“Initially, we clearly agreed on three years, but in the end, it turned into another three years after three years, and then another three years!”
“It’s almost ten years now, Yagura!”
On the rooftop, a boy in a gray Konoha combat uniform leaned against the railing, his brow furrowed as he spoke, his emotions so heightened that he struggled to control his volume, his gestures becoming noticeably more animated.
Next to him stood a boy who was half a head shorter, looking only about twelve or thirteen years old, yet bearing a deep surgical scar on his face, his expression equally displeased:
“Can you please be a bit nicer to me?”
“Right now, I’m the only one in the entire Mist who knows your identity. If I go back and burn your file, you can live your whole life as a Konoha ninja without bothering me!”
“What do you want me to do?” He slammed his hand on the railing and pointed at the forehead protector on his head, suddenly raising his voice, “Am I supposed to remind myself every day, ‘I’m a Mist ninja!’? Am I supposed to follow the will of water in my dreams?”
He pointed at the man in front of him, Yagura, extending his five fingers, “Five years old! A five-year-old child! At such a young age, you sent me to Konoha as an undercover agent, and I’ve spent more time in Konoha than I did in the Mist. I can barely remember what my own parents look like; what attitude do you expect from me?”
Yagura seemed to want to explain something: “That’s because you were mature for your age, emotionally stable. At that time, there was a village-wide selection...”
“Failing the selection meant death; do you think I’m emotionally stable?”
“……”
Yagura was suddenly left speechless.
The blood mist wasn’t built in a day; long before that, there had been many mysterious operations comparable to humanoid stars—selecting young spies wasn’t even heavyweight; even the smallest swallows specifically targeted for customers had appeared before.
However, Yagura was a jōnin of the village and the superior of this man. Although he was equally discontent with the village’s demands, he could not show it here.
Thus, unwilling to continue staring each other down, both turned their heads simultaneously and gazed at the distant Konoha skyline.
Another silence fell.
‘Ten years...’
Yagura took a piece of candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth, silently chewing on this number, feeling inexplicably heavy-hearted.
At just twenty years old, Yagura had already become one of the top jōnin of the new generation in the Mist, serving as the third direct superior to the Mist spy in front of him.
Unfortunately, the previous two had not survived this rather legendary undercover agent, both dying at the hands of Konoha's Anbu and the Uchiha police force, which left him, the new Mist elite, to take over their tasks.
Until he took office, Yagura only learned through the Water Shadow's direct secret files that the village had such a spy hidden in the heart of Konoha.
Deep Sea Number: 004
Current Name: Sawahara Mizu
Age: 15
Abilities: Proficient in Taijutsu and Water Release
Position: Chūnin of Konoha, acting section chief of the jōnin intelligence department, Level 2 councilor
Duration of infiltration: Ten years.
In this world, where ninjas make up the primary military group, infiltration, espionage, swallows, and interrogation are basic methods.
It’s not surprising for spies to be young; a kunai thrown by a four-year-old ninja is just as deadly as one thrown by a fourteen-year-old ninja.
Even more deadly.
However, even in this dazzling world of lower-tier methods, a spy like Sawahara Mizu, who has been stable and continuous in infiltration since childhood, is one of the rarest of the rare.
After all, personal abilities can be forcibly instilled in a child's brain, and loyalty to the village can be achieved through continuous brainwashing, sealing techniques, and training, yet a mature mind and stable worldview cannot be mass-produced.
In the vast majority of cases, ‘child laborers’ like Sawahara Mizu are disposable tools, with only a small portion having the chance to escape from enemy villages after completing their missions—an impressive feat for a child of that age.
However, what this man before him did was even more... bizarre.
Not only did he successfully complete his mission after infiltrating Konoha, but he also managed to evade the first wave of Konoha's search operations through unknown means, leveraging his age advantage to root himself in this village, enroll in the ninja school, and become a ‘genuine’ Konoha ninja.
Over these ten years, he has continuously sent various intelligence back to the Mist.
Since that day, Sawahara Mizu's personal file has been classified as top secret and filed under the Water Shadow's direct secret documents, with only one high-ranking Mist representative allowed to contact him directly during the same period.
A sharp knife, like him, stationed at the heart of Konoha, is extremely rare even in the entire ninja world.
