Chapter 11: Jōnin Conference
In the Mizukage Building, in the meeting room where the Jōnin meetings were held.
The Third Mizukage sat at the front of the conference room, and the elder Genji sat in the position below the Mizukage.
The Jōnin in the village who received the notice arrived here one after another.
"Mizukage-sama, all the Jōnin in the village who are not currently on missions have arrived."
The Jōnin Commander, Karatachi Yagura, reported softly to the Mizukage.
No emotion could be seen on his slightly aged face. As the Third Mizukage who had participated in the first Five Kage Conference, he was the oldest among the five current Kages.
The Third Mizukage has been in charge of the Kirigakure Village for nearly forty years. His long rule and cruel blood mist policy have made the majesty of this Kage deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Although he was just sitting on an ordinary chair, he exuded an unquestionable aura.
The meticulous grooming of his graying hair seemed to illustrate the old man's rigor and self-discipline.
Those sharp eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts as they scanned the faces of the patriarchs of the ninja clans, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and the young jōnin below.
Suddenly realizing that there were only a few ninjas who had truly survived the Warring States Period, the Third Mizukage suddenly felt a little bored.
"Elder Genji, please tell me about the situation."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
Elder Genji stood up and spoke, leaning on a cane that was taller than himself.
"We received an urgent report this morning that the Fourth Kazekage has succeeded to the throne. The Sunagakure Village condemned the Konohagakure Village for secretly killing the Third Kazekage. They also pushed the Land of Wind to formally declare war on the Land of Fire."
This news did not cause any commotion. After all, the Kazekage had disappeared more than two months ago, and subsequent news came out saying that Konohagakure Village was related to this matter.
Some of the more perceptive Jōnin have realized that war may not be far away.
Seeing this, Elder Genji continued speaking.
"Just when the meeting was called, the second piece of information was delivered. The advance team of the Sunagakure Village has entered the border of the Land of Rivers, and the supporting ninjas from Konohagakure Village should arrive at the border of the Land of Fire soon."
The Land of Rivers is a small country between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. In times of peace, it serves as a buffer zone between the two great ninja countries, but in times of war it often becomes a battlefield between the great powers.
After hearing the latest information, the senior ninjas below began to discuss a little.
It seems that the Sunagakure Village had clearly planned to declare war in advance.
Although it was the Land of Fire that was attacked, the advance troops had already entered the Land of Rivers, and the Kirigakure Village did not receive any news in advance.
It is obvious that this time the Sunagakure Village does not want to stop the war within the borders of the Land of Rivers, but wants to go deep into the Land of Fire and bite off a piece of meat from Konohagakure Village.
"Currently, the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning have not issued any statement. The first purpose of this meeting is to give the Daimyo the intelligence we received from the Kirigakure Village and the internal opinions on this war."
"Secondly, no matter what the outcome of the meeting is, the Kirigakure Village will begin preparations for war. Starting tomorrow, some of the village's daily tasks will be reduced to ensure that there is sufficient combat power when needed."
After saying this, the elder Genji coughed twice, then turned and looked at the Third Mizukage.
"I know those brats Onoki and Third Raikage A very well. They are not quiet guys. They will definitely take some action later."
The Third Mizukage also made a comment after seeing the elder Genji finish speaking, but the only one who could call a 50-year-old Ōnoki a brat was probably this Mizukage.
"Third Mizukage-sama, there is no problem with preparing for war. Our Kaguya clan is ready to fight at any time. But if the number of missions is reduced, I will not be able to explain to my clan members."
The speaker was Kaguya Tatsuya, the current patriarch of the Kaguya Clan.
The other Jōnin were no longer surprised by this situation. They took it for granted that whatever was said by this clan was not very smart and this clan only knew how to fight was natural.
"This is not what this meeting is about. This is an order from the village."
The Third Mizukage did not get angry, but expressed his dissatisfaction in a slightly heavier tone. It was obvious that he did not want to bother with such a brainless guy.
"Then, Third Mizukage-sama, do we need to let some students of the ninja school graduate early?"
A ninja from the bloodline limit clan next to Kaguya Tatsuya mentioned this.
"A new batch of Genin will graduate in a month. The war hasn't even started yet, so it shouldn't be that serious, right?"
