As they neared Toga Port, Sarutobi Shinnosuke asked,
"Einosuke, has the Water Country intelligence come in?"
Einosuke replied,
"Our agents report that Kirigakure has already dispatched an elite unit. Their target isn't the Land of Whirlpools—it's Toga Port in the Land of Fire."
"Just as the Whirlpools Daimyō feared… they're taking advantage of the situation," Shinnosuke said coldly.
"Attacking Toga Port is even less acceptable."
"We must handle this crisis properly—no room for the Fire Daimyō to criticize us."
In the shallow waters outside Toga Port—
One by one, Mist ninja surfaced.
Only their heads broke the water as they observed the harbor in the distance.
As the mouth of the Naka River, Toga Port saw hundreds of ships entering and leaving each day.
Soon, they spotted a large vessel—
A towering ship bearing the crest of the Fire Daimyō's family.
If they sank a dozen of those ships—
The Daimyō would inevitably reduce Konoha's missions.
In the past, such infiltration missions were dangerous.
But now—
Konoha wouldn't have the strength to monitor or pursue them over long distances.
Strike once—
Then retreat.
That was Kirigakure's plan.
On a ship further away—
Several high-ranking figures from the Mist stood together.
Yagura.
And the clan heads of the Hōzuki, Kaguya, and Terumi clans.
Hōzuki Miyatsuki, the Hōzuki clan head, cast a sideways glance at Yagura, who was commanding the operation.
Yagura was a prodigy raised by Elder Gensui after the Second Shinobi War.
Born with immense chakra reserves.
He had even inherited Gensui's Water Mirror Technique.
Gensui had long allowed tensions between bloodline clans and civilian ninja—
Using talented commoners to balance the bloodline clans.
Miyatsuki acknowledged Yagura's talent.
But still—
Being ordered around by such a young upstart left a bad taste in his mouth.
He spoke,
"Yagura, instead of just sinking ships, why not attack the Konoha outposts near Toga Port?"
"If we destroy those strongholds, Konoha will retaliate by attacking our bases in the Land of Waves."
"When that happens, we crush their counterattack."
"If Konoha can't even protect its own ports—how can it protect the Land of Whirlpools?"
"The mission shares we couldn't get during the Second War… we might secure them after just a few exchanges."
Yagura let out a cold laugh.
He knew things Miyatsuki didn't.
Konoha's new Foreign Affairs Advisor, Sarutobi Shinnosuke—
Had just left the Land of Whirlpools.
He might arrive at Toga Port at any moment.
What mattered wasn't fighting over strongholds.
It was testing Shinnosuke.
His ability.
His attitude.
So what if he was the Hokage's son?
If he had to die—he would die.
If Shinnosuke showed weakness—
Then Konoha was truly declining.
And they could begin carving it apart piece by piece.
Yagura said calmly,
"Miyatsuki, tactics are not your concern."
"I'm in command."
"We follow my plan."
"Sink the Daimyō's ships first."
"Make him feel the pain."
Miyatsuki said nothing further.
In his eyes—
This was childish.
Sinking ships alone wouldn't achieve much.
Like children fighting.
The group stared at the large vessel in the distance.
But soon—
Something felt off.
Too long.
Why was it taking so long to sink a single ship?
The vessel had Konoha guards—
But they hadn't even noticed infiltration beneath the hull.
Those sent were elite Hōzuki ninja—
Capable of using the Hydrification Technique.
Something was wrong.
Then—
Behind the large ship—
Fish began leaping wildly.
A sign of sudden food in the water.
Moments later—
Bloody corpses surfaced.
Everyone turned to Miyatsuki.
He frowned.
"How does a Daimyō's ship have guards strong enough to silently kill my clan's Tokubetsu jōnin?"
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
The voice came—
But the attack arrived faster.
A razor-thin stream of water shot forward—
Cutting from stern to bow—
Splitting the Mist ninja's ship clean in two.
Some unlucky ninja—
Standing at the center—
Were cut in half along with the ship.
The Mist ninja leapt into the air, landing on the sea's surface.
The split hull tilted—
Then slowly sank beneath the waves.
They had come to sink ships—
And instead, their own vessel went under first.
Looking back—
They saw a group approaching across the water.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke appeared in a Body Flicker—
Landing before them.
"Kirigakure."
"You've infiltrated a Fire Country port."
"Attacked the Daimyō's ship."
"Are you declaring war on Konoha?"
The Mist ninja all looked toward Yagura.
"Advisor Shinnosuke… your speed is impressive," Yagura said lightly.
"Or perhaps… our movements were leaked."
