Chapter 170 The Hidden Mist Revolution
Uchiha Touko carefully observed the people participating in the gathering, then found a corner to sit down. Tobi whispered in his ear to Uchiha Touko.
"Has this woman still not clearly expressed her desire to become the Fifth Mizukage or directly rebuild a new Hidden Mist Village?" Uchiha Touko asked.
"Yes, Lord Touko, I tested her in that capacity. Terumi Mei said that the most urgent task now is to overthrow Yagura's tyrannical rule. As for the position of Mizukage, it will be decided by a vote after the success."
Uchiha Touko: ...
Uchiha Touko looked at the crowd speechlessly, and said with a cold smile, "Tobi, guess how many of these people joined this organization because they want the position of Fifth Mizukage?"
"Is that so? But these people all seem to follow Terumi Mei's lead." Tobi said, puzzled.
"That's because this team was built up by Mei Terumi. Before things are settled, they still need Mei Terumi's power," Uchiha Touko said. "After Mei Terumi used my methods to build up this team, she forgot one thing: she didn't implant the concept of herself as the leader into the consciousness of every participant." "
But it seems you didn't do that intentionally in the first place," Tobi said, somewhat puzzled.
"That's what she didn't see," Uchiha Touko said with a light laugh. "My strength doesn't require me to do this. My Mangekyou Sharingan and my record in the Third Shinobi World War are enough to subdue all my subordinates and prevent them from having any ambition. But Mei is different. Her strength is probably on par with the strongest among these people, and the Six-Tails' Jinchuriki might even be stronger than her. If I were her, I definitely wouldn't have extended an invitation to Utakata."
"Do you believe that such a team would immediately fall apart the moment it's done because of who gets the Mizukage position?" Uchiha Touko said with a light laugh. "However, this suits my wishes. It's better if Kirigakure remains in chaos."
"However, according to the information we've gathered recently, both the owners of those two ninja swords and the Six-Tails' Jinchuriki have complete faith in Mei. The probability of what you're describing happening is actually quite low, right?" Tobi said.
"The people you just mentioned, aside from the recently joined Six-Tails Jinchuriki, both Zabuza and Kisame have quite a few direct supporters under their command, right?" Uchiha Touko said with a light laugh.
"That's right. Kisame is alright; he only has two large battalions of ninja under his command. But Zabuza, as one of the earliest ninja to defect from Kirigakure with Mei Terumi, already had a considerable force before joining the rebels."
"That's right, Tobi. Sometimes, even if the person in charge doesn't want to fight for power, their subordinates will push them forward," Uchiha Touko laughed. While
the two were chatting, Mei Terumi entered the gathering area. Behind her were two figures: a young boy named Chojuro carrying the twin swords Hiramekarei, and Ao, known as the Byakugan Killer, whose right eye was covered by an eyepatch. Unlike most of the people present, these two were Mei Terumi's true confidants.
Uchiha Touko coldly watched the figure behind Mei Terumi, whose Byakugan was hidden behind an eyepatch. Come to think of it, this guy was Konoha's most wanted fugitive. In all these years, the Hyuga clan had only lost one pair of Byakugan; the left eye was taken by Kumogakure, and the right eye was hidden under this guy's eyepatch.
[Now I have a reason to send troops.] Uchiha Touko thought.
At that moment, Ao noticed Uchiha Touko's gaze and turned his eyes towards him. This made Tobi, who was attached to Uchiha Touko, tense up, fearing his disguise would be exposed.
However, Uchiha Touko remained calm, meeting Ao's gaze with a friendly smile. Putting aside whether his Byakugan could see through a White Zetsu's disguise, in the current situation, if Ao dared to hold a meeting with his Byakugan activated, the ninjas gathered here would definitely erupt in chaos. What? They're risking their lives for you, and you don't believe what they mean?
