Chapter 176: Breaking Kirigakure's Spine
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The matter of two Mizukage appearing in one Land of Water quickly spread throughout the entire ninja world.
The Land of Water's Daimyo, however, had no particular reaction to this. After all, the Land of Water's overly favorable geographical conditions and the great power status guaranteed by its two Tailed Beasts meant they were unlikely to face external threats. Under such conditions, the Land of Water also became the most famous cradle for fatuous rulers and treacherous ministers.
Ever since the generation of Daimyo when Kirigakure was founded, the Land of Water had consecutively produced several generations of incompetent rulers.
Otherwise, any monarch with even a modicum of sense would likely not allow their country's armed forces to implement such a self-destructive policy as the Bloody Mist Village. Therefore, the process for a Mizukage taking office differed slightly from the other major powers. While other major nations' ninja villages completed internal elections before submitting to the Daimyo for review, Kirigakure simply had the chosen Mizukage directly sign and seal the documents.
But as luck would have it, both Takagi Shōban and Terumi Mei, after ascending to the Mizukage position, sent official documents to the Land of Water's Daimyo at the first opportunity.
And this generation's Land of Water Daimyo, having been addicted to women for many years, had his brain addled by potent aphrodisiacs. Upon receiving the documents from both sides, he couldn't be bothered to manage the affair and directly handed both documents to his ministers for processing.
And this is where Terumi Mei's lack of experience became apparent.
Having understood the moral standards of this group of Land of Water civil officials from intelligence, Uchiha Douhuan directly instructed Takagi Shōban to bribe these officials before returning to the village.
The civil officials, having received benefits, naturally signed Takagi Shōban's document directly, helping Takagi Shōban solidify his legitimate status. Terumi Mei's group and their newly established Kirigakure Village were, at this moment, formally designated as rebels.
Terumi Mei, unable to stomach this, once again attempted to launch an attack on Kirigakure Village after Zabuza and Hoshigaki Kisame had somewhat recovered.
However, these remnants of a defeated army appeared woefully inadequate in strength before Konoha's ninjas. Moreover, Terumi Mei, along with the not-yet-fully-healed Zabuza and Hoshigaki Kisame, failed to gain any advantage when facing Uchiha Fugaku.
Don't mind that Fugaku hadn't fought in years and his Mangekyou's pupil technique was non-combat oriented; the foundation of the Mangekyou was there. Fugaku wasn't considered weak even among Kage-level individuals. Among the three, only Terumi Mei's Lava Release ninjutsu had the capability to penetrate Susanoo's defense.
But amusingly, perhaps because they had treated Uchiha Douhuan as their hypothetical enemy for too long, they might have even forgotten how traditional Uchiha fought. Terumi Mei actually made the rookie mistake of making direct eye contact with Uchiha Fugaku during battle.
If Zabuza and Kisame hadn't desperately rescued the genjutsu-stricken Terumi Mei, their rebel army's New Kirigakure would likely have had to choose a Sixth Mizukage on the spot.
After this battle, the rebel army posed no threat for the short term and could only barely defend their territory. And with the arrival of Konoha's supplies and merchants from the Land of Fire led by Kado, Kirigakure also gradually began reconstruction.
However, even so, the internal situation in Kirigakure Village did not improve much.
Although during these two or three months, with the arrival of Konoha's aid and investment, Kirigakure's villagers had resumed production, and their living standards had greatly improved compared to the Bloody Mist era, the Konoha ninjas occasionally roaming the village made everyone in Kirigakure, whether civilian or ninja, very uncomfortable.
Unlike the Konoha garrisons led by Inuzuka Tsume and Aburame Shibi, the Land of Rice Paddies and the Land of Hot Water had no existing conflicts with Konoha. After Konoha's ninjas were stationed there in the past, their relations with the local populace were excellent. Both local nobles and commoners were full of praise for the high quality of Konoha ninjas.
But Kirigakure was different. It hadn't even been ten years since the two sides were bashing each other's brains out in war. Less than ten years was completely insufficient to dispel the hatred between the two sides.
In less than three months, several conflicts erupted between Konoha's garrison troops and Kirigakure's local villagers.
The most representative incident involved a small squad of Konoha garrison troops who went out drinking during their leave and encountered some Kirigakure villagers who spoke rudely to them.
