At first glance, Yagura doesn't look very threatening, or willing to hurt anybody. He had the appearance of a young boy in his teens, and was as short as one. But during these years, he was a tyrant, and many wonder why he had come into this conclusion. The most common questions were, did he want to make the Village suffer due to how he was treated at a younger age? How long was he going to keep this up? He got the revenge he wanted, why not step down from his Mizukage title? And how did he get away with making the village as it is without the Mist council having a say on it? These were questions every Mist villager and ninja asked themselves or others, but never got answers. Yagura even got away with not having to do paperwork. When he became Mizukage, the first thing he did was give all of the paperwork to a few chunin that worked in the offices of the Mizukage mansion.

Whatever he did or said to convince the Mist council to see his ideals, it worked, and many in the Mist village were not happy with it. Many citizens and ninjas fled the village, and after that event, Yagura forced the village to lock down, and not allow anyone in or out without the authority of his Mist shinobi. Now the villagers were trapped, and the only thing that could free them was the rebellion outside of the village. His lockdown of the village is what inspired Mei to lock down down the island, but the thing is, Yagura wasn't aware of her own lock down.

Yagura was sitting in his office desk, in silence. In his thoughts, he was organizing the preparation of his counter attack. Yes, he was well aware of Mei's plan of attack, all thanks to his best jounin. His thoughts however, were interrupted when a knock on his office door is heard. Yagura always hated interruptions when he was in deep thoughts, so he annoyingly let a "Come in.", and the person who knocked, enters. It was Mangetsu.

Mangetsu begins speaking, "The swordsmen and I are ready for tomorrow's counter attack, and are waiting for your approval, lord Mizukage."

Yagura grins, and responds, "Excellent. You and the others have my full approval. Hmhmhm…" He stands up from his chair, and slowly walks up to Mangetsu. "Tomorrow, I'm going to show Mei, that dog, that you just can't stop the fourth Mizukage. Not with the seven ninja swordsmen, plus my best jounin, and my tailed beast under my command." He stops in front of Mangetsu, "I'll make sure to kill Mei myself, and when she dies, the rebellion will die with her, leaving no hope for any redemption of the village, and me as it's permanent, tyrant leader." His evil grin widens.

Mangetsu looks at him in the eyes, and says, "I won't let you down, sir."

Yagura lightly nods once, "I know you won't." He turns around, and heads back to his desk. "If there's nothing left you wish to say, you are dismissed."

"Actually, there is something I wish to talk about."

Yagura sits down on his chair, "I'm listening."

Mangetsu continues, "It's about Ameyuri."

Yagura asks, "About her disease, isn't it?"

"Yes. It doesn't seem to be fair for her to die while in battle. I feel that she should put down her title of swordswoman and die a peaceful death once her disease strikes. She told me she wanted one more battle before her death, but-"

Yagura interrupts him, "If she already said she wanted one more fight, why are you insisting that she should die peacefully? Hell, why come up to me about it? If anything, you should be telling her that."

"Because I care about her, and I want to see her pass away in a bed, not die in a fight."

"Again, you're insisting me, when you should be insisting her. If she wants to die in a fight, then let her. There's nothing you can do about it unless you can convince her otherwise."

He knew Yagura was right. It was Ameyuri's wish to die in battle, and Mangetsu knew it well, as she was the one that told him. But why was he talking to Yagura about Ameyuri's decision when he should be talking to her instead? What made him come up with this approach? Was there something about Ameyuri that Mangetsu cared about?

Yagura says, "You're wasting my time with this argument. You're dismissed."

Mangetsu frowns, and stands there for a few seconds, until he spoke, "Can we at least give her her own coffin and funeral when she dies? It's the least we should do for a fellow sw-"

Yagura interrupts him again, "I SAID you're dismissed."

Mangetsu's frown hardens, and with venom on his voice, he says, " … Yes, lord Yagura…"

He leaves the office, and slams the door, something Yagura didn't take lightly.

Yagura wonders, "What the hell is his problem?"

Mangetsu lays his back against the wall next to Yagura's office with his arms crossed. He was still wondering why he would approach Yagura and not Ameyuri. Did he really not want to lose a fellow swordsman, or have his comrade, no, friend, die in such a non-peaceful way? Did he have something he felt for her and didn't want to tell her? It's not often he had feelings such as these, and they're not feelings he really cared about unless it was somebody very important or special to him.

