In the Hidden Mist Village, the second generation of the Seven-swords Ninja of the Hidden Mist only had four members: Hoshigaki Kisame, Momochi Zabuza, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Ringo Ameyuri.
Among them, Ringo Ameyuri happened to be the last to become a member of the Seven-swords Ninja, and the lightning blade in her hand was the last of the seven ninja blades that Uehara Naraku needed to defeat.
Since he received news about her here, Uehara naturally couldn't miss the opportunity. Besides wanting to complete the task, he also wanted to recruit Ringo Ameyuri into the Akatsuki.
After all, it was mutually beneficial.
Besides Uehara Naraku, it's estimated that no one else could cure Ringo Ameyuri's illness.
After Uehara Naraku and Karin, led by Yakushi Kabuto, finished touring Orochimaru's Northern Base, they didn't stay long and returned to the Hidden Rain Village.
Originally, Uehara Naraku wanted to bring Jugo, who was imprisoned in the Northern Base, back, but Yakushi Kabuto needed the natural energy in Jugo's body to increase his probability of mastering Sage Mode, so it was left at that.
After returning to the Hidden Rain Village.
Karin immediately rushed to the Akatsuki base to convey Uehara Naraku's order and the matter of rescuing Hozuki Suigetsu to Hozuki Mangetsu. After receiving the news about his brother, Hozuki Mangetsu wasted no time and hurried back to the Hidden Mist Village.
On a dark and windy night.
The Hidden Mist Village was still veiled in mist.
Terumi Mei sat in the Mizukage's office. After temporarily assuming the Mizukage's duties, her schedule had gradually become a bit irregular.
Lately, Terumi Mei had been feeling rather troubled.
Because not long ago, Hozuki Mangetsu's brother, Hozuki Suigetsu, left the village for two months without permission. He almost ended up on the rogue ninja wanted list, and she had to expend a lot of effort to smooth this matter over.
A few days ago, Hozuki Suigetsu finally returned.
But the first thing this brat did upon returning was to anger Terumi Mei by asking her if she knew an old flame named Naraku!
This kid was getting harder to manage as he grew older!
Just as Terumi Mei rubbed her temples in headache, a stream of water suddenly slipped in through the crack of the Mizukage's office door, flowing against the current onto Terumi Mei's desk. Such a precise operation was not something an ordinary Water Release Ninja could achieve!
To date, only Hozuki Mangetsu would use this method to deliver messages.
Terumi Mei watched as the stream of water gradually formed into a thumb-sized human shape on her desk. The little water figure spoke to Terumi Mei, "Senior, I received information about Suigetsu from Lord Naraku and learned that Ringo Ameyuri is seriously ill. So, I rushed back to take her for treatment. I'll take her to a powerful medical ninja and have her return once she is cured."
After speaking, the small water figure immediately turned back into a stream of water, evidently having exhausted its chakra.
Just as Terumi Mei finished listening, she was about to head to the Hidden Mist Hospital when a piercing scream echoed throughout the Hidden Mist Village!
"Hozuki Mangetsu, one day I will kill you!"
From the sound of it, it was Hozuki Mangetsu's brother, Hozuki Suigetsu!
Terumi Mei's expression immediately changed, and she hurried towards the direction of the sound, only to see a heavily injured Hozuki Suigetsu, a fourteen-year-old boy desperately shouting at a tall building!
Just a moment ago.
Hozuki Mangetsu had infiltrated the Hidden Mist Hospital, attacked the seriously ill Ringo Ameyuri, captured her, and defeated his own brother, Hozuki Suigetsu, in the process.
After doing all this, Hozuki Mangetsu did not leave.
Now, Hozuki Mangetsu stood atop that tall building.
In his hand, he held the seriously ill Ringo Ameyuri, looking down at his despairing brother on the ground with a face full of indifference: "Still so foolish, Suigetsu. The Hozuki family has always had their eyes on the seven ninja blades. I thought you would kill this woman, take her lightning blade, and come seek revenge against me, but unexpectedly, you foolishly stayed by her side to watch over her..."
"Bastard! None of your damn business!"
Hozuki Suigetsu drew a ninja blade from a nearby unconscious Hidden Mist Ninja and was about to charge toward the tall building, but his strength failed him after only a few steps. He fell to his knees, barely propping himself up with the blade to avoid collapsing!