Especially now, in the third year of the Second Great Ninja War.
The spring of Konoha in the thirty-ninth year was still turbulent.
This war, ignited by the Sand, with the five great countries and the Rain Village continuously raising the stakes, gradually dragged the entire ninja world into a bloody vortex.
Even the Mist, isolated overseas, had to face threats on two fronts from Konoha and the Cloud.
For the unstable Third Mizukage and the constantly infighting Mist upper echelon, this was undoubtedly an extremely heavy burden.
They must... find a way to weaken Konoha further.
“Crack.”
The hard candy shattered, making a crisp sound.
Yagura finally ended this meaningless silence, lowered his head, and helplessly called out the man’s real name, asking,
“Ren.”
“No matter what, there are some things only you can accomplish.”
Only then did Sawahara Mizu turn to look at him.
Although it seemed trivial from an outsider’s perspective, for him, who needed to continue surviving in the cracks, Yagura's concession represented a lot.
He fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, his voice suddenly devoid of the earlier excitement.
The abrupt change made him seem somewhat indifferent:
“Due to the overly aggressive nature of the previous missions, Konoha's Anbu's internal reviews have become increasingly strict, and the Root has also begun external operations. At least two search teams are specifically looking for my traces.
“So, the village’s missions must be reduced to at least once every six months.
“And minimize the frequency of contact with me as much as possible.
“Also, your predecessor did not have time to settle my last round of mission rewards before he fell, so please don't forget about this.”
“……”
Yagura stared at him without speaking, and Sawahara Mizu didn't hurry, simply maintaining a quiet gaze.
After a long while, Yagura took out a scroll from his bosom and handed it to him:
“I will report your words to Lord Water Shadow.”
“After you complete this mission, no one will come looking for you for at least three months.
“Afterward, the mission rewards will be delivered to you as soon as possible.”
Sawahara Mizu then received the new mission scroll from him.
His proposed conditions were already pushing the bottom line, so it was not surprising whether they succeeded or not.
Compared to the requirement itself, expressing attitude and striving for benefits was actually the focal point of this meeting.
After all, until the war ended, they wouldn’t easily act against him.
As for afterward, it probably wouldn’t be up to them to decide.
Opening the scroll, Sawahara Mizu quickly scanned it and memorized all its contents before returning it.
Then, with a ‘bang,’ Sawahara Mizu's figure immediately vanished from the rooftop.
Yagura stood in place, watching the spot where Sawahara Mizu had been, subconsciously replicating every expression and movement he had just displayed, his gaze somewhat complex.
In fact, before departing from the village, the Lord had also assigned him another task—to investigate the specific exposure reasons of the previous two direct contacts.
It was obvious.
At least in the hearts of the village’s upper echelons, Sawahara Mizu’s ‘time of use’ had already entered a countdown.
Ninjas don’t need evidence.
Being deemed untrustworthy is a direct reason to kill someone.
After the war ends, they would likely act against him.
Clearly, for someone who has brought countless intelligence to the village...
‘Hero’?
Unknowingly, Yagura’s heart suddenly rose with an indescribable sense of powerlessness and fatigue towards this hopeless world.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
“Sorry.”
......
Three floors of the Hokage Building.
Jōnin Class Office.
While proofreading the logistics distribution list, Sawahara Mizu felt a sudden jolt, as if a long-sitting person accidentally pressed against a hemorrhoid, causing his pen to pause on the paper.
Adjusting his posture slightly.
The memories relayed back from his shadow clone flooded into his mind.
Is it another person?
Unfortunately, this time it’s a tough guy to deal with.
The Fourth Mizukage...
Sawahara Mizu thought, as his paused strokes regained their fluidity, and he began to think about the possible impacts of Yagura’s appearance.
As he said, the reason Sawahara Mizu was chosen to be the deepest embedded spy in Konoha was due to his maturity beyond his years.
But this wasn’t a talent; it was because he was a transmigrator with decades more life experience than others.
When he initially discovered he was in the Mist, which was scarcely mentioned in the original work, Sawahara Mizu wanted to use this advantage to enter the view of the Mist upper echelons, hoping to live until the plot began, but he accidentally messed things up.
Did he catch their attention?
