"You've always been dissatisfied with me and you've questioned whether I'm fit to hold this position, haven't you?
Then let me see how you plan to do better.
From this day forward, you are the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure."
The Third Mizukage didn't give Yagura even a moment to refuse. Before thousands of Mist shinobi, he directly declared Yagura the Fourth Mizukage.
"Then what about you…?"
Faced with the position he had dreamed of since childhood, Yagura didn't feel joy when it finally landed in his hands. Instead, a swirl of complicated emotions welled up inside him.
For so many years, he believed that the moment he became Fourth Mizukage, his first reaction would be pride, exhilaration, at the very least, excitement.
But now, taking the Mizukage hat from the Third Mizukage's hands, all he felt was a suffocating pressure.
"That's why I always say you're a flower raised in a greenhouse."
The Third Mizukage sighed. Before Yagura could respond, he continued on his own.
"You don't really think I'm planning to continue being the Third Mizukage of Kirigakure, do you?"
Those words hit Yagura like a hammer. He stood frozen in place, his spirit seemingly knocked loose.
After all these years, it was as if he suddenly awakened.
The innocence and naivety of someone raised in the shinobi-village era were stripped away with astonishing speed.
"Lord Third… I'm sorry…"
Looking at the Third Mizukage's back, Yagura opened his mouth, yet not a single word managed to come out.
He could only apologize silently in his heart.
"Lord Garp, thank you for allowing this brat of a Mizukage to keep a final shred of dignity."
Ignoring Yagura, the Third Mizukage walked straight toward Garp.
"It's nothing. Consider it a reward for letting this old man see Byakuren one last time.
Speaking of which, I've met many shinobi since I came out of retirement. Even a few Kage. But none of them come close to your level."
Garp's gaze shifted from the Three-Tails, Isobu, to the Third Mizukage.
A truly exceptional man.
Far superior to Hiruzen, the so-called leader of Konoha's demolition-crew council.
If even one member of Konoha's council had half the ability of the Third Mizukage, Konoha wouldn't have become a village that any random shinobi could invade, or even destroy, in the years to come.
"Hahaha…. I never expected that someone the world considers the most unremarkable among the Five Kage would receive such praise from Lord Garp.
To be able to bring your words with me when I go meet Lord Byakuren and Lord Gengetsu… perhaps I haven't completely shamed the title of Mizukage."
The Third Mizukage laughed heartily.
In that moment, the aura radiating from him was nothing like his usual noble, quiet temperament, it was filled with boldness, confidence, and unrestrained spirit.
'This man's strength is definitely not inferior to Sarutobi's.'
Feeling his aura, Tsunade and Orochimaru couldn't help but feel shaken.
This was supposed to be the weakest of the Five Kage?
Utter nonsense…
If such a man was considered average, then what did that make Konoha's Third Hokage?
"Lord Garp… they should live, right?"
The Third Mizukage threw his head back and laughed wildly, as if pouring out years of pressure, frustration, and pain in a single breath.
"Did any of them actually want to fight me?"
Garp countered instead of answering.
"I understand. Thank you."
The Third Mizukage smiled faintly, then produced a blank scroll. Before the eyes of both Konoha and Mist shinobi, he pierced five fingers open.
Using his blood as ink and his fingers as a brush, he swept across the scroll in wild, vigorous strokes, carving out a line of scarlet characters,
Kirigakure… Surrenders….
Seeing the blood-written words, Yagura's eyes reddened.
"It's nothing. After being laughed at by the world for so long, scolded by my own village for so long… It's time I did at least one thing for them.
This surrender decree is written by me, delivered by me. No other shinobi of Kirigakure needs to bear this burden.
All sins, all curses, all humiliation, let them fall on me, the Third Mizukage. This is the only thing, and the last thing, I can do for this village."
The Third Mizukage gave Yagura a glance, then raised his blood-soaked right hand and slammed it onto the scroll.
A Mizukage's blood-written decree.
A single line, Kirigakure… Surrenders….
A glaring handprint of the Mizukage's blood.
Together, they formed a surrender document so heavy that every Mist shinobi felt its weight deep in their hearts.
"Lord Garp, please accept this. By the authority of the Third Mizukage, I declare Kirigakure… submits…"
The Third Mizukage wiped the blood from his hand. Then he sank to both knees before Garp, lifting the surrender decree high above his head.
Yagura, Mei, Ao, and the other Mist shinobi all closed their eyes, each turning their head away, unable to watch their Third Mizukage bear the shame of defeat and shoulder all disgrace for the village.
Yet the Third Mizukage's face remained calm.
Born at the crossroads of the Warring States era and the shinobi-village era, he had witnessed the fist of Garp pressing down on the world.
The Wood Release of Hashirama second only to Garp, and the Sharingan of Madara dominating all. He had felt the overwhelming power of that age.
He had also witnessed the new era, White Fang's terrifying blade, the Third Raikage's unmatched spear and shield, Onoki's Dust Release that erased all, he had seen the rise of a new generation's strength.
He had witnessed the pinnacle, endured the decline, and tasted despair.
Compared to all of that, a mere blood-written confession, a simple surrender, the act of kneeling, none of it could stir his heart in the slightest.
Because he knew clearly.
He wasn't surrendering to Konoha.
He wasn't kneeling to the Third Hokage.
He was bowing to the man before him, an existence who had frightened him for half his life, and earned his respect for the other half.
To bow before that iron fist…
To surrender beneath that iron fist…
To yield to such a man…
To him, it was no disgrace at all….
.........
Guys do leave some reviews and comments.
Also, if you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Pat re on and get access to some Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.
pat re on. com / Yhssab
Just remove all the spaces in between and search it.