Land of Water, Kirigakure, Mizukage's Building.
The atmosphere in the highest conference room was even more oppressive than the dense fog outside that never dispersed.
Sitting around the huge circular conference table were the few people at the very top of Kirigakure's power structure.
Sitting at the head was, naturally, the Third Mizukage, Gengetsu.
To his left was Kirigakure's Elder Gen, a ninja who looked like he might fall asleep at any moment.
He had been assisting the village since the time of the First Mizukage and had an excellent relationship with Gengetsu.
Below Elder Gen sat the head of the Kaguya clan, Kaguya Soranosuke.
He was still shirtless, exuding a violent aura that kept strangers away. He sat with his eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest, as if he had no interest in this meeting.
On the other side of the conference table, directly opposite Kaguya Soranosuke, sat the head of the Yuki clan, Yukinijo.
He wore a spotless white hunting robe, sat elegantly, and had a faint smile on his face, as if he were attending an elegant tea party.
Besides these few, there were representatives from other Kekkei Genkai clans sitting around the table, as well as...
The elites of the Hozuki clan, the siblings Hozuki Umitsuki and Hozuki Shio.
The older brother, Hozuki Umitsuki, wore a standard Kirigakure Anbu uniform, with half a mask covering his face, revealing only a pair of eyes as cold as a deep pool.
He sat straight at the table like a lifeless statue, his right hand on the ninja sword at his waist, ready to deal with any sudden situation. He was the Mizukage's sharpest and most loyal blade.
The younger sister, Hozuki Shio, seemed much more casual.
The girl didn't wear a uniform, just a tight combat suit that facilitated movement, outlining her curvy figure vividly.
She crossed her legs, rested her chin on one hand, and looked curiously back and forth at Yukinijo's face, which was prettier than a woman's, with a playful smile on her lips.
"Everyone is here."
Gengetsu finally spoke, his voice calm without a ripple, but the temperature in the conference room seemed to drop a few degrees, and everyone's attention focused on the main seat.
He wasted no words and simply nodded to the Anbu behind him.
The Anbu immediately distributed reports filled with loss statistics to everyone present.
"This is last month's loss report from the Sea of Ten Thousand Whirlpools."
Gengetsu's voice remained calm. "Another riot by the Three-Tails and Six-Tails caused us to lose a large number of excellent ninja, including members of your respective clans."
"If this repeats, it will have a significant impact on the village's finances."
Kaguya Soranosuke glanced roughly at the casualty numbers on the report, a sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Yukinijo elegantly picked up the report and read it carefully as if savoring a poem, but deep in his emerald eyes, mockery flashed.
Only Hozuki Shio was truly shocked by the contents of the report.
"Wow, consuming thirteen percent of the village's budget annually? A casualty rate as high as twenty-five percent?"
The girl whistled exaggeratedly and turned to her brother. "Brother, are these two Tailed Beasts made of gold? Spending so much money?"
"Shut up, Shio," Hozuki Umitsuki said coldly without turning his head.
"Tch, how boring."
Hozuki Shio pouted but obediently closed her mouth.
The conference room fell into a brief silence.
After a long time, Gengetsu spoke slowly.
"The situation is even more serious than what is written in the report."
His gaze swept over everyone present, his voice heavy.
"Tailed Beasts are strategic weapons distributed to the major ninja villages by the First Hokage to balance the power of the ninja world. But now, they have become Kirigakure's biggest burden."
"We cannot give them up, because giving them up would be handing them over to others. But we cannot effectively utilize them either, because we lack the most crucial technology—sealing jutsu capable of controlling Tailed Beasts."
"If this continues, the village will not only be dragged down financially by these two Tailed Beasts but will also lose a large amount of effective strength."
Gengetsu laid the problem bare before everyone.
He looked at the people below, each with their own ulterior motives, and threw out the final difficult question.
"So, I invited you all here today to hear your opinions."
"Regarding these two Tailed Beasts, regarding the future of our Kirigakure, what good strategies do you have?"
The conference room fell into dead silence again.
Everyone knew this was a hot potato.
Kaguya Soranosuke's eyelids twitched, and a cruel arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Yukinijo put down the report in his hand, picked up his teacup, and blew gently on the steam, as if everything had nothing to do with him.
They were both waiting.
Waiting for an opportunity to speak.
Waiting for an opportunity to drag the entire Kirigakure onto their war chariot.
Two men who both craved war but couldn't stand each other seemed to have reached a tacit understanding at this moment.
They both knew that today's meeting would be the best stage for them to break this damn peace and realize their respective ambitions.
Just as this oppressive silence was about to reach its peak.
"Heh..."
Kaguya Soranosuke threw the report casually on the table and stood up abruptly.
His oppressive figure instantly attracted everyone's attention.
His gaze fell straight on the Third Mizukage in the main seat.
"Lord Mizukage, everyone."
"I have a once-and-for-all solution."
Kaguya Soranosuke was like a fierce beast finally breaking free from its restraints. The violent and primal fighting intent emanating from him seemed to lower the temperature in the conference room by a few degrees.
"Oh? Clan Head Soranosuke, if you have a brilliant idea, why not share it?"
Mizukage Gengetsu looked at him expressionlessly, his tone flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"I wouldn't call it brilliant." Kaguya Soranosuke grinned, revealing a bloodthirsty smile.
He slammed his palm on the conference table made of solid ice.
"Thump!"
Elder Gen's eyelid twitched, but he kept his eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.
"Can't you all figure out such a simple problem?"
Soranosuke grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "My fist tells me there is only one way to solve the problem!"
He extended a thick finger and pointed heavily at the area representing the Land of Fire on the huge map of the ninja world in the center of the table.
"Attack!"
His voice, like a thunderclap, exploded in everyone's ears.
"Isn't Konoha's Nine-Tails perfectly sealed within a person? That person named Uzumaki Mito."
"We directly gather all our forces, march into the Land of Fire, and storm Konoha! Snatch their Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, along with their damn sealing jutsu!"
"As long as we have the strongest sealing jutsu, let alone two Tailed Beasts, even if all nine Tailed Beasts were gathered, our Kirigakure could turn them into watchdogs!"
"Fists are the only truth in this world! The winner takes all!"
Kaguya Soranosuke's words were full of simple, crude, yet highly inflammatory logic.
Attack Konoha? Snatch the Jinchuriki?
This sounded much more exciting than staring blankly at the dense fog here every day.
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became subtle.
"Foolish!"
A powerful rebuke interrupted this restless atmosphere.
Elder Gen, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, stared at Soranosuke, his eyes filled with disappointment.
"Clan Head Kaguya, your courage is commendable, but your brain seems to be squeezed out by your muscles."
"Gen, what did you say?!"
Terrifying killing intent instantly erupted from Kaguya Soranosuke's eyes.
"I said you are foolish!"
Gen did not back down. He stood up and tapped the ground heavily with his cane. "Actively attack Konoha? Do you know what that means?"
"That means we will face the most powerful ninja village in the ninja world alone!"
"Have you forgotten the fate of the Third Raikage of Kumogakure and the puppet master couple of Sunagakure?!"
"That's just because they were too weak!"
Kaguya Soranosuke scoffed at Gen's warning. He patted his chest and laughed arrogantly. "We Kirigakure ninja excel in Water Release and assassination! As long as we can infiltrate, we can catch them off guard!"
"What's more!"
He glanced sarcastically at Gen. "Although we Kirigakure ninja are good at Water Release, we are not made of water."
"Afraid before even fighting? Are your old bones completely rusted in these comfortable days?"
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