He certainly did.
Just not in a good way.
Who plays undercover in the ninja world?
Putting ninjas aside, has anyone in undercover ever had a good end?
No!
None of them ended well!
So, this kind of life can’t go on for long.
Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows, and one must have a retreat.
For this reason, Sawahara Mizu's greatest wish now is to immediately escape this exhausting life of outsmarting Konoha's Anbu every day and quickly return to the Mist as a hero.
Then, using his rich achievements, he would speedily retire and wash his hands of it before the blood mist begins, living a normal life as a wealthy man in the Land of Water, waiting for the pair of saviors designated by Sage of Six Paths to turn the tide.
After all, as long as one doesn’t get involved in Kaguya’s family drama, one can live a good life in the ninja world!
However, judging by Yagura's attitude today, the Mist side would likely add many more twists to his plans.
Sawahara Mizu had not considered rebellion, desertion, or simply siding with Konoha.
Yet, he knew at least in his brain, heart, and tongue, he had three seals, with countless others affixed since he was five years old.
Just as he could easily manipulate the Mist upper echelons with his identity during this critical time of war, if the Mist truly set its mind to it, they could also find numerous ways to control him.
Moreover, the five great countries were still in a state of barbaric conflict, with no prisoner of war treaties; for captured spies, all means are employed to the fullest extent.
Being killed during a flight is considered merciful, and there are methods like forced brain searches, thirty-six ways with whips, seventy-two types of torture, and one hundred and eight interrogation methods, until their last value is squeezed out and they are thrown into laboratories as human materials, physically exhausted.
In such circumstances, could Sawahara Mizu take that risk?
Clearly, it’s impossible!
The only thing to be thankful for is that after he transmigrated into this world, he still had some leverage.
‘Today, it should be able to start, right?’
Sawahara Mizu thought, accelerating the speed of proofreading the documents.
After finishing the last stack of papers, he immediately slammed the pen down, grabbed his bag, and jumped out of the window.
“Hey! Sawahara-kun—!”
His pineapple-haired superior, sitting across from him, suddenly widened his dark circles, grabbing another stack of documents just delivered to the office, shouting towards the window.
This brat actually skipped work?!
Right in front of him!
Damn it, I haven't had a vacation in three months and eighty-seven days.
You actually went off to rest alone; what’s the difference from being cucked in front of me?
“Lord Nara, I’m taking leave tonight! I’ll make it up tomorrow—”
From the distant end of the street, Sawahara Mizu’s somewhat distorted voice came.
Nara Shikahiro in the office looked at the gradually fading figure outside the window, sitting down in his office chair with an expression on the verge of collapse.
Looking at the half-height stack of documents on his desk made him feel like dying.
Damn it!
Tomorrow, I must make this kid work overtime! Stuff him full of work like a cream puff!
Nara Shikahiro picked up his pen, fiercely scribbling data while thinking angrily.
......
“I’m back!”
Sawahara Mizu pushed the door open and strode into the living room.
“Eh?”
A half-grown girl busy in the kitchen was startled, turning her head to look at him, her face instinctively showing surprise.
“Oniisan! You’re back!”
The girl, resembling a bean sprout and wearing a home apron, quickly approached him: “You’re really early today; are you tired from work?”
“Do you want to eat first, take a bath first, or eat...?”
“Thump.”
His knuckles tapped on the girl’s fair forehead, producing a crisp sound.
Sawahara Mizu pretended to be angry: “Adults getting rough with children can get caught by the Uchiha police; are you trying to frame your dear brother, Miss Yukie?”
“Eh heh heh.” Sawahara Yukie wasn’t angry; she took the bag from his hands and followed closely beside him, “Oniisan is back so early today.”
“Could it be that you knew I snagged some limited beef at the market in advance?”
“Or are you aware of tonight's sukiyaki...?”
“Eh? Is it really this lavish?”
“Such a pity, today is a bit unfortunate.” Sawahara Mizu clasped his hands together, putting on a pained expression to interrupt, “Yukie can eat by herself; Oniisan has some new jutsu to try out.”
Although it wasn’t obvious, there was still a hint of unintentional estrangement.
“Is that so...”
Before Sawahara Yukie could continue asking anything, Sawahara Mizu had already quickly ascended to his room on the second floor.
