[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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Crocodile's time at sea was brief.
Before long, he set out on a new adventure, this time toward a continent home to one of the Five Great Nations of the ninja world: the Land of Water.
His destination was the Hidden Mist Village, or Kirigakure, nestled deep within this land.
Fortunately, the Blood Mist policy had been abolished for several years, and Kirigakure had begun to open itself to the world. As a result, it took Crocodile only half a day to uncover the village's exact location.
He had to admit—the open-door policy implemented by Kirigakure was remarkably effective.
During his inquiries, Crocodile frequently overheard praises about the village's recent changes. It was evident that Kirigakure had been working tirelessly in recent years to erase the dark legacy of its infamous Blood Mist policy.
Yet, this eagerness to restore their reputation only confirmed one thing for Crocodile: Kirigakure was desperate for outside assistance.
With this knowledge in hand, a sly grin spread across Crocodile's face. Clamping down on his cigar, he exhaled a puff of smoke that swirled into fine sand, scattering in the wind as he made his way toward the Hidden Mist Village.
Hidden Mist Village
In the heart of Kirigakure, the dilapidated Mizukage office stood as a somber reminder of the village's decline.
Since the confirmed death of the Fourth Mizukage, Kirigakure had been without a leader.
Had it not been for Chief Elder Genji—a once-retired elder forced out of seclusion—the village might have descended into complete chaos. Despite his frail and aging body, Elder Genji still wielded considerable authority, ensuring Kirigakure remained functional amidst its turmoil.
At that moment, a group of Kirigakure shinobi gathered in the village's conference room.
Elder Genji, seated at the head of the room, held a piece of freshly acquired intelligence in his trembling hands. He remained silent for a long time before lightly tapping his cane. One of the shinobi immediately stepped forward, gently taking the document and placing it on the table before him.
Though Elder Genji had once been a formidable ninja in his youth, time had reduced him to a fragile state, reliant on assistance for even the simplest of tasks.
Yet, none of this diminished his stature within Kirigakure. As long as Elder Genji lived, the village would endure.
After a pause, his raspy voice broke the silence:
"You've all read the report…" he began slowly.
"It seems there's been some commotion in Sunagakure. Reports indicate that near Konoha's borders, a tailed beast was unleashed."
He continued, "The official statement from Sunagakure is that Orochimaru, the rogue ninja of Konoha, stole the sealing tools for the tailed beast and intended to attack Konoha…"
"But does anyone truly believe such a tale?"
To Elder Genji's left, a striking woman with flowing hair and an air of maturity set the report down with a frown. Her expression was one of confusion and intrigue.
"There's always a kernel of truth in such stories," she said thoughtfully.
"However, according to this report, the youngest son of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, used an unknown ninjutsu to seal Shukaku and became a First-Order Jinchūriki. Even more baffling, this boy—Gaara—seems to wield a summoning beast rumored to be stronger than the tailed beast itself. What exactly is going on in Sunagakure?"
The room murmured as the woman's words sank in.
Because Sunagakure had not enforced an information blackout, details about the event—including Gaara's abilities and his summoning beast, Tyrantrum—had spread freely across the ninja world.
This transparency, however, only served to confuse the upper echelons of the other great ninja villages.
What was Sunagakure's true intent?
What they could all agree on was this: Sunagakure had produced another astonishing genius.
Gaara, only twelve years old, had sealed a tailed beast on his own. Such a feat would be extraordinary in any era, and it solidified Gaara's status as a prodigy of the highest caliber.
While geniuses emerged every generation, someone of Gaara's caliber was unprecedented.
In most villages, such prodigies would be treated as secret weapons, their existence concealed from the world.
Yet, Sunagakure seemed eager to showcase Gaara's power to everyone, as if putting him on display for the highest bidder.
Could it be that Rasa believed a single combatant of tailed-beast-level strength was enough to intimidate the other villages?
Surely, someone of Kazekage status wouldn't be so naive.
As the discussions grew increasingly heated, the Mizukage Building filled with the buzz of speculation. Each ninja voiced their opinion, debating Sunagakure's strategy and trying to decipher the meaning behind their bold actions.
