https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-263-The-River-Country-s-Dramatic-Transformation-/12932164/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-265-The-Opportunity-to-Annex-the-Lantern-Clan-/12932166/
Chapter 264: A Request from the Lantern Clan!
Chapter 264: A Request from the Lantern Clan!
Familiar faces, Lantern Moonlit and Akame Mei.
It was a pleasant surprise to see them.
"Lord Dong Ping, please save the Lantern Clan!" Lantern Moonlit pleaded, making a request that left Dong Ping completely baffled.
"???"
Dong Ping's mind was filled with questions.
He had no idea why they would make such a request.
Even with the memories of a time traveler, he couldn't find any relevant clues.
Wait a minute!
He suddenly remembered something.
Lantern Moonlit's brother, Lantern Suige, was going to die early and under mysterious circumstances in the future.
Could this be related to that?
"It's like this, the Lantern Clan is extremely dissatisfied with the Fourth Mizukage, and the conflict between them is escalating. Recently, the Lantern Clan has been gathering strength to 'rebel'..." Lantern Moonlit explained clearly, noticing Dong Ping's confusion.
It must be said that her future rise to the position of Mizukage was not without reason.
Not to mention her two Bloodline Limits, but her intellect alone was enough to outshine the mentally unstable Mist Ninjas.
Rebellion?
More like an insurrection!
Indeed, the Mist Ninjas' 'tradition' was on full display.
Dong Ping's gaze shifted to Lantern Moonlit, her face sharp and teeth pointed.
After having traveled through time and collected so much knowledge and literature, Dong Ping was well-informed about the grudges and conflicts in the Ninja World.
The Second Mizukage was from the Lantern Clan, and after his death alongside the Second Tsuchikage, the Third Mizukage seized power through a rebellion. This left the Lantern Clan extremely discontent, but they were temporarily appeased by the promise that the Fourth Mizukage would be from their clan.
Now, Kikyo Yatsukawa had taken the position of the Fourth Mizukage, and it was understandable why the Lantern Clan, who had always considered the position theirs, would be upset.
If it were a fair fight, they might have accepted it.
But Kikyo Yatsukawa showed no honor, taking advantage of the Third Hokage's assassination to forcefully seize power while the Lantern Clan was at the frontlines. By the time the clan returned to the village, Kikyo Yatsukawa had already become the Fourth Mizukage.
The Lantern Clan's resentment was understandable.
Moreover, not only did Kikyo Yatsukawa not try to reconcile with the clan after taking power, but he also targeted them at every turn.
What a bully!
The Lantern Clan was the clan of the Second Mizukage, a prominent clan.
You bully us as soon as you come into power, and we can't even imagine what you'll do next. Why wouldn't we try to overthrow you now instead of waiting to be killed later?
At this point, Dong Ping finally understood the cause and context of the situation.
But there was still something he didn't understand.
Why did they want him to save the Lantern Clan?
Shouldn't the Lantern Clan, who initiated the rebellion, be confident in their success? If anyone needed saving, it should be the Fourth Mizukage.
"Kikyo Yatsukawa is a true powerhouse, and our Lantern Clan is no match for him. With the support of the Kaguya and Minazuki clans, our rebellion is doomed to fail. That's why I'm asking you to save the remaining members of our clan if things take a turn for the worse!" Lantern Moonlit whispered, revealing the truth.
He had shared these thoughts with his clan, but no one listened.
Everyone in the clan believed that with their strength, overthrowing the Fourth Mizukage would be a simple task.
As for the alliance between the Kaguya and Minazuki clans, they didn't consider them a threat.
The Lantern Clan's current state was one of inflated ego and arrogance.
"So, this is a personal request from you, not from the entire Lantern Clan?" Dong Ping realized.
No wonder he wondered why only Lantern Moonlit, a genius of the new generation and the clan's young leader, had come instead of the clan's elders.
While he held a leadership position within the clan, his influence was limited, and his current strength was only that of a Special Jonin.
Note that in the anime, there are numerous young Kage and Six Paths level ninjas.
