This was going too far!
After being viciously cursed by Mizuto, Genzan's expression twisted, his face flushed red, and his back teeth ground together with a creaking sound. He was already close to being unable to suppress his anger.
"Mizuto, don't go too far!"
The Kaguya clan had arrogant personalities. Once they started fighting, they were outright lunatics, somewhat similar to the Uchiha clan.
The only difference was that the Kaguya clan was a little bolder. If they said they were going to launch a coup, they did not waste time. They just charged straight in. Although their coup ultimately failed and the clan was destroyed, the pride of a bloodline clan remained. They would rather die standing than live kneeling.
Now that Mizuto had pointed at his nose and cursed him so harshly, and with the alcohol he had drunk on top of that, Genzan's naturally lawless temperament made him stop caring about Mizuto's identity completely.
What was a Mizukage worth?
If they fought for real, he was not afraid of Mizuto. At worst, he would die. But Mizuto could forget about returning to the Mist Village completely unharmed!
Bloodline clans would never lower their heads!
"You're so great, so noble!"
"It was us bloodline clans who held up the Mist Village. What are you supposed to be? What right do you have to talk about the Mist's bloodline clans?"
"You're only the Mizukage because we bloodline clans acknowledge you. Otherwise, you're nothing!"
"You think we don't know about all those little tricks you've been pulling behind our backs? Do you take us all for fools?"
"The rumors in the village were spread by you, weren't they?"
Genzan suddenly erupted, pouring out all the resentment accumulated in his heart in one breath, making Mizuto's expression turn ugly. Mizuto had never expected Genzan to be bold to this extent.
It was one thing to curse him behind his back, but now he was doing it directly to his face.
"Good. Very good!"
Mizuto laughed in extreme anger. These bloodline clans really were disasters inside the village. They truly did not take him, the Mizukage, seriously at all.
His position as Mizukage actually needed their acknowledgment?
"Looks like you really want to betray the Mist Village!"
"You're the one betraying the Mist Village!"
"Slandering the bloodline clans is an unforgivable crime. Even the First Mizukage wouldn't have dared say something like that. Who do you think you are? You're trying to destroy the Mist Village!"
For a moment, Genzan and Mizuto were at each other's throats. Almost at the same time, both of them erupted with powerful chakra. Bones had already begun protruding from Genzan's body, and the bone spikes on his hands gleamed coldly.
"Don't fight among yourselves! You absolutely can't fight among yourselves!"
"You can't turn on your own people!"
"Mizukage, calm down! I believe the Mist's bloodline clans have only had a small disagreement with you. How did it come to this?"
Seeing that the timing was right, Yama began shouting loudly. He even deliberately used chakra, so everyone in the Mist Village's lodging area heard him.
"Shut up!"
Mizuto's expression became ugly. His attention had been focused entirely on that bastard Genzan just now, and he had forgotten that Yama was still beside them.
Genzan had not made a move yet. As long as he attacked, Genzan was finished. Attacking his superior and fighting the Mist's Mizukage to the death would make the charge of being a rogue ninja impossible to remove. Mizuto could also use the chance to suppress those hateful bloodline clans!
"Stop first!"
"You must not fight among yourselves! Bloodline clans are pillars of a ninja village!"
"..."
However, Mizuto was not Haru. He had no authority to order Yama around.
Yama shouted loudly while retreating to Genzan's side. He pressed a hand on Genzan, signaling for him not to act rashly.
Mizuto's expression was terrible. It seemed Yama was determined to call over everyone from the Mist Village.
Should he attack?
If he attacked first, the nature of the matter would be different. There was also a Hyuga clan member from the Leaf right in front of him.
If he touched Yama, explaining it to the Leaf would not be easy.
Mizuto hesitated. While he hesitated, the Mist Village ninja staying nearby were all drawn over.
Words like internal fighting, Mizukage, and turning on their own people were far too imagination-stirring. People loved watching drama, and this drama was related to their own future. Even if they did not want to watch, they had to.
"What happened?"
"What's going on?"
"Internal fighting? Who wants to fight the Mizukage?"
Ninja were extremely fast, and their lodgings were not far away to begin with. In just one or two short minutes, Genzan's residence was surrounded by a circle of Mist ninja.
"Mizukage, you absolutely must not fight among yourselves!"
"Genzan only drank a little too much and misspoke for a moment. How can you attack Genzan over drunken nonsense?"
Seeing that enough people had arrived, Yama immediately shouted loudly, taking the first move to define the matter as drunken nonsense.
Before coming here, Haru and Yama had already done many simulations and considered all the possible situations that might occur.
