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Chapter 463: The Impact of Victory
Chapter 463: The Impact of Victory
In the Land of Water, hidden within the Village of Kirigakure, the Kirigakure leadership gathered in the Mizukage's office, their faces grim. Their mood was in stark contrast to the jubilant atmosphere in Konohagakure; the greater the joy in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, the deeper the anger in Kirigakure.
Initially, Kirigakure had intended to take advantage of Konoha's internal strife and turmoil to seize some benefits for themselves. However, things had not gone according to plan, and instead of gaining anything, they had suffered significant losses.
Not only had five of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist fallen, but their prized ninja swords had also been taken by Konoha. The five precious swords were now in the possession of the enemy village.
To Kirigakure, those swords were even more important than the swordsmen themselves. While people could be replaced, the swords were unique and integral to the selection process of the next generation of swordsmen.
Adding to their woes, the loss of the swordsmen was not even the most devastating blow. Kirigakure had also lost a jinchuriki, the three-tails, whose tailed beast had perished. With its death, Kirigakure was now left with only one jinchuriki, the six-tails.
Moreover, two well-known strong shinobi from Kirigakure, Mizuki and Gantomaru, had also fallen in battle, their deaths serving as stepping stones for the rise of a new star, Muyu.
Compared to these losses, the damage inflicted on the Kirigakure ninja forces was relatively minor, thanks to Yagura's efforts in preserving their strength.
"Let's discuss how we should deal with Yagura first," the Third Mizukage said coldly, his expression suggesting that he intended to severely punish the young shinobi.
The other Kirigakure leaders exchanged subtle glances, unsure of the Mizukage's true intentions. They couldn't tell if he was disappointed in Yagura and planned to give up on him, or if he didn't want to punish him too harshly and was seeking a way to show leniency.
"Yagura has betrayed the village's trust and made repeated mistakes in judgment during critical moments, leading to our village's heavy losses," the Third Mizukage continued when no one spoke up.
With this statement, the other leaders understood that the Third Mizukage wasn't ready to give up on Yagura just yet. He likely intended to put on a show of punishment while keeping the consequences relatively light.
"While the war did not go our way, Yagura has been a dedicated commander," one of the leaders, Motai, said after a moment's thought. "He successfully prevented our ninja forces from sustaining heavy casualties and preserved our strength, ensuring we aren't left too vulnerable in the aftermath."
Motai didn't want to create a rift with the Third Mizukage over the position of the next Mizukage, especially given the already precarious situation Kirigakure found itself in. Internal strife on top of their external troubles would only push them further toward decline and ruin.
Furthermore, Motai didn't have a better candidate in mind. Among the younger generation, Yagura was the strongest and most well-rounded, making him the most suitable choice for the role of Mizukage.
"The blame for the war's failure shouldn't fall solely on Yagura," the leader of the Kirigakure jonin added. "We initially had the advantage, but it was when Mizuki and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were defeated by Uchiha Mukuyo that the tide turned against us. Mizuki bears a significant responsibility for our losses."
It was easier to shift the blame onto Mizuki, a renowned shinobi of Kirigakure who was now deceased, than on Yagura, who was still alive and a potential future Mizukage. After all, the dead couldn't protest or suffer any consequences from a tarnished reputation.
"Suika, Mountain Toad Gumo, and the other fallen members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen also failed in their duties," the Kirigakure advisor chimed in, eager to spread the blame.
With a few carefully chosen words, the group painted Yagura as the MVP of the losing side, shifting the blame for the war's failure onto the deceased Mizuki, Suika, and Gumo, citing their inadequacies.
Conspicuously absent from their discussion was Gantetsu, and it wasn't because he had performed well. Instead, it was due to the influence of the Gantetsu clan within Kirigakure, which the leaders didn't want to antagonize unnecessarily.
The Third Mizukage nodded, agreeing with their assessment. Yagura had made mistakes, but he had also contributed, and the primary fault didn't lie with him.
In the end, Yagura's punishment was the removal from his current positions and a reassignment to the Anbu, where he would have the opportunity to make amends and redeem himself through service to Kirigakure.
"As for the five ninja swords taken by Konoha, we must get them back," the Kirigakure advisor said, his tone reflecting the importance he placed on those weapons. "They are our village's treasured possessions."
Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the most powerful swords were Samehada and Kubikiribocho, and both of these had been captured by Konoha. The advisor couldn't bear the thought of leaving them in enemy hands.
"Of course, we will retrieve the swords," the leader of the jonin said. "But the question is, how?"
"Given the current situation, we have two options," he continued. "We can either send our ninja forces into the Land of Fire once more and engage Konoha in battle, defeating them and taking back the swords. Or, we can negotiate with Konoha and try to retrieve the swords through a peace treaty."
Kirigakure had been the aggressor in this war, and Konoha would never return the precious swords without a reason. With Konoha already fighting on multiple fronts, if Kirigakure was willing to negotiate, even if they made some demands, as long as they weren't too excessive, Konoha would likely agree.
"Launching another attack in the short term might not be wise," Motai spoke up, firmly opposed to immediate hostilities. "Konoha's morale is high, while ours is low. Engaging them now would put us at a disadvantage."
