Hiruzen persuaded me to die

Rain lashed against the towering structure of the Mizukage's building, a symbol of power now hollowed by years of quiet ruin. Inside its austere halls, Hyūga Naraku sat across from the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.

"The Yuki Clan has vanished entirely from Kirigakure," Naraku said, voice cool and unhurried. "At most, a few stragglers might have fled to remote parts of the Land of Water."

He glanced down at the scroll before him. "The Hōzuki Clan is reduced to two brothers—Mangetsu and Suigetsu. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are scattered. Only one blade remains in your hands: the Twin Blades, held by Mangetsu Hōzuki."

Naraku almost chuckled. Kirigakure had been gutted from the inside out.

Yagura, arms crossed, looked away with a sullen expression.

"The village's strength has eroded," Naraku continued. "Of the original Seven Swordsmen, four were killed by Might Duy during the Third Great Ninja War. The others? Jūzō defected. Raiga fled. Kisame... is now with the masked man."

"And financially?" Naraku added. "Completely drained."

Yagura sighed heavily. "The masked man took it all. Resources, secrets, even our trust."

He didn't bother hiding it. What was the point? After what Naraku had done—after the raw power he'd displayed—there was no deception possible.

The Fourth Mizukage had been under genjutsu for years. Even his own Anbu barely respected him now.

"Lord Fourth, Elder Genji requests an audience," a masked Anbu reported from the doorway.

"Let him in," Yagura said with a grimace. "And tell Lady Terumi to join us as well."

Naraku raised a brow, his tone amused. "You've lost even the title of Mizukage. They call you 'Fourth' now."

Yagura remained silent.

"There's a difference," Naraku said lightly. "Calling someone 'Mizukage' means recognizing their authority. Calling them 'Fourth' means remembering what they used to be."

He remembered it clearly from Konoha—how the elders once went from calling Hiruzen 'Lord Hokage'… to simply 'Third'. Then eventually, just 'that old man'.

Yagura didn't argue. How could he? Even his own Anbu no longer hid their disappointment. In this timeline, the genjutsu was public knowledge—there was no use hiding it. Two thousand Konoha shinobi had witnessed the truth. The world would soon know anyway.

The doors creaked open.

An old man entered, hunched and frail, with white hair sparse atop his wrinkled scalp. His eyelids drooped, and for a moment, it was unclear whether he was even awake.

"Elder Genji," Naraku greeted with a respectful nod. "I've long heard of your wisdom."

"Please," the old man rasped. "I'm little more than bones waiting for burial."

But his clouded gaze lingered on Naraku. He had heard the rumors—of a boy who fought like a god, who summoned thousand-meter Buddhas, who tamed Tailed Beasts.

Senju Hashirama had not done such things at this age.

And now, a teenager from Konoha had surpassed even that.

Terumi Mei followed behind, her jade eyes wary as they settled on Naraku. Her silence was heavy, yet respectful.

Yagura observed quietly. Genji's deference was telling—this man, who had once advised Mizukage after Mizukage, bowed his head to a foreign Kage. Not even he, while enthroned, had received such a greeting.

"Don't be surprised, Yagura," Genji murmured, sensing his thoughts. "I once met the First Hokage. I know what kind of man can make even a village bow."

Yagura nodded, bitter but accepting. At least the village wouldn't be razed after his death. That was enough.

"Well," Yagura said aloud, standing, "since we're all here, I'll speak plainly. We must choose the next Mizukage. The sooner the better."

Genji blinked in surprise. "You're resigning?"

"I don't have long," Yagura replied, calm and resolute. "The genjutsu damaged more than just my will. My spirit has been torn. I can feel it. I won't last the year."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Terumi looked stricken. "But you're still strong. You're still—"

"I am dying," Yagura interrupted gently. "And I would rather pass the mantle with dignity than die clinging to a title already lost."

Genji's brows knit tightly, clearly torn. "Terumi Mei has potential, but she's not yet ready—"

"She will be," Yagura said. "She must be."

Then, from the shadows, Naraku spoke.

"I will be taking the Three-Tails."

His voice was quiet. Final.

The words struck like thunder.

"What…?" Genji and Terumi turned to him in shock.

"You've already taken the Fourth Mizukage from us," Terumi said through gritted teeth. "Now the Tailed Beast too? Do you intend to leave us powerless?"

Yagura did not speak.

He had already agreed—reluctantly, but inevitably. He'd seen Naraku's power. He had fought him.

There had never been a choice.

Naraku stepped forward, hands behind his back.

"I'm not here to destroy you," he said calmly. "You should be grateful. I'm giving Kirigakure a chance to rebuild. Without the Three-Tails drawing Akatsuki's attention, your people might actually survive what's coming."

Genji's eyes narrowed. "You speak as if the world is already yours."

"No," Naraku said. "Not yet. But soon."

He looked each of them in the eye.

"The Tailed Beast is mine. I've said my piece. Now—who stands for it, and who stands against?"

His chakra pulsed, like a tidal wave just barely held back.

Yagura bowed his head.

"I will not resist."

Silence.

Then Genji lowered his gaze as well. Terumi remained quiet, hands clenched—but she did not object.

Naraku nodded.

"Wise."

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To be continued.....