Schemes for the Land of Whirlpools

"Hanzō of the Salamander's abilities were actually better suited for the battlefield. His Summoning Beast, the salamander, was enormous and highly venomous, allowing it to perform to its fullest amid a large-scale battle. Although Hidden Mist Village was unlikely to clash with Hidden Rain Village in the future, you still need to understand this knowledge." Seiji continued educating them.

The others nodded, indicating that they had accepted Seiji's instruction.

Along the way, Seiji taught the newcomers all kinds of knowledge. After all, they were the subordinates he thought most highly of.

Before long, the group reached the coast of the Land of Fire, boarded a ship back to the Land of Water, and began their journey home.

This required an explanation as to why Seiji's group dared to cross the Land of Fire while Kumogakure's people did not. It was because the hatred between Hidden Mist Village and Konoha was not yet particularly deep. During the First Shinobi World War, Hidden Mist Village had attacked Konoha, but ultimately ended up fighting Iwagakure instead, to the point that both sides even lost their Second Kage.

Kumogakure, on the other hand, had launched several sneak attacks against Konoha. Kinkaku and Ginkaku had even started a rebellion during the signing of a peace and alliance agreement, resulting in the death of the Second Hokage. Though Kumogakure's Second Raikage had died as well, that debt would certainly be pinned on Kumogakure. On top of that, their group included an Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, so Kumogakure's party definitely did not dare return to the Land of Lightning by way of the Land of Fire.

Once Seiji entered his room, his thoughts began to wander, and the contents of the letter Third Mizukage Hyou had written to the Third Raikage surfaced in his mind.

"The Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki Clan... I suppose they could be considered distant relatives," Seiji sighed softly. "So the target is their Sealing Technique. That makes sense. I remember Grandfather saying that Hidden Mist Village possessed two Tailed Beasts. I don't know which two, but I'd never heard of anyone in the village becoming a Jinchuriki. Perhaps my authority simply isn't high enough, but I truly have never sensed the aura of any Tailed Beast within Hidden Mist Village."

What Seiji did not know was that during the first Kage Summit, Hidden Mist Village had purchased two Tailed Beasts from Konoha: the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails.

At present, both had Jinchuriki. Yet clearly, Hidden Mist Village's experiments with Jinchuriki had not succeeded. Their research into Sealing Technique was simply abysmal. It could not even be called inferior to the other shinobi villages—they had virtually no foundation at all. Jinchuriki with Tailed Beasts sealed inside them were completely unable to draw upon the Tailed Beasts' power in battle. Worse still, they often lost themselves in the hatred brought by the Tailed Beasts and went berserk.

Thus, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki and Six-Tails Jinchuriki had each been assigned to live outside the village, under the year-round watch of a considerable number of Anbu. The Second and Third Divisions of the Anbu each had three squads permanently stationed where the Jinchuriki lived.

That was why Seiji had never sensed a Tailed Beast's aura Within Hidden Mist Village. So it was no wonder Third Mizukage Hyou had set his sights on the Uzumaki Clan. Not only was the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique unrivaled in the shinobi world and exceptionally effective at restraining Tailed Beasts, but they were also the ideal vessels for becoming Tailed Beast Jinchuriki.

"I need to make some proper plans. It may not be in my hands yet, but that Ten-Tails will belong to me eventually!" Seiji had not forgotten that his ultimate goal was to evolve into a genuine Otsutsuki.

For now, he was still keeping his head down and developing quietly. Elite Jonin strength—even Kage-level strength—was nowhere near enough. Wasn't the Third Raikage, arguably the strongest among Kage-level fighters and outstanding in both offense and defense, ultimately worn to death by Iwagakure's sheer numbers?

Only Super Kage-level strength could give him confidence in accomplishing his goal. Furthermore, according to Seiji's plans, Hidden Mist Village would inevitably face other shinobi villages in the future. If he could bring some members of the Uzumaki Clan who were not deeply tied to Konoha into Hidden Mist Village, they would be of enormous help to his later plans.

"Looks like I'll need to discuss this properly with Grandfather after we return. If what Mizukage wants is merely the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique, then there's a great deal that can be done with an attack on the Land of Whirlpools." Seiji's thoughts churned as one plan after another flashed through his mind.

Third Mizukage Hyou's idea was actually very simple. Once the Second Shinobi World War broke out, given the current situation, several powers would surely band together against Konoha once again.

At that point, Hidden Mist Village, far away overseas, could join forces with Kumogakure, which also coveted Sealing Technique. While Konoha was unable to spare enough elite forces to aid the Land of Whirlpools, they could attack it together and divide the Uzumaki Clan's most important Sealing Technique between them.

But in Seiji's eyes, while that plan was highly feasible, it was far too crude.

Hidden Mist Village could remain hidden in the shadows and let Kumogakure's brutes take the lead, then follow behind to pick up the spoils.

Better yet, they could refrain from actively destroying the Uzumaki Clan or the Land of Whirlpools. Instead, they could find a way to make the Uzumaki Clan see Konoha's true face—that Konoha would not go all out to save allies who had been close to them for generations—then simply bring both the people and their Sealing Technique back to Hidden Mist Village. Wouldn't that be even better?

There was no such thing as true friendship or alliance between shinobi villages. Everything was for their respective interests. Seiji had long since seen through that completely.

However, Seiji did not know at this time that Konoha, with that First Pot-Kage around, would provide him with the perfect assist when the time came, doing something even more ruthless than anything he had imagined.

Naturally, this plan could not be accomplished by mere talk. Moreover, Seiji's current status in the village was not high enough for him to question the Mizukage's decision. He had to come up with a practical plan before his grandfather, Genji, could step forward and persuade Third Mizukage Hyou.

Time passed quickly aboard the ship. During those days, Seiji never left his room, continuously refining his plan. Even his meals were brought into his room by his subordinates when it was time to eat.