Naruto: Growing Stronger Through Healing

'Who is it?!'

Yagura Karatachi shouted sharply, his voice cutting through the mist like a blade, and the Kirigakure shinobi around him instantly snapped into formation, weapons drawn and chakra surging.

But what they saw next rendered them completely speechless.

In the drifting fog, a group of Kirigakure shinobi suddenly appeared, and every single one of them looked exactly the same as those present.

Same faces.

Same uniforms.

Same chakra signatures.

They surrounded Yagura and his unit from all directions.

Even someone as experienced and battle-hardened as Yagura felt his heart skip a beat at this utterly bizarre scene.

These were naturally all White Zetsu clones.

With the techniques and sensory methods of the Hidden Mist Village, it was simply impossible to distinguish between the real and the fake.

"Could it be… a genjutsu?"

Thinking this, Yagura subconsciously formed hand seals, immediately attempting to dispel the illusion.

But nothing happened. The scene before his eyes did not change in the slightest.

His expression darkened. "Who exactly are you people?!"

However, the moment those words left his mouth—

A figure that looked exactly like Yagura himself stepped forward and coldly asked the same question.

"Then shouldn't I be asking you that? Who are you people? Why are you impersonating us? What exactly are you plotting?"

The flawless imitation shook Yagura to his core.

For a brief, horrifying moment, even he began to doubt himself. Was his side the fake one?

"No matter who you are," Yagura said coldly, forcing his composure back into place,

"I'll interrogate you after I capture you."

The moment his words fell, the battlefield exploded into chaos.

Given Yagura's strength, an individual White Zetsu was naturally no match for him.

Within just a few exchanges, one White Zetsu was torn apart and destroyed.

But Yagura had no time to feel any satisfaction. Because he immediately realized something terrifying—

Against enemies who were completely indistinguishable from their own allies, direct combat was the worst possible choice.

The moment the battle erupted, everything descended into confusion.

They believed someone was an enemy only to discover, after striking, that it was one of their own.

They trusted someone as an ally, only for that person to suddenly stab them from behind.

Worse still, due to the Blood Mist Policy, Kirigakure shinobi never possessed deep bonds of camaraderie.

Suspicion had long since been engraved into their bones.

And so, the Kirigakure shinobi stopped believing anyone around them.

They treated everyone as an enemy. Indiscriminate attacks erupted across the battlefield.

In an incredibly short span of time, the small force led by Yagura was completely annihilated.

Only one person remained standing. Captain Yagura himself.

"Damn it… who are you people?!" Roaring in fury, Yagura rapidly formed hand seals, his chakra surging violently.

Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!

With Yagura's Kage-level strength, this A-rank technique unleashed a terrifying torrent. A massive wave roared forth, capable of obliterating everything within hundreds of meters.

Since all his subordinates were already dead, Yagura no longer had any reservations.

Facing the enraged Mizukage candidate, the White Zetsu clones did not hesitate. They all sank directly into the ground.

When the raging waters finally receded, only a scene of utter devastation remained.

"Tch… hateful." Yagura cursed under his breath.

Then, he noticed someone standing calmly in front of him.

He recognized that figure immediately. It was the true target of this mission.

Danzō Shimura.

"So everything just now… was your doing?! I'll kill you!"

Consumed by rage, Yagura activated the Body Flicker Technique, instantly closing the distance and swinging his weapon down with killing intent.

But despite his speed, he was no match for Danzō.

Danzō easily sidestepped the attack and calmly drew a kunai. Wind Release chakra surged into the blade, condensing instantly.

Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!

Sensing the danger, Yagura instinctively tried to evade, but his expression suddenly froze.

He couldn't move. At the same time, the surrounding environment distorted violently.

Large iron nails pierced through his limbs and body, pinning him in place.

Sharingan Genjutsu!

The realization struck instantly.

Yagura had clearly seen it; Danzō's tightly closed right eye had opened. Within it spun a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

This Sharingan had been acquired by Danzō during the Second Great Ninja War. To conceal its existence, he had kept his right eye permanently wrapped in bandages.

He had not used the Sharingan earlier.

First, because it was a trump card.

Second, because the enemies he had faced were simply too powerful and too numerous, there had been no opportunity.

Originally, this eye was meant to be his final means of survival, but Black Zetsu and White Zetsu had already helped him escape.

Now, facing Yagura alone, Danzō used it without hesitation—ending the battle swiftly and without complications.

Yagura struggled desperately to break free. But it was already too late.

The Vacuum Blade pierced straight into his abdomen. With such grievous injuries, Yagura completely lost his ability to resist.

Yet Danzō did not kill him. Instead, he fully subdued Yagura with Sharingan genjutsu, turning him into a puppet under his control.

After all, Yagura possessed Kage-level combat strength.

Having already lost Root, and with the Hidden Mist Village now his target, Danzō naturally could not afford to kill such a valuable asset.

The battle was over.

Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from the ground and approached him.

"Next," Black Zetsu said calmly, "you will disguise yourself as Kirigakure, openly enter the Hidden Mist Village, control the Third Mizukage, and become the true mastermind behind Kirigakure."

Danzō said nothing. But the apprehension in his eyes as he looked at White Zetsu only deepened.

An existence that could perfectly imitate anyone. One that could approach undetected at any time.

Such an enemy was impossible to guard against.

Soon after, White Zetsu clones continued disguising themselves as Kirigakure troops.

Danzō also altered his appearance. Led by Yagura, the group entered the Hidden Mist Village without obstruction.

---

Mizukage's Office.

The Third Mizukage looked at Yagura standing before him.

Before he could even speak, a kunai flashed.

"Yagura, have you lost your mind?!" Completely unprepared for such betrayal, the Third Mizukage was instantly caught off guard.

Though he avoided a vital strike by instinct, he was still gravely injured. In the next instant, White Zetsu appeared behind him.

Without hesitation—

Pfft!

At the same time, Danzō stepped forward and activated his Sharingan, instantly subduing the Third Mizukage with genjutsu.

The entire operation was seamless.

Kirigakure's Anbu lurking in the shadows should have detected something, but every single one of them had already been replaced by White Zetsu clones.

Danzō walked straight to the Mizukage's seat and sat down.

Though he had failed to become Hokage, he was now the de facto Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village.

A twisted wish, finally fulfilled.

"Danzō," Black Zetsu asked calmly, "now that you control the Hidden Mist Village, when do you plan to launch the war against Konoha?"

Danzō replied without hesitation. "War is not something that can be rushed."

"And Hirakawa Aoshi is not an opponent who can be dealt with casually. I will make my move—only after all preparations are complete."