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

But now it seems that we can postpone it a little.

Judging from the incident in Uzushio Village, simply damaging Konoha's credibility, while shaking their foundation of trust in Konoha, will not make them interested in joining Kirigakure unless it is a matter of life and death.

Just as they instigated the Thunder and Earth Kingdoms to attack the Uzumaki clan, it's impossible to find a fool to attack the Tsuchigumo clan. After all, nobody's stupid enough to fall for it again, and besides, the Tsuchigumo clan doesn't have any worthwhile targets.

Therefore, they can only wait until the Second Shinobi World War begins before they can make any further plans.

The primary goals now are how to deal with Ren, how to use Modibi to train in Water Release Chakra Mode, and the upcoming trip to the capital of the Land of Water next month.

So after giving Modibi a simple bandage to prevent him from dying, the group, without taking a break, rushed back overnight to rejoin the main force in Wochao Village.

Upon arriving at Uzushio Village, Hozuki Shingetsu also learned of Uzumaki Takumi's death while sealing the Five-Tails.

"Pity!"

Hozuki Shingetsu shook his head regretfully. Objectively speaking, he still admired the old man Uzumaki Takumi quite a bit. Despite many changes that occurred along the way, he was the one who ultimately finalized the plan for the Uzumaki clan to join Kirigakure.

So even though the crisis in Uzushio Village has been resolved, the Uzumaki clan has no intention of backing down. They plan to pack their things and then head to Kirigakure with the Kirigakure ninja.

After all, taking stock of casualties, transferring supplies, and providing medical treatment and bandaging will take some time.

In this battle, one-third of the Uzumaki clan's ninjas were killed in action, and the remaining ninjas were almost all wounded. However, the Hozuki and Yuki clan ninjas who came to their aid suffered relatively few casualties because they were in an ambush.

However, compared to the losses, the victory in this battle was far more fruitful.

First, the Uzumaki clan successfully joined Kirigakure, enriching the village's foundation with Jinchuriki and providing new strength for the Hozuki and Yuki Alliance. Second, the Raito-Tsuchikage alliance thwarted their plot to seal the Jinchuriki, wiping out a wave of elite forces and restoring balance between Konoha and the three kingdoms. Finally, there was the prestige brought by this victory.

After this battle, Hozuki Shingetsu could be said to have truly earned his name among the various ninja villages.

Previously, his various actions in the ninja world were generally viewed as a joke by the major ninja villages. They were the kind of people who thought, "You are indeed very powerful, but the reason you succeeded is simply because I didn't do it. I could do it too."

After all, the leaders of each ninja village have always believed in strength, and they disdain things like public opinion. A twelve-year-old child might be praised with a word that he has a promising future, and then eliminated if given the chance; no one would deliberately remember it.

However, it is foreseeable that with the leak of various things during this whirlpool incident, especially the death of the Konoha envoy, the annihilation of the Lightning-Earth Alliance, and the capture of Modibi, Hozuki Shingetsu will inevitably be regarded as a thorn in the side by all the ninja villages, especially Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure.

This is also one of the reasons why Hozuki Shingetsu felt that time was of the essence and was eager to improve his strength.

-

"Is this the Grim Reaper mask?" Hozuki Shingetsu played with the hideous mask in his hand, lost in thought.

Since the relocation was necessary, the Uzumaki clan's shrine would naturally have to move as well. As the son-in-law of the entire Uzumaki clan, Hozuki Shingetsu took this opportunity to reveal many of the clan's secrets to him, including the Shinigami mask.

“That’s right, this is the mask connected to the Grim Reaper. Wearing it allows you to summon the phantom of the Grim Reaper,” explained Yoshio Uzumaki, the former Second Elder of the Uzumaki Clan and now the clan leader.

With Takumi Uzumaki's passing and the advanced age of the First Elder Uzumaki, the relatively young Second Elder Uzumaki naturally became the new head of the Uzumaki clan.

"So, the Five-Tails is currently inside the Shinigami's stomach?"

Hozuki Shingetsu thought about it more and more and felt that Onoki would be furious after learning this news. The Five-Tails was in the stomach of the Shinigami and could not be resurrected, which meant that Iwagakure had lost the Five-Tails as a tailed beast forever.

How could Onoki, who had originally hoped for the best, not be furious?

"But it doesn't matter. In a few decades, it'll be the same whether the Jinchuriki of Iwagakure are here or not. A few more years won't make a difference," Hozuki Shingetsu thought with a wicked sense of humor.

