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The capture of Yagura left Midorima feeling exasperated. After all, there was a significant difference between Kirigakure possessing two tailed beasts and having none at all. While he now held the Six-Tails, he had no desire to be tethered to the village because of it, let alone pledge his life to its service.
The survivors of Kirigakure, people like Mei Terumī, wisely chose not to confront him directly on this matter. If Midorima hadn't returned when he did, the village's losses would have been far greater. Furthermore, for a long period beforehand, the Six-Tails hadn't been in the village anyway; they had grown accustomed to its absence. More importantly, judging by the sheer scale of Midorima's battle with the Six-Tails, it was clear that no one currently in Kirigakure possessed the power to stop him if he chose to leave.
"How much longer do I have?" Ameyuri, seated cross-legged on her hospital bed, looked to be in good spirits. However, after her fierce confrontation with Zabuza, the chakra within her felt even more fragile and depleted than before. As Midorima began his examination, she couldn't help but ask the question that weighed heaviest on her mind.
Midorima's gaze drifted towards the ceiling of the tent, his lips moving silently as if he were calculating her remaining time. Ameyuri watched him intently, her anxiety palpable. She wasn't afraid of death itself, but knowing it could descend at any moment made facing it with equanimity a difficult challenge.
Finally, Midorima took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on her.
"So... how long?" she pressed.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" Midorima asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
"..."
Wordlessly, Ameyuri pointed a firm finger towards the entrance of the tent. "Get out!"
After making her worry like that! She gritted her teeth, annoyance clear on her face. But Midorima didn't leave. Instead, he seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking. "I can't cure your illness. I was a medical ninja once, but over the years, my skills in that area haven't advanced. To survive out there, I had to focus on becoming stronger in other ways. Still, even with my limited expertise, I know your condition is incredibly difficult to treat..."
Ameyuri let out a small, resigned laugh. "I figured as much... But I've made my peace with it. Dying isn't so scary, is it? In the end, everyone meets the same fate."
"However, what about others in the future who might suffer from a similar sickness? And besides... it might not be entirely untreatable."
Although Midorima had studied medical ninjutsu under Shimomura for over a year, Kirigakure's overall standard in that field was limited. It was adequate for treating common injuries, but when it came to complex diseases, they simply couldn't compare to a village like Konoha.
"You're just saying that to make me feel better." Ameyuri coughed heavily.
"I know Tsunade. After some time passes, I'll arrange for you to go see her," Midorima offered.
"You'd do that for me?" Ameyuri asked, surprised.
Midorima smiled but didn't elaborate. Medical skills, unlike other forms of ninjutsu, required patients to truly advance. In other words, Ameyuri should be prepared for the possibility of being something of a test subject if she went to Tsunade. And if even Tsunade couldn't help, well, there was always Yakushi Kabuto to consider.
Just then, Zabuza appeared at the tent's entrance and cleared his throat. When Midorima turned, he gestured urgently for him to come out.
Once outside, Zabuza lowered his voice. "There's a meeting."
"Then let them meet. What's it got to do with me?"
"Actually, Igawa Bu is dead. When they found him, his body was almost completely submerged in the Six-Tails' acidic slime. They could only identify him by his personal effects."
"How unfortunate," Midorima remarked, though his tone lacked genuine regret. While Igawa's death was inevitable, it robbed them of the chance for a proper trial and to officially condemn his crimes.
"So, the village may never know the full truth. We have some understanding of the Akatsuki, but nothing compared to what you know. And besides, there are other matters that concern you directly..." Zabuza trailed off, hinting at something left unsaid.
Puzzled, Midorima followed Zabuza through the devastated village. Seeing nearly a third of the buildings reduced to rubble and so many people left homeless weighed heavily on his heart. He wondered silently if there was any way he could truly help. The Mizukage's building had also been destroyed during the previous night's chaos, so the Elder's residence was now serving as a temporary meeting place.
The room wasn't crowded. Besides Mei and Elder Genji, only Hōzuki Mangetsu and Kawakita Makoto were present. Including Midorima and Zabuza, there were six people in total. Despite the small number, they represented four distinct factions with their own agendas: Midorima stood alone; Mei and the Elder represented the established village hierarchy; Mangetsu and Zabuza represented the rogue ninja; and Makoto spoke for the villagers who had been persecuted and driven to rebellion.
Each side had its own interests to protect and advance. Before Midorima even entered, heated arguments were already underway. Makoto's face was flushed with emotion; Mei's expression was stern, yet shadowed with guilt. The debate paused briefly when Midorima arrived, allowing Makoto to take a sip of water. Once Midorima was seated, the discussion resumed, though it was marginally more subdued than before.
Listening for a while, Midorima grasped the core issue: how to resolve the deep-seated conflict between the rebels and the established village. To be honest, it was an incredibly difficult problem. Destroying something was simple; rebuilding trust and repairing the damage was monumentally hard. The key obstacle was the absence of a mutually trusted intermediary to facilitate meaningful negotiations. At its heart, this conflict erupted because one side had been profoundly wronged.
As Midorima observed the tense dynamics, wondering how things would unfold, he suddenly noticed Mei, the Elder, and even Makoto all turn their gaze towards him. A wave of unease washed over him instantly.
"What? Please, continue. I'm a bit shy, you know. All this attention is making me uncomfortable." Midorima averted his eyes, staring fixedly at the ceiling.
"No, we need your help," Mei stated directly.
"Hmm?"
"Things have reached this terrible state. Someone has to be held accountable. Igawa Bu is dead, the Fourth Mizukage has been taken, which leaves the Third Mizukage... Surely, someone must take responsibility for this tragedy, don't you think?" the Elder inquired, his tone probing.
"The Fourth Mizukage is almost certainly dead already," Midorima explained.
"I saw the masked man take him with my own eyes," Mei corrected.
"You don't understand their objective. They're after the tailed beasts. Once they have the Fourth Mizukage, they'll extract the Three-Tails from his body... So, as far as I'm concerned, he's as good as dead. There's no bringing him back. As for the Third Mizukage, yes, he should bear responsibility for creating the 'Blood Mist Village.' But making a man who has lost his own will and consciousness answer for these consequences feels wrong. Personally, I think it would be more meaningful to punish the ninja who abused their power for years. Besides, wouldn't the rebels feel cheated, like their suffering was just brushed aside?" Midorima countered.
The Third Mizukage had helped him in the past, and part of Midorima wished he could somehow help him now. But the final decision rested with the rebels, especially people like Makoto. He certainly wouldn't presume to tell them to simply forgive and forget. He had no right to do that.
"And let's be realistic—can sacrificing one man, the Third Mizukage, truly erase the hatred between both sides? I think that's a rather naive expectation, isn't it?" Midorima added, his point hanging heavy in the air.