Mangetsu was in deep thought, 'I don't think I even want to bring up this matter to her… It's best if she doesn't know...'

With that, he stands up straight, and begins walking through the hallways of the mansion.

Mei was very focused on the battle map that lied before her. She was checking her plan many times until she was sure it would work. She and her men only got one shot at this. One screw up, and the rebellion would be destroyed by Yagura himself. And Mei knew that the only one who could take down Yagura was herself, as she had Kage levels worth of chakra, strength, and jutsu that could match Yagura.

Mei thought to herself, 'Should I tell Yugito and her team my real intentions? Should I tell my men my real intentions?' She closes her eyes, 'The only one that can defeat Yagura is me. Even my best jounin wouldn't stand a chance against him.'

Her thoughts were interrupted when Yugito spoke, 'You've been staring at that map for a few minutes now, Mei.'

Mei opens her eyes, and looks at Yugito. Mei gives her a faint smile, "It's nothing. I'm just over checking my plan of attack is all."

Yugito admits, "Something looks like it's worrying you. Is there something else you would like to say?"

Mei makes a light frown, and looks at the battle map, but then looks at Yugito once again, "Come. Let's go for a walk. Just you and me."

Yugito nods, "Very well."

The two kunoichi leave the tent, and walk through the encampment.

Mei begins, "Like I mentioned, stay up for tonight, so that you may sleep tomorrow in the afternoon, and get ready for the attack. You can walk around the encampment or explore the places outside of it in the meanwhile. Just as long as you do not go too far. You can even help some of my men get organized."

Yugito says, "I will do as you say, Mei."

They stay silent for a few seconds, but Yugito speaks again, "What can you tell me about Yagura? He is a jinchuriki as well, so he gained the most of my curiosity."

Mai chuckles, "Ah yes. I nearly forgot you are a jinchuriki as well." She takes a confident breath of air. "I have known Yagura ever since I was barely an academy graduate. By that time, he was a jounin, and was highly respected by many after so many years of being tormented by his people due to the curse of having a beast sealed in him. He was caring, heroic, truthful, sometimes a little arrogant, but with reason."

Yugito paid close attention to this history as they walked.

Mei continues, "I even looked up to him up until the became Mizukage. He gained that title at the age of twenty-three, and he deserved it at the time. He gave us two peaceful years with his title..." She frowns, "That is... until he had a sudden change of heart, and became what he is now..."

Yugito asks, "Do you know what caused him to come to this change?"

Mei answers, "I have been trying to figure out for over a decade... with little to no answers..."

"A decade? Then that means Yagura must already be in his thirties. Has his tyranny really gone out for that long?"

Mei coldly responds, "Yes..." She looks at Yugito, "But tomorrow at midnight, I'm highly confident that I'll get that answer." She looks at the ground in front of her, "I've been too stupid to lose sleep over wondering what caused his change, when I could be getting the rest I needed to guide my rebellion."

Yugito says, "I understand how you feel, Mei." Mei looks at Yugito, "I've lost sleep over major things as well. Like the time a clan known as the Yoriocha clan invaded the Cloud village for no apparent reason. I was so stressed out, and didn't know what to do when they attacked. Eventually I did gain the confidence I needed, and got good rest before me and Bee took down the clan's leader."

Mei wonders, "The Yoriocha clan, hm? I have heard some dangerous things about that clan." She somewhat widens her eyes with surprise, "And you took down its leader?"

Yugito rubs the back of her neck, "Oh it's not something I like to brag about. Bee did most of the work while I was his helper." She puts her left index finger and thumb on her chin, "Though I did deliver the final blow."

Mei smiles, "Well that's an impressive feat, Yugito." She lightly taps Yugito her elbow, "You should've been crowned Raikage."

They both have a fair laugh, until they pass the exit to the encampment.

Mei looks back at the encampment to make sure no one was following, and looks forward again, "Alright. We're far enough so no one can hear." She gives Yugito a serious look, "Yugito, I haven't been completely fair with you, your team, and even my rebellion."

Yugito wonders, "What do you mean?"

"I have... other plans for tomorrow's infiltration, and you look like someone who I can trust with what I wish to say."

Yugito nods, "Very well, I'm listening."

Mei takes another confident breath of air, "I plan to take on Yagura myself."

