In the original story, Momochi Zabuza defected because he wanted to change Kirigakure's face, attempting to assassinate the Mizukage.
But he failed and had to flee.
Even so, he kept taking mercenary jobs, amassing wealth.
He aimed to recruit talent and launch another assault on Kirigakure to reform it.
Tragically, he never succeeded, falling in the Land of Waves, his dreams unfulfilled!
"But it's that spirit that keeps Kirigakure—and many factions—alive, isn't it?"
Terumi Mei's voice came from behind Yoru Ryo. Her cherry lips parted as she said, "Momochi Zabuza—he's a solid ally, huh?"
Yoru Ryo nodded in agreement. A man worthy of respect!
"So, who's your next recruitment target?"
Terumi Mei eyed Yoru Ryo, feeling more and more like she couldn't read her little brother.
Yoru Ryo drew his blade and scratched a name in the dirt—Hoshigaki Kisame!
This caught Terumi Mei off guard. Why him?
If she recalled correctly, he was just a ninja under Suikazan Fuguki, in a second-string unit like the Anbu Cipher Corps.
What drew Yoru Ryo to him?
Terumi Mei asked, "Reliable? Got a plan?"
Yoru Ryo grinned. "Reliable, but I'm not fully sure yet. So, we'll need a memory-wipe backup!"
Hoshigaki Kisame—not only strong but fiercely loyal.
He despised Kirigakure's current state, seeing its betrayal of comrades and lack of camaraderie as hypocritical.
Painting him a vision of an ideal Kirigakure could likely win him over.
In the original story, didn't Uchiha Obito lure Kisame into the Akatsuki that way?
"Go for it, then!" Terumi Mei knew plenty of memory-erasing tricks.
No problem at all!
…
Hours later, in the Mizukage's Office!
"Visiting Terumi Mei out of the blue, Zabuza—planning a coup?"
"Private meetings among Jonin are forbidden. You know this. Explain yourself."
Yagura Karatachi glared at the half-kneeling Zabuza, his tone ice-cold.
"Calm down, Lord Mizukage. I didn't meet Terumi Mei privately. I was just consulting Yoru Ryo about Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
"His mastery of it far surpasses mine. Visiting him was eye-opening!"
Zabuza spoke calmly, his expression steady.
"Pfft, Zabuza, if you're gonna lie, make it believable!"
"Learning Hidden Mist Jutsu from a fresh Genin? You expect me to buy that?"
Yagura's eyes were frosty, his lips curling with scorn.
Zabuza replied earnestly, "Lord Mizukage, you're busy and might not know the details!"
"But on Hidden Mist Jutsu, I'm not lying. If you doubt me, ask anyone else to verify!"
"In all of Kirigakure, Yoru Ryo's Hidden Mist Jutsu ranks top three—way above me!"
Seeing Zabuza's insistence, Yagura frowned. He snorted, "You'd better hope you're not lying!"
"Deceiving the Mizukage alone is enough to land you in hot water. Dismissed!"
Zabuza respectfully withdrew, but no one noticed his clenched teeth.
In his heart, he thought, "Lord Mizukage, you don't deserve that seat anymore!"
"You weren't like this before. Kirigakure's future can't be ruined by you!"
After Zabuza left, Yagura immediately had Yoru Ryo's Hidden Mist Jutsu claims checked.
The report came back: "The village ninjas agree Yoru Ryo's Hidden Mist Jutsu is exceptional. Zabuza might be telling the truth!"
Yagura was surprised. Yoru Ryo really had such skill? Strange!
He then had Zabuza's visit to Terumi Mei's house investigated.
Confirming Zabuza only met Yoru Ryo and didn't discuss anything rebellious, Yagura dropped the matter and dove back into work.
After the Kaguya Clan's extermination, tasks like resource audits, land allocation, ninjutsu recovery, and secret scroll excavations piled up.
Yagura was swamped and stressed.
Divvying up benefits was always a headache for those in power.
But he didn't know the second report was falsified.
As a former Anbu Commander, hiding intel from even the Mizukage was child's play for Terumi Mei.
None of this concerned Yoru Ryo. His job? Swing his sword.
To him, swinging meant strength!
…
Three days later!
Ding! Special Jonin-level attributes: Agility, Stamina enhanced successfully. Cost: 40,000 enhancement points!
Ding! Chunin-level Swordsmanship enhanced to Special Jonin level. Gained skill: Multi-Hawk Flash. Cost: 20,000 enhancement points!
Before heading to Anbu for a mission, Yoru Ryo spent all 60,000 enhancement points earned over three days to boost his remaining attributes.
(Enhancing one attribute costs 20,000 points.)
Host: Yoru Ryo
Age: 12
Skills:Special Jonin Swordsmanship: Multi-Hawk Flash
Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Jutsu, Water Clone Jutsu, Water Formation Wall, Water Bullet Jutsu
Genjutsu: Paralysis Bind Jutsu
Weapon: Hundred-Forged Tachi
Level: Special Jonin (Genin, Chunin, Special Jonin, Jonin, Elite Jonin, Kage, Super Kage, Six Paths)
Enhancement Points: 1,000
…
The only attribute left unenhanced was Strength.
Yoru Ryo skipped it after weighing options, prioritizing Stamina to boost chakra reserves.
Chakra volume often decided victory.
If strength was lacking, wits could compensate for raw power.
But low chakra? Nothing could substitute.
Kirigakure didn't have soldier pills to replenish chakra mid-battle.
…
At the Anbu base, Sky Armor was already waiting.
Yoru Ryo exchanged a glance, greeted him, and stood quietly.
Two minutes later, his teammates arrived.
Harunami Yuya, codename Hawk!
Natsuhana Rin, codename White Wolf!
Then, Captain Sky Armor spoke: "This mission's targets are A-rank rogue ninja Yoshiguchi Mitsuta, and B-rank rogues Asakura Masa and Nobutomo Suke!"
"It's highly dangerous. You all risk your lives!"
"But I trust, from the moment you joined Anbu, you were ready to die."
"True Mist ninjas are elites forged in life-and-death battles!"
"Kirigakure has no room for cowards or weaklings. Understood?!"
As expected of the Bloody Mist—every word dripped with killing intent.