Water Country had indeed become an anomaly within the Ninja World.
With the establishment of New Mist, the two factions of Mist ninja—now completely split—escalated the intensity of their warfare to even greater heights.
At the same time, as time passed and with deliberate neglect by the Ninja Clan Capital Corporations, increasing numbers of privateer fleets were forming voluntarily and sailing en masse toward Water Country, eager to profit from the chaos. The samurai and hired ninjas under the Bloodline faction and the noble courtiers struggled desperately, becoming increasingly unable to cope.
Although these privateer fleets were still too disorganized and lacked unified command to capture heavily fortified cities at this stage, nearly all the towns across Water Country's islands had already been swept away, leaving the countryside utterly devastated and largely abandoned.
Under such relentless attacks, no group could last long if they simply took punches without striking back.
Even ignoring other issues, food shortages alone were putting the nobles through absolute hell.
Fishermen forced to flee into the inner regions of the islands faced severe hardship, with no means of survival or sustenance. With no choice left, some sold themselves into servitude while others were forced into degrading, humiliating work just to survive. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, their efforts weren't even enough for a full meal.
As a result, rice riots began spreading rapidly and growing increasingly violent.
"We cannot continue like this any longer!"
The Water Daimyo urgently summoned the Third Mizukage and made his demands clear: "Mizukage-sama, Mist must present a viable solution within a short timeframe to eliminate all invaders and restore peace and integrity to our nation!"
"The Hidden Leaf truly lacks the capacity."
The emaciated Third Mizukage spoke slowly and calmly, "It won't be possible to see results quickly. Whether it's suppressing the rebellious ninja clans or clearing out those privateer pirates, all of these will require substantial time before producing any meaningful outcome."
"But the nation can't afford to wait that long!"
The Grand Chancellor, the highest-ranking noble official in Water Country, angrily interjected, "If there's still no improvement in another three months, practically every city will face famine!"
"At that point, we'll have full-scale chaos on our hands!"
"And some people have already begun attacking local aristocrats."
"And more and more desperate mobs are defecting to the privateer pirates, serving as their guides."
The nobles voiced their opinions chaotically, all talking at once and interrupting one another.
"I understand your concern, noble officials," the Third Mizukage replied composedly, "but no matter how urgent things become, the facts remain unchanged. The power of the Hidden Village is limited; it's impossible to handle everything comprehensively."
"What if I authorize you to deploy the Tailed Beasts?"
The Third Mizukage suddenly asked.
"Huh!"
A wave of shock rippled through the gathered nobility.
In particular, the Grand Chancellor reacted most intensely. The southern islands—his domain—had already been occupied by separatist Mist ninja clans. Having lost his territory, he was now merely a figurehead among the nobles. That was precisely why he strongly urged the Crimson Mist faction into immediate combat—to regain control over his land as soon as possible.
But if they truly deployed the Tailed Beasts' jinchuriki directly in this civil war, just as the Water Daimyo suggested, then even if they could reclaim lost territories, those lands would be left as wastelands after being hit by Tailed Beast Balls. They wouldn't be worth much anymore!
"No."
However, before Grand Chancellor's word could fully leave his mouth, the Water Daimyo's deadly glare forced it back into his throat.
As a former influential court official, Grand Chancellor was very familiar with what that gaze signified—it meant the Daimyo truly had intent to kill!
"The two Tailed Beasts' jinchuriki from Hidden Mist have long been ready for deployment. We simply chose not to deploy them, as these privateers were too insignificant to warrant it."
The Third Mizukage slowly rose and spoke calmly: "Since Your Highness is willing to pay any price to eliminate the rebels quickly, Hidden Mist can only resort to this extreme measure despite knowing it will outrage the ninja world!"
Having spoken, the Third Mizukage turned and departed.
If he didn't leave immediately, the genjutsu Madara Uchiha used to control the Mizukage would likely begin to falter!
Hyuga Soushu had not stepped into direct combat in many years.
Yet after securing agreement from both Hozuki and Suiton clan leaders to form the New Mist, he became carried away and began asserting authority beyond his role, directly seizing command over all Mist clan ninja forces. He started integrating the previously chaotic privateer fleets with the New Mist clan's ninjas, creating combined units structured into hundred-man squads. From there, he launched coordinated large-scale attacks on several major islands across the central and western parts of the Land of Water.
Meanwhile, the main force of the New Mist's Ninja Army had been secretly positioned within bays between these attacked islands, preparing for siege tactics and ambushes against reinforcements.
