Fourth Mizukage Takes Office

As Suikazan Fuguki landed another punch on the Three-Tails' head, the Sharingan symbol in the giant turtle's single eye finally vanished without a trace. Karatachi Yagura's consciousness had returned.

The enormous Tailed Beast then began to shrink continuously, eventually revealing the Mizukage. His eyes carried a hint of fatigue and haggardness as he leaned against a large rock behind him, half-sitting and half-slumped as he propped himself up.

Though he had barely broken free from the illusion, Karatachi Yagura had also expended tremendous physical and mental energy. He still looked utterly listless. Of course, much of it was also due to the psychological blow, which had left the Fourth Mizukage seeming on the verge of collapse.

"Cough, cough, cough... Fuguki? You did well." Blood trickled from the corner of Karatachi Yagura's mouth as he looked at Suikazan Fuguki, who had already released his transformation. His voice and gaze softened slightly.

"Thank you for pulling me out of that nightmare—and for saving Kirigakure from the brink of disaster."

"Lord Mizukage, who exactly used an illusion on you?"

Suikazan Fuguki frowned and immediately asked the question. The Kirigakure ninja who had rushed over shared the same doubt. They held their breaths, their expressions grave.

Although they had already seen the Sharingan symbol, hearing the truth from Karatachi Yagura himself would naturally be more convincing. A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"To be honest, I never saw his true face. I only know that he was an Uchiha proficient in Space-Time Ninjutsu, wearing a Swirl Mask, and possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

The Kirigakure ninja present all looked grim. Their village's leader had been controlled, yet not only had no one discovered it, they could not even confirm the manipulator's true identity. It was like a resounding slap across every Kirigakure ninja's face.

"No matter what, Konoha must be involved in this!"

Ao gritted his teeth. "Konoha must pay the price!"

"That's right! Damn Konoha Ninja! This is all their scheme!"

"This is a provocation! We absolutely cannot let Konoha off!"

The Kirigakure ninja were filled with righteous indignation. Already under the oppressive pressure of the Bloody Mist Policy, their nerves had been stretched taut. Combined with the damage caused by the Tailed Beast's rampage, the humiliation of having their Mizukage controlled, and, most importantly, the belief that they had finally found the source of the Bloody Mist Policy, they naturally vented all their fury toward Konoha.

"Enough!" Karatachi Yagura waved his hand. As the Mizukage, even though everyone knew he would not hold the position for long, he still had some authority among the Kirigakure ninja for the moment. The ninja fell silent.

"Konoha's debt will be settled sooner or later. But there are more important matters now: revising the Bloody Mist Policy and deciding who will become the next Mizukage!"

The moment Karatachi Yagura finished speaking, the surroundings fell utterly silent. The Kirigakure ninja exchanged glances for a moment before their gazes finally settled on Suikazan Fuguki.

At this point in time, Kisame and Mei Terumi had yet to fully mature. Hozuki Mangetsu, whose talent was exceptional, was even younger, while Ao was merely a support ninja with mediocre combat power.

In all of Kirigakure, when it came to age and prestige, Suikazan Fuguki truly ranked first beneath the Mizukage.

In the past, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's experience in the Fire Country had been a massive stain. More importantly, Suikazan Fuguki's strength had still been some distance from Kage-level. Unless there had truly been no alternative, the position of Mizukage would never have fallen to him.

But this time was different. Being able to face a Tailed Beast alone was, in itself, proof of one's qualifications to be a Kage.

Other than Konoha and Iwagakure, anyone seeking to become a Kage in the other three great ninja villages had to overcome the hurdle of the Tailed Beasts. The Third Raikage had once suppressed the Eight Tails, the Fourth Raikage was brothers with the Jinchuriki, and Sunagakure's Gaara was the Kazekage's son. Likewise, when the Tailed Beast went berserk, only the Kazekage could suppress it.

Kirigakure was even more direct: its Jinchuriki and Mizukage were simply the same person. For them, the ability to suppress a Tailed Beast could entirely be regarded as a qualification for becoming Kage.

Konoha was different because the Nine-Tails was simply too overpowered. Aside from the First Hokage, no one else had any chance of suppressing it. Even the first two Jinchuriki had been the Hokage's wives. As for Iwagakure, Ōnoki's ninjutsu was unsuited for suppressing Tailed Beasts, and his relationship with the Jinchuriki was not particularly good either, making them a perfect negative example.

By exposing the conspiracy behind the Mizukage's control and directly displaying the power to contend with a Tailed Beast, Suikazan Fuguki's performance had indeed stunned everyone. Whether in terms of merit or strength, he was also the only candidate for Mizukage.

Seeing the looks in the Kirigakure ninja's eyes, Karatachi Yagura felt a complicated mix of emotions. But he was also a decisive man. He reached up to touch his head, felt nothing there, and only then remembered that his Mizukage hat had been lost somewhere during the battle.

Fortunately, he was not one to fuss over formalities. He first struggled to his feet, then placed the iron staff in his hand across Suikazan Fuguki's shoulder. "Suikazan Fuguki, I entrust the position of Fourth Mizukage to you!"

The transfer of the Mizukage position went very smoothly. Whether Karatachi Yagura had been controlled or not, the fact that he had initiated the Bloody Mist Policy was indisputable.

Furthermore, as the leader of a village, being directly controlled by an enemy's illusion technique was itself a disqualification. If they allowed him to remain Mizukage, what if someone controlled him with an illusion again?

Prestige was difficult to build but extremely easy to shatter. Once trust collapsed, even the Mizukage could only step down in disgrace, with no possibility of recovery.

Suikazan Fuguki's ascension to Mizukage was not celebrated with much fanfare. For one thing, Kirigakure was different from Konoha. The damage wrought by the Bloody Mist Policy could not be cleaned up overnight, nor could the Kirigakure ninja's cold and indifferent temperaments be changed all at once.

For another, it was hardly a glorious matter. The Third Mizukage had been controlled, a Tailed Beast had rampaged through the village, and the Fourth Mizukage had ultimately taken office amid a crisis. Saying it aloud would only invite ridicule from the other great ninja villages.

Basically, Fuguki put on the hat, discussed matters with Kirigakure's upper ranks and the heads of several clans, then convened a general assembly of ninja before holding a smaller meeting with all the Jonin. Just like that, the matter was settled.

The first thing Suikazan Fuguki did after becoming Mizukage was not seek revenge against Konoha, but gradually change Kirigakure's Bloody Mist Policy.

The Bloody Mist Policy did not merely refer to Kirigakure graduates slaughtering one another. It also encompassed a whole series of cruel policies. For example, Kisame would eliminate any Kirigakure ninja who might be captured, while Kirigakure ninja who failed missions were almost always condemned to death... Only all these bloody provisions together constituted the complete Bloody Mist Policy.