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[NTU] [ARC-20] Chapter : 277
🕑 Added 2025-03-22 06:32:27 +0000 UTC"It seems these Kiri ninjas are quite pragmatic!"
Standing at the bow of the ship, Toshiro let out a sigh, tinged with disappointment.
Why hadn't they put up more of a fight? Instead of resisting, they had simply retreated.
"Hokage-sama… You overestimate them."
Behind him, several high-ranking Konoha ninjas exchanged glances, the corners of their mouths twitching in disbelief.
It wasn’t that the Kiri ninjas had chosen to surrender out of rationality—they had simply been terrified of him.
The moment Konoha’s fleet neared the shores of the Land of Water, the Kiri ninjas had launched a surprise assault with over two thousand shinobi.
But before they could gain any momentum, Toshiro had unleashed a colossal Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave, scattering the Mist forces like leaves in a storm. And then, without hesitation, he had summoned Susanoo and led a devastating charge.
Within minutes, the enemy ranks had crumbled.
As the fleet advanced inland along the river, the Kiri ninjas had attempted several ambushes along the route to Kirigakure. Each time, Toshiro and his Konoha forces had crushed them with overwhelming power.
At this point, the Kiri ninjas weren’t surrendering out of wisdom—they had simply learned their lesson.
A voice broke the silence.
"Hokage-sama, once we reach the dock ahead, Kirigakure will be less than 100 kilometers away."
After studying the map, Nara Shikaku turned to Toshiro, who stood at the bow of the ship.
“Should we… proceed with the landing?”
He couldn’t quite grasp why the Hokage had appointed him as the army’s commander. Was this a calculated move to weaken the influence of the clans still loyal to the Sandaime?
Stealing a glance at the former Hokage, Shikaku observed Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression—calm, unreadable. A weight settled in his chest.
If the Sandaime had outright opposed the decision, Shikaku could have declined the role. But this lack of reaction—neither approval nor objection—was far more troublesome.
“Landing? No need to rush…”
Toshiro remained unfazed by Shikaku’s subtle probing.
Bringing the army so close to Kirigakure wasn’t just a strategic maneuver—it was a display of power. A message. He wanted to send a clear warning, particularly to the clan leaders still aligning themselves with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
By demonstrating overwhelming strength, he hoped to dissuade them from any behind-the-scenes scheming.
As for the chain of command, Toshiro had deliberately placed Nara Shikaku in charge of the offensive while assigning Mimura to oversee the garrison and maintain control of the overall situation.
At the moment, he didn’t have a more suitable candidate, so he assigned Nara Shikaku to handle these troublesome matters on his behalf.
“Have the Kiri ninjas sent a response?”
Toshiro wasn’t in a hurry to initiate the landing. Since they were already within close range of Kirigakure, this was an ideal opportunity to observe the village’s movements before making any decisions.
“The Kiri ninjas have been unusually quiet these past two days. That likely means they received our message. Let’s give them a bit more time,” he added after receiving confirmation.
He planned to remain near Kirigakure for a few days, ensuring that his forces were on alert.
“Make sure the troops are prepared to hold their positions. Do we have enough logistical supplies?”
Toshiro’s objective wasn’t to raze Kirigakure to the ground—there was no need for an all-out assault. His goal was to engage in negotiations.
To pave the way for diplomatic talks, he had already released over a dozen captured Kiri ninjas, hoping they would relay his terms to their superiors.
Now, all that remained was to see whether the Mist leadership had reached a decision after their internal deliberations.
—
“I refuse! Konoha is already at our doorstep—how can we even consider negotiating?”
A furious elder slammed his fist on the table, his voice rising above the murmurs of the gathered high-ranking officials.
“This is no different from surrender!”
To him, if they allowed Konoha’s forces to reach the outskirts of Kirigakure and then signed a peace agreement, it would be nothing short of capitulation.
“Kaguya-san, the Fourth Mizukage has been captured. Our forces are in disarray, and we lack the means to mount an effective resistance. You’ve seen how the battles have gone these past few days—we have no other choice!”
An older, more pragmatic elder stepped forward, attempting to reason with Kitaro.
“So what?” Kitaro scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “Are we Kiri ninjas supposed to cower before Konoha?”
His stance remained unyielding.
“I heard that their so-called Fifth Hokage personally led this expedition, and they’ve brought only a thousand men. Are you telling me that the mighty Kirigakure cannot even defeat a mere thousand Konoha ninjas?”
He had his own capable clan members at his disposal, and given the size of Konoha’s fleet, it wasn’t difficult to estimate their numbers.
"As long as we, the Kiri ninja, stand united and fight as one, we can defeat these Konoha invaders—and even capture their Fifth Hokage!"
Elder Kitaro's voice rang out with conviction, his gaze sweeping across the gathered officials.
"If we accomplish this, the advantage will shift in our favor. We’ll dictate the terms of negotiation, ensuring that we do not suffer unnecessary losses!"
Though a staunch advocate for war, Kitaro’s loyalty to the Kirigakure was unquestionable. Accepting a humiliating treaty under Konoha’s terms would leave them weak and vulnerable.
"But… Elder Kitaro, the Fifth Hokage is simply too powerful. We don’t stand a chance—"
Mei, who had remained silent for a while, finally spoke up. She couldn’t believe that Kitaro was still entertaining the fantasy of defeating Konoha’s forces and capturing their Hokage alive. Rolling her eyes, she resisted the urge to laugh.
