Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"This is Uchiha Shisui."

Yagura Karatachi's tone sounded completely indifferent.

"You may take the body back."

"Mizukage-sama, please forgive my rudeness."

Kakashi glanced toward the corpse before looking back at Yagura.

"May I inspect it first?"

Yagura casually gestured for him to proceed.

Kakashi immediately signaled toward the ANBU specialist accompanying him.

The pale corpse underwent a complete examination.

After a short while, the ANBU finally reported back.

"Identity confirmed."

"It is indeed Uchiha Shisui."

"However, there are several strange abnormalities."

"The pale areas across the body appear as though they were altered through some sort of medical treatment."

"Regardless…"

The ANBU's expression became serious.

"He is unquestionably dead."

"More importantly…"

"The Sharingan are still present."

Honestly—

That result shocked Kakashi.

Shisui originally lost one Sharingan.

Itachi once accidentally hinted at that fact to Kakashi years ago.

But based on everything they currently understood, Shisui had participated in the Uchiha massacre afterward.

Obtaining another eye shouldn't have been difficult for him.

What truly shocked Kakashi—

Was that Kirigakure handed over a completely intact corpse.

Unconsciously, Kakashi glanced toward the one-eyed shinobi standing behind the Fourth Mizukage.

Mei Terumī previously explained this man's identity.

Ao.

Kirigakure's greatest sensory shinobi.

And beneath the bandages covering one eye—

Rested a Byakugan stolen from the Hyūga clan.

Supposedly a trophy seized during wartime.

Since Kirigakure already possessed bloodline transplantation techniques, how could they possibly feel no interest toward the Sharingan?

"No need to look so suspicious."

Yagura calmly noticed Kakashi's thoughts.

"Although this wasn't originally my intention…"

"During my absence, Kirigakure formed an alliance with Konoha."

"So I have no interest in secretly cheating allies behind their backs."

"This Sharingan belongs to Konoha's bloodline."

"It's only natural that Konoha takes it back."

"And besides…"

Yagura's pink eyes remained emotionless.

"Shisui Uchiha was not what you imagine him to be."

"If we're being accurate…"

"He saved me."

"He was my benefactor."

"What?!"

Both Kakashi and the accompanying ANBU were visibly shocked.

Even Mei Terumī and Ao looked stunned.

The Mizukage never told them any of this before.

Only the Kirigakure hunter-nin standing silently behind Yagura remained expressionless.

Kakashi immediately noticed that strange calmness.

Yet he couldn't determine whether it came from professional discipline—

Or because they already knew certain truths.

Still…

Something about those hunter-nin felt fundamentally different from the Kirigakure pursuit squads Kakashi encountered previously.

Back when the Mizukage disappeared, Kirigakure's accusations toward Konoha originated specifically from sightings of Shisui Uchiha inside the village.

Everyone naturally assumed Shisui had harmed the Fourth Mizukage.

Yet now—

The Mizukage himself claimed the complete opposite.

"The organization that attacked me…"

Yagura's voice remained calm.

"Was Akatsuki."

"Meanwhile, Shisui Uchiha had infiltrated Akatsuki alone."

"Later, he found a way to free me from their control."

"However…"

Yagura's expression never changed.

"Akatsuki placed a seal upon him."

"Once he escaped the organization, the seal activated."

"And he died."

The explanation was incredibly simple.

Too simple.

And Yagura's voice lacked any emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

Making it impossible to determine how truthful he truly was.

Kakashi naturally didn't blindly trust the story.

Thus, he cautiously probed further.

"Mizukage-sama…"

"Forgive my question, but…"

"If Akatsuki kidnapped you…"

"Then why exactly did they take you?"

"For the Tailed Beast inside me."

Yagura's pink eyes stared directly into Kakashi's.

The emotionless gaze sent a chill through the room.

"Akatsuki intends to collect all the Tailed Beasts."

"Tailed Beasts…"

Kakashi's first thought immediately became Naruto.

So Akatsuki's true objective was the Tailed Beasts?

These ancient creatures possessed terrifying power long before modern shinobi history began.

Ever since Hashirama Senju captured and distributed them among the villages, they had remained the ultimate military deterrents between the great nations.

If Akatsuki intended to gather every Tailed Beast…

Then Naruto would inevitably become one of their targets.

"They're collecting Tailed Beasts…"

Kakashi's expression sharpened.

"And after that?"

"What do they plan to do?"

"... Are you serious?"

Yagura looked at Kakashi coldly.

"I was kidnapped."

"Not invited as an honored guest."

"Why would they tell me their ultimate objective?"

"Regardless…"

"I only escaped because they temporarily lacked methods to extract the Tailed Beast from my body."

"And because of Shisui Uchiha's help."

"In any case…"

Yagura's tone remained absolute.

"Kirigakure will now pursue Akatsuki across the entire ninja world."

"We will not let them go."

"And allowing Konoha to reclaim Shisui's body…"

"Is simply my way of repaying him."

"He was a hero."

"I won't allow Kirigakure shinobi to desecrate his corpse."

"And likewise…"

Yagura's gaze turned icy.

"I hope Konoha understands how the remains of heroes should be treated."

The Fourth Mizukage's attitude was incredibly firm.

Slowly, Kakashi found himself believing parts of Yagura's explanation.

After all—

The information regarding Akatsuki's desire for Tailed Beasts…

And Shisui's strangely preserved corpse…

Were both extremely valuable intelligence.

Still—

Kakashi needed to perform one final test.

"Mizukage-sama."

"Did you personally encounter any other Akatsuki members?"

"Not many."

Yagura calmly answered.

"During my imprisonment, I met your Konoha missing-nin Uchiha Itachi."

"And one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Jūzō Biwa, was there as well."

"Though I heard you already captured him and returned him to Kirigakure."

"That part genuinely surprised me."

"However…"

Yagura's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I never learned the true identity of the Akatsuki leader who originally attacked me."

"He concealed himself carefully."

"I only know he wore a mask."

So it aligns…

Yet somehow avoids exposing most of Akatsuki's other members.

Does he genuinely not know more?

Or does he simply refuse to reveal information to a Konoha shinobi?

Hearing Itachi's name, Kakashi silently analyzed Yagura's words internally.

But Kakashi still had one final objective for this visit.

"Understood regarding Akatsuki."

"I'll report everything back to the Hokage."

"Additionally…"

"Would it be possible for me to meet Elder Genji—"

"Hatake Kakashi."

Yagura abruptly interrupted him coldly.

"I advise you not to test me."

"Does Konoha intend to interfere with Kirigakure's internal affairs?"

The sheer forcefulness in Yagura's attitude caused Kakashi to sigh quietly.

As expected.

After all—

This was fundamentally Kirigakure's internal issue.

The Mizukage reacting like this was entirely reasonable.

Kakashi didn't find it strange.

"... I meant no offense."

"Since it's inconvenient, we'll simply retrieve Shisui's body and return."

"Mm."

Once Kakashi understood Yagura's stance, he stopped pushing the matter further.

Although failing to meet Elder Genji was unfortunate, the information obtained from the Mizukage already proved shocking enough.

It needed immediate analysis back in Konoha.

Thus, after ordering the ANBU to properly seal and prepare Shisui's corpse, Kakashi quickly departed with his team.

Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)