Chapter 365: The Fifth Mizukage, Hoshigaki Kisame
This came so suddenly that no one except Ishiro had anticipated it. Just as Yagura Karatachi was about to be sealed, he had forcibly contracted his chakra and, before the seal could fully close, formed a Tailed Beast Bomb within his own internal sealing space.
This strike from Yagura was equivalent to making the Tailed Beast within him self-destruct. His body was instantly blasted into dust, taking many of the bloodline clans' elites who were near him with him in the same wave of destruction.
Kisame leaped several times and arrived in front of Ishiro, saying with some lingering fear, "Senior Sei, what just happened? Wasn't the Fourth about to be sealed? How could he still use a Tailed Beast Bomb?"
Ishiro said, "A Tailed Beast can not only use a Tailed Beast Bomb externally, but it can also condense one within its sealing space."
In truth, this was a complete guess on Ishiro's part. He just understood how much Obito hated the Mist ninja who had killed Rin. With Obito's madness, making a Tailed Beast self-destruct was something he was entirely capable of doing. Furthermore, Ishiro's Mind's Eye had vaguely sensed a hint of crisis from Yagura. It was because of this sense of crisis that Ishiro had told Kisame to use a large-scale defensive ninjutsu.
Kisame didn't think Ishiro was spouting nonsense. Given Ishiro's status, his knowledge of Tailed Beasts was certainly far superior to that of a ninja like himself who was outside the circles of power.
"Let's go take a look over there. With such a violent explosion, I don't know how many people are still alive," Ishiro said.
Like Ishiro, there were many who wanted to know the outcome of the battle immediately. Genshi had dispatched several elite ninja to quickly approach the location of the former Mizukage's building, their reaction even faster than Ishiro's. In addition to them, many other ninja also rushed towards the center of the battle.
When the dust and smoke from the explosion cleared, Ishiro and the others found that the location of the former Mizukage's building was now completely bare. There were no collapsed houses, no corpses, only a deep crater. At the edge of the crater, a giant, cracked ball of ice stood alone.
After Ishiro and the others had all arrived, the ice ball suddenly shattered with a loud bang, revealing a dozen or so people inside.
Ishiro saw that the one who had been desperately maintaining this ice defense must have been Minazuki Gyō. He was now pale, looking as if he could collapse at any moment. In fact, if not for Terumī Chiaki supporting him, he would have already fallen.
Minazuki Gyō turned his head and looked around, only to see a void. After the last sliver of hope was shattered, he could no longer hold on. His eyes closed, and he fainted.
The battle had not been long, less than half an hour from start to finish, yet in that one battle, the elites of their bloodline clans had been almost completely wiped out. As the leader everyone had trusted before the battle, he could not get past his own guilt.
Terumī Chiaki and the other survivors also had faces like dead ashes. For them now, the matter of the Fifth Mizukage was no longer important. How to face their clansmen, who had held such great expectations for them before the battle, was their greatest trial.
Terumī Chiaki hoisted Minazuki Gyō onto his back, then turned to the approaching Ishiro and the others and said, "The Fourth was being controlled by an Uchiha's Sharingan and chose to self-destruct in the end. Our bloodline clans withdraw from the contest for the Fifth."
Terumī Chiaki wasted no words, directly dropping a bombshell. After speaking, without giving anyone time to react, he led his people away.
Ishiro called out from behind, "What about Hōzuki Hotaru?"
Terumī Chiaki's footsteps paused. He said, "The Fourth's self-destruction was too sudden. He was a bit far from us."
He only said half of it before stopping, but everyone knew what the rest of his words meant. The Hōzuki clan was indeed skilled at self-preservation, but facing a situation like that, relying on something like the Hydrification Technique to survive was a fool's hope.
Ishiro said no more, quietly watching Terumī Chiaki's group leave. Then he looked at the few people sent by Genshi and said, "Have Genshi come over. We need to discuss the village's future arrangements."
The men exchanged a glance, and then one of them quickly ran in the direction of Genshi's location.
"Kisame, call on everyone to treat the wounded," Ishiro said to Kisame.
Kisame, who had been in a daze like everyone else, finally reacted. He let out a great roar, "The battle is over! Everyone, quickly treat the wounded!"
By the time Genshi arrived, only Ishiro and Kisame were left at the edge of the crater. Everyone else had been sent by Kisame to rescue people.
This was the first time Ishiro had seen Genshi in person in this life. He was slightly younger than in the original story, but he was already very old. Ishiro gave him a slight nod, leaving the main position for Kisame.
But Genshi, unexpectedly, did not look at Kisame. Instead, his gaze fell on Ishiro. He smiled at him and said, "Sei, is it? Tell me your thoughts."
Ishiro was taken aback, glanced at Kisame, and then without hesitation, said directly, "Elder Genshi, the most suitable candidate for the Fifth Mizukage is Kisame. This is our bottom line."
"After Kisame takes office, the configuration of the advisory council will be changed. The council will have a total of six members. Elder Genshi can recommend three, two seats can be reserved for Minazuki Gyō's side, and one for our side."