The captain of this squad also had a fiery temper. As one of the first batch of commoner ninjas to join the Security Department, after Uchiha Douhuan took office as Fifth Hokage, he didn't know how long it had been since he suffered such indignity. Even Konoha's troublesome citizens didn't dare speak to him like that. How dare this bunch, whom *we* are protecting, shout orders at us Konoha ninjas?
Already having drunk alcohol, and under its stimulation, he was not as calm as usual. Coupled with the extremely nasty curses from those Kirigakure villagers, in a fit of rage, he directly led his squad to beat up these few Kirigakure villagers.
Subsequently, as surrounding Kirigakure ninjas arrived, and Konoha ninjas from the base also rushed over, the conflict escalated further.
If Uchiha Fugaku and Takagi Shōban hadn't arrived in time, both sides would likely have started a full-blown fight directly within the village.
Upon arriving at the scene, Uchiha Fugaku's face was extremely unsightly. In his view, these Konoha ninjas, when away from home, represented Konoha's face. Attacking civilians over a verbal dispute was a complete violation of ninja conduct. If word got out, it would be a huge blow to the image of their Konoha ninjas.
Therefore, Uchiha Fugaku planned to deal with these few individuals severely.
However, what he hadn't expected was that Takagi Shōban would actually make the first move, only, his target was those few civilians who had spoken rudely to the Konoha ninjas and the few Kirigakure ninjas who had first stood up during this conflict.
"What do you think you're doing? How dare you speak rudely to our honored guests?" Takagi Shōban reprimanded angrily. "Don't forget, it was these honored guests who helped us drive away Kirigakure's rebels and helped us rebuild the village! Do you want to return to the days under the shadow of the Bloody Mist? Men, take them away! These people must be severely punished!"
Soon, several Anbu confidants cultivated by Takagi Shōban after taking office came forward, took away the civilians and ninjas involved in the conflict, and threw them into the Anbu prison.
"Hehe, Lord Fugaku, they are, after all, people who have just emerged from the harsh policies of the Bloody Mist and don't quite understand the rules. My apologies for the poor showing before you and your country's ninjas," After dealing with these people, Takagi Shōban immediately put on a fawning smile and said to Uchiha Fugaku.
During these three months, Takagi Shōban, having ascended to the Mizukage's throne, although often cursed behind his back by Kirigakure's commoners and ninjas as a traitor selling out the country, had also genuinely experienced the benefits of being Mizukage. Setting other things aside, in just these three months, he had accumulated wealth he wouldn't have dared dream of before. And after Fugaku repelled Terumi Mei and her group's attack, Uchiha Fugaku's status in Takagi Shōban's heart was no different from that of his own biological father. As long as Konoha's 'Sky Soldiers' were still present, and Uchiha Fugaku was still present, his Mizukage throne was as stable as Mount Tai.
And now these troublesome citizens dared to disrespect his 'biological father'? That must be dealt with severely! What if Konoha and Uchiha Fugaku were made unhappy by these troublesome citizens and withdrew their army? Would he still have his life then?
As for their Kirigakure's internal dissatisfaction? Did they really think he became Mizukage for nothing? In these three months, the two Kirigakure Elite Jounin who competed with him for the Mizukage position had already been dealt with by him. To be honest, anyone who could become an Elite Jounin under Yagura Karatachi's rule didn't have a clean backside. The reasons Takagi Shōban used to convict those two were readily available – harming fellow village ninjas.
After the competitors were dealt with, Takagi Shōban also quickly used benefits to gather a group of loyal direct subordinates. He might not have the ability to deal with Terumi Mei and her group, but striking hard internally was more than enough.
Hearing this outcome, and seeing their own Mizukage's fawning appearance before Konoha's garrison commander, some Kirigakure ninjas nearly ground their teeth to dust, but in their anger, they could only be angry for that moment.
Uchiha Fugaku, too, was baffled by Takagi Shōban's actions. After taking these people back and confining the squad members, he sent a special message to Uchiha Douhuan, asking how this matter should be handled.
If it were someone else, they definitely wouldn't trouble Uchiha Douhuan with such a matter. Otherwise, even if Uchiha Douhuan helped come up with a solution, it would make the person seeking help appear very incompetent.
