"Cooperation?"
Hearing Mui's words, Kazahana Doto was a bit surprised. What could the Land of Snow possibly have to cooperate on?
The Land of Snow's internal situation was extremely complicated, but in truth, it wasn't that complicated.
Right now, on the surface, the Land of Snow was allied with the Land of Thunder. The Land of Thunder's army could even be stationed directly in the Land of Snow.
There was no way around it. With the arrival of the new era and because of the Dragon Vein, the ocean trench directly connected the Land of Thunder and the Land of Snow, making the Land of Snow an important military location.
Aside from that, the Land of Snow was also technically an ally of Konohagakure, which had provided them with a lot of financial support.
Of course, the Land of Snow also had some ties with the Land of Waves and the Land of the Sea.
From this alone, you could see Kazahana Doto's skill. In battle, you could call him useless, but in politics, he was definitely stronger than someone like the Third Hokage.
If an ordinary person tried this, they'd have been done for long ago.
But Kazahana Doto dared to do it because he wasn't afraid of being found out, and more importantly, he no longer had any ambition.
He knew what his role in this position was—to keep the Land of Snow stable. As long as he was there, the Land of Snow would be there.
If you replaced him with Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayu, the Land of Snow would collapse immediately, and things would get much worse.
You think Shikaku didn't know Kazahana Doto had ties to Gato? Of course he knew.
You think Mabui from the Kumogakure didn't know the Land of Snow had internal complications? She knew too.
But none of them would go after him, because with Kazahana Doto in place, at least things could stay stable on the surface.
They might even help him hide certain things—that was their compromise for the Land of Snow.
As for Kazahana Doto himself, his mindset was just like someone working for a paycheck. Whether the Land of Snow lived or died, he'd just do his best and leave it at that.
"Our Land of Snow and the Kusagakure don't really have anything we can cooperate on."
Kazahana Doto glanced around. The inside of this prison seemed to be filled with Mui's people—no wonder he brought him down here to talk.
"Mui-sama must have looked into me. Using the Land of Snow to threaten me won't work. The Kazahana Doto you knew is long dead."
A trace of sadness flashed in Kazahana Doto's eyes as he looked at Mui.
"The Kusagakure drifts between the great ninja villages, and even has some contact with the Revolutionary Army.
But in this new era, the Kusagakure is still just a third-rate force. Let alone you and me—we're just small fry."
"Even the sound of seagulls at sea is louder than ours. Cooperation? Not interested."
Kazahana Doto shook his head.
He had already given up—he had a useless older brother, a useless niece, and he himself wasn't particularly capable.
But in Mui's eyes, Kazahana Doto wasn't just that. At the very least, he could see the ways in which they were alike.
"What I see isn't us."
"No matter if it's me or you, in this era we have no way to stand out. I'm a small fry—but my son isn't…"
"Nine years ago, in order to activate the Box of Ultimate Bliss, I let my son come into contact with it… but I underestimated the power of a relic once used by the Sage of Six Paths."
Mui stared at Kazahana Doto in front of him, ignoring whatever Doto had said, and simply began talking about his own story.
"For these nine years, I've been searching for a way to free my son from the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
I, Mui, am just a small figure in this era, destined never to stand on the same stage as someone like Shanks."
"But my son, Muku, is different. He's gifted—so gifted he could even stir the Box of Ultimate Bliss."
"What Naruto and Sasuke can do, Muku can do too.
What Karin can do, Muku can do too.
Even what Haku, the strongest genius of today's young generation, can do—Muku can do it too… he shouldn't be trapped in that place."
As Mui spoke, even his cold face began to twist.
His son Muku was a true genius—the most incredible genius he had ever seen.
The more time passed, the more Mui felt guilty toward his son.
The Box of Ultimate Bliss was a ninja tool once used by the Sage of Six Paths, said to grant the one who opened it a single wish.
And Mui's son Muku… had once opened it.
Ninja tools from the Sage of Six Paths' era were nothing like ordinary ones—they were on a completely different level.
The fact that Muku could open the box already proved his talent.
Especially in this era, with sages appearing and ancient history being dug up, Mui's guilt grew even heavier whenever he saw these things.
It wasn't just guilt as a father—it was guilt toward his whole village.
His son was a peerless genius who could rival any young prodigy of this age, but because of his father's carelessness, things ended up like this.
"This has nothing to do with me. Everything you're saying has nothing to do with me."
Kazahana Doto frowned.
The more he heard, the more annoyed he felt.
He didn't know what the Box of Ultimate Bliss was exactly, but anything tied to the Sage of Six Paths couldn't be simple.
Mui's son being a genius—he could accept that.
But what did it have to do with him?
And more importantly, when he compared that kind of genius to Kazahana Koyuki, that useless girl, it made him feel even more frustrated.
