The explosions in the city woke the sleeping Common People, who emerged from their homes to investigate.
Mitsuki Kōmei immediately sensed the Chakra fluctuations and rushed to the scene at top speed, setting up a barrier before quickly returning to the Daimyo Manor.
"Kōmei, the Hidden Mist Village has attacked again. Stay in the Daimyo Manor and do not go out! I will go find out what's happening for you."
Tsunade and Uncle He entered the Daimyo Manor one after the other, blocking Mitsuki Kōmei in his room, absolutely refusing to let him go watch the excitement.
Mitsuki Kōmei, looking like a good boy, said, "Let's go together! I promise to stay far away. With my status, they wouldn't dare to let me get hurt!"
They both thought this made sense; there wasn't a madman in the Ninja World who would dare to attack a country's Lord Shimotsuki in broad daylight.
"You stay put with Uncle He and don't run off! I'm going to treat the injured Common People." Tsunade placed a large Katsuyu on Mitsuki Kōmei's shoulder. "Katsuyu, watch him for me!"
Mitsuki Kōmei observed the Mizukage and Kakuzu from a thousand meters away from the center of the battle.
Kakuzu and the Mizukage stood opposite each other. "Why fight in the city? Houses cost money to repair, and the injured cost money to treat."
"Hahaha, I just love this feeling of doing whatever I want. Even if I demolish the Daimyo Manor, all you can do is watch. Who dares to disobey? Who can stop me?" The Mizukage stood on the ruins, spouting arrogant words.
"Kakuzu, I'm giving you one last chance: join the Hidden Mist Village, otherwise you will surely die today."
"I refuse," he said, clean and crisp.
"Good! Very good!"
The Third Mizukage suddenly turned his head towards Mitsuki Kōmei, pointed at Kakuzu, and said fiercely, "Mitsuki Kōmei, is Kakuzu the one who gave you the courage to refuse me? Now, I'll let you see with your own eyes how he dies, to make you understand the consequences of going against me! You wouldn't give me two billion ryo, now I want four billion ryo!"
"Impossible!" Mitsuki Kōmei flatly refused.
"Then you'd better protect your Common People, for once the fighting begins, many civilians may be accidentally injured." He deliberately emphasized the words 'accidentally injured'.
Mitsuki Kōmei was furious. He took a step forward and roared in a deep voice, "You dare to threaten me?"
Before he could take another step, Uchiha Kawa tightly pulled him back.
The Mizukage glanced at Mitsuki Kōmei, raised one finger, and shook it. He formed a hand seal with one hand, unleashed a Ninjutsu, and destroyed several distant civilian houses.
"No, no, no, I'm not threatening anyone. You can refuse my demands. I'm just stating a fact, just like this."
Mitsuki Kōmei said in a muffled voice, "Very well! I agree, as long as you can win!"
The Mizukage burst into wild laughter. "How much better it would be if you just obediently listened! Why don't you understand?"
Mitsuki Kōmei secretly gave Kakuzu an order: "Attack freely, cut off one of his arms."
As soon as the order was given, he saw Kakuzu launch an attack, and the battle erupted instantly.
Kakuzu immediately used his Earth Grudge Fear mode, with four masks detaching from his body, throwing out five elemental Ninjutsu as if Chakra was limitless.
The Mizukage was very strong, having served as the First Mizukage's guard during the First Five Kage Summit, and had been famous for a long time.
His Ninjutsu application was masterful, and his defense and offense transitioned appropriately and perfectly. For a time, the two were evenly matched.
As the battle continued, the Mizukage's Chakra gradually became insufficient, and the power of his Ninjutsu began to decline. He summoned his Spirit Beast—a giant Leech.
The Leech could spray corrosive liquid, and its sharp mouth pursued Kakuzu. The Mizukage and the Leech cooperated, barely managing to turn the tide. The four beaten individuals had long since fallen to the ground.
Mitsuki Kōmei was tired of watching the show. Seeing that Kakuzu was slow to defeat the Mizukage, he grew a little anxious and secretly cast a gust of wind to restrain the Mizukage's legs.
"Earth Grudge Fear—Final Shot!" Kakuzu seized the opportunity and fired a combined Chakra cannon at the Mizukage's left arm. The Mizukage was too slow to dodge and was hit by Kakuzu, his left arm blown off.
