Fuguki Suikazan staggered out on trembling legs.
Elder Genshi set down the proposal he had been reviewing. "Mizukage, is Fuguki—"
The Third Mizukage immediately understood what Genshi was implying.
"Are you suggesting that, because I reprimanded him yesterday for skimming too much off the Anbu's funds, he's now trying to atone by submitting this proposal?"
"Yes."
The Third Mizukage folded his hands under his chin and pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"That doesn't make sense."
If Fuguki was truly trying to turn over a new leaf, he wouldn't resort to such an extreme method to prove himself.
After decades in the ninja world, the Third Mizukage knew that no scenario was impossible.
"Keep a close watch on Fuguki. If anything seems off, report to me immediately. Also, investigate the ninja who submitted this proposal to him. Find out who's really behind it."
The Anbu under his direct command responded, "Understood."
Was this Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo plotting to steal one of Kirigakure's Tailed Beasts for themselves?
Or was another village trying to use Kirigakure's beast to create an opportunity, then launch a surprise attack on Konoha to trigger a war?
Whether it was about the Tailed Beast or an assault on Konoha, there were too many people in the ninja world with motives for either.
Trying to deduce the mastermind out of thin air would be like searching for a needle in the ocean.
Besides, the Third Mizukage had to admit—the proposal was highly tempting.
Konoha had been the dominant force for too long, with all other villages forced into the background.
For decades, he had implemented the Bloody Mist policy, sacrificing countless lives, yet Kirigakure still remained at the bottom, barely keeping pace with Sunagakure.
Before he stepped down, he desperately wanted to achieve something that would elevate Kirigakure—to prove he was more capable than Hozuki Gengetsu!
The Third Mizukage glanced at the proposal on his desk and placed it in his drawer.
Then, after a moment of thought, he retrieved it and positioned it prominently at the front of his desk.
Elder Genshi observed this in silence.
Knock, knock.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter."
Yagura stepped forward, twisted the doorknob, and entered, his eyes immediately locking onto the Third Mizukage's.
Just from that brief eye contact, Yagura instinctively straightened up. "Mizukage-sama."
"Hmm."
The one he had been waiting for had arrived—and, more importantly, was still rational.
The Third Mizukage's gaze remained fixed on the translucent blue chakra layer surrounding Yagura.
"Yondaime, is that the Tailed Beast Cloak?"
Yondaime? Who?
Yagura blinked in confusion before nodding stiffly. "Yes, the Tailed Beast Cloak."
"You've mastered it?"
"Not completely… I still can't retract it at will."
He had tried multiple times on the way here.
He could suppress it to an extent, but no matter how hard he tried, he could only reduce it little by little.
"Find an open space and burn off the excess chakra."
If the cup is overflowing, and there's no way to stop the flow, then the only option is to empty it.
Yagura's eyes widened in realization. "So that's how it's done?!"
That meant he could now wield and control the Tailed Beast's chakra.
Receiving a definitive answer, the Third Mizukage felt his pulse quicken with excitement.
The Anbu reports hadn't been exaggerated—Yagura could indeed harness the power of the Tailed Beast.
The Third Mizukage waved a hand, signaling the two men accompanying Yagura to leave. He wanted to speak with Yagura privately.
The two, one from the Kaju clan and the other the Hozuki clan leader, exchanged confused glances before awkwardly retreating and closing the door behind them.
"Did Mizukage-sama just call Yagura…?"
Neither of them could believe their ears.
Yet after exchanging another look, they confirmed that they had indeed heard the same three words.
"I must be going deaf."
"I wish I were deaf."
...
The Third Mizukage gestured toward the empty space in front of his desk.
"Sit."
Understanding the unspoken command, Yagura dragged a chair over and sat across from him.
Like a nervous job interview candidate, he sat stiffly, feeling like he was sitting on a bed of needles.
Unable to maintain eye contact with the Mizukage for long, his gaze wandered around the room—until it landed on the document placed at the edge of the desk.
[The Tailed Beast's Plan to Destroy Konoha]
"What's this?"
"Take a look. It was submitted by one of my subordinates."
Elder Genshi's brows lifted slightly in surprise.
Was the Mizukage seriously considering this…?
Yagura, given permission, had little choice but to comply. He picked up the document and began reading.
One page for the cover, two for the proposal, one for the conclusion—four pages in total.
Even before finishing the summary, Yagura sensed something was off. His expression darkened as he continued reading.
By the time he was done, he exhaled sharply in shock.
This was exactly what had been done to Nohara Rin!
A wave of dread washed over him, and he blurted out, "Who came up with this?!"
His reaction took the Third Mizukage by surprise. "The leader of Kirigakure's Anbu."
"Fuguki Suikazan?"
"Correct."
The Third Mizukage smirked. "You seem unusually rattled, Yondaime."
Every hair on Yagura's body stood on end. Thinking quickly, he forced out a response.
"Because the Three-Tails is under my protection! Not just Fuguki—even you can't touch him!"
"Kirigakure has another Tailed Beast," the Third Mizukage reminded him. "We can use the Six-Tails."
That single statement almost made Yagura slip up.
Taking several seconds to compose himself, he cautiously asked,
"Mizukage-sama, are you seriously considering this plan?"
...
"I'm still considering it."
Ignoring Fuguki and the unknown mastermind behind the plan, the proposal itself remained an option.
The risk was high, but so was the potential reward.
The Third Mizukage wasn't one to back down simply because something was dangerous.
If he had been, he wouldn't have implemented the Bloody Mist policy.
If this could severely wound Konoha—if it could force Konoha to cede territory and grant Kirigakure a foothold on the mainland—then even if the Three-Tails or the Six-Tails were lost in the process, the Mizukage wouldn't consider it a loss.
Land was the foundation of national power. Generally, the larger a nation's territory, the stronger it was.
"I oppose it. As the Fourth Mizukage."
Yagura met the Third Mizukage's gaze solemnly and tossed the proposal into the trash.
The Mizukage's expression remained unchanged. "Give me one good reason."
Yagura knew the Mizukage wasn't asking for a list of the plan's flaws.
The man had ruled for decades—he had already calculated the risks.
If he wanted to sway him, he needed a variable the Mizukage hadn't accounted for.
And he had only one.
The revelation left both the Mizukage and Elder Genshi momentarily stunned.
"I can help the Six-Tails Jinchuriki fully master the Tailed Beast's power—just like I did."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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