Naruto: Becoming Mizukage

That evening, Mizuki Ryosuke found himself invited to dinner at Mizuki Taki's house, alongside Yumi. The significance of this invitation wasn't lost on him. It was more than just a family meal; it symbolized a deeper, personal connection and hinted at acceptance.

This situation went against Ryosuke's usual approach of maintaining a low profile, but he agreed to attend for Yumi's happiness.

During dinner, Ryosuke was introduced to Yumi's mother, Mizuki Rokka. She was a striking woman, graceful and elegant, whose demeanour still carried a charm that was hard to overlook.

Both Mizuki Taki and Mizuki Rokka treated Ryosuke with surprising politeness. The atmosphere, though formal, felt akin to the traditional experience of a potential son-in-law meeting his future in-laws for the first time.

Mizuki Taki refrained from discussing Ryosuke's promotion or anything related to the political tensions in the village. Instead, he kept the conversation light, asking about trivial matters of daily life.

Ryosuke, ever cautious, responded with perfect poise, ensuring that he made no mistakes in his behaviour. This seemed to please Mizuki Taki, who observed Ryosuke with a growing sense of approval.

After dinner, Ryosuke made his leave, and Mizuki Taki did not insist he stay longer. Both men understood that, as the Mizukage and the head of the Mizuki clan, Taki had to maintain a level of distance from others.

Nevertheless, the dinner signified something important: Mizuki Taki had begun to accept Ryosuke. Though there was still much left unsaid, and the bond between them was fragile, they both acknowledged that the relationship between Ryosuke and Yumi had entered a gradual stage of mutual understanding.

---

As Ryosuke left, Mizuki Taki stood by a window in the attic of his traditional Japanese-style house, watching the young man's departure. His eyes gleamed with thoughtfulness. He had seen something in Ryosuke during the Jōnin exam earlier that day—something beyond what the young ninja had shown.

As an experienced leader who had dealt with countless people, Mizuki Taki could tell that Ryosuke was hiding something. His displayed abilities, while impressive, didn't reflect the full extent of his strength. In Taki's eyes, Ryosuke was a "genius" hiding in plain sight, choosing to keep a low profile rather than flaunt his talents.

The idea that Ryosuke had only recently awakened his Ice Release abilities and could already create new jutsu was absurd. It would be like a student just learning basic math and suddenly inventing advanced mathematical theorems. No, this young man had likely awakened his bloodline limit long ago and had been concealing it ever since.

Taki couldn't help but admire Ryosuke's intelligence. He understood why the young ninja might hide his abilities. The current political climate in Kirigakure was dangerous.

The village was unstable, with factions vying for power, and those who stood out risked becoming targets. Ryosuke had clearly recognized this and chose to stay under the radar to avoid unnecessary attention.

It was this understanding that led Taki to agree to Ryosuke's promotion to Special Jōnin rather than full Jōnin. The young man didn't want to attract too much attention, and Taki respected that. By giving him this rank, Taki was offering Ryosuke a degree of protection while allowing him to remain out of the spotlight.

Reflecting on the evening, Taki smiled bitterly to himself. Initially, he had only hoped to support Ryosuke's promotion to bolster the Mizuki clan's influence within the village. But now, he realized that Ryosuke might be more than just another Jōnin for the clan. He could be a vital pillar in the future.

Suddenly, Taki was struck by a fit of coughing. When he pulled his hand away, he noticed blood. His health was declining, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could continue to lead the Mizuki clan. With this in mind, he turned to a sheet of paper and wrote down two names: Ryosuke and Hidero.

"Which of you will lead the Mizuki clan forward?" Taki muttered to himself, his expression growing more resolute. No matter what, he had to secure the future of the clan and create a stable environment for whoever would take his place.

---

Meanwhile, back at his home, Ryosuke was deep in thought, reflecting on recent events. He knew the situation in Kirigakure was delicate, and the information he had gathered only confirmed his suspicions. The Mizuki clan might be at the height of its power within the village, but they had made countless enemies along the way.

Kirigakure itself was divided. Third Mizukage Mizuki Taki's control over the village was waning, and the once-strong unity of the Hidden Mist had fractured into factions. Ryosuke had seen enough during the Jōnin promotion exam to recognize the underlying political tensions.

Yagura had emerged as the leader of a significant faction within the village. His challenge to Mizuki Taki's authority during the exam had been bold, hinting at his strength. Ryosuke suspected that Yagura's power might even rival that of a Kage, and it was clear that Yagura held another card close to his chest—one that would allow him to go head-to-head with Mizuki Taki.

Ryosuke couldn't help but wonder if Yagura had already fallen under the control of an external force, as the original stories hinted. If Yagura had indeed become a pawn in Madara's plans, then his role in the looming conflict within the Mist would be even more significant.

Further complicating matters was Maeda Yuanshi, the leader of the Jōnin squad, whose position appeared to be neutral. However, Ryosuke had noticed subtle signs during the exam that suggested Yuanshi might be leaning toward Yagura's side. If true, this would spell trouble for Mizuki Taki, as it would further weaken his support among the village's most powerful shinobi.

Ryosuke also analyzed the roles of other factions, such as the Ninja Swordsmen and the smaller clans, including the influential Hozuki clan. The Hozuki clan, despite its reduced visibility since the fall of the Second Mizukage, still held significant power within the village, particularly due to their unique hydration jutsu and influence over key village departments.

Lastly, there were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, an elite group whose loyalty, in theory, lay with the Mizukage. But Ryosuke wasn't so sure if Mizuki Taki could truly command them anymore.

Their strength was undeniable—together, they could easily challenge even a Kage-level opponent—but their true loyalties remained unclear.

Ryosuke concluded that the village's internal dynamics were highly precarious. It was too dangerous to take a strong stand on either side. For now, his best strategy was to continue keeping a low profile, avoiding attention while he gathered more information.

He reminded himself of the second rule of his personal philosophy: "Never reveal your full strength unless absolutely necessary." It was a dangerous time in Kirigakure, and he would need to tread carefully if he wanted to survive and protect the ones he cared about.

=====

Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcomed

If you can, then please support me on P---a---t---r---e---o---n.

Link --w--w--w--.--p--a--t--r--e--o--n--.--c--o--m--/--H--o--k--a--g--e--c--e--n--t--r--a--l

(No Hyphens)

You Can read more chapters ahead on P@treon.