The Mizukage grabbed Yukino Shinsuke and threw him into the Leech's mouth. A layer of blood mist appeared on the Leech's body. The Mizukage picked up his severed arm, jumped into the Leech's mouth, and instantly the Leech carried the Mizukage away, reappearing outside the city.
"You all just wait, this isn't over."
The Mizukage sacrificed Yukino Shinsuke and used a blood escape technique to flee in disarray, stunning the three Clan Chiefs, who stared blankly at the Mizukage's retreating figure.
Mitsuki Kōmei walked over to the group, his expression complex, and with a hesitant tone, he called out, "Aren't you going to scram? Staying for dinner, are we!"
He gently pushed away Uchiha Kawa's hand. "Uncle He, there are no outsiders. Let go. Katsuyu's senses have already been blocked by me."
"The Mizukage has been severely wounded and surely won't dare to cause trouble at the Daimyo Manor again. However, he won't accept defeat willingly and will definitely make other moves. Increase security."
Mitsuki Kōmei saw the Konoha Four-Man Squad walking towards him and promptly stopped speaking.
"Kōmei, I've treated all the injured. They'll recover soon. Are you alright?"
Tsunade had continuously treated hundreds of injured people, and she forcefully dragged her exhausted body to Mitsuki Kōmei's side.
Mitsuki Kōmei stared at Tsunade's tired face, took her hand, and found a flat spot to sit down.
"Of course I'm fine. Your summon gave me a full sense of security. Sit down and rest for a while; you can lean on my shoulder."
Mitsuki Kōmei pressed Tsunade's head onto his shoulder and turned to nod at Akimichi Torifu.
"Thank you all for coming to help. It's a national misfortune, and it's embarrassing for the Akimichi Clan Leader to witness."
"Lord Shimotsuki, there's no need to be so polite. It's our duty. If there's anything we can help with, please don't hesitate to ask."
The Mizukage fled all the way back to the Hidden Mist Village, heading straight for the hospital, where he summoned all the medical Ninja in the village to his room.
With a ferocious expression, icy eyes, and a sinister tone, he said, "Find a way to reattach my arm, or you die."
The Ninja present felt a chill in their hearts and performed at their absolute best, barely managing to reattach the Mizukage's arm. He could form hand seals, but the speed was far slower than before.
Back in his Mizukage's office, the Third Mizukage's chest heaved violently. His hatred for Kakuzu soared to the sky, and he also harbored a deep-seated hatred for Mitsuki Kōmei.
He picked up a pen and paper and wrote a letter to Mitsuki Kōmei.
"Mitsuki Kōmei, you truly don't know what's good for you. You enjoy the protection of the Hidden Mist Village, yet you show no gratitude, you ingrate."
"Because of you, the Hidden Mist Village has lost all face. You must hand over all your businesses outside the Land of Water to the Hidden Mist Village."
"If you do not comply, the Hidden Mist Village will never cooperate with you again. Consider the consequences carefully! Kakuzu alone cannot protect your businesses spread throughout the Ninja World."
Mitsuki Kōmei received the letter sent by the Mizukage's envoy. With just a glance, his eyes filled with disdain, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"The Mizukage suffered a setback but learned nothing. The letter is full of arrogance."
"You eat my food, yet you want to take my pot! Then don't eat anymore!"
Mitsuki Kōmei planned to replace the Mizukage with his own person. To facilitate governance, he had to make the Third Mizukage lose the support of the Common People.
He initiated the first step of his plan: cutting off his economic lifeline.
That afternoon, Mitsuki Kōmei issued an order to all the Common People of the Land of Water.
"The Third Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village attacked the financial department, destroyed Daimyo City, injured hundreds of people, and openly threatened Lord Shimotsuki."
"Effective immediately, the Land of Water will cease funding the Hidden Mist Village, and no one is permitted to issue missions to the Hidden Mist Village. Any violation will be treated as treason."
Mitsuki Kōmei's order shocked a large number of Common People in the Land of Water. Public opinion was in an uproar, with the Common People supporting Mitsuki Kōmei and angrily cursing the Mizukage. Other Ninja villages happily watched the show and gossiped.