Naruto: From the capture of the main family to the behind-the-scenes mastermind

Chapter 68 The Beginning of Change
"We will return your village's Mei Terumi Jounin and the Third Mizukage when you withdraw your troops."

"it is good."

Standing in front of the forest, Minato looked at Yagura and Kisame going away, and asked Yu beside him: "His target is not the tailed beast at all, but Mei Terumi, right?"

"That's right." Hinata Yu nodded. "The compensation that Kirigakure has to pay is simply not something Kirigakure can afford to pay in a short period of time, and the Daimyo of the Land of Water is unlikely to pay for Kirigakure."

"On the premise of developing the village, they have already made preparations to temporarily deposit the tailed beasts in Konoha. Mei Terumi, the ninja with double bloodline limits, is their target."

"The Kirigakure is isolated overseas. During the several ninja wars, there has never been a case of other countries attacking the Kirigakure homeland. As long as they don't attack other countries, it doesn't matter to the Kirigakure whether there are tailed beasts or not."

After all, it is an enclave and it is impossible to manage it if you conquer it. If you just want to grab some benefits, the Water Kingdom itself is not a good choice.

Minato sighed, "If I had known, it would have been more appropriate to let the third generation come."

"You are the Hokage now."

Hinata Yu looked at the document agreement in his hand, his eyes flickering slightly.

"And as far as compensation is concerned, the terms offered by Kirigakure are already very generous. The price of the tailed beasts is clearly stated, but Konoha's losses are determined by us."

Hearing this, Minato thought for a moment, "It can't be too much, right?"

He understood what Hinata Yu meant.

Whatever losses Konoha suffers is exactly what he says it is. In the end, whether it is double, quadruple, or even more, is all decided by him.

"The Kirigakure can calculate Konoha's losses based on its own losses, but their losses are definitely higher than ours. We can calculate an upper limit based on the Kirigakure's losses. As long as it doesn't exceed too much, the Kirigakure will accept it."

Hearing this answer, Minato felt like he had learned some strange knowledge and shook his head.

"Within the upper limit, Kirigakure is very sincere. We do need an ally, and Fugaku has restored the Third Mizukage's consciousness... We can cooperate in dealing with that person."

At this point, thinking of the scroll still in the headquarters and Konoha's current allies, Minato looked at Hinata Yu and frowned:

"Over there in Sunagakure..."

Hinata Yu took over the conversation and said in a deep voice: "Leave it to me. The Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure is not a good person. He can betray his companions. It is only a matter of time before he betrays the covenant in the future. Don't feel burdened."

"I don't mind offending him, but..."

After a pause, Minato didn't continue speaking, but smiled and changed the subject.

"When the Kirigakure troops withdraw, we will also return to Konoha. We will need your and everyone's support then... I'm sorry for troubling you all this time. Please continue to assist me in the future, Hokage Assists His Excellency."

Hinata Yu looked at him and responded softly.

……

With the permission of Konoha, the Kirigakure troops gradually left by boat.

Before Yuanshi and Yagura left, they received Mei Terumi and the Third Mizukage.

The two did not look at the Third Mizukage, but only at Mei Terumi, the talented ninja of Kirigakure. She looked a little haggard, but overall she was fine. It was obvious that Konoha did not use any cruel methods against her.

"Mr. Mizukage, Mr. Yuanshi." Mei Terumi said sincerely, "Thank you for saving me."

"I'm glad you're alright." Master Yuan waved his hand and turned to walk towards the ship. "Third generation, I have something I want to talk to you about."

"I need to tell you something too."

The Third Mizukage looked at Yagura with a complicated expression, and followed the Master onto the ship. After the two left, Yagura waved his hand to let the hidden Anbu retreat, set up a small barrier, and said:

"What do you think of that guy?"

"very dangerous!"

Thinking of the ninja who came to visit her alone with Yagura's keepsake before she was released, Terumi Mei looked solemn. She took out a document and handed it to Yagura. After the other party finished reading it, she said:

"Mr. Mizukage, cooperating with him is like seeking the skin of a tiger. The one country, one village system has been implemented for so many years. There is no need..."

Yagura did not take back the document. He looked at the contents inside and interrupted her softly, "Do you know why each generation of Mizukage started a war?"

Seeing her confused expression, Yagura said in a low voice:
"To divert internal conflicts! The Water Country is isolated overseas, which means that several Ninja World Wars have not affected our homeland, but it also makes us feel less of a crisis."

To other countries, the Water Kingdom is an enclave. To them, if they occupy a piece of land on the mainland, wouldn’t that also be an enclave?

The benefits that Kirigakure can gain from each war are actually very limited, but if they don't fight...

Only with external pressure can we unite and face the outside world. Without it, there will of course be internal strife!

The geographical advantage of the Water Kingdom is the best environment for internal strife.

Perhaps it was unrest within the Hidden Mist Village, or perhaps... it was a civil war between the Hidden Mist Village and the Daimyo.

Thinking of this, Yagura sighed, "In the eyes of some high-ranking officials in the Land of Water, Kirigakure currently has little value in existence."

Mei Terumi's expression froze, and she exclaimed in shock: "How is it possible? How could they think that? If there was no Mist Village, the Land of Water would definitely be invaded!"

"Of course they won't disband Kirigakure."

Yagura explained: "But a military ninja village cannot bring benefits to the Water Country externally, and the armed protection it provides internally seems a bit dispensable. Then is it enough to just provide the minimum maintenance funds?"

This question left Mei Terumi unable to refute.

But without sufficient funds, Kirigakure's development will stagnate, and its strength will gradually decline... The gap between it and Konoha will widen further, and it will be even less able to resist.

Such an approach is undoubtedly a recipe for disaster. Instead of improving strength, it will continue to regress. Do you want to one day become one of those small countries, always relying on the Fire Nation to survive?
But someone in the Water Country's upper echelons must have considered cutting funding.

After all... there is a similar example out there!

"It seems that you have already thought of it. After the defeat of Sunagakure in the Second Shinobi World War, the funding given to Sunagakure by Wind Country has been declining year by year. Even our previous attack did not make Wind Country change its mind. The Fourth Kazekage even had to supplement the funding himself."

Noticing the complicated look in Mei Terumi's eyes, Yagura closed his eyes. "For the Kingdom of Wind, it is enough for the Sand Village to provide the country with self-defense. The Kingdom of Wind no longer expects the Sand Village to bring them benefits. And the geographical advantage of our Water Country is easier to defend than that of the Kingdom of Wind."

They were defeated in the war, suffered heavy losses, and were unable to fight their way out, but it wasn't difficult to defend themselves. So why should we give the ninja village too much funding for its development?

"We are the losers this time, and it gives them an excuse to cut funding."

"But if they do that, we'll have a civil war."

Mei Terumi couldn't help but say, "In the next few years, we will have to compensate Konoha for its losses. If we face further budget cuts, the ninjas below will definitely be dissatisfied with the status quo. Those who are unwilling to cease fire before the end of this war will definitely take the opportunity to cause trouble."

"And Konoha is at its peak, so it will be hard for the Fourth Shinobi World War to start. By then, if they don't want to cause internal strife and want to divert the conflict, they might even target... the daimyo."

Mei Terumi's voice became increasingly quiet. She looked at Yagura's calm expression and the document in his hand, and murmured in a trance:

"Is it he who made the situation like this?"

(End of this chapter)