"We cannot sign a peace treaty," the Third Mizukage interjected, dismissing the idea. "We will get the swords back, but not in such a humiliating manner."
If they negotiated, it would appear as though Kirigakure had initiated the war, lost, and then begged for peace, pleading for the return of their swords. It would be too embarrassing, and the Third Mizukage didn't want such a stain on his tenure.
The leader of the jonin fell silent, unsure of what other options they had.
"For now, let's refrain from making any hasty moves," the Third Mizukage said. "We will wait and observe."
After the meeting concluded, Motai heaved a soft sigh as he left the Mizukage's office. This war had revealed Kirigakure's weakness. Despite having two jinchuriki, neither the three-tails nor the six-tails jinchuriki were perfect. They couldn't achieve complete tailed beast transformation while remaining conscious.
The new generation of Kirigakure ninjas paled in comparison to those of Konoha. Konoha boasted the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, who could battle on par with the Cloud's AB combo, and Uchiha Mukuyo, who had slain a jinchuriki. None of Kirigakure's new generation could claim such fame in the ninja world.
Not only the current generation but even the previous one, including Kakuzu, fell short of Konoha's ninjas.
Aside from Kakuzu, who could rival one of the Sannin, none of the others, like Mizuuki Han or Kirigakure Hangan, could match their might.
In fact, Mizuuki Han and Kirigakure Hangan had been brutally slain by Mukuyo, a rising star of Konoha's new generation.
"Master Motai, do you have a moment? I've been facing some challenges in my water style training lately," Mei Terumi said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she addressed Motai.
"What seems to be the problem? Tell me about it," Motai replied with a kindly smile, intrigued by Mei Terumi, a genius ninja he had discovered during the Chunin Exams. He believed in her potential and envisioned her leading Kirigakure's new generation in the future.
Mei Terumi promptly explained the issues she had been encountering in her training.
Motai, despite his age and reduced training regimen, was able to provide insightful answers. In his prime, he had been renowned in Kirigakure for his mastery of water style jutsu.
"Thank you so much, Master Motai," Mei Terumi bowed in gratitude.
"You must continue to train diligently," Motai encouraged her. "Your former rivals from Konoha have already made quite a name for themselves on the battlefield."
Currently, three of Konoha's four most famous young geniuses had participated in the same Chunin Exams as Mei Terumi, and one of them, Uchiha Obito, had even lost to her during the second round of the exams.
"Rivals from Konoha?" Mei Terumi furrowed her brow in thought.
Kirigakure certainly wouldn't publicize their crushing defeat within the village, so aside from Mukuyo, whose fame had spread throughout the ninja world, Mei Terumi wasn't aware of Obito's accomplishments.
"Raiya Hatake Kakashi, Konoha's Green Beast Might Guy," Motai began, recounting their exploits on the battlefield, including how they had single-handedly driven back the Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Mei Terumi's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in astonishment. She was well aware of Might Guy's strength, as the image of him pummeling Kisame's squad was still fresh in her memory.
However, she couldn't believe how terrifyingly powerful they had become, capable of forcing the formidable Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to retreat.
As a Kirigakure ninja, Mei Terumi understood the prestige associated with the Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. They were an elite squad directly under the command of the Mizukage, with each member carefully selected from the ranks of jonin and equipped with powerful ninja swords.
She struggled to fathom what Kakashi and his companions had endured to attain such formidable strength, especially considering that they had fought the Ghost Shark Squad to a standstill during the Chunin Exams.
Mei Terumi felt a twinge of shame as she realized how proud she had been of her current strength. Her former rivals had clearly ascended to a whole new level.
"I must train even harder," she resolved, determined to become stronger and catch up to Kakashi and his companions.
...
Thanks to the significant victory and Konoha's deliberate propaganda to boost morale, news of Mukuyo's triumph over Kirigakure and the slaying of their jinchuriki quickly spread throughout the ninja world.
In the Land of Earth, within the office of the Tsuchikage in Iwagakure, Onoki perused the latest intelligence report with a mix of surprise. In his estimation, Kirigakure should have been able to hold out for at least a couple of years against Konoha on the eastern front, gradually wearing down their forces.
"The jinchuriki of Kirigakure has fallen... We'll need to reassess the threat level posed by Konoha," Onoki mused, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. He then turned his attention to the name of the ninja responsible for this feat—Uchiha Mukuyo.
Based on the available intelligence, Mukuyo possessed not only a powerful Hiraishingiri but also a strong mastery of fire style jutsu, in addition to proficient ice style abilities.
"We need to expedite our plans in the Rain Country," Onoki decided, even more convinced of the necessity to create more adversaries for Konoha. Their strength was simply too formidable.
Mukuyo excelled in fire style jutsu, so Onoki planned to pit him against Soroui, renowned for his mastery of the strongest fire style jutsu.
With Konoha's Four Young Prodigies and the mysterious and formidable Nagato of the Rain, Onoki became increasingly convinced that pitting Amegakure against Konoha would be a brilliant strategy.
