Promoting the Konoha threat theory, and talking about the Hidden Mist Belt!

"Haha, Crescent Moon, I knew you had something up your sleeve!"

After learning about the current situation in the ninja world, especially the actions of the major ninja villages, Ao was overjoyed. He immediately went to the Hozuki clan's territory, eager to share his joy with his friend.

"This is nothing, Ao," Hozuki Shingetsu tried to comfort his little friend.

The current situation is so favorable that the "mainland balance policy" is in a very good position, even better than Hozuki Shingetsu had anticipated.

Before the plan was implemented, he thought it would go smoothly, but he never expected that the various manipulations of the old foxes in the ninja villages would turn it into the chaotic mess it is today.

Under these circumstances, it wouldn't be surprising if the Second Shinobi World War were to break out tomorrow directly with Hozuki Shingetsu.

Hmm, to turn the ninja world, which had been peaceful for more than ten years, into this state, could it be that I, Hozuki Shingetsu, also have the talent to be a "poison master"?

Back then, Jia Xu's strategy indirectly started the Three Kingdoms era. Now, I, Hozuki Shingetsu, have stirred up the heroes of the ninja world with a little trick. Shouldn't I also call myself a "poisonous ninja master"?

"By the way, have you found those people I asked you to find before?"

Hozuki Shingetsu suddenly remembered something and asked Ao about the progress of the matter.

"We found the person, but we encountered some trouble when entering the village."

With a troubled expression, Qing recounted the events that had transpired.

On the very first day that Hozuki Shingetsu took over as Foreign Affairs Officer, he assigned Ao a task: to invite famous film industry professionals from the ninja world to Kirigakure.

When it comes to public opinion and propaganda, how can we forget about various multimedia sources?

Moreover, in order to ensure that Ren wouldn't stab him in the back, and to ease the hostility from the daimyo, Hozuki Shingetsu had prepared a series of plans, all of which were ultimately centered around the movie.

Coincidentally, during the past ten years or so of peace in the ninja world, movies have also emerged. However, due to the huge investment required for theaters, this new form of entertainment is currently only available in some large cities.

As a new form of entertainment, film professionals need to further expand the market, so when they learned of the invitation from the young head of the Hozuki clan, all those invited put down all their work and excitedly came to Kirigakure.

However, before they even entered the gates of Kirigakure, the entire village was arrested by the guards, who claimed that outsiders were strictly prohibited from entering the village at that time.

Since the Third Mizukage implemented the containment policy, the village's defense has been fully taken over by the security forces. Normally, in carrying out this order, those who unknowingly or unintentionally arrive in Kirigakure are advised to return.

Unfortunately, to prove they hadn't trespassed, the group brought out Hozuki Shingetsu. The security detail happened to be under the control of the Kaguya clan, who had been at odds with the Hozuki clan since the Third Mizukage took office. Upon seeing this, the Kaguya clan immediately arrested the entire group.

"I've explained to the Kaguya clan several times that it was you, Shingetsu, who invited me, but they turned me away because they didn't have the Water Shadow's token." Ao lowered his head in shame.

"It's none of your business, they're coming for me."

You can tell what's going on as soon as you hear "Hozuki Shingetsu".

It's very simple. Seeing how smoothly Hozuki Shingetsu has taken his first step after taking power, some people are getting restless.

As an ally of the Second Mizukage and the number one contributor to the Third Mizukage's rise to power, the Kaguya clan rightfully sounded the vanguard in the attack on Hozuki Shingetsu.

The solution was simple: Hozuki Shingetsu went to the police station himself, and the problem was solved.

The core of this matter is actually about losing face with Hozuki Shingetsu, and according to the Kaguya clan's usual practice, the way to lose face is also very simple.

A fight will suffice.

Yes, similar to the Uchiha clan.

That's right. Given the battle-crazed nature of the Kaguya clan, as long as you defeat them face to face, any genius or prestige becomes a joke in their eyes.

