Naruto: I am the Hokage

In the Land of Water, just outside the capital.

Karatachi Yagura's gaze was cold as he quietly looked towards the capital. Hozuki Mangetsu stood beside him, not daring to breathe too loudly. The current Yagura was filled with an oppressive aura. Most terrifyingly, Yagura was still smiling… such a cold smile made him feel afraid, as if one wrong word could get him killed on the spot. Although he had the Water Transformation Technique, it didn't mean he was invincible.

However, Hozuki Mangetsu's mind was filled with Elder Genji's previous instructions—You must hold back Mizukage-sama!

With what?

Hozuki Mangetsu took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Mizukage-sama, our goal is still to promote peace between both sides. Daimyo-sama must know by now and will surely send someone to negotiate!"

"You mean, I should go in and talk to them. But what if the talks fail?" Yagura turned to look at him.

Hozuki Mangetsu's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising. The next moment, Yagura smiled. "You have so many opinions, why don't you go instead? As a member of the Hozuki clan, your Water Transformation Technique can let you escape quickly along the river, surely you can guarantee no casualties."

"How about it?" Yagura's face held a smile.

Hozuki Mangetsu hesitated for a moment, then looked up to meet Yagura's expression, and gritted his teeth. "Yes, sir!" He left, and not long after, he saw an area outside the city lit up like day. According to his senses, there were many ninjas there. The Kaguya and Yuki clans had gathered, their auras a chaotic mix. A battle was imminent.

Hozuki Mangetsu was worried, but there was nothing he could do. Even though he was from the Hozuki clan, he was just a Jonin in the village. The reasons he held the position of Anbu captain were complex. On one hand, Suikazan Fuguiki's death had been sudden. No one had expected that Suikazan Fuguiki, an elite Jonin, would go on a trip to the Land of Wind and end up losing both his life and his sword. To this day, Kirigakure had yet to retrieve Samehada.

On the other hand, Yagura had become increasingly disappointed with the performance of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. They had suffered many deaths and injuries, and now only four were still capable of fighting. Moreover, each of them had lost their nerve, their former spiritedness long gone. Those four were fine bullying those weaker than them, but if you asked them to fight a desperate battle, you couldn't command them at all. Even if they did it, they would only be feigning compliance. It was better to use the younger generation. It was by riding this wave, and with the power of his clan, that Hozuki Mangetsu had obtained the position of Anbu captain. He had little say in the Anbu, and even less status in the village.

"Elder, I'm afraid I can't help." Hozuki Mangetsu sighed inwardly, then ran towards the city.

---

"Clan Head Hisao, what on earth is going on? If there's no definite news soon, I won't be able to hold back my clansmen!" Kaguya Raizo demanded in a low voice.

Yuki Hisao said with a pained expression, "The noble I was in contact with did indeed say that. He told us to clash with the Mist first, to test our strength."

"How can we clash like this? What do they take war for!" Kaguya Raizo was furious. Even he knew that war was not a child's game. How could they just 'clash' at the drop of a hat? Those were human lives! At this moment, he felt some regret. If he had known the nobles were like this, he should have taken his clansmen to Konoha instead of staying in the Land of Water. In the current situation, it was too late to run.

"Then we fight!" Raizo gritted his teeth, his brows furrowed with anger. The situation was complex; the more he thought, the more his head hurt. Since it had come to this, it was better to just fight their way out and have it out with Kirigakure! Anyway, regardless of life or death, at least the Kaguya clan had descendants who had escaped, enough to carry on the family bloodline. He had no more worries.

"Fight?"

"Otherwise? You think we can take the money and run?" Raizo sneered. He then turned and walked back towards his clan.

While Yuki Hisao hesitated, he saw many of his clansmen returning from outside the Yuki clan's territory, quickly coming before him. "Clan Head, the Mist is pressing forward!"

"Hmm?" Yuki Hisao was surprised. He then looked ahead. Although the sounds were faint, ninjas were indeed arriving, and in large numbers. They were likely all elites from Kirigakure. His expression turned grave, and he immediately took out a signal flare. Since it had come to this, they had no choice but to fight.

Bang! A commotion erupted among the two clans. Then, after a moment of chaos, one or two hundred people charged out from the territories of the Yuki and Kaguya clans. The area was brightly lit. Kaguya Raizo led his men and charged forward directly.

"Karatachi Yagura? Hmph, I didn't expect you to come personally!"

"Heh." Yagura swept his gaze around, sneered, his eyes filled with indifference. "I am waiting for specific news from the city. I do not wish to fight you for the time being."

