Chapter 44: The Plot for the Land of Whirlpools
"Salamander Hanzo's abilities are actually more suited for battlefield deployment. His summon, the salamander, is enormous and also highly venomous, allowing it to be fully utilized on a large battlefield. Although it's unlikely that our Hidden Mist will clash with the Hidden Rain in the future, you still need to understand this knowledge," Kiyoshi continued to educate the others.
The others nodded, indicating their acceptance of Kiyoshi's teachings.
Along the way, Kiyoshi continued to impart various knowledge to the new recruits, as they were the subordinates he had the highest hopes for.
Soon, the group arrived at the coast of the Land of Fire, boarded the ship returning to the Land of Water, and embarked on their journey back to the village.
Here, it's necessary to explain why Kiyoshi and his group dared to cross the Land of Fire while the Cloud Village people did not. It was because the hatred between the Hidden Mist and the Hidden Leaf was not yet significant. Although the Hidden Mist attacked the Hidden Leaf during the First Great Ninja War, they ultimately fought a major battle with the Hidden Stone, even losing both of their Second Kage in the conflict.
In contrast, the Hidden Cloud had repeatedly ambushed the Hidden Leaf. The Gold and Silver Brothers even launched a rebellion while signing a peace treaty, killing the Second Hokage. Although the Second Raikage of the Cloud Village also perished, this debt was definitely attributed to the Cloud Village. Coupled with the fact that they had an Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in their ranks, the Cloud Village group certainly wouldn't dare to return to the Land of Lightning by passing through the Land of Fire.
Entering his room, Kiyoshi's thoughts began to wander, and the contents of the letter the Third Mizukage had written to the Third Raikage surfaced in his mind.
"The Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki clan... they're probably distant relatives!" Kiyoshi sighed softly. "It seems the target is sealing techniques. That's right, I remember Grandpa once said that the Hidden Mist Village possesses two tailed beasts. Although I don't know which two, I haven't heard of anyone in the village becoming a Jinchuriki. While it's possible that my clearance isn't high enough, I've never actually sensed any tailed beast chakra within the village."
What Kiyoshi didn't know was that the Hidden Mist Village had purchased two tailed beasts, the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails, from the Hidden Leaf Village during the first Five Kage Summit.
Currently, both of these tailed beasts had Jinchuriki, but it was obvious that the Hidden Mist Village's experiments with Jinchuriki were not successful. The Hidden Mist Village's research on sealing techniques was truly terrible. It wasn't just lagging behind other ninja villages; it lacked even the most basic foundation. The Jinchuriki who had tailed beasts sealed within them couldn't utilize the tailed beasts' power. Not only that, but they often became lost in the hatred brought by the tailed beasts, leading to rampages.
Therefore, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki were arranged to live separately outside the village, and a significant number of Anbu were stationed to guard them year-round. The second and third divisions of the Anbu each had three squads permanently stationed in the areas where the Jinchuriki resided.
This was the reason why Kiyoshi had never sensed the tailed beast chakra within the Hidden Mist Village. So, it was no wonder that the Third Mizukage had set his sights on the Uzumaki clan. After all, the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques were unparalleled in the ninja world and extremely effective against tailed beasts, and they themselves were the best vessels for tailed beast Jinchuriki.
"It's necessary to plan this carefully. Although I haven't obtained it yet, that Ten-Tails ultimately belongs to me!" Kiyoshi hadn't forgotten that his ultimate goal was to evolve into a true Ōtsutsuki.
Although he was still in the stage of quietly developing his strength, the power of just an Elite Jōnin, or even a Kage, was not enough. Didn't the Third Raikage, who could be said to be the most powerful and well-rounded Kage, get worn down to death by the Hidden Stone Village using sheer numbers?
Only with Super-Kage level strength could he confidently complete his goal. Moreover, according to Kiyoshi's plan, the Hidden Mist Village would inevitably clash with other ninja villages in the future. If he could get a portion of the Uzumaki clan, who didn't have deep ties with the Hidden Leaf Village, to join the Hidden Mist, it would be of great help to his future plans.
"It seems I need to have a good discussion with Grandpa when I get back. If the Mizukage only wants the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, then there's a lot that can be done with an attack on the Land of Whirlpools," Kiyoshi's thoughts surged, and various plans flashed through his mind.
The Third Mizukage Ice's idea was actually very simple. Once the Second Great Ninja War broke out, based on the current situation, there would definitely be a coalition formed to oppose the Hidden Leaf Village.
At that time, the Hidden Mist, far overseas, could take the opportunity to ally with the Hidden Cloud Village, which also desired sealing techniques. Taking advantage of the Hidden Leaf's inability to spare a large number of elites to rescue the Land of Whirlpools, they could attack the Land of Whirlpools together and divide the Uzumaki clan's most important sealing techniques.
But in Kiyoshi's view, although this plan was highly feasible, it was too crude.
The Hidden Mist could completely hide behind the scenes and play the role of the cunning manipulator, letting the brash people of the Cloud Village take the lead while they followed behind to pick up the scraps.
They could even take a more direct approach and not actively try to destroy the Uzumaki clan or the Land of Whirlpools. Instead, they could find a way to make the Uzumaki clan see the true colors of the Hidden Leaf Village, ensuring they wouldn't put much effort into rescuing their long-time allies, thereby directly bringing the sealing techniques and the people themselves back to the Hidden Mist. Wouldn't that be much better?
There was no such thing as true alliance or friendship between ninja villages. Everything was for their own benefit. Kiyoshi had long since seen through this.
However, Kiyoshi at this time didn't know that the Hidden Leaf Village, with that First Iron Pot Shadow present, would give him a perfect assist, doing even more ruthlessly than he had imagined.
Of course, this plan couldn't just rely on talk. Moreover, Kiyoshi's current status within the village wasn't high enough to question the Mizukage's decision. Therefore, he had to come up with a practical and feasible plan to get his grandfather Elder Seiji to step forward and persuade the Third Mizukage.
Time passed quickly on the ship, and Kiyoshi spent these days staying in his room, not stepping out at all, constantly refining his plan. Even his meals were brought to his room by his subordinates when it was time to eat.
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