It was news brought back by Hoshigaki Kisame.
"Akebino Jinin has defected!"
Every Kirigakure ninja who heard the news turned extremely serious.
Akebino Jinin was someone Sunagakure had specifically demanded.
Just like how Kirigakure had once specifically demanded Pakura.
Now that Akebino Jinin was gone, what was Kirigakure supposed to do?
How were they supposed to answer Sunagakure?
Would Sunagakure use this as an excuse to demand even more after receiving the other reparations, then launch another war against Kirigakure?
"That Akebino Jinin doesn't care about the village at all?"
"He doesn't deserve to be called a Kirigakure ninja!"
"The village raised him and spent so much on him, yet he doesn't understand gratitude at all."
"He's nothing like Elder Genji. He's far worse."
"When Elder Genji heard the news Mizukage-sama brought back, he only remained silent for a short while before taking the initiative to say he was willing to sacrifice his life to fulfill the conditions for the ceasefire."
"Elder Genji is too great."
"That is the resolve a Kirigakure ninja should have!"
At this moment, Akebino Jinin, who had already escaped Kirigakure's territory, finally let out a heavy breath after shaking off the pursuing ninja.
"Yagura, you dog!"
"When you were commander, I helped you so much. And now this is how you repay me?"
"Using me as part of Sunagakure's ceasefire conditions?"
"Ungrateful bastard. No humanity at all!"
"Since the village has sold me out, I am no longer one of Kirigakure's people."
"My life will not be handed over for nothing."
"If the village is heartless, then I have every right to be disloyal. Perfectly justified."
A figure appeared on the other side of the stream.
"Jinin, long time no see."
Akebino Jinin looked at the person opposite him and smiled.
"Fuguki. Thanks. If not for your help, I probably wouldn't have left the village or shaken them off so easily."
"No need to thank me. As fellow members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, there's no need to say such things with our relationship."
Suikazan Fuguki paused, then said,
"Besides, we share the same enemy."
"Enemy?"
Akebino Jinin froze for a moment.
"Fuguki, are you talking about Sunagakure or Kirigakure?"
"Kirigakure, of course!"
Suikazan Fuguki said, "We fought against Sunagakure for Kirigakure, but Kirigakure betrayed us."
"A village like that has long since abandoned the original purpose behind the creation of ninja villages."
"It should not continue to exist."
"The Third Mizukage and Yagura are both no good."
"Jinin, I have a plan. Come help me."
Akebino Jinin hesitated slightly.
"What plan?"
"Together, we overthrow Kirigakure and rebuild it."
Akebino Jinin instinctively shook his head.
"Just us? Impossible. How could the two of us possibly overthrow Kirigakure? No matter how weak the current Kirigakure is, it's not something two people can topple."
"Even the Kaguya clan failed."
Suikazan Fuguki smiled.
"Of course it won't be just the two of us. Our strength is far greater than the Kaguya clan's."
"The Kaguya clan were nothing but trash."
"That lord is a legendary ninja with overwhelming strength. Under that lord's leadership, we will not only topple Kirigakure—we may even topple the entire shinobi world."
"The era of ninja villages is already over."
"Ninja villages are obsolete."
"This world needs a new order."
"Jinin, join me."
Akebino Jinin could not help feeling curious.
"Fuguki, who is this lord?"
…
…
Rasa arrived at the entrance of the Mizukage Building.
He raised his head and looked at the towering structure.
Its style was completely different from the Kazekage Building. It was also different from the Hokage Building.
Mist curled all around it, making it difficult to see clearly.
But that was not important.
Rasa had not come here to sightsee.
He had come to question.
"Mizukage-sama, I, Hoshigaki Goki, have doubts!"
"Why must our dignified Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, sell out innocent ninja from our own village and send them to their deaths for the sake of a ceasefire?"
"What wrong has my nephew Hoshigaki Kisame committed?"
"What wrong has Elder Genji committed?"
"What wrong has Akebino Jinin committed?"
"Is doing this for a ceasefire truly right?"
"Are the ninja of Kirigakure afraid of death?"
"If we are afraid of death, then why did we start this war in the first place?"
"I am not afraid to die. Compared to selling out the village's comrades, I would rather fight Sunagakure to the bitter end!"
"And Konoha betrayed Kirigakure and framed Kirigakure. Are we really going to do nothing?"
"How will the world see Kirigakure if this continues?"
"A village that sells out its comrades and refuses to avenge its grudges—can that still be called a proper ninja village?"
Question after question rang out in succession.
Soon, ANBU ninja appeared and surrounded Rasa.
But even more people gathered around.
Like "Hoshigaki Goki," they also had these questions.
Yagura walked out.
He stood atop the Mizukage Building, looking down at everyone from above.
Yagura's gaze landed on "Hoshigaki Goki."
"Hoshigaki Goki!"
"Mizukage-sama."
Yagura remained silent for a moment.
"Your questions are good ones. I believe you are not the only one with such doubts. Other people in the village must have the same doubts. Because even I, the Mizukage who made this decision, have the same doubts."
"I have asked myself countless times why I agreed to Sunagakure's conditions."
"Why I chose to sell out ninja from our own village."
"Why I gave up our dignity and reputation."
"Because I want Kirigakure to survive."
"Not merely as an ordinary village, but as a ninja village with the potential to rise again. That is why I had no choice but to do this."
"To fight Sunagakure to the death would certainly feel satisfying. But what about the future?"
"I am not doing this for myself. I am doing it for the village."
"Selling out comrades pains me as well."
"I am willing to bear every accusation."
"No matter what all of you wish to curse me as, I will accept it all."
Yagura paused.
"I swear to all of you."
"I will do everything in my power to make the village strong again."
"I will pay any price to cultivate the village's ninja."
"One day, Kirigakure will rise again. We will take back everything we have lost. Everything Sunagakure has given us this time, we will return to them in full."
"If I fail to do so, then let me, Yagura, die a miserable death!"
Rasa met Yagura's gaze.
"Then, Mizukage-sama, what about Konoha?"
"Konoha did such an outrageous thing to us. Is Kirigakure truly going to do nothing?"
"If that happens, won't the other ninja villages simply follow their example?"
Yagura frowned slightly.
"I will make my own decision regarding that matter. Hoshigaki Goki, return for now."
"As for Hoshigaki Kisame's matter, allow me to say one thing to the Hoshigaki clan."
"I am sorry."