Still, no one understood why—even after the integrated ninja army successfully captured Jonin City on three large islands—the Water Daimyo and Bloodline faction remained inactive. There had been neither large-scale reinforcements dispatched nor elite squads sent to evacuate key figures trapped on occupied islands.
It was almost like they had already accepted abandonment of these besieged islands.
This was unlike their earlier battles against Hidden Mist forces.
Therefore, both Suiton Clan Head and Hozuki Elder began feeling a sense of unease due to this unexplained uncertainty.
Determined to act, the two men approached Hyuga Soushu, hoping to discuss how best to monitor movements from the Bloodline faction.
"Have you left behind any suitable intelligence personnel inside Hidden Mist's main headquarters?"
After learning about these powerful clan leaders' intentions, Hyuga Soushu asked bluntly: "If so, we might analyze recent supply procurement activities in Hidden Mist to predict what those Bloodline brats are planning next."
"We've completely lost contact with all our undercover agents stationed at Hidden Mist's main base."
The two clan representatives exchanged glances before Suiton Clan Head revealed this hidden truth.
"And even if there were any still embedded, they couldn't relay intelligence either," Hozuki Elder added. "Except for Anbu under Mizukage's direct command, virtually every ninja has been forbidden from keeping or releasing any birds of prey within the village."
"Absolutely no options left?"
Hyuga Soushu asked.
"No moves left whatsoever!"
Two representatives of the Powerful Clans nodded firmly.
"Incredible!"
Hyuga Soushu was deeply dissatisfied.
Yet he saw no reason to send his own Hyuga people on scouting missions into the Land of Water, so he ended the conversation then and there.
As for how much resentment those two Powerful Clan leaders secretly harbored inside, Hyuga Soushu had little interest in uncovering.
Regarding their claim that there were absolutely no usable spies within the Bloodline faction, Hyuga Soushu completely disbelieved it.
After all, the very reason they had forced the establishment of New Mist was to undermine the Hidden Mist's main headquarters' morale by creating momentum. On this point, the two Powerful Clan leaders were not only fully supportive but also actively practicing it themselves.
According to intelligence known to Hyuga Soushu, even the Kaguya Clan—known for keeping to themselves and avoiding alliances—still maintained usable intelligence contacts within the Hidden Leaf Village headquarters, continuously receiving information from them. This single fact exposed just how pathetic the lies from those two really were.
However, Hyuga Soushu had no intention of investigating further.
After all, for the Ninja Clan Capital Corporation, what needed to be done was mainly creating momentum. Now that this momentum had successfully been established, if the Hidden Mist's Bloodline faction lacked the power to reverse the situation, then what awaited them would certainly be waves of attacks growing stronger each time.
The combined ninja forces—made up of official clan units and privateer warriors—pushed forward relentlessly. They shattered the coastal defenses set up by the Land of Water and the Bloodline faction, turning what used to be quiet inland regions into violent war zones.
The formerly solid defensive lines appeared extremely fragile before this mixed-force ninja army, especially those regions defended solely by samurai from the Land of Water, which crumbled like paper walls at a single poke, barely fulfilling any actual defensive function.
Having encountered repeated successes while moving almost entirely unimpeded, these privateer ninja forces began instinctively merging into larger groups, seeking to capture another city along the central waters of the Land of Water, planning to establish it as their privateer stronghold.
These wild-card privateer ninjas were never going to be the obedient kind.
Though officially originating from various sources—including the underground Black Market of the Ninja World Mainland, Ronin Ninjas, small hidden village ninjas, and even Iwagakure and Kumo ninjas—and outwardly complying with Soushu's integration orders, their true purpose was merely obtaining more intelligence and cost-effective military supply provisions. As for genuine loyalty? That was simply nonsense—something utterly nonexistent.
Therefore, after achieving consecutive victories, these privateer ninja naturally became increasingly arrogant.
While they wouldn't directly defy commands issued from the southern islands, they started paying lip service to orders while doing whatever they pleased behind the scenes.
And regarding the idea of directly controlling an entire city as a supply base, this was actually a tacit agreement reached privately between Iwagakure-backed and Kumo-backed privateer forces. Although these two hidden villages had once been deadly enemies locked in life-or-death conflicts, when it came to plundering the Land of Water, they could indeed temporarily set aside hatred, jointly advancing their privateering operations onto new heights.
