Chapter 52: The Plan to Launch a Surprise Attack on Konoha
"So," Yagura Karatachi said coolly, his amethyst-like eyes fixed on Kirishima Shinya, "Jōnin Kirishima, you already have a complete plan in mind?"
There was not the slightest warmth in his gaze.
Kirishima Shinya appeared entirely unfazed. He smiled and replied, "Not only is the plan ready, I've already selected the people needed to carry it out."
The moment those words fell, the temperature in the tent seemed to drop further.
Yagura's voice remained perfectly flat as he asked, "And how exactly do you intend to proceed? Do you plan to carry the Samehada Gourd into Konoha's vicinity and release the Three-Tails there?"
"Of course not," Kirishima Shinya said with a light laugh. "That would be far too crude. Releasing the Three-Tails outside the village might not cause Konoha much real damage. My plan is to seal the Three-Tails into a Konoha ninja instead—then send that person directly into the village."
He spread his hands slightly, his smile widening.
"A blossom at the heart of the city."
"Aren't you afraid the Three-Tails will fall into Konoha's hands?" Terumi Mang spoke up coldly. "Don't forget—the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques all ended up in Konoha. When it comes to suppressing tailed beasts, they're professionals."
"That's called risk," Kirishima Shinya replied without hesitation. "Success always comes at a price. Besides, I never said we'd just abandon the Three-Tails once it enters Konoha. Once it starts rampaging, elite squads lying in wait outside the village can move in—amplifying the damage and reclaiming the Three-Tails when the timing is right."
He tilted his head, looking almost amused.
"Or do you think this is impossible?"
Terumi Mang frowned deeply. "Don't you think your plan is far too idealized? The way you describe it, Konoha's ninja sound like puppets you can move at will."
"Everything depends on execution," Kirishima Shinya countered calmly. "Frankly, Mang-senpai, I think you're being overly afraid of Konoha. At the end of the day, they've got two shoulders and one head, just like us. What's there to fear?"
"Afraid?"
Terumi Mang let out a sharp, humorless laugh.
"You think I'm afraid of Konoha?"
His gaze turned icy as he leaned forward.
"Kirishima Shinya—think before you speak. If my wife weren't your cousin, I'd tear your head off right now and use it as a stool."
"Heh—!"
Kirishima Shinya gave an awkward chuckle, immediately lowering his head.
"My apologies, Mang-senpai. That was thoughtless of me."
The smile on his face faded—but the dangerous glint in his eyes did not.
He had no choice but to lower his head.
The Terumi clan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kirishima clan as one of Kirigakure's great noble houses. Aside from lacking a Mizukage of their own bloodline, their strength in every other respect was no weaker than that of the Kirishima clan.
As the first-in-line heir of the Kirishima clan, Kirishima Shinya truly could not afford to offend Terumi Mei—or rather, Terumi Mang, the clan head. Even if Mang were to kill him on the spot, Shinya would die for nothing more than a compensation payout and a quiet settlement.
"Since Mei calls you uncle," Mang said coldly, "I'll let this slide. But the next time you speak like that, you'd better already be the head of the Kirishima clan. Otherwise… weigh the consequences yourself."
"Yes, Mang-senpai," Kirishima Shinya replied obediently—so obedient it bordered on meekness.
But obedience did not mean surrender.
"Mizukage-sama," Shinya said, turning his gaze toward Yagura Karatachi, "I ask that you formally approve the execution of this plan."
He did not dare tangle with Terumi Mang again and instead addressed the highest authority in the room.
Yagura's face remained impassive. He said nothing.
But Kirishima Shinya had clearly prepared for this.
"Mizukage-sama, I believe Kirishima-jōnin's plan has real merit," Suikazan Fuguki—spoke up. "Konoha isn't necessarily as invincible as they appear. If we can strike directly at the village itself, the entire situation could reverse overnight."
It was obvious that Fuguki and Kirishima Shinya had coordinated beforehand.
"Besides," Fuguki continued casually, "we've already invested too much into this war. If we retreat quietly now, morale will collapse completely."
"So even if we withdraw, we shouldn't do it like cowards. Before retreating, we need to inflict heavy damage on Konoha—preferably by killing one or two high-profile ninja. Only then can we preserve morale and pull back with dignity."
His reasoning was not without merit.
Terumi Mang merely watched the two men, saying nothing further.
"Fuguki," Yagura said slowly, "are you planning to follow Kirishima-jōnin into Konoha on this gamble?"
"Yes," Fuguki replied without hesitation. "He'll help me hunt down Konoha's White Yaksha first. After that, we move on Konoha."
He made no attempt to hide his collusion. In his eyes, everything he did was for the village.
"White Yaksha…"
Yagura repeated the name softly—a name he had been hearing more and more often lately.
His gaze swept across the room.
Aside from Terumi Mang and those aligned with the Terumi clan, nearly everyone else clearly favored Kirishima Shinya's high-risk plan.
"Very well," Yagura said at last.
"Then do it."
He did not stop them.
Yagura understood clearly that unless he resorted to force, even rejecting Kirishima Shinya's proposal would not prevent them from acting in secret. And using force against them would only ignite self-destructive internal conflict.
It wasn't that he couldn't suppress them—
It was that doing so would tear Kirigakure apart.
If that was the case, it was better to let them gamble against Konoha than die in meaningless infighting.
This meeting made one truth painfully clear to him:
Even as Mizukage, there were many moments when his will alone was not enough.
The Karatachi clan was not weak—but compared to giants like the Kirishima, Terumi, and Hōzuki clans, they were still lacking.
To truly become a Mizukage who held absolute authority…
The road ahead was long and treacherous.
"Mizukage-sama," Kirishima Shinya said, producing a list, "these are the personnel required for my plan. I ask for your approval."
Yagura took the list and glanced through it.
Every name was an elite.
"Jūzō. Mangetsu," Yagura asked directly, "are you both participating?"
"I am," Biwa Jūzō replied, killing intent radiating from him. He clearly had no intention of retreating quietly.
But Hōzuki Mangetsu shrugged. "I don't really care. If you order me to go, I'll go."
"Good," Yagura said decisively.
"Mangetsu, you won't be going. I have other tasks for you."
"As for the rest—those who want to go may go. Those who don't, or who feel the same as Mangetsu, are dismissed. There are plenty of other missions that need handling."
With that, Yagura made his ruling.
He would not block Kirishima Shinya's plan—but neither would he fully support it.
Not sabotaging them was the extent of his goodwill.