"The Hyūga clan is in an uproar!"
"All of them are demanding we rescue Hyūga Hinata!"
Tsunade rubbed her forehead. Of all times… this was the moment Shigure became the Acting Mizukage of Kirigakure — practically pouring oil on the Hyūga clan's already burning outrage.
It felt like a direct provocation.
If Shigure continued on this trajectory… he wouldn't just be Acting Mizukage for long.
And once he officially wore the mantle of Mizukage…
how would they ever retrieve the Hyūga heiress from Kirigakure?
That fear only fueled the clan's intensity.
"Hiashi knows the circumstances better than anyone," Jiraiya said.
Tsunade leaned back, exhaling.
"Yes. But knowing won't make it easier for a father to accept his daughter being stuck in the Mist for life."
After a moment of thought, Jiraiya sighed and forced a wry smile.
"I could go speak to Shigure… trade something to get Hinata back?"
Tsunade shook her head firmly.
"No matter what we offer, he won't give her up."
Jiraiya blinked.
"Is Hinata that important to him? Why?"
Tsunade waved him off.
"You focus on Naruto. Take him to Mount Myōboku. Teach him to control the Nine-Tails. If he masters that power, Konoha eliminates one of its biggest internal dangers."
Jiraiya patted his chest.
"Then I'll head there immediately. It's been a while since I visited those old toads."
After he left, silence returned to the office.
Tsunade stared at Shigure's name on the intel report and gave a tired laugh.
"A twelve-year-old Acting Mizukage… I wonder what the other Villages make of this."
She set the document aside — awaiting the inevitable storms from the shinobi world.
Sunagakure — Council Chambers
The death of the Fourth Kazekage had already strained relations with Konoha to the breaking point. Their former alliance lay in ruins.
For a time, Hidden Sand escaped consequences because Sarutobi Hiruzen was gravely wounded… and then died.
Konoha's internal chaos bought them time.
But that grace period had ended.
Tsunade was Hokage now. Their reckoning drew near.
To make matters worse — they didn't even have a Kazekage.
Sand's leaders were suffocating under anxiety.
Then came the report:
A twelve-year-old shinobi in Kirigakure had become Acting Mizukage.
Suddenly, hope flickered.
"If Hidden Mist can appoint a twelve-year-old brat as Mizukage, why can't we do the same?!"
"There are no capable candidates among our veterans… but among the younger generation—"
"Lord Gaara! The Fourth Kazekage's son! He has the qualifications!"
"He's a Jinchūriki!"
"And? Isn't Kirigakure's Acting Mizukage also a Jinchūriki?"
"But—!"
Arguments burst forth like wildfire. Opinions clashed violently.
The future of Sunagakure was now tied to one unstable young boy.
Iwagakure — Tsuchikage's Office
Ōnoki squinted at the report.
"Is this accurate?"
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"
"Hmph! For Kirigakure to put a twelve-year-old snot-nosed brat in charge…
they must be running out of shinobi worth anything!"
He tossed the document aside dismissively.
The only noteworthy part?
Kirigakure now possessed the Six-Tails, which formerly belonged to Takigakure…
and the absurd part — Konoha had traded it to them.
Ōnoki grumbled.
The shinobi world had lost its mind.
Kumogakure — Raikage's Office
The Fourth Raikage stood before the window, arms crossed, gaze sharp.
Before Kirigakure reopened itself to the world, the sea belonged entirely to the Cloud's influence — vast maritime routes under their security.
But with Kirigakure expanding again…
competition surged overnight.
That island conflict earlier?
It wasn't merely about land.
It was about control of the seas.
And now Kirigakure had a young, ambitious leader who might reshape the world's balance.
The Raikage's fist clenched.
"Troublesome kid…"
Control over the surrounding waters determined which Village profited from maritime trade.
Konoha, as the heart of the shinobi world, thrived with land commerce — but sea routes were equally critical.
With Kirigakure's rapid expansion, Kumogakure's naval revenue had dropped by nearly one-third.
The Fourth Raikage's expression was cold.
"The Mizukage is severely injured and comatose… and a Jinchūriki brat has stepped in as Acting Mizukage, hmph."
A cunning smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
"Mabui — send an invitation to Kirigakure. Tell them we wish to discuss territorial waters."
Mabui instantly understood.
If Kirigakure refused to attend, they would appear guilty and lose legitimacy in future disputes. Kumogakure could even justify aggression.
But if the Acting Mizukage did attend…
They could crush the upstart "child Kage" under political pressure.
This timing was perfect — and the Raikage knew it.
The reactions from the major Hidden Villages varied wildly — fear, contempt, excitement.
And far away…
Akatsuki Base — Underground Hall
Obito paced restlessly, breathing uneven.
"If we keep waiting like this… the Eye of the Moon Plan could be exposed!"
Kisame had been taken back to Kirigakure by Shigure.
He didn't know everything about Akatsuki — but he knew enough.
If Shigure revealed even fragments of their objectives…
The entire operation would collapse.
"We must accelerate the plan. There's no time to waste!"
His voice echoed sharply as he gritted his teeth.
"We start with the Ichibi… immediately."
Behind him, Black Zetsu watched with hidden dread.
Gekkō Shigure…
His strength was becoming the single greatest threat to the Eye of the Moon Plan.
He had to be removed from the board — soon.
Kirigakure — Mizukage's Office
Shigure reviewed documents the entire morning.
Village affairs were surprisingly straightforward:
— Assigning missions
— Development planning
— Budget and resource allocation
— Infrastructure and welfare proposals
These were issues that once gave Terumī Mei terrible migraines.
But with the Great Sage analyzing every detail, Shigure could instantly provide the most optimal solutions.
Even the bureaucracy of a Hidden Village… couldn't slow him down.
...
TN:
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