Obito Uchiha knew that he could not convince Uchiha Madara, so he did not continue.
But his thoughts have not been extinguished. Sooner or later, he will run out on his own.
He is Lord Obito Uchiha, the future Fifth Hokage.
Kirigakure's change of power happened faster than anyone expected.
In the first three days after Kutsuki Baidiao's death, the four tribes only gradually took control of the village in the name of "taking over defense."
By the fifth day, takeover turned into occupation. By the seventh day, occupation turned into domination.
On the roof of Mizukage Building, four flags were flying side by side.
Yuki Clan is ice blue, Terumi Clan is dark red, Kaguya Clan is gray white, and Hozuki Clan is light blue.
The four flags rustled in the sea breeze, replacing the Mizukage imperial robe emblem that originally hung there.
No one came to pick the coat of arms, Mizunotsuki Shigure climbed up and changed it himself.
He folded the coat of arms of Kutsuki Baidiao, put it in a wooden box, and handed it to Genji.
"This is the relic of Third. I leave it to you for safekeeping."
Genji took the wooden box and was silent for a long time. He didn't open it and looked at it, but just put the box in the corner of Council of Elders's Japanese-style room, together with a pile of old documents.
It's not like Genji didn't try to stop it. The day after Kutsuki Baidiao died, he convened a meeting at Council of Elders, attended by the heads of various functional departments of Kirigakure.
Administration, finance, logistics, medical care, and education are the core of the civil service system on which Kirigakure operates.
Most of these people are not ninjas, do not have Kekkei Genkai, and do not belong to any big family.
They are the backbone of Kirigakure and the team that Genji has been operating for thirty years.
Genji made it very clear at that meeting.
The four tribes taking over the defense is a temporary measure. The power vacuum during the vacancy of Mizukage will be filled by Council of Elders. All departments will operate as usual, waiting for the new Mizukage to be born.
No one objected. But no one implemented it either.
Because the four tribes had already found them first. Terumi Iroha knocked on the door of the financial director's residence the first morning after Kutsuki Baidiao died.
Something similar happens in every key department.
The order of Genji was sent from Council of Elders, and the actions of the four tribes were completed before the order arrived.
The civil service system he had run for thirty years did not resist him.
They just silently accepted the new official seal, new signature, and new reporting target.
It's not because they are disloyal, it's because the conditions provided by the four tribes are better than those in the Kutsuki Baidiao era.
There will be no layoffs, no salary cuts, no liquidations, and all departments will continue to operate as usual.
In this case, it doesn't make that big a difference to them who they work for.
After a few days, all seven Ninja Blades were returned to their places.
The symbolic significance of this matter even exceeds its practical value.
Seven Ninja Swordsmen is Kirigakure's strongest swordsmanship group. Seven Ninja Blades have been passed down from generation to generation since the First Mizukage period. Each sword has its own unique fighting method and inheritance system.
In the Kutsuki Baidiao era, Seven Ninja Swordsmen was used as a consumable.
He is sent on a mission that requires death. If he dies, he will be replaced. If the knife is lost, he will be sent to find it. If he cannot find it, he will be held accountable.
After Kushimaru Kuriarare, Munashi Jinpachi, Jinin Akebino, Hozuki Qianren died on the battlefield Konoha, long The whereabouts of the four knives - Nuibari, Shibuki, Kabutowari, Hiramekarei - were missing.
The four knives were delivered to Kirigakure on the fifth day after Kutsuki Baidiao died.
The person who sent the knife was a ninja from the four tribes. It doesn't matter who sent it, what's important is that the knife came back.
The four knives were neatly placed on Mizukage Building's table, together with Suikazan Fuguki's big knife·Samehada, Biwa Jūzō's Kubikiribōchō, and Raiga Kurosuki's Kiba·tooth.
Seven knives, all returned to their places.
Suikazan Fuguki stood in front of the long table, with long orange hair hanging down by his side, and his eyes swept over the seven knives one by one.
Samehada, decapitation, Raiga, Nuibari, Shibuki, Kabutowari, Hiramekarei.
"The sword is back, and the inheritance cannot be cut off. I suggest keeping the establishment of Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Candidates should be selected again."
No one objected.
After the news of the return of the seven Ninja Blade spread to the Kirigakure, the last group of people who were waiting and watching gave up.
Seven Ninja Swordsmen's status in Kirigakure has never been just "seven sword masters", it is an important pillar of Kirigakure's force system, one of the highest honors that civilian ninjas can reach, and another path of advancement independent of the blood successor family.
Kutsuki Baidiao uses Seven Ninja Swordsmen as a consumable, and the four tribes regard Seven Ninja Swordsmen as a reconstruction object. It is clear at a glance who values the power of Kirigakure more.
On the tenth day, the leaders of the four clans and Suikazan Fuguki held a meeting in the secret room to decide on the position of Mizukage.
"Yagura There's something going on over there."
Mizunotsuki Shigure spoke first.
"The night before yesterday, he sent out the first batch of investigators from the Konoha battlefield. There were three groups of two people in each group, and they returned to the village from three directions: land, water and mountain roads. We intercepted them all on the periphery."
"How did you deal with it?" Terumi Iroha asked.
"Caught. He is being held in a temporary detention center under the port. There is no trial and no movement. Three meals a day will be provided as usual."
"Yagura will not send just one group of people." Kaguya Momotaro's fingers stopped.
"Yes. If the first group didn't go back, he would know that something happened in the village. Then he has two choices - to lead the troops back to the village in person, or to continue sending people and shrink the defense line in the direction of Konoha."
Mizunotsuki Shigure's finger clicked on the location of Konoha's battlefield on the map.
"No matter which one he chooses, we don't have much time left. Before he comes back, Mizukage's position must be determined."
The secret room was quiet for a moment. This topic will have to be faced sooner or later, everyone knows it.
Kutsuki Baidiao is dead, Kirigakure cannot live without Mizukage.
It is a temporary measure for the four tribes to take over defense, it is a temporary measure for Genji to cooperate, and it is a temporary measure for all departments to operate as usual.
Temporary measures can last for ten days, twenty days, or one month, but they cannot last forever.
Kirigakure needs a legitimate leader who can stabilize people's hearts internally and represent the village externally.
Before Yagura comes back with the frontline troops, this candidate must be decided.
Who will take the seat of Fourth Mizukage?
The silence lasted for several breaths. Kaguya Momotaro spoke first.
He retracted his fingers from the edge of the stone table, sat upright, and his gray-green eyes swept across the ice crystal walls of the secret room, and finally landed on the table.
"Kaguya Clan Exit."
Terumi Iroha turned to look at him.
"We will only fight."
Kaguya Momotaro said.
"How to manage a village, how to balance the forces of all parties, how to deal with Council of Elders and various families, these twists and turns, we don't understand. We don't want to do it."
"Leave it to you."