“I really don’t like your office.” Uncle stated honestly, “When are you going to spruce this place up?” He lingered, pacing about the office and poking stuff as though there wasn’t a couch to sit at.
In truth, I felt the same way about the office, I had particular preferences that followed me from my past life to this one and I’d like to see them met. It’s simply a matter of time and importance, gathering the necessary things and finding the time where I wouldn’t mind being disturbed as I worked.
“It’s on my list of things to do...just near the bottom. Not a lot of spare time on my hands as Mizukage yknow?” I raised an eye from the promotion request I was reading, I sighed and pulled out my official seal and stamped it blue with my approval.
Uncle scoffed and sent an accusing look at me, “Spare time? Hm, I guess visiting a tea house with a certain Rina isn’t a waste of time then.”
I groaned, “That’s how I got Lady Megumi’s proposals, even this one.” I pointed at the approved request and Uncle’s accusatory gaze softened. “Mangetsu Hozuki…Chuunin. What do you think?”
Uncle Aoto sighed as he shrugged, “He’s a prodigy, it makes sense to promote him, even if you’re only doing it as a compromise. Did you plan this?”
“Huh? Plan what?” There were a lot of things I was planning.
“Forcing Lady Megumi to compromise, you rejected her proposal to hunt and exterminate the Kaguya, a thing many clans agree with, but you also rejected Mangetsu’s promotion. And now, you’ve approved it…” He trailed off, looking at me expectantly.
Of course, I could fill in the blanks of what he means, what he thinks I orchestrated. In fact, that sounds like a genius plan to have had but really, when Rina in all her beauty voiced the plans for the Kaguya clan extermination from the Land of Water and in the same breath asked for Mangetsu, a six-year old to be promoted so he can participate...well, let’s just say I’d heard enough.
As a result of the last council meeting, I’ve explained my reasoning for not wanting to exterminate the Kaguya. Kirigakure is a village founded on the backs of the invaded clans, the low caste as they’re called once integrated. Since that tradition still exists there’s no need to genocide a clan wielding such a powerful Kekkei Genkai. Eiko’s report on their physiology corroborates these facts.
However, Yagura knew there’s nothing I could say to that’d make keeping Mangetsu as a Genin sound like a good idea to anyone on the council. Kiri has just suffered a war and bolstering our military ranks with capable shinobi is one of the most important tasks I have as Mizukage.
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I shook my head, “No, it was no scheme. I simply didn’t find any of it a good idea but I am willing to compromise.”
Uncle stood at my desk, fists pressed against it as he leaned in with the most serious look I’ve seen on him since the meeting, “Yagura, you should know by now that the clans are powers even the Mizukage has to bargain with. Sandaime-sama was a ruthless man and as he married Lord Funato’s granddaughter he had the backing of both the Funato and Hozuki clans and he also had war.”
I dropped my pen and sat back to listen.
“A war, believe it or not, is an ally to every Kage. Wartime means no one dares question your measures, wartime means your word is truly law as it should be. But Yagura, the war is over, you mustn’t test the waters too frequently or else you will be bitten.”
I flexed my clenched jaw and asked, “I have the Karatachi behind me, don’t I?”
His fierce gaze lightened and he smiled, “You better believe it.”
Grateful I nodded, “I appreciate your wisdom, Uncle, I will ensure my best to stave off threats to my…peaceful reign.”
“As long as you’re visiting tea houses you should consider getting married, Lady Megumi is certainly amenable.” There he goes again with the marriage topic.
“I noticed. But I’d like to find a wife that isn’t just a mouthpiece for her clan, Rina doesn’t seem to be that just yet but if Lady Megumi keeps this up then…well, she can forget having a Karatachi groom.”
Uncle hummed in thought, clearly not in total agreement but unwilling to push the matter. Folding his arms, he asks, “So, who will you send to the Kaguya?”
At this I grinned. Of the many plans I’ve been dreaming up this is one I’m anxious to test as soon as possible. The Kaguya attack happened nearly two weeks ago and I’m sure to some within the village it looks like I’ve been dragging my feet to decide just what kind of retaliation I wanted to send down.
But as Uncle has said, without a war or marriage to another powerful clan, I needed allies within to prop my fresh reign and so, I look to the neglected albeit powerful clans of Yuki and Hoshigaki.
“Reina Yuki, Elite Jounin and current Commander of our ANBU, exemplary service. Kisame Hoshigaki, prospective Seven Swordsman of the Mist, hasn’t been assigned any of the free blades, not even while he was being tested for the succession.” I raised a knowing eyebrow as Uncle’s eyes widened in realization.
He grinned, “I think I’ll help you decorate this office, I’m missing all the fun by staying away.”
“You should come more often; I wouldn’t mind picking your brain on some of these. Konoha for example.”
At this he outright laughed, “That’s your burden to bear, Mizukage-sama. A peaceful Mist is what you want huh? Let us hope this Yellow Flash of theirs isn’t anything like Sarutobi, though the man still lives, his influence over the village is not dead. My advice? Expect nothing but disappointment.”
Harsh words but truth filled them all. There was an even bigger obstacle to peace between villages than the Third Hokage to consider, a vile man willing to pay any cost as long as Konoha came out on top of the dogpile.
Danzo Shimura.