They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 214 Praise and Adoration Without Name, Entering Court Without Bowing, and Entering the Palace with Sword and Shoes

(This chapter isn't badly written; consider it a transitional chapter.)

The contest with Kakuzu naturally ended in Hozuki Shingetsu's victory.

Even when Kakuzu was finally enraged and summoned all four of his black-masked clones, he was still no match for Hozuki Shingetsu.

Even Hozuki Shingetsu defeated Kakuzu without ever activating Sage Mode or Six-Tails Mode.

There was no other way; having already completed the normalized training of Water Release Chakra Mode, Hozuki Shingetsu's blood circulation and metabolism were improving every day, so his physical fitness was also improving little by little every day.

Hozuki Shingetsu's current physical condition is about 30% stronger than it was two years ago.

In this situation, he activated the Water Lightning Chakra Mode, but his speed alone was enough to defeat Kakuzu, without even needing any other ninjutsu to assist him.

Hozuki Shingetsu often lamented that his original wish was to become a turret-type mage ninja, but he never expected that he would create a Water Release Chakra Mode to compensate for his weakness in close combat.

However, with each step of his training, he has now become like a barbarian from Kumogakure, completely losing the elegance of a mage-type ninja. This has greatly annoyed Hozuki Shingetsu, who can only hope to change things once he has mastered Sage Mode and made it a regular occurrence.

-

"How's it going? Have you found out anything?"

In the capital of the Land of Water, Middle Counselor Matsubayashi Tatsuya looked anxiously at his servant who had just gone out to gather information.

Ever since hearing the news that the second prince, Mizutomi, had gone mad and launched a massacre of the daimyo's relatives, Matsubaya Tatsuya knew that the game of succession to the daimyo throne had reached its final stage.

Especially after he learned that Mizuto Fu was leading his soldiers to storm the castle tower, he instantly understood Mizuto Fu's intentions.

The fact that the daimyo hasn't given up despite being so critically ill means that this is the only way Mizuto Tomio can think of to ascend to the position of daimyo.

If Mizuto Tomioka emerges alive from the castle tower, he must immediately step forward to prepare for the new king's coronation ceremony; otherwise, he must hurry to Mizu Masahiko's residence to demonstrate his loyalty.

"...My lord, Prince Fu of the Water City has emerged from the castle tower!"

A simple sentence immediately led Matsubaya Tatsuya to make his decision.

"Quickly! Prepare the carriage and head to the Second Prince's residence!"

……

At this moment, not only the Middle Counselor, but also the other non-royal high-ranking nobles and officials in the capital received this news.

At the same time, under the control of Blood Pond Ryoma, Water City Tomoya released an official announcement:

The eldest prince, Mizuhiko, is a heartless scoundrel. He sees the past trials the daimyo had given him as a form of suppression, and thus takes the opportunity to poison the daimyo. This is the root cause of the daimyo's recent health problems.

Moreover, he didn't stop there. He believed that the reason why the daimyo hated him, the eldest son, so much was because the royal family members "slandered" him in front of the daimyo on a daily basis. Therefore, he went mad and massacred all the royal family members in the city.

Even when the daimyo was seriously ill, he attempted to infiltrate the castle tower and poison him. Fortunately, Hozuki Shingetsu from Kirigakure was present and prevented this plot.

After being captured, Mizuki Masahiko was questioned by Hozuki Shingetsu. Overwhelmed with shame and remorse, he bit his tongue and committed suicide in his place of confinement.

Daimyo Mizu Keita died of a stroke caused by Mizu Masahiko's various actions.

Thus, the position of daimyo fell to the second prince, Shui Dufu.

When the nobles and officials in the city heard this news, they couldn't help but gasp, making a significant contribution to warming the ninja world.

Everyone here is a cunning old fox; they naturally know who was behind the massacre of the royal family in the city.

What? Mizuki Masahiko made the first move and even tried to assassinate the daimyo in secret. Fortunately, Hozuki Shingetsu from Kirigakure stopped him, and then both of them died... Did they really think that all they did every day was eat, sleep, and play with women?

Behind all this, who doesn't know that it was Shuidufu who was behind it all?

Although everyone had some idea of ​​how ruthless Shui Dufu would be, they never expected him to be this ruthless!

