Once in a Bloody moon: Prologue
Several days had passed since the Tyranny ended. Nobody knows how the Tyrant died, or cared for that matter but he did leave the state of the Mist Village in darkness during his reign.
The sun had started to rise and shined a shade bloody orange never before seen, and it was a sign that all the prejudice and hardship would come to an end.
The Village Hidden in Mist had never been so full of optimism. All across its streets, people were actually smiling. One could almost feel the happy aura in the mist that cloaked this Village.
"Oh my, these moon cakes are delicious!" Mei's dry mouth started to moisten as she observed the hundreds upon thousands of delicacies that her mother has spent so long making.
"Don't eat them all now! Be sure to give everyone in the village one. Oh, and make sure Mangetsu gets this. That boy's work ethic will one day be the death of me" Mei's mother, Saeko handed her a small basket, in addition to the other baskets containing the moon cakes.
"Sure thing, mother!" Mei said, about to leave. She then realised that something was missing.
"Damn, I nearly forgot! I have to give this to Yagura too. I suppose I'll have to address him as 'Lord Mizukage' from now on" She piled the package onto the many baskets she was about to carry all across the village. She couldn't even see where she was going and clumsily bumped into her father.
"Woah, steady on there. That's a lot of stuff you're carrying! Are you sure you don't need any help?" he asked.
"I'll be… fine!" She smiled and then realised that dropped a few baskets.
"If you say so my dear. Remember, you are a ninja!" he winked and the big burly red haired man briefly held up a hand sign. There was a brief pause.
"Oh!" she then giggled and weaved her own hand sign. Suddenly, copies of her appeared in a puff of smoke. The original reached up to the big man and kissed him, not caring about the rouge beard decorating his face.
"I'll see you at the ceremony, Daddy!" And without further adieu, she and her shadow clones rapidly left to distribute the cakes and packages.
Every time Mei knocked the door, the men, women and children of the Mist were overjoyed to see the honourable daughter of Ryu and Saeko Terumi. Even the local cat, Luna was overjoyed by her arrival, and mewed with joy as she received her moon cake. All throughout the third Mizukage's reign they felt sorry for the poor auburn haired little girl who was ridiculed for her talents. But despite all that, she had grown into a beautiful young woman, and a powerful shinobi. They loved and prayed for her that she would blossom even more in this new era.
Eventually, after skipping through the Village, she arrived at the training ground. It was nine o'clock in the morning and as ever, the cerulean-haired Prodigy was hard at work with his sword. A clutter of immaculately chopped wood and oily water surrounded the boy. He noticed Mei's arrival, and gave her a blank, lifeless look.
"Good Morning… Mei-san" he said.
"Good Morning, Mangetsu. This is for you" Unlike Mangetsu, Mei smiled and her jade eyes were indeed full of life as she handed over all the goodies that her mother prepared for him.
"Thank you Very much" he said with no emotion. He picked up his sword and continued training. "You can go now…"
Mei felt offended for some reason. She liked Mangetsu, but hated his indifferent lack of emotion at times. She threw a Shuriken in his Direction, and weaved a few hand signs.
"Shuriken: Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Within seconds a barrage of shuriken headed towards Mangetsu at great speed.
Mangetsu got into his fighting stance and his sword danced and brushed away the shuriken. Around fifty "clang" sounds of the metal colliding were heard in the otherwise silent vicinity. But he missed one. The last shuriken sliced briefly at a small portion of his face. The crimson liquid came out at a sluggish pace.
"You know, there's no harm in smiling and being nice!" Mei shouted.
Mangetsu proceeded to try and smile. He didn't particularly like her eyes now, which were now a different green. It took him a while but eventually he could force something that could make his mouth curve into something quite pleasant. Mei's eyes changed again, back to a more content green.
"See, that wasn't so hard. And give Suigetsu my regards!"
Mei skipped along realising that she still needed to see Yagura. She loved and trusted the little man like a brother and didn't want to keep him waiting.
To say that the Mizukage's quarters were vast is a huge understatement. Even though Mei knew the place well there were so many portions of the complex that she had not yet visited, and she sometimes feared getting lost. She found herself in the office, where she found her long time friend and confidante Yagura. And as of today, he would (in theory) be the most powerful man in the village.
"Mei, what a surprise to see you here!" Yagura said smiling. He had a calm and almost childlike sounding voice, as befitting a man of his short stature and youthful appearance. Despite that, he was an adult and one of the most powerful Ninja in the village.
His pink eyes met Mei's green eyes. One could almost smell the sweetness of their excitement.
"I can't believe it's actually happening. You're going to be a Mizukage, My lord"
"It's a dream come true and I'll do my very best. Oh, and you can still call me Yagura, if you wish" He replied.
"I bought you some Gifts" She smiled and gave an enormous basket to new Mizukage. It was almost as big as him!
"You're too kind! I must say, you do look ravishing today, Mei"
"Why thank you my Lord. You look rather... adorable yourself!" Mei blushed and giggled.
"Can you wear this at the ceremony? I think it would look good on you." Mei got out a forest-green scarf and meticulously wrapped it around Yagura's neck. "Now you look like a man who means business! Knock them dead, Yagura. Oh but first I must…" Mei noticed how messy the man's hair was. It was always like that. She also urged little Yagura to straighten his posture.