Simple, crude, but effective.

However, Hozuki Shingetsu was looking for someone to test his newly developed ninjutsu on, to see how powerful it was.

Hozuki Shingetsu originally wanted to try it out when they were fighting the Konoha team, but unfortunately, their opponents were too weak.

Faced with Hozuki Shingetsu, who was proficient in various water-style techniques of the Hozuki clan, the Hyuga branch family, known as the nemesis of water-transformation techniques, was completely powerless to fight back. They were defeated before they could even force him to reveal his trump card.

Moreover, prestige is something that cannot be convincing solely through intrigue and trickery.

Despite Hozuki Shingetsu's tireless efforts over the years, coupled with his recent rise to prominence, which has made him famous in Kirigakure, the Land of Water, and even the entire ninja world, as the saying goes, barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue. Without witnessing the power of a fist, they will not have true respect.

It can be said that the Kaguya clan's provocation this time hit Hozuki Shingetsu right where it hurts.

So, following the principle that there's no better time than today, Hozuki Shingetsu immediately brought Ao along to the headquarters of the guard force located in the core area of ​​Kirigakure.

Although the Kirigakure village's security forces are controlled by the Kaguya clan, they also include some ninja from other clans. After all, the Kaguya clan's power is far inferior to that of the Uchiha clan, and their relationship with the village is far from being irreconcilable.

Furthermore, while the Kaguya clan members were all battle maniacs, they lacked the arrogant haughtiness of the Uchiha clan. If you could defeat them, you could earn their respect. Therefore, the villagers' perception of the Kaguya clan was far less complex than their perception of the Uchiha clan.

Of course, respect here means they won't call you trash to your face; don't expect them to fawn over you.

"Minister Hozuki, your presence is an honor! I am so sorry to have failed to greet you properly!"

Upon receiving the message, the squad leader of the security team, Kaguya Hirotoshi, a veteran Jonin of the Conference Clan, came to Hozuki Shingetsu and greeted him with a forced smile.

Kaguya Hirotoshi was exactly twenty years old, and six years had passed since he was promoted to Jonin. He was in the last year of the period when a ninja's strength could leap forward between the ages of twelve and twenty, and his strength was enough to be called a senior Jonin.

She is only eight years older than Hozuki Shingetsu, less than ten years old, so they can barely be considered to be of the same generation.

Judging from their age and strength, it is quite obvious that the Kaguya clan sent Kaguya Hirotoshi to greet them, and they came prepared.

Kaguya Hirotoshi was naturally very unhappy that his clan had made him deal with someone so much younger than him.

Yes, you, Hozuki Shingetsu, are a genius, but who wasn't a genius child back in the day?

He was promoted to Jonin at the age of fourteen. Although he was not as dazzling as Hozuki Shingetsu, he was still a genius.

Therefore, Kaguya Hirotoshi had made up her mind to thoroughly subdue this despicable brat in front of her.

"The minister must have some official business to discuss at this hour, right? I wonder if he has the Mizukage's 'authority'?"

Hirotoshi Kaguya deliberately emphasized the words "command," clearly intending to provoke Shingetsu Hozuki.

"I hope this kid has some backbone and doesn't back down in the end," Kaguya Hirotoshi thought to herself.

If Hozuki Shingetsu really backs down, then he really won't be able to do anything.

After all, a duel agreed upon by both parties is very different from one person attacking another without permission, especially an attack on a Jonin.

It's best to avoid this kind of thing from happening until we've completely broken ties with the Hozuki clan.

However, Hozuki Shingetsu had no intention of engaging in a verbal argument with Kaguya Hirotoshi and simply and directly granted her wish.

"Alright, stop pretending. I just have one thing to say: if I beat you, will you let those guys go?"

Hirotoshi Kaguya narrowed her eyes and gave a clear answer.

"of course."