After all, it's one thing to say you killed your own elder brother, but Mizuhiko was your direct rival, so killing him could be justified.

However, the fact that he had killed all the clansmen in the city who had the right to inherit the family business, and most importantly, that he had also killed his own father, truly made all the nobles in the city tremble with fear.

All the royal family members in the city, his own elder brother, his own father... he had directly wiped out his own clan!

It's just that Itachi Uchiha hasn't appeared yet, otherwise these two could easily compete for the title of the strongest filial son in the ninja world.

But it was precisely because of this ruthlessness that the surviving nobles in the city immediately decided to visit the future daimyo and pledge their loyalty.

After all, one can only glimpse the whole picture from a small part. If this person is so ruthless to his own relatives, one can easily imagine what Shui Dufu will do to them if they don't know what's good for them.

-

One week later, at the castle tower.

Nobles and officials gathered, all dressed in solemn formal attire, silently lining up in two rows, waiting at the entrance of the castle tower.

The items and buildings inside the castle tower that were originally damaged by blood and battle have already been repaired by people working overtime over the past week.

It wasn't just repairs; every place that could be renovated was urgently renovated. Now, where is the dilapidated scene of blood and corpses scattered all over the ground from last week?

And it is in this very place, on this very day, that Mizuto Tomio officially takes over as daimyo and ascends the throne.

The purpose of this group of nobles and officials standing here was to wait for Shui Du Fu, who was away paying homage to the late king, to return and formally ascend the throne.

During their initial contact with Shui Dufu over the past few days, the nobles and officials have gained a deeper impression of the second prince.

He was short-tempered and narrow-minded; his character was even worse than before.

Just a few days ago, he had beheaded several nobles in front of everyone.

The reason was that these people were the last to pledge allegiance to him, and he believed that they were only outwardly loyal but inwardly disloyal. So he forced his men to behead these people in front of all the nobles and officials.

This move immediately alarmed the surviving nobles and officials, who became even more careful about their words and actions, fearing that they might inadvertently anger him and end up in prison.

"Here it comes!"

Just then, the sound of ceremonial music came from the distant street. Everyone present realized that Shui Dufu had returned from the ancestral worship ceremony and immediately perked up to prepare to welcome the new daimyo.

"Welcome, Your Excellency!"

When the sedan chair arrived in front of them, everyone immediately knelt down according to etiquette. They didn't want to have a three-race elimination game over such a small matter.

But to their surprise, the person who stepped out of the sedan chair was not Shui Dufu!

It's Hozuki Shingetsu!

Moreover, it was Hozuki Shingetsu, dressed in full military attire, wearing armor and carrying a ninja sword at his waist!

Hozuki Shingetsu looked at the nobles kneeling before him and smiled enigmatically.

"you……"

Shocked, someone immediately stood up to rebuke Hozuki Shingetsu, but then Mizuto Tomioka stepped out from behind Hozuki Shingetsu.

These two were actually riding in the same sedan chair!

When the man saw Shui Dufu appear, he quickly swallowed back what he was about to say, hurriedly knelt down, and kowtowed to the ground.

However, since Hozuki Shingetsu was standing in front of Mizuto Fumi at this moment, it was as if this group of people were kneeling and worshipping Hozuki Shingetsu.

Mizuto Tomioka seemed to ignore all of this. After a simple return greeting, he walked past everyone, led Hozuki Shingetsu through the long passage, and arrived at the main hall inside the castle tower, where he sat on the throne.

Of course, Hozuki Shingetsu is positioned in the lower left corner.

The others followed in single file and took their places in the usual order.

Naturally, some people noticed Hozuki Shingetsu's attire, especially his stance and the ninja sword at his waist, which were undoubtedly against the rules.

However, considering the fact that the two had just ridden in the same sedan chair, the official who had originally intended to stand up and criticize them thought about it and then withdrew.

As expected, the first order issued by Mizuto Tomioka after becoming daimyo was about Hozuki Shingetsu.

"...The late King's adopted son, Ghost Lantern Crescent Moon, is exceptionally loyal and brave, and upholds propriety and self-discipline... He is specially granted the privilege of not using his name when being honored, not having to bow when entering the court, and being allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace, and is bestowed the title of Prince!"

(End of this chapter)