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

Chapter 67 Trip to the Capital

Although it was just a small mountain, the fact that the Qi Circle Slash, which incorporated the nature transformation of Water Release, was able to penetrate it still amazed Tachibana Azuhiko.

"Based on the difficulty of mastering this ninjutsu, Water Release: Spirit Circle Slash can definitely be considered an S-rank ninjutsu," Tachibana Azuhiko commented.

Hozuki Shingetsu took it in stride. Admittedly, the Water Release: Spirit Circle Slash was very powerful, especially its penetrating power, which was several times that of the Rasengan. However, it had a fatal weakness—it was too slow.

In Dragon Ball, the success of the Destructo Disc is mostly based on surprise attacks; it's almost impossible to succeed if you use this move in front of the enemy.

Hozuki Shingetsu's move is the same. The Water Release: Spirit Disc Slash was several times faster than the regular Spirit Disc Slash, but with the reaction speed of a Jonin, without any restrictions, he could still dodge it.

"So... in the end, besides being used for sneak attacks, this thing still has to be used in handheld combat." Hozuki Shingetsu just sighed at this, without expressing much emotion.

After all, his main purpose in fighting Tachibana Higashihiko was to test the power of his rudimentary Water Release Chakra Mode—and judging from the actual combat results, it was indeed quite good.

As an elite ninja selected by Hozuki Gengetsu and chosen as one of the first Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Tachibana Higashihiko was once an outstanding genius; otherwise, he would not have gained Hozuki Gengetsu's attention.

Now, at less than thirty years old, he has become an elite Jonin, which is enough to demonstrate his talent. Hozuki Shingetsu's ability to fight him to a standstill in sparring is already something to be proud of.

"Are we heading to the capital tomorrow?"

On the way back to Kirigakure, Tachibana Higashihiko reminded Hozuki Shingetsu, "You should know why Ren sent you to the capital, right? I heard that he has secretly sent people to the capital to bribe important officials, all in order to get the daimyo to approve the rumors of Kirigakure's military budget cuts through you."

Hozuki Shingetsu nodded. Naturally, he already knew about this information that Tachibana Touhiko could access. Not only that, he even knew who the important minister Ren had bribed was—the very minister who had come to Kirigakure as a special envoy to announce the daimyo's decree.

Last time, this minister even accepted a gift from Hozuki Shingetsu and became his ally. Unexpectedly, this time the roles were reversed, and Ren stole his house.

"It's good that you know, then I won't say anything more."

Seeing Hozuki Shingetsu nod, Tachibana Azuhiko said nothing more. As someone who had watched Hozuki Shingetsu grow up, he knew how meticulous this guy's mind was, just like Hozuki Gengetsu back then.

As they approached Kirigakure, Tachibana Higashihiko hesitated for a long time before finally adding, "If it's truly irreversible, then tell me! At that time, I dare not say much, but I should be confident that I could hold off three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

Seeing Hozuki Shingetsu's surprised look, he patted Shingetsu's head and chuckled, "I'm an elite Jonin, you don't even have this much trust?"

Then, without waiting for Hozuki Shingetsu to reply, he disappeared from the spot, leaving only the echo of his voice.

"I am not the only one who has received kindness from Lord Huan Yue."

"Isn't this, in a sense, a case of people yearning for ghost lanterns?"

Hozuki Shingetsu chuckled softly and stepped lightly through the main gate of Kirigakure.

-

"Wow, how magnificent! Is this the capital of the Land of Water?" Yukina exclaimed, looking at the crowds on the street that were several times larger than those in Kirigakure.

After a three-day journey, Hozuki Shingetsu, Yukinagi, and Yagura Karatachi, as envoys from Kirigakure for their New Year's shrine visit, officially stepped through the gates of the capital of the Land of Water.

As the capital of the Land of Water, this large city, which gathers one-third of the entire Land of Water's population, is naturally unmatched by any other city that Yukinagi has ever visited before, hence her exclamation.

However, what Yukinagi considered an exceptionally magnificent capital city was just so-so to Hozuki Shingetsu—the overall architectural level of this capital was not even as beautiful as a random third-tier city in his previous life.

As envoys from Kirigakure, Hozuki Shingetsu and his two companions were given a formal audience time after handing over their duties to the inner court officials. Three days later, at 11:00 AM, the daimyo would receive the Kirigakure envoys in a side hall of the castle tower.

Upon hearing the schedule, Hozuki Shingetsu immediately frowned.

In a normal diplomatic meeting, this 11 o'clock meeting could be understood as a lunch after negotiations to show the friendly relations between the two sides. However, in the case of Kirigakure, it could be interpreted as the daimyo not even wanting to meet with them specifically, but just thinking of dealing with them while having lunch.

"If that's the case, then this is terrible..."

If the daimyo holds this mindset, then it is foreseeable that, with the minister's encouragement, he might not even be given a chance to speak, and after announcing next year's military budget cuts, he might be sent out.

In this way, although Hozuki Shingetsu could still deliver the eulogistic film to the daimyo through someone else, it would ultimately be less effective in changing the daimyo's impression than him personally explaining it to the daimyo on site.

Realizing something was amiss, Hozuki Shingetsu immediately decided to visit the high-ranking official who had previously served as the daimyo's special envoy, hoping to gain his assistance.

However, to his surprise, the minister was quite principled—even though Hozuki Shingetsu hinted that she could offer twice the price of Ren, she still couldn't sway him.

Enraged, Hozuki Shingetsu immediately tried to hypnotize him with illusion magic, but ultimately managed to control herself with immense willpower. He couldn't guarantee that, as a high-ranking official of the Land of Water, the castle tower didn't have any special methods to monitor the mental state of its ministers.

After all, this is a world with extraordinary powers like chakra, and any daimyo would instinctively be on high alert against genjutsu that can control people. Hozuki Shingetsu, whose genjutsu skills were only so-so, naturally didn't have enough confidence to avoid being exposed, so he could only leave in resentment.

"New Moon, if all else fails, then we can just give the movie the name on the spot, regardless of anything else."

Seeing Hozuki Shingetsu's discomfiture, Yagura, knowing about the Hozuki Shingetsu movie project, couldn't help but offer his suggestions.

"No, judging from all the information we've gathered, our esteemed leader is someone who places great importance on rules and has a very strong sense of self-respect. If he feels that our actions are a transgression, then even if the movie wins his favor, the benefits we gain will be greatly diminished."

"What should we do then? Are we really going to have to send it over through someone else?"

"No rush... Let's find out more information tonight."

Hozuki Shingetsu looked in the direction of the high-ranking official and narrowed his eyes.

(End of this chapter)