Naruto: Becoming Mizukage

Kaguya Yuta was a prodigy of the Kaguya clan, a ninja renowned for his skills and considered a genius within the Hidden Mist Village (Kirigakure).

He awakened his clan's powerful Bloodline Limit at the age of seven, became a ninja by eight, and achieved Jōnin rank by the age of sixteen. Such accomplishments earned him the title of "Mist Shinobi's first genius."

However, despite the praise, Kaguya Yuta quickly realized that he was different from the rest of his clan. The Kaguya clan, known for their fierce and aggressive nature, prided themselves on physical strength and reckless bravery. 

They believed in confronting enemies head-on, without retreating or using tactics. To them, running from a battle or using strategies was considered disgraceful. The Kaguya were warriors who followed their instincts rather than their intellect, making them formidable in combat but lacking foresight.

Yuta, however, was not like them. He was more thoughtful, analytical, and aware of the changing world around him. While he outwardly maintained the clan's fierce persona to fit in, inside, he had his own plans and visions for the future. 

He worried about the future of the Kaguya clan, recognizing the dangers of their prideful and unyielding nature. The Kaguya were so immersed in their past glories that they could not see how precarious their situation had become within the village.

Yuta saw similarities between the Kaguya clan and the Uchiha clan of the Hidden Leaf Village. Both clans were blinded by their pride, and both seemed destined to fall if they didn't adapt to the changes happening around them. 

However, unlike the Uchiha, the Kaguya lacked the same level of political power and influence within Kirigakure. The Kaguya were strong warriors, but that strength alone was not enough to secure their future. 

The pride of the Kaguya was their undoing, making them enemies of Mizukage Mizuki Taki and other powerful factions within the village.

Yuta realized that his clan was walking a dangerous path. Their ambition to claim the position of Mizukage was blatant, and their arrogance had made them a target. 

Yet, the clan members were blind to these dangers, continuing to push themselves further into peril. Only Yuta, among them, seemed to understand the gravity of their situation. 

As the son of the clan patriarch, Yuta was privy to many secrets, and he knew that time was running out to change the course of their destiny.

He had originally planned to slowly influence his clan, using a "boiled frog in warm water" approach to gradually introduce change. But now, with the knowledge he possessed, Yuta realized that immediate action was necessary. The current Jōnin exam would be his starting point for change.

With this determination in mind, Yuta smiled to himself, feeling a sense of confidence. His clan, however, misinterpreted this smile, thinking it was a sign of Yuta's assured victory in the upcoming match. 

Suddenly, his father, the clan patriarch, gave him a loud slap on the neck—a traditional Kaguya gesture of encouragement.

"Do a good job, Yuta! Kill that weakling!" his father shouted with booming confidence, his voice echoing through the room.

Yuta smiled awkwardly, masking his inner frustration. This was how his clan operated—always focused on strength and dominance, never on strategy or caution.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Mizuki Ryosuke, Yuta's opponent, observed Yuta carefully. 

Ryosuke was no stranger to combat, but he was known for his careful, calculated approach to his ninja career. In fact, Ryosuke had been reluctant about his promotion to Jōnin from the very beginning. He believed it wasn't the right time for him to rise to such a position, as it would draw unwanted attention to him.

Ryosuke's jounin promotion had been encouraged by the Third Mizukage. However, he wasn't eager to take on the responsibilities of a Jōnin, especially in such a politically volatile environment. 

He knew that advancing too quickly could put a target on his back, and he wanted to avoid unnecessary danger. His goal was to maintain a low profile, stay under the radar, and survive in the treacherous waters of Kirigakure's political landscape.

Yet, Ryosuke also knew that failing too obviously in the exam would be disrespectful to Mizukage Taki, who had shown him a favour by supporting his promotion. 

If he were to lose too easily, it would embarrass the Mizukage and tarnish his own reputation. He couldn't afford to appear weak or incompetent, as that would invite trouble from other factions within the village. 

In short, Ryosuke needed to put on a good performance—enough to save face, but not so much that he seemed too ambitious.

After much consideration, Ryosuke devised a plan. His goal was to make the battle as "exciting" as possible, without actually winning. 

If he could give the impression that he had fought hard and lost narrowly, it would be a perfect outcome. This way, he could avoid offending anyone while still maintaining his low-key persona.

When Ryosuke heard that his opponent was Kaguya Yuta, he realized that this match could work to his advantage. Yuta was a formidable ninja, renowned for his strength and mastery of the Kaguya clan's Dead Bone Pulse technique. 

There would be no accusations of Ryosuke holding back in a fight against such a powerful opponent. Moreover, the feud between the Mizuki and Kaguya clans guaranteed that Yuta would not go easy on him. 

This was exactly what Ryosuke needed: a strong opponent who would ensure that the match appeared intense and competitive. Ryosuke could afford to show a bit more of his strength in this battle, making it seem as though he and Yuta were evenly matched. 

In the end, he would "lose" by a narrow margin—perhaps just one decisive move—and no one would question the legitimacy of his defeat.

Ryosuke's plan was simple yet effective. He could put on a good show, take care of Mizukage Taki's reputation, and still maintain his "golden image" of not standing out too much. 

After the exam, the story of his battle with Yuta would quickly fade from memory, and he could continue his career without drawing undue attention.

As the match approached, Ryosuke kept a serious, grim expression, but inside he was calm and confident. Everything was going according to plan. 

In the end, Ryosuke would have the best of both worlds—a solid performance without the burden of a Jōnin's responsibilities. His strategy of calculated mediocrity had worked once again.

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