"So this is Kirigakure? It's my first time here."
"Compared to Konoha, it's really backward."
Tsunade followed Yagyu into Kirigakure, looking around before offering her assessment.
"Backward, huh? Being backward is exactly the point!"
"Except for Konoha, the other ninja villages aren't much better than Kirigakure."
"Put that way, you should understand, right?"
"Why Konoha is the one that gets targeted by everyone in every Ninja World War."
Yagyu glanced casually at the village and spoke indifferently.
"I don't understand!"
Tsunade looked at Yagyu and huffed.
"You don't even understand that? You're hopeless!"
"Such low awareness... and to think you're the First Hokage's granddaughter!"
Yagyu rolled his eyes and spoke lazily.
"Why is it, exactly?"
Tsunade was curious now and couldn't help but ask.
"Because the wealth gap is too large, and economic development is unbalanced."
"Most importantly, as the ninja village that got rich first, you people in Konoha don't help those of us getting rich later."
"Not only that, but you also hinder our development. We have no choice but to draw our swords!"
Yagyu sighed, looking sluggish.
"Hinder you?"
"As far as I know, you guys are always the ones picking fights first."
"We in Konoha have always been peace-loving."
Tsunade frowned, seeming not to understand.
"Peace-loving?"
"Put that way, you're not wrong."
"But you love peace not because you have kind hearts."
"But because a peaceful situation is most beneficial to you."
"Do you think other ninja villages enjoy war? Do they enjoy people dying?"
"We have no choice. Peace, for us, is a slow-acting poison."
Yagyu shook his head; Tsunade was still too naive.
Perhaps she was an excellent doctor and an outstanding warrior.
However, the limitations of her education prevented her from grasping the crux of the problem at a fundamental level.
"What exactly is going on? Explain it to me clearly!"
Tsunade suddenly felt a surge of irritation. She ran up to Yagyu, grabbed him by the shoulders, and stared into his eyes, demanding an answer.
"Want to know?"
Yagyu looked at Tsunade with a smile.
"Cut the crap!"
Tsunade replied bluntly.
"Hand over your medical ninjutsu, and then serve as my maid for a week. Consider that the tuition fee. How about it?"
Yagyu smiled and spoke casually.
"In your dreams!"
Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then refused without hesitation.
"Then there's nothing I can do. The truth cannot be told to just anyone casually."
Yagyu shook his head with a look of regret and walked sluggishly toward the Mizukage building.
...
Mizukage's Office.
Yagyu met the Third Mizukage, his expression turning serious.
"Yagyu, it's been a long time."
"When I saw you before, I sensed you were extraordinary."
"Now it seems my intuition was spot on!"
The Third Mizukage smiled, speaking to Yagyu like an ordinary old man.
"Genji briefed me on your situation earlier. Are you serious about the Land of Fire?"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Third Mizukage spoke earnestly.
"No!"
"Regarding the Land of Fire, I have a deeper plan!"
A confident smile appeared on Yagyu's face as he spoke with firm determination.
Yagyu recounted what he had done in Konoha and then explained his strategy to the Third Mizukage, revealing his objective to destroy the people's trust in Konoha.
At this moment, he didn't mimic Kizaru, nor did he display the traits of a slacker. Instead, he acted like a strategist.
Knowing when to mimic Kizaru and when to be serious and solemn...
Yagyu could handle this balance.
After all, he was only imitating Kizaru; he wasn't actually Kizaru.
He was only acting like a salted fish (slacker); he wasn't actually a salted fish.
He had ambition, so he wouldn't drop the ball at a time like this.
If he mimicked Kizaru now and acted like a slacker...
What if the Third Mizukage took him seriously, gave him an idle position to retire in, and really let him be a slacker?
Although being a slacker was comfortable, it wasn't his pursuit.
Relaxing occasionally was fine, but being like that all the time would be unbearable.
So at this moment, Yagyu displayed his plans, letting the Third Mizukage see his capable and serious side.
Only by making the Third Mizukage recognize his ability would the Mizukage readily pass the position to him.
Listening to Yagyu's plan, the Third Mizukage's old eyes lit up again and again, his gaze toward Yagyu becoming increasingly satisfied.
"Yagyu, your talent is truly impressive."
"Your previous instructor is no longer qualified to guide you."
"If you don't mind, you can come to consult me in the future."
The Third Mizukage stroked his beard, looked Yagyu up and down, and spoke with a smile.
"No problem!"
"I do indeed have some questions about ninjutsu training that I would like to ask the Mizukage."
Yagyu smiled, planning to ask the Mizukage for some powerful ninjutsu.
Although his reliance was on the power brought by the Kizaru template... having more skills never hurt!
As for having the Mizukage as an instructor...
This was just a formality, a formality to show he was joining the inner circle.
Having the Mizukage as a teacher signified joining the Mizukage's faction and inheriting the Will of Water!
The Third Mizukage letting him join so readily also made Yagyu sigh in relief.
After all, he had told him such important matters.
If the Mizukage didn't state his position, Yagyu might have had to prepare a Plan B.
Without a close connection to the previous Mizukage, one couldn't become the Mizukage?
What a joke!
Terumi Mei had no relation to the previous Mizukage.
But in the original story, she still became the Fifth Mizukage.
Why?
Because everyone who inherited the Will of Water was dead!
If the Third Mizukage was blind, Yagyu could only... eliminate him!
The Third Mizukage laughed. "Judging from your analysis, Kirigakure doesn't need to take much action in the short term."
"That's good too! Let the other ninja villages fight each other first and deplete their strength."
"Meanwhile, Kirigakure can take this opportunity to consolidate internally, accumulate power, and prepare."
"By the way! You don't want to go out on missions recently, so I'll give you an easy task!"
"How about being the Principal of the Ninja Academy? This task is very relaxing; just manage those brats."
Yagyu was surprised.
Principal of the Ninja Academy?
Managing brats?
Do I, Monkey D. Kizaru, have such a fate with being a kindergarten principal?