"If I find the traitor… I won't let them live."
He then smirked.
"As for you—Sarutobi Shinnosuke."
"Instead of dealing with your rogue Uchiha Madara… you came here?"
"A second-generation who rose through his surname—"
"You really think you're qualified to be an advisor?"
"Konoha has truly fallen."
"They'll let anyone take the position now."
Yako immediately stepped forward, fury in his voice.
"My lord! There's no need to waste words!"
"They dared attack the Daimyō's ship!"
"Red-handed!"
"Kill them all!"
"Leave none alive—let Kirigakure learn their lesson!"
His words implied one thing clearly—
Their side was overwhelmingly strong.
Nara Kyoichi froze for a moment.
Vice Commander… are you misunderstanding something?
That's Yagura—Gensui's disciple.
Three bloodline clan heads.
And over a dozen elite Mist ninja.
But Yako's killing intent was terrifyingly real.
It instantly provoked the Kaguya clan head.
With a cold snort, he stepped forward—
Bones erupted from his arm—
And he fired them like bullets.
The battle erupted.
Yako surged forward.
Today—
He had to kill at least one of their key figures.
To establish Shinnosuke's authority.
And once that happened—
Kirigakure would seek revenge.
And Yako couldn't stay by Shinnosuke's side forever.
…Just thinking about it made things interesting.
The Kaguya clan head charged first.
Bone spikes extended from his arms—
Turning his fists into spiked maces.
Yako pulled out a scroll.
With a puff of smoke—
A massive broadsword appeared in his hand.
He moved.
So fast—
He crossed the sea in an instant.
The half-meter-wide blade—
Crashed into the Kaguya's chest.
Bones burst outward in defense—
But—
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The clan head's eyes widened in horror.
His bones—
Were breaking.
Like dry twigs.
Not just the outer bones—
Even his ribs shattered.
His chest caved inward—
And he was sent flying across the sea like a cannonball.
Only then—
Did the shockwave from Yako's movement reach the others.
Nearby Mist ninja had their faces distorted by the force.
Yagura immediately raised his iron staff, embedded with a green flower.
For the first time—
He regretted provoking Shinnosuke.
According to intelligence—
Shinnosuke was the former superior of the Copper Fox.
But this…
This level of ferocity—
Was beyond expectation.
Even he doubted he could block that blade.
Far away—
The Kaguya clan head floated weakly.
Gasping.
Trying to force his bones to reform—
To support his crushed chest.
Then—
Darkness fell over him.
Someone blocked the sun.
A figure appeared beside him in an instant.
"As expected… a tough body."
"Fitting for a clan descended from the Sage of Six Paths."
Yako's iron vine lashed out—
Binding him—
Lifting him into the air.
The vine drained his chakra.
Yako leapt upward—
Broadsword raised.
All chakra—
Focused into his arm.
He swung.
Monster Strength.
After revealing everything to Tsunade—
She had allowed him to study the Senju clan's sealing texts.
He had learned it.
Combined with the indestructible Senju broadsword—
The result was absolute.
Only this blade—
Could withstand such power.
The Mist ninja watched—
Horrified—
As the blade fell.
The Kaguya clan head—
Was split in half.
Not cut—
Crushed apart.
Organs.
Bone.
Everything—
Exploded into the air.
His reinforced skeleton—
Was meaningless before that blade.
A clan that dominated Kirigakure—
Its leader—
Killed in just a few exchanges.
Yako landed—
Broadsword in hand—
His gaze swept the battlefield like a blade.
The pressure alone—
Distorted the Mist ninja's movements.
"Retreat!" Yagura shouted.
Wasn't Konoha supposed to be weakened?
Then why—
Did they lose a clan head instantly?
Yako charged again.
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
Yagura formed a mirror.
Within it—
Yako saw his own reflection.
The mirror's chakra—
Formed a perfect duplicate.
Mask.
Blade.
Everything identical.
They collided.
Yako's pupils shrank.
What kind of absurd ability was this?
The clone—
Matched him perfectly.
Stopping him cold.
Yagura exhaled in relief.
The Water Mirror Technique—
Was absolute.
But then—
Yako released the Ten Seal on his hand.
Chakra surged.
His second strike—
Shattered the mirror.
The clone collapsed.
But when he looked again—
The Mist ninja had already vanished beneath the sea.
Nara Kyoichi sighed in relief.
It was over.
The ocean was their domain.
Once submerged—
There was nothing to be done.
But then—
He saw Yako forming hand seals.
The Mist had already disappeared into the water.
Did he still have a move left?
"Wood Release: Tree World Wall!"