High-Level Meeting

When the furious Third Mizukage arrived at the Mizukage Building and pushed open the meeting room doors, it was already packed full. Only he, the Mizukage, and Karatachi Yagura behind him had yet to arrive.

"Hmph!"

He snorted coldly, ignoring the subordinates who stood to salute him. Brimming with anger, he dropped heavily into the seat of honor and addressed Elder Genji, who was presiding over the meeting, in an unfriendly tone:

"Elder, what is the meaning of this? What matter was so important that you could not tell me directly and had to convene this meeting behind my back?"

Although the Third Mizukage was furious, he still retained the most basic respect for Elder Genji and used honorific language.

That was because Elder Genji's status was anything but ordinary.

He had been a comrade of Byakuren, the First Mizukage, and had helped him establish Kirigakure. As a result, he had been granted authority equal to the Mizukage's.

Moreover, Kirigakure's system differed from those of other ninja villages. While the Mizukage, as the supreme leader, held ultimate authority only in matters of war, most village affairs were managed by Elder Genji.

Of course, under normal circumstances, Elder Genji would not oppose the Mizukage, since maintaining the Mizukage's authority was also important. But when necessary, he truly did possess that right.

"Mizukage-sama, this old man has indeed overstepped his bounds this time. However, there were simply too many people proposing this matter, and I had no way to refuse."

Elder Genji was tactful enough to immediately acknowledge his mistake, sparing the Third Mizukage any embarrassment.

As an old man who had witnessed all of Kirigakure's history, Elder Genji had already put it that way. The Third Mizukage could no longer vent his anger at him. After all, the First Mizukage had granted him that authority.

For example, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not possibly be too forceful when facing Uzumaki Mito.

The Third Mizukage swept his sharp gaze across the other attendees, trying to distinguish Yagura's faction from those who had merely come to watch the spectacle.

"You wished to convene a high-level meeting. Now that I am here, who will tell me what exactly this meeting is about?"

Under the Third Mizukage's glare, most people awkwardly avoided his eyes. Only Karatachi Yagura met his gaze without fear, his violet-red eyes wide and steady.

At that moment, despite his short, boyish stature, he radiated an awe-inspiring presence.

"Mizukage-sama, this meeting has only one agenda: abolishing the Ninja Academy's current graduation examination system!"

"Impossible!"

The Third Mizukage rejected it outright.

"Mizukage-sama, since a high-level meeting has already been convened, the outcome naturally must be discussed and voted upon by everyone. Your opposition alone is of no use."

Karatachi Yagura pressed forward step by step.

"Yagura is right. I also support abolishing this examination!"

The speaker was a blue-haired young man with two fish-shaped blades wrapped in bandages strapped to his back.

"Hozuki Sengetsu."

The Third Mizukage turned toward the voice and quietly spoke the man's name.

Hozuki Sengetsu came from a branch of the Hozuki Clan, Kirigakure's foremost noble clan. He was also the current leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and wielded the Twin Blades: Hiramekarei. Though he was not the Hozuki Clan's head, the current clan head, Hozuki Mangetsu, was still young, so he represented the Hozuki Clan at the meeting.

No sooner had he spoken than someone else voiced their support.

"I support it as well!"

It was a middle-aged person with delicate features, long straight black hair, and an appearance that made their gender difficult to discern.

"Xiu Bing!"

(PS: I did not use the fanfiction-derived surname Mizunashi here. Instead, I based the Yuki Clan's naming conventions on Hua Bing and Luo Bing from Thunder of the Frozen Heavens.)

The Third Mizukage silently added another mark to his mental ledger.

Since the two people supporting Yagura were representatives of Kirigakure's great clans, he turned his gaze toward the third great clan representative present.

He was a man whose appearance and attire were rather bizarre.

He had two red moles between his brows, heavy dark circles under his eyes, and an odd topknot braided into a small plait. His expression was wildly arrogant, and his smile overflowed with bloodthirst.

This man was Kaguya Steel Bone, head of the Kaguya Clan, which possessed the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai.

Yet Kaguya Steel Bone clearly had no intention of speaking. He merely stared at everyone present with his crazed eyes, as though considering whom he should pick for a fight.

After waiting for a while and seeing that no one else stepped forward, the Third Mizukage cast Yagura a disdainful, mocking glance.

I thought you had persuaded Elder Genji and made such a grand display because you had some real ability. But this is it? You think pulling in the Hozuki Clan and the Yuki Clan will make me yield? Seriously?

"Now that you are done speaking, it is my turn. You have only seen the surface and believe the Ninja Academy's graduation examination is too cruel, but you have not truly understood why I established this system in the first place!"

The Third Mizukage slowly rose to his feet, his hawk-like gaze sweeping across everyone.

"What is the purpose of establishing a Ninja Academy? To cultivate fresh blood for the village!

"But Kirigakure is located offshore. Our land is extremely limited, and our resources are scarce. We simply cannot support so many ninja!

"So what should we do?

"We can only select the best and train them!

"But every one of them is a Ninja Academy graduate. Who is more outstanding? Without trials of life and death, a ninja's potential cannot truly be awakened!

"Now you want to abolish this system the moment you open your mouths. Then answer me this: what will happen to all those graduates every year? Who will support them? You, Karatachi Yagura? The Hozuki Clan? Or the Yuki Clan?"

A powerful aura erupted from the Third Mizukage's aged body. He pointed at Karatachi Yagura, Hozuki Sengetsu, and Xiu Bing, berating them one by one with unparalleled force.

Hozuki Sengetsu and Xiu Bing both lowered their heads, not daring to speak further. Only Karatachi Yagura continued to argue his case.

"But even if the purpose is to select ninja with true potential through life-and-death crises, there is no need for them to kill one another! Mizukage-sama, the Land of Water has no shortage of bandits and pirates. Why not make them the targets instead?"

"Bandits and pirates? Heh heh. Could that worthless trash really push them to the brink?"

The Third Mizukage dismissed Karatachi Yagura's proposal with contempt.

"If one is not enough, then use two. If two are not enough, then use five, ten! In any case, bandits and pirates can never be completely eliminated. No matter what, that is better than comrades slaughtering one another!"

Yagura remained adamant.

"Hmph! Brat, to a ninja, emotions are the most useless burden! If you cannot learn to cut them off, they will sooner or later cost you your life!"

The Third Mizukage's words were half warning, half reminder.

"I cannot agree with that! Did we not gather together and establish villages because we shared the same emotional needs? If everyone loses their emotions, what difference would there be between friends and enemies? What difference would there be between nations?"

Yagura slapped the table and stood as well, his expression highly agitated.

"Hmph. What a childish brat! Since that is the case, there is nothing more for me to say to you. Let us begin the vote!"

The Third Mizukage placed his Mizukage hat on his head and spoke slowly.