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

Chapter 3 The Conflict

"New Moon, while I don't support the Mizukage's 'Elite Mist Village' plan either, is there really any need to express your opposition in this way?"

After leaving that civilian area, Qing finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been on her mind.

In Qing's view, it is only natural to oppose for the sake of opposing as an enemy, but there is absolutely no need to work on these civilians. If you are going to try to win them over, you should try to win over the ninjas who were born into civilian families.

Since the Second Mizukage learned from the Second Hokage and established the Ninja Academy, the Ninja Academy of Kirigakure has provided Kirigakure with a large number of cannon fodder ninjas.

It is precisely because of the emergence of a large number of cannon fodder ninjas that the sacrifices of the major bloodline families have gradually decreased in recent years. This has indirectly led to the fact that the bloodline families of the five major ninja villages have begun to support the construction of ninja academies, which can be considered a win-win situation for ninja villages, ninja clans, and commoners to some extent.

However, even cannon fodder ninjas are still ninjas, and there is a vast difference in strength between them and ordinary civilians. This difference objectively determines that these civilians have no decisive influence on the overall situation.

"Ao, I remember you were a student at the Ninja Academy at the beginning, right?"

Hozuki Shingetsu maintained her smile, continuing to exchange pleasantries with the villagers and whispering to Ao.

"Yes, if I hadn't met you, Shingetsu, how could I have achieved my current Chunin strength? I'd probably be just like those ordinary ninjas now, constantly going on missions to make a living!"

Recalling the scene when he first met Hozuki Shingetsu at the Ninja Academy, Ao couldn't help but feel that it was indeed the most crucial choice he had made in his twelve years of life.

Hozuki Shingetsu nodded, then changed the subject and explained why he did it.

"Perhaps these civilians are far inferior to ninjas in strength, but sometimes, killing doesn't necessarily require a knife! Moreover, given that we are currently locked in a stalemate with the Mizukage, any support we can gain is worthwhile."

"Of course, most importantly, all I have to give is a smile for a short twenty minutes on my way home, along with a small amount of money and help. Why wouldn't I do it?"

After all, why wouldn't Hozuki Shingetsu be happy with this kind of persona that is so easy to gain with just a little bit of concern and a smile?

Moreover, this is somewhat related to his later plans.

Selectively resolving some troubles among ordinary people, hiring eloquent people to repeatedly promote Hozuki Shingetsu's benevolence, indirectly implying that the Mizukage is unkind and lax in managing his subordinates, and cleverly shifting the Mizukage's faction's stance to the opposite side of the general public, are all part of that one plan.

A plan to change the dynasty.

After receiving Hozuki Shingetsu's answer, Ao still couldn't resolve some of his doubts. However, considering that Hozuki Shingetsu was always a person of strong opinions, and that the Hozuki clan was large and wealthy and wouldn't care about such a small expense, he stopped mentioning the matter.

And so the two of them returned to the Hozuki clan's territory in silence.

That evening, to celebrate Hozuki Shingetsu's promotion to Jonin and his glorious achievements in the Land of the Moon, even the head of the Yuki clan, an ally of the Hozuki clan, came to participate in the banquet.

The entire Hozuki Town was brightly lit, and the clan members were filled with pride, eagerly feeling honored that the Hozuki clan had produced such an outstanding successor.

After the banquet, the current head of the Hozuki clan, Hozuki Zangetsu, held a secret meeting with his son in his study.

Hozuki Zangetsu was around forty years old, the peak of his ninja career. During the First Shinobi World War, he followed the previous Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, in invading the Land of Earth. Ultimately, after the Second Mizukage engaged the Second Tsuchikage, he successfully led the remaining Kirigakure ninja back to the Land of Water.

Unfortunately, upon returning to Kirigakure, news arrived that the Second Mizukage and the Second Tsuchikage had perished together. At the time, he was still young and no match for Ren, the First Mizukage's bodyguard. Coupled with the betrayal of the Kaguya clan, the position of Third Mizukage ultimately fell into Ren's hands.

Well, objectively speaking, the position of Water Shadow can be considered a return to its rightful owner in a certain sense.

If it weren't for Hozuki Gengetsu taking advantage of the death of the First Mizukage, Byakuren, to launch a coup d'état with Kaguya, the Yuki clan, and others, it would be hard to say who would have become the Second Mizukage.

After all, the bodyguards of the first Five Kage during the first Five Kage Summit were basically the successors designated by the first Kage, and apart from Ren, the others all became the second Kage of their respective villages.

This is precisely the source of the conflict between the contemporary Mizukage Ren and the Hozuki clan, after all, will the instigator have no descendants?

However, one's perspective is determined by one's position. As the young patriarch of the Hozuki clan, Hozuki Shingetsu naturally had to resolutely label Ren as evil.

"So, that guy Lian didn't even see you? Looks like he already knows what we're after."

Hozuki Zangetsu took a sip of his tea and spoke with certainty.

"But is the position of Ninja Academy Principal really that important? So much so that you'd go to such lengths to get it? Besides, even so, you should know that the chances of success are practically zero."

Hozuki Cangetsu looked at his son with some doubt. Although he knew his son had his own ideas, he still couldn't fully agree with his views.

According to the rules of Kirigakure, most newly promoted Jonin do not actually have official positions. Apart from completing missions and training, they don't have much else to do on a daily basis. Only a small number of Jonin who have sufficient strength and seniority are granted specific responsibilities.

Hozuki Zangetsu couldn't understand why his son, who had just been promoted to Jonin, wanted to seek a position and even try to increase his chances through battle achievements.

However, as a father and the head of the Hozuki clan, the largest clan in Kirigakure, he has the ability to cover up whatever his son does.

"According to Ren, he will probably announce your appointment at the Jonin meeting in three days. Once it is announced, no matter what position he assigns you to, you will be unable to move for a while. And he probably has this in mind, which is why he announced this Jonin meeting to make this a done deal."

"It's not too late for you to change your mind. With your achievements this time, you can definitely get a good position in the intelligence department."

As members of the Hozuki clan, who possess the secret technique of water transformation, they are naturally adept at intelligence gathering. And for this reason, the intelligence department of Kirigakure has always been controlled by the Hozuki clan.

Of course, after Ren came to power, he would definitely develop his own intelligence forces. However, the head of intelligence for Kirigakure was still a member of the Hozuki clan, who was nominally in charge of the entire village's intelligence capabilities.

This is the source of Hozuki Zangetsu's confidence in saying this.

"Besides, this is the time when you should be making vigorous and diligent progress. Doing these trivial tasks at this time is not a good thing for improving your strength!"

Looking at his father's disappointed eyes, Hozuki Shingetsu felt helpless.

After all, their perspectives are different, and their thoughts on things are truly different. And limited by their different ideas and goals, they couldn't fully align their plans with their father's, so they could only focus on developing their own strength.

This is also what troubles the time traveler Hozuki Shingetsu the most.

(End of this chapter)