Chapter 50: The Gami Pot Sealing the Three-Tails
On an island not far from the coast, thick fog shrouded the landmass, making it difficult to discern the situation on the island. But passing through the ring of dense mist encircling the island's perimeter and traversing a stretch of forest, one would find an orderly, heavily guarded encampment capable of accommodating thousands.
This was the Mist shinobi's forward camp for their invasion of the Land of Fire—the central brain commanding thousands of Mist shinobi on the battlefield. Orders issued from here controlled the movements of over a thousand Mist shinobi, engaging and fighting Konoha shinobi across various battlefields.
Today, the atmosphere in the camp was especially oppressive, perfectly complementing the leaden gray clouds in the sky. Most Mist shinobi's faces showed only numbness and suppression.
Because the campaign to invade the Land of Fire was going very poorly. They couldn't breach, much less break through, the defensive line Konoha shinobi had established along the eastern coastal region. Occasional breakthroughs were invariably short-lived—once Konoha reinforcements arrived, they'd retreat all the way back.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had once penetrated near Konoha Village, only to encounter a Konoha genin. This genin killed four of them on the spot, with only three escaping back.
Afterward, the Fourth Mizukage personally took action, but Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, entered the field and fought the Fourth Mizukage to a draw. When that little monster Uchiha Shisui finally arrived, the Mist shinobi had no choice but to retreat.
The only achievement worth boasting about was Ao seizing a Byakugan from the Hyuga clan, allowing the Mist shinobi some consolation and establishing a bit of confidence so they wouldn't become completely disheartened.
But honestly, such meager confidence couldn't withstand erosion. The operations planned recently had all hit iron walls, returning empty-handed, causing the camp's atmosphere to grow more oppressive with each passing day.
"Let's retreat!"
Finally, someone was the first to speak up and propose withdrawal.
With these words, the tent instantly fell silent. No one spoke up to object. Everyone exchanged glances, seeing similarly gloomy faces, and ultimately turned their gazes in unison toward the slight, diminutive figure seated in the position of authority.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
The figure in the main seat spoke.
He had green hair and purple eyes. His stature was short, his appearance childlike—he looked exactly like a twelve or thirteen-year-old child. But in reality, he was already an adult in his twenties, and moreover, the recently appointed Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village, Yagura Karatachi!
He looked around. Some kept their heads down in silence, others wore expressionless faces. Not one person responded to the Fourth Mizukage's inquiring gaze—not until he fixed his sight on the man who'd first proposed retreat.
This middle-aged man with refined features and emerald green eyes looked around at his colleagues. He sighed helplessly, then proactively met the Fourth Mizukage's gaze and declared resolutely:
"Mizukage-sama, the current situation has more or less stabilized. The difficulty of turning things around is truly too great. In my view, continuing to struggle here pointlessly has no meaning. I suggest we retreat as early as possible. While Konoha hasn't yet prepared for a counteroffensive, we can withdraw to the village at our leisure, then continue accumulating strength while waiting for the next opportunity to set foot in the Land of Fire."
His voice was sincere, his attitude earnest—he spoke these words entirely from the village's perspective.
"Terumi clan head's suggestion is to retreat. What are the rest of you's attitudes? Fight or withdraw?" After the green-eyed man finished, Yagura Karatachi continued questioning the others who remained silent.
At this moment, seated directly opposite the green-eyed man, a middle-aged man with long reddish-brown hair and a stern, naturally imposing countenance clearly stated the opposite view. "I actually think it's not yet time to give up."
"Kirishima jonin!"
Yagura Karatachi looked at this man, his brow furrowing slightly. "You believe we still have a chance to reverse the overall situation?"
The moment he asked this question, many present immediately showed understanding expressions. The Mizukage-sama also felt the situation was difficult to overturn and was inclined toward choosing retreat.
The loyal supporters who hadn't previously understood the Mizukage-sama's inclination swallowed their reassurance pills, preparing to speak up in support of Terumi clan head's withdrawal proposal.
However—
At that moment, Kirishima jonin spoke up. "Mizukage-sama, Konoha has successively waged major battles against the Sand, Stone, and Cloud shinobi. Though they won every time, they've undoubtedly also suffered severe damage to their own vitality. Now the Cloud shinobi in the northeast, who suffered relatively little damage, are stirring restlessly again, tying down much of Konoha's strength. It could be said that right now is the best opportunity!"
"Kirishima Shinya, stop spouting nonsense here. Konoha's vitality has indeed suffered severe damage, but even a