Byakuren's Disappointment, and How to Handle It

Outside Kirigakure.

As Hozuki Gengetsu's words fell, Byakuren's face turned green, then pale. He looked at Hozuki Gengetsu in disappointment and remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. "Gengetsu, since when did you become so narrow-minded and intolerant of others?"

"Teacher, I once heard that if a threat is not eliminated, it will eventually become a disaster.

It is not that I cannot tolerate Takenaka Kaguya. His Shili simply frightens me too much.

Over the past few years, Takenaka Kaguya's achievements on battlefields everywhere have surpassed even those of a Kage-level expert as respected and powerful as you, Teacher.

If we did not have the Daimyo's support behind us, along with the support of the Land of Water's nobles and ninja clans of all sizes, then even you, Teacher, might not necessarily win if you competed with him for the position of First Mizukage.

And now, Takenaka Kaguya is only thirteen years old. A thirteen-year-old Kage-level expert means that, for the next several decades, as long as nothing happens to him, no one, including you, the Mizukage, will be able to command him.

Not to mention that my prestige is insufficient. While you are here, you can naturally keep Takenaka Kaguya in check, but once you... I am not confident that I can suppress him.

Rather than that, it would be better to seize this chance and force him out." An unnatural look crossed Hozuki Gengetsu's face, but he quickly looked resolutely at Byakuren and explained.

"I see. Is that your reason?"

Byakuren was somewhat disappointed. Hozuki Gengetsu could be said to be the successor he had devoted himself to cultivating, while Takenaka was the greatest support Byakuren had intended to leave him.

Unfortunately, after hearing Hozuki Gengetsu's explanation, Byakuren understood that his disciple had already made up his mind.

"Alas, Gengetsu, I hope you will not regret this in the future. According to my original plan, Takenaka Kaguya would become a guardian deity of the Land of Water, one comparable to Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

Even if you could not keep him in check in the future, as long as he remained in the Land of Water, then if war broke out among the nations again, with him here, the Land of Water and Kirigakure would have a stabilizing pillar. We could watch the other nations fight each other to the death while calmly profiting from it.

Yet now, you are pushing away the top-tier expert I left for you. Heh, Gengetsu, Gengetsu... I do not even know whether to call you overly clever or utterly foolish." Byakuren let out a heavy sigh.

He could understand why Hozuki Gengetsu had done this, but he could not help feeling disappointed.

Across from him, after hearing Byakuren's words, Hozuki Gengetsu felt no ripples in his heart.

In his view, a super expert like Takenaka was not someone he could keep under control. Besides, a powerful man who obeyed orders but not summons would still have to be treated with care. Rather than that, he would rather not have him.

"Teacher, although I do not know whether what I did was right or wrong, up to this point, I do not regret anything I have done." Hozuki Gengetsu still nodded stubbornly.

"Alas!"

Looking at Hozuki Gengetsu's resolute expression, Byakuren sighed again, then shook his head. "My teaching has still been insufficient. Once this matter is settled, stay by my side and learn from me without leaving even a step.

Furthermore, you had best not reveal any flaws before Elder Genji. Given Elder Genji's support for Takenaka Kaguya, if he finds out, it will be extremely difficult for you to safely inherit the position of Second Mizukage from me."

"Thank you, Teacher. I understand."

When Byakuren mentioned Genji, Hozuki Gengetsu's expression changed. While Byakuren was in office, he could easily suppress Genji, but Genji, as an elder, possessed authority equal to that of the Mizukage.

If Genji truly learned that, for the position of Second Mizukage, he had forced away a genius young expert like Takenaka Kaguya, who was faintly becoming the strongest in the Land of Water, that man would probably cause him trouble.

Back then, there had simply been too many people supporting Byakuren, and Byakuren had also once saved the Daimyo of the Land of Water's life. That was why Genji and those who supported Takenaka had failed.

Thinking of this, Hozuki Gengetsu felt fortunate, but also somewhat terrified.

Seeing the lingering fear on Hozuki Gengetsu's face, Byakuren sighed. "Since things have reached this point, it means that you and Takenaka Kaguya can no longer truly be on good terms.

But, Gengetsu, for the peace and stability of the Land of Water, no matter what you think, you cannot allow Takenaka Kaguya to leave the Land of Water just like this.

Otherwise, if he is recruited by another nation, it will become an enormous threat to the Land of Water and Kirigakure.

Even Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha may not pose as great a threat in the future."

"Teacher, if that is the case, why not gather powerful experts and kill him directly? Things have already reached this point. Killing him would settle everything once and for all." A vicious expression appeared on Hozuki Gengetsu's face, and he made no effort to conceal the killing intent emanating from him.

However, upon hearing this, disappointment deepened in Byakuren's eyes. He shook his head, his voice somewhat cold. "Gengetsu, give up that unrealistic fantasy.

If Takenaka Kaguya were truly so easy to kill, then you would have succeeded long ago with those schemes you were manipulating behind the scenes, would you not?

Hmph. Even the gods of the Shinobi World, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, could not keep him. Do you understand that if this operation fails, Takenaka Kaguya alone could leave the Land of Water severely weakened without any other nation needing to intervene?"

By this point, Byakuren had lost the patience to say anything more to his disciple. The reason he had allowed those past schemes against Takenaka was, first, because they would indeed remove obstacles to his becoming the First Mizukage, and second, because he wanted to see just how far Takenaka Kaguya could go.

Now, everything was clear. Ever since Takenaka Kaguya had returned alive and well from the Land of Fire battlefield, it had proven that the matter could not be forced.

He simply had not expected Hozuki Gengetsu to still harbor such thoughts.

"Teacher, since you do not agree, what should we do now?" Hozuki Gengetsu asked unwillingly.

"Heh, what else can we do? He wants Half-Moon Island, so give it to him. That place lies at the intersection of the Land of Water, the Land of Whirlpools, and the Land of Fire. As long as he does not choose betrayal, it will be equivalent to adding a barrier for the Land of Water and Kirigakure." Byakuren snorted coldly.

After those words, Hozuki Gengetsu fell silent for a moment. In the end, he cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. "As expected of Teacher. Your wisdom is unmatched."

"Let us go. Even if it is only for show, we must put on a convincing show.

Lastly, I will say this only once more. Even if you cannot tolerate Takenaka Kaguya, do not stand against him. Otherwise, even I cannot say what your future will become."