Rumors swirled across the ninja world, each more outrageous than the last.
Some speculated that Sunagakure and Konohagakure were colluding, staging mock battles in preparation for a joint assault on the other ninja villages.
Others believed Sunagakure had intended to use Shukaku to launch an attack on Konoha but encountered complications mid-plan, forcing them to recapture the rampaging tailed beast.
Still, others suggested that Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, might have fallen under the influence of a powerful genjutsu—similar to the fate that once befell the Fourth Mizukage—prompting his seemingly inexplicable actions.
Opinions diverged wildly, and the theories became increasingly far-fetched.
But no one could have guessed the truth:
Rasa's elaborate schemes were all part of a plan to secure Gaara's legitimacy as the next Kazekage. Once that goal was achieved, Rasa intended to focus entirely on revitalizing Sunagakure's agricultural development.
Half a day passed, and the atmosphere in the Mizukage Building remained tense. The gathered shinobi exhausted their theories, yet none reached a consensus.
Finally, Elder Genji, seated at the head of the table, broke his silence once again.
"Speculation alone will lead us nowhere," he said after a thoughtful pause, his voice slow and deliberate.
"Ears can be deceived. Eyes, however, do not lie."
He turned his gaze to his side and called out, "Terumi Mei."
"Here, Elder," Terumi Mei responded immediately, rising from her seat.
Elder Genji's aged eyes, almost hidden by the deep lines of his face, suddenly opened wide. They glimmered with a sharpness that seemed out of place for a man of his years.
Tapping his cane lightly, he continued, "You've long advocated for opening Kirigakure to the world."
"Because of the Fourth Mizukage's policies, our village has been isolated for far too long."
"Now, I entrust you with a mission: you will serve as Kirigakure's envoy to Sunagakure, applying for formal diplomacy."
"While you're there, gather as much information as you can."
For a moment, Terumi Mei was stunned, but the surprise on her face quickly gave way to quiet elation.
She understood what this meant.
This was not merely a diplomatic mission. Elder Genji's decision was an endorsement of her vision for the village.
Kirigakure would likely begin to move forward according to her policies. And if everything went as planned, she might very well become the next Mizukage.
Excitement welled up in her chest, though she remained composed.
After the meeting concluded, Terumi Mei left the Mizukage Building with her two trusted subordinates, Ao and Chojuro, to begin preparations for the mission to Sunagakure.
As a formal diplomatic mission, their entry into Sunagakure would be heavily regulated and scrutinized, unlike casual visits. The process would be arduous, but necessary.
Terumi Mei delegated tasks without hesitation.
"Ao, you're in charge of selecting the team for this mission."
"Chojuro, procure the gifts we'll present to Sunagakure. This is Kirigakure's first formal visit to another of the Five Great Nations in over a decade. We must convey goodwill."
"Understood, Terumi-sama!"
With swift bows, Ao and Chojuro disappeared to fulfill their orders.
Left alone on the steps of the Mizukage Building, Terumi Mei clenched her fists, gazing out over the bustling streets of Kirigakure. The sight of her people, busy yet determined, reignited a fire in her heart.
She still remembered the village as it had been in her youth—a thriving, joyful place.
Back then, Kirigakure stood isolated from the mainland, blessed with abundant maritime resources. The village had no need to involve itself in the bloody world wars that plagued other nations.
In those days, the people of Kirigakure found satisfaction in simply observing the conflicts from afar, delighting in their own safety while the other villages suffered heavy losses.
But that peace was shattered in an instant.
One day, without warning, the Fourth Mizukage implemented the infamous Blood Mist policy.
From that moment on, Kirigakure changed forever.
Smiles disappeared from the villagers' faces.
Even among comrades, suspicion took root.
Every new ninja born from Kirigakure's ranks carried the blood of countless fellow villagers on their hands.
The vibrant village of Terumi Mei's youth had become a grim shadow of its former self.