This catches Yugito by surprise, "By yourself? Why? What about aid from your men?"

"This is between me, and Yagura. I don't want anyone else involved. Not you, not your team, and not my rebellion. Just me, and him."

Yugito gives Mei a serious look as well, "Mei, you're making this sound personal. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Mei looks at Yugito in the eyes for a good three seconds, but then sighs while she eyes the ground, " You're right... This is personal..."

"Is there anything else you'd like to share with me?"

Mei stays quiet for another few seconds, but then speaks, "There is... one thing. The reason why I make this personal." Yugito keeps her listening towards Mei, "I was... Yagura's student once. Not a team student, but his own personal student. He saw potential in me when I singlehandedly won the hidden Mist chunin exams. He walked up to me one day, and decided to take me under his wing. For the next two years, I learned as much as he wanted to teach me. I'm very close to being a Kage level shinobi, and he's the main reason as to why I am..." She looks down on the ground, and tightens the grip on her hands in anger. She also starts showing anger in her voice, "But after he decided to start his tyranny, he literally threw me to the side as if I was some low life, or as if he didn't know me..."

She looks up to Yugito, and raises her voice, "He was like an older brother to me!"

When she said that, a puff of fire comes out of her mouth, which surprised Yugito. Mei turns around, and takes three steps towards the direction she was facing, and stops, "And then he threw it all away!"

More puffs of fire came out of her mouth. Yugito noticed that puff, despite Mei facing her back towards her. What she didn't notice were tears forming in Mei's eyes. Yugito takes slow steps towards her, and slowly places her right hand on Mei's left shoulder.

Mei says between her light sobs, "I'm... I'm sorry for bringing up this stupid story to you..." She wipes her eyes, with some of her makeup coming off.

"It's alright. I appreciate your honesty, and I'm grateful for your confidence in me." Yugito removes her hand off her shoulder.

Mei slowly turns around to face her, and lightly smiles, "...I'm just happy I could share the story with somebody. Even if it's someone I just met."

Yugito kindly smiles, and then takes out a napkin from her pouch, "Here. You wouldn't want to go around the encampment with dirty eyes, would you?"

Mei does a light laugh, "I'd have to kill anyone and everyone who saw me like this." She cleans the dirty make up on her eyes, and gives the napkin back to Yugito, who puts it back in her pouch.

Mei says, "Let's head back now. I've told you what I needed to tell you."

Then a male's voice is heard, "I hope I'm not late."

Before the two kunoichi could turn towards the encampment, they hear where the voice comes from.

Mei smiles, "Utakata. I'm glad you could make it."

Utakata was wearing a standard Mist uniform with a Mist headband tied on his forehead, and his hair covering his left eye.

He smirks, "Sorry I'm late. Hotaru wouldn't go to sleep unless I taught her one more jutsu. But she was low on chakra due to all the training we had today, so she only learned a quarter of the jutsu. I swear, that preteen can be hard-headed, sometimes."

Mei says, "It's not a problem. We were just on our way back inside." She looks at Yugito, "Yugito, this is Utakata. One of my best jounin. And, you deserve to know that he is a jinchuriki as well."

Yugito's eyes widen to those words, and looks at Utakata, who says, "So does that mean you're like me as well?" He takes a few steps closer to Yugito, "It's not everyday I get to see another container walking around here. So which one?"

Yugito responds, "The two-tailed cat. And you?"

"The six-tailed slug."

Another smile formed on Yugito's lips. She finally found one of the two jinchuriki that were missing, and it was the container of the six-tails. She couldn't be any happier, and she was finally making more progress after her last jinchuriki search.

Utakata noticed her smile, and asks, "Are you alright? You seem rather happy."

Yugito knocks herself out of her stupor, "Oh it's nothing. I actually have two other jinchuriki friends over at the encampment if you'd like to meet them."

"Two more, huh?" He lightly smiles, "I would gladly like to meet them."

Mei says, "Then let's go."

With that, the two containers and rebellion leader make their way towards the main tent. What they failed to notice was a tall skinny ninja wearing an ANBU mask and bushy hair, was standing on a tree, listening to the entire conversation Yugito and Mei just had. Once the three ninjas were inside the encampment, this mysterious ninja jumped from tree to tree, back to the Mist village.

