Chapter 136
2-in-1-chapter
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"I did indeed receive the item."
Rēn turned the glass vial in his hand, watching the Byakugan suspended in nutrient fluid. "I can feel the sincerity of your village. As it happens, I also have good news to share. The Hokage has already replied to me. If Kirigakure is willing to provide support to Konoha, then… war reparations may be reduced or their payment deferred."
As for how much they would be reduced, or how long the deferral would last, that would depend on how generous the Mist-nin were prepared to be, as well as on the results of negotiations between the two sides. The higher authorities had already determined the larger policy; it was up to those below to refine the details, gradually working them out until both parties could accept a finalized agreement.
There was no need for leaders to argue themselves red in the face.
"This will do. This is enough."
Yagura Karatachi let out a long breath.
So long as he managed the many problems arising from defeat in this war, shouldered the burden of weakness, incompetence, and betrayal of the village's interests, then he could at last yield the position in accordance with the people's will. A Fifth Mizukage, untainted by disgrace, would rise to lead the village with hope for the future.
To tell the truth, ANBU had reported several times recently that some shinobi within the village were holding secret gatherings. Unsurprisingly, these gatherings were to plot the assassination of the Mizukage.
Assassination attempts against the Mizukage had practically become a tradition of Kirigakure ever since Yagura's reign began.
But this time, Yagura had not unleashed a massacre. Even though ANBU had gathered the names of those conspirators who were careless in their activities, the Fourth Mizukage had restrained both his irritation and his killing intent. He no longer wished to turn his blade upon his fellow villagers.
Whether he liked it or not, Yagura had to admit that those who plotted to assassinate the Mizukage often did so out of genuine love for their village. Only a small fraction were driven by ambition. Most of them acted because they wanted Kirigakure to become better, and thus they dared to take on such a risk. In the eyes of many villagers, the state of Kirigakure was beyond doubt his fault.
And that view was not entirely wrong.
That the village had deteriorated so badly was, in part, due to complex historical problems. Yet as the Fourth Mizukage who had been manipulated, Yagura could hardly be absolved of responsibility.
"Clan Head Uchiha, there is one more matter."
Yagura shook off his distractions and raised another issue. "That one-eyed man who claims to be Uchiha Madara—what is your stance on him?" This was the true foundation for cooperation between Konoha and Kirigakure. Without this shared concern, they were merely victor and defeated.
It was impossible to speak of alliance otherwise. Given time, the hatred between them would only ferment into another war.
But now, an enemy who had opposed two great villages at once, and who seemed to be claiming the identity of Uchiha Madara, had drawn their attention. The enemy of one's enemy was a friend. That Konoha and Kirigakure were foes was true, but their conflicts and resentments were on the surface. By contrast, a hidden adversary with the power to topple a shinobi village was a far more immediate threat.
"As for this matter…"
Rēn thought for a moment before speaking. "I have been away from the village and not present for the meetings, but the Hokage has already instructed ANBU to conduct a secret investigation. Still, if you ask for my own view, I would hope that Konoha and Kirigakure each select a small number of elite shinobi to form a joint investigation department, dedicated specifically to pursuing that imposter who calls himself Uchiha Madara, rather than leaving all matters to ANBU."
At present, Konoha's ANBU was bloated and sluggish, burdened with too many responsibilities, and its efficiency had dropped severely.
"A joint investigation department?"
Yagura was still considering the suggestion, but Genji was already nodding repeatedly. His aged, rasping voice rose: "Establishing a joint investigation department is an excellent idea. It would be best to select promising young shinobi for it. Mizukage-sama, I believe Mangetsu and his companions would be quite suitable." The elder's face broke into a pleased smile. Since Kirigakure no longer had the strength to oppose Konoha, the only course left was to find a way to become its friend.
Unfortunately, successive Mizukage had always been fixated on striking at Konoha. It was true that the Land of Fire was the richest of the Five Great Nations, and that defeating Konoha promised the greatest spoils. But only if one could actually defeat Konoha. Were it not for the fact that Konoha was perpetually surrounded by enemies, with no time to settle accounts one by one, then the Mist would never even taste the meat, and would instead be forced to cut their own flesh.
If one changed perspective, joining forces with Konoha to pressure the shinobi of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure might not yield spoils as rich as defeating Konoha itself, but it would certainly be better than repeatedly launching attacks against Konoha only to return each time with devastating losses.
A trace of doubt flickered in Yagura Karatachi's eyes.
The idea was sound. Whether or not they could ever track down that man who called himself Uchiha Madara was another matter, but establishing such a legitimate cooperative body would indeed help to ease the hostility and hatred between the two villages. Still, wasn't Master Genji a bit too enthusiastic?
