Signing In at the Water Country Daimyo's Estate! [Vast, Immense Water-Style Chakra Affinity]

The Water Country's Daimyo's Estate was heavily guarded.

Kamizuki Yu's purpose for this journey was clear—before officially stepping into the bloody quagmire of the Hidden Mist Village, he would first obtain a sufficiently weighty "door-opener" from the pinnacle of power in the Water Country.

The visit request he submitted as Hidden Leaf's chief advisor encountered virtually no obstacles.

The Water Country's Daimyo attached considerable importance to this young powerhouse renowned throughout the ninja world. After all, with Kamizuki Yu's presence, the Hidden Leaf was no longer the village that had struggled through the Third Shinobi World War.

The Daimyo's Estate, reception hall.

The Water Country's Daimyo, a middle-aged man with a well-maintained face yet shrewd eyes, sat upright in the seat of honor.

"Advisor Kamizuki has come from afar. The Water Country is deeply honored." The Daimyo wore a perfunctory smile, though his tone carried a trace of probing.

Kamizuki Yu gave a slight nod, his bearing calm. "Your Excellency is too kind. The Hidden Leaf and the Water Country have always been friendly neighbors. I have come to trouble you this time because of certain unresolved concerns."

He did not directly expose the Hidden Mist Village's chaos, but his words were already sufficiently thought-provoking.

The Daimyo lowered his eyelids slightly, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "Oh? What matter does Advisor Kamizuki mean? If it is within the Water Country's means, we certainly will not decline."

This old fox was utterly watertight.

Kamizuki Yu understood inwardly, though his expression remained calm. "I have recently heard that there seem to be discordant voices in your country's Hidden Mist Village. I fear they may affect the Water Country's peace. As an ally, the Hidden Leaf cannot simply stand by."

"Advisor Kamizuki's concern for peace is deeply admirable to this Daimyo." The Daimyo raised his teacup. "There have indeed been some rumors concerning the Hidden Mist. However, matters within the village have always been handled by the Mizukage himself."

The implication was clear: this was their family affair, and outsiders should not interfere.

Kamizuki Yu lifted his teacup but did not drink, gently rubbing the rim with his fingertips. "Lord Yagura is young and promising, but his experience is still shallow. I fear he may be deceived by treacherous individuals. If that were to shake the very foundations of the Water Country, it would not be something the Hidden Leaf wishes to see."

He was hinting that Yagura might be under someone's control.

The smile on the Daimyo's face faded somewhat, and the hand holding his teacup froze in midair. "This Daimyo will convey Advisor Kamizuki's concerns to the Hidden Mist. However, the Mizukage's authority cannot be lightly shaken."

Still the same deflecting tactic. It seemed that unless he offered a substantive "reason," this Daimyo would not relent.

Kamizuki Yu set down his teacup. "I have long heard that the gardens of the Daimyo's Estate boast the finest scenery in the Water Country. Might I have the honor of seeing them?"

The change of topic was somewhat abrupt.

The Daimyo was slightly taken aback, then immediately resumed his smile. "Since Advisor Kamizuki is so inclined, it would be my honor. Please."

He rose and personally led the way.

After passing through several corridors, a large garden centered around a pool, exquisitely designed and brimming with moisture, appeared before them. The water was crystal clear, koi frolicked within it, and artificial hills and unusual stones adorned the surroundings. Water murmured softly—a true place for calming the mind.

"This place is called Tingtao Garden. It is this Daimyo's favorite place to rest," the Daimyo introduced.

Kamizuki Yu slowly walked to the edge of the pool, feeling the dense moisture in the air.

Right here.

A thought stirred in his mind.

[Ding! Sign-in at the Water Country Daimyo's Estate (core garden pool) successful! Congratulations, Host, you have received the rewards: [Vast, Immense Water-Style Chakra Affinity (comparable to the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki)] and [Ultimate mastery and improvement ability for all known Water Style ninjutsu]!]

The system's notification sounded in his mind.

The next instant, an indescribable sense of intimacy surged toward him from all directions.

It was as though every water molecule were cheering for him. The chakra within his body, especially its water-natured portion, began to surge with unprecedented activity, producing a wondrous resonance with the water element outside.

He seemed to have become part of the water.

A vast torrent of information flooded into his mind—countless Water Style ninjutsu secrets, from the most basic D-rank Water Gun Technique to S-rank Water Style secret arts capable of altering the terrain. Every hand seal, every thread of chakra flow, and the essence of nature transformation were engraved with absolute clarity in the depths of his consciousness.

It was not merely knowledge, but mastery.

Countless improvement plans and countless new combinations appeared and vanished in his mind in an instant.

The Water Style that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had taken such pride in? The Steam Imp that had made the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, famous?

To Kamizuki Yu at this moment, they seemed... merely ordinary.