"Alright, alright… no need to fuss. Is this what it's like to have a nagging mother?" he asked. Mei continued to make the man look perfect as he could for the big day.
"You'll thank me for it. There, that's much better. Now knock them dead!" Mei lightly kissed Yagura on his left cheek, where his scar was.
"Would you like to accompany me on the Balcony? I'd love to have you by my side. It's because of you that I was able to make it this far"
"It would be my honour", Mei said bowing to her Lord whilst noticing the crowd's roar.
"They are ready for you. Are you ready?" Mei asked. Yagura's hand shook vigorously as he showed it to Mei. She held it and the Mizukage felt her warmth.
"I'm Nervous. But I can do this" He glanced towards the Auburn haired beauty and gave an optimistic smile.
They were on the balcony, along with the Mist's High council and some of the Mist's Wise elders. They bowed and said "My lord" simultaneously. The Crowd went Silent as the little man made his way onto the podium. He observed the people he would rule over and protect. He had never seen their eyes so filled with elation. He blinked. Did he notice someone not smiling? It was almost as though he saw a dark figure, faceless, but staring into his eyes. Yagura blinked again.
"Mei, did you see something strange in the crowd?"
"The only thing strange in the crowd is my father's beard!" she noticed her father and waved to him.
Where was that figure now? Was he just imagining it? He couldn't delay any longer. His people were eager to hear his voice.
"My beloved Mist Villagers!" he heard them cheer briefly. "Today is the beginning of a new Era for the Village Hidden in the Mist. For too long, our Mist was one of great suffering. But now, I, Yagura the fourth Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist do hereby vow to protect this village, to look after this village and to love this village from this day until my last" Yagura paused. His speech moved the Mist village and they believed in him. He was the one. A councillor bought the famous blue hat that three other shinobi had donned previously. Though, to be frank, Yagura was probably the first man to actually deserve it. The councillor made his way to the Podium.
"We all bear witness to Lord Yagura's vows and we have the utmost confidence that he will fulfil them" the man gave the hat to the Lord Mizukage and concluded.
"Long may he reign!" he said
"Long may he reign!" the crowd repeated. The Mizukage waved to his people, and after that completed the formalities that would make up most of this special day before eventually preparing himself for the lovely feast ahead.
Night had fallen and the moon, whilst full was not shining at all. It was a murky grey that the clear night sky could do without. The new Mizukage had enjoyed a full day of formalities and festivities. For some reason, he couldn't get to sleep and found himself at the training ground. The place was empty and familiar but he felt uneasy. Had it finally occurred to him the immense pressure he would be under? The full day of activities, including Mei's kiss had not yet sunken in but he felt a heavy weight on his tiny little shoulders. Something was up. The only sound he could hear was the steps he was making over the water, wood and leaves that had been left there during the morning by the aspiring swordsman. Yagura finally heard another sound and looked at the moon. It looked… crimson - A bloody red which lit up the night sky. Were those stars there before?
"I trust you enjoyed today's festivities, Lord Mizukage" a figure came from the distance. He was all in black. His head was covered by a hood and his face was dressed with a flame-patterned mask. The man's voice made the Mizukage shiver.
"I very much doubt you'll be able to fulfil your vows. This world is full of lies…"
"Who are you?" Yagura snapped.
"It doesn't matter"
"You were in the crowd, weren't you?" Yagura remembered that dark figure. He thought he was only seeing things. He thought wrong. The masked man said nothing.
Yagura, feeling threatened by the man's sudden appearance moved first. He attacked the masked man with basic Taijutsu, before moving his way into Ninjutsu and eventually elemental ninjutsu. Nothing worked. The masked man could read the Mizukage's moves and mysteriously slipped through every major missile that was thrown at him.
"Is this the best the Mizukage can offer?" The masked man asked, mockingly whilst casually glancing towards the little man.
"What do you want?!" Yagura shouted.
"Who knows? Maybe I want nothing at all. Or perhaps I want your village. I know this much – You won't be able to fulfil your vows."
"You're not making any sense" Yagura replied.
"And I'm going to make sure you realise what happens when people make strong claims about protecting the ones they love. I will start with you. Then everybody else will suffer. I will find those who will enforce my plan" The masked man pointed towards the moon. "How do you plan to protect the village, when you can't keep that beast under control? It's true isn't it? You haven't tamed the beast!" Yagura had the beast sealed inside of him weeks before his ascension, though he has yet to maximise its power.
"I might not have tamed the three tails, but I have no doubt that the love and support of my people will help me through this!" Yagura proceeded, and weaved several hand signs. A giant water dragon came out and chased the masked man without success. Yagura attempted all manner of jutsu but still couldn't lay a finger. He was tiring out but was persistent.
"Come over here and fight, you coward! I can still defeat you!" Yagura exclaimed.
"You don't understand" The masked fellow said as the Mizukage got out a shuriken and started to invest some chakra into it to sharpen it and increase its speed. But it was too late "I've already won." The masked man claimed. He quickly approached Yagura in the blink of an eye and stared deep into his pink eyes. The masked man's right eye shone a luminous yet sinister red. Yagura was helpless, as his own eyes turned lifeless.
The Mizukage kneeled before the masked man, and the moons of the mist would cry a bloody red from this day to his last.