Splash—
The massive tower ship cut through layer upon layer of waves, sailing across the rippling blue sea and leaving trails of undulating white foam behind it.
This impressive three-story tower ship was the Mizukage of Kirigakure's exclusive means of travel. Not only was it grand and imposing in appearance, but it also carried quite a few elite ninja on this journey, and security aboard the entire vessel was exceptionally tight.
The reason was simple. There were numerous islands around the Water Country, and many clans had emerged there. During the Warring States Period, the Ice Clan—the clan of Byakuren, the First Mizukage—had risen above the rest and established its dominance over the Water Country in one fell swoop. Later, it formed an alliance with the Water Country's Daimyo Palace, creating the one-country, one-village system.
Although the Ice Clan had taken the lead in founding Kirigakure, with the support of clans such as the Hozuki Clan and Hoshigaki Clan beneath it, quite a few hostile forces still remained. The village had only been established for a few years, and the Kage's prestige was not yet enough to deter every petty schemer. Ninja willing to take desperate risks often came to assassinate the Mizukage.
After all, at this point in time, there were even people bold enough to assassinate Hashirama—though there was no need to say who. The Mizukage was far less renowned than Hashirama.
Thus, whenever he traveled far from the Water Country, Byakuren brought a group of elites with him. It was not because he was afraid; he simply hated trouble. If he had to deal with everything himself every time, the exhaustion alone would kill him.
At this moment, in the spacious central room on the third floor of the ship, Byakuren sat cross-legged on a soft couch