Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

The Land of Water,
Hidden Mist Village
The sudden return of the Third Mizukage brought no news of victory to the anxious villagers.
Moreover, long-standing problems within the village began to surface repeatedly, plunging Kirigakure into chaos.
First, there's the huge fiscal deficit. Due to the targeting by the Land of Whirlpools, Kirigakure's income has plummeted in recent years. If it weren't for the welfare provided by the Daimyo, the villagers would all have to go to sea to fish to supplement their income.
They thought they could make a small fortune from the war, but they never expected to be dragged into a protracted conflict. The Hidden Mist Village, strapped for cash, simply couldn't afford to wait.
Furthermore, during Katsura's absence from Konoha, the Hozuki clan and other bloodline clans attempted to stage a coup to reclaim the leadership positions that rightfully belonged to them. Having received a tip from an inside source, Katsura was forced to abandon the war against Konoha and return to the village to resolve internal problems.

Unfortunately, one never knows whether death or tomorrow will come first. When Gui dragged his weary and frail body back to the village where he was born and raised, both his old and new injuries flared up at the same time. After hastily explaining a few things to the village elders, he passed away.
From this point on, internal strife in Kirigakure completely erupted.

The Mist Ninja, who had just withdrawn from the front lines, hadn't even had a chance to catch their breath before being dragged into this political vortex.

From its inception, Kirigakure has operated under a system that prioritizes bloodline clans, with all previous Mizukage being bloodline ninjas. The vacant position of the Fourth Mizukage thus became a coveted prize among these bloodline clans.
Among them, the Snow Clan, due to their nepotism and connections with Osaka over the years, once enjoyed unparalleled power and suppressed other bloodline families quite a bit.
Therefore, the moment the Third Mizukage's support collapsed, they became the target of everyone's attacks, jointly targeted by the bloodline families they had once oppressed. After a futile struggle, they withdrew from the stage of history, shrinking into a corner to lick their wounds in secret.

Not only were they stripped of their former status, but the Snow Clan also lost a vital treasure in this coup.

The Tailed Beast Card that inherited Katsura's will, along with its accompanying driver, were taken as spoils of war by the Karatachi clan.

Speaking of the Karatachi clan, this emerging family in Kirigakure is, to some extent, not a traditional bloodline clan.
Decades ago, the first patriarch of the Goji Clan, while training in the deep sea, comprehended a secret technique that is difficult to define as a bloodline limit.

At that time, Byakuren, the first Mizukage, was in office and was having a headache over how to control the volatile and warlike Kaguya clan.
When the first chief of the Gouju clan demonstrated his mastery of the coral secret technique, he immediately decided to elevate the Gouju clan to a noble bloodline family and poured abundant resources into its development. This allowed the Gouju clan to grow into a force capable of rivaling established bloodline families within just a few decades.

The reason Bai Lian did this was because, during the testing phase of the Karajutsu Secret Technique, he discovered that this coral-based technique was highly effective against taijutsu-type ninjas.
At that time, within Kirigakure, only the Hozuki clan could restrain the Kaguya clan. However, Byakuren could not stand idly by and allow the Hozuki family to become too powerful, so he cultivated the Karatachi clan as his second trump card.
Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. The white lotus in the Pure Land could never have imagined that, years later, the Gouju clan, which he had supported, would be the first to turn against his Xue clan.

With the defeat of the Yuki clan, only three bloodline families—Kaguya, Hozuki, and Karatachi—remained in Kirigakure to continue the struggle for power.
But just when everyone thought a fierce battle was about to unfold, the three factions tacitly stopped fighting, reigniting the suspense in the battle for the Mizukage title.

Kaguya clan territory
"Chieftain, my big bone club is itching for a fight!"

With victory seemingly within their grasp, the Kaguya clan members, their blood boiling with excitement, had bloodshot eyes and their very bones trembling.

Seated high above, the Kaguya clan chief crossed her arms, a hint of shrewdness gleaming on her otherwise brute face. Looking at her impassioned clansmen, she gave a cold snort and said…
"Hmph! That old scoundrel Hozuki Sakugetsu really thinks I don't know what tricks he's up to, trying to make us fight the Gojib clan like dogs? Wishful thinking!"

The fact that the Karatachi clan was able to easily obtain the Tailed Beast Cards that the Yuki clan had fought so hard to protect is definitely related to the Hozuki clan's inaction.

Previously, the Yuki clan and the Hozuki clan were very close due to the master-disciple relationship between Byakuren and Hozuki Gengetsu. However, after the death of the Third Mizukage, this unbreakable alliance instantly shattered.

Chief Kaguya could even conclude that the Hozuki clan's instigation of the attack on the Yuki clan was also due to the Hozuki clan's encouragement.
Everyone knows the Yuki clan is the nemesis of your Hozuki clan, so this tactic of using one enemy to devour another is far too obvious.

Thinking of this, the Kaguya clan leader stroked her goatee with an air of pride.
The Kaguya clan is truly fortunate to have a clan leader as wise as me.

"Chief, are we human or dogs?"

Unfortunately, in such a large family, he was the only one with great intelligence.

The Kaguya clan leader, feeling a bit of a headache, looked at her clansmen below the stage, their faces full of question marks, and felt utterly exhausted.
The Kaguya clan is known for its volatile temper and bloodlust, which is ingrained in their very nature. They'd often stab their own family in the back when they had nothing better to do. If he weren't keeping them in check, these brutes would probably have already gone off to fight other clans.
"These are profound questions that you are not capable of pondering at this stage."

Waving her hand to silence the noisy clansmen below, Kaguya's eyes gleamed, and a disdainful smile curled at the corner of her lips.

The Hozuki clan thought that Kaguya would fight to the death with that crazy old woman Tatsumaki in order to get the Tailed Beast Cards.
The abacus beads were practically bouncing onto his face.

"Everyone, listen to my command and remain still."

He wanted to see what other tricks that old scoundrel Hozuki Sakugetsu could pull.

at the same time,

The Hozuki clan's territory.

"Damn it! Why did the Kaguya clan stop? How could they hold back?"

The current head of the Hozuki clan, Hozuki Sakugetsu, a middle-aged, greasy man with a mustache similar to Hozuki Gengetsu's, was so angry upon seeing the intelligence his subordinate had just delivered that his mustache almost stood on end.

"Master Yuan, is this what you call a strategy of using one wolf to devour another?"

Enraged, he turned to the bald, middle-aged man beside him, his brows furrowed, and questioned him in a threatening tone.

"I underestimated Kaguya Shinji."

The middle-aged man, known as the Master of Elements, gently shook his head. He had designed the trap based on the average intelligence of the Kaguya clan.
Unexpectedly, Kaguya Shinji, the clan leader, has an IQ slightly higher than the average he calculated.
"Hmph! Not only have you failed to deal with Kaguya and Karatachi, but you've also handed over the Three-Tailed Card. Master, isn't your reputation as the number one strategist of Kirigakure somewhat undeserved?"

Hozuki Sakugetsu coldly stared at the pensive-looking Genji, his eyes flashing with killing intent. If he hadn't been misled by this so-called strategist, he would have already snatched the Three-Tailed Card.
In addition, he already possesses the Six-Tails card, so who else but him is the rightful Mizukage?

"Lord Shuoyue, I know that your water transformation technique has been mastered to perfection, but I'm afraid you'll still be struggling to deal with both Kaguya and Karatachi at the same time?"

Faced with Hozuki Sakugetsu's threat, Genji remained unmoved. Not only that, he calmly countered with a question:

Upon hearing this, Hozuki Sakugetsu's expression tightened. If he were to fight Kaguya Shinji or Tatsumaki Karatachi one-on-one, he was absolutely confident he could wear them down. However, if he were to face a combined attack from both of them, he would undoubtedly be the one to die.
"Hmm, I have a Six-Tailed Card!"

But to save face, he pulled a faintly glowing card from his pocket with a displeased expression. The moment he saw the card, he froze.

"As long as I can use the power of the Tailed Beast Cards, Kaguya and Kaguya are nothing but chickens and dogs!"

"Can you use it?"

Looking at the confident Hozuki Sakugetsu, Genji suddenly asked,

"Um... right away. Just give me a little more time, and I'm sure I can."

So that means it can't be used yet?

"Yes."

Having received the answer, Master Yuan nodded thoughtfully. "That's right," he thought. "If Hozuki Sakugetsu could use the power of the Tailed Beast Riders, this chaotic battle wouldn't have happened at all. He alone could have swept aside the other bloodline families."
Unfortunately, the middle-aged clan leader before them, who possessed nothing but greasiness and lacked any real talent, did not have the strength to match his ambitions.
Yuan Shi was momentarily at a loss. It seemed he had bet on the wrong horse. He had thought the Hozuki clan had a deep foundation and that he could at least gain merit by following the emperor, but now it looked like things were really going to be difficult.
Or should we seek another wise leader?

However, Kaguya rejects those with different surnames, and if she went there herself, she would definitely be torn to pieces. The Karatachi clan might be worth a try, but Karatachi Tatsumaki is rumored to have an eccentric personality, like a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

Sigh. Let's wait and see. Maybe the Hozuki clan has other trump cards up their sleeves.

"Wait! Even without the Tailed Beast Cards, our Hozuki clan has other treasures." Just as Master Yuan had thought, feeling he had lost face, Hozuki Sakugetsu gritted his teeth and pulled a summoning scroll from his robes.

"This is a ninja tool that Lord Gengetsu instructed me to make before his death. Unfortunately, he forgot about it after obtaining the power of the Tailed Beast Knight."

In the early days of his tenure, Hozuki Gengetsu was dedicated to building an elite team. He specially arranged for skilled members of his clan to spend a lot of money to find rare materials and create a batch of ninja tools with special abilities.

But as we all know, Hozuki Gengetsu became obsessed with ninja belts, completely neglecting his ninja tools and swords until his very last breath.

"Ninja tools?"

Genji curiously examined the scroll containing the summoning ninja sword, while Hozuki Sakugetsu didn't hesitate, immediately biting his finger and forming a release hand seal.

"untie!"

Thud~ Thud~ Thud.
Seven plumes of white smoke rose, and seven strangely shaped ninja tools appeared on the ground in front of the two.
"These are the Seven Ninja Swords that I personally supervised and guided in their manufacture."

Hozuki Sakugetsu proudly displayed his masterpiece to Master Gen.

The Seven Ninja Swords?

The master blinked in confusion, his gaze sweeping over the strange and unusual ninja tools on the ground.

A longsword as thin as a needle, a flat, round knife, a broadsword covered in explosive tags, twin swords with sharp teeth flashing with lightning, a bizarre combination of a hammer and axe, a relatively normal-looking decapitation sword, and a whimpering, unidentified giant club wrapped in white bandages.

"How many of these look like knives?"

"Cough cough cough, this is called art, the art of forging, do you even understand it and you're just spouting nonsense here?"

When questioned, Hozuki Sakugetsu blushed and retorted with a somewhat evasive look in his eyes.

These ninja tools were actually outsourced to other manufacturers. After being misled by their salespeople and promised high kickbacks, he handed over the materials and labor costs without even looking at the blueprints.
I think it's called something like "Wave Country's Curious Forge"?

To be fair, this company was quite efficient; they sent the finished product back to him in no time. Of course, they also kept all the promised kickbacks. They are truly an honest seller!

Unfortunately, by this time, Hozuki Gengetsu had lost interest in ninja swords, so Hozuki Sakugetsu had no choice but to put these ninja tools away himself.
He never expected that his ninja tools, which he had kept hidden for many years, would finally have a use.

The master, ignoring the complex expression on Hozuki Sakugetsu's face, carefully examined the ninja sword on the ground.

As a polymath with some knowledge in various fields, after examining each of these strangely shaped ninja swords, his calm expression subtly changed.
"Wow, that's something!"

Cutting iron like mud is just the basic ability of these ninja swords; they also have the function of chakra conduction, showing that a lot of chakra metal was added during the material selection.
"Hmph~ Don't be fooled by their unassuming appearance. Each of these ninja swords has its own unique ability."

Seeing the shocked expression on Yuan Shi's face, Hozuki Sakugetsu felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, and then began to explain.

"special power?"

"That's right! They each have... Wait a minute, let me find the instruction manual~"

Hozuki Sakugetsu nodded confidently, and under the expectant gaze of his master, he began rummaging through his bag.

"Phew, found it!"

After a long while, he finally found the dusty "Ninja Tool Usage Guide" at the bottom of a box.
"Didn't you say that you personally supervised and guided the production of these ninja tools?"

Seeing Hozuki Sakugetsu put on his small glasses and carefully open the instruction manual, the waiting Master asked in confusion,
"Have you ever been a leader before, and you're asking me that?"

Giving a disapproving glare to the talkative Master, Hozuki Sakugetsu quickly skimmed through the instruction manual, then took off his glasses, casually picked up the huge, whirring rod wrapped in bandages, and began his impromptu explanation.

"This ninja sword is called the Broken Blade - Executioner's Blade. Not only is it incredibly sharp, it can also absorb the enemy's energy."

"Wait, judging from the name, it should be that one, right?"

Watching Hozuki Sakugetsu speak so eloquently, Genji couldn't help but point to the guillotine lying silently on the ground and speak up to remind him.
"Cough cough cough I said it is, it is, the one you're pointing to is called the Long Knife - Sewing Needle."

Master Yuan: "."

Why don't you give me the instruction manual, and I'll read it myself?

The Goji Berry Family
"Bang Bang Bang~"

At the door of a secret room, a member of the Gouju tribe, carrying a meal, patted the tightly closed door with a worried expression.
"Clan leader, you haven't eaten for three days. The Tailed Beast Cards are important, but your health is not."

"I've told you so many times, don't bother me during this time."

Before he could finish speaking, a slightly childish voice came from the secret room, but the tone of the voice sounded rather mature.

"Well then, I'll leave the food outside the door. Please, Chief, remember to eat, or you won't grow tall."

"No Road Race!"

Before the Gouju tribesman could finish speaking, a tornado burst through the door, instantly lifting the outspoken tribesman into the sky, eliciting screams of agony.

"Da da da."

With a crisp footstep, a short figure with curly green hair appeared outside the half-open gate. She looked up at her tribesmen screaming in the air, her dark green eyes filled with resentment.

"How rude! Do you have a problem with my perfect physique?" (End of Chapter)