Ameyuri was sitting down on a couch, peacefully sharpening one of her kiba swords. She was focused on the weapon, and the weapon only, and she was alone in one of the many rooms of the Mizukage mansion. As she finished, she holds the fang in front of her, and looks into the reflection of it.

She wonders, "Hmmm... who should I give these to before I die? I hope I can live long enough to find a new wielder for these. And I survive the battle I want."

She looks at the reflection of herself on the sword for a few seconds, until suddenly, she feels an excruciating pain on her chest, which causes her eyes to widen, and her kiba sword to be dropped. She then falls on the floor, and holds her chest in pain. She lays on her left side, and starts panting and moaning, not knowing what was happening.

"Wh-what's going on!?" She continues panting, "Is-... Is it time!?"

Ameyuri coughs out flood, and yells in pain, "Is this it...? Hah... hah... is my t-time up!?"

She then coughs out a fair amount of blood, and just then, the pain starts to slowly fade away. Her panting slows down, and her moans stop. She takes a look around, and notices she was still in the same room. She slowly sits up, and grabs her swords. Then stands up, and slowly walks towards a mirror in the room, and stops in front of it. She sets the kiba swords on the table, and starts to open her top, when she does, she lowers it, only to reveal an unpleasant sight on her body.

The veins on her arms were thick and dark, while the veins on her chest just as dark, but thick, almost as if they were going to pop. She also had a few tiny bubble-like marks on her breasts, and on her sides. Not to mention, there were black veins that looked like were circling her heart area. It was a sight that no one could tolerate but herself.

"It's getting worse day by day." She fixes her top, "That attack I just had must mean I'm getting very close to dying." Ameyuri takes a deep breath, but when she does, she holds her chest in pain, and groans. "Now it's hurting just to take a deep breath."

She sighs, and takes one last look at herself in the mirror, then turns around and sits down on the couch to continue sharpening her kiba swords.

Samui was outside the encampment's main tent, admiring the campsite's view. Despite being in a civil war, the rebels were quite cheerful, and were having a good time together, whether it was eating, organizing for the assault, or sharing stories around a small campfire, they were not negatively affected, or anxious about the upcoming assault that was being organized. Seeing the cheerfulness of the rebels almost brought a smile to Samui's face. Almost. Her thoughts were interrupted when Han walks up from behind her, and stands next to her.

Han simply says, "Hello Samui. Deep in thoughts?"

Samui replies, "I'm just admiring the view. They're all rather happy even while in a civil war."

"It's not something I see very often, either. Or at least, of what I can remember."

They both stood in silent for a few seconds, until Han looked at her, and spoke, "I understand you are a jounin, but I was curious, do you have a genin team?"

Samui replies, " Two genin. Karui and Omoi."

"Ah, I see. If Yugito decides to take the three young jinchuriki as her students, I'm sure your genin and hers will get along nicely."

"They've already met, and are getting along well already." She looks at Han, "Maybe you should take a team of your own. It would be cool."

"It's not for me, to be honest. I don't want to risk the chances of one or all of them dying, and the blame being put on me. I've had enough blame being put on me in the past."

Just then, Bee walks up to them, "Yo! How's it going, peeps?" He puts both his hands on Samui's and Han's shoulders.

Samui responds, "We were just having a casual chat, and enjoying the night."

Bee asks them, "Ya both ready to kick some ass tomorrow?"

Han answers, "The attack won't be until tomorrow midnight, so we have enough time to prepare."

"You sayin' you ain't ready?"

"No, not really."

Bee pats Han's shoulder, "You always gotta be ready at all times, homie. What if they attack out right now? Don't be relyin' on the time we have 'till we attack fool, ya fool."

Han looks at Bee over his shoulder, "Hm, you know? For someone I can't take seriously, you actually have some pretty decent advice."

Bee grins. Just then, Yugito, Mei, and Utakata approach them.

Yugito says, "Hey guys."

Samui asks, "How was the walk?"

Mei answers, "We covered what we needed to discuss." She looks at Utakata, "I'd like you all to meet Utakata. He's one of my best jounin, and he'll be helping with the infiltration."

Utakata says, "I'm also the jinchuriki of the six tailed slug."

Han looks at Yugito, "So, you found another one, Yugito."

Yugito looks at Utakata, "We should head inside. There's something I'd like to discuss with you, Utakata."

The six of them proceed making their way inside the main tent again, and Utakata says, "Alright, I'm listening."