Kumo's first wave of attacks against them had largely failed.
Yawning lazily, Yagura twirled a pen between his fingers and chuckled with the others.
"We should thank the Kazekage for giving us a heads-up in advance."
Of course, that "heads-up" wasn't something the Fourth Kazekage had willingly offered, but that didn't stop Yagura from feeling genuinely grateful toward Rasa.
From the moment Rasa secretly sent over a document to the public declaration of the three villages' joint threat, only a few days had passed.
And those few days were more than enough for Yagura and his people to prepare a contingency plan.
There weren't many shinobi in Kirigakure—especially if you excluded those like Kisame and Ameyuri, who were constantly out on missions. But even so, they could still mobilize a few hundred ninja for rapid response.
Predicting the actions of the three major villages, Kirigakure had assigned shinobi to escort every merchant vessel carrying goods, with additional mobile units patrolling the surrounding waters.
This left the three villages even more frustrated, but there wasn't much they could do.
Setting aside the ongoing war that stretched their forces thin, there was also the simple fact that Kirigakure was isolated across the sea. That vast expanse of open water acted as a natural barrier, making it incredibly difficult for them to retaliate.
Yagura felt untouchable—because, well, he was untouchable.
He absolutely loved seeing their indignant faces, knowing full well they couldn't do a thing about it.
"Ahem."
Mei Terumi nudged Yagura, giving him a pointed look. "Control your expressions."
His grin was getting out of hand. His mouth was practically reaching the heavens.
They all knew he was pleased with himself, but could he at least maintain some decorum?
Yagura quickly adjusted his expression before looking up to meet the knowing, amused gazes of those around him. Keeping his face neutral, he cleared his throat.
"Alright, alright, let's get down to business."
Resting his cheek on one hand, he decided to start the meeting on a positive note.
"First, a commendation—Yuki Tsuya completed his mission excellently. I'd like to give him special recognition. Sister Murasaki, please pass along my appreciation when you return."
Yuki Murasaki, who had personally recommended Tsuya, smiled and nodded. "Of course."
And it wasn't just Yuki.
Now that he'd been in power for a few months, the major clans had gotten a better understanding of their new leader's temperament. Compared to the previous Mizukage, he was an undeniable improvement.
He came from the same social standing as them and had the competence to match his position.
No one could find fault with that.
After a brief period of adaptation, the major clans now fully cooperated with Yagura's leadership. Their shinobi had stepped up to bolster Kirigakure's military presence, allowing Yagura to feel like he was basking in a sweet honey jar.
Tapping his fingers against the reports in front of him, Yagura summarized,
"Kumo's attacks targeted our shipping lanes, but thanks to our preparations, all major merchant fleets safely reached their destinations."
"However, smaller fleets did suffer attacks. Their cargo was either stolen or destroyed on the spot. We've taken some losses."
He flipped through the documents and pulled out a report from Konoha.
It was from a few days ago.
After the three villages issued their diplomatic notice in the ninja world's shared information network, Konoha had privately reached out to Kirigakure, essentially asking: 'What do we do now?'
Kirigakure responded by sending over their emergency contingency plan.
That plan was simple: In the short term, neutral Kirigakure shinobi would escort all shipping vessels. Any losses would be covered by the sender.
Konoha wouldn't have to provide manpower, and their fleets would be protected. Losses would be shared on a 50-50 basis.
It was a fair deal—and in fact, it even leaned in Konoha's favor. Unsurprisingly, Konoha's leaders approved it swiftly, allowing Kirigakure shinobi to board their ships and escort the cargo.
"Fortunately, Kumo has shown some restraint. They didn't attack our ships—they only targeted those flying Konoha's flag."
Which meant all the losses fell on Konoha.
Yagura was quite pleased with this outcome.
"But this was just the first move."
His tone turned serious. "This was only a warning."
Neither the Third Tsuchikage nor the Third Raikage were the type to swallow a loss without retaliation.
Especially not from someone they considered a junior. Their pride wouldn't allow it.
Now that Yagura had made it clear he wouldn't back down, they would definitely come back for a second and third attempt.
"Military Affairs Department, keep a reserve force on standby. We must ensure that no ships under our protection suffer any losses."
"Also, open further discussions with Konoha. This time, we can bear some losses since it's an emergency measure, but going forward..."
One of the village elders, observed Yagura handling the matter with increasing ease and nodded in approval.
Knock, knock.
Yagura looked toward the door. "Come in."
A shinobi entered and reported, "Mizukage-sama, an envoy from Konoha has arrived and requests an audience. Shall we—"
"What a coincidence. We were just talking about them."
Yagura immediately perked up. "Don't make them wait outside. Bring them in. They're honored guests!"
As he said "honored guests," his voice took on a particularly amused lilt, and the corners of his mouth curled up again.
The others in the room tactfully averted their eyes and pretended not to notice, mentally preparing themselves.
Their little Mizukage was about to squeeze some benefits out of Konoha once again.
A few months ago, after bringing back a treaty from Kirigakure, Sarutobi—who shared the same surname as the Third Hokage—had become Konoha's frequent diplomatic envoy to Kirigakure.
And by extension, he had also become Yagura's esteemed "honored guest."
Thanks to Kirigakure's intervention, Konoha had managed to stabilize its battlefronts across various war zones.
The relationship between the two villages had skyrocketed.
As for the fact that Kirigakure was still selling supplies to Sunagakure—well, that was a minor detail!
It certainly wouldn't jeopardize their budding friendship!
...
Repeatedly traveling far from his warm homeland, enduring the damp and chilly climate of the Land of Water, Sarutobi remained diligent and without complaint.
Invited inside, he respectfully greeted those present. "Mizukage-sama, Elder."
Yagura leaned back, playfully eyeing him. "Sarutobi-san, you seem to be in good spirits."
With his goat-like face, the older man chuckled. "Ah, all thanks to you."
While Konoha had taken some losses from Kumo's raid, they were minimal.
Had it not been for Kirigakure's assistance, they would've suffered complete financial devastation.
From the Hokage down to the business leaders and merchants involved in the supply chain, everyone was grateful.
Everyone—except one man.
His name was Shimura Danzo.
Yagura wasn't sure about Konoha's internal power struggles, but the fact that he was still dealing with Sarutobi meant that, overall, Konoha's stance toward Kirigakure remained positive.
"No need to be so polite. Both Kirigakure and Konoha were victims of Kumo's actions. Considering your urgent situation, as an ally, we naturally extended our help. It was nothing."
Sarutobi nodded. "Hokage-sama asked me to convey his gratitude."
'Don't just thank me—show me the money.'
Yagura smiled pleasantly. "Given these past few days, I'm sure the wise Hokage has made all necessary preparations. Now, let's discuss how we'll work together to crush Kumo's schemes."
The atmosphere suddenly shifted from cordial pleasantries to serious business.
Sarutobi's smile stiffened slightly. "Mizukage-sama, about that..."
----------------
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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