“Since everyone is here, let’s begin.”
Amidst the swirling mist, Hiruzen put down his pipe, moved his aged head, and looked at a white-haired man.
“Jiraiya, tell everyone.”
Still bearing the stains of blood and dirt on his face, Jiraiya nodded, his tone tinged with complexity.
“Naoki recently led his forces in the Land of Water, initiated a coup, defeated the Third Mizukage, and successfully rose to power. With the Third Mizukage’s help, Naoki received the Daimyo’s approval and is now officially the Mizukage.”
As he finished speaking, Homura Mitokado frowned deeply and asked,
“Wait, so he just ascended to the position of Mizukage so easily?”
“Yes,” Jiraiya replied.
With those words, the room grew even more somber.
Except for Jiraiya, who had been maintaining the frontline in the Land of Earth and hadn’t confronted Naoki directly, everyone in the room fell silent at the mention of his name.
It was this man who led the Hidden Mist forces and decisively crushed the alliance that included Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze.
Minato was severely injured, with no hope of recovery in sight, only waiting for Tsunade, who had yet to return, to offer some healing.
Their ally, the Kazekage, was already on the verge of death, rendering the Hidden Sand incapable of further action.
This name caused too much bloodshed and despair for the people of Konoha, making countless individuals gnash their teeth in anger.
But now, worse yet, he had become the Mizukage.
That man leading the future of the Hidden Mist cast a shadow over everyone’s hearts.
“I want to know why two people who were just fighting to the death are now supporting each other’s rise to power,” Koharu Utatane said, pausing briefly before continuing.
“And even if Naoki is that strong, how could he eliminate all of a Mizukage’s decades-long power base so quickly?”
“Is there something fishy going on?”
Jiraiya laughed awkwardly, sighed at the intelligence, and explained.
“Naoki had more supporters compared to the Mizukage, so those who supported the Mizukage were quickly eliminated.”
“To have more supporters than the Mizukage… that’s quite something,” Koharu shook her head in resignation. Meanwhile, Danzo Shimura pondered deeply.
“And worse news doesn’t stop there. The reason Naoki could coexist peacefully with the Third Mizukage is mainly due to a pair of Sharingan that controlled the Third Mizukage for over a decade.”
Boom!
This news hit them like a whirlwind, leaving everyone speechless.
Only Orochimaru paused his darting tongue, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Already aware of the situation, Danzo maintained a cold expression but couldn’t help cursing the Uchiha in his mind.
“To achieve this level, it would require at least the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan.”
“Our clan doesn’t have such a powerful user.”
Under the implicit pressure of everyone’s gazes, despite his rising panic, Fugaku quickly explained.
“The Sharingan must be related to you. You can’t shirk responsibility so lightly.”
Danzo coldly retorted, and Hiruzen immediately intervened.
“Today is not about assigning blame.”
Putting down his pipe, Hiruzen solemnly addressed Fugaku.
“Please ensure the Uchiha clan remains stable. If possible, whether or not the user is from your clan, find that powerful user secretly.”
“Clan Leader Fugaku, the village can’t withstand more turmoil. You must give it your all.”
Fugaku nodded heavily, but his thoughts were in turmoil.
In the Uchiha clan, strength is paramount. If this news spreads within the clan, how can they be subdued without exposing that pair of eyes?
The conflict between the village and the clan would inevitably intensify.
However, if they found the owner of those eyes, even if the conflict escalated, so what?
Two pairs of eyes would be enough for the Uchiha to forcibly claim the Hokage position.
Fugaku’s heart pounded, but he dared not show any reaction outwardly.
He knew a dark gaze was still fixed on him.
Jiraiya broke the odd atmosphere in the room.
“Everyone, there’s a second piece of news.”
Jiraiya’s tone turned serious.
“The Hidden Mist has proposed peace talks. We, as the defeated side, must offer compensation, and the specific terms will be negotiated later.”
“This can’t be true.”
Koharu struggled to accept it while the others remained silent.
“Since its founding, Konoha has never been defeated.”
Soon, her voice grew weaker until she finally lowered her head in resignation.
“But it’s the truth. We were utterly defeated by the Hidden Mist with no room for resistance.”
“If we persist in this war, the future will be even darker.”
Danzo coldly stated, looking at Hiruzen.
“Accept it, Hiruzen. Accept the fact of our defeat and offer compensation. Otherwise, the village will be in even greater danger.”
“I will.”
Hiruzen straightened up, his back slightly hunched as if carrying a heavy burden.
“I called you here to tell you that I’m going to negotiate peace personally. The village’s affairs will be entrusted to you.”
With those words, Homura and Koharu looked despondent.
Konoha had truly been defeated. Who could shoulder the responsibility in the future?
Danzo clenched his fists.
Hiruzen, this time you lost. The Hokage seat will be mine.
Orochimaru licked his lips.
Dear teacher, what will you choose this time?
Jiraiya lowered his head, avoiding Hiruzen’s gaze.
Old man, I can’t stay in Konoha for the sake of the ninja world. I must find someone else.
All of this entered Hiruzen’s eyes, making him sigh involuntarily.
Simultaneously, a white-haired figure wielding a long sword grew clearer in his mind.
The White Fang of Konoha.
Unfortunately, he is too young. I’ll work hard until the day he grows up.
Lowering his head, he grabbed his pipe and exhaled smoke.
He was about to admit Konoha’s first defeat, bowing to a younger man.
What a headache.
The last time he felt this way was when his teacher died.
Collecting his thoughts, he felt more and more agitated.
They will likely start vying for the Fourth Hokage position when he returns from negotiating with the Hidden Mist.
Old friend Danzo and the Uchiha won’t let go of this opportunity.
Koharu and Homura may not be ambitious, but they will sway until the situation is clear to maintain their power.
Furthermore, Orochimaru’s obsession with his experiments grows. He now seems uninterested in the Hokage position, viewing Konoha as his final constraint.
This student may choose to leave the village in the future.
The Hokage battle and his student’s choices.
With these thoughts, Hiruzen felt even older.
Soon, Konoha would enter its most declining and desolate period. Hopefully, they would get through it.
At the Konoha-Hidden Mist frontline camp, a group of Konoha ninjas hurriedly arrived with peace negotiation scrolls.
“Kisame.”
Juzo handed the scroll solemnly to Kisame Hoshigaki.
“Take this scroll back to the village.”
“Let the people of the Hidden Mist know that Konoha’s first defeat was at our hands.”
“This will be the first great news after the Fourth Mizukage ascends.”
In the camp, surrounded by nearly a thousand excited gazes, Kisame accepted the scroll.
It wasn’t large, but it carried the hopes of all in the Hidden Mist.
It was also a key, to unlocking the suppression and humiliation of decades.
Kisame carefully placed it by his side and took off, rushing back to the Hidden Mist day and night.
“Are you sure they’re negotiating? And Konoha has admitted their defeat?”
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist on the table, his face red with anger.
“Damn Mist brats, damn Konoha scum!”
“How can they negotiate so easily?”
“They’re negotiating, everyone.”
Five ninja, each wielding a different blade, stood around a giant tree, their expressions grim. Only one, holding dual blades, spoke.
“I heard Naoki doesn’t have a good opinion of us. We haven’t achieved any major feats yet. If we return to the village, will he not find some excuse to imprison us, making room for his own followers to wield the swords?”
“Just say what you want to do.”
“I suggest we delve deeper, see if we can catch any big fish.”
“Hmph, I hope so. From what I’ve seen, Konoha has no big fish left, just some academy kids who haven’t even graduated.”
“We have to try, right?”
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