When Karatachi Yagura heard the ninja's proposal, he immediately retorted nervously.
"That's not necessary at the moment."
The Third Mizukage looked at Karatachi Yagura meaningfully, but also expressed his approval of what he said.
Some familiar Jōnin had already started discussing in groups of three or four.
"Third Mizukage-sama, the Kirigakure Village has been developing well in recent years. Given our geographical location, no great ninja country will take the initiative to attack us. Do we not need to participate in the battlefield on the Konohagakure Village continent?"
Among the Jōnin present, Ao was one of the younger ones, but he still took the initiative to put forward his own ideas.
"The Daimyo has always been very dissatisfied with the fact that our Kirigakure did not participate in the last Great Ninja War. He has repeatedly mentioned that he hopes we can seize a few ports in the Land of Fire so as to expand the trade market in the Land of Water."
This time it was Elder Genji who gave the answer. As an elder who often dealt with village affairs, he had to communicate with the Daimyo Mansion on a daily basis.
"Ao, what nonsense are you talking about? It has only been a few years since the Second Great Ninja War. Konohagakure Village must not have recovered yet. Now is a good opportunity for us in the Kirigakure Village."
The tall figure of the Suikazan Fuguki looked down at Ao, with a hint of disdain in his tone.
"Indeed, the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning will certainly not miss the opportunity to take a bite out of the Land of Fire. The Land of Fire has occupied those lands for too long."
Biwa Juzo also gave a cruel smile and echoed it at the right time.
As members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, although none of them were convinced of each other, they all clearly shared the same desire to kill enemies on the battlefield.
In response to this, more Jōnin also responded and echoed one by one.
Obviously, most of the ninjas in the Blood Mist Village were still feeling a bit resentful about the Kirigakure Village not participating in the last Great Ninja War.
However, due to the suppression of the Third Mizukage, there was nothing they could do.
Fortunately, it has only been a few years, and it is clear that the conflict between the Sunagakure Village and Konohagakure Village is no longer a small-scale conflict.
With the war on the verge of breaking out, actively participating in this war is what the warmongers in the Kirigakure Village want.
"It seems that everyone is still eager for war, so I will inform the Daimyo after the meeting. Issue a condemnation to Konohagakure Village in the name of the Land of Water as soon as possible."
At this moment, a hint of cruelty flashed in the slightly old eyes of the Third Mizukage.
At the first Five Kage Conference, the guards brought by the Kage from each village eventually became the Second Kage of their respective villages, and only he became the Third Kage.
Although at that time it was the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu who was supposed to serve as a bodyguard, but he was seriously injured and unconscious due to a battle with his mortal enemy, the Second Tsuchikage Mu, and was unable to attend.
Only then did he have the opportunity to accompany the first Mizukage Byakuren to attend the Five Kage Conference.
And that guy Mu ended up accompanying the first Tsuchikage to the meeting, covered in bandages.
However, the Third Mizukage has always been brooding over this matter, and has always wanted to prove that he is a more qualified Mizukage.
However, in the first Great Ninja War, the First Mizukage and Hozuki Gengetsu, who was already the Second Mizukage, were both killed in the battle.
Although he was appointed as the Third Mizukage in a time of crisis, the Kirigakure Village was no longer able to participate in the war and was forced to retreat back to the Land of Water, resulting in the Third Mizukage not being able to prove himself at the best time.
Later, during the Second Great Ninja War, the Kirigakure Village had just experienced a rebellion and its strength was somewhat lacking.
They could only restrain like the Land of Lightning, which also did not participate in the war, and watch the other three countries fighting fiercely.
In the end, even Hanzo of the Amegakure Village gained the reputation of a 'demigod' by stepping on the three great ninja countries.
The Third Mizukage, who had never been able to prove himself in the ninja world, was actually the one who most wanted the Land of Water to join the war among those present.
At this moment, the Kirigakure Village is already strong in manpower and the elderly Third Mizukage will never miss such an opportunity again.
But no Kage dies of old age in this position!
This oldest Kage, who has fought all the way back from the Warring States Period, can no longer hide the fierceness in his eyes.
"Everyone! Get ready for the coming war!"