If that monster were so easy to take down, he would never have made it this far into the Land of Water.
"Excuses! Nothing but the exaggerations of cowards from the front lines!"
Kitaro cut her off before she could finish. His expression was filled with disdain.
"I know how these so-called warriors think. Once defeated, they inflate the enemy’s strength to justify their own incompetence. Pathetic!"
His eyes narrowed as he turned directly to Mei Terumi.
"A force of thousands failing to stop a mere thousand Konoha ninjas? If they’re that useless, they’re no better than worthless scum!"
His words weren’t just a general condemnation—they were a direct challenge to Mei Terumi herself.
"You…!"
Mei Terumi’s patience snapped as Elder Kitaro’s words echoed through the chamber. To be called useless—a mere waste—was an insult she could not tolerate.
With a sharp slam of her hand against the table, she shot to her feet, her finger pointed directly at the arrogant elder. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath coming in short, heated bursts.
If this weren’t an official meeting, she would have made him pay for his words right then and there.
"Enough, Mei. Calm yourself."
A frail yet firm voice cut through the tension, halting her impending outburst.
The voice belonged to Genji—an elder so ancient that even standing upright seemed a challenge. Yet despite his frailty, his words carried undeniable weight.
"Kitaro, since you believe victory is within your grasp, then prove it. Take your supporters, march against the Fifth Hokage, and let us witness your determination firsthand."
His expression was devoid of emotion, his gaze unwavering as he studied Kitaro with the sharpness of a man who had seen countless political games unfold.
Kitaro, caught off guard, hesitated for only a moment before responding with forced confidence.
"…Yes. Thank you for your support, Elder Genji!"
Tilting his head slightly to evade Elder Genji’s penetrating gaze—a gaze that seemed capable of peering straight into one's soul—Kitaro struggled to conceal the flicker of joy, surprise, and excitement in his voice.
Finally, he had gotten what he wanted.
"Alright... let’s prepare."
Elder Genji, his expression unreadable, cast a slow glance around the gathered Kirigakure elites before narrowing his eyes. His voice, though calm, carried a weight of finality as he dismissed them.
As the last of the officials departed, the frail elder, who had seemed on the verge of sleep, suddenly opened his eyes. Watching the Kiri ninja leaders disappear down the corridor, he let out a weary sigh.
"It’s true… each generation is worse than the last."
"Elder, why did you agree to Kitaro’s reckless proposal?"
Now alone with him, Mei frowned, her confusion evident.
"Isn’t this just throwing away what little remains of the Kiri ninja’s strength?"
Her voice held both frustration and disbelief.
"That Uchiha Toshiro… His power is beyond what ordinary shinobi can withstand. Even if Elder Kitaro is strong, he won’t stand a chance against the Fifth Hokage."
Although Mei was reluctant to accept it, she knew deep down that she was no match for
Toshiro—not as she was now. Especially after witnessing the terrifying power of Susanoo, she understood that her own bloodline limit was virtually useless against him.
Elder Genji studied her for a long moment before exhaling a quiet sigh.
"Mei... you are still too young."
Among the current generation of Kiri ninjas, she was the only one truly fit to bear the village’s future.
Mangetsu Hozuki, for all his talent, bore too striking a resemblance to the Second Mizukage—who knew if he might one day meet the same fate, perishing alongside his opponent in a final clash?
Hoshigaki Kisame was powerful but rigid—more a sharpened blade than a leader who could bear the weight of an entire village.
Zabuza Momochi was too much of a lone wolf. He lacked the charisma and trust necessary to command the loyalty of others.
Only Mei Terumi possessed the right balance of skill, responsibility, and strength. But she was still young, and youth required refinement.
"What do you mean, Elder?"
She frowned slightly, struggling to grasp what Elder Genji meant by calling her immature. If Kirigakure had been stable in recent years, she might have already sought out a suitable partner.
Elder Genji's expression remained unreadable.
"Kitaro’s goal… is not to fight the Fifth Hokage."
Mei blinked, momentarily stunned by Elder Genji’s words.
“Huh?”
For a moment, she struggled to process his meaning. Then, as the realization dawned on her, her eyes widened in disbelief.
“You mean... he's doing all this just to become the Mizukage?”
She could hardly believe the conclusion she had arrived at, yet the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
Elder Genji smiled faintly and nodded, his gaze showing a rare glimmer of satisfaction.
She’s sharp.
Despite being a woman in a male-dominated system, Mei Terumi’s intellect and instincts were on par with, if not superior to, many of her male counterparts. More importantly, her strength met the necessary standard.
Perhaps, after the disastrous reign of the Fourth Mizukage, Kirigakure would be better off under a female leader.
At the very least, she wouldn’t be as ruthless as the Second Mizukage, nor as bloodthirsty and cruel as the Fourth.
Besides, a woman might have a better chance at healing the fractures between the civilian population and the noble clans.
Elder Genji’s voice was calm, yet his words carried undeniable weight.
“Kitaro is taking a gamble. If he wins, he secures his place as the Fifth Mizukage.”
And it wasn’t a bad strategy. If Kitaro managed to lead the Kiri ninja to victory against Konoha’s forces, his position as the next Mizukage would be all but guaranteed.
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