Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

"Wait, if the Third Hokage has always been controlled by illusions, then this war, and all the decisions and orders made all along, are not..."

The chattering sounds gradually cleared the Third Mizukage's bewildered gaze. Looking at the people around him and the nearly completely frozen Kirigakure, a hoarse voice slowly escaped his lips: "All of this... what is it all...?"

"You're awake? You should have some memories, right?"

Looking down at the Third Mizukage, whose eyes still held a hint of confusion, Madara Uchiha's genjutsu clearly wasn't meant to completely control the Third Mizukage directly, but rather to influence him little by little.

Otherwise, given the puppet-like appearance of the Third Mizukage being completely controlled just now, it should have been discovered by sensory ninjas long ago!

"It feels like... I had a very, very long dream."

The Third Mizukage stared at his hands in disbelief: "Did I do all of this?

"Is your first instinct after recovering to shirk responsibility? No wonder the second generation took your place, even though you were valued by the first generation."

"No, it's not about shirking responsibility, it's just that I never thought I would actually be able to escape from that endless Sharingan genjutsu."

"Sharingan?! Genjutsu?!"

The Third Mizukage's words elicited countless gasps from the Kirigakure ninja present. Kirigakure had been fighting Konoha to such a wretched state on the front lines, only to be told that their supreme leader had been under the enemy's genjutsu control all along.

Is there any joke in the world more outrageous than this?!

"So it really is the Sharingan."

Unlike the Mist Ninja who remained silent due to the shocking fact, Yoru, who already knew, revealed a thoughtful expression: "No wonder my Three Tomoe sensed a similar ocular power in your mind..."

"Ah, it's the Sharingan, those eyes, those eyes that took everything from me in just one glance in the darkness, I will never forget them in my life."

The Third Mizukage's tone was full of self-mockery; what should have been words of intense anger had transformed into endless self-reproach.

Compared to what he experienced and lost, the village lost far more and suffered far more!

Despite Kirigakure's efforts to emulate Konoha under the Second Mizukage's leadership, it was transformed into the most cruel, coldest, and darkest breeding ground in the entire ninja world. Compared to everything this village has endured, what are the decades he lost?

"Night, if it weren't for you, I don't know what orders I would have given to the village or what policies I would have formulated."

The Third Hokage looked at the night with his cloudy eyes: "It was you who saved Kirigakure."

"I have saved Kirigakure many times, all because of your foolish orders to send people to their deaths."

Night said coldly, "To be honest, if it weren't for this report, where the orders you gave me were so outrageous that I even had the thought, 'Has our Shadow lost his mind?', I might not have been able to discover that you were being controlled by illusion magic."

"That's really disrespectful talk..." the Third Mizukage said with a wry smile.

"I'm sorry, Yoru, and everyone else, the blame lies entirely with my incompetence. If it weren't for me, Kirigakure wouldn't be in this state, the Blood Mist policy wouldn't have happened, the chaotic policies and corrupt leadership wouldn't exist, and even if we had followed the Second Hokage's methods, the village would at least be on par with Iwagakure or Konoha..."

The Third Mizukage struggled to his feet. The genjutsu had vanished, and the long-lost control over his limbs nearly made him unable to stand. But it didn't matter. Swaying unsteadily, the Third Mizukage collapsed to his knees before the countless Hidden Mist ninja.

"All the responsibility lies with me!"

"Snapped!"

Night casually knocked the self-planted kunai out of the hand of a certain incompetent Shadow, and curled his lip: "Suicide should be the lowest level of escape method, right? You don't seem to want to take any responsibility for everything you've done."

“My abilities are simply insufficient to resolve all of this.” The Third Mizukage revealed a bitter expression: “This old body, which has been controlled by others for decades, committed countless sins and mistakes, and is now on its deathbed, I really don’t know what else I can do but atone with my death.”

"I didn't ask you to continue serving as the shadow."

Night looked at the Mist Village members who had fallen into a deathly silence in front of him, and then gestured to the civilians who were crowded in the distance and had not yet fully entered the shelter.

"The village is in a state of unprecedented decline, and the biggest problem is its population."

"Of course, I'm not asking you to have children, but rather to change things indirectly."

"Issue a 'self-reproach edict' in the name of the former Mizukage to admit your policy mistakes, and implement the Kirigakure Reconstruction Plan to bring back the villagers who fled because of the Blood Mist Policy... Even becoming a teacher to children is more valuable than committing suicide."

"Besides that, there's the fact that you're controlled by the Sharingan. Although the current bunch of useless Uchiha in Konoha probably can't do that, it can obviously be used as a very valuable bargaining chip in the upcoming negotiations with Konoha."