If Kazahana Koyuki had even a bit of ability, things wouldn't be like this.
The truth was, Doto did have some feelings for Koyuki.
In the original story, even if Koyuki wanted to kill him, he wouldn't have cared—he wouldn't have done anything to her over it.
What truly disappointed him was her lack of ability.
Simply put—not only was his older brother useless, but even his niece was useless.
That's why Doto basically gave up. Why? Because there was no hope.
And now, wasn't Mui's speech just bragging?
Sure, we're all worthless, but my son is amazing—super amazing.
But the "good news" was… my son has been gone for nine years.
So at this moment, all Doto did was frown.
At this moment, Mui finally noticed Kazahana Doto's impatience.
Only then did he calm down again.
"So this is the cooperation I want to talk to you about."
"How about becoming Muku's teacher?"
Mui suddenly changed the subject and spoke.
The moment those words came out, even the quiet prison seemed to stir.
A few of Mui's men were startled, and a young man even jumped forward, but Mui immediately raised his hand to stop him.
Right then, the whole prison fell into complete silence. The firelight flickered, and even the sound of breathing disappeared.
Kazahana Doto looked at the man in front of him, his gaze filled with uncertainty.
Kazahana Doto knew what kind of person he was—his mind, his strength. A teacher? He didn't have that qualification.
But the Mui in front of him wasn't joking. In fact, it could be said that Mui had thought for a long time before finally choosing him.
"Why choose me?"
At that moment, Kazahana Doto also calmed down.
He had been through countless storms, but he had never experienced a situation like this.
Kazahana Doto not only understood others well, he also knew himself well.
You want me, a useless man, to teach your son? How is that any different from letting my brother keep ruling the Land of Snow? Wouldn't that just ruin him?
So, Kazahana Doto didn't dare.
He didn't dare let Mui entrust such a genius to him, because he knew he didn't have that ability.
But at this moment, the look of giving up on his face was gone.
He was a man with ambition—at least more than most people.
It's just that after all he had been through, Kazahana Doto had already been defeated by reality. He had seen his own future and his limits. He couldn't go far.
But now, an opportunity was right in front of him. Still, was he worthy of it?
When he had given up, Kazahana Doto could ignore everything. But once he had ambition and a goal, he had to ask himself—compared to the Land of Snow and Kusagakure, did he have the right to take this on?
"Hozuki Castle is still under my control for now.
But soon, it will be fully taken over by the World Government, and the power of the World Nobles will extend here."
"Muku is still trapped in the Bliss Box. The sages of the World Government have the power to rescue him, but they don't care whether Muku lives or dies.
I don't have much time. I must get Muku out as soon as possible."
Mui spoke slowly. His words were not only for Kazahana Doto, but also for his own men.
"The Land of Snow happens to be on a route to the New World, and it's tied to many forces. It's the best place for training, and also the most convenient springboard for Muku to step into this new era."
These words were meant for Kazahana Doto.
The Land of Snow itself didn't have much power, but with Kazahana Doto there, he could use his influence to get Muku out.
And indeed, that place was the most suitable entry point into the New World.
"Of course, what's even more important is… you, Kazahana Doto, have this ability.
You've connected with Konohagakure, formed an alliance with Kumogakure Village, secretly colluded with the Revolutionary Army,
and in the World Government conference, you allied with the Land of Waves and the Sea Country."
In this troubled world, you are the one holding up the entire Land of Snow. You have what it takes to be Muku's teacher.
"Not enough…"
Kazahana Doto spoke calmly.
"You trust me that much?"
"Someone who can help Kazahana Koyuki stand back up again wouldn't abandon his student so easily.
I'm not trusting you. I'm trusting Muku—my son. He's worth you taking a gamble on!"
Mui stared firmly at Kazahana Doto.
He chose Kazahana Doto because this man was capable, but there was something even more important.
Kazahana Doto wasn't from a great nation. He didn't have countless geniuses to waste, so he was bound to treasure this final bet.
He might even give up his own life for it…
This was what Mui saw in Kazahana Doto. If the new era didn't belong to their generation, then the next generation should be the ones to see its scenery.
They had already walked their road. Now it was time for the new generation to start their journey.
No one knew how much time passed before Kazahana Doto left the prison, carrying the Bliss Box with him.
Not long after he left, Terumi Mei's troops arrived. Seeing this, Mui finally let out a long breath of relief.
He turned to look at the prison. His son had been trapped inside the Bliss Box for nine years, and he himself had been trapped in Hozuki Castle all this time.
"Nine years is enough. That boy's name… should now echo throughout the New World!"
At that moment, the cold, expressionless face of Mui finally showed a smile.
"Everyone, get ready to head for the Land! Drive out the pirates!"
---
You can read 50 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu