Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 111 The Battle Maniac's Thoughts

The Land of Water, the Hidden Mist Village, the Water Shadow Building.

The atmosphere inside the highest conference room was even more oppressive than the perpetual fog outside.

Seated around the huge round conference table were the most powerful people in the entire Hidden Mist Village.

The one occupying the main position is naturally the third Mizukage, Mizuki.

On the left is the master of Kirigakure, a ninja who looks like he might fall asleep at any moment.

He has been serving the village since the time of the first Mizukage and has an excellent relationship with Mizuki.

Below the Master is Kaguya Sonosuke, the patriarch of the Kaguya clan.

He remained shirtless, radiating a tyrannical aura that kept strangers at bay. His eyes were closed, and his arms were crossed over his chest, as if he had no interest in the meeting whatsoever.

On the other side of the conference table, facing Kaguya Soranosuke, was Yukinojo, the head of the Yuki clan.

He was dressed in an immaculate white hunting robe, sitting elegantly with a faint smile on his face, as if he were attending a refined tea party.

Besides these individuals, representatives from several other bloodline limit families were also seated around the conference table, as well as...

The elite of the Hozuki clan, siblings Hozuki Kaigetsu and Hozuki Shio.

The elder brother, Hozuki Kaigetsu, wore a standard Kirigakure ANBU uniform, with a half-mask covering his face, revealing only a pair of eyes as cold as a deep pool.

He sat upright at the table like a lifeless statue, his right hand resting on the ninja sword at his waist, ready to deal with any unexpected situation. He was the Mizukage's sharpest and most loyal blade.

The younger sister, Hozuki Shio, seemed much more casual.

The girl wasn't wearing a uniform, but rather a tight-fitting outfit that allowed for easy movement, perfectly outlining her curvaceous figure.

She crossed her legs, rested her chin on one hand, and curiously looked Yukinojo's face, which was more beautiful than a woman's, up and down, with a playful smile on her lips.

"Everyone is here."

When Jian Yue finally spoke, her voice was so calm that it seemed to drop the temperature in the conference room, and everyone's attention was focused on the person in the main seat.

He didn't waste any words, he simply nodded to the secret agents behind him.

The secret service immediately distributed reports detailing the losses to everyone present.

"This is the damage report for the Wanwo Sea area last month."

Mizuki's voice remained calm. "The Three-Tails and Six-Tails' renewed rampage has caused us to lose a large number of excellent ninjas, including members of our respective clans."

"Such repeated occurrences will have a significant impact on the village's finances."

Kaguya Soranosuke glanced at the casualty figures on the report and a cold smile crept onto his lips.

Yukinojo elegantly picked up the report and began to read it carefully, as if he were appreciating a poem, though a hint of mockery flashed deep in his emerald eyes.

Only Hozuki Shio was truly shocked by the contents of the report.

"Wow, it consumes 13% of the village's budget every year? And the casualty rate is as high as 25%?"

The girl whistled exaggeratedly, then turned to her brother beside her. "Brother, are those two tailed beasts made of gold? They're so expensive!"

"Shut up, Shio." Hozuki Kaigetsu didn't even turn her head, her voice icy.

"Tch, how boring."

Hozuki Shio pouted, but still obediently shut her mouth.

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

After a long while, Jianyue finally spoke slowly.

"The situation is even more serious than the report describes."

His gaze swept over everyone present, his voice heavy.

"The Tailed Beasts were strategic weapons distributed by the First Hokage to various ninja villages to balance the power of the ninja world. But now, they have become the biggest burden on our Hidden Mist Village."

"We can't give it up, because giving it up would be like handing it over to someone else. But we can't use it effectively either, because we lack the most crucial technology—the sealing technique to control the tailed beasts."

"If this continues, the village will not only suffer financial losses due to these two tailed beasts, but will also lose a large number of its manpower."

Jian Yue laid the problem bare before everyone.

Looking down at the crowd below, each with their own hidden agendas, he posed the final, difficult question.

