Malphegor
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Ch. 39: The Demon's Hunt: Stirrings in the Mist
🕑 Added 2024-08-05 16:45:03 +0000 UTCZabuza's feet barely made a sound as he sprinted along the top of Kiri's towering walls.
The night air was damp, and a stubborn mist clung to the village like a second skin.
Moonlight struggled to pierce the haze, casting weird shadows across the maze-like streets below.
He paused for a moment, crouching low to survey the scene. Kiri had always been a harsh place, but tonight something felt... off.
Below, a small group approached one of the many gates set into the walls. Zabuza watched as they huddled together, nervously presenting papers to the guards.
"Papers," a guard barked. "Why're you headed to the upper district?"
One of the civilians, a man with weary eyes, spoke up. "Just going home, sir. We work in the factories down below."
The guard eyed them suspiciously, taking his sweet time checking their documents. Zabuza could practically smell the fear coming off the group.
Finally, the guard waved them through, and their relief was visible as they hurried past.
He could sense the unease of the villagers below.
Behind curtained windows, shadows darted back and forth, and the few people still out on the streets rushed along with their heads down, trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves.
Even from this height, he could sense the fear that ran through the villagers like a poisoned river.
"This doesn't feel right," Zabuza muttered, frowning beneath his bandages. He'd grown up with Kiri's tough reputation, but this was something else.
He continued his journey, leaping from wall to wall with ease. The village's layout was a nightmare for civilians, but for a skilled ninja like Zabuza, it was second nature.
As he moved, his eyes were drawn to the cylindrical towers that loomed over the village, their softly glowing windows hinting at the watchful eyes within.
Finally, he neared the Mizukage's building. It was a massive structure, dominating the skyline.
All the walls seemed to converge here, forming a barrier that would make any invader think twice.
As he approached the entrance, the door swung open, and two familiar figures stepped out.
Suikazan Fuguki, a burly man with weird braids, and Hoshigaki Kisame, known for his shark-like grin, stood before him.
His curiosity got the better of him. "Fuguki, Kisame," he called out. "What brings you here so late?"
Fuguki tensed, but Kisame's grin only widened. "Well, well, if it isn't the Demon of the Mist," Kisame said, his tone mocking. "Still nosy as ever, eh?"
Zabuza's eyes narrowed further. "Just making conversation. You two don't usually hang out together."
Fuguki shot Kisame a warning glance before turning to Zabuza. "Official business, Momochi. Nothing to worry about."
"Everything in Kiri is my business," Zabuza growled, his hand drifting towards his sword.
Kisame stepped forward, his grin never faltering. "Easy there, Zabuza. No need to get all worked up. We're on the same team, right?"
There was something in Kisame's voice, a hint of something that set Zabuza's teeth on edge. Before he could push further, Fuguki stepped between them.
"We've all got our orders, Momochi," he said firmly. "Best we stick to them, don't you think?"
Zabuza held Kisame's gaze for a long moment before nodding curtly. "Sure thing. Happy hunting, boys."
As they walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Fuguki and Kisame working together?
That was as unlikely as the sun rising in the west.
Shaking off his unease, Zabuza entered the Mizukage's chamber.
He dropped to one knee, bowing his head. "Lord Mizukage."
The Mizukage sat behind his desk, looking as youthful as ever. But something was off. His eyes, usually sharp as knives, seemed distant and glassy.
"Zabuza," he said, his voice flat and lifeless. "I have a mission for you. You're familiar with the Land of Waves?"
Zabuza nodded slowly. "It's a small country near our borders. Mostly fishermen and farmers live there."
"We've received reports that the traitor, Kojiro, has been spotted there," the Mizukage continued. "Your mission is to investigate and report back."
Zabuza frowned. "Kojiro? The guy who defected months ago? Why the sudden interest?"
For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a flicker of confusion or pain in his leader's eyes, but it was gone before he could be sure.
"Are you questioning my orders?" the Mizukage's voice took on a sharp edge.
"No, Lord Mizukage," Zabuza replied smoothly. "I merely seek to understand the mission parameters fully"
He quickly rephrased his question. "Has the traitor made contact with our enemies? Is there a specific threat?"
The Mizukage's face remained expressionless. "Your job is not to understand, Zabuza."
"It's to obey."
"Find Kojiro. Gather information. Report back."
"Is that clear?"
The Mizukage's tone left no room for argument, but Zabuza's instincts were screaming that something was wrong.
This wasn't the leader he knew. He seemed empty, somehow.
"Crystal clear," Zabuza said, keeping his voice neutral. "When do I depart?"