Clearly, this was his ‘younger sister.’
Sawahara Yukie, twelve years old, an ordinary genin who had just graduated from the ninja school a year ago.
Despite the prolonged Second Great Ninja War, unlike the next war a decade later, Konoha still had enough resources accumulated since the Second Hokage's era; genin like her who had just graduated were quickly familiarizing themselves with ninja tasks under the guidance of competent chūnin mentors, far from the front lines.
Although Sawahara Mizu was an undercover agent, he still kept a little burden by his side, and the reason was simple.
For outsiders to fully integrate into Konoha requires extremely complicated procedures and processes.
If children want to enter the ninja school, they must also undergo strict scrutiny and multiple mental techniques.
However, if he could directly become the eldest son of a family that settled in Konoha twenty years ago, with both parents deceased, leaving only himself and a younger sister, mastering such a rich real interpersonal network, his difficulty in becoming a 'local of Konoha' would drop to zero, while also dramatically reducing the chances of being suspected.
In contrast, any isolated individuals lacking family ties, such as orphans, are prime suspects in the village's first batch of search operations, many of whom are even targeted by Root due to their ambiguous identities.
People without vulnerabilities are very dangerous.
It doesn’t make a difference for any regime.
Fortunately, the year Sawahara Mizu infiltrated Konoha, he was fortunate to find such a suitable family.
His parents died on the vast battlefield, and his young brother was crushed to death by ninjutsu in the village’s conflict, leaving only a younger sister crying beside a blocked infant carriage.
A perfect identity.
From that day on, he became Sawahara Mizu.
Naturally, this younger sister, three years his junior, was also raised by him with great care.
However, Sawahara Mizu wasn’t naive enough to trust her or attempt to entrust anything to her.
He would ultimately leave this place.
Sawahara Mizu subconsciously thought this.
He did not notice the fleeting disappointment in Sawahara Yukie's eyes as he turned away.
......
Back in his room, he first conducted a routine check of various mechanisms, confirming that the room had not been disturbed and that there were no sealing techniques or surveillance mechanisms. Only then did Sawahara Mizu sit cross-legged on the bed, trying to suppress the excitement bubbling within him.
He closed his eyes and silently chanted:
“Panel.”
Almost the moment the thought crossed his mind, an empty panel displayed a countdown.
“Minor Mode Release Time”
“00:00:09”
Yes.
The humorous minor mode.
No matter how many times he saw this panel prompt, Sawahara Mizu found it hard to suppress the urge to curse.
Even though he began training, killing, infiltrating, and being brainwashed from a very young age.
However, because our外挂 (external plug-in) is rated 15+, kids can't just turn it on!
It’s simply unreasonable!
He was a standard greasy middle-aged man before transmigrating; who knows who this age restriction is meant to protect?
Fortunately, it was finally time.
Just as Sawahara Mizu was thinking this way, the countdown in the prompt box reached its end.
Nine
Eight
Seven
…
Three two one!
Activation, go!!!
In that moment, Sawahara Mizu's entire field of vision was engulfed by a white prompt box.
Almost simultaneously, a soft female voice hummed gently into his mind, soothing the heart like a distant melody.
“Are you... my Master?”
“Yes.”
Sawahara Mizu’s spirit involuntarily sank in, instinctively straining to listen.
The next moment, she started reciting in a standard poetic tone, speaking the first line of non-human dialogue.
“Oh~ Superb!”
“Just after transmigrating, I awakened the world’s most remarkable 【Sawahara's Friend Book】 system; what do you have to fear now? What do you have to fear?!”
“Punching Hashirama’s mom, kicking Madara, pressing Otsutsuki Kaguya down, slapping her.”
“I want to single-handedly turn the whole world into cream puffs—!”
“Sawahara Mizu, when are you the number one in the ninja world? (droning)”
“Right now! (reply)”
With a booming voice, the sound was thunderous and resonant.
At that moment, Sawahara Mizu's gaze suddenly shifted from sparkling brilliance to a vacant stare, his complexion changing from rosy to ashen, his entire being exuding a broken gray state as he quietly listened to this opening statement.
The silence in the room was deafening.
“......?”
He had a bad premonition.