In Kumogakure, the Raikage perused the intelligence report with a mix of disbelief and frustration. "How could Kirigakure be pushed back so quickly? They're utterly useless."
In truth, Kumogakure hadn't committed their full strength against Konoha, as a significant portion of their forces was engaged in battling Sunagakure.
"It's good that the Kirigakure village is not as strong as we expected," the Third Raikage said nonchalantly.
Although Kirigakure couldn't weaken Konoha as Kumogakure had anticipated, their weakness during the war lessened the competition for Kumogakure's path to dominance.
"Once we master the power of the Eight-Tails, neither the Fierce Yang Feathered Moon nor the Yellow Flash will be a match for our Kumogakure AB combo," the Third Raikage boasted confidently about his village's new dynamic duo.
After Blu's death, the new AB combo, Killer B, would become the next jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails.
Killer B exhibited exceptional talent as a jinchuriki, and the Third Raikage saw a brighter future in him than he had in Blu.
His son, the Fourth Raikage, was not far behind in skill, and with the stronger Bee, the new AB combo had the potential to become the strongest yet.
In the Land of Wind, within the Kazekage's office...
"To achieve such remarkable results while fighting on three fronts is truly alarming! Konoha is too dangerous!" Having read the intelligence report, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, furrowed his brows deeply, feeling a strong sense of crisis.
Fire Country occupied a central location, bordering almost every other major nation directly or with only a small country or a body of water in between.
If Konoha wanted to invade Sunagakure, they wouldn't have to go through the same hassle as Kumogakure, simply passing through the River Country to directly enter the heart of the Wind Country.
Although Konoha, fighting on three fronts, had no reason to start another war with Sunagakure, the current peace didn't guarantee future tranquility, and Rasa was well aware of this.
For Sunagakure, it would be ideal if Konoha were thoroughly beaten by Iwagakure and weakened to a state inferior to Sunagakure, making them a better neighbor.
"If Konoha continues this momentum, Sunagakure must take action," Rasa thought to himself.
Rasa would rather negotiate with Kumogakure and go to war with Konoha if necessary, as Sunagakure was much farther from Kumogakure than from Konoha.
Not only the major ninja villages actively collecting information, but even Minato Namikaze, who was commanding the troops in the Land of Hot Water, had heard some news about Muyu.
Minato couldn't help but feel emotional. When he first met Muyu, she was just a jonin teacher, but now, after more than two years, she had become famous in the ninja world as Fierce Yang Muyu.
Minato and Kushina had taught Muyu sealing techniques so that she could better protect herself in the chaotic situation, but he never expected her to rise to such prominence so quickly.
Muyu's rise to fame was astonishingly fast. Before becoming the Yellow Flash, Minato himself was a well-known strong jonin in Konoha, and it had taken him years to reach that level, whereas Muyu had gone from a jonin to an even stronger jonin, earning the title of Fierce Yang, in just over two years.
"Muyu has been on the battlefield for so long. I wonder if Kushina has caused any trouble for the ANBU," Minato thought with a bitter smile, remembering his wife's antics.
Muyu's cooking had a magical allure; anyone who tasted it would forever yearn for more. Kushina had once thrown a fit, demanding that Minato bring her Muyu's food, or she would tie up the ANBU guards and sneak out to find something to eat.
Minato could understand Kushina's cravings, as he himself would jump at the chance to taste Muyu's cooking. However, he had more self-control and would only indulge if it wasn't too much trouble.
"Muyu should be returning to Konoha soon," Minato thought.
High-intensity battles could be exhausting for the body and mind, and after Muyu's consecutive outstanding performances, she would typically be granted some time to rest and recover in Konoha before being assigned to another war mission.
With Kirigakure's retreat, the immediate crisis for Konoha had been averted, and they were not as desperately short on manpower as before.
With these thoughts in mind, Minato wrote a letter to be sent back to Konoha.
It had been quite some time since he and Muyu last communicated. When he was on the battlefield, she was in Konoha, and later, when he returned to the front lines, she was on the eastern front.
...
As Minato had expected, after Kirigakure's retreat, Orochimaru and Muyu also returned to Konoha, leaving only a group of ninjas to guard the border in case of another surprise attack from Kirigakure.
To celebrate this great victory, Konoha held a special event for the eastern ninja forces.
At the event, Hiruzen Sarutobi personally recounted the achievements of the eastern front, offered condolences to the fallen ninjas, and had their names engraved on the Memorial Stone.
Of course, the ceremony also included rewards for the ninja forces.
After settling the war mission rewards, ninjas who met the promotion conditions were recognized, and Obito was one of the jonin promoted from chunin.
Obito almost shed tears of joy as he received his new jonin status. It hadn't been easy, but he had finally shed the label of being Muyu's only chunin disciple. Now, as an official jonin, he could stand on equal footing with Kakashi, who could no longer use his higher rank to pressure him.
With Obito's promotion, Muyu's system also popped up with a reward notification.
PS: This chapter is also 5k words. Whether there will be another bonus chapter later is uncertain, but if I can manage it, I will post it.
(End of Chapter)
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