Kirigakure Year 32, Konoha Year 33.
At dawn, a young Mist Ninja with gray-blue hair styled like the tip of a calligraphy brush paced back and forth by the gates of Kirigakure, as if waiting for someone.
Before long, as the sun rose, a figure slowly approached from afar.
The newcomer was about twelve years old, with white hair, sharp brows and bright eyes, and a tall, straight build. Though he was still young, it was easy to imagine how handsome he would be when he grew up.
"Shingetsu, you're back! How did it go? Did you complete the trial?"
The young Mist Ninja hurried over, looking at him with eager anticipation.
Hozuki Shingetsu saw the hopeful look on his friend's face and didn't keep him in suspense. He simply took out a Forehead Protector.
Quite some time had passed, but under the sunlight, the bloodstains were still visible, along with the unmistakable spiral symbol.
"A standard Konoha squad. It was led by a Jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family, with three Chunin. Overall, they were pretty average. They didn't even push me to the brink."
Ao looked the Konoha Forehead Protector up and down. Shingetsu had said it casually, but Ao could still imagine the dangers involved.
As the heir to the Hozuki Clan and a genius of Kirigakure's younger generation, Hozuki Shingetsu had the strength to become a Jonin at just twelve. But to go out alone and kill a full Konoha squad—especially one that included a sensory-type Jonin from the Hyuga Clan—couldn't have been easy, even if the Jonin was from the Branch Family.
After all, the gap between one ninja and another could sometimes be greater than the gap between a person and a pig.
A ninja's fighting style, whether they possessed a Kekkei Genkai, and how well the squad worked together—all of these could lead to different outcomes.
And a sensory-type ninja, especially one from the Hyuga Clan, was a natural counter to the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique.
"If the Second Mizukage hadn't died so young, how could that narrow-minded, intolerant fool Ren have taken the seat? Then you wouldn't have had to choose this way to become a Jonin."
Ao clenched the Forehead Protector in his hand, indignantly standing up for Hozuki Shingetsu.
"Shh!"
Hozuki Shingetsu shook his head and glanced at the two Chunin guards standing nearby, signaling to his friend not to insult the current Mizukage so openly at the gate.
At least wait until they were home and had shut the door!
After Hozuki Shingetsu glanced at them, the two Chunin immediately stared straight ahead, pretending they hadn't heard a thing.
As if! The power struggle between Kirigakure's two top factions was no business for ordinary Chunin like them. They were better off staying out of it.
The two factions might be evenly matched, but that didn't mean they couldn't take out low-ranking Chunin like them.
Besides, the Hozuki Clan's heir had a much better reputation than the current Mizukage. If they had to choose a side, they would rather stand behind the heir.
With Hozuki Shingetsu stopping him, Ao could only stifle his urge to complain. He followed Shingetsu along Kirigakure's main street to the Mizukage Building.
"The Mizukage is in a secret meeting with the Daimyo's Envoy. You can hand me the proof of your mission."
Just as the two were about to enter the Mizukage Building, an Anbu in a gray flak jacket and a mask suddenly appeared before them, raising a hand to stop them.
"I have important matters to discuss with the Mizukage. This also concerns my Jonin trial, so I think it would be best to hand it to him in person."
"I said the Mizukage is in a secret meeting. If he wants to see you, you'll be notified."
The face hidden behind the Anbu's mask betrayed no emotion. He repeated the words coldly.
Hozuki Shingetsu narrowed his eyes and sized up the Anbu before him. His gaze lingered on the man's head and heart, the most vital points, for a moment.
The moisture in the air steadily increased. The Anbu sensed it and quietly prepared himself.
Just as the atmosphere grew more tense, Hozuki Shingetsu glanced at the Mizukage Office door in the distance, chuckled, and gave up. He tossed the Konoha Forehead Protector to the Anbu, then left with Ao.
The Anbu waited until the two were gone, then turned and entered the Mizukage Office. He knelt before the Mizukage, who was standing by the window, and reported, "Mizukage-sama, I've sent Hozuki Shingetsu away."
"According to the intelligence, three days ago, he encountered a Konoha squad in the Land of the Moon, led by a Jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family. All we know is that a thick fog spread over the area, and there was almost no sound of fighting. Afterward, only Hozuki Shingetsu left. The bodies of the four other ninja had disappeared, so the details of the battle are unknown."
"A twelve-year-old Jonin... and one who became a Jonin by stepping over the bodies of his natural counters. The younger generation is truly impressive!"
The current Mizukage, Ren, watched the two figures walking away below, his face expressionless.
"Mizukage-sama, before he left, he said he had important matters to discuss with you..."
"I know what he wants. To become the Ninja Academy principal? I don't know why he cares so much about those cannon fodder, but I can't just let him get his way, can I?"
Ren shook his head and complained as if troubled.
"As the heir to the Hozuki Clan and a renowned genius of Kirigakure, he's young and powerful, and now he's become a Jonin with a record like this. He ought to be put to work in a more demanding post! Otherwise, people might think I'm a jealous Mizukage who can't stand the sight of talent!"
The Anbu bowed his head, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Ever since the Second Mizukage died during the First Shinobi World War, the Third Mizukage and the Kaguya Clan had wrested the Mizukage seat back from the Hozuki Clan. The struggle between the Hozuki Clan and the Third Mizukage had continued ever since.
By now, most Kirigakure ninja of any standing knew the score.
Apart from the Yuki Clan, which maintained an alliance with the Hozuki Clan, and the Kaguya Clan, allies of the Third Mizukage, most others preferred to wait and see.
Most people, including Genji, regarded it as an internal power struggle in Kirigakure, much like the Uchiha Clan and Konoha: a conflict that never quite broke into open warfare.
They could never have guessed what terrifying policies the Third Mizukage would one day implement to wipe out the Hozuki Clan. Those policies would not only backfire on him, but would nearly drag Kirigakure into an abyss.
"Kirigakure's genius, the Hozuki Clan's heir—not only is he young and powerful, but he's remarkably approachable. He's earned a fine reputation among both ninja and civilians, and many call him 'the second Hozuki Gengetsu.'"
"Heh. It's a relief to see the village's young people stepping up to shoulder the burden!"
Ren looked over the intelligence on Hozuki Shingetsu in his hand, then gazed at Shingetsu's distant figure and chuckled, seemingly plotting something.
"Send word: we'll hold a Jonin Meeting in three days. We'll discuss what post to assign our village's genius!"
"Yes, Mizukage-sama!"
The main storyline of this book is nation-building and collecting beauties.
Of all the Naruto fanfics I've read, none had the particular elements I wanted, so I decided to write one myself.
This book draws extensively on historical allusions and memes from the real world, including Western propaganda and famous Chinese sayings, along with some of my own ideas about Naruto. So I feel that, at the very least, I've written the kind of story I wanted to read.
Thank you for reading.
Before you continue