The Untold Tragedy of Naruto's Fourth Mizukage: A Heart-wrenching Tale

Highlights

Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, had a tragic life filled with suffering and mind control, making him unable to find closure.

Despite enduring great suffering, Yagura, the strongest shinobi and a successful leader, was able to leave a remarkable legacy for his village.

However, Yagura's rule as the Mizukage took a sinister twist when he fell under the influence of the Akatsuki, leading to a reign of tyranny and the consequent disapproval of the Hidden Mist village.

The Naruto series is well-known for its characters' tragic pasts, highlighting the ongoing hardships in the Shinobi world. While many characters eventually find peace and move on from their dark histories, others remain trapped in a state of perpetual sadness. Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, exemplifies this as his life has been filled with nothing but tragedy.

Forced to bear the burden of a Tailed Beast from a young age and constantly manipulated by a rogue ninja, Yagura Karatachi has consistently found himself in impossible situations. Unlike other characters, Yagura was unable to find resolution as his life was cut short. Despite a lifetime of suffering, Yagura still managed to leave a lasting impact on his village, ensuring his memory would not be forgotten.

Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails

Similar to other Jinchuriki, Yagura received the power of the Three-Tails at a young age, leading to a solitary life. However, unlike other Jinchuriki who had difficult childhoods, Yagura's life remained relatively unchanged because of the beast within him. This was due to the brutal nature of the Hidden Mist, where children were compelled to kill their peers to graduate from the academy, causing them to face bloodshed and trauma early on.

Despite already experiencing such a horrific ordeal, having a Tailed Beast sealed inside him was merely a minor inconvenience for Yagura. He quickly mastered controlling the Tailed Beast, gaining complete control over Isobu's power. His ability to control a Tailed Beast made him one of the few Jinchuriki to achieve this feat, earning him the esteemed title of the strongest shinobi in the Hidden Mist. Because of his proven combat skills and determination, Yagura was eventually appointed as the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist.

Yagura’s Short-lived Reign as the Mizukage

After assuming the position of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura embraced his duties and made efforts to correct the mistakes of his predecessors. Initially, Yagura effectively consolidated the scattered islands of the Land of Water under his rule and abolished the oppressive policies implemented by past leaders. He also achieved success in his campaign against rogue shinobi, personally capturing or eliminating several missing-nin, including Juzo of the Akatsuki.

However, Yagura's people-oriented leadership abruptly came to a halt when he encountered members of the Akatsuki. One of them, claiming to be 'Madara Uchiha,' immediately subjected Yagura to an everlasting genjutsu. This genjutsu enslaved Yagura's mind, compelling him to serve the caster without his conscious awareness of the manipulation.

Soon, Obito's influence began to control all aspects of his actions and policies, carefully maneuvering the Hidden Mist's political landscape from the shadows. Under the leadership of the 'new Yagura', oppressive measures such as slaying fellow students to graduate from the Academy and ruthlessly executing defectors were reintroduced. The infamous moniker 'Bloody Mist' gained traction, further solidifying the notion that the Hidden Mist had indeed regressed into its despotic past.

The Hidden Mist’s Disapproval

Yagura's oppressive rule incited public demand for his execution, and his reign caused the disintegration of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, as internal conflicts erupted among its members and the entire village. Dissenting from Yagura's new policies, Zabuza spearheaded a coup d'état alongside his loyal followers. Regrettably, the coup ended in failure, with Zabuza narrowly evading death in the Hidden Mist Village.

A Tragic Demise

Fuguki Suikazan, another member of the Mist's Ninja Swordsmen, divulged classified information to other villages. In response, Kisame ruthlessly murdered him for his betrayal, a deed that was highly praised by Yagura. Immediately following this, Obito, also known as "Madara," revealed his true identity to Kisame, exposing the true leaders of the Hidden Mist. Deeply affected by this revelation, Kisame swore his loyalty to the Akatsuki without hesitation, abandoning the Hidden Mist and its puppet Mizukage.

The severity of Yagura's policies had escalated to such an extent that the villagers eventually concluded that he was under the influence of an external force. After enduring years of manipulation by the Akatsuki, Yagura was ultimately liberated from the genjutsu when Aoi utilized his Byakugan to dispel the technique that had imprisoned him. However, it was already too late, as the prolonged genjutsu had taken a fatal toll on Yagura's physical well-being.

After the jutsu was undone, his demise quickly followed, leaving behind a tarnished legacy of oppression. Despite the understanding that Yagura was under external manipulation, the Hidden Mist still despised him for his governing principles and leadership. Prior to his passing, Yagura fathered a child who would go on to give birth to Kagura Kuratachi, serving as an advisor to the Sixth Mizukage. Although Yagura's own life was plagued by brevity and sorrow, his descendants successfully preserved his renowned lineage, ensuring that the Karatachi name endured.

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