"Let him come over."
The command came quietly from the Third Kazekage Sand Tie his deep, commanding voice instantly silencing the room.
Soon after, a group of elite and rising stars from Kirigakure entered the room: Momochi Zabuza, Terumi Mei, Ringo Ameyuri, and Mizuki Mitsuhiko. Each bore their unique aura, tempered by blood and mist. Though Zabuza held the title of Deputy Commander of the White Shark Unit, he was well aware it was a personal favor from Mizukage Ryosuke. In truth, his power and authority were not yet comparable to the likes of Ghost Lantern Gengetsu, the legendary Second Mizukage, or even the current high command.
Still, Zabuza bowed deeply and respectfully to Sand Tie, his posture neither arrogant nor submissive just right. Even the Kazekage couldn't find fault.
But then Sand Tie fell silent again. Zabuza's heart, which had just steadied, rose in tension.
(So this is the man Ryosuke-sama trusts…)
"Hmm," Sand Tie murmured, his fingers tapping the edge of his throne. "Not bad. You have the bearing of a shinobi worthy of notice."
"Yes!" Zabuza responded crisply.
This kind of subtle testing was exactly the hallmark of a true Kage.
Sand Tie's sharp eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Wait here while I prepare a reply."
Zabuza gave a firm nod and stepped back. He had no idea what Ryosuke's letter said, but judging by the reaction, it must have been something significant something that could shake the Five Great Nations.
Unlike Sand Tie's fierce and iron-willed temperament, Ryosuke was quiet and composed, like the still depths of the sea. Beneath the surface, though, raged currents of overwhelming force and endless secrets.
"Forgive my intrusion," Zabuza said again as a formality.
"If it's something general, I'll answer truthfully. But if it's Mist's classified intel, I can't say," Zabuza added with measured defiance.
"That won't be necessary," Sand Tie waved off. "I only have one question."
He leaned forward, a strange intensity in his tone.
"What rank would you consider yourself within Mist?"
Zabuza hesitated for a moment, then replied with calm bitterness. "Third-rate."
Sand Tie's brow twitched. He had initially assumed Zabuza was being modest but the man's self-deprecating tone seemed utterly sincere.
Was such a formidable shinobi really only third-rate?
Momochi Zabuza the Demon of the Hidden Mist was already a name feared across nations. From the way he moved, from the confidence in his voice and the silent aura of killing intent around him, Sand Tie knew this was no ordinary ninja.
Zabuza then produced the sealed letter from his chest with both hands and presented it to the Kazekage with ritualistic care. "A personal message from Lord Mizukage."
Sand Tie opened the scroll. As he read the contents, his expression shifted subtly. Line by line, the usually unshakable Third Kazekage's eyes widened in shock.
"This…" he muttered, "is real?"
"I can swear on my life that everything written is true," Zabuza replied firmly.
"Good! Good! Good!!!"
Sand Tie stood suddenly, energized. He paced behind his desk, his mind clearly racing. "So Ryosuke-sama is not only gathering powerful subordinates, but also mobilizing international strategies…"
It now made sense why Mist Shinobi had grown bolder in recent months pushing back against Konoha, resisting the pull of the other great powers, and even covertly influencing events in the Land of Rain.
To Sand Tie, Zabuza's composure, loyalty, and resolve all screamed of future greatness.
"Then I agree to all the terms. You can deliver that to your Mizukage," the Kazekage declared, personally drafting a handwritten reply with a chakra-sealed signature.
Zabuza bowed. "Understood!"
As he prepared to leave, Sand Tie stopped him again.
"I'm curious," the Kazekage said with a smile. "With such strength and poise, why call yourself third-rate?"
Zabuza shook his head with a wry smile. "Because in Mist, first-rate are people like Ghost Lantern Full Moon of Anbu, or Kisame Hoshigaki of the White Shark Unit. Second-rate are people like Yuta Kaguya, captain of Mizukage's guards, and Mitsuhiko, the Enka Blade. Compared to them… I can only be considered third-rate."
Sand Tie's eyes narrowed in thought. What kind of terrifying structure has Ryosuke built beneath Mist?
No longer cut yet stronger than the Jōnin of many villages was barely third-tier?
"Your Lord Ryosuke… he must be extraordinary."
Zabuza nodded solemnly. "He is."
Sand Tie turned to his attendant. "Prepare our reply. Mist is no longer the broken village of the Blood Mist era. It has returned, and this time… it has a purpose."
The reply was sealed, and Zabuza took it with reverent hands.
Outside, the sun blazed down on the desert, but Zabuza's heart remained cold and focused.
He was one piece on a massive board. And the one holding the pieces… was Mizuki Ryosuke.
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