But in the real Ninja World, reaching the level of a Special Jonin before the age of twenty is already considered a genius.
A Special Jonin alone couldn't possibly convince the other clan members.
If Lantern Suige were a Kage-level ninja, then he would have the necessary influence within the clan.
But in that case, he wouldn't have come to Dong Ping for help.
"Why should I get involved?" Dong Ping asked calmly.
Indeed, why should he? By doing so, he would not only gain nothing but also offend the Hidden Mist Village, a clear loss. Unless he was insane, he wouldn't agree to such a deal.
As for the other party's attempt to coerce him with a trade deal, first, it was uncertain if they even had the authority to make such decisions. Even if they did, the Heavenly Fortress could easily replace them with another partner.
The goods from the Land of Fire were highly sought after, and as long as they could be transported to the Land of Water, finding a willing partner to take over would not be an issue.
"What if I were to pledge my loyalty to you?" Moonlit Lantern offered, having already considered this before his arrival and now presenting his terms directly.
"Not enough!" Dong Ping shook his head.
No matter how famous or promising the other party was, they were not indispensable to him, and it wasn't worth causing trouble with the Mist Village, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
"If you can rescue my clan members, they will all join the Heavenly Fortress, and even if you don't need to get involved in the end, I will still join," Moonlit Lantern stated his true condition.
If the plan succeeded, it would be ideal for the Lantern Clan to ascend to the Mizukage position, and this agreement would be as if it never happened. He would only need to sell himself.
However, there was also a backup plan in case of failure.
It wasn't that he was being overly anxious; the frequent extinction of ninja clans in the Hidden Mist Village made him cautious.
But this plan seemed too sophisticated for someone like him, who wasn't known for his intelligence.
Dong Ping's gaze shifted to the graceful and poised Akame Mei.
It was only natural that she had a hand in planning this.
What was unclear, however, was her motive for doing so.
This was almost like betraying the Hidden Mist Village.
After all, according to the common mindset in the Ninja World, they would rather annihilate the entire Lantern Clan than see them leave, let alone join another ninja village.
Just like the Uchiha!
The Konoha leadership would rather watch them be exterminated than have them leave Konoha, let alone join another village.
The main branch's departure was due to special circumstances and the fact that the Heavenly Fortress was also a Konoha force. If it were another village's force, would they have agreed?
"Why?" Dong Ping asked directly.
With his current identity, there was no need to beat around the bush. When in doubt, it was best to ask.
"You are you, and Konoha is Konoha, aren't they?" Akame Mei replied cunningly.
Yes, she had already seen through Dong Ping's rebellious nature.
No, Dong Ping had never hidden it.
Having the Lantern Clan pledge allegiance to her was entirely different from having them pledge allegiance to Konoha.
"There's more to it than that, isn't there?" Dong Ping felt something was amiss, and it wasn't just about his rebellious nature; it was too big a gamble.
"The Land of Rivers!" Akame Mei understood that a simple statement wouldn't convince Dong Ping, so she revealed her intentions.
Yes, she was already aware of the situation in the Land of Rivers.
Of course, she had investigated her business partners.
And so, the Land of Rivers naturally came into the picture.
Although it was nominally owned by the United Fruit Guild, the connection between Dong Ping and the guild was no secret.
The fact that Konoha's Southwest Ninja Army commander had established such a vast force in other countries was not just about having a rebellious nature; it was a clear sign of ambitious intentions.
Therefore, having the Lantern Clan pledge allegiance to Dong Ping might potentially harm Konoha in the future.
Brilliant!
This way, not only would the Lantern Clan have a way out, but it would also create trouble for Konoha.
A win-win situation!
Akame Mei's actions were not a betrayal of the Hidden Mist Village but a strategic move for the future.
"Are you sure you can make decisions for those clan members?" Dong Ping asked Moonlit Lantern after understanding Akame Mei's intentions.
His question was very realistic.
After all, he was just a genius within the clan and a young clan leader with limited authority. How could he make decisions for the other clan members?
However, his words also implied something else.
He was moved.
(End of Chapter)
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