"But that gives us another reason to be targeted by Black Zetsu and Madara Uchiha!" Hozuki Shingetsu quickly realized this, his expression becoming somewhat grave.

Whether it's the fake "Eye of the Moon" plan or saving Kaguya Otsutsuki, both require gathering the nine tailed beasts to summon the Ten-Tails. However, the Five-Tails is currently inside the Shinigami's stomach, and there is no remaining chakra from the Five-Tails in the ninja world. This means that Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu will inevitably set their sights on the mask in his possession.

"Hmm... but it's not a big problem, since we'll have to face them anyway." Hozuki Shingetsu thought for a moment and quickly realized that he was making trouble for himself.

As long as he fights against Ren, he will remain Madara Uchiha's enemy for another day, so this one thing won't make a difference.

"So now we need to figure out how to deal with our Mizukage."

Hozuki Shingetsu turned to look eastward; the other side of the sea was where he should be focusing his attention now.

-

"Reverse! Reverse!"

"If the Hozuki and Yuki clans dare to send troops without warning today, will they dare to kill me under cover of night and seize the position of Mizukage tomorrow?"

In the Water Shadow's office, Lian unleashed her fury on several advisors and elders. This time, even Yuan Shi felt that the Hozuki clan had gone too far, and he didn't know how to handle the situation.

After all, sending troops without permission is a blatant disrespect to Lian, and if he doesn't deal with it severely, the authority of the Water Shadow will be completely destroyed.

"Ahem... I think the two races might have some difficulties, such as being pressed for time and not having time to report?"

After thinking it over and over, Master Yuan still felt he had to say something, but once he said it, even he himself didn't believe it, so how could he persuade the furious Lian?

"A predicament? Too late?" Sure enough, when Ren heard this reason, he became even angrier. "I'm right here in this village! My house is only ten minutes away from the Hozuki Mansion! They can receive news from the Land of Whirlpools, but they can't report to me?"

After the two clans' personnel disappeared, Ren immediately ordered an investigation into where they had gone, and he soon found out—the Land of Whirlpools.

Now that he knew their destination, he naturally knew what they were going to do—the news that the Lightning Earth Alliance had launched a swift and undisguised attack since they were discovered had long been known to the other ninja villages, and the genius of the Hozuki clan was currently in Uzushio Village!

"What else could they be doing in Uzushio Village? Isn't it just to save that brat? Just for a mere Minister of Foreign Affairs, they disobeyed my orders and recklessly sent troops to clash with the Thunder-Earth Alliance. Do they even respect me as the Mizukage?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Lian vented her dissatisfaction.

He may have been furious when he first heard the news, but as time went by, he had long since controlled his emotions. This act now is just for show.

He had already planned to use this opportunity to severely weaken the strength of both races. The first step was to remove that wretched brat from his damned position as Minister of Foreign Affairs! Then, he would take away all the intelligence resources controlled by Hozuki!

"No need to say anything more!" Lian glanced at Yuan Shi, who was still thinking of saying something, and waved her hand, ignoring him completely.

"For the sake of their own clansmen, they went to fight against ninjas from other countries. Do these two clans even care about this village? Could it be that they went there not for personal reasons but for official business? And they even managed to lure the entire Uzumaki clan back from Uzushio Village?" Ren sneered.

Master Yuan remained silent. Bring the Uzumaki clan back? Even if they were facing a life-or-death crisis right now, wouldn't they be seeking refuge in Konoha? Why should they come to your Kirigakure?

"Fine! It's simple if you want me to drop the blame. Just bring the entire Uzumaki clan back, and I'll pretend this never happened!"

"As long as they can prove they acted with the public good, I will personally endorse this operation! Otherwise... hmph!"

Lian became more and more enthusiastic as she spoke, and began to discuss how to punish the two clans right in front of Master Yuan.

"Lord Mizukage! Hozuki and the Yuki clan have returned!" Just then, an Anbu appeared, kneeling on one knee to report to Ren.

"They're back? That's perfect! Let's go out and greet these great heroes!" Lian was taken aback, then deliberately made a gesture as if she were going to greet them in front of Yuan Shi.

"By the way, is our Minister of Foreign Affairs also in the group?" Lian asked the ANBU member halfway through the walk, as if she had just remembered something.