Mizuto's mind was still a mess, so for a moment, Yama caught him completely off guard.
Yama's words were very effective. The Mist Village's bloodline clans immediately stood beside Genzan. Although the bloodline clans in the village had plenty of dirty conflicts among themselves, when it came to opposing the Mizukage, they stood on the same side.
If the Mizukage dared to openly attack a high-ranking member of the Kaguya clan just because he said a few drunken words, how were they supposed to survive in the future?
The situation had gone out of control.
Even if Mizuto were dumber, he realized by now that someone had set him up!
"Mizukage, shouldn't you explain yourself?"
"Attacking a bloodline ninja from the village so casually... Even as Mizukage, you don't have that much power, do you?"
Taigetsu stepped forward and began questioning Mizuto.
He gave Mizuto no face at all. In the Mist Village, the clan most unconvinced by Mizuto as the Third Mizukage was probably the Hozuki clan, especially him, the newly appointed leader of the Hozuki clan.
After all, the Second Mizukage had come from the Hozuki clan, and Taigetsu had always been highly valued by Gengetsu.
"Explain?"
"Hmph!"
Mizuto sneered. The Hozuki clan really was as arrogant as ever. They had not the slightest respect for him.
"The fact that he deliberately incited rebellion and intended to harm me, isn't that enough?"
Mizuto's face was gloomy. Today, he had been completely caught. He had been played by the Leaf's Hokage. However, he could not retreat even half a step now. If he retreated, there would be a sheer cliff behind him, and the ordinary ninja present were all watching.
As Mizukage, if he directly backed down in front of the Hozuki clan, what qualification would he still have to continue serving as Mizukage?
"Where is the evidence?"
Taigetsu pressed aggressively. In the Mist Village, Mizuto did not get to cover the sky with one hand. If he said it was deliberate rebellion, did that make it deliberate rebellion?
Mizuto was about to say something, but he suddenly choked.
Evidence?
Where would he get evidence?
Could he reproduce what Genzan had said earlier?
"Mizukage, it seems you can't produce any evidence!"
"Mizukage, what impressive official authority!"
"You've only been Mizukage for a few days, yet you can already openly frame ninja from the village. In the future, won't you be able to kill people in the village whenever you want?"
Taigetsu's sarcasm nearly made Mizuto explode with anger. Rebels and traitors. Every single one of them was a rebel and traitor!
"Genzan repeatedly said earlier that he wanted to tear me to pieces. I am the Mizukage. Would I make something up out of nowhere?"
"Pfft."
A bloodline ninja in the crowd let out a laugh, which was extremely noticeable in the quiet surroundings.
"Ah, sorry. I just thought of something happy. I definitely wasn't laughing at you, Mizukage."
A voice came from the crowd, angering Mizuto so much that his fingers trembled. He tried his best to remain calm. Although he desperately wanted to tear that laughing bloodline ninja apart, if he acted now, his position as Mizukage would be over.
"Hmph. Genzan, you had the guts to say it. Do you not have the guts to admit what you said?"
"Are you still a man?"
Mizuto pointed at Genzan, attempting one final struggle. He hoped Genzan was stupid enough to admit what he had just said.
"I... I..."
Genzan was a little conflicted. Admitting it at a time like this was obviously unwise, but if he flatly denied it, he could not bring himself to do it.
"Sigh! Genzan drank too much earlier and didn't explain some things clearly. We were just talking about the rumors in the Mist Village targeting the bloodline clans. What he meant was that he wanted to tear apart the bastard who spread those rumors!"
A trace of disappointment flashed in Yama's eyes. Genzan was actually still hesitating at a time like this. Yama hurriedly spoke first. He absolutely could not let Genzan act like a fool right now.
"Genzan, isn't that right?"
"Right, right, right!"
"I was talking about tearing apart the guy who spread the rumors. That bastard is a beast, a piece of trash, not even human! He actually dared to spread rumors about the bloodline clans!"
Genzan immediately reacted and followed Yama's rhythm, cursing the person who spread the rumors.
In Genzan's eyes, Mizuto was the one who had spread those rumors.
Mizuto's expression became ugly, as if he had eaten something foul. The one who spread the rumors was him. That dog Genzan had started cursing again, yet Mizuto could not refute a single word.
"Mizukage, do you think I'm right?"
"Isn't the person who spread those rumors a beast, trash, and a bastard?"
Killing the man was not enough. He had to break his heart too!
How frightening!
"Yes... Yes!"
It was as if something had gotten stuck in Mizuto's throat. He spoke with great difficulty.
He had lost. He had completely lost!
The entire situation had now gone completely out of control, far beyond Mizuto's command. His heart was filled with bitterness.
