Throughout history, weak nations have never had a say in diplomacy.
Before attempting to gain anything from negotiations, one must first ask whether their army has the strength to assert itself on the battlefield.
If Yagura had still been just an ordinary Jōnin, the leaders of the Land of Artisans and the Artisans Village might have entertained thoughts of resistance and revenge. However, upon learning that Karatachi Yagura was the designated Fourth Mizukage and seeing Isobu firsthand, whatever lingering defiance they had turned to dust.
This was precisely why Yagura was able to push for today's peace talks.
Rather than the official government of the Land of Artisans mediating the dispute under Kirigakure's influence, it was more accurate to say that Kirigakure was negotiating terms with the two factions of the Land of Artisans on its own terms.
The Land of Artisans' official government had become little more than a figurehead.
...
After reviewing both versions of the proposed agreements, the mining conglomerates were overjoyed. They had secured a massive profit.
Their demands were met—those troublesome artisans who had been obstructing their business would finally be removed.
The Land of Artisans had built its identity on craftsmanship. While the daimyo had already sided with the industrialists, he still insisted on preserving the artisans' livelihood. He mandated that a portion of the mined iron must be sold to domestic craftsmen.
But that was unacceptable. Completely unacceptable.
Especially in times like these, when iron, as a strategic resource, had skyrocketed in value!
The best outcome for them would be for all these meddlesome craftsmen to relocate to Kirigakure, allowing them to focus entirely on exporting iron without restriction. More profits—more, more, more!
Even if Kirigakure demanded certain fees in the agreement, those were minor costs. They could easily recoup any losses through lucrative contracts with Kirigakure itself.
The Artisans Village harbored resentment, yet they acknowledged that remaining in the Land of Artisans would only bring instability. The industrialists would continue to ostracize them, and the official government would remain indifferent.
If the agreement was not just empty words, Kirigakure was offering them a far better future than their homeland.
...
With Yagura overseeing the entire process, the negotiations proceeded smoothly, albeit with some initial hesitation.
Kirigakure took the lead, the mining conglomerates eagerly supported the deal, and the government of the Land of Artisans remained powerless.
With a combination of persuasion and coercion, Yagura eventually secured reluctant approval from the Artisans Village.
However, the Craftsmen representatives requested permission to consult their people first, proposing a phased migration plan: an initial group of volunteers would relocate to Kirigakure, and subsequent migration would depend on their feedback.
Yagura did not oppose this request; he found it reasonable. He also assured them that while they remained in the Land of Artisans, neither the government nor the corporations were permitted to exploit or suppress them.
That said, his warning was largely unnecessary.
At present, aside from Yagura himself, the Artisans Village still held the most military power within the Land of Artisans. If anyone was in danger, it was their enemies, not them.
With the first version of the three-party agreement between Kirigakure, the craftsmen, and the mining industry drafted, Yagura left the finer details to two experts sent by the Elder Council. He remained seated at the head of the table, quietly observing as the Kirigakure negotiators handled the final points of contention, playing the role of a silent figurehead.
...
Elsewhere in the ninja world, news of the Third Mizukage's death had reached the other hidden villages.
The other Kage were not pleased.
In Konoha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, found the intelligence on Kirigakure's sudden upheaval troubling but not disastrous.
After careful consideration, he realized that no matter how Kirigakure responded, Konoha's situation couldn't get much worse.
If Kirigakure continued to participate in the war, Konoha would still be fighting a four-against-one battle—nothing would change.
However, if Kirigakure withdrew or significantly reduced its involvement, the pressure on Konoha would ease considerably.
Upon reaching this conclusion, Hiruzen's mood improved. Whether it was a three-on-one or four-on-one fight, Konoha's strategy remained the same.
...
On the other hand, the mastermind behind the early stages of the Third Great Ninja War, the scheming Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was furious.
For years—perhaps even longer—he had meticulously orchestrated a four-nation alliance to crush Konoha, beginning with the disappearance of the Third Kazekage.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly.
And now, at this critical juncture—
Why the hell did the Third Mizukage have to die?!
What was the point of declaring war if he was on his deathbed?!
Couldn't he have held on for just a few more months?! At least until the war officially started?!
Now, not only was he dead, but Kirigakure had placed a child—barely ten years old—on the Mizukage's seat!
What happened to their diplomatic declarations?! Was this all some kind of joke?!
That day, Ōnoki was so enraged that he smashed half the ornaments in his office.
Later, he announced to the Iwagakure leadership that they would proceed with war preparations as planned, ignoring Kirigakure's instability.
The arrow had already been nocked, there was no turning back now.
Kirigakure's internal turmoil would not make him back down. That was simply impossible.
...
The Third Raikage had a similar reaction.
Though less outwardly frustrated than Ōnoki, he still ordered his secretary to send a formal condolence delegation to Kirigakure.
Unlike the more politically intricate schemes of Iwagakure, Kumogakure relied on sheer strength.
...
Sunagakure, however, was in a much more passive position.
Having a long history of animosity with Kirigakure, the new Fourth Mizukage's stance toward Sunagakure was uncertain.
To be safe, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, ordered additional ninja forces to be stationed along the western border, further stretching his already limited military resources.
Still, he immediately dispatched a delegation to Kirigakure, both to express condolences and to gauge the intentions of the acting Mizukage.
...
On July 9th, in the afternoon, Yagura boarded a ship bound for the Land of Water.
Accompanying him were the first wave of migrating craftsmen and artisans from the Artisans Village. Thirty-seven steamships of varying sizes carried them across the sea.
Over the next two to three days, under the forced cooperation of the Land of Artisans' government, the leader of the Artisans Village formally announced the relocation decision.
It was impossible to refuse—so long as Yagura remained in the Land of Artisans, his presence was an unspoken ultimatum hanging over their heads.
Some, disillusioned and weary of their homeland, voluntarily raised their hands to leave for Kirigakure.
Not because they were lured by false promises, but because someone had to make the sacrifice.
When the final tally came in, 247 families—a total of 1,386 people, men, women, and children—chose to depart.
...
Seagulls circled overhead, casting shadows on the deck as they cried out.
Leaning on the ship's railing, Yagura let the sea breeze tousle his hair as he gazed northward and murmured to himself,
"You must hate me for uprooting you from your home."
Behind him, several elder craftsmen and veteran artisans lowered their heads in silence.
"I'm sorry," Yagura continued. "But Kirigakure needs you. Your skills will be indispensable in this war."
The elders exchanged uncertain glances.
"However," Yagura turned to face them, his expression resolute. Clenching his fist over his chest, he declared, "I swear upon my title as Mizukage, with the sky and sea as my witnesses—
"In three years, I will bring you back home!"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo