Since he had run into Uzumaki Chisawa, Senju Mori no longer felt the need to hurry back to the Hokage Building.
The two walked leisurely along the brightly lit central street of the village, soon turning into an elegant high-class restaurant called "Leafview Cuisine."
The establishment was known for its seasonal ingredients and quiet private rooms.
With the New Year approaching, its decorations were especially refined—small arrangements of short bamboo and pine branches placed in the entryway and corridors.
A perfect place for a discreet conversation.
Guided by a server, the two entered a private room facing an inner courtyard.
After the dishes were served and the server bowed out, the relaxed smile on Uzumaki Chisawa's face gradually faded. He set down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice:
"Mori, your earlier warning was very timely."
"After receiving the secret letter from Momo, I had my father raise the barrier immediately and sent out reconnaissance squads. We didn't encounter Kumogakure forces, but we did catch a few little rats from the east."
Senju Mori paused briefly with his chopsticks mid-air.
"Kirigakure spies?"
"Mm."
Uzumaki Chisawa nodded.
"Their methods were very subtle—good at hiding their tracks using moisture and sea wind. But against our clan's sensory barriers, they were still exposed."
"They were crafty. Aside from the first couple we caught off guard, most of them fled immediately once discovered. Not even a hint of wanting to fight."
"And afterward?"
Mori pressed.
"That's the strange part."
Chisawa frowned slightly.
"We remained fully alert, but so far, there has been no follow-up probing, no retaliation."
"The far side of the sea has been… unnervingly quiet."
Hearing this, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Senju Mori's lips.
"No need to worry too much."
"Kirigakure's desire for the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques is nothing new, but right now, they likely lack the strength to act."
"Oh?"
Chisawa looked curious.
"I've just received confirmed information." Mori's voice was low and steady.
"The Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu, and the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, recently engaged in a fierce battle. Both died in the confrontation."
He took a sip of tea before continuing:
"Kirigakure and Iwagakure are doing everything they can to keep this hidden. But the destruction caused by two Kage-level fighters is far too large, too obvious. It was inevitably discovered."
Uzumaki Chisawa looked completely stunned.
"Kirigakure and Iwagakure…? But isn't the Great Ninja War already over?"
"Heh…"
Senju Mori couldn't help letting out a soft laugh.
"Perhaps the two had some personal grudges. Otherwise, why would the Land of Earth and the Land of Water—one far west, one far east, with the Land of Fire and several smaller countries in between—cross an entire continent just to fight?"
Uzumaki Chisawa's shock was plain on his face.
The fall of two Kage was enough to alter the entire balance of power in the shinobi world.
Senju Mori continued his analysis:
"Compared to Iwagakure, where the Second Tsuchikage Mū left Ōnoki a stable foundation, Kirigakure is likely to descend into chaos very soon."
He paused briefly, then spoke again:
"The one most likely to become the Third Mizukage is Kiyoshi. He was originally the designated successor to the First Mizukage; during the first Five Kage Summit, he served as escort to the First Mizukage, Byakuren."
"But after Byakuren's death, that bastard Hōzuki Gengetsu teamed up with several kekkei genkai clans and forcibly stole the position of Mizukage."
"Now that Gengetsu has died suddenly, Kiyoshi will almost certainly rise to power. But his foundation within the village is unstable."
"Although the Hōzuki clan has lost its Kage, it remains incredibly powerful, and its ties with other kekkei genkai clans—like the Kaguya clan and the Yuki clan—are extremely strong."
"None of those major kekkei genkai clans are forces he can easily control."
"His primary task now will be internal cleansing and consolidating power. He has no resources left to focus outward—let alone mount an overseas expedition against the Uzumaki Clan, famed for its barriers and sealing techniques."
Uzumaki Chisawa let out a long breath, the tension easing from his expression as a smile returned.
"I see… Internal strife is always more troublesome than external threats. It seems we'll have peace for a while, at least."
But Senju Mori only smiled—deeply, meaningfully.
"Chisawa, do you remember what I told you back when we began our operation?"
"With the sudden death of the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu, the Hōzuki clan remains the largest clan in Kirigakure. The new Third Mizukage will inevitably fear and suppress them…"
"Chisawa, don't you think what's happening now in Kirigakure is very similar to what happened in Konoha not long ago?"
Uzumaki Chisawa's expression shifted sharply as Senju Mori continued in a low, quiet voice:
"If, after Lord Tobirama was assassinated, the Senju clan—as Konoha's leading shinobi clan—had failed to secure the position of Third Hokage…"
"Then we could simply look at how Kiyoshi deals with the Hōzuki clan… and how the great clans close to them—such as the Kaguya—will be treated."
"Because if we had failed back then…"
"…that would have been the fate of the Senju and the Uzumaki."