"Is that so? We're only half a day away from the Land of Water."
Uchiha Nagi looked out from the boat. In the distance, he could vaguely see a very large island.
For the past few days, Uchiha Nagi had traveled safely. He hadn't encountered any major storms at sea, nor had he been checked by Hidden Mist Ninja.
According to the merchant ship's owner, for the past two years, many merchant ships would complete their transactions at the dock and leave immediately, not daring to stay too long.
This was because the internal situation of Hidden Mist Village was very complex. The Mizukage had purged many Bloodline Limit families, causing a great deal of unease.
However, the merchants' greed meant that even knowing the danger, they couldn't change their nature and still came to Hidden Mist Village to trade... Hidden Mist Village, as an island nation, certainly had land for growing grain on the island. But enduring several Shinobi World Wars without its homeland being affected by the fighting meant its population naturally skyrocketed.
So, in addition to not being self-sufficient in grain, clothing was also an issue. Because many commoners in the Ninja World still wore hemp clothing, the hemp and cloth used to make clothes—the Ninja World didn't have industrial petrochemicals, so it naturally couldn't extract synthetic fibers like polyester—meant clothing also had to be grown from the soil.
In short, as a country entirely composed of islands, the commoners would prioritize growing grain, and then other crops.
Upon reaching the dock, merchants and buyers began to negotiate, and then a group of laborers started unloading the cargo from the ship. Of course, there were also some Ninja patrolling, but they merely took a quick look and left. How could a high-and-mighty Ninja stay long with a group of smelly laborers?
While they were checking, Uchiha Nagi had already secretly snuck off the boat. Perhaps it had been peaceful for too long, and the Hidden Mist Ninja were somewhat complacent, or their attention was focused on the Fourth Mizukage's great purge.
He quietly hid on the dock and then began to gather information... For others, gathering information was difficult, but for Uchiha Nagi, it was too simple. Even Ninja, Chunin, and Genin couldn't withstand the Mangekyo's ocular power. A Mangekyo genjutsu would make them spill everything, even details about wetting the bed as a child.
"Is that so? Due to the Fourth Mizukage's relentless pressure, coupled with Zabuza's assassination attempt as a catalyst, the Kaguya Clan has also decided to launch a rebellion..."
Uchiha Nagi then said to the patrolling Ninja, "Alright, continue your patrol. Remember, you never saw me. Forget about this matter—"
The two patrolling Genin replied blankly, "Okay, we never saw you..."
Even the Genin knew, which indicated that the Kaguya Clan's failure was certain.
The Village's Anbu, Chunin, and Jonin had all been recalled by the Fourth Mizukage, likely preparing to ambush the Kaguya Clan. The Kaguya Clan, like the Uchiha, seemed to have some mental issues, a bit crazed, and launched their rebellion without even a plan.
They bought large quantities of Exploding Tags and weapons, as if afraid others wouldn't know they were about to rebel.
Uchiha Nagi estimated that the Kaguya Clan's rebellion would happen within the next few days. It would be better to infiltrate the Kaguya Clan in advance to find Kimimaro, lest Orochimaru snatch him away.
————
A dark and windy night, perfect for murder and arson.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a barely visible light. Perhaps sensing something, recently, every night, the homes in Hidden Mist Village would tightly close their windows, neither going out nor turning on lights.
Uchiha Nagi had previously obtained a map of Hidden Mist Village. He was now heading to the Kaguya Clan's territory.
The Kaguya Clan was also a major clan in Hidden Mist Village, one of the top noble families. Most of its members were warlike; as long as they awakened Shikotsumyaku, they were basically tanks on the battlefield.
In large-scale battles, they were often the main force. As for each person's Shikotsumyaku, not everyone was as hard as Kimimaro in adulthood, capable of withstanding Gaara's Sand Burial pressure of tens of tons of sand; it depended on individual strength.
But as long as one awakened Shikotsumyaku, even the most ordinary Genin, ordinary kunai, or shuriken, would not be able to kill them.
"Tsk, tsk, I really don't know, don't they understand the principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold'? They allow the manipulated Fourth Mizukage to slaughter the great clans of his own Village." Uchiha Nagi thought for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Should he spread the news that the Fourth Mizukage was being manipulated, just to annoy Obito? He decided on it happily. He would definitely do it before he left. He would feel good and satisfied, and as for making Obito uncomfortable, he would feel even better.
Clearly, the Kaguya Clan had no Kage-level powerhouses, or perhaps all their attribute points were invested in physique, with very few in mental attributes. So Uchiha Nagi infiltrated all the way in without being discovered.
And the Kaguya Clan's periphery had no guards or patrols arranged at all, truly arrogant... He quietly snuck in, searching for their clan's prison.
Looking around, there happened to be a drunkard wildly drinking. Uchiha Nagi jumped down and opened his red eyes.
"Where is your Kaguya Clan's dungeon—"
The drunkard felt dizzy and tearfully said with dull eyes, "It's here, just keep walking west along this corridor..."
Uchiha Nagi then asked, "Is there a child locked up in the dungeon, a child named Kimimaro?"
The drunkard nodded, "Yes... Because Kimimaro awakened his Bloodline Limit at too young an age, the clan head ordered him to be confined in a sealed dungeon to prevent his Bloodline Disease from flaring up..." Uchiha Nagi frowned, and asked curiously, "Bloodline Disease? What's going on?"
The drunkard continued to answer, "The earlier one awakens Shikotsumyaku, the greater their potential, of course. But using Shikotsumyaku too much when the body isn't fully developed is prone to causing Bloodline Disease, which is a genetic disease."
Thinking about it, it made sense. Constantly retracting bones carrying bacteria back into the body... Moreover, those who used the Kaguya Clan's abilities too much were prone to becoming crazed, fighting without regard for their lives, like mentally unstable madmen. So, their clan's dungeon was often prepared for those who easily lost control.
Uchiha Nagi thought for a moment, then let the drunkard continue sleeping, and also made him forget about seeing him.
This also resolved a long-standing doubt for Uchiha Nagi: Kimimaro appeared to be very obedient and was young, so why would the Kaguya Clan's clan head keep him locked in their own dungeon as a trump card weapon?
It turned out it was to protect him, and also to suppress his power, preventing him from growing too quickly and developing Bloodline Disease... "Found him, the only child in the dungeon."
Behind an iron door, in a cell sealed with talismans, there was a white-haired little boy, boredly using a bone to poke in the dirt, drawing circles... [PS: Regarding the bones of Shikotsumyaku, whether they are made of Chakra from the body or derived from human cell division, remains to be studied.]