Chapter 16 The Bet and Black Zetsu's Conspiracy

At noon, at the third training ground of Wuyin Village.

When people learned that the currently invincible Hozuki Shingetsu was going to fight the veteran genius Kaguya Hirotoshi, no matter what they were doing at the time, even if they were making babies, they immediately stopped what they were doing and prepared to go and watch.

After all, in the current closed-off state of the country, Kirigakure basically has no other forms of entertainment. All they can do is create babies, create babies, create babies. Except for changing the baby-making partner, for most people, it can be described as having nothing better to do than to be bored.

Furthermore, battles between Jonin are rare and unpredictable, so virtually everyone who knew about the news came to the scene.

However, due to the need to keep battle information confidential, it was impossible for just anyone to watch. After a selection process, only people with special identities and ninjas were qualified to watch the battle.

—If the Kaguya clan hadn't intended to use the battle to suppress Hozuki Shingetsu, they would never have allowed anyone, not even a Jonin, to watch the fight.

It's not just about keeping one's battle information secret; any ninja with a bit of pride would refuse to be watched like a monkey.

"This is a secret external medicine of my Kaguya clan. Clan Chief Hozuki, please don't be polite. After all, your son is also a genius of my Kirigakure. If he suffers any lasting harm because of his injury, it would be the fault of my Kaguya clan."

Kaguya Yoshio, the current head of the Kaguya clan, seemingly kindly handed Hozuki Zangetsu a bottle of medicine.

How could Hozuki Zangetsu not understand the implication in Kaguya Yoshio's words that Hozuki Shingetsu was about to be defeated?

What kind of chat are these thousand-year-old foxes doing?

He immediately retaliated without backing down: "These are calcium supplements made by my Hozuki clan. After Kaguya Hirotoshi pulls out all his bones, I'll give him a good boost."

"The Hozuki clan chief seems to have a lot of confidence in his son. How about we make a bet?"

Kaguya Yoshio chuckled, showing no anger, and instead took the opportunity to offer a suggestion.

"What are you gambling?"

"If Hozuki Shingetsu wins, then Kaguya Hirotoshi can be used by Hozuki Shingetsu without violating the interests of the Kaguya clan; and if Kaguya Hirotoshi wins, I won't ask for much, just ten drops of your blood, how about that?"

Hozuki Zangetsu stared in astonishment at Kaguya Yoshio, not understanding what his old rival was up to.

As a genius who became a Jonin at the age of fourteen, Kaguya Hirotoshi holds a high position in the Kaguya clan. If things go smoothly, he might even become the next Kaguya Elder. And now, such an important figure in the clan is being used as a bargaining chip?

Is he really that confident?

Moreover, the stakes on his side were ten drops of his own blood... It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with them, but the main question was, what did Kaguya Yoshio want his blood for?

Although the Jashin Cult of Yugakure was not widespread, Hozuki Zangetsu had heard of the cult's secret techniques. Could it be that Kaguya Hirotoshi was going to use some kind of curse?

Unable to understand, Hozuki Zangetsu immediately rejected Kaguya Yoshio's proposal. He realized that if he didn't gamble, he wouldn't lose—a lesson he learned after losing the position of the Third Mizukage.

“Alright, then I’ll compromise. If Kaguya Hirotoshi wins, I’ll let him marry a member of your Hozuki clan; and if he loses, then a member of my Kaguya clan will marry Hozuki Shingetsu, how about that?”

A hint of disappointment flashed in Kaguya Hirotoshi's eyes, but she quickly offered another suggestion.

"This……"

To be honest, Hozuki Zangetsu is smitten.

Losing is fine, but winning would give the Hozuki clan a chance to bring the Shikotsumyaku bloodline limit under their control!

Although the Hozuki clan is also a bloodline family, they are different from other bloodline families. Their bloodline limit can actually be considered a kind of physique, a physique that makes it easier to cultivate the "Water Transformation Technique".