As expected, Ao returned Uchiha Touko's smile. Uchiha Touko, now known as Satake Masato, was among the most loyal to Mei Terumi within the resistance, second only to Ao and Chojuro, who had followed her since their days in Kirigakure. Therefore, Ao didn't think much of Uchiha Touko's gaze.
"Lady Mei Terumi, all the Chunin and above ninja in the organization have arrived," the clerk in charge of statistics reported to Mei Terumi.
Mei Terumi nodded, walked to the center of the hall, scanned everyone below, took a deep breath, and began to speak: "Everyone! Thank you for coming. We have gathered here for the future hope of Kirigakure. We stand at the boundary between the blood mist and the dawn."
Mei Terumi's voice was deep and infectious. Then, she nodded to Chojuro behind her. Chojuro came to her side, unfurled a sealing scroll, and after channeling chakra, took out a stack of new headbands and white silk scarves.
Mei Terumi picked up one of the headbands and showed it to the crowd below.
Compared to the original Kirigakure headband with four short, slanted raindrop patterns, the pattern on this headband was a three-wave-shaped design composed of thin lines.
"This is a redesigned headband," Mei Terumi said after taking a deep breath.
Upon seeing the new headband, the ninjas below immediately began to whisper among themselves.
Mei Terumi waited a moment, until the murmurs below subsided somewhat, before continuing,
"For some time now, I've pondered how we should return to Kirigakure. Should we be the rogue ninjas who reclaim the village? Or the thugs of an armed coup? Neither! We are the cleansing water that washes away the blood mist that has shrouded Kirigakure for years!" "
This is not a betrayal of past glory. The old headbands, while representing Kirigakure's past honor, were also stained with the blood of our comrades!"
"Our beloved village has reached a point where change is imperative. So, everyone, let our beloved village, after shedding its bloody stain, be reborn, starting with these new headbands!"
"The darkest hour before dawn is when the stars shine brightest. Remember, this is not a rebellion, but the rebirth of the Land of Water, drowning in a sea of blood!"
"When the rising sun pierces the blood mist, I hope I can personally place this new headband on the first child who graduates without killing their comrades. At that time, please... please be alive to witness that dawn."
"Yes!" Uchiha Touko, watching the impassioned Mei Terumi on the stands, couldn't help but applaud vigorously. He had to admit that although Mei Terumi had only followed his path, she had, to some extent, inherited some of his true skills. Even if he himself had given that speech, he couldn't guarantee he could have done better.
"Gentlemen! In three days, we will march on Kirigakure!" Mei Terumi announced loudly, her eyes sharp as swords.
"Yes!" the ninjas on the scene shouted in unison.
Afterwards, Chojuro and Ao distributed the tasks to each commander present.
Uchiha Touko, disguised as Satake Masato, was tasked with leading his men to intercept a Kirigakure ANBU unit north of Kirigakure while simultaneously evacuating the civilians still within the village.
After everyone received their tasks, Mei Terumi began to outline the specific arrangements for the coup.
First, the rebels would gradually arrive in various directions around Kirigakure over the next three days and hide. At midnight three days later, they would launch a unified attack on Kirigakure.
Each of the strongest members of the resistance was assigned a direction. Zabuza Momochi, wielding the Executioner's Blade, was responsible for the eastern gate of Kirigakure, while Utakata was responsible for the western gate. Kisame Hoshigaki, due to the natural advantage of Isobu against Samehada, was responsible for the southern gate, the furthest from the Mizukage's headquarters. The northern gate, closest to the Mizukage's headquarters, was to be attacked by Mei Terumi herself.
At that time, the Genshi, who was lurking in Kirigakure, would replace the ninja guarding the gates with resistance ninjas already infiltrated within the village. With this
coordinated attack, they would breach the gates as quickly as possible and evacuate the civilians. Afterward, they would storm the Mizukage's headquarters, and after all sides used barriers to trap Yagura Karatachi, the strongest members of the resistance would jointly besiege him.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Touko, disguised as Masato Satake, was under Mei Terumi's personal command.