But Fugaku had no such concerns. Ever since Uchiha Douhuan replaced him as Clan Head, he had profoundly realized his own incompetence in certain aspects. Coupled with his eldest son, in whom he had placed high hopes, going down the wrong path, Uchiha Fugaku directly entered a state of 'letting things rot' afterwards. After Uchiha Douhuan came to power and arranged for him to be the Jounin Squad Commander, he only strictly followed Uchiha Douhuan's will in this position, doing his own duties.
And this time, serving as the Commander of the Fire Army Stationed in Water, if not for the fact that no one else in Konoha had the strength and qualifications to hold this position, Fugaku wouldn't have wanted to come. Isn't staying in Konoha every day accompanying his son much more comfortable than coming to Kirigakure, a place that rarely sees the sun?
Therefore, on such important matters, Fugaku consulted Uchiha Douhuan without any hesitation.
And Uchiha Douhuan's reply to him was also very simple, only eight characters: simple punishment, let nature take its course.
If such an incident occurred with the garrisons in the Land of Hot Water or the Land of Rice Paddies, Uchiha Douhuan's opinion would only be to handle it severely. Because the ninja strength of these two countries was very weak, the ninjas stationed there, besides guarding against the Land of Lightning, served more as a showcase for Konoha to display its great power etiquette. If such an incident occurred, it would greatly affect Konoha's image in the eyes of its allies and would also be exploited by the Land of Lightning to make a big fuss.
But Kirigakure was different. Although Kirigakure had been ravaged by Uchiha Obito's efforts, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Furthermore, Kirigakure's heritage was still intact. Given time, say a dozen years or so, it wouldn't be difficult for Kirigakure's strength to recover. Therefore, to truly transform Kirigakure into their Konoha's 'aquaculture farm', only one thing needed to be done: break their spine.
This was also why he was willing to risk criticism and personally intervene to forcefully promote Takagi Shōban.
To be honest, for such an incident to only occur after three months, Uchiha Douhuan couldn't help but marvel that the quality of their Konoha ninjas, under the influence of the Will of Fire, was truly too high.
And besides allowing his own ninjas to act like tyrants in Kirigakure, Uchiha Douhuan also had some White Zetsu disguise themselves as civilians to spread rumors within Kirigakure that even Konoha's air was sweet. Furthermore, he had Kado and the other Land of Fire merchants subtly instill certain ideas into the hearts of Kirigakure's people during their investments there.
Although it might take a long time for these things to truly show effect, the results were undeniable. Uchiha Douhuan had already witnessed the terror of such strategies in his past life.
And just as Uchiha Douhuan's transnational 'aquaculture' was in full swing, Kumogakure also approached Terumi Mei and the rebels' newly established Kirigakure.
"Miss Terumi Mei, the conditions offered by our Kumogakure are already very generous. Compared to the treaty Takagi Shōban signed with Konoha, the conditions we offer are not very excessive, are they," the Fourth Raikage A sat imposingly at his desk, speaking to Terumi Mei across the screen.
"Lord Raikage, perhaps let us consider for a while longer?" Terumi Mei said with some difficulty.
"Of course, no problem," the Fourth Raikage said unhurriedly. "However, Mizukage, are you sure your Kirigakure still has that much time? The current Konoha needs to support the Land of Waterfall, which is why they can't free up their hands. Once the war in the Land of Waterfall ends and Konoha frees up its hands, can you withstand Konoha's army?"
Terumi Mei fell silent upon hearing this. The Fourth Raikage was telling the truth. That day, after Konoha's garrison troops helped Takagi Shōban repel their attack, they did not expand on their victory. It was likely because the current Konoha still needed to support the Land of Waterfall and didn't want to fully open war. But Terumi Mei also understood that once the war in the Land of Waterfall changed and Konoha freed its hands to fully support Takagi Shōban, then with their current strength, they absolutely could not withstand Konoha's military might.
And by then, their Land of Water would truly become a vassal of the Land of Fire, with no future to speak of.
And now, although the conditions Kumogakure offered for their aid were also very harsh, and once they accepted Kumogakure's aid, even if they ultimately achieved victory, the debt they would need to repay would be an astronomical figure, and their Kirigakure might have to rely on Kumogakure for survival for many years to come.
However, slowly repaying debt was always better than losing the country. At least the conditions offered by Kumogakure still left room for maneuver in the future.
Terumi Mei thought, sighed deeply, and finally nodded, saying, "We agree to cooperate. However, the specific details still need further discussion."
(End of Chapter)
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