"The Anbu will be under the direct jurisdiction of the Mizukage; no one else is to interfere. The heads of village administration, mission dispatch, and logistics can be discussed by everyone."
"All ninja must submit a record of all the ninjutsu and secret jutsu they know to be collected in a new Scroll of Seals."
"In addition, we have already contacted Iwagakure. After Kisame takes office, the two sides will form an alliance and open trade."
Ishiro did not beat around the bush. Now was not the time for the two sides to spend days haggling. With such an incident having occurred in the village, it was imperative to stabilize the people's hearts as quickly as possible.
Genshi's decision also exceeded Ishiro's imagination. He said directly, "Alright. After the rescue work is complete, I will announce this decision."
Ishiro nodded. "You are the most suitable person to do so."
Half an hour later, the rescue work for the wounded was completed, and the civilians who had hidden in the shelters beforehand also came out one after another.
Looking at the scene before them, everyone was overcome with grief. What sin had Kirigakure committed to have nothing go right for all these years? They had been defeated in several Great Ninja Wars. Although there were no cessions of territory or reparations, Kirigakure's reputation had long since been ruined. Not only did the Mist constantly lose wars, but their several instances of capricious behavior had also destroyed their credibility.
Just as everyone was looking at the ruins before them, at a loss, Genshi walked to the front of the crowd with Kisame.
"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me. You may still be confused about what just happened. I will tell you the truth."
"Our Lord Fourth Mizukage was originally a kind-hearted ninja who was willing to sacrifice for the village. Why did he become the person he was later? It was not until the final moment that Minazuki Gyō, Terumī Chiaki, and the others understood: Lord Mizukage was being controlled by the Sharingan genjutsu of the Uchiha clan."
"What? Genjutsu? Lord Mizukage was under a genjutsu?"
"Sharingan genjutsu? The people of Konoha did this? Is Konoha retaliating against us?"
"Damn it, I'm going to fight the Konoha ninja to the death!"
After a while of discussion, Genshi signaled for everyone to be quiet again, then pointed at Kisame and said, "Does everyone recognize this person? This is the hero who protected everyone in the great battle just now, Hoshigaki Kisame. I propose that Hoshigaki Kisame become the village's Fifth Mizukage. Does everyone agree?"
"Lord Kisame? I agree!"
"Lord Kisame is the village's hero, and he protected the greatsword Samehada before. I also agree!"
"Lord Kisame is our savior! I support Lord Kisame becoming the Fifth Mizukage!"
"Lord Kisame is powerful! He was able to defend against that world-ending explosion just now! We also agree!"
"Long live Lord Kisame! Long live the Fifth Mizukage!"
The villagers of Kirigakure cheered in unison, temporarily forgetting their pain. In the end, everyone's voices converged into one: "Fifth! Fifth! Fifth..."
...
To those far from the Land of Water, the chaos in the Mist was resolved with incredible speed. The Fourth Mizukage died in the internal strife, and before his death, it was revealed that he had been under the control of the Konoha Uchiha clan's Sharingan. Then, the almost unheard-of Hoshigaki Kisame suddenly became the Fifth Mizukage, which left the ninja of the other hidden villages baffled.
Had all the experts in Kirigakure died in the internal strife? So they found such a young junior to serve as the Fifth Mizukage? Did Kirigakure still have the strength of one of the former Five Great Shinobi Villages? Everyone was skeptical.
But the Land of Water was isolated overseas, almost cut off from the other major countries. So for a while, even if these countries had any ideas, it would be difficult to put them into action.
Only in the Land of Lightning, in Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage, A, immediately summoned his think tank to discuss the feasibility of attacking Kirigakure.
However, before they could come to a conclusion, another piece of news directly disrupted their plans: Iwagakure and Kirigakure had formed an alliance.
And the content of this alliance treaty left the people of the other hidden villages dumbfounded. Iwagakure and Kirigakure would advance and retreat together on major matters of war and peace in the ninja world. Iwagakure's enemy was Kirigakure's enemy, and Kirigakure's enemy was also Iwagakure's enemy. When the two sides encountered each other while on missions outside, they could trust each other as their own.
Seeing this treaty, which was being spread everywhere by Iwagakure, A cursed loudly. Needless to say, the chaos in Kirigakure this time definitely had the shadow of the Fourth Tsuchikage behind it. If not, I'll go a month without changing my desk!
After Kisame took office, Ishiro stayed in Kirigakure for another three days. The reason he stayed was because he was waiting for the Kirigakure ninja to hand over the jutsu they knew. After making a copy of all these ninjutsu, Ishiro left Kirigakure with seven of his Anbu. As for the remaining Anbu, they would, with Kisame's cooperation, remain in Kirigakure as his trusted subordinates, helping him to quickly gain control of the Mist Anbu.
Looking at the information in his hands, Ishiro smiled faintly. This trip to Kirigakure had not been in vain. Even if Kisame turned against him in the future, Ishiro would not have suffered a loss.
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