"You say you encountered Konoha's White Fang?"
The Commander-in-Chief of the Mist frontline base was Genji (Yuan Shi), a highly respected elder of Kirigakure. In the original story, he remained alive all the way until Terumi Mei took over as the Fifth Mizukage.
"Correct!"
Terumi Mei nodded, then glanced at Yagyu with a gaze containing a hint of awe.
"The reason we managed to return alive from the White Fang's grasp is that Yagyu displayed immense power."
She reported Yagyu's formidable performance to Genji, feeling that a talent like his should not be buried.
"Oh?"
Genji looked surprised, casting an inquiring gaze toward Yagyu.
He knew about Yagyu's situation. This boy was supposed to be the biggest slacker in the Hidden Mist.
When Yagyu obtained the Kizaru template, he also inherited Kizaru's monstrous talent.
While the power of Kizaru had to be unlocked slowly through the template, the talent was inherited the moment he acquired the system.
In the world of One Piece, Kizaru's talent was absolutely top-tier.
The Admiral-level strength that others risked their lives and exerted maximum effort to achieve, Kizaru attained with a slacker attitude and casual effort. You couldn't find the word
"hard work" i
n Kizaru's dictionary; he was a pure natural genius.
One shouldn't assume Kizaru's strength came solely from the Glint-Glint Fruit. Even without it, he would still be an Admiral-level combatant. He could hold his own against powerhouses like Rayleigh and Zephyr using swordsmanship alone.
Whether it was swordsmanship technique or physical durability, Kizaru was at the Admiral level.
Therefore, having inherited this talent, Yagyu was one of the top geniuses in Kirigakure.
Although his aptitude for Ninjutsu wasn't anything special, his talent for Taijutsu and Kenjutsu (Swordsmanship) was shocking.
Perhaps in other villages, this specific skillset wouldn't be prioritized, but in the Hidden Mist—home to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—this was a highly sought-after talent.
Unfortunately, Yagyu was always imitating Kizaru, showing no interest in anything. This
"salted fish"
personality left the Mist high command unsure of how to handle him.
"The Hidden Mist didn't become the 'Village of the Bloody Mist' solely because of Obito Uchiha's efforts. After all, he only controlled the Mizukage,"
Yagyu mused internally.
"Without a foundation among the masses, the Mizukage couldn't have enforced the Bloody Mist policies. Policies that are too extreme would naturally face resistance."
In short, the Hidden Mist Village admired ruthless and violent ninja. A slacker personality like Yagyu's wasn't exactly something they respected.
However, since Terumi Mei claimed that Yagyu possessed the strength to repel Konoha's White Fang...
Then no matter how much the higher-ups of the Mist disliked his attitude, they had to acknowledge his existence.
"If that's the case, then let the Seven Ninja Swordsmen test your strength!"
After pondering for a moment, Genji made his decision.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen? Every single one of them is strong as a monster... how scary~"
Yagyu spoke with a helpless expression, looking completely reluctant.
He shot a glance at Terumi Mei, silently blaming her for being a busybody.
Terumi Mei seemed to understand Yagyu's look perfectly and said to him with a serious face,
"With such powerful talent and strength, you shouldn't let it go to waste."
Terumi Mei was an ambitious woman.
If she lacked ambition, she never would have become the Fifth Mizukage.
So, upon witnessing Yagyu's strength, she felt a sense of frustration at his lack of drive—like watching iron fail to become steel.
If she had his talent and power, she would have long since been competing for the position of Fourth Mizukage.
The Third Mizukage of the Mist was already old and frail.
Barring any surprises, once this Ninja War concluded, the Third would step down.
Knowing she currently lacked the power to compete for the position of the Fourth, Terumi Mei decided to help Yagyu become the Fourth Mizukage instead.
Supporting a Mizukage's rise to power would bring her plenty of benefits; it was another way to realize her ambitions.
Yagyu pursed his lips.
"But I just want to live a salaried slacker life, clocking in and out. That's the most comfortable life there is."
Terumi Mei felt a fire rising in her chest. Is that something a human being should say?
"No! You absolutely cannot waste your talent!" she shouted.
Yagyu shrugged, too lazy to argue with her.
He didn't want to waste his talent either, and he certainly wouldn't.
But to gain sufficient strength, he had to maintain this specific persona.
Sigh!
The path to becoming strong was so complicated... and hypocritical!
Hmm!
"Hypocritical"
was a good word. Yagyu felt he was starting to sound like a village higher-up already.
...
"Genji, you want us to fight this brat?"
Fuguki Suikazan, carrying the Samehada on his shoulder, looked Yagyu up and down before speaking to Genji with a mocking expression.
The ninja of the Hidden Mist were notoriously disunited; teammates killing each other was a common occurrence.
The organizational structure was chaotic, and powerful ninja like the Seven Swordsmen lacked respect for the village leadership.
Yagyu was used to this. He stood loosely opposite the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, hands in his pockets.
Genji spoke coldly,
"Do not underestimate him. He repelled Konoha's White Fang. It's possible that even if you all attack together, you won't be his match!"
Fuguki Suikazan shouted exaggeratedly,
"This brat repelled the White Fang? Genji, you really have gone senile. To believe such nonsense!"
Jūzō Biwa grinned.
"Alright! Fuguki, save the chatter. We're all busy, let's get this over with quickly!"
Jūzō stepped forward, drawing the Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) and pointing it at Yagyu with a sneer.
"I can handle him alone. Though, if I accidentally cut him in half, don't blame me."
Genji glanced at Yagyu.
Yagyu pursed his lips. "Cut me in two? Ooh, how terrifying~ Jūzō Biwa... you look just like a monster."
A low chuckle rippled through the crowd. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were indeed a group of strange-looking individuals.
Jūzō was annoyed. "You're asking for death!"
Whoosh!
Using the Body Flicker Technique, Jūzō appeared beside Yagyu in an instant. The Executioner's Blade roared through the air, slashing horizontally at Yagyu's waist.
Pfft!
Sliced in two. Yagyu's upper body and lower body separated instantly, falling limply to the ground.
"So scary! You really cut me in half... what a cruel heart you have!"
Yagyu lay on the ground, screaming in an exaggerated tone.
However, the expressions of the others suddenly turned grave. The severed Yagyu wasn't bleeding; the cross-section was glowing with golden light.
The particles of light converged, reforming into Yagyu's shape, leaving him looking completely unharmed.