Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 112 The Whisper of the Serpent

"you……!"

Yuan Shi was so angry that he trembled all over, pointing at Kujosuke, unable to say a word.

"What? Want to spar with me?"

Kaguya Soranosuke clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking as a violent surge of chakra rose from his body.

"That's enough!"

Shuiying Jianyue finally spoke, her voice instantly silencing the tense atmosphere in the conference room.

His face was ashen as he silently watched the two arguing below.

Kaguya Sora snorted and sat back down, but her eyes remained fixed on Genji, full of provocation.

Master Yuan also sighed heavily and slumped down.

The meeting once again reached a stalemate.

Hozuki Kaigetsu of the Mizukage faction remained completely still, like a statue, without any reaction. His sister, Hozuki Shio, however, watched the farce with great interest, even secretly taking out a bag of sunflower seeds from her ninja tool pouch, ready to enjoy the show.

"Brother, do you think they might start fighting?" she whispered to Hozuki Kaigetsu.

"Shut up and watch the show." Hozuki Kaigetsu's reply was as concise as ever.

Just when Kaguya Soranosuke and Genji were unable to convince each other.

A soft laugh broke the silence.

The laughter was soft and gentle, like a feather tickling everyone's eardrums.

Yukinojo, the head of the Yukino clan who had remained silent as if he were detached from the matter, gracefully put down his teacup.

He slowly rose to his feet, his emerald eyes sweeping over Kaguya Sonosuke and Genji, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Clan Chief Sora, your courage is truly commendable."

He paused, then changed the subject, his voice carrying a hint of condescending judgment.

"But your method... is far too crude."

Yukinojo's voice instantly silenced the conference room, and everyone's eyes were focused on his handsome face.

Kaguya Soranosuke frowned, glaring fiercely at Yukinojo, his violent aura pressing down on her like a tangible force: "What did you say?!"

"Yukinojo! You're just a coward who hides behind ice and plays silly games, how dare you interfere with my decisions?!"

Facing Kaguya Soranosuke's almost murderous gaze and aura, Yukinojo seemed completely unaffected, maintaining his elegant and composed demeanor.

He put down his teacup and slowly wiped the corner of his mouth with a clean white silk handkerchief.

"Clan Chief Sora, I have not denied your core ideas."

Yukinojo's voice remained cool and calm, as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself, "I also believe that the village must obtain a more powerful sealing technique to solve the problem of the tailed beasts."

"On this point, I completely agree with you."

Kaguya Soranosuke was stunned for a moment, not expecting Yukinojo to agree with him.

"but."

Yukinojo abruptly changed the subject, a cold and cunning light flashing in his emerald eyes like that of a venomous snake. "Why should we choose to gnaw on Konoha, the toughest bone in the tree?"

He slowly stood up and walked to the huge map of the ninja world.

All eyes followed his movements.

Unlike Kaguya Sora, who pointed directly to the Land of Fire, she extended her fair finger and gently touched the eastern part of the Land of Fire—that island surrounded by the ocean.

"Please take a look, everyone."

"The Land of Whirlpools"

"A village established by the Uzumaki clan."

Yukinojo's voice, with its unique rhythm, echoed in the conference room.

"As far as I know, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha, Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, was able to perfectly suppress the Nine-Tails using a sealing technique passed down through generations of the Uzumaki clan."

"While the Land of Whirlpools is Konoha's most steadfast ally, it is not Konoha itself."

"They live a peaceful life, content in their secluded corner. Most of their people are 'scholars' who specialize in sealing techniques. Their combat strength... well, let's just say it's not that they're particularly combative."

Yukinojo let out a soft laugh, the contempt in it self-evident.

"Their country is surrounded by the sea and its defenses are lax. For us Hidden Mist Ninja, who specialize in water-style techniques, it's practically an undefended treasure trove."

His finger traced a graceful arc across the map from the Land of Water, landing precisely on the coastline of the Land of Whirlpools.

"What we need is simply the technology of the Uzumaki clan—scrolls, sealing techniques, isn't that right?"

"If that's the case, why should we confront Konoha head-on, and face Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom even the Third Raikage couldn't defeat?"

"All we need to do is send out an elite raiding force to crush the Land of Whirlpools before Konoha can react, and bring back all their sealing technique scrolls."

"This is the most efficient and elegant way to solve problems."

Yukinojo's words, like a cold, venomous snake, silently burrowed into the hearts of everyone present.

The meeting room fell silent once again.

But this time, it wasn't somber, it was shocking.

Everyone present was rapidly processing this extremely audacious plan.

Yup!

Their goal, from beginning to end, has always been nothing more than sealing techniques.

Instead of fighting Konoha to the death, why not just go straight to the stronghold of the sealing techniques?

This would achieve their strategic objectives while minimizing the risk of directly engaging in war with the behemoth that is Konoha.

This is no longer a simple military operation; it is an extremely precise surgical strike.

The master strategist, who had been arguing incessantly, fell silent at this moment.

He looked at the small land of whirlpools on the map, and for the first time, a flicker of interest flashed in his eyes.

The risks of this plan are far less than those of a direct attack on Konoha, and the success rate is extremely high.

Excitement also shone in Hozuki Shio's bright eyes.

She leaned close to her brother's ear and whispered, "Brother, this guy's pretty good! He's good-looking and smart, way better than that gorilla Kaguya."

Hozuki Kaigetsu remained expressionless, but the eyes hidden beneath the mask held a hint of seriousness.

Yukinojo is far more dangerous than he appears.

"Haha...hahahahahaha!"

A burst of wild laughter shattered the brief moment of tranquility.

Kaguya Soranosuke looked at Yukinojo with an expression of appreciation on her face.

He may be straightforward, but he's not stupid.

He instantly understood the brilliance of Yukinojo's plan.

"That makes sense! Yukinojo, you might look a bit effeminate, but you're actually quite smart!"

Kaguya Soranosuke slapped his thigh and exclaimed excitedly, "Let's take down a small country and plunder everything they have! I love this! The Kaguya clan approves!"

Having secured the support of Kaguya Sora, the largest martial arts faction, Yukinojo wore an elegant smile.

The outcome is decided.

All eyes eventually turned to the man in the main seat who had remained silent throughout.

The Third Generation Mizukage, seeing the moon.

Seeing Yue lower her head, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

Yukinojo's plan was so perfect that even he was tempted.

but……

His gaze passed through the window and fell upon the distant west, shrouded in thick fog.

Hiruzen Sarutobi...

The man's face seemed to appear in the mist.

Attacking Konoha's allies?

Risk and opportunity coexist.

As the Mizukage, he had to make a choice.