Kumogakure, Raikage Tower, Raikage's Office.
"Rasa is a true good-for-nothing, to have messed things up to this extent!"
"And the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure are a bunch of spineless cowards, to have agreed to such humiliating conditions!"
"They're all a bunch of trash!"
The Fourth Raikage was furious upon hearing the news, though he looked somewhat embarrassed and impotent in his anger.
The window of opportunity had already passed. With the matter settled, there was no opening for Kumogakure to exploit.
Seeing Konoha's strength surge, the Fourth Raikage was very unwilling to accept it.
Originally, Kumogakure's military strength had surpassed Konoha's, and even with the addition of Otogakure, they weren't afraid. Now, they had been completely overtaken.
"Kageyama Kogetsu is indeed not to be underestimated. Since he took office, the speed of Konoha's recovery has clearly accelerated."
"Now, Konoha holds two vassal treaties. Even if they are not of one mind, their military strength is surely the first in the world."
"Lord Raikage, we must be cautious about starting a war. Our Kumogakure cannot be the one to stick its neck out," Dodai said with a grave expression.
"I understand," the Fourth Raikage said in a deep voice after taking a deep breath.
"It's really annoying to see Konoha so triumphant. Find a way to cause them some trouble..."
"Dodai, you, Mabui, Darui, think it over carefully. Be cautious and don't get caught."
"Yes."
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Tower, Tsuchikage's Office.
Ōnoki let out a long sigh after reading the intelligence, his expression somewhat worried...
"Old man, although it's not good news, there's no need to be like this, is there?"
"At the very least, we can snatch many of the missions that originally belonged to Sunagakure. The village's income will increase by a fair bit," Kurotsuchi said with a smile.
Kumogakure couldn't snatch Sunagakure's missions. One was in the northeast of the continent, the other in the southwest, far apart.
"Kageyama Kogetsu's style of doing things is very different from Sarutobi Hiruzen's. He is strong-willed, domineering, and extremely aggressive, yet he manages to succeed."
"Now, Konoha has the support of Otogakure in the north and Sunagakure in the southwest. Kusagakure in the west also leans towards Konoha."
"This situation is really not good for our Iwagakure," Ōnoki said with a grave expression.
Hearing this, the smile on Kurotsuchi's face disappeared, and she nodded solemnly. "That is indeed the case. Old man, perhaps we should try to win over Amegakure and have them lean towards us."
Ōnoki's face showed a look of approval. "A good suggestion. That old fellow Hanzō is probably feeling immense pressure."
"He is a man obsessed with power and will not allow others to meddle in Amegakure. He should accept the olive branch we extend."
"You will be in charge of this matter. Secretly send someone to Amegakure to talk."
"No problem, old man," Kurotsuchi said, looking enthusiastic and full of energy.
Kirigakure, Mizukage Tower, Mizukage's Office.
Obito was very unhappy after receiving the news, because the stronger Konoha became, the more difficult it would be to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
However, Obito was not discouraged. As long as he found a good opportunity, a combination of sneak attacks and group assaults still had a high probability of capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Kirigakure, Elder Gen's residence. In a secret room in the backyard, covered with barrier seals, several people were gathered.
Gen, his hair and beard white, aged but still in good spirits, sat at the head of the table. The others sat on either side, their backs straight, their expressions solemn and serious.
Gen's eyes were half-closed as he spoke unhurriedly, "I'm sure you all know the news about Sunagakure."
"Now, Konoha is becoming stronger and stronger, its strength returning to the top of the ninja world."
"Although Sunagakure has suffered great losses, with Konoha's backing, it is not much weaker than before."
"The other hidden villages, including the smaller ones, are all improving in strength, just at different rates."
"Only our Kirigakure's strength is declining instead of rising. If this continues, who knows when Kirigakure will not even be able to secure a corner for itself."
"The resources of the sea are also very rich. When our strength declines to a certain extent, it will inevitably attract covetous eyes."
"There are many reasons why Kirigakure has fallen to its current state, but the main reason is the succession of two tyrannical Kage."
"This situation cannot continue any longer."
"If we continue to fight amongst ourselves, Kirigakure may be finished one day. Therefore, this old man has decided to directly overthrow Yagura and install a Kage who truly has the best interests of Kirigakure at heart!"
"What are your thoughts?"
"Agreed!" the few of them said in unison.
They were not only Gen's confidants but also deeply disgusted with Kirigakure's current situation. The atmosphere of terror was even more severe than during the worst of the Bloody Mist period. They had had enough long ago.
They would rather die than endure it any longer!
"Yagura is the Three-Tails Jinchūriki. To overthrow him, we cannot just rely on piling up ninja. The price would be unbearable for Kirigakure."
"The best way to deal with a Jinchūriki now is to use another Jinchūriki."
"Mei, you will secretly leave Kirigakure and find the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata."
"The relevant intelligence will be provided to you by the Hunter-nin division of the Kirigakure ANBU."
Terumī Mei did not hesitate. "Yes, Lord Gen. It's just that I'm not confident I can persuade him..."
"You tell him that since his teacher intended to harm him, his excessive counterattack cannot be considered a heinous crime."
Based on his understanding of Utakata's teacher, he probably wouldn't have harmed Utakata. Utakata was likely deceived by the Six-Tails, had a hallucination, and was swept up in fear and hatred when he killed him.
"Then, you will present him with the pardon I have signed and tell him that as long as he returns, the matter of killing his teacher will be forgiven."
"Finally, you will promise that after the matter is settled, the Fifth Mizukage will issue another pardon in the name of the Kage."
"Two pardons, plus the merit of overthrowing Yagura, will be enough for the village to accept him again, or at least not speak ill of him."
Terumī Mei's face was serious. "I understand, Lord Gen."
"Do not bring Utakata back to the village. Settle him on a nearby island and only bring him back on the day of the operation."
"You all need to be prepared to contact your own people, but do not contact them yet."
"For the sake of secrecy, wait until Utakata is in position. Begin contacting them half an hour before the operation."
"As long as we make the first move, those ninja who are on the verge of their breaking point will help us."
"Yes, Lord Gen!" the few of them said in deep voices, bowing their heads.
"We only have one chance. If we fail, Kirigakure will be doomed forever."
"To be on the safe side, I must use some measures."
"Mei, use the technique I taught you on everyone, including myself."
"At the same time, everyone will place a fast-acting, lethal poison capsule in their mouths. Not a single shred of our secret discussion can be leaked," Gen said, his eyes wide with determination.
"Yes, Lord Gen."
"Everyone, my apologies," Terumī Mei said with an apologetic look.
The others all said it was fine.
With the fate of themselves, their families, their comrades, and their village at stake, they could not be too cautious. The more cautious they were, the higher the chances of success!
And with Gen leading by example, what more was there to say?
A quarter of an hour later, the group left the secret room. Disguised as ordinary servants from the residence going out to make purchases, they left in batches...
After secretly leaving Kirigakure, Terumī Mei followed the clues and tracked the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata, on her own. It took her a long time and many twists and turns to find her target.
With the guarantee of the highly respected and powerful Gen, and with a desire to change Kirigakure himself, Utakata chose to believe her and secretly returned to the Land of Water with Terumī Mei.
With the Jinchūriki in position, and to avoid any complications from delays, Gen gave the two of them half a day to rest before launching the coup to overthrow Yagura...
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