Fugaku has gone mad; he's going to create a new Uchiha clan in Kirigakure.

Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, East Coast Market, Port.

A medium-sized sailboat, flying the blue and white wave-patterned flag of the Hozuki family, slowly approached the wooden pier.

A large crowd had already gathered near the pier.

There were members of the Uchiha Guard maintaining order, but there were also many merchants, residents, and Kirigakure ninjas who had come to watch the spectacle after hearing the news.

The news that Uchiha Fugaku was going to marry the mother of the current head of the Hozuki clan had already spread throughout the entire town. Everyone wanted to come and see the spectacle.

"Here it comes!"

"That's Lady Hozuki?"

"My God...it's so beautiful..."

Suppressed whispers arose from the crowd, and countless eyes turned to the ship's side. As the last group of retainers and servants carried their trunks down the gangplank, the main figure finally appeared.

Hozuki Sango wore a deep blue robe embroidered with silver waves in the style of the Land of Water. The robe had wide sleeves and a trailing hem, which made her figure look even more slender and graceful.

She didn't wear any elaborate headdress; she simply used a simple white jade hairpin to loosely tie up her long, dark blue hair, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks.

A sea breeze swept by, causing strands of hair and the hem of her robe to flutter gently.

Her skin was almost translucent white in the sunlight, with a warm, pearly luster, and her emerald green eyes were veiled with a faint, lingering sorrow.

Beside her was a boy of about seven or eight years old, with silver hair and a spiky hairstyle; it was none other than Hozuki Suigetsu.

"You can't tell at all that she's had two children."

In the distance, on the top floor of a loft with a good view, Terumi Mei leaned on the railing, sighing with mixed feelings.

"How can she maintain her looks so well? She's supposed to be thirty, but she looks no more than eighteen. We look like siblings. Her skin is even whiter than mine, her figure is better than mine, and her breasts... ahhh!"

She got angrier and angrier as she spoke, and couldn't help but stomp her foot.

"Isn't it said that they have some kind of mermaid bloodline? It's normal for them to have a long lifespan and a youthful appearance."

Beside her, Uchiha Mikoto knelt before the coffee table, holding a teacup, and spoke calmly.

"Seriously, you really don't care at all?"

Mei Terumi turned her head and glared angrily at Mikoto.

Why should I care?

Mikoto chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

"We're already married, and you haven't even joined the family yet, but you already have two more sisters. Hehe, the new is better than the old."

"Ugh! Mikoto, you've gone astray!"

Mei Terumi instantly went berserk and lunged at Mikoto to tickle her armpits. Mikoto laughed and dodged, causing the water in her teacup to spill out. The two of them started laughing and playing around in the attic.

Only Konan stood quietly in the shadows a little further away, her pale purple eyes gazing at the black figure surrounded by the crowd in the center of the harbor, Uchiha Fugaku. There was no jealousy or anger in her eyes, only a faint, unyielding melancholy, and a deeper, unspeakable worry.

...

"Mother."

Hozuki Mangetsu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Let me introduce you. This is Chief Fugaku of the Uchiha clan."

Hozuki Sango's gaze fell on Uchiha Fugaku, her emerald eyes churning with emotions that seemed to eventually settle into a resigned calm.

"I have met Chief Fugaku."

"Hello there."

Fugaku Uchiha walked over and openly looked Sango Hozuki up and down, his eyes frank and even showing a hint of appreciation.

Then he reached out his hand.

Hozuki Sango hesitated for a moment, but still extended her hand.

The moment their fingers touched, Fugaku Uchiha raised an eyebrow slightly. This woman's hand was cold and soft, as if it were made of water, delicate and boneless.

You look even better in person than in photos.

Hozuki Sango managed a forced, dry smile but didn't reply.

"Hey! Let go of my mother's hand!"

Hozuki Suigetsu, like a small animal whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly jumped out, glaring angrily at Uchiha Fugaku, baring his sharp teeth as if he were about to bite.

Hozuki Sango's expression changed slightly.

"Shuiyue, how dare you be rude!"

Fugaku Uchiha chuckled a few times, then gently pulled Sango Hozuki to his side and whispered in her ear.

"My lady, would you be willing to share my bed and pillow tonight?"

"You bastard! What did you say?!"

Hozuki Suigetsu's eyes instantly turned red, and his chakra surged uncontrollably as he charged towards Uchiha Fugaku without regard for anything else.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Hozuki Suigetsu's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. He was kicked by a powerful force and sent flying, rolling several times on the wooden planks of the pier before coming to a stop.

It was Hozuki Mangetsu who made the move. He withdrew his foot, his expression cold and stern, and bowed slightly to Uchiha Fugaku.

"I'm sorry, Fugaku, my younger brother is young and doesn't understand."

"He's just a kid, it's alright."

Fugaku Uchiha casually waved his hand, and then pulled Sango Hozuki closer to him. The two stood side by side, and an extremely light yet unique fragrance wafted into his nose, like the sea after the rain, carrying moisture and a slight saltiness, yet incredibly clean and vast.

