The Third Mizukage's Greatest Concern

Kirigakure Year 32, Konoha Year 33.

Early morning at the gates of Kirigakure, a young mist ninja with grey-blue hair styled like a calligraphy brush tip paced back and forth, seemingly waiting for someone.

Before long, as the sun began to rise, a figure slowly walked over from the distance.

The newcomer was about twelve years old, with white hair, sharp brows, and bright eyes. His frame was tall and straight; though still young, one could already imagine the handsome man he would grow into.

"Shingetsu, you're back? How did it go? Did you complete the trial?"

The young mist ninja immediately stepped forward to greet him, looking at the newcomer with eyes full of anticipation.

Seeing his friend's expectant look, Hozuki Shingetsu didn't play coy and pulled out a headband.

Despite the passage of time, one could still see the bloodstains on it under the sunlight, along with the distinct swirl-shaped emblem.

"A standard Konoha squad. The leader was a Jonin from the Hyuga branch family, accompanied by three Chunin. Their overall strength was average; at the very least, they didn't push me into a corner."

Ao looked the Konoha headband up and down. Even though Hozuki Shingetsu spoke with such ease, he could still imagine the risks involved.

Although as the young clan head of the Hozuki Clan and a genius of Kirigakure's younger generation, Hozuki Shingetsu possessed the strength to be promoted to Jonin at only twelve years old, killing a complete Konoha squad single-handedly—especially one containing a sensory-type Hyuga Jonin, even from the branch family—was surely no easy feat, right?

After all, the gap between ninjas was sometimes greater than the gap between humans and pigs.

A ninja's combat style, whether they possessed a Kekkei Genkai, the level of coordination within the squad, and so on, would all lead to different outcomes.

And a sensory-type ninja, particularly one from the Hyuga Clan, happened to be the natural nemesis of the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique.

"If it weren't for the Second Mizukage passing away so early, how could that narrow-minded, intolerant fellow Ren have taken office, forcing you to choose this method to be promoted to Jonin?"

Ao gripped the headband tightly, indignantly speaking up for Hozuki Shingetsu.

"Shh!"

Hozuki Shingetsu shook his head, glancing at the two Chunin guards standing nearby, signaling his friend not to insult the current Mizukage so directly at the gate.

At the very least, wait until you're home and have closed the door!

After being glanced at by Hozuki Shingetsu, the two Chunin immediately focused on their own noses and hearts, pretending they hadn't heard a thing.

Just kidding—the power struggle between the two top factions of Kirigakure was not something for civilian Chunin like them to get involved in.

If the big shots couldn't do anything to each other, couldn't they still deal with small-fry Chunin like them?

Furthermore, the reputation of this young clan head of the Hozuki Clan was much better than that of the current Mizukage. If they had to choose a side, they would much rather stand behind this young clan head.

Under Hozuki Shingetsu's restraint, Ao could only suppress his urge to vent and followed Hozuki Shingetsu along the main street of Kirigakure toward the Mizukage Building.

"The Mizukage is currently in a secret meeting with the Daimyo's Envoy. You can just hand the mission proof to me."

Just as the two were about to enter the Mizukage Building, an Anbu wearing a grey vest and a mask suddenly appeared before them, raising a hand to signal them to stop.

"I still have some important matters to discuss with the Mizukage, and since this concerns my Jonin trial, I believe it is more appropriate to hand it to the Mizukage personally."

"I said, the Mizukage is in a secret meeting. If he wishes to see you, he will notify you accordingly."

No emotion could be seen on the Anbu's masked face as he repeated the sentence coldly.

Hozuki Shingetsu narrowed his eyes, looking the Anbu up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on lethal spots like the head and heart.

The moisture in the air began to increase. The Anbu sensed the dampness permeating the air and secretly prepared himself.

Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Hozuki Shingetsu glanced at the door of the Mizukage's office not far away. He chuckled, decided not to press the issue, tossed the Konoha headband over, and left with Ao.

The Anbu stood in place, watching the two leave before turning back to enter the Mizukage's office, kneeling on one knee to report to the Mizukage standing before the window.

"Mizukage-sama, I have already sent Hozuki Shingetsu away."

"According to intelligence, he encountered a Konoha ninja squad led by a Hyuga branch Jonin in the Land of the Moon three days ago. We only know that thick fog dispersed at the time, and the sounds of battle were nearly zero. Only Hozuki Shingetsu left the scene afterward, and the corpses of the four ninjas vanished. The specific details of the battle are unknown."

"A twelve-year-old Jonin... and one who became a Jonin by stepping over the corpses of his natural enemies. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared!"

The current Mizukage, Ren, looked at the two figures moving away below, his face expressionless.

"Mizukage-sama, he said before leaving that he had important matters to discuss with you..."

"I know what he wants to do. Ninja Academy Principal? Although I don't know why he values those cannon fodder so much, I can't let him have his way so easily, can I?"

Ren shook his head, complaining with a feigned sense of distress.

"As the young clan head of the Hozuki Clan and a renowned genius of our Kirigakure, becoming a Jonin with such a record, he should be serving in a more arduous position, shouldn't he? Otherwise, others might think that I, as Mizukage, am jealous of his talent!"

The Anbu kneeling on the ground lowered his head, acting as if he had heard nothing.

Ever since the Second Mizukage died during the First Shinobi World War and the Third Mizukage joined forces with the Kaguya Clan to snatch the position of Mizukage back from the Hozuki Clan, the infighting between the Hozuki Clan and the Third Mizukage had been constant.

By now, ninjas of a certain status in Kirigakure basically knew the score.

Except for the Yuki Clan, who remained allies with the Hozuki Clan, and the Kaguya Clan, who were allies of the Third Mizukage, most others maintained a wait-and-see attitude.

However, most people, including Genji, viewed this as internal strife within Kirigakure, much like the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha—fighting, but not breaking.

They would likely never guess what terrifying policies the Third Mizukage would eventually implement to purge the Hozuki Clan, policies that would not only backfire on their master but nearly drag Kirigakure into an bottomless abyss.

"A genius of the Mist, the young clan head of the Hozuki Clan. Not only is he young and strong, but more commendably, he is approachable. He has a high reputation among the rank-and-file ninjas and civilians, and many call him 'Hozuki Gengetsu the Second'."

"Heh, it truly gratifies me to see the young people of the village capable of shouldering the burden!"

While examining the intelligence on Hozuki Shingetsu in his hand, Ren looked at the distant figure of Hozuki Shingetsu and chuckled, seemingly calculating something.

"Pass the word down: a Jonin Meeting will be held in three days to properly deliberate on the job assignments for the geniuses of our Kirigakure!"

"Understood! Lord Mizukage!"

The main theme of this book is farming and collecting.

Among all the Naruto fanfictions I have read before, none seemed to hit the specific points I wanted to see, so I simply started one myself.

This book will heavily utilize various historical allusions and memes from the real world, such as Western propaganda tactics and classic Chinese quotes, combined with my own headcanons regarding Naruto. Therefore, I feel that this book has at least written out the content I personally wanted to see.

Thank you all for reading.