Raizo sneered back, "You've already charged to our doorstep, and you say you don't want to fight? Clansmen, kill!"

Faced with Raizo's thick killing intent, Yagura's expression remained indifferent and calm. He knew the one before him was the head of the Kaguya clan, the strongest in their clan, and he knew of the Kaguya's strength. But… so what? Yagura couldn't care less. Instead, he said, "Fall back. We will not attack first."

"Yes!" Following his retreat, the Jonin of Kirigakure fell back into the woods behind them. But with the Kaguya clan's personality, with the enemy right before them, how could they possibly retreat? Thus, shouts of battle rang out. The Kaguya clan didn't know the meaning of retreat. With them at the front, the Yuki clan members also mustered their courage. For a time, ice and bone bloomed in the forest.

However, at the same time, a mirror appeared in the forest, and then, from within the mirror, figures emerged one by one. Water Style: Water Mirror Technique! The copied ninjutsu had comparable power, and layers of ice blocked the Kaguya clan's advance. Yagura's face was impassive as he formed hand seals, maintaining the effect of the Water Mirror Technique. At the same time—it was also to cover for the force behind him.

Not long after, a terrifying chakra gathered in the forest. That is… a Tailed Beast?!

Kaguya Raizo felt a chill run down his spine. The next moment, he saw the figures before him dissipate into foam. Including Karatachi Yagura. All the Kirigakure ninjas were shadow clones! The next moment, two Tailed Beast Bombs lit up the forest. That night, many people saw those two brilliant lights illuminating the horizon.

Inside the city, the samurai who had wanted to stop Hozuki Mangetsu heard the earth-shattering explosion and stood frozen on the spot. It was Hozuki Mangetsu who reacted first. That's… a Tailed Beast Bomb! He was completely stunned. Weren't you supposed to let me go in and talk first? As it turned out, the moment he left, Yagura had started fighting with the Kaguya and Yuki clans, and he had immediately used the power of a Tailed Beast. After his initial shock, Hozuki Mangetsu sighed. He understood. Karatachi Yagura had never intended to spare the Kaguya and Yuki clans. From the very beginning, he had already decided what to do. Asking him to go and talk was just a way to get him out of the way.

"Stop." Hozuki Mangetsu sighed. "It's meaningless now." A Tailed Beast Jinchuriki was not invincible. But it was nighttime. Secondly, Karatachi Yagura's presence was enough to draw most of the attention. With a surprise attack, the Yuki and Kaguya clans would definitely suffer heavy losses. After that, their defeat was only a matter of time.

"What?"

"The fighting has already started outside. So, it's meaningless for you to stop me. I just want to see Daimyo-sama and, under the elder's orders, end this farce as soon as possible!" After Hozuki Mangetsu finished speaking, he looked at them, and then his figure disappeared.

Swish! A blade slashed through him, splashing water, but Hozuki Mangetsu was fearless and charged straight through. At this moment, he could no longer be bothered with etiquette. The fighting had started outside; if he didn't go and stop it, the two great Kekkei Genkai clans might be wiped out.

Hozuki Mangetsu rushed all the way to the main hall.

"Who is it?" The sleepy Daimyo came out of his room, supported by others. He was puzzled. "You are… that child from the Hozuki clan, right? What happened?"

"Daimyo-sama, your subordinate Hozuki Mangetsu has come under orders to discuss the matter between the village and the Guardian Shinobi. But the Kaguya clan seems to have lost their patience, leading to a conflict with our people," Hozuki Mangetsu said hastily. Although he didn't know the specific situation, no matter what, the village couldn't be the one in the wrong. The Kaguya clan had to take the blame.

The Daimyo was dumbfounded. He was stunned for a long time before he gradually reacted. Kirigakure has come to demand an explanation! The Daimyo sighed. In truth, he had long known this method was unreliable, but he couldn't stop the people under him from wanting to try. And he was old. Even if he could block their ideas for a while, what about after he was gone? It was better to do it now, while his prestige was still sufficient, so he could at least hold the line. "The Mizukage is here, right?"

"Mizukage-sama is outside. After all, the Kaguya clan is overly belligerent, so Mizukage-sama dares not leave," Hozuki Mangetsu said in a low voice.

The Daimyo nodded lightly. He knew this wasn't the truth, but it didn't matter. At least Hozuki Mangetsu had preserved a final shred of dignity, allowing everyone to have a way out. "Let's go see the Mizukage."