"Hozuki Full Moon! What on earth is going on?"

Hozuki Suigetsu clutched her stomach and got up, wincing in pain. She glared angrily at her brother, who was clearly not surprised that their mother had been taken advantage of, which meant he had known all along.

"Lord Fugaku will be marrying my mother. This is a family alliance that will benefit the future of our Hozuki clan."

"Bullshit! The Hozuki clan has you and me, why should we need to form an alliance through marriage!"

The scene fell silent instantly, and the onlookers had various expressions. It was clear that this well-protected young master was unaware that his older brother was terminally ill.

"Let go of my mother!"

Hozuki Suigetsu roared again, this time holding back, and quickly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Chaos Waves!"

Hozuki Mangetsu sighed softly, casually waving the large sword in his hand, easily blocking his younger brother's attack.

"Stop now."

"Oh!"

Hozuki Suigetsu sneered and charged forward. Despite his seven-year-old body, he possessed immense power, managing to clash with the giant sword using a kunai. The sound of ping-pong balls reached everyone's ears, proving that the Hozuki clan's claim of having two geniuses in one family was indeed true.

"Pfft..."

Unfortunately, the gap was too large. Finally, facing Hozuki Mangetsu's serious swing of his sword, Hozuki Suigetsu couldn't block it and was cut in half at the waist. Some people in the crowd even exclaimed in shock, "The older brother killed the younger brother just like that?"

Then, Hozuki Suigetsu turned into two blobs of water, fell to the ground, and instantly gathered together again.

"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"

In an instant, a highly compressed, spinning azure water sphere shot out from Hozuki Suigetsu's fingertip, tearing through the air and emitting a sharp whistling sound!

Hozuki Mangetsu neither flinched nor dodged, raising his hand in the exact same manner.

"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"

Another water sphere, larger in size, darker in color, and spinning more violently, arrived first!

"boom--!!!"

The two water cannons collided violently in mid-air!

A deep, thunderous roar!

The violent shockwave spread outwards, causing the clothes of nearby people to flutter and the wooden planks of the pier to creak. At the center of the collision, the two violent water-attribute chakras annihilated each other, exploding into a huge cloud of white mist.

"Enough is enough, Shuiyue."

Hozuki Mangetsu's voice came from behind the mist.

"Stop embarrassing yourself."

"Shameful? It's far more shameful of you to let your mother marry a stranger! Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"

Amidst the billowing mist, Hozuki Suigetsu, concealing his form, unleashed another Water Gun Technique. Hozuki Mangetsu, however, remained silent, waving his hands, causing the seawater near the harbor to surge towards him, enveloping him in the blink of an eye. This seawater then transformed into the form of a sea monster.

"boom!"

The water ball struck the sea monster, which merely trembled slightly before easily deflecting the attack.

"This is a secret technique of the Hozuki clan!"

Among the onlookers, Watermelon Pufferfish Demon stood with his arms crossed.

"Water Release: Ebony Hat with Shield!"

He, along with Juzo Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki, were also present, responsible for maintaining order in case things got out of control. Upon seeing this technique, the former captain of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist also showed a solemn expression.

"Is it that impressive?"

Kurosuki Raiga pursed his lips, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the Raiga sword on his back.

"Hmph, my Lightning Release is the perfect counter to Water Release."

"The key to countering ninjutsu lies in chakra."

Pipa Juzo rarely gave a serious rebuttal.

"Mangetsu is a genius among geniuses. His chakra reserves are terrifying. Moreover, this Water Release: Shield Ebony Hat is said to be a secret technique developed by the Second Mizukage, Lord Hozuki Gengetsu, specifically to counter Lightning Release ninjas. Let alone Lightning Release, it's said that if the user is strong enough and there's an ample water source, this thing can even contend with Tailed Beasts! Otherwise, how do you think he could become the second-in-command of the Bloodline Limit, and even be on par with Mei Terumi?"

As if to confirm what Hibiki Juzo said, the situation on the field took a sharp turn for the worse.

Hozuki Suigetsu, who had previously seemed able to hold his own against Hozuki Mangetsu, appeared helpless in the face of this enormous water monster. His kunai and water bullets only splashed a few water droplets at the monster's body, failing to budge it in the slightest. The monster's casually waving arms created a whistling torrent of water, forcing Suigetsu to dodge in a sorry state.

After several unsuccessful attempts to attack, Hozuki Suigetsu gritted his teeth, turned around abruptly, and jumped into the sea with a "plop," his figure instantly disappearing beneath the surface.

"Did they hide in the sea?"

"It's not that simple."

Pipa Juzo squinted his eyes.

A moment of silence.

Suddenly, the sea exploded!

A giant water cannonball, several times larger than the previous one and as solid as steel, was launched from the seabed at an incredible speed, its target being Hozuki Mangetsu, the center of the Tateeboshi!

The shield-wearing man raised his massive arm and held it in front of him.

"BOOM!!!"

