Genji: Sixty Years Old, Not Looking to Stir Things Up...

The response from the Special Support Department and the Medical Rescue Department was somewhat unexpected by Doichi.

But after a little serious thought, Doichi quickly understood the key point.

Like the Medical Ninja in the Medical Rescue Department, the special ninjas in the Special Support Department, specializing in sealing, Barrier, and Sensory abilities, have been able to develop to their current scale thanks in no small part to the support of the Uzumaki Clan.

Many of the mid- to high-level personnel in these two departments are former students or officials of the Uzumaki Clan, and have maintained relatively good relations with the Uzumaki Clan for many years.

Therefore, when it comes to matters concerning the Uzumaki Clan, they are indeed much more sensitive and have a more intense attitude than other departments.

Emotionally, Doichi supported the actions of these two departments, but as a general, he had to consider things comprehensively and could not act on impulse.

"I don't particularly agree with the idea of going to war directly."

Before Doichi could speak, Kakuzu, the head of the Combat Execution Division, opened his mouth to answer.

Kakuzu continued speaking:

"Going to war with Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Mist Village at this time would not only disrupt our already established grand strategy, but even if we won, it wouldn't bring us any substantial benefits. We can't possibly cross the sea to take over those conquered territories; the cost of governing them would be too high."

Kakuzu's words also reflect the thoughts of most of the ministers here.

War is not something where simply defeating the enemy on the battlefield immediately translates into tangible benefits that strengthen a nation.

The Land of Lightning and the Land of Water are too far from the mainland of the Land of Night. Such long-distance rule involves too many uncertainties and the risks are so enormous that they are difficult to calculate. They could even become negative assets, seriously hindering the development of the mainland of the Land of Night.

The incident in the Land of Whirlpool was indeed infuriating and provided a perfect pretext for starting a war...

However, war is never fought for the sake of fighting. Launching a full-scale war against Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Mist Village at this moment will not yield any significant positive returns in the long run that could increase the strength of the Land of Night.

In this way, war can be avoided if possible.

"So we're just going to let them go so easily? Isn't that too conservative?"

"Didn't Minister Keika just say that we could teach them a lesson and make them remember it?"

"I think it's feasible. Just like Irori's surprise attack on the western part of the Land of Lightning, we should try to avoid direct casualties, but we can slow down the Land of Lightning's development in terms of industry and economy. We could even... fund those small countries that have had bad relations with the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water for many years."

This proposal immediately caught the attention of many and sparked their interest.

This is indeed a good solution. In this way, it can maintain the dignity of the Land of Night, attract more small countries to join the Land of Night's alliance, and also cause trouble for the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water. It can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

I believe the Uzumaki Clan wouldn't be able to offer any counter-arguments.

After all, their counterattacks against the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Mist Village have already been worthy of the sacrifices made by the Uzumaki Clan.

They cannot possibly adjust the grand strategy that the Land of Night has formulated over the years just because of this one incident.

Unless the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Mist Village lose their minds and decide to engage in direct warfare with the Land of Night.

"That's settled then. Next is the resettlement of the Uzumaki Clan and the immigrants from the Land of Whirlpool..."

Doichi made the final decision, setting the basic procedures for the next steps, and then raised the issue of settling the Uzumaki Clan and the immigrants from the Land of Whirlpool.

No one objected, and the discussion naturally moved on to the next topic.

Even the representatives from the Special Support Department and the Medical Rescue Department tacitly approved of this policy adjustment.

It's fine to stand up for the Uzumaki Clan, but when it comes to changing the grand strategy, the Uzumaki Clan doesn't have that much influence or ability, and it's impossible for those noble ladies to personally intervene.

As for the primary objective of the Land of Night's grand strategy, it is none other than Konoha.

Villages like Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Mist Village should be prioritized after Konoha.

Konoha and the Land of Fire are the real threats to the Land of Night's progress.

If the Land of Night wants to expand further, the best target is the Land of Fire.

With its proximity, fertile land, and abundant resources, it can support a large population—it's practically a chosen land for the Land of Night.

However, this strategic objective has always been well hidden within the Land of Night and has never been revealed to the outside world.

Those who knew about it, besides those from the Heavenly Dao Palace, were only gathered in this conference room.

◎

Several days later.

While settling the Uzumaki Clan and a large number of immigrants from the Land of Whirlpool in the Land of Night, Kirigakure held High-Level Meeting, determined the candidate for the Fourth Mizukage, and officially announced it to the public.

As most people expected, the person who ascended to the position of the Fourth Mizukage was none other than the Mizukage advisor, Genji.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the succession ceremony for the Fourth Mizukage was held in the hall of Kirigakure almost the day after the announcement.

The participants consisted almost entirely of ninjas and villagers from Kirigakure (Kirigakure) and envoys sent by the Daimyo of the Land of Water.

Although other countries did not attend the event, they still sent their blessings and gifts afterward.

Only the Land of Night, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Earth made no comment, simply pretending not to see it.

Meanwhile, less than a week after the Mizukage advisor Genji became the Fourth Mizukage, he dispatched an official delegation to the Land of Night to inquire about the situation of their Third Mizukage and to express their willingness to redeem their Mizukage.

However, the Hidden Mist Village delegation didn't even get to see the general. They only received a dry nine-word reply, "Don't know, don't recognize, didn't see." The Hidden Mist Village delegation was turned away and left disappointed.

"Lord Mizukage, this is the reply from the Land of Night. Should we send someone else to probe further and search for the Third's whereabouts?"

After the Jonin of the delegation returned, he stood in the Mizukage's Office and cautiously asked Genji, who was already seated in the Mizukage's seat, a question.

As Jonin, even a relatively marginal Jonin, he was naturally aware of the long-standing disagreements and factional conflicts Genji and the Third Mizukage.

The fact that the other party brought up the previous Mizukage so soon after assuming Mizukage position always gave me a creepy feeling, like I was walking on a minefield.

However, the question of the Third Mizukage still needs to be answered clearly for the people of the village.

"Yes, we really need to get to the bottom of this. You'll have to work a little harder and continue leading people to make contact with the Land of Night. You must bring back news of the Third."

Genji didn't make things difficult for the Jonin; he simply waved him away and sent him on his way to make contact with the Land of Night.

The Jonin moved his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

Is there anything else?

"No, I'll do it right away, Lord Mizukage."

The Jonin quickly left the room.

But as I left, I couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment.

The fact that the new Mizukage entrusted such an important task to a fringe Jonin as soon as he took office shows that the new Mizukage doesn't care about the life and death of the previous Mizukage at all.

Genji watched the marginal Jonin leave, and naturally saw through the other's thoughts.

But this was the result he wanted; he truly didn't care about the life or death of the Third Mizukage.

Because regardless of whether the other party is alive or dead, the secrets of the Hidden Mist Village in their mind mean that they are being revealed to the Land of Night unilaterally.

Therefore, now that he has taken office, he has to deal with all the messes left by his predecessor, and he has no time to care about his predecessor's life or death.

Even mobilizing troops and adopting a posture of wanting to fight the Land of Night was just for show, to demonstrate a tough stance, not because they really wanted to start a war with the Land of Night.

On the contrary, he was somewhat worried that the Land of Night would use this incident to escalate the situation, which would put him, the new Mizukage, in a difficult position and force him to go to war with the Land of Night.

The fact that the Third Mizukage's fate was unknown was actually the outcome he most hoped for.

Not to mention, the Hidden Mist Village's Anbu had lost most of their manpower and were practically paralyzed.

Many skilled Jonin from various villages were almost completely wiped out in Uzushiogakure, without bringing back any spoils...

"Third, you *****!"

Upon realizing this, Genji finally couldn't help but curse, his wrinkled face contorted in pain.

Looking at the various problems currently facing Kirigakure, Genji was at his wits' end.

This is absolutely a complete mess!

The Genji began to suspect that he had been set up by his subordinates.

Although it was indeed he who hinted to his subordinates when selecting the Fourth Mizukage at the High-Level Meeting, was the election process too smooth? There wasn't even a single strong voice of opposition.

Genji's lips unconsciously turned bitter:

"These bastards have really ruined my life..."

He's almost sixty years old, why is he so desperate to become the Mizukage? Wouldn't it be better to just stay in his advisory role, pointing fingers and letting the Mizukage do the work?

He no longer feels happy about becoming the Mizukage.