Even though unable to fight, Hozuki Suigetsu's spirit refused to be weaker than his brother's, his face full of madness: "Hozuki Mangetsu, I told you, bastard, put her down!"
"Rest assured."
Hozuki Mangetsu, observing Suigetsu's actions, snorted coldly.
Hozuki Mangetsu lowered his gaze to Ringo Ameyuri in his hand: "As someone acknowledged by the thunder blade, I will give her enough respect, but I will also make her see the truth. Any ninja blade will only be loyal to the Hozuki family!"
"I told you to put her down!"
The chakra within Hozuki Suigetsu finally erupted completely, transforming him into a large water giant reaching for Hozuki Mangetsu on the high building!
Yet, Hozuki Mangetsu, standing atop the high building, nonchalantly raised his arm and swung his fist towards the incoming giant: "Water Release: Great Water Arm Jutsu!"
Bang!
Splash!
A sound of splashing echoed!
The massive water giant was knocked to the ground with one punch, reverting to Hozuki Suigetsu's form, his strength completely exhausted.
Before falling unconscious, the last scene Hozuki Suigetsu saw was his brother Hozuki Mangetsu with a disdainful smile, and the approaching Terumi Mei. At least with this old woman Terumi Mei around, safety was assured.
Hozuki Suigetsu completely passed out.
Terumi Mei landed beside Hozuki Suigetsu, checking his body for injuries. Once satisfied he was unharmed, she looked up at Hozuki Mangetsu in the air: "Hey, if you keep bullying him every time, even if I reveal the truth in the future, he'll hold a grudge against you!"
"I'm not concerned."
Hozuki Mangetsu shook his head, leaping down beside them, speaking softly: "If possible, I hope he never learns the truth."
"You're quite the responsible brother!"
Terumi Mei rubbed her forehead, glancing at Ringo Ameyuri in Hozuki Mangetsu's hand, and said quietly: "I originally intended to send Ringo Ameyuri to Konoha soon to have the Fifth Hokage treat her, but Lady Tsunade, upon hearing her condition, admitted there was nothing she could do to cure her..."
Given the alliance between Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village, Terumi Mei could ask Tsunade for help, but truthfully, Tsunade was powerless against Ringo Ameyuri's illness.
After Hozuki Mangetsu nodded, he looked at his brother on the ground: "After I learned about this from Lord Naraku, I asked him for assistance. Lord Naraku himself is a medical ninja not inferior to Lady Tsunade..."
"Uehara Naraku, huh?"
Terumi Mei frowned slightly, speaking softly: "I met him once during the Allied Nations conference. Did you tell him everything?"
"Yes."
Hozuki Mangetsu nodded: "Lord Naraku is a trustworthy friend. Though his personality can be harsh, if one treats him sincerely and earns his recognition, he becomes a very easy-going friend."
Terumi Mei looked at Hozuki Mangetsu speechlessly, shaking her head: "But I can't see any friendly traits in him... Could you have been tricked by him?"
"That's absolutely impossible."
Hozuki Mangetsu's face darkened immediately.
After some conversation, Hozuki Mangetsu fulfilled his routine of leaking some information about Akatsuki, but this time it was good news for Terumi Mei.
The structure within the Akatsuki organization is relatively simple.
Uchiha Obito is the true leader behind Akatsuki, with all members only following him for either power or money, devoid of any real loyalty.
All the members have been tested by Hozuki Mangetsu, and in fact, they hardly care about Uchiha Obito's orders.
After such a long time, Terumi Mei finally received good news: "So, if we kill Uchiha Obito, Akatsuki will immediately face the threat of disbandment?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Hozuki Mangetsu nodded with hesitation.
Although Hozuki Mangetsu didn't understand why Uehara Naraku wanted him to say such things, he had to follow his superior's orders.
"There's one more thing."
Hozuki Mangetsu slowly raised his head, looking at Terumi Mei in front of him, solemnly speaking: "If the Three-tailed Isobu is reborn in the Land of Water, senior must send all the village's ninjas to guard near Isobu. Otherwise, if Akatsuki captures the Three-tails, the consequences will be disastrous!"
This message was specifically delivered by Karin.
By reasoning, capturing a tailed beast should be easier with fewer enemies, so why would Uehara Naraku suggest the Hidden Mist Village's ninjas all dispatch? What if Lord Uehara himself is an undercover agent from another village?