After receiving their orders and noting down the details, everyone destroyed everything on their own initiative. They then left to gather their subordinates and wait at the designated locations. Uchiha Touko, after leaving the rebels' assembly point, returned to the mansion.
After closing the door, Black Zetsu emerged from underground and looked at Uchiha Touko, asking, "What do you think of their plan?"
"A good scheme," Uchiha Touko smiled. "If we hadn't known their plan, the chances of Yagura falling into their trap would have been almost 100%."
"Now that we know the rebels' plan, should we have Yagura do something? Like killing the traitor, Genji, who's lurking in Kirigakure before they launch their attack?" Black Zetsu suggested. "Now that we have evidence of Genji's involvement in the rebellion, even if we eliminate him, Kirigakure shouldn't cause any internal turmoil. Without their internal coordination, they'll inevitably clash with the ninja guarding the village's gates. Although the rebels' leaders in each direction are stronger, the terrain will prevent them from immediately storming Kirigakure, leading to a fierce battle."
"No need," Uchiha Touko said. "Let's just play by their script for now."
"Why? Wouldn't their mutual slaughter perfectly fit your plan to throw Kirigakure into chaos?" Black Zetsu asked, puzzled.
"If we follow your plan, Ancestor, Kirigakure will be extremely chaotic on the night three days from now, but it will only be chaotic for one night. Yagura's genjutsu shouldn't last long in the heat of battle," Uchiha Touko said.
"Yes," Black Zetsu nodded. "If Yagura Karatachi engages them, it won't be long before Madara's genjutsu using the Three-Tails against him is broken. However, by then, Yagura Karatachi won't be alive either."
"With both sides suffering heavy losses, the remaining people will be more likely to put aside their differences and unite after one side's leader falls, since they were all ninjas from the same village," Uchiha Touko said. "In that case, although Kirigakure's strength will be greatly reduced, they will eventually recover. With the ocean as a barrier, as long as they want to recuperate, it will be difficult for either us or Kumogakure to directly attack their homeland. Once they recover, it will take a lot of effort to deal with them."
"Then, what do you plan to do?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Hehe, of course it's about the Fourth Mizukage being surrounded and, for the sake of the village's legacy, seeking help from the Land of Fire, another great nation, to quell the rebellion. Although the Fourth Mizukage sacrificed himself in the rebel siege, the Heavenly Soldiers of the Land of Fire helped him suppress the uprising. What does our ancestor think of this scenario?" Uchiha Touko said with a smile.
Black Zetsu hesitated after hearing Uchiha Touko's words, but Uchiha Touko's next sentence made Black Zetsu's eyes light up.
"As compensation for the military action, Kirigakure needs to pay all the expenses for the Land of Fire's military operation. Furthermore, since Kirigakure is unable to pay the expenses, they have offered to use two tailed beasts to offset the huge debt."
"That's settled! You're so resourceful!" Black Zetsu exclaimed excitedly. Although the Three-Tails was under his and Obito's control before, they couldn't directly take it for themselves. After all, the Three-Tails' genjutsu seal was unstable, and the Three-Tails' jinchūriki was openly the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure. Forcibly taking the Three-Tails away would likely trigger a series of huge reactions. But now, if they follow Uchiha Touko's plan, they can not only take the Three-Tails away legally, but also take the Six-Tails along with it.
In this way, counting the Nine-Tails that Konoha already had and the Seven-Tails that had settled in Konoha, Konoha could directly recover four tailed beasts. Counting the Five-Tails that Akatsuki had recently recovered, the Eye of the Moon Plan was only a little over halfway to completion! How could Black Zetsu not be overjoyed?
[Mom! I'll be able to rescue you soon!] Black
Zetsu, lost in thought, looked excitedly at Uchiha Touko, who returned a meaningful smile.
(End of Chapter)