The water cannon slammed into the water monster's arm with a deafening roar. The violent water burst out, causing the shield-wearing man's arm to sway violently, splashing water everywhere. However, it still failed to break through the shield-wearing man's defenses, not even scratching the skin.

But in that instant, a figure emerged from the water cannon like a ghost, transformed into a ball of water, and rushed in front of the Shield Crow Hat. Then, the supposedly invincible Shield Crow Hat technique was actually penetrated by Hozuki Suigetsu!

"I see..."

Pipa Juzo nodded slightly.

"This child has some fighting talent. By utilizing the Hozuki clan's water transformation technique, which allows them to merge with all water, they directly bypassed the Tatee Eboshi's defenses..."

At that moment, inside the water monster, Hozuki Suigetsu, transformed into a ball of water, charged straight at Hozuki Mangetsu. Just as it struck Mangetsu, Mangetsu also turned into a ball of water and collided with his younger brother...

"Madam, your youngest son is quite something."

Fugaku Uchiha remained an observer, still holding Sango Hozuki's hand.

"Bold, meticulous, daring, and exceptionally talented, he is destined for greatness given time."

Upon hearing this, Hozuki Sango's pale face flushed slightly, but her expression was more concerned for her two sons. Her gaze was fixed on the scene, and she felt heartbroken whenever either of them was injured.

"rest assured."

Fugaku Uchiha seemed to see right through her thoughts.

The outcome is decided.

Sure enough, a moment later, the shield hat disappeared, and the two unique clumps of water inside transformed into two people: one was Hozuki Mangetsu, and the other was Hozuki Suigetsu, who had already lost consciousness.

"Someone, take Shuiyue back to Kirigakure and let him reflect on his actions."

"Yes, Lady Full Moon!"

Several retainer ninjas of the Hozuki clan immediately stepped forward, carefully picked up the unconscious Hozuki Suigetsu, and quickly climbed into the ship.

Hozuki Mangetsu then turned around and spoke to Uchiha Fugaku and his mother.

"Mother, Fugaku, let's go back to the market."

He was about to take a step when his legs suddenly gave way, and his body swayed uncontrollably to the side. A steady and strong hand caught his arm just in time.

It was Uchiha Fugaku.

"Cough cough..."

Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't help but cover his mouth and cough. A few seconds later, the coughing subsided, and blood dripped from between his pale fingers, spreading into a small dark red patch on the old wooden planks of the pier.

The port fell silent once again.

The previous interest in watching the spectacle and discussing the arranged marriage has faded, replaced by a faint, pervasive sense of melancholy.

For a ninja who did not die on the battlefield amidst the clash of swords, nor in the moment of a duel with a powerful enemy, but was instead slowly devoured by an invisible disease and eventually collapsed on his sickbed, this was perhaps the greatest irony and regret.

---Divider line

The night was deep, and the sea breeze carried a chill.

Hozuki Mangetsu stood alone on the attic of the three-story building, holding onto the wooden railing, gazing into the distance.

That direction leads to the residence where Fugaku Uchiha currently lives.

Good evening, Lady Full Moon.

"I suppose Fugaku Uchiha trusts you completely now."

The "White Zetsu," controlled by Black Zetsu, slowly walked to the railing and looked at the brightly lit mansion in the distance.

"I remember that in the distant past, there was a poet in the Land of Ancestors who was good at writing haiku. He wrote a line, 'The wedding night is more precious than the stars.' I think it's very fitting here."

Hozuki Mangetsu finally slowly turned his head.

"You monsters, do you even understand human haiku? And stop saying such meaningless things."

"I have already sold my mother and sent my brother to your sphere of influence. This is enough to prove my sincerity. Now, it is your turn to show your sincerity."

"That's natural."

The White Zetsu controlled by Black Zetsu clapped its hands.

From the shadows of the attic, another "follower" emerged.

Half of this person's body still retains a human appearance, but the other half has completely turned into a pale, white body resembling plant roots.

"You just need to let it attach to your body and combine with your cells, and your bloodline disease will be cured immediately."

Hozuki Mangetsu's gaze fell on the half-human, half-white Zetsu monster for a few seconds.

Then he smiled.

The long-held mask of calm on his face finally cracked, revealing the sharp, true emotions beneath. His sharp fangs were fully bared, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Do you think I'm an idiot?

"How many more years do I have to live? If this thing enters my body, who can guarantee that 'I' will still be 'me'? I sold my mother, I sold my brother, I sold the future autonomy of the Hozuki clan, just to be your dogs?"

The air in the attic seemed to freeze.

A moment later, Hozuki Mangetsu stretched out a hand.

"I want five of these creatures, their complete bodies sealed in scrolls. I'll find someone to study them myself. I think Orochimaru, a rogue ninja from Konoha, would be a good candidate."

"Impossible. Even within our Akatsuki organization, White Zetsu is extremely rare. There's only this one."

After a long silence, the White Zetsu controlled by Black Zetsu pointed to the White Zetsu beside him and said...

"It will stay by your side, and after it's done, you can do whatever you want with it."