" The Yuki family, the Kaguya family, hehe..."
In an inner room, a man dressed as a nobleman gently stroked a map on a low table in front of him and chuckled softly.
As he seemed to be thinking about something, someone called out softly from outside.
"Your Excellency, the Mizukage requests an audience."
"Oh?"
The man, the current Feudal Lord of Water, raised his head.
"This is truly remarkable; he actually came in person. Please invite him in."
He finally turned his gaze away from the map and looked towards the doorway.
A ninja dressed in a long robe and wearing a straw hat strode in, and the servants in the mansion bowed respectfully as he passed by.
This person is none other than Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, Kirigakure Ninja and is one of the Five Great Kage of the Shinobi World. Of course, his true identity is actually someone else.
"Daimyo."
Yagura entered the inner room. In this era of ninja kingdoms where each country and village was separate, the Kage and the Daimyo, one a civil official and the other a military leader, jointly ruled the Land of Water. Naturally, there was no need for them to bow to the Daimyo.
"You've arrived, please have a seat."
Feudal Lord of Water gestured with his hand, and immediately servants brought over a low table and served wine and meat.
After the servants finished their work, Feudal Lord of Water waved his sleeve.
"You all get out. Everyone evacuate. No one is allowed within a hundred paces."
The servants bowed in response and, along with the surrounding guards, immediately dispersed.
"Alright, what's so urgent that you had to come all the way here in person?"
Feudal Lord of Water picked up the hot tea and took a small sip.
He hadn't drunk alcohol in a long time, even when he was still vying with his rivals for the title of Daimyo.
"Is the Daimyo looking at that map again?"
" Yagura " saw the things on the Feudal Lord of Water's table and said in a completely emotionless voice.
"Those who are only inside this mansion cannot see the truth, just like this time."
" Yagura, I think we can't understand each other in this respect, just as I will never understand the so-called Shinobi World."
Feudal Lord of Water put down his teacup.
"We see things from different perspectives, but that's alright. What do you want from me?"
"I'll see if Daimyo regrets it."
Yagura sneered.
"It was so difficult to reunite the scattered ninja groups of the Land of Water, and now the Daimyo is making this decision. It's truly incomprehensible."
"Is that so... A half-human, half-human child of Yuki and Kaguya, that the Mizukage is so concerned about her? That's even more incomprehensible to me."
Feudal Lord of Water's gaze returned to the map.
"Decades have passed, enough time for things to change. The situation in the Five Great Nations is undergoing a major transformation. In this context, one or two families are no longer of any importance. By the way, do you know..."
He said it seemingly without any concern.
"Just recently, the Kumogakure and the Iwagakure officially formed an alliance. The Earth Daimyo and the Lightning Daimyo have ordered the relaxation of entry restrictions for each other's ninjas. In other words, from now on, ninjas from both sides can accept and complete missions in each other's territories under certain level restrictions, just like the Feudal Lord of Fire Wind Daimyo did."
"I am not aware of the matters between you daimyo."
Yagura still looked so calm.
"So what? It's just entering the country. Didn't you also allow Konoha ninjas to enter?"
"That's true, but it's almost time. It's been almost a month since they successfully brought the remnants of the Yuki clan to them. I heard that the Kaguya Clan has already completed the handover a few days ago?"
Feudal Lord of Water remained completely unmoved.
"I hope no one took advantage of the situation."
"..."
Yagura stared coldly at the Feudal Lord of Water before him. After a long while, his expression finally changed slightly.
"I really don't understand what you're thinking. It seems you really don't understand the ninja profession at all. Hundreds of people, two clans—that's enough to change the overall strength of a ninja village. Even if they can't be used by us, they shouldn't be left to Konoha."
"Is that so? But in my opinion, what the Land of Fire has paid for them is of even greater value to the Land of Water. Yagura, don't forget that the struggle between the Five Great Shinobi Villages is meaningless. A national-level struggle will eventually replace your Shinobi World War. That will be the time to truly demonstrate strength."
"So what did Feudal Lord of Fire sacrifice?"
Yagura remained noncommittal.
"If they're going to get you to agree to their demands, there must be something tangible about it."
"Our Land of Water will not get involved in the affairs between the two major alliances. Whether it's the civil war or the reorganization of the ninja, it has consumed too much of our strength. Land of Water needs to do now is simply to restore production and accumulate strength."
Feudal Lord of Water lightly tapped the map.
" The Feudal Lord of Fire gave me this place. It was something the previous Daimyo lost, but what's ours will always be ours. Now, it's back."
"Um?"
Yagura took a closer look and immediately recognized it: the only "enclave" of the Land of Water on the mainland...
" The Land of Waves? That independent noble family? Konoha went to great lengths to drive us out of Kirigakure, are they really willing to give it up?"
"What can we do if we don't sue? The Land of Waves was originally part of our country. Even after separation, it is always under the direct threat of our military power. Although the Land of Fire seized it, it dared not annex it directly and could only control it independently. Over the years, it has become a mess and is no longer as prosperous as it once was. The Land of Fire simply cannot integrate it into its own territory."
Feudal Lord of Water laughed heartily.
"This time, I'm having you Mist Ninja 'escort' the Konoha Ninja back home to receive them."
He suddenly let out a sinister laugh.
"Lord Mizukage, I trouble you, Kirigakure, to bring me the head of that scumbag. He dared to betray the Land of Water; he must pay the price."
"In that case, Kirigakure will surely grant the Daimyo's wish."
Hearing this, even a pig would know that Yagura Feudal Lord of Water wouldn't change his mind. He cursed inwardly, but had no choice but to agree.
Several days later, at the largest port of the Land of Water, a fleet of large multi-masted sailing ships was anchored on the water. Except for one ship, which was painted in fire colors and flew a red flag bearing the Konoha symbol, the rest were all painted black and flew black flags bearing the Kirigakure symbol...
The entire port was quiet. Representatives from the Daimyo's Residence's residence in the Land of Water and Kirigakure were present, while the Konoha delegation, led by Qi, received their farewell.
"Our agreement is now largely complete. Next, we simply need to proceed to the Land of Waves, with your Konoha as the leader."
As the representative from Daming Daimyo's Residence saw them off with a smile, he whispered something in Qi's ear.
"This shouldn't be difficult for everyone in Konoha, right? After all, we've followed the agreement and allowed you to take away the remnants of the Yuki clan and Kaguya's young people."
"Since it's an agreement, we will fulfill it."
Qi gave the representative a cold look.
"Hopefully nothing unexpected will happen! The ocean is vast, and no one can know for sure."
"That's natural. The Daimyo specifically borrowed this Mist Ninja army from the Mizukage to escort you, to ensure that no one would dare to offend your journey home."
He bowed deeply, a gesture of humility, and this time, he did so very loudly.
May you all have a safe journey!
"Hmph... Let's go back!"
Qi didn't say anything more. On the high seas, he wasn't afraid of what kind of trouble these Mist Ninja cause. Putting aside himself, the people of "Root" were not to be trifled with either. The current "Root" was not the incomplete, half-crippled group from the original story, which now consisted of only a few stragglers.
Amidst the farewells of many at the port, the joint fleet of Konoha and Kirigakure finally weighed anchor and set sail, embarking on its sea voyage to the inland.