What should he do?
He wanted to run!
Mizuto really wanted to escape the scene. The longer he stayed here, the worse it would be for him.
"Hmph. Shouldn't the Mizukage give us an explanation?"
"Casually framing ninja from the village, allowing rumors targeting the bloodline clans to spread wildly through the village. One thing after another. It really makes us doubt whether you can truly serve as the Third Mizukage of the Mist."
Taigetsu took advantage of the situation to press the attack, wanting to use this chance to weaken Mizuto's prestige. In the Mist Village, Mizuto had relied on his identity as Mizukage to firmly suppress their bloodline clans, leaving them with bitter grievances they could not voice. Now that they had finally found an opportunity, they had to strike back fiercely.
"Hmph. Genzan, you know very well what you said earlier. This time, consider yourself lucky!"
Mizuto clearly had no intention of lowering his head and admitting weakness, nor could he admit weakness. If the hearts of the people supporting him became chaotic, his faction would become difficult to lead.
"As for the rumors in the village, I will handle them!"
Mizuto flicked his sleeve and left, not wanting to stay in this troublesome place for even one more second.
All his plans had fallen through. He had wanted to provoke Genzan into attacking him, confirm the charge of betraying the village, publicly expose Genzan's treasonous words, and then use the opportunity to狠狠 suppress the bloodline clans in the village.
But now it had turned into a farce denouncing him. Continuing to argue with the bloodline clans would only set himself on fire and make his situation even more difficult.
As long as the mountain remained, there would be no shortage of firewood.
I am not angry. I am not angry!
Those who accomplish great things must have broad tolerance. Once we return to the village, I will slowly deal with these bloodline clans.
As long as I, Mizuto, am still the Mizukage, the bloodline clans of the Mist Village will not overturn the sky!
The advantage is mine!
After Mizuto left, the ordinary ninja of the Mist Village also departed one after another. Their boss, the Mizukage, had already left, so why would they stay here?
Were they waiting to be glared at by the bloodline clans?
Before long, only the bloodline clan ninja remained in place. They looked at one another, then burst into loud laughter. For a moment, the air was full of joy.
Satisfying. Too satisfying!
The arrogant Mizuto actually had a day like this. He had relied on the Mizukage's position to pressure the bloodline clans until they could barely breathe. Not only had he cut their funds, but he had also spread rumors about them!
Today, they had finally vented some of their anger!
Among the crowd, Yama let out a long breath. Today's mission was finally complete.
The conflict between the Mist Village's bloodline clans and the Mizukage had already been quite serious to begin with. After today's incident, it had completely become a relationship of fire and water.
Even after being mocked like this, the Mizukage could still endure it. He really was a man!
But dogs that do not bark bite the hardest!
These bloodline clans were laughing happily now, but they would suffer for it later. However, none of that had anything to do with him.
Yama greeted Genzan, then quietly left this troublesome place.
When the deed is done, brush off your sleeves and leave, hiding your name and achievements.
In the future, when the Mist Village's bloodline clans launched their coup, he would have contributed his share!
This neither large nor small farce officially came to an end, but it produced no small amount of influence.
Haru hid behind the scenes and happily clapped his hands. Yama had completed this mission exceptionally well, and it had gone even more smoothly than Haru had imagined.
The Sand Village, the Cloud Village, and the Stone Village all remained on the second line, watching the drama.
Naturally, they were happy to see the Mist Village's internal conflict between the Mizukage and the bloodline clans become irreconcilable.
It would be best if they started fighting!
Rather than strengthening themselves, weakening others was also a good option. If the Mist Village fell into internal disaster because of this and its strength declined greatly, would that not indirectly strengthen them?
The Mist Village's bloodline clans were as happy as if it were the new year. Today's counterattack was the beginning of their horn for a counteroffensive. From now on, offense and defense had changed sides!
What were you, Mizuto, to stand above the bloodline clans and point fingers?
After Mizuto returned to his room, a series of crashing sounds rang out from inside. Clearly, he would not be sleeping tonight.
Naturally, he was not the only one who could not sleep tonight. The Third Mizukage Mizuto could not sleep, and neither could the leader of the Hot Water Village.
Originally, he had already been about to sleep when a Hot Water ninja suddenly burst through the door to report intelligence: the Mist Village had almost started fighting among themselves.
That scared him so badly that he sprang up from his bed.
Were they really going to fight among themselves?
If they did, could the Hot Water Village even survive?
The leader of the Hot Water Village nervously confirmed the intelligence again and again before finally letting out a long breath. Good, they had not started fighting.
However, he definitely had no way to sleep peacefully tonight.
(End of Chapter)
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