"Luciel... You are truly the king of the fifty storms."

Befitting of its name, Kirigakure is surrounded by a luminous mist, embellishing the glorious mountains that encompass the contemporary architecture, modernized since the great war for humanity. Typically, citizens are brimming with cheerfulness, distinct from the village's history as the bloody mist.

During the reign of the Fourth Mizukage, the village developed a reputation for it's cruelty, often coercing young children to massacre each other for the opportunity to become shinobi. Corruption plagued those in charge, leading to the famed Mass Exodus of Kirigakure. Relations between Kirigakure and other influential villages grew sour, especially Iwagakure of the Land of Earth.

During the reign of the following three Mizukage, the once economically poor and non-industrialized village reformed internal policies and improved it's image abroad as an open-minded municipality, bringing home astonishing development. Following the Fourth Shinobi World War, which marked a union between the shinobi villages, Kirigakure became a modern and thriving city, popular for tourism. Since then, the village has been nothing but bright and happy.

Suddenly, the liveliness stopped. Streets were filled with a bit of confusion, a bit of panic, and a shitload of sorrow. The Seventh Mizukage was suddenly found dead in his dining hall the previous evening. Medical shinobi found traces of Wolfs-bane in his bloodstream, and the fear of domestic terrorism swept not only the city, but the entire nation as well. Usually secretive from the general public, several Anbu shinobi transported his casket to a graveyard.

The office of Mizukage oversees the activities of Kirigakure, making the hard decisions regarding the village's safety, and serves as the chief commander of the shinobi military. The Water Daimyo is the political leader of the entire Land of Water, responsible for all decisions concerning the country, from alliances to the annual budget to the privileges allowed to the hidden village. As the highest political figure in the country, the Water Daimyo is instrumental in the appointment of the Mizukage, often gathering with the Kiri council to select a candidate.

Following that tragic supper, citizens' presumptions were aroused. "I suspect the Iwagakure shinobi were behind the assassination!" or "Jashinist extremist groups from the Land of Hot Water are to blame, the shinobi should prepare for invasion" or "The Seventh Mizukage's death was merely accidental!"

That following week, citizens were expecting the country's Daimyo to appoint a new Mizukage. Several rumors floated about, but the most popular decision was Sakane Mototsune. The head of the honored Sakane clan, Mototsune's famed techniques earned him a reputation when acting as the Mizukage's hand.

Burdened with the fear of conflict, Yamada Daisuke, the Anbu squad commander, approached his childhood friend, Kurogane Yoshiro, outside the Mizukage's office during the funeral. "Long time, no see," Yoshiro said, stroking his blue beard that complemented his spiky hair.

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In the Academy, Yoshiro always played second fiddle, graduating from the academy a salutatorian, behind Daisuke. They were partnered into Team Mototsune as genin, becoming fierce rivals for the attention of their instructor. When Daisuke was appointed the title of Anbu commander, Yoshiro began teaching a trio of Genin - who recently graduated to Chuunin status - but nevertheless, they had remained close friends with an unbreakable bond.

"It seems Kiri's in some deep shit, huh?" Daisuke commented, lighting a cigarette and placing it between his lips. "I doubt it. The cooks probably just made a mistake." Yoshiro said. Daisuke laughed, prepared with a rebuttal. "It would take a pretty incompetent cook to accidentally sneak wolfs-bane leaves into green tea."

Daisuke stomped his cigarette to unlight it, attempting to hide his uneasiness, and continued. "The Daimyo is scheduled to speak with the Kiri council in a few days, and rumor has it Mototsune is his popular choice." Yoshiro patted his friend on the shoulder, acknowledging the stress he must be enduring. "My team can escort him to the village tomorrow. In the meantime, you should be investigating this alleged assassination."

Whenever Mototsune appeared at a bar, an entourage would follow. He was annoyed by the attention, but humored every question asked. A journalist for the Kirigakure Times asked, "Was the Seventh Mizukage assassinated, or was his death a mere accident?" Mototsune had no answer. Another journalist asked, "If the Seventh Mizukage's death was a premeditated assassination, who was behind the attack?" Mototsune still had no answer.

Suddenly, a pale figure emerged from the mist. He was skinny, with long navy hair and a black cloak adorning his bare shoulders. The missing shinobi Shizuka Yuto, founder of the Shiryoku group, stood before the Mizukage candidate as citizens watched in awe. Yuto was brave to stand in the public, especially under current conditions. He was the former hand of the Seventh Mizukage alongside Mototsune, supposed to function as his successor until he was banished for promoting the philosophy of the Bloody Mist. His followers accompanied him, dressed in similar attire and doll-like masks.

Mototsune gritted his teeth as Yuto slowly approached him. Yuto spoke with a cold voice that sent shivers down the spine of the audience. "It's been a few years since we last spoke, hasn't it?" Yuto silently grinned to purposely spook his former friend. "Those few years have been prosperous to the village, especially without that bullshit you encourage", Mototsune responded.

Yuto laughed at the insult, leering at Mototsune's blonde ponytail. "You still look as young as ever. Always the flirting type, since we were teenagers. It's surprising that such a handsome face could belong to a cold-hearted killer." Yuto said with audacious confidence.

"Since you consider me a killer, would it be out of character if I killed you right now?" Mototsune said, concentrating wind chakra around his concealed hand. Yuto simply pressed against his forehead in a taunting manner. "Yes. You're a little too smart to do something like that. These few years since we last spoke have been filled with nothing but weakness within the shinobi ranks. Kirigakure deserves a powerful leader with an equally powerful military."

"Kirigakure deserves a leader who isn't cruel." Mototsune argued. Yuto stared deeply into his former friend's eyes, piercing through his confidence, and departed from the village with an incensed expression.

The threat of imminent civil war loomed over Kirigakure that night.