"This is only my humble opinion. In the end, the decision rests with Lord Hokage. I can only offer a suggestion." Rēn smiled and waved his hand, making it clear that nothing had been set in stone yet, and that speaking of candidates for such a position was still premature.
Even so, the notion of selecting capable young shinobi to join such an institution was one Rēn quietly approved of in his heart.
As he listened, Genji's thin lips moved slightly. Leave it to the Hokage to decide? If not for his age and his body's dulled reactions, he might have laughed out loud. If he recalled correctly, Konoha was currently led by that so-called Fifth Hokage's acting successor. Fortunately, it was only an acting position. When a formal Fifth Hokage one day assumed power, that would be the time of true difficulty. In every village, clans as strong and assertive as the Uchiha always became thorns in the eyes of the Kage.
No one liked such uncontrollable factors—just as the Mizukage after Byakuren had no fondness for Genji, the old relic who refused to die. Yagura was no exception. Even the future Fifth Mizukage would likely be unable to break free of this same truth.
Thinking of this, whatever faint amusement he felt dispersed, replaced by a weary sigh. He only hoped that the girl Terumī Mei would not betray his expectations. If possible, he would rather have been in a temple, cultivating in peace, than exhausting himself every day with these burdens.
.........
...
.
Leaning on his staff, Genji made his way into the street. Though Rēn had said he could simply dispel his Shadow Clone, the old man still chose to walk out step by step. Using a Shadow Clone to attend had already been discourteous; to dismiss it immediately afterward without so much as a gesture of leave-taking would have been far too disrespectful.
This visit from Yagura Karatachi and Genji did not last long. They returned the Byakugan, confirmed the broad strokes of an alliance, and discussed cooperating against the mysterious figure. After these formalities and a few pleasantries, they took their leave.
"Genji?" Yagura turned his head to the elder beside him.
"Impressive," Genji replied, though it was not in answer to the question.
Yagura blinked, then understood. Genji had not come merely to return the Byakugan personally, but also to witness Uchiha Rēn with his own eyes. Testing the waters, Yagura asked quietly, "Elder, what did you discern about the Uchiha clan head?" His voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"The same thing I have said before—deal properly with Konoha, do not lightly make them enemies. What we most need now is recovery and rest." Genji did not elaborate further. He had no dōjutsu, no sensory techniques. What he relied on was the experience amassed over a lifetime.
He had not discerned anything extraordinary about Uchiha Rēn. Strictly speaking, he had seen no hidden secrets within him at all. What he did see, however, was the unspoken confidence burning in his eyes. That blazing self-assurance he had witnessed only twice before: in Byakuren, the First Mizukage, before his defeat at Uchiha Madara's hands, and in the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
After Byakuren suffered his unprecedented loss to Uchiha Madara, that light never returned to his eyes, not even up to the day of his death. Not even Uchiha Madara's gaze had shone with that same brilliance. Perhaps once he had, but just as Byakuren had encountered Madara, Madara himself had encountered Hashirama.
"I cannot say how strong this Uchiha clan head truly is. Lord Mizukage, you likely understand better than I. But what I can see is that he does not place us in his eyes at all—not you, not me, not even the whole of Kirigakure."
Genji leaned on his staff and walked slowly along the street. Yagura followed, listening to his sighs.
"Do not treat it as shameful. Being looked down upon is never pleasant, but when Byakuren and I once stood before Uchiha Madara and were dismissed as worthless, we were enraged. Only later, when Madara beat us into fleeing like frightened rats, did we learn the truth—that compared to a moment's humiliation, surviving is more important."
As if fearing Yagura might act rashly, Genji admonished not only him but also Hōzuki Mangetsu, Hoshigaki Kisame, and the others beside them. His warning fell most heavily on Mangetsu and the other proud young geniuses. Compared to the Fourth Mizukage, who had already suffered bitter lessons, it was the untested youth who remained the most unstable.
Yet Mangetsu and the others said nothing.
They would have to be fools to provoke Uchiha Rēn again. They had already experienced the terror of the "Flame Demon" firsthand—how casually he had flicked his fan and sent Mangetsu, Kisame, and Zabuza flying. Zabuza's wounds had yet to heal even now. His bones had been broken in so many places that only recently had he managed to walk again. To run and fight as before would still take a month or two at least.
"Remember this: we are shinobi. Only those who learn to endure have the right to call themselves shinobi. To bow our heads and endure before a man like Uchiha Rēn is no disgrace, none at all. Because if he lives on, then in time the entire shinobi world may one day bow its head before him."
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