---

The next day, most of the nobles learned what had happened the previous day. That light that had illuminated the distant forest was a Tailed Beast Bomb. The terrifying power from a Tailed Beast, which even the Kaguya clan couldn't withstand, was usually the strongest weapon of a hidden village. However, no one had expected that its first use would be against the ninjas of their own country.

Overnight, that forest was razed to the ground. Countless bones became new trees, standing on the former ruins. That was the Kaguya clan's strongest secret technique. Dance of the Seedling Fern! Even within the Kaguya clan, few could use it.

On the ruins, Karatachi Yagura's gaze swept over, his eyes filled with indifference and boredom. The current Kaguya clan… was too weak! Although they had inflicted considerable damage on Kirigakure, the deaths of all these people had not resulted in a secret technique that surprised him more. It was still the same old stuff.

"Mizukage-sama…"

"Mangetsu, you did very well. The decision to promote you was indeed correct. Those people have long lost their courage." Karatachi Yagura looked at Hozuki Mangetsu. Last night, this kid had given him a pleasant surprise. Both Kirigakure and the Land of Water had a way out. For the current situation, it was the best outcome for Kirigakure. Then, he smiled. "I remember you are proficient in swordsmanship. Which sword do you want?"

"The Executioner's Blade!" Hozuki Mangetsu said without hesitation. The current wielder of the twin swords, Hiramekarei, was his elder, so it wasn't realistic to ask him to hand it over. But with the help of his family's power, it wouldn't be difficult to obtain. In comparison, of the two currently ownerless swords, he wanted this one more, especially the Executioner's Blade. His clan's secret techniques were very compatible with this sword.

However, Karatachi Yagura smiled slightly. "This sword won't do. I've already given it to someone else. Choose another one."

"Then the Nuibari." Hozuki Mangetsu lowered his head.

Yagura nodded. "Fine. After we return, you can take that sword."

"Thank you, Mizukage-sama!"

"It's nothing. I am never stingy with rewards for those who have merit," Yagura replied faintly. Then, he chuckled softly. "Go and attend to your duties. After I finish talking with the Daimyo, the matter with the nobles will be up to you. It just so happens that your Hozuki clan is good at socializing with them."

"Yes, sir!"

*

In the Land of Fire, Konoha Village. Tsunade held the intelligence report, frowning without a word. After a long while, she rolled up the scroll. "Are you sure?"

"Generally speaking, it takes two days for intelligence to arrive, so the information we have is from two days ago," Kyohiko said. "The Land of Water should already be fighting by now!"

Tsunade nodded lightly. She agreed with Kyohiko's judgment. The situation in the Land of Water was definitely chaotic, but she felt a faint sense of unease. "Take this opportunity to deal with Danzo…"

"I will first reach an agreement with the Daimyo. Also, Kakashi and the others will be waiting at the border. I believe that by the time I reach the capital, the new intelligence will be about to arrive," Kyohiko said. Kakashi's team of three could already use the Flying Thunder God Formation. Although not as proficient as him and Minato Namikaze, teleporting people and information was not a problem. In this way, by tomorrow, new intelligence could be delivered to the capital. Kyohiko didn't think the Daimyo and the noble faction had such strong execution capabilities. Going today, and then making a decision by tomorrow, was just right. In fact, if Danzo and the noble faction wanted to do something, one day was just enough for them to buffer and make arrangements.

At that time—a single blow to annihilate them would make them understand what power is. Only complete deterrence could truly solve the problem. Otherwise, it would just be dragging things out again and again, leaving the problem for later.

Tsunade nodded. "Go ahead and do it. I absolutely support you. As for the old geezers, I'll hold them off. They won't be able to stir up any trouble!"

"Alright." Kyohiko left with the Flying Thunder God. Although Danzo had contributed in the previous great war, the existence of the Guardian Shinobi itself would split Konoha's power and prestige and could not be tolerated.

Danzo must die!

In an instant, at the Anbu base. Minato Namikaze had been talking nonstop, explaining the key points of the Flying Thunder God Formation. Before him were several ninjas handpicked by the Anbu, screened for being proficient in space-time ninjutsu and barrier jutsu. Theoretically, through cooperation, they could definitely complete the training for the Flying Thunder God Formation. But the reality was not as good as they had hoped. The current cooperation still had some problems.

Minato Namikaze was about to analyze the situation that had just occurred when suddenly there was a ripple in space. He immediately stopped talking and looked to the side. The next moment, Kyohiko appeared.

"Minato, let's put this aside for now. We can start our operation."

"Alright."