"I understand."
"Then let's not waste time. I'll trouble you to lead the way."
"..."
Yet Mei remained where she stood, looking at him expectantly.
"?"
Kakashi blinked.
"What is it?"
Mei sighed.
"I'm saying... we've already finished discussing business."
She blinked her beautiful eyes and slipped back into her usual lazy, seductive demeanor, now mixed with a trace of girlish playfulness.
"After not seeing me for so long, don't you have anything else you'd like to say?"
"Something else?"
Kakashi thought for a moment before suddenly brightening.
"Oh, right! Did you know? I just learned some incredibly important information during my latest mission!"
"Information?"
"Yeah."
Kakashi nodded enthusiastically.
"My favorite book series, Icha Icha Paradise, might be getting a movie adaptation soon—"
"A movie adaptation?"
"Mm-hmm. And the actress playing the lead heroine was actually involved in this mission—"
As Kakashi continued speaking with increasing excitement, Mei's expression gradually shifted from anticipation...
To numbness...
Then finally darkened like storm clouds before a thunderstorm.
"And apparently the casting process was—"
"Hatake Kakashi!"
Mei's eye twitched.
"You bastard! Go spend the rest of your life with Icha Icha Paradise!"
The next moment, she vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Watching her disappear using a Body Flicker so fast that even he couldn't track it, Kakashi scratched the back of his head helplessly.
Honestly... I haven't read enough Icha Icha lately.
The books never taught me what to do in a situation like that.
Wasn't I supposed to bring up a topic she was interested in and continue the conversation?
Fortunately, Kirigakure was practically a second home to him after so many years of visits.
Calling over the ANBU members—who very professionally pretended they definitely hadn't heard Mei's shout—Kakashi continued toward Kirigakure.
After some time traveling, Kakashi noticed something unusual.
The closer they drew to Kirigakure, the denser the surrounding mist became.
Even without actively sensing it, he could feel chakra mixed within the fog.
"This is a sensory-type ninjutsu."
One of the ANBU specialists carefully examined the mist before speaking.
"It's similar to Konoha's old sensory barrier system."
"They've probably already detected us entering its range."
"Kakashi-taichō, did Kirigakure always have a mist barrier like this?"
"No need to call me captain."
Kakashi waved dismissively.
"I left the ANBU a long time ago."
"At least when I visited before, nothing like this existed."
He glanced at the thick mist.
"Especially not with such obvious characteristics."
"This was probably arranged by the Mizukage."
"Of course it was arranged by Mizukage-sama."
A teasing female voice suddenly echoed through the mist.
"Otherwise, what if you secretly infiltrated Kirigakure?"
The two ANBU instantly stiffened.
Neither of them had sensed anyone approaching.
If this had been an enemy attack, they would already be dead.
"Relax."
Kakashi casually waved them down.
"Put your weapons away."
Then he looked toward the source of the voice.
"I assumed you went back to Kirigakure after refusing to guide us."
"Turns out you've been following us the whole time?"
"I wanted to."
Mei stepped out from the forest, still looking slightly annoyed.
"You're allies of Kirigakure. Naturally, I have to accompany you the entire way."
"You call this accompanying us?"
The ANBU exchanged glances beneath their masks, their gazes shifting between Kakashi and Mei.
They seemed to have understood something.
"If the famous Hatake Kakashi of Konoha believes Kirigakure's hospitality is lacking, then please forgive us."
Several figures suddenly emerged from the mist.
At their head stood a youthful-looking boy with pink eyes.
"We wouldn't dare, Mizukage-sama."
Seeing the newcomer, Kakashi immediately responded with proper respect.
The person before him was none other than—
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
At that moment, Kakashi finally understood why Mei had spoken up earlier.
She had been warning him that the Mizukage had personally arrived.
Looking at Yagura's youthful face—virtually unchanged from the intelligence reports he had seen years ago—it was hard to imagine that this man was actually older than Kakashi himself.
"Everyone from Konoha."
Yagura's tone remained calm.
"You've come for Uchiha Shisui's body."
"Please follow me."
He showed no interest in exchanging pleasantries.
After briefly glancing at Mei behind them, he led the group directly to a hidden cabin outside Kirigakure.
The moment Kakashi entered the room—
He saw a pale body laid out in the center.
Uchiha Shisui.
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