I have a bunch of relatives who want to become Hokage.

The little girl is just waiting to join the police department obediently. The lost cows of Kumogakure are not worth that much, but they do have the Scorching Release. Which ninja clan would complain that they have too few bloodline ninjas?

The two remained silent throughout the night, accompanied by the crackling of the campfire.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Uchiha Shingen was already fully prepared.

He's not one to give up easily. If Suigetsu Hozuki has already killed him, so be it. There are plenty of people in Kirigakure who can connect with him on this line.

At the very least, Mei Terumi certainly meets this condition.

It's hard to say that the way Kirigakure turned out in the future wasn't because there were many people within Kirigakure who were dissatisfied with the Fourth Mizukage's policies, leading Obito Uchiha to choose the most ruthless way to eliminate his political enemies.

Uchiha Shingen wouldn't let anyone mess up his fishpond so easily.

It's time to see old friends!

Behind him, the tent opened, and Yecang stepped out.

"How is your recovery going?" Uchiha Shingen turned around.

On the surface, it seems that everything is fine.

Chakra grants humans extraordinary abilities, and ninjas, as the group most skilled in using chakra in the world, have made the most of this energy.

After a night, Ye Cang's body was almost completely free of injuries.

Self-healing is a basic skill for ninjas. For a powerful Jonin, unless the injury is too severe, such as losing an arm or a leg, any superficial wound can be almost completely healed in one night.

"Don't worry, I'm fine and won't be a burden to you."

"Okay, let's go then."

"Where are you going?" Ye Cang asked. In her eyes, Uchiha Shingen didn't look like he was going to do anything good.

"Go back to Kirigakure and visit some old friends."

“You know, after what happened yesterday, the Mist Ninja are definitely looking for us.” Yekura felt this wasn’t a good idea. “You’re also on a secret mission, right? Your contact can no longer be trusted.”

“It’s very believable. He’s dead, so he couldn’t possibly be trying to trick me.” Uchiha Shingen pointed out the error in the other person’s words and defended his old friends, “Besides, my relationship with those old friends is more than just ordinary. They would be very happy to see me.”

After saying that, Uchiha Shingen stretched out his hand.

Give me your hand.

Yekura was puzzled, but because there was still a basic trust between them, she reached out and placed her hand on Uchiha Shingen's outstretched palm.

The two of them vanished into the cave with a whoosh.

For Yekura, in the blink of an eye, she and Uchiha Shingen found themselves on a hill.

On the plain not far ahead of the two, a group of Mist Ninja were rushing towards them at full speed.

Chapter Forty-Six Old Friends

In Kirigakure, a large number of ninjas are moving about.

The operation to kill the Scorching Release ninja, Pakura, failed, and Pakura was rescued.

The ninjas on the mission also discovered the bodies of their own men. Based on the surface analysis, it was found that everyone had been killed instantly by the enemy with tremendous force while they were all gathered together.

Only one person had their neck broken, presumably because their intelligence was gathered from them.

The enemy must be a top-tier expert, arguably at the "Shadow" level.

To think that someone like this could infiltrate our homeland, we must find out, or the Mist Ninja will have no face left.

They're just Kage-level experts; Kirigakure isn't short of them!

With the Mizukage Building failing to make a decision, the Kirigakure ninja, who were not known for their good temper, gradually gathered together.

However, these were mostly non-ninja clan ninjas from the village.

The ninja clan had something else on their minds.

The policies of the Blood Mist Village have never been liked by these ninja clans.

The elite policy meant a reduction in the size of the ninja army, which in turn meant a significant increase in the danger faced by ninja clan members on the battlefield.

The changes and successions among the ninja clans on the mainland were clearly observed by the ninja clans of the Land of Water.

The advantage of ninja clan members lies in their greater range of skills in individual combat, while their disadvantage lies in the extremely limited number of elite members and the high cost required to train them.

The Bloodline Ninja Clan demonstrates this even more clearly.

Awakening bloodline limit is a major hurdle, and losing it is even more painful.

During the Second Mizukage's era, the Hozuki clan was the most powerful clan in Kirigakure, but the First Shinobi World War severely damaged the clan, wiping out almost an entire generation, and they have not fully recovered to this day.

The Hozuki clan today is merely on par with the Yuki clan and other once-secondary ninja clans.

With the lessons of the past still fresh in our minds, it's no wonder that everyone harbors resentment.

During the Third Shinobi World War, the bloodline ninja clans were furious, simply because Konoha had produced an Uchiha who could steal bloodlines.

Although the abilities the other party displayed were limited to stealing bloodline limits related to the three nature transformations of fire, water, and wind, who knows if that was because the other party was not yet familiar with the skills?

This time, the infiltrator, whose identity is still unknown, left behind battle traces that are very similar to those of the White Demon.

According to information gathered in the village, it is said that the White Demon stopped his own rampaging Nine-Tails right at his doorstep.

If true, then the White Demon is now a full-fledged Kage-level expert, even more dangerous than before.

So, as for searching and stuff, let whoever wants to do it go ahead; they're not going to do it anyway.

By the way, I'd like to express my dissatisfaction with the Mizukage. This isn't how things are supposed to go. Before taking office, he promised to abolish the Third Hokage's old policies, but now things are showing signs of getting even worse.

Unlike their elders, the younger generation gathered together to talk about other things.

In a secluded room, the two young people met quietly.

