Chapter 55: The Planted Fuse
After all the members of the Hidden Mist's Anbu had departed, silence once again filled the Mizukage's office.
After a long moment, Mei Terumi finally turned curiously toward Yuto, who sat lazily on the sofa.
"Lord Yuto, why did you choose to report Kinoshita Jirō as missing instead of announcing him as a rogue ninja? A bounty at S-rank level would surely attract considerable attention."
Yuto stretched with a faint smile and glanced at Mei. "Among the other four great villages, which one do you think poses the greatest threat?"
"Threat?"
Mei paused, thinking for a moment before replying, "Kumogakure."
Yuto didn't look surprised at her answer. That was not only Mei's opinion but also the general consensus across the shinobi world.
Seeing that Yuto said nothing, Mei continued, "Though Iwagakure and Konohagakure are also strong, their leaders make a difference."
"Ōnoki of Iwagakure is stubborn. A man like that rarely makes mistakes, but because of it, he hesitates in everything. Unless he's absolutely certain, he will never act."
"As for Sarutobi Hiruzen of Konohagakure—he's known throughout the world as a pacifist. Among all the villages, Konoha is the least likely to start a war."
Yuto's brows lifted slightly, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. He hadn't expected Mei's analysis to be so accurate.
Sensing his surprised gaze, Mei lifted her chin proudly, a faint smirk on her lips.
Yuto chuckled softly and decided to shatter her confidence a little. "If you've read the village archives on the causes and results of every great shinobi war, then you've seen how each village has won and lost at times. But tell me—have you ever looked closely at Konoha's losses?"
Mei blinked, her smile fading as her face grew solemn. "In every shinobi war, Konoha's casualties have always been the lowest among the five great villages."
A sharp gleam flickered in Yuto's eyes. "Exactly. That's why I want to see whether Konoha can withstand the assault of all four other villages. Kinoshita Jirō is the fuse I've planted."
He stopped there, though one thought remained unspoken.
If Konoha were destroyed under the combined attack of the four villages, then Yuto would no longer have any need to hide.
But if Konoha survived even that, then things would become far more intriguing.
The other villages were merely Yuto's test subjects to gauge Konoha's true strength.
Knock. Knock.
A light rapping sounded at the office door.
Yuto and Mei exchanged a look, both smiling faintly. "It seems the selection for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen has concluded," Yuto said lightly. "I wonder who made it this time."
Mei smiled as well and called toward the door, "Come in."
Click.
The office door opened, and Chōjūrō entered, followed by Ringo Ameyuri and Ranmaru.
"Lord Yuto."
"Lady Mizukage."
All three bowed respectfully.
Yuto's expression remained calm at the sight of Ringo, but when his eyes fell on Ranmaru, surprise flickered across his face.
"This… what's going on with Ranmaru?"
He asked curiously, and Mei looked equally puzzled.
Feeling their gazes, Ranmaru stiffened nervously. "Um… that…"
Seeing Ranmaru's panic, Chōjūrō quickly stepped forward and explained everything that had happened.
Understanding dawned in Mei's eyes as she examined the small boy carefully, then turned toward Yuto.
If she guessed correctly, the strange power within Ranmaru had something to do with him.
Yuto gave a small shrug. "Remember Orochimaru's four subordinates? It's similar to that kind of power. How strong it becomes depends entirely on the individual."
His tone was light, almost casual, but his eyes glinted with quiet intent.
As Yuto's words fell, several fiery gazes immediately turned toward him.
A seal that could directly enhance one's strength—what shinobi could easily refuse such a temptation?
"This kind of power has side effects," Yuto explained calmly. "The reason Ranmaru is fine is that his bloodline limit naturally suppresses it to some extent."
"Moreover, this power can alter and distort the body's form. If you don't mind becoming something… different, then I won't stop you."
Meeting their intense stares, Yuto spread his hands and spoke lightly.
At the mention of bodily distortion, both Mei Terumi and Ringo Ameyuri instantly withdrew their gazes. Neither had any intention of becoming hideous for the sake of power.
As for Chōjūrō, he didn't seem particularly interested at all.
"Ahem. Though only two members have been chosen for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, this is the best we can do for now. Chōjūrō, you'll be responsible for training Ringo Ameyuri and Ranmaru with their swords," Mei said with a soft cough.
Chōjūrō's face twisted bitterly. Both of them were strong, and training them would be exhausting. But one look at Mei's expression left him no room to refuse. He nodded helplessly.
…
Deep within a dense forest,
Kinoshita Jirō leaned heavily against a tree, gasping for breath.
Since escaping Kirigakure, he hadn't stopped running, pushing toward the outer borders of the Land of Water.
He knew that the mission he carried out was known only to Mizukage Mei Terumi, Lord Yuto, and a select few within Kirigakure.
Even the elder of the Kinoshita clan only half-understood the truth.
"Another half day, and I'll be out of the Land of Water…" Jirō muttered between heavy breaths.
Whish!
A sharp sound sliced through the air. From the distance, a kunai shot forward at a deadly angle, striking Jirō squarely in the side.
Poof!
With a burst of white smoke, Jirō's body turned into a block of wood.
His true form appeared on a nearby tree branch.
"Damn it! How did Kirigakure's Anbu find me so quickly? They're never this efficient," Jirō cursed under his breath before leaping away through the trees.
Moments after he fled, several masked figures from Kirigakure's Anbu appeared where he had just been.
One of them retrieved the thrown kunai from the wooden log, staring silently in the direction Jirō had escaped.
"Eagle."
The leading Anbu gave a cold order.
A shinobi wearing a hawk-shaped mask stepped forward. Though puzzled, he quickly formed hand seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed through the forest as a massive water dragon smashed into the ground, carving a crater deep into the earth.
(End of Chapter)
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