After breaking through the border defenses, Amegakure's forces encountered almost no meaningful resistance. The few scattered Iwa shinobi they ran into were low-level operatives on minor missions—easily overwhelmed and disposed of.
It would take time for word of the attack to reach Iwagakure. For now, their entire attention was fixed on the Sunagakure front.
"We'll split up here." After a full day of marching, Hanzō addressed the elite Ame platoon behind him. "From this point on, follow the original plan—groups of a hundred. Begin your assault on the Land of Earth."
Amegakure had only thirty-something jōnin in total, and aside from the two left guarding home territory, Hanzō had brought every last one with him. He looked over them calmly.
"From here on out, you'll be the commanders. The units are yours to lead."
His gaze sharpened.
"Remember this: if you're discovered, or if you encounter a larger Iwa unit, you withdraw immediately. Your lives come first. We are not one of the Five Great Nations—we cannot afford casualties the way they can."
"Yes, sir!"
"Murakami, is the assassination squad organized?"
"Yes, Lord Hanzō," Hattori Murakami replied. "Including myself, three jōnin and four tokubetsu jōnin—every one of them veterans of assassination operations."
"You have only one condition—success. I won't tolerate failure."
Amegakure was gambling everything they had left.
"We understand, Lord Hanzō."
Hanzō turned his head toward a distant town in the Land of Earth.
"Let the Land of Earth tremble before Amegakure. Let the Five Great Nations see what Amegakure looks like when it goes into rampage."
"Move out."
Behind him, dozens of Ame shinobi flashed away like streaks of light. Moments later the massive Ame force began to break apart, splitting into dozens of independent raiding squads headed in every direction.
As their silhouettes vanished into the distance, Hanzō's expression grew cold and focused.
"I'll start with the daimyō's mansion…"
---
Land of Water — Mizukage Building
A group of shinobi knelt on one knee before the Mizukage.
"Lord Mizukage, that is the current situation."
"The war between Konohagakure and the Land of Wind has ended with Konoha's defeat. The Third Hokage has signed a ceasefire agreement with Sunagakure and Amegakure."
"It is also worth noting that the leader of Amegakure—Hanzō of the Salamander, known as the Demigod—defeated the Third Hokage in battle. Yet for some reason, he allowed him to leave alive. We believe a deal may have been made."
"So that kid Sarutobi lost… and Hanzō of the Salamander…" the Third Mizukage murmured with closed eyes.
The kneeling shinobi exchanged uncertain looks at the way he addressed Sarutobi as "that kid."
"But this is an opportunity. Reassign the troops we had planned to send against the Land of Wind. Concentrate everything on attacking the Land of Fire."
"Yes, sir."
"Lord Mizukage, there is also another matter," an elderly adviser beside him said. "Regarding the orders you issued earlier—should they be relaxed during wartime? The number of academy graduates has dropped too low. Outsiders are now calling Kirigakure the Village of the Bloody Mist."
The Third Mizukage exhaled heavily and turned toward the old man.
"Genji… you already know the truth. Since there's no one else here, I'll speak openly."
"Unlike other villages, when Kirigakure was founded, nearly eighty percent of our shinobi were members of bloodline clans. We have more kekkei genkai than any other nation."
"The First and Second Mizukage were both bloodline clan elites. You know exactly how much power and privilege they accumulated for their clans."
"When the Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage died together, I—a mere civilian shinobi—was thrust into the position through a mix of circumstances. I worked desperately to stabilize the situation… only to face suffocating pressure from those same bloodline clans."
"The civilians elected me hoping for fairness. But the kekkei genkai clans use their wealth and influence to suppress them at every turn. No matter how many resources I distribute publicly, civilian shinobi never have a chance to compete."
"If this continues, the village will once again fall under the total control of the clans. Civilians will never rise again."
He clenched his teeth.
"Those clans don't care about Kirigakure's future. As long as their families remain secure, they would let the entire village burn. The Second Mizukage is the best example."
"The Seven Ninja Swords—crafted through the village's blood and sweat—were all seized by the Hōzuki clan. They even monopolized the summoning scrolls."
"Do you know why the Seven Ninja Swordsmen program progresses so slowly? Why so many talented shinobi never get the chance? Why the positions are filled by lunatics and mediocrities? Because the Hōzuki clan refuses anyone else."
"The Bloody Mist policy is the only solution I found. In the end, shinobi speak with strength."
The room fell silent. The shinobi standing there had never imagined such political rot within their village.
"You stand here because you are exceptionally gifted. The village can justify investing in you. But what about your peers? Those only slightly less gifted? Do you know what they're doing right now? Are they truly so inferior to you?"
They lowered their heads in shame—even Genji sighed.
"I still think the method is too extreme. We can negotiate slowly with the clans. And during wartime, we need their strength."
"…Then tell me your solution."
Genji froze—he hadn't expected the Mizukage to ask that.
Everyone knew the kekkei genkai clans were arrogant and difficult to handle. Even the Mizukage's authority meant little to them at times. Now asked to solve it himself, Genji faltered.
Yes… Kirigakure's bloodline clans were a problem.
"Lord Mizukage… in my opinion, since war is upon us, we can send those clans to the battlefield. It will demonstrate their worth to the village and allow them to earn merit. They can't refuse—the reasoning is sound."
"And once they're on the battlefield, it is no longer their territory. Their power only extends within Kirigakure. On the front lines, life and death are unpredictable. Whatever happens… is beyond our responsibility."
"At the same time, we can control public opinion. Spread the message that the war was caused by bloodline factions. Most of the Land of Water's citizens are fishermen. They are uneducated—they'll believe it easily. This will weaken the clans' influence."
The Mizukage's eyes widened—surprised that Genji would offer something so ruthless.
After several seconds, he spoke again.
"You're right. In that case, who should we send first?"
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Although they nominally serve the Mizukage, every one of them is controlled by the Hōzuki clan. If, during the war, the clan member holding the summoning scroll dies, we can legally reclaim it. Then we can choose a new generation of swordsmen loyal to the village."
"Good. Then deploy them to the Konoha front."
"I will loosen the Bloody Mist restrictions slightly—but I will not stop them entirely. You understand."
"Yes. That is enough for me." Genji visibly relaxed.
"Then we're done here."
Everyone departed, leaving only the silent ANBU.
When the office had fully emptied, the Mizukage slowly opened the eyes he had kept shut—
A single, blood-red tomoe glowed within.
From the shadows, an elderly man with a graying hair stepped forward.
But the Mizukage and the ANBU around him did not react. They stood frozen, like puppets whose strings had been cut.
"Hanzō of the Salamander… to think he could defeat that monkey Sarutobi. Though that kid is talented, he's hardly exceptional. Plenty of shinobi could topple him."
"Demigod… hoh."
The old man's eyes shifted—his pupils turning into a gleaming three-tomoe Sharingan.
"I may be old… but if the opportunity arises, I should still test him. Do you truly possess half of Hashirama's strength, boy? Titles like that are not meant to be used lightly."
He gazed out the window toward the distant horizon.
"The Gedo Statue still lacks a vast amount of chakra. I require far more chakra sources for my evolution—and for my continued existence."
"But once the evolution begins, my Sharingan genjutsu will fail. I need a way to dispose of him beforehand."
He glanced back at the entranced Mizukage.
"You still have your uses… for now."
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