Chapter 217: Rebirth Through Fire
"That reason is important, no doubt—but what really matters is that the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, seems intent on making changes. That's the only real foundation for any cooperation between Kirigakure and Konoha. After all, who'd trust an ally that might flip at any moment? Any alliance would be just ink on paper, waiting to be torn apart."
Right now, Kirigakure actively seeking cooperation was a rare opportunity for Konoha. Having just suffered heavy losses and still licking its wounds, Konoha also needed a stable external environment. The two sides were, in a way, made for each other in this moment—both needing what the other could offer. That's why this diplomatic test run was so crucial to Konoha.
"The Land of Water is just too complicated," Kakashi muttered, clearly weary of a mission with more politics than combat.
"That's to be expected. The geography alone makes things messy."
Historically, the Land of Water had always been chaotic. Much of the disorder stemmed from infighting among ninja factions. While Kirigakure was the dominant force, the country was riddled with small, powerful ninja clans, each with their own territory. Any clan with even a shred of power would seize a habitable island and act like a feudal lord—defying the daimyō, ignoring orders from the village, engaging in internal strife, and erupting into rebellions constantly. No other ninja village had this much trouble holding its own country together.
"Is Kirigakure doomed to stay broken forever?" Kakashi frowned. "It feels like the village is growing weaker and weaker. Is there really no hope for this 'Land of Bloody Mist'?"
"There is," Mizuki replied. "In fact, Konoha may have to face a rising Kirigakure in the near future."
"Rising? In this condition?"
"You know what they say—something must break before it can rebuild. Rebirth through fire. Yagura's brutal policies, though detested by everyone, did succeed in purging the internal chaos. Most of the defiant clans and rogue factions were wiped out. Even the once-feared Kaguya and Hozuki clans, both with powerful kekkei genkai, were destroyed. So really, Kakashi—there are no major factions left with the strength to resist. Just look at those so-called 'rebels' down below…"
Everyone glanced at the battle below. Even with the help of a massive summon beast, the rebels were clearly no match for the Mist shinobi.
"They're just pitiful loudmouths with no real power," Mizuki continued. "All bark and no bite. They'll be nothing more than whetstones for Mei Terumi's rise to dominance."
To overturn Yagura's reign in such a short time, this new Mizukage had to be both powerful and cunning. Mei Terumi was a miracle born of Kirigakure's long years of bloodshed and pain—a chance to end the 'Bloody Mist' era once and for all. The people who were sick of endless killing were all backing her. A few rogue elements couldn't possibly stand in her way.
"You seem pretty optimistic about this Fifth Mizukage," Kakashi said with a grin. "Didn't hear you singing praises like this when Lady Tsunade returned."
"Back then my jōnin promotion depended entirely on her word. Why would I risk pissing her off? When our dear Hokage finally quits drinking and gambling, then I'll consider singing her praises."
"I'm writing that down in my report…" Kakashi smirked as he pulled out his notebook and made a show of writing.
The genin nearby quickly looked away, pretending they hadn't heard anything.
…
The battle below was intense but not evenly matched. The rebels stood no chance and were swiftly defeated. Ao and his team began clearing the battlefield.
The fight hadn't lasted long, and while Mizuki didn't think much of the enemies' skills, the damage they'd caused wasn't small.
Afterward, Kakashi spoke to the ship's captain and returned with troubling news.
"The ship's hull is damaged?" Mizuki asked, uneasy. "Can we still move forward?"
"Yes, but we'll be slower. Some compartments were breached, and water seeped in. It's not dangerous, but we'll lose speed."
"That's a relief." Mizuki let out a breath. Honestly, even if the ship had been turned to rubble, ninja could walk on water all the way to the Land of Water—but the chakra and stamina cost would've been brutal. If they could reach their destination comfortably, why waste the effort?
The ship had only been damaged during the initial strike. Once the enemy was repelled, they hadn't had a chance to escape, let alone cause serious destruction. Plus, passenger ships of this size were usually built with watertight bulkheads. As long as the damage wasn't extensive, it wouldn't sink—only performance would suffer.
Their once-relaxing journey had been thoroughly disrupted. No one felt like relaxing anymore. The attack had served as a reminder: when you're outside the village, you can't afford to let your guard down—not even for a moment.
Nearly a full day passed before the ship finally reached the Land of Water by mid-morning the next day.
"We're finally here!" Naruto exclaimed. After being cooped up for days, he was the first to leap off the ship, practically sprinting onto dry land, eager to feel solid ground beneath his feet again.
"So this is the Land of Water…" Mizuki murmured as he stepped ashore. It wasn't his first time traveling abroad—his farthest trip had been to the Land of Waves. Some smaller vessels had to stop there for resupply, but larger ones like this usually had enough food and water for direct passage.
"Now's your time to shine," Kakashi said. "Take a good look at this country."
"No need to tell me twice," Mizuki chuckled. "I'm curious myself. I want to see what a nation once ruled by fear and slaughter looks like now."
"Good. We'll need your observations. An alliance may be nearly certain, but how that alliance is negotiated—and enforced—depends heavily on our understanding of our partner's internal state."
The Konoha delegation moved through the seaside town. Thanks to its port access, the town had a bit of bustle to it. Merchant ships arrived frequently, bringing in trade and fresh goods. To Mizuki's surprise, there were even some lower-ranked ninja stationed here—wearing Mist forehead protectors—helping maintain public order.
It was a small sign, but a promising one.
A nation can only be reborn if it first acknowledges what it must leave behind.
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