The management of the Ninja Academy was still composed of people from the era of the Third Mizukage.
Yes, they were the ones who had grouped Yagura, Mangetsu, and Kaede together as a team.
So, when news of the Third Mizukage's passing spread, and Karatachi Yagura was appointed as the new Mizukage, these same people saw his name and felt nothing but dread deep in their hearts.
Especially after the demise of the previous generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, their anxiety only intensified.
From a more cynical perspective, was this the new Mizukage's way of eliminating the old regime's trusted subordinates?
From a factual standpoint, they weren't entirely wrong.
However, Yagura had been incredibly busy since taking office, and he simply hadn't spared a thought for people who had no direct impact on his daily responsibilities.
The Academy was directly overseen by the Military Affairs Department.
So, when Yagura arrived at the school and found the administrators standing stiffly, not even daring to breathe too loudly, he was momentarily taken aback.
Was he really that terrifying?
Mangetsu, remembering the history behind all this, leaned in and whispered a reminder into Yagura's ear.
Suddenly realizing the situation, Yagura swept his gaze over the school's leadership and smirked.
"Oh, so you're the ones responsible for this mess?"
The group immediately bowed their heads even lower, some even trembling.
"Then as punishment… you're all staying right where you are."
Waving his hand dismissively, Yagura looked unimpressed. "Move aside. You're blocking the entrance. I'm not here to see you today."
Shocked yet relieved, the administrators instinctively stepped aside, making way for him.
Zabuza, who had been watching the scene unfold, shot a disdainful glare at the overweight officials who, in his eyes, were nothing but useless dead weight.
"If you find them troublesome, I can take care of them for you."
"Forget it. I don't have time for that. We're busy, you know?" Yagura shrugged it off.
Besides, these people hadn't caused him any real harm, so he had no interest in pursuing the matter further.
If nothing else, their decisions had inadvertently led him to meet the heirs of the Hozuki and Onime clans.
In the end, Yagura had no choice but to hand them a metaphorical 'good citizen' card.
"Besides," he added, "replacing them would be a hassle. Who would I bring in? Who would I replace? And would the new ones even be any better?"
He remained skeptical and dismissive, speaking not just to Zabuza and Mangetsu but also to the officials still standing nervously behind him.
"Just do your jobs properly and don't cause me any trouble. That's all I ask."
Every new leader was expected to make sweeping changes.
But Yagura had no interest in wasting his energy on such trivial matters.
"Understood."
A sudden voice made them turn back.
Yuki Murasaki, smiled pleasantly. "The Mizukage has no interest in unnecessary details."
Narrowing her eyes slightly, she continued, "Since your punishment is simply to continue doing your jobs well, perhaps you could start by organizing the entrance ceremony for the new students?"
By now, many parents had arrived with their children for enrollment.
But with the school administrators clogging the entrance, none of them could get in.
Standing at a distance, they had formed a semi-circle, watching the spectacle unfold.
Hearing the murmurs from the crowd, the officials' faces turned red with embarrassment.
Muttering hurried responses to Murasaki, they scurried back inside the academy, looking utterly ridiculous as they fled.
Not wanting to witness such an unsightly scene any longer, Murasaki checked her watch.
7:50 AM.
There was still an hour before the entrance ceremony began.
In that time, they needed to get the registration process running smoothly.
But considering the earlier fiasco, she had little faith in the efficiency of those officials.
After observing for a moment, she sighed and called over a few of her people to help organize things.
Strictly speaking, this was Yagura's first real public appearance since becoming Mizukage.
There couldn't be any slip-ups.
...
Meanwhile, Yagura, Mangetsu, and Zabuza strolled through the academy's corridors.
Inside the classrooms, lessons were underway. The blackboards were covered with physics and mathematics formulas.
Some classrooms were empty—likely due to outdoor training sessions.
Even their old classroom was empty.
"Man, I miss being a student," Yagura mused nostalgically.
Mangetsu gave him a deadpan look. "You were a student for what? A few days? What exactly are you reminiscing about?"
"Shh. You're ruining the mood."
Annoyed, Yagura shot him a look. "You should learn from Zabuza—be a silent, cool guy for once."
Zabuza twitched slightly but didn't smile.
His own days at the academy…
Thinking back, there wasn't a single moment worth remembering fondly.
...
They wandered through the school, eventually reaching the classrooms for the older students—fifth years, ten and up.
A few students near the windows had been slacking off, but when they caught sight of Yagura walking past, their eyes widened in shock.
"Hey! That's him! That's the Mizukage!"
"What?! Where?!"
The student nearest the window, who had been daydreaming, snapped to attention, pressed against the glass, and shouted excitedly.
Soon, more students rushed to the windows, peering out in disbelief.
"It's really him! The Mizukage!"
Once they confirmed it, the entire classroom erupted into chaos.
In an instant, students abandoned their seats, scrambling to the windows and doors to get a better look.
Their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that it even caught Yagura off guard.
"Yo. Morning, everyone."
He raised a hand in greeting, offering a casual nod to the students who were practically plastered against the glass.
That simple action confirmed his identity—and chaos ensued.
"HOLY—IT'S REALLY HIM!"
"QUIET DOWN!"
The instructor, a Chunin, immediately asserted control. The Mist's ninja school teachers had long used terror to maintain discipline.
Even though the era of the Blood Mist had ended, their teaching methods hadn't changed much.
With a single barked order, the students froze.
Hearing the teacher's furious roar, Yagura instinctively flinched. Memories of his own time as a student resurfaced.
Stepping to the classroom door, he poked his head inside and offered the female teacher an apologetic smile. "Sorry for the disruption, sensei."
"N-no trouble at all."
Being addressed as 'sensei' by the Mizukage left the instructor momentarily flustered. She wasn't quite sure how to react to a leader younger than her own students.
"You're too kind," she said hastily, then turned back to the class. "Alright! Back to your seats! We're continuing the lesson!"
The students, cowed by her authority, reluctantly returned to their seats, though their eyes never left Yagura.
Realizing he was causing more trouble than intended, Yagura signaled Mangetsu and Zabuza.
"Let's go back."
As they turned, more students peeked out of their classrooms, their reactions mirroring the first group's excitement.
"Like rabbits seeing their long-lost mother," Zabuza mused, arms crossed. "It's because the Blood Mist era is over."
Mangetsu smirked. "Looks like it."
"Huh. Guess I'm more popular than I thought," Yagura muttered.
Mangetsu chuckled. "At least among students, you're doing alright, 'Little Mizukage.'"
Zabuza smirked. "A child hero."
Yagura sighed. "I don't even know if that's an insult or a compliment