"Are you sure?" A young man with white hair, a vertical braid, and bandages around his neck asked doubtfully. "To be honest, I don't really believe it. That guy is very cautious."

When he opened his mouth to speak, he revealed two rows of sharp teeth, one above the other.

He is the genius of the Hozuki clan, Hozuki Mangetsu.

“No,” said the girl with long, reddish-brown curly hair. “But I hope it’s him. Lord Suigetsu is dead. I think he’s been discovered. How are things on your end?”

"Ah... Zabuza is getting nervous now, his faith has been shattered." Hozuki Mangetsu is actually quite handsome, but his sharp teeth are truly terrifying. "Mei Terumi, you're not really in love with Shiro, are you? Everyone thinks it's him? He is strong, that's true, but it's not like he would come all the way to the Land of Water by himself, is it?"

"Don't joke around here, Full Moon," Mei Terumi said with displeasure. "Last time, he failed to steal the Hozuki clan's Water Transformation Technique, but that doesn't mean he can't in the future. Don't be careless."

“Learning it wouldn’t be of any use,” Hozuki Mangetsu said. “The clan has studied him; what’s truly useful to him is a ninjutsu like yours. What did you call me here for today?”

"The Mizukage Building has not issued any orders so far. I think Lord Suigetsu's suspicions are correct. I'm afraid something really has happened to the Fourth Hokage."

"So what if that's the case? Are you planning to question the Fourth Hokage? Forgive me for speaking frankly, but I think you'll get beaten to death on the spot."

"No, the Fourth Hokage is no longer trustworthy. We should continue with Lord Suigetsu's strategy and send someone to meet with the people of Konoha again."

"Will the Konoha ninjas care about us? If we do, it won't be the 'Village of Blood Mist' anymore, it'll be the 'Village of idiots'."

Hozuki Mangetsu shrugged; he had no trust in Konoha.

He doesn't trust outsiders at all. Even in Kirigakure, there are only a few people he can trust, and Mei Terumi is one of them.

"Stop being so neurotic. He didn't learn your Lava Release technique last time either." Hozuki Mangetsu decided to remind his companion, "People like us are doomed if we have any reservations about someone."

In Hozuki Mangetsu's opinion, Terumi Mei is good in every other way, except that she is prone to neurosis.

"What decision did the Hozuki clan make this time?" Mei Terumi asked the real question they wanted to ask at this meeting.

"The old men are still the same; they think the one coming might be a white ghost, so they don't go."

"how about you?"

"Hehe..." Hozuki Mangetsu chuckled evilly, "Of course I'm going! When have I ever listened to them? I've already invited Momochi Zabuza and Hayashi Yuri."

“I’ll go too! I know Shiroki’s personality well; if you push him too far, he’ll definitely go on a killing spree.” Mei Terumi asked, “When are you leaving?”

"Let's wait a while, the elders at home are watching closely."

The two then agreed on a time and went their separate ways.

While various factions were embroiled in conflict within Kirigakure, Uchiha Shingen, whom the Kirigakure ninja genuinely despised, was playing hide-and-seek with the Kirigakure ninja who were chasing him.

His method of playing hide-and-seek is rather hardcore.

Just as a Fire Release: Wind Sage Fireball blasted a group of Mist Ninjas into a dusty mess, Uchiha Shingen had already dragged Pakura to another location.

"I don't quite understand the point of what you're doing." Yekura frowned slightly as she looked at Uchiha Shingen, who had already released his grip. "What's the use of doing this other than wasting chakra?"

“No, I won’t,” Uchiha Shingen said. “I’ll be fine in a little while. I did this just to let my old friend know I’m here.”

Old friends aren't just the Kirigakure ninja.

Running off to Konoha, wreaking havoc, and then running away? There's no such thing as a free lunch.

If I don't cause Obito Uchiha some trouble, then all my training in the Sharingan will have been for nothing.

Even if we can't ruin his plan to take control of Kirigakure, we won't let him have an easy time here.

"Your old friend is your enemy, isn't he?" Ye Cang said expressionlessly. "I won't ask why; you should know the answer in your heart."

"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Uchiha Shingen said confidently, "When the time comes, I guarantee the Mist Ninja will give us a big welcome as we leave the country."

Chapter 47 The Man Hidden in the Dark

The mountains and rivers of the Water Kingdom are shrouded in mist all year round. From a distance, the mountains are verdant, the peaks are shrouded in mist, and the mist rises and falls from one mountain to another.

The towering mountains, layer upon layer, concealed no villages or rice paddies, resembling a group of drunken old men, swaying precariously.

But once people get close and stand at the foot of the mountain, their true appearance is revealed: layered and chaotic, majestic and peculiar.

Looking up, the mountains are the sky, and the sky is the mountains. There are mountains all around you, and you can easily lose your sense of direction.

The Mist Ninja, nurtured in this environment, have a fighting style that is vastly different from that of mainland ninjas. Even in battle, it is not easy to see the Mist Ninja army launching a strong attack.

Constantly probing, roaming, exchanging information, finding weaknesses, and launching surprise attacks are the mainstream style of the Mist Ninja.

Patience is one of the strengths of the Mist Ninja.

Uchiha Shingen was very familiar with the style of the Mist Ninja and was also well aware of their weaknesses under normal circumstances.

They lack the resilience to launch a second attack due to their inability to launch strong offensives.