Naruto: Starting as a Defector in The Hidden Mist Village

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Midorima adjusted the flat-rimmed glasses perched on his nose and stroked the small mustache glued above his lip—his appearance was now drastically different from before. 

However, over the past two days, his body had been in recovery mode. During this time, he had expended a massive amount of chakra, and his need for food had skyrocketed. 

At a noodle shop, the owner stared in disbelief as the seemingly refined young man devoured five bowls of ramen in a decidedly unrefined manner. The owner nearly doubted his own eyes and only snapped out of his shock when Midorima left, hastily scooping up the money left on the table. 

Next stop: the Land of Water. 

… 

That night, Asachi Midorima had narrowly escaped death. 

After being struck by Shinra Tensei a second time, he was slammed by the torrential currents that had also been repelled by the technique. The sheer volume and force of the water far surpassed that of an ordinary Water Release jutsu. 

After being battered by the impact, Midorima lost consciousness. When he woke up, it was dawn, and he found himself lying on a beach. 

If not for the multiple fractures throughout his body, he might have convinced himself that the previous night's ordeal had been nothing more than a nightmare. 

He attempted to use chakra to heal his injuries but found his reserves critically depleted. Forced to drag himself forward, he moved away from Kirigakure as best he could. 

While the [Catalysis Chamber] continuously worked to mend his wounds, he also had to plan his next move. 

The Akatsuki had already clashed with Yagura, which meant there was a high likelihood that Yagura was under genjutsu. As for the Third Mizukage… 

To be blunt, if the Third was dead, overthrowing the "Blood Mist Village" would be as difficult as it had been in the manga. But if the Third was still alive and under Obito's control—even with Mei Terumī's involvement—Midorima wasn't optimistic about her ability to end Yagura's reign. 

As for Igawa Bu, the man who had conspired with Akatsuki, he would undoubtedly do everything in his power to cover up his actions. With both the Third and Fourth Mizukage under control, Midorima was the only one who knew the truth. The moment Igawa returned, his first priority would be to eliminate Midorima. 

Even if Midorima chose to go back, Igawa could easily pin the blame on him. Yagura, still under genjutsu, would unquestionably support Igawa. 

In that scenario, Midorima wouldn't even get a chance to speak before being executed. 

After weighing his options, fleeing was clearly the more reliable choice over returning to Kirigakure. 

Besides, he owed Kirigakure nothing. 

However, Kirigakure was unique in one major aspect. 

Unlike Konoha, Kumogakure, or Sunagakure—which could be escaped by land—Kirigakure was situated on an island, meaning the only way out was by ship. 

And not just any small boat—preferably a large sailing vessel. 

This set of conditions made Midorima's escape significantly more difficult. 

To prevent him from fleeing, all Igawa had to do was control the docks. 

Midorima visited several ports, only to find every one of them locked down. Cargo ships were anchored offshore, with no chance of docking. 

It was in one of these villages that Midorima, using his medical skills, treated a portly villager and earned a few hundred ryo, along with a free meal. 

But as soon as he left the village, he sensed someone tailing him. It was clear Igawa had already distributed wanted posters to this area. 

Seizing an opportunity, Midorima ambushed his pursuer, beat him unconscious, and relieved him of five thousand ryo. 

With this money, he bought new clothes and a few disguise tools. 

As a shinobi, basic disguise techniques were a must. 

Thanks to the accelerated healing from medical ninjutsu and the [Catalysis Chamber], Midorima's fractured ribs were gradually mending. Still, even with both methods working in tandem, full recovery would take several more days. 

Next came the disguise. 

From the powder used to alter his skin tone to the prosthetic accessories, every detail was meticulously chosen. 

With round black-framed glasses, a tanned complexion, green-colored contacts, and a fake mustache glued above his lip, Midorima now looked nothing like his former self. 

Even those familiar with him would struggle to recognize him at a glance. 

This gave him a much-needed boost of confidence. 

After polishing off five bowls of noodles, Midorima continued toward the Land of Water. 

Since Kirigakure had locked down all nearby ports, the only way off the island was through the Land of Water itself. 

The Land of Water had far more docks—over twenty capable of berthing thousand-ton fishing vessels—and passenger ships often shared ports with fishing boats in the same villages. 

This was due to the country's limited landmass, but for Midorima, it worked in his favor. 

More ships meant Igawa would have to waste considerable time searching for him. 

With a bit of luck, he might already be on a ship before Igawa even realized it. 

Of course, this was all just wishful thinking in Midorima's head. 

The largest port city in the Land of Water was Suiyou Town, known for its fishing industry. However, due to its proximity to the capital, it also attracted a steady stream of tourists. 

Besides an abundance of seafood, the town was famous for its artisans who crafted exquisite shell handicrafts. These intricate pieces were highly sought after, even in other nations. 

Though the town was as bustling as ever, security had visibly tightened. 

Two rows of guards stood at the entrance, meticulously comparing each passerby to the wanted posters in their hands. 

Midorima had seen the poster—it featured a photo of him from the Chunin Exams, but as a grainy black-and-white image, the resemblance to his current disguise was minimal. 

When it was his turn, the guard gave him only a cursory glance before waving him through. 

In Suiyou Town, the fishing docks and passenger docks were separate. 

While stowing away on a fishing boat was an option, those vessels typically only carried the captain and crew. If discovered, there'd be no way to blend in. 

Worse, if the boat caught fish and decided to return, Midorima would end up right back where he started. 

Thus, passenger ships were his primary target. But due to the manhunt, purchasing a ticket now required identification—a problem he hadn't anticipated. 

Fortunately, a solution soon presented itself. 

Forging documents? For a shinobi, that was child's play. 

If he swiped someone's ID, even if the owner noticed, it'd take hours to report—by then, he'd already be on board. 

After scouting for a while, Midorima spotted a man with a similar build and a mustache. A quick sleight of hand later, and the ID was his. 

"Destination?" The ticket clerk glanced at the ID before handing it back. 

Midorima scanned the departure schedule and spotted a passenger ship bound for the Land of Fire leaving in two hours. "The earliest one to the Land of Fire." 

The clerk handed him the ticket. 

Just then, commotion erupted in the streets. 

He turned to see a group of shinobi escorting a man through the crowd. 

"Deputy Chief, should we search here first?" 

Igawa?! 

Midorima's grip on the ticket tightened. 

"Idiot! Do you really think he'd be stupid enough to flee on a passenger ship? Check the fishing docks first!" Igawa barked, leading the ANBU squad toward the fishing port.