"The Minister of Foreign Affairs is also here, along with Yukinagi Kaguya and Yagura, the three who were sent to Uzushio Village." The ANBU replied with his head down.

"I knew it!" Lian shook her head, her face filled with sorrow.

"These are the pillars of my Hidden Mist Village! Which one of them hasn't made great contributions to the village? Which one of them hasn't served the village since its founding? Their corruption breaks my heart! The previous Mizukage entrusted the village to me, and now it's turned into this mess. I am heartbroken. I have sinned against the village and failed all the martyrs of the past. I wish I could dismiss myself!"

"I'm becoming more and more aware that the real threat to Kirigakure isn't outside, it's inside the village! If things continue like this inside, we'll all be doomed sooner or later! Think about it! The Second Raikage has only been dead for a few years, right? Forgot? He's right here in the Pure Land, watching you all every day!"

"...Only four words, dug out from my heart, ripped from a sea of ​​blood, are given to them. Remember, from this day forward, this place will be renamed 'Upright and Honorable,' and when they return, let them see it for themselves!"

Lian became more and more excited as he spoke, and it seemed he was about to launch into a long, eloquent speech, quoting scriptures and talking for half an hour. However, the report from the ANBU ninja interrupted his spellcasting.

"...In addition to the aforementioned individuals, there is another group of ninjas who call themselves the Uzumaki clan and claim that they decided to join our Hidden Mist Village at the urging of the Minister of Foreign Affairs."

"Nani?"

Chapter 56 Danzo: In times without heroes, even a nobody can rise to fame.

"Phew... finally back."

Hozuki Shingetsu smiled as he looked at the towering gates of Kirigakure before him.

The trip to Wochao Village was short, only about a week, but many important things happened in that short time, especially the several reversals, which left a deep impression on him.

"Is this Kirigakure?" Kushina Uzumaki peeked out from behind Shingetsu Hozuki, looking at the Uzumaki clan's new home with a rare look of confusion on her face.

All the Whirlpool Clan members behind them, including the Whirlpool Elders, showed the same expression.

Although the Uzumaki clan ultimately triumphed over their enemies, they still inevitably felt a sense of displacement and dependence on others, having left their homeland far away from the Land of Whirlpools.

"Yes, from now on, this will be your home." Hozuki Shingetsu patted Uzumaki Kushina's head and said with a smile. Under Hozuki Shingetsu's deliberate guidance, Uzumaki Kushina is increasingly accepting her new identity, and the barrier between her and Hozuki Shingetsu is gradually disappearing.

And if anything unexpected happens along the way...

"Watch out, Yue~"

That was Yukinagi's eerie voice that would occasionally echo in Hozuki Shingetsu's ears.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Hozuki Shingetsu chose to ignore this and looked at Genji, who was smiling broadly as he approached to greet them.

"Haha... Crescent Moon, you are truly a lucky charm for my Hidden Mist Village!" Master Yuan looked at the groups of Uzumaki clan members following behind him, their families in tow, and his old face beamed like a blooming chrysanthemum.

With the help of the Uzumaki clan, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails were no longer just something to watch! Kirigakure finally had its own Jinchuriki!

Watching the scene of Genji and the new clan leader Uzumaki Yoshio exchanging pleasantries, Hozuki Shingetsu suddenly realized that someone was missing.

"Master Yuan, isn't Lord Mizukage here?"

According to Hozuki Shingetsu's thinking, no matter what, the Hozuki and Yuki clans did indeed send troops without permission. Even if they had the great achievement of recruiting the Uzumaki clan, they should at least be given a symbolic punishment, right?

He had even prepared himself for the Foreign Minister to be removed from his post, but as he thought about how to deal with Lian all the way, he suddenly realized that she wasn't coming at all.

Hozuki Shingetsu, feeling extremely uncomfortable after his punch landed on empty air, couldn't understand why, no matter how hard he tried.

Master Yuan smiled awkwardly. He couldn't very well say that Lian was currently in a state where she was too ashamed to show her face, could he?

They were so arrogant and high-spirited over there, emphasizing the overall interests of the village in front of so many people, and declaring that if Hozuki Shingetsu really tried to recruit the Uzumaki clan, they would pretend this never happened. Then they were slapped in the face repeatedly. Unless they really have no shame, they should avoid people at this point, right?

"Lian... he's probably busy changing his name..."

"?"

For once, Hozuki Shingetsu's face showed a look of confusion.