Mizukage's Pokémon Ninja Scroll

Chapter 18: The Aftermath of the Graduation Exam

At 3 p.m. that day, a high-level meeting was held in Kirigakure.

The meeting was originally intended to discuss the appropriate timing for intervention in the war and how to deal with the sudden change in the ambiguous attitude of the Daimyo of the Land of Water towards participating in the war.

Unexpectedly, everyone learned of the accident that occurred during the ninja graduation exam before they did.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was somewhat heavy at this moment.

The Third Mizukage sat expressionlessly behind his desk, while standing obediently beside him was Yagura Karatachi, his brows furrowed.

With such an incident occurring at the Ninja Academy, the news was naturally reported to the Third Mizukage immediately.

Elder Yuanshi then briefly explained what had happened.

Yukikaze, the head of the Yuki clan, looked somewhat gloomy and immediately stepped forward to declare that Zabuza Momochi would be severely punished.

"I think that Zabuza Momochi is likely a spy from another village, given that he is being weakened at such a critical moment. He should be interrogated immediately," Yukikaze said coldly.

As representatives of the ninja clans, they were about to join the war in Kirigakure.

The decrease in the number of commoner ninjas means that ninja clans may need to send more clan members to the battlefield, which obviously greatly damages the interests of the ninja clans.

Moreover, since this Zabuza Momochi was able to kill all the examinees on his own at such a young age, he must be a very talented boy.

It's better for a genius like this, who came from humble backgrounds as a ninja, to die.

Just as Yagura was about to speak up in defense of Zabuza, a rough laugh suddenly broke the silence.

"Ha, Yukikaze, what's the big deal? We're Blood Mist Ninjas, the weak should be eliminated. I think this kid is pretty good."

Although Kaguya Ryuya said that Zabuza was good, judging from his impatient look, he obviously didn't take the matter seriously.

"The Ninja Academy exists to train ninjas for the village; those who disrupt the exams must be severely punished!"

Seeing that Kaguya Ryuya, that idiot, actually contradicted him at this moment, the Yukikaze Clan Chief felt his veins bulge instantly. He simply ignored Kaguya Ryuya and looked directly at the composed Third Mizukage.

Seeing that the time seemed right, Yagura Karatachi, who was standing next to the Third Mizukage, immediately spoke up.

"Although Zabuza Momochi's actions were extreme, the exam required killing other examinees, so his actions didn't violate the exam rules."

At this point, Yagura glanced at the Third Mizukage, and seeing that he hadn't spoken, he simply continued.

"I think the important thing is not to deal with him, but to consider whether to change the graduation exam rules of the Ninja Academy."

Upon hearing this, the Third Mizukage looked at Yagura Karatachi with a half-smile and said...

"Jonin Karatachi, are you questioning the rules I set?"

For some reason, even though it wasn't the first time he'd made this suggestion, Yagura suddenly felt a cold sweat break out on his brow.

"No, Lord Mizukage. It's just that the great battle is about to begin, and I believe that the battlefield will be a better training ground for future students than for them to die at the hands of their comrades."

At this point, Yagura's gaze hardened, and he raised his head to meet the Third Mizukage's eyes.

"And if this rule is not changed, similar things may happen again in the future."

At this moment, the Third Mizukage's slightly aged face suddenly sharpened in his eyes.

"Really? It will happen again?"

The high-ranking members of the Mist Village present also vaguely sensed that things were not so simple, so they all kept silent.

Just as Yagura Karatachi was beginning to feel the pressure from the Third Mizukage, he realized that he was about to give way to the pressure.

Before Yagura could say anything more, the Third Mizukage slowly stood up, glanced at everyone, and calmly began to speak.

"The proctors for this exam were seriously negligent. They should be immediately transferred to the intelligence department and sent to the Land of Fire to gather intelligence. Suigetsu Hozuki, you'll be in charge of making those arrangements."

"Yes." Suigetsu Hobutsuki immediately stepped forward and responded.

"The Ninja Academy graduation exam rules have loopholes and are temporarily suspended. Zuo Tian, ​​you are in charge of developing a new assessment plan, which will then be submitted to Elder Yuan Shi for review."

The person mentioned by the Third Mizukage, Sada Herbi, is the current vice principal of the Ninja Academy. However, since the Third Mizukage is only a nominal principal, he is the one who handles most of the Ninja Academy's affairs.

"Yes, yes." Hearing that he was to be assigned to handle such a tricky matter, Zuo Tian She Er, who had not been on missions for many years and had gradually become a clerical worker, was very apprehensive.

However, he dared not question the Mizukage's orders and could only tremblingly agree before retreating.

"Finally, as for that brat named Momochi Zabuza," the Third Mizukage glanced at the somewhat nervous Yagura Karatachi, and continued, "Elder Master, I remember that Jonin Ao came to report this morning that he wanted to add two more members from this batch of trainees, right?"

"That is true. Two of Ao's squad members were seriously injured during a mission and are no longer able to serve as ninjas." Elder Yuanshi nodded slowly, answering the Third Mizukage's question.

"Then let Zabuza take Ao's team, as for the remaining member."

The Third Mizukage looked at Hozuki Eigetsu, the current head of the Hozuki clan, who had remained silent.

"I've heard that a young genius has emerged from the Hozuki clan?"

At this moment, Hozuki Eigetsu felt like a herd of grass mud horses was galloping through his mind. Ever since the death of the former head of the Hozuki clan, the second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu, and the rise of the third Mizukage, the Hozuki family's status had been declining.

Now, even his control over the seven ninja swords is merely nominal, and he is extremely cautious and never speaks in high-level meetings.

Who would have thought that it would even happen to me!

Our own genius, Hozuki Mangetsu, is only 7 years old.

Although he believed that the man possessed strength comparable to any genin, how could he possibly be assigned to such a random team?

"Lord Mizukage, that must be a rumor. Our clan hasn't produced any talented young men in a long time."

Hozuki Eigetsu answered cautiously, while thinking to herself.

"Not many people know about the full moon training. I'll definitely investigate which big mouth spread it when I get back." He didn't want his family's genius to be exposed to outsiders at such a young age.

"Is that so?" The Third Mizukage seemed to be just saying it casually, without asking any further questions.

"Lord Mizukage, the Qingbao newspaper mentioned it. There was a graduate this year who became a genin by participating in the Medical Ninja Selection before the graduation exam."

Elder Yuan Shi seemed to have some kind of unspoken understanding with the Third Mizukage, and it wasn't until this moment that another candidate was mentioned.

"It seems to be a boy named Tachibana Kanagawa. Ao hopes that if this boy has no other plans, he can join his team."

"He's a lucky kid, let's go with him."

The Third Mizukage didn't want to discuss the topic of the genin any further, so the matter was settled.

Throughout the entire exchange, Yagura, a man named Karatachi, seemed hesitant to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

Although the four Chunin proctoring the exam were his subordinates, they were all eventually transferred to the front lines. And although the very talented young man, Zabuza Momochi, ultimately did not remain under his command.

However, he had already achieved his goal, in a way that he could not quite understand.

Yagura looked at the Third Mizukage's aged face with a complicated expression.

"Alright, let's continue with the question of when Kirigakure will intervene in the war."

The Third Mizukage acted as if nothing had happened, bringing the topic back to the original content of the meeting.

Meanwhile, Tachibana Kanagawa, who was still at Kirigakure Hospital, chatting and boasting with Kisame Hoshigaki, was unaware that her squad assignment had been finalized amidst the interplay and probing of several important figures.

(End of this chapter)