For the time being, matters in Konoha had come to an end.
A Hokage with insufficient prestige, inadequate power, and little ambition was exactly what Kirigakure needed right now.
He barely had to do anything at all to easily drag Konoha into division and infighting, then let Kirigakure bleed it from the side.
Until Kirigakure felt it had the ability to swallow the Land of Fire whole.
As for Kirigakure's representative stationed in the Land of Fire, Araki chose Xiu Bing, the head of the Yuki Clan.
He was a veteran elite jonin. His Ice Release was excellent in both attack and defense, and he was skilled in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu alike. Moreover, whether in appearance or personality, he was highly approachable, and would not act so arrogantly that he provoked everyone's hatred.
Most importantly, he had brains.
In truth, based on closeness of ties, because of their connection with the Hyuga Clan, it would have been best to station someone from the Kaguya Clan in the Land of Fire.
Unfortunately, the Kaguya Clan members knew nothing all day but fighting and killing. If no one restrained them, they would become a huge problem.
And Araki could not possibly let the Hyuga Clan turn around and restrain the Kaguya Clan. Reversing primary and secondary roles was absolutely unacceptable, so he could only settle for the next best choice.
What, you said the Hozuki?
They still had to go down into the sea to mine!
Kirigakure.
Because they had been delayed in Konoha for several days, by the time they returned, Nagato and the others, with Kirigakure's cooperation, had more or less settled the people of the Land of Rain.
The gathered ninjas from the Land of Rain had also removed their Amegakure forehead protectors.
But how exactly