"In short, you are still very useful while you are alive. If you really want to atone for everything you have done, living well is the foundation of everything."

"..."

The Third Mizukage gazed at the night with a complex expression, and countless eyes from the Hidden Mist Village also fell upon the night.

In their sight, Night, dressed in a white casual outfit, seemed to have donned a blue and white Mizukage hat and a blue and white divine robe printed with 'Fourth Mizukage'...

In particular, Yagura, who was pinned to the ground and tightly bound by the Anbu, revealed a bitter smile.

“You are indeed more deserving to become the Fourth Generation, Yoru.”

Compared to the night, he, who only knew power, was like a powerless clown.

"You're right, suicide is indeed the most cowardly and escapist method."

The Third Mizukage gazed at the night for a long time before standing up and slowly walking towards the Mizukage Building, which had been reduced to ruins, picking up the Mizukage hat that had fallen to the ground.

After dusting it off, under the watchful eyes of countless Hidden Mist ninja, the Third Hokage placed it on Yoru's head.

"I will submit my resignation from the position of Third Mizukage to the Daimyo, and submit your name as the sole candidate for Fourth Mizukage."

"Also... thank you for taking on my mess, Night."

……

Under the watchful eyes of countless Hidden Mist Villagers, the highest authority in Hidden Mist Village was transferred.

Although it has not yet been recognized by the Daimyo, whether it is based on the tradition of respecting the strong in Kirigakure and the strongest being the leader, or the Third Mizukage's voluntary abdication, it has already indicated that the future Kirigakure will be governed by Mizuki Yoru.

Although the village is devastated and all data points have reached historical lows.

For some reason, everyone present felt an unprecedented sense of ease, as if the thick fog before them had been completely cleared away at that moment.

"Ye-sama! Sandaime!"

Suddenly, the sound of wind breaking rang out, and a hurried member of the Mist Shadow Anbu appeared instantly, shattering the tranquility of the moment.

Even with a mask on, everyone could sense his panic, and his words startled everyone present.

"Minato Namikaze has appeared outside the village!"

"Wha, what?"

"Golden Time Minato Namikaze?! How is this possible?!"

"Damn bastard, haven't you killed enough Nine-Tails Jinchuriki on the battlefield? Why do you have to come to the village?"

"Damn it, it was the Six-Tails just now, and now it's the Nine-Tails again..."

Mentioning Minato Namikaze, all the Hidden Mist Village members present felt a chill in their hearts. The terrifying war on the front lines, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki combined with Minato Namikaze's pinpoint Tailed Beast Ball attacks, truly cast a shadow over their hearts.

"No, there is no Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, only Minato Namikaze is here."

The member of the Hidden Mist operative seemed to realize that his tone had been too tense, and reorganized his words: "He said that he has come to extend an invitation to us for peace talks."

"what?!"

"Peace talks, huh?" Night pulled down the water-shadow hat on her head, not at all surprised.

Apart from Yumi, no one knew that he also had Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God mark on him. If that guy was really prepared to fight to the death, he shouldn't have appeared outside the village at this moment, but instead appeared in Kirigakure with the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball.

"I didn't expect to have something like this to deal with before even taking office. Third Boss, let's go together."

Ye paused slightly, her gaze falling on the destroyed Mizukage Building: "However, it seems we can only entertain our distinguished guests at the Anbu base next door."

……

"Such a dense residue of chakra... Did Kirigakure just experience a major battle?!"

Following the Hidden Mist Anbu, Minato Namikaze's eyes kept darting around the Hidden Mist Village.

The icy, snowy landscape, the dilapidated buildings in the village, and the terrifying chakra lingering in the air all indicated that the village had just experienced a devastating war, which probably only ended a moment before he parted ways with Shisui.

"Even the Water Shadow Building!"

As the Anbu led Minato Namikaze to their base in the nearby Mizukage Building, Minato's pupils suddenly contracted.

A battle that completely destroyed even the Mizukage Building... what exactly is this...?

No matter which village it is in, the 'Shadow Tower' is undoubtedly the landmark building. It represents not only the daily office of the Shadows, but also the most important and core secret location of the entire village. It is a symbol of the glory and spirit of the entire village!

Yet, the most central building of this village was destroyed!

"Was the war happening directly within the village? Was it internal strife? No, that's not right. If it was internal strife, why are those Hidden Mist ninjas all smiling...?"

Minato Namikaze felt a bit confused. It was a terrifying battle that destroyed the Mizukage Building, yet all the Kirigakure ninjas and residents he encountered along the way had smiles on their faces. Only when they saw him did they show hatred and anger.