"Immediately," the Mizukage replied. "You're dismissed."
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As Zabuza left the Mizukage's chamber, his mind was racing.
The leader's strange behavior, Fuguki and Kisame's odd partnership, and this sudden obsession with a long-gone traitor - none of it made sense.
Lost in thought, he almost missed the hushed conversation coming from a nearby corner.
"...sure about this?" a voice whispered. "The Hoshigaki clan-"
"Shut it!" another voice hissed. "The Mizukage's orders are clear. We move tonight."
He slowed down, trying to hear more, but the voices had already faded away.
The Hoshigaki clan? What did they have to do with anything?
He made his way to one of the many lounges scattered throughout the tower, where the flickering oil lamps cast dancing shadows on the walls.
As he entered, his eyes fell upon a familiar figure slouched in an ornate chair - Hozuki Mangetsu, a fellow member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"Oi, Zabuza!" Mangetsu called out, his voice followed by a harsh cough. "What brings you here?"
Zabuza's eyes narrowed as he took in his comrade's appearance. Mangetsu's usual lazy grin was still there, but his skin looked pale and sickly.
"Mission briefing," he grunted, not slowing down. "What's your excuse, Mangetsu? Since when do you hang out here?"
Mangetsu quickly stood up, falling into step beside Zabuza as they exited the lounge.
"Oh, you know me," he quipped. "Just enjoying the view. Can't beat the architecture in here."
"So, what's the mission? Anything interesting?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Zabuza shot him a sideways glance. "Since when do you care about my missions?"
He paused, eyeing his comrade. "And since when do you look like something the cat dragged in?"
Mangetsu's grin widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Just a little under the weather, that's all. This mist gets to me, you know?"
"Right," Zabuza said dryly. "And I suppose the great Mangetsu, master of the Hydrification Technique, caught a cold from a little mist?"
Mangetsu's grin faltered for a moment before he forced out a laugh. "Hey, even the best of us have bad days."
Zabuza stopped dead in his tracks, turning to face his comrade again. The flickering shadows made his bandaged face look even more intimidating.
"Cut the crap, Mangetsu. What's really going on?"
Mangetsu's grin faded entirely, replaced by a look of genuine concern. He glanced around the empty corridor before leaning in close.
"Listen, I shouldn't be telling you this, but something's rotten in the house. I've seen mold growing in the walls, and it's spreading fast."
"And the janitor, he's different. But not for the better."
Zabuza nodded slowly. "I've noticed. Any ideas on the cause?"
Mangetsu shook his head, another cough wracking his body. "No clue. But whatever it is, it's got the nannies scared shitless. There's talk of... cleaning house."
"Cleaning house?" Zabuza repeated, his voice low. "Sounds like someone's trying to sweep away all the dirt."
Mangetsu's eyes widened slightly.
"Yeah, well, you know how it is in Kiri. Sometimes the cleaning gets a bit... messy due to the mist. Especially when the mop's being wielded by a mad janitor."
Zabuza grunted, then his gaze fixed on Mangetsu's sickly appearance. "Seems like some might be more allergic to the cleaning products than others."
"Might want to watch your step, Mangetsu. Never know what kind of germs you might pick up around here."
Mangetsu nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Right, right. Gotta be careful these days. Never know who might be carrying something nasty."
"Indeed," Zabuza said. "Funny how some illnesses seem to target specific individuals, isn't it?"
"Almost like someone's playing doctor."
Mangetsu's face hardened, all pretense of humor gone. "Yeah, funny that. Makes a guy wonder who'll be writing the prescriptions."
Zabuza clapped Mangetsu on the shoulder, his grip perhaps a bit tighter than necessary. "Take care of yourself, Mangetsu. Don't want you to fall ill at an inconvenient time."
As he turned to leave, Mangetsu called out, his voice strained. "Hey, Zabuza. Watch your back out there in the big, bad world."
"And... be careful whose medicine you swallow when you return to our misty paradise."
Zabuza paused at the end of the corridor, not looking back. "I always am. And you should stop taking that medicine, it doesn't seem to be working."
"Don't forget, this tower has ears, and they're not all friendly."
As he made his way through the corridors, Zabuza couldn't shake the feeling that this mission was more than it seemed.
Was he being sent away because he was a threat?
Or was there something in Kiri that the Mizukage didn't want him to see?
Mangetsu's sickly face stuck in his mind.
Something was very wrong in Kiri, and he had a bad feeling that his fellow swordsman might not be around when he got back.
One thing was certain: when he returned to Kiri, things would be different.