Under the oppressive and merciless rule of the Fourth Mizukage, life in Kirigakure became a waking nightmare. Happiness was a distant memory—survival itself was uncertain.
The village, dragged into meaningless wars, saw its shinobi dying on battlefields for no discernible reason. Worse still, those with kekkei genkai—the bloodline limits—were hunted and killed, leaving Kirigakure stripped of its unique strengths.
The once-thriving village became a land ruled by fear, its people mere offerings to a demonic authority that demanded blood and death.
Everything changed when Ao, a veteran shinobi, returned from a battlefield bearing the Byakugan of a Hyuga clan member from Konoha. Using the Byakugan's powers, Ao uncovered a shocking truth—there was a strange chakra emanating from within Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage.
It wasn't long before Ao revealed his discovery to Terumi Mei. Together, they unearthed a devastating reality: Yagura had been placed under a powerful genjutsu, unknowingly serving as a puppet to an unseen master.
Their entire village had become nothing more than a tool for someone else's schemes.
Recalling those dark years, Terumi Mei sighed deeply.
"If only there were a way to revitalize Kirigakure and restore its former glory in the ninja world," she murmured to herself.
"Hm? Is it your dream to restore Kirigakure to its former glory?"
A smooth, teasing voice interrupted her thoughts, catching her completely off guard.
"Dream? That's right!" she responded instinctively, only to freeze in realization.
Her subordinates, Ao and Chojuro, had been sent to handle preparations for their mission—so who could be speaking to her?
She spun around, her senses on high alert.
Standing before her was a tall man with a cigar between his lips, a golden hook replacing one hand. His presence radiated confidence and mystery, and his gaze was fixed squarely on her.
"Who are you?!" Terumi Mei demanded, stepping back and adopting a defensive stance.
The man exhaled a plume of smoke, then chuckled. "Don't be so tense, little girl. I'm just a traveler passing through... a dimensional merchant, if you will."
"Dimensional merchant?" she repeated, her expression skeptical.
The man, unbothered by her distrust, continued, "I couldn't help but overhear... you dream of revitalizing this village, don't you? Well, lucky for you, I have a habit of helping people achieve their dreams."
He smirked, his tone dripping with charisma. "So, little girl, how about we strike a deal?"
"...A deal?" Terumi Mei echoed, struggling to keep up with the stranger's words.
Without waiting for her response, the man snapped his fingers.
In an instant, an overwhelming surge of information flooded her mind like a cascading river. Terumi Mei staggered, her once-sharp gaze clouding with confusion and shock.
Memories—or perhaps visions—of something extraordinary played out before her inner eye. She had never experienced anything like it.
"This... is this what you call a dimensional transaction?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
The sheer strangeness of the event left her wary. Memories of Yagura's manipulation rose unbidden in her mind. What if this too was an illusion designed to ensnare her?
As her doubts wavered, the man's magnetic voice cut through her thoughts.
"You've only got one chance, little girl. Don't let it slip away."
Perhaps it was the undeniable charm in his voice, or perhaps it was her own longing for change, but Terumi Mei finally made her decision.
"I... I want to make a dimensional transaction, Sir Crocodile," she said, her voice steadying.
Crocodile's smirk deepened. "Heh... you won't regret it."
With a snap of his fingers, a translucent interface appeared before her, brimming with possibilities.
Though cautious, Terumi Mei began her first transaction. She opted against offering something as vital as her kekkei genkai, wary of the cost. Instead, she traded her accumulated knowledge of ninjutsu, including Kirigakure's unique techniques.
The system processed her exchange, rewarding her with 30,000 points—an amount neither insignificant nor extraordinary.
Crocodile, ever the businessman, seemed pleased nonetheless. To him, even a modest profit was a success.
With a wave of his hand, he conjured a screen of shifting sand, displaying the wares of his dimensional marketplace.
On the screen, a vast array of items and abilities from countless worlds appeared: Pokémon companions, Haki, Devil Fruit powers, and even mysterious weaponry.
Terumi Mei's initial skepticism faded as she took in the endless possibilities before her.
For the first time in years, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart.