Cute Disciple

"Bang!"

The sound of a hand slamming against the table echoed abruptly throughout the conference room.

In the conference room of the Mist Shinobi Building, all sound fell silent for a moment. Every member of the major families focused their gaze on the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, who sat in the main seat and looked like a child.

Unlike the crowd's excited reaction, Karatachi Yagura's eyes flashed with a scrutinizing gaze as he surveyed the crowd, seemingly deep in thought, without uttering a word.

The entire conference room fell into a stagnant atmosphere, yet it also seemed to be filled with surging undercurrents.

"Whoosh!"

Breaking the chilly atmosphere was a ninja wearing Mist Shinobi Anbu mask. No one could see his face beneath the mask. He simply presented a scroll to Karatachi Yagura and then vanished in an instant.

After quickly glancing through the scroll, Karatachi Yagura's face showed a mixture of doubt and seriousness. He hadn't expected that Hozuki Meigetsu was really dead...

His eyes flickered slightly, and Kiriya Shun beside him spoke up. Everyone knew that Kiriya Shun meant the same thing as Karatachi Yagura.

"Elder Mingyue... his death at the hands of the enemy is something none of us want to see. However, if we act rashly, it will be exactly what the enemy wants to see..."

"Those of you present here are all in high positions; I doubt anyone doesn't understand this principle..."

Terumi Yu's eyes revealed no emotion, he merely glanced at Karatachi Yagura, while the eldest elder of the Taketori Family sat as still as an old bell, showing no trace of the temperament of a fighting family.

However, the two brothers, Hozuki Seigetsu and Hozuki Yougetsu, stared directly at Kiriya Shun with such cold, sharp gazes, as if frozen in ice.

Seemingly understanding what he was about to say, Hozuki Yougetsu slammed his hand on the table. Hozuki Seigetsu raised his hand as if to stop him, but then lowered it, only coldly staring at Kiriya Shun.

"Kiriya Shun!"

My Hozuki Clan has served Mist Shinobi with utmost loyalty and dedication, and my elder brother has made countless contributions. Now, he has been assassinated by Orochimaru of Konoha. Are we really going to talk about "putting the bigger picture first" and "taking things into consideration" today?

"You are all ninjas, and you have endured countless hardships for Mist Shinobi. Although you are no longer at your peak, do you, my fellow ninjas, also wish to be assassinated one day and only receive a few cold-blooded words like 'For the greater good' and 'Let's plan ahead'?"

Upon hearing Hozuki Yougetsu's words, the leaders of the large and small families fell into thought. In terms of status, Hozuki Meigetsu was the eldest elder of the three major families. If such a person was assassinated, what were they? Their eyes flickered. Only Terumi Yu and Taketori Kawa seemed not to have heard and remained motionless.

"We, the people of Mist Shinobi, have always been hot-blooded and vigorous. The First Mizukage quelled the chaos and established Mist Shinobi. He emerged from the bloodshed with his blade, and everything he had was bought with blood, with his sword, and with his life..."

"My elder brother was assassinated. If Mist Shinobi were to swallow this insult, my brother's death would be a small matter, but if just one of Konoha's Three Legendary Sannin could act so arrogantly, what dignity would Mist Shinobi have left?"

As he spoke, Hozuki Yougetsu slammed his fist on the table, glaring at Kiriya Shun with gritted teeth.

"Konoha and Orochimaru will definitely pay the price for this!"

Everyone understood who Hozuki Yougetsu was addressing with his words. Whether they were heads of families or elders, all of them focused their gazes on Karatachi Yagura's unchanging face, exchanging glances to each other to convey their thoughts.

"Alright! Kiriya Shun, Elder Yuzuki is right about this..."

Everyone understood the game between Karatachi Yagura and Kiriya Shun: Kiriya Shun to test the Hōzuki Clan's limits, and Karatachi Yagura would then step in to smooth things over.

Upon hearing Karatachi Yagura speak, Hozuki Yougetsu slowly regained his composure and refused to look at Kiriya Shun again.

"Orochimaru has truly gone too far. Does he think Mist Shinobi is without anyone? Then let's summon the Anbu..."

"Dispatch three more Anbu squads on an S-rank assassination mission to decapitate Orochimaru!"

Karatachi Yagura's resolute words caused Hozuki Seigetsu to frown slightly. He looked up at Karatachi Yagura. The plan was that when the main army set out, half of the Anbu's elite personnel would go with them. Now, with three more elite squads deployed, Karatachi Yagura would have all his elites gone, leaving him with at most two squads of Anbu elites...

"Fourth Hokage, the Water Shadow Building is so poorly defended..."

Hozuki Seigetsu pondered for a moment before speaking, wanting to understand what the Fourth Mizukage was planning.

"Elder Qingyue is joking. How could the Shadow of a Village possibly encounter any danger in his own village?"

Karatachi Yagura suddenly smiled. Terumi Yu and Taketori Kawa, who had been silent until now, exchanged a glance and both frowned deeply, their gazes involuntarily falling on Hozuki Seigetsu's face.

The Water Shadow Building is poorly guarded, all the elite members of the Mizukage's direct Anbu are gone, and Hozuki Meigetsu has suddenly died? At this point, it's hard not to suspect that this situation was deliberately orchestrated... Was it the Mizukage? The Hozuki Clan? Or Orochimaru, who hasn't yet shown his face?

Could it be that the Hozuki Clan is planning a violent coup?

Terumi Yu couldn't figure it out for the moment, and could only silently observe the changing expressions of the people on the field. However, he became even more confused. The Fourth Hokage was far too arrogant...

The mist in the Mist Shinobi churned and the undercurrents surged, while the Konoha camp across the river appeared more somber and gloomy than usual.

Orochimaru, engrossed in perfecting the Reincarnation Technique, had his rare good mood shattered by a blood-stained scroll...

During this period, all the experiments have proven that the path of Reincarnation Technique has been completely successful. All that remains is to use experimental data to continuously improve the technique, increase the success rate, and reduce the risks.

When a person is engrossed in something, even eating and sleeping are seen as a waste of time, let alone being disturbed by some incomprehensible stupidity, which only makes them fall into inexplicable irritability.

"The Hyuga Main House... It's a pity I don't have the chance anymore, otherwise I really wanted to kill you with my own hands..."

"Click..."

The scroll in his hand was crumpled into a ball of waste paper. Orochimaru felt a murderous urge brewing in his chest. Fortunately, he still had some rationality left. Looking at the genin in front of him, who was now Genin in fear of his murderous aura, he exhaled a deep breath.

"May I have your name?"

"Water... Mizuki..."

"Well, that's a really nice name..."

The young Genin couldn't help but look up at Orochimaru, who was standing close at hand. Orochimaru's unusually pale face wore a strange smile, and his Snake Eyes held a cold indifference to life. He was powerful, alluring, dangerous, and seemed to possess a special charm, which was like a brand that was instantly etched into the young Genin's mind.

Mizuki stared blankly at Orochimaru. This man perfectly embodied everything he imagined a strong person to be. His whole body trembled involuntarily. He felt no fear, only a surge of excitement...

Orochimaru looked at the young Genin with great interest. The light in his eyes seemed to give Orochimaru some new ideas. With a smile on his lips, he slowly leaned closer to Mizuki's ear.

"If you survive, maybe... there will be a reward!"

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"

Looking at the kneeling genin, his eyes Genin with adoration, Orochimaru chuckled softly, then looked away. The laboratory door suddenly swung open, the sweet, briny sea breeze brushing past his ears, and his gaze fell upon the other side of the sea...

"Xu-jun, you truly are my most adorable disciple..."