"So, the reason I invited you all here today is to hear your opinions."

"Gentlemen, what are your plans regarding these two tailed beasts, and the future of our Hidden Mist Village?"

The meeting room fell silent once again.

Everyone knows this is a hot potato.

Kaguya Soranosuke's eyelids twitched, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Yukinojo put down the report in his hand, picked up his teacup and gently blew on the steam, as if everything was irrelevant to him.

They are all waiting.

Waiting for an opportunity to speak.

They are waiting for an opportunity to drag the entire Hidden Mist Village onto their war machine.

Two men, both yearning for war yet unable to stand each other, seemed to reach a tacit understanding at this moment.

They all knew that today's meeting would be the perfect stage for them to shatter this damned peace and realize their respective ambitions.

Just as this oppressive silence was about to reach its peak.

"Oh……"

Kaguya Soranosuke casually tossed the report onto the table and abruptly stood up.

That imposing figure instantly drew everyone's attention.

His gaze was fixed on the Third Mizukage in the main seat.

"Lord Mizukage, everyone."

"I have a solution that will solve the problem once and for all."

Kaguya Soranosuke was like a beast that had finally broken free of its restraints. The violent and primal fighting spirit emanating from him made the temperature in the conference room seem to drop a few degrees.

"Oh? What brilliant idea does Clan Chief Sora have? Why don't you share it?"

Shuiying looked at him expressionlessly, her tone flat, revealing no emotion.

"I wouldn't call it insightful." Kaguya Soranosuke grinned, revealing a bloodthirsty smile.

He slammed his hand on the conference table made of solid ice in front of him.

"Bang!"

Yuan Shi's eyelids twitched, but he kept his eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.

"Can't you even figure out such a simple question?"

Kūnosuke grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth. "My fists tell me there's only one way to solve this problem!"

He extended a thick finger and tapped it heavily on the huge ninja world map in the center of the table, the area representing the Land of Fire.

"Call them!"

His voice, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploded in everyone's ears.

"Wasn't Konoha's Nine-Tails perfectly sealed inside someone's body? That person named Uzumaki Mito."

"Let's gather all our forces, storm the Land of Fire, and storm Konoha! We'll take their Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, along with their damned sealing techniques!"

"With the strongest sealing technique, let alone two tailed beasts, even if all nine tailed beasts gathered together, our Hidden Mist Village can turn them into watchdogs!"

"Might makes right! The victor owns everything!"

Kaguya Soranosuke's words were full of simple, crude, yet highly persuasive logic.

Attack Konoha? Steal a Jinchuriki?

This sounds much more exciting than just staring blankly at the thick fog here every day.

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became subtle.

"madness!"

A strong rebuke broke the tense atmosphere.

The master, who had been resting with his eyes closed, stared at Kujosuke with a look of disappointment in his eyes.

"Clan Chief Kaguya, your courage is commendable, but your brain seems to be squeezed out by your muscles."

"Master, what did you say?!"

A terrifying killing intent instantly erupted in Kaguya Soranosuke's eyes.

"I said you're stupid!"

Yuan Shi refused to back down. He stood up and slammed his cane heavily on the ground. "Attack Konoha first? Do you know what that means?"

"That means we'll be facing the most powerful ninja village in the ninja world alone!"

"Have you forgotten the fate of the Third Raikage of Kumogakure and the puppeteer couple of Sunagakure?!"

"That's because they're utterly vulnerable!"

Kaguya Sonosuke scoffed at the Master's warning. He patted his chest and laughed arrogantly, "We Kirigakure ninjas specialize in water-style techniques and assassination. Once we infiltrate, we'll catch them completely off guard!"

"not to mention!"

He glanced at Yuan Shi with a mocking look. "We Hidden Mist Ninja may be skilled in Water Release techniques, but we're not made of water."

"You're scared before you've even fought? Have your old bones completely rusted from living such comfortable lives?!"