Yet this time, unexpectedly, these suddenly united privateer forces ran into serious resistance.
A place where it used to be said that 'the wisest man runs from danger' perfectly applied, the samurai of the Land of Water and Mist's Crimson Mist faction ninja unexpectedly put up fierce resistance in the target city, even annihilating the plundering vanguard squad that recklessly rushed inside.
However, this defeat didn't intimidate the main force of raiding ninja from Iwagakure and Kumo as much as expected. Instead, they believed there must be a high-ranking VIP hiding within the city, which explained why those samurai and ninjas resisted so desperately.
Therefore, after quickly surrounding the city, commanders from Kumo and Iwagakure summoned their fellow ninja scattered throughout the Land of Water, while offering generous verbal promises to recruit independent rogue ninja without affiliations, aiming to form a large-scale ninja force for the assault.
Of course, these privateer ninja naturally craved profit. They couldn't resist the enormous temptations offered by Iwagakure and Kumo to privateer ninja. Within merely three days, half of the pirates besieging the Land of Water gathered outside the city on the central island, eagerly anticipating a massive offensive.
After finally settling disagreements about dividing spoils post-battle, the smug Kumo commander ordered all forces to launch their attack.
Just then, tremendous crashing waves echoed from the outer sea around the island city!
"What is this?"
All the mercenary ninja immediately felt shocked.
Following the sound of surging waves came an immense, tsunami-like chakra ripple exuding an evil aura!
"A Tailed Beast!"
"It's Mist's Jinchuriki!"
The ninja from Iwagakure and Kumo were born from great hidden villages; their knowledge surpassed countless times over those ronin and black-market ninjas. Instantly identifying the enemy's identity from the chakra signature alone.
Even more importantly, it wasn't just a simple attack from a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki!
Mist had been lying low for days, intentionally lighting fewer campfires to create the illusion of a weaker force, luring enemies deeper into their territory—clearly planning an annihilation strategy!
The so-called sounds of huge waves coming beyond the island's landmass actually originated from thousands of Mist ninja joining together to unleash [Great Waterfall Technique]!
And this colossal jutsu resembling a tsunami targeted those privateer ships anchored along the island coast!
Under an apocalyptic wave attack, every single vessel was smashed into pieces almost instantly, completely erased from existence beneath the waves.
Yet before the pirate ninja could even feel intense panic, two gigantic light spheres—one white and one black—rushed toward their gathering point!
"This is the Tailed Beast Ball!"
As a Kumo ninja screamed desperately, the entire group of privateer ninja descended into total panic.
Even the most ignorant ninja understood basic facts about the terrifying power of Tailed Beasts. Added with the intimidation factor from Mist's onslaught, they found themselves utterly incapable of resisting—because anyone who had seen a Tailed Beast Ball up close knew there was only one option: flee.
Thus, amid complete disorder, the Tailed Beast Balls struck one after another. Immediately afterward, Mist's Crimson Mist faction ninja followed closely behind, sweeping through like a cleansing fire, slaughtering everything in their path without mercy.
The outcome was a foregone conclusion—the clandestinely assembled Privateer Ninjas were completely annihilated!
In an instant, panic gripped New Mist!
"Lord Soushu!"
Just as Hyuga Soushu was preparing to personally lead the ninja force northward, he suddenly received a handwritten letter from Mahiru Uchiha in Hakone Prefecture City.
After reading the letter, Hyuga Soushu felt absolutely elated!
"Mahiru-chan is pregnant!"
For Hyuga Soushu, this was certainly the most exciting news since his rebirth!
Moreover, for both the Hyuga Clan itself and the Ninja Clan Capital Corporation—a colossal, octopus-like entity controlling the Ninja World—the news was equally momentous. The birth of the leader's direct heir would further strengthen internal unity and stability!
However, timing proved to be an issue.
The Crimson Mist faction's army from Mist, advancing southward like a carpet bombing campaign, along with two Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, were heading straight toward the southern islands controlled by New Mist. Wherever they marched, wastelands remained in the wake of relentless Tailed Beast Ball bombardments.
Without a game-changing powerhouse staying behind to defend, New Mist would be helpless against the Crimson Mist's relentless assault. Its ultimate downfall would simply depend on how quickly the Jinchuriki could recharge their Tailed Beast Ball techniques!
So, for a moment, Hyuga Soushu found himself torn between two tough choices.
Should he rush back immediately or continue advancing northward into battle?
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