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Believe... trust.
These words sounded especially pleasing to the Kaguya clan leader and Mei Terumi.
Especially to the Kaguya clan leader.
Because of the immense strength of the Kaguya clan, almost every Mizukage — without exception — had been wary of the Kaguya clan and unwilling to trust them easily.
But now, to hear Uchiha Haru say these two words in person...
For a moment, the clan leader's heart warmed slightly.
He secretly felt that his choice was indeed the right one.
The same feeling was true for Mei Terumi.
After enduring the Fourth Mizukage being manipulated by the masked man's illusions for so long, many of her previous beliefs had shifted.
For example, she no longer thought emotionally about problems but learned to weigh them based on interests.
She understood that everything changes; only the pursuit of interests remains constant.
Yet, now, hearing the word trust, she felt a strange stir deep inside her heart.
Uchiha Haru trusts her.
Was it genuine trust? Or just a way to soothe her so she could work for him with peace of mind in the future?
Could she really trust Uchiha Haru?
Mei Terumi didn't know.
But from this moment forward, it seemed the only person she could truly rely on was Uchiha Haru.
She had no choice.
"Thank you, Mr. Haru, for your trust."
"Everything has gone according to plan, sir. Mei Terumi has become the Mizukage!"
The head of the Kaguya clan said with a smile.
It was a rare expression for him to wear.
He had always been a fierce, unreasonable, yet calm and cunning man who had long mastered the art of concealing his emotions.
Now, this obvious smile was partly because he was truly happy deep down,
but also because he was unable to suppress it.
"Good. Well done," Haru said calmly.
He had already handled Elder Genji beforehand and had the support of the Kaguya clan leader. Moreover, Mei Terumi was no ordinary person.
His success was not unexpected.
"However, don't get too carried away."
"Mei Terumi has become Mizukage, but her position is far from stable, and her foundation remains fragile. Those who opposed her only yielded because they had no choice."
"There is still resentment in their hearts."
"We must be extremely cautious, do you understand?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Haru."
The Kaguya clan leader reassured him.
Mei Terumi nodded and then asked, "What should we do next?"
Though she was Mizukage in name,
she knew exactly who the real boss was.
Uchiha Haru had the power to elevate her—and just as easily, to bring her down.
She wasn't greedy for anything beyond the title of Mizukage.
What she truly wanted was to ensure that nothing harmful would befall the Hidden Mist Village.
Haru pondered for a moment.
He had already considered these matters extensively and now only needed to organize his thoughts.
But instead of answering directly, he looked at Mei Terumi and said, "Mei Terumi, you're the Mizukage. What are your thoughts?"
Mei Terumi replied, "Since the Fourth Mizukage was controlled by the masked man's illusions for so long, our Hidden Mist Village has suffered deeply."
"Many families and villagers endured tremendous hardships."
"Therefore, I believe we should implement a moderate policy, cultivate public opinion, and gradually rebuild Kirigakure from its weakened state."
This had always been her desire.
As a low-ranking ninja, she best understood the struggles of the common shinobi and villagers.
Before, because of her position and status, she had no power to effect change.
But now, as the legitimate Mizukage, this long-held wish was recognized by Haru.
It was the first thing she wanted to do when he asked her.
"Yeah, alright," Haru said.
"Let's do exactly that."
He had no objections.
On his journey to the Hidden Mist Village, he had witnessed too many tragedies.
Implementing a moderate policy and recovery was necessary.
The Hidden Mist Village was already too weak, far behind the five great ninja villages like Konoha and Kumogakure.
If not for its island isolation and distance from the mainland, an attack by other villages wouldn't be surprising.
"Anything else?" Uchiha Haru asked.
Mei Terumi paused, frowned slightly, and said, "There is one person I don't know how to deal with."
"Elder Genji?" Haru asked without hesitation.
"Yeah."
Mei Terumi nodded.
The Elder Genji was the one who had recommended her to become the Fifth Mizukage, and he had cast a crucial vote in her favor.
Without Elder Genji's support, she might never have become Mizukage so smoothly.
Whether she could maintain that position, however, was another matter entirely.
But this person was not truly an ally.
More than a partner, he was like an enemy.
These two facts were intertwined. It would be wrong for Mei Terumi to reward and reuse him blindly, and equally wrong to suppress him outright.
Yet Elder Genji held a respected position within the Hidden Mist Village, and they couldn't simply ignore or sideline him.
This placed Mei Terumi in a difficult situation.
Uchiha Haru swirled the wine gently in his glass, thought for a moment, then said, "Elder Genji cannot be sidelined."
"In fact, we should reward him so that he will sincerely serve us."
"But..."
The head of the Kaguya clan frowned slightly. "Mr. Haru, this Elder Genji is no ordinary man. He commands great respect in Hidden Mist, and his prestige is unmatched."
"Moreover, he is ambitious and cunning—like a wily old fox."
"How can such a man be trusted again?"
Haru said, "Of course I know Elder Genji is not simple. But as I see it now, he remains useful."
"In the early days when Mei Terumi just became the Fifth Mizukage, we needed his prestige to stabilize the situation in Hidden Mist."
"Besides, during the process of Mei Terumi's ascension, Elder Genji contributed greatly."
"Whether he did so willingly or was coerced is irrelevant. The important thing is the result—he helped us a lot."
"Merits must be rewarded, faults punished. Only with clear distinctions can we gain trust and loyalty."
"As for whether Elder Genji might try to pull some trickery, there's no need to worry. As long as I'm here, he wouldn't dare."
"Proceed with confidence."
Hearing Haru's words, Mei Terumi and the Kaguya clan leader both nodded.
They knew Elder Genji's character well.
But what they trusted more was that Uchiha Haru would follow through on his promises.
"What about you, Patriarch Kaguya? What do you think?"
After finishing the topic about Elder Genji, Haru turned to the clan leader.
The Kaguya patriarch had thought about this matter long ago.
So when asked, he answered immediately.
"Mr. Haru, I believe that after Mei Terumi took office as the Fifth Mizukage, the old power structures must be dismantled."
"Most of those in the old guard are our enemies, standing against us, untrustworthy."
"To truly secure our footing in Hidden Mist and take control, we must place our own people in these positions, and support reliable forces to make them ours."
"Only by uniting like this can we truly rule Hidden Mist."
Mei Terumi frowned.
The Kaguya leader's words sounded straightforward.
But those who understood the political landscape knew that such a major reshuffle would unleash bloody storms.
After all, this was a fight for power.
No one willingly relinquishes power, and conflict is inevitable.
Still, she said little.
She knew the Kaguya clan leader's words might carry truth.
Having become the Fifth Mizukage, she would naturally replace her subordinates with loyal forces. It was necessary.
And to accomplish this, bloodshed and sacrifice were unavoidable.
However, bloodshed and sacrifice ran counter to the moderate policies and recuperation she had just proposed.
The power struggle at the top would bring turmoil to the village — how could recuperation be possible then?
Faced with this dilemma, she did not know what Haru would decide.
Mei Terumi fixed her gaze on Uchiha Haru, waiting for his answer.
Haru nodded thoughtfully after hearing the Kaguya leader's words.
He agreed, and entrusted the matter to the Kaguya clan leader.
What Mei Terumi had considered, he surely had too.
In fact, he had considered even more.
For example, after the power shift, it was almost certain the Kaguya clan—already the largest family in Hidden Mist—would rise even higher to become a dominant force.
No family or coalition could rival the Kaguya clan.
This was tantamount to raising a tiger that might one day turn on him.
Yet he chose to allow it.
Partly because any power transition necessarily involved bloodshed and conflict.
But mostly because Uchiha Haru was not afraid the Kaguya clan would seize the opportunity to become stronger.
He possessed the strength and ability to suppress any challengers.
Additionally, this decision was linked to something he was about to announce.
Seeing that Haru did not object, the Kaguya clan leader's face lit up with joy.
He knew the opportunity had arrived!
The Kaguya clan would soon take off under his guidance, reaching a terrifying new height.
At this moment, Mei Terumi voiced her inner concerns...
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