He could even easily improve these techniques to make them stronger, less costly, and more powerful.

The feeling was profoundly mysterious.

In no more than a breath, his attainments in Water Style had already reached the pinnacle.

Kamizuki Yu showed no change on his face, retaining his calm, leisurely appearance as though he were merely appreciating the garden's beauty.

Only he knew what earthshaking changes had occurred within his body.

Seeing him remain silent for so long, the Daimyo assumed he was engrossed in the scenery and said with a smile, "What does Advisor Kamizuki think of this view?"

"Elegant and distinctive, with water's charm formed by nature." Kamizuki Yu turned around, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Your Excellency, while enjoying the scenery, there are still some matters I wish to discuss with you in greater depth."

His tone remained mild, but it carried an added hint of unmistakable authority.

The Daimyo's heart tightened.

For some reason, he felt that the young man before him carried a more imposing presence than before. That faint pressure made it somewhat difficult for him to breathe.

The two sat down again in a stone pavilion within the garden.

"Regarding the Hidden Mist Village, the intelligence I possess may be more detailed than what Your Excellency knows." Kamizuki Yu lightly tapped the stone table with his fingertips. "The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, may no longer be himself."

The Daimyo's pupils contracted slightly. "What does Advisor Kamizuki mean by that?"

"He has been controlled." Kamizuki Yu was blunt. "A mysterious masked man who calls himself 'Madara Uchiha,' or perhaps 'Tobi,' used some kind of ocular technique to turn the Fourth Mizukage into his puppet. He has implemented the Bloody Mist policy in the Hidden Mist Village, slaughtering ninja and spreading terror."

Some of this intelligence came from Nagato, and some came from memories of his previous life.

The Daimyo leaned forward slightly, and all composure vanished from his face. "Is this true?!"

"I have no reason to deceive Your Excellency about such a matter." Kamizuki Yu's tone was calm. "The Hidden Mist Village's current state has already gravely threatened the Water Country's stability. If it is allowed to continue, the entire country may be plunged into a state beyond redemption."

This was not alarmism. Obito's aim was far more than merely one Hidden Mist Village.

Fine sweat seeped from the Daimyo's forehead. He was no fool; he had long noticed the Hidden Mist Village's strange changes in recent years. He simply lacked evidence and had no power to interfere in matters involving a tailed beast jinchuriki.

"Then... what does Advisor Kamizuki intend?" The Daimyo's voice was somewhat dry.

"I need a pretext." Kamizuki Yu looked at him. "A pretext that will allow me to rightfully intervene in the Hidden Mist Village, investigate this matter, and set things right."

"This..." The Daimyo looked troubled. "Directly interfering with the Hidden Mist's internal affairs would likely provoke tremendous backlash. Even I..."

"I am not asking Your Excellency to become enemies with the Hidden Mist." Kamizuki Yu interrupted him. "I only need Your Excellency's tacit approval—a permit to 'assist in investigating possible internal threats to national security within the Hidden Mist Village.'"

He paused, emphasizing his words. "With this permit, I can represent the Hidden Leaf and, to a certain extent, represent the official will of the Water Country in dealing with those disobedient obstacles."

This was practically a naked demand for an imperial sword of authority.

The Daimyo fell silent.

He weighed the pros and cons. Kamizuki Yu's strength was unfathomable; if he insisted on getting involved, the Daimyo could not stop him anyway. Rather than tear relations apart, it was better to go with the flow and earn a favor from the Hidden Leaf.

More importantly, if Kamizuki Yu's words were true and the Hidden Mist Village really was being manipulated by a hidden mastermind, then it was undoubtedly a sword hanging over the Water Country's head.

After a long while, the Daimyo slowly spoke. "If Advisor Kamizuki can truly uncover the source of the Hidden Mist's chaos and restore peace to the Water Country, this Daimyo, on behalf of all within the Water Country, will be deeply grateful."

He took a jade pendant engraved with the Water Country's emblem from his robes and handed it over.

"Though this is not an official token, within the Water Country, anyone holding this jade pendant may treat officials as one rank lower and act as they see fit."

Kamizuki Yu accepted the jade pendant. It felt warm and smooth in his hand.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

His objective had been achieved.

With this jade pendant, along with his greatly increased Water Style strength, the upcoming journey to the Hidden Mist Village would undoubtedly go much more smoothly.

"Your Excellency, matters concerning the Hidden Mist Village should be dealt with sooner rather than later." Kamizuki Yu stood. "I will depart at once."

The Daimyo also rose and solemnly cupped his hands. "Then everything rests with Advisor Kamizuki."

Kamizuki Yu gave a slight nod, turned, and departed, his figure swiftly vanishing into the depths of the garden.

The Daimyo stood alone in the pavilion, staring at the pool for a long time without speaking.

The wind seemed to be rising.