The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

The heavens and the earth bore witness—Mizuki Ryosuke had returned yesterday, exhausted from his recent maneuvers. After handling matters with Mizuki Lian and Mizuki Rokka, he had collapsed into sleep, his body finally surrendering to fatigue.

By the time he awoke, the mist that perpetually shrouded Kirigakure had thinned in the daylight. There was no time for deep contemplation—he quickly ate a simple breakfast of lotus roots prepared by Lian before hurrying to the Jōnin assembly.

Ryosuke was certain that today's meeting would be crucial, but he had no idea about the specifics. The atmosphere within the Mizukage's chambers was heavier than usual, the air thick with an unspoken tension that even seasoned Jōnin found unsettling.

As he made his way inside, he heard measured footsteps behind him—Maeda Yuanshi, one of the most senior and politically astute Jōnin of Kirigakure. The man's presence alone commanded a shift in the room's energy.

Maeda Yuanshi walked toward his usual seat, only to pause as he noticed Mizuki Hidero already occupying it. The Mizuki clan's great elder's son had claimed the position as though it was his by right, an unmistakable power play.

Yuanshi's sharp gaze flickered for only a moment before he took in the room. His eyes landed on the empty seat beside Mizuki Ryosuke. Without a word, he moved to sit there instead, disregarding the unspoken challenge Hidero had set forth.

With this, Maeda Yuanshi made his stance clear.

There had been whispers that Yuanshi had no ambitions to become Mizukage, but few expected him to make such a public demonstration of neutrality. The implications were immediate—by refusing to sit at the head of the meeting, he distanced himself from succession struggles.

Mizuki Hidero's expression darkened. He had expected Maeda Yuanshi to seize the opportunity, only for the veteran Jōnin to sidestep the confrontation entirely. In contrast, Hidero's move now seemed desperate—a failed attempt to assert dominance.

"Squad Leader Maeda."

The assembled Jōnin greeted Yuanshi with a mixture of respect and curiosity. Some nodded deferentially, while others exchanged subtle glances, sensing the power dynamics at play.

Yuanshi responded with a curt nod, offering little in return. Then, without acknowledging anyone else, he turned to Mizuki Ryosuke.

"Ryosuke, how did you rest last night?"

The sudden familiarity caught the attention of many. Yuanshi was known for his stern, no-nonsense demeanor. The fact that he openly addressed Ryosuke in such a manner did not go unnoticed.

Ryosuke, however, remained composed. His expression was unreadable as he replied, "I had a good rest, Squad Leader Maeda."

For a brief moment, Maeda Yuanshi's lips curved into what could barely be called a smile—a rare sight for a man who had built his reputation on cold pragmatism. The stiffness of the expression made it all the more unnatural, but for those who had known him for years, it was nothing short of a miracle.

Several Jōnin exchanged glances, silently absorbing the subtle shift in dynamics.

The moment passed quickly, and Yuanshi's face returned to its usual impassivity.

"I won't waste words," he announced, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "This meeting serves two purposes—first, to assess the current state of Kirigakure in the wake of the Third Mizukage's death." His pause was deliberate, ensuring the weight of his words sank in. "And second, to determine the candidate for the Fourth Mizukage."

A silence followed, thick with unspoken thoughts.

The words struck Mizuki Ryosuke like a sudden wave crashing against the shore.

Mizukage?

For a moment, he found himself unable to process it. The implications swirled in his mind.

The quiet hostility from Mizuki Hidero and the clan elders.

The sudden shift in Maeda Yuanshi's demeanor.

The growing respect from powerful figures like Hōzuki Mangetsu.

It all made sense now.

"Now, let's discuss the village's situation," Yuanshi continued. "Everyone must be fully aware of what has transpired."

He began recounting the political turmoil Kirigakure now faced. The battle of wits and strength between the late Third Mizukage and Yagura had shaken the village to its core. The coup attempt, the skirmishes, and the subsequent loss of key figures had left Kirigakure at a dangerous crossroads.

Ryosuke, however, barely listened.

His mind raced through the recent events, piecing everything together.

Kuroshima Morita's cryptic words.

The resentment from the Mizuki clan.

The reason why Yuanshi and even Mangetsu had subtly shifted their stance toward him.

At this moment, Mizuki Ryosuke realized something staggering.

He was now one of the most likely candidates for the title of Mizukage.

His fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his robes as he processed the thought.

Until now, he had still considered himself a lesser-known figure within Kirigakure's elite. But to the others in this room, his status had already transformed.

Especially after the Third Mizukage's death.

Ordinarily, the strongest successor would have been Mizuki Hidero, the son of the great elder—a prodigy of the clan who had been groomed for leadership. If not him, then Hōzuki Mangetsu, the young master of the Hōzuki clan, would have been the next likely contender.

But Mizuki Ryosuke's very existence had disrupted that balance.

He lacked the entrenched influence of Mizuki Hidero within the clan. He was not officially recognized as the next patriarch. But there was one thing that set him apart.

He was the chosen son-in-law of the late Third Mizukage, Mizuki Taki.

This single connection changed everything.

More than just a personal relationship, it granted him access to the Third Mizukage's extensive political network—the power and influence that Taki had spent decades cultivating.

Among Kirigakure's elite, the late Mizukage's authority had been divided into three factions:

1. The Mizuki Clan, to which the Third Mizukage belonged and which traditionally held political sway.

2. The Mizukage Guard, an elite force of personal retainers directly loyal to the Mizukage.

3. Independent Jōnin and Clan Leaders, ninjas outside the Mizuki bloodline who had aligned themselves with the Third Mizukage over the years.

Kuroshima Morita, a veteran Jōnin, was one of the strongest representatives of this last group.

Now, with the Third Mizukage gone, these factions needed to decide their allegiance.

The Mizuki clan naturally supported Mizuki Hidero, as he had been their strongest representative for years.

But the independent Jōnin—the foreign-name ninjas who were once loyal to the Third Mizukage—had no reason to support Hidero. They knew that even if they aligned with him, they would always remain secondary to the Mizuki bloodline.

Which left them with a different option: Mizuki Ryosuke.

Unlike Hidero, Ryosuke had not been deeply entrenched in the clan's politics, making him a more approachable and potentially favorable leader for those outside the bloodline.

The Mizukage Guard was divided—some supported Hidero, but others were beginning to shift toward Ryosuke.

The power vacuum left by the Third Mizukage had split Kirigakure into two factions:

One rallying behind Mizuki Hidero.

And the other looking toward Mizuki Ryosuke.

As this realization settled in, Ryosuke remained composed, but internally, his mind was already formulating his next move.

Kirigakure was at a crossroads.

And for the first time, Ryosuke understood—whether he wanted it or not, he was no longer just another Jōnin.

He was a contender for the throne of the Bloody Mist.

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