This contrast made Minato Namikaze even more confused for a while.

Until he saw the Third Mizukage sitting in the meeting room of the Anbu base, wearing the Mizukage's robes, and...

Minazuki Yoru, wearing a water-shadow hat!

"how come……"

"Surprised, Minato Namikaze?"

Ye looked up, revealing his young and handsome face: "I remember saying that we should meet again soon, and in a different form."

"You launched a coup?!" Minato Namikaze tried his best to suppress the shock in his heart.

"Tch, have you ever seen a coup that allows someone to sit side-by-side with the former Mizukage like this?" Night scoffed, taking the Mizukage's hat off his head and placing it on the table. "I am the head of the Snow Clan, the vice-commander of the Kirigakure Anbu, and a war hero who led Kirigakure to inflict roughly the same damage on the evil Konoha during their terrifying attack."

"He's also the only fourth-generation candidate in the village. Do I need to stage a coup to get this position?"

"As for the Water Shadow Building next door... it's a bit ugly, let's renovate it."

"I remember the Anbu told me that your purpose in coming here was to negotiate peace, so if you really want to come to negotiate peace, please put away your presumptuous gaze."

"……Feel sorry."

Minato Namikaze, guided silently by the Anbu, sat down in front of Yoru. At the same time, he took out a scroll from his robes and handed it to... well, it's hard to tell who he handed it to. Yoru himself took the scroll and handed it to the Third Mizukage.

The scroll was opened, and the Third Mizukage squinted as he carefully examined its contents, while Minato Namikaze explained.

"This war has brought unimaginable trauma to both Konoha and Kirigakure."

"A war to the death is meaningless. We are all losers, all the ones who have been hurt. So our Third Hokage hopes to end this war here... As a token of our sincerity, I have brought the three Seven Ninja Swords of Kirigakure."

As he spoke, Minato Namikaze took out another scroll and placed it on the table.

Night picked up the scroll, broke the seal, and the three ninja swords, Samehada, Raiga, and Kubikiribōchō, immediately appeared on the table.

"There is indeed some sincerity involved."

Yoru nodded, then took the peace scroll from the Third Mizukage and began to examine it carefully.

After a moment, he looked up at Minato Namikaze and shook his head: "But it's not enough."

Chapter 90 Mizuki Yoru: You're right, I'm the one threatening you!

"Wha, what?"

"To think that you, Konoha, can exchange three ninja swords that originally belonged to Kirigakure for an end to this war and peace talks is wishful thinking."

Night put the three ninja swords back into the scroll and into his pocket, then casually tossed the peace negotiation scroll back to Minato Namikaze.

"I want to see greater sincerity, or rather... war reparations!"

"This is impossible! We, Konoha, are not the defeated side!"

Minato Namikaze growled unconsciously.

Aside from our Qing Dynasty, which paid reparations whether it won or lost, in any world, war reparations are a way for the losers of war to seek compensation from the victors to end the war.

However, Konoha did not lose this war. In fact, compared to the current overall situation, Konoha's condition is far better than Kirigakure's!

Whether in terms of economy, food supplies, military equipment and other logistics, or in terms of manpower, elites and high-end combat power, Konoha currently has an absolute advantage over Kirigakure.

Under these circumstances, why should Konoha pay war reparations to Kirigakure?

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

Night casually said, "I can only say that it's been hard for Golden Flash to travel all the way to our remote island overseas. In times of war, envoys are not to be killed, so I will spare your life. However, in a couple of days, several large ice sculptures should reappear in your Land of Fire."

"You're threatening me!" Minato Namikaze's face darkened. "Aren't you afraid we'll bombard you with Tailed Beast Balls as always? Don't forget, you still have my Flying Thunder God mark on you. Whenever I want, I can bring the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball to launch a devastating attack on you!"

"A devastating blow..."

Night chewed on the word, a sneer appearing on his face: "Go ahead and attack, we have plenty of islands in the Land of Water anyway. Of course, I also hope that the weather in your Konoha is as hot all year round as in Sunagakure, otherwise the ice sculptures I made won't melt so easily."

The Third Mizukage beside him had a bright and sparkling look in his eyes; he had never experienced such a wonderful feeling before.

Even though we were at a greater disadvantage in the negotiations, and even the village's leader was marked with the Flying Thunder God technique, making the entire village feel like it was about to be wiped out at any moment, why is it that when Night speaks of it, he can turn the tables and threaten the other side?

It threatens the most powerful force in the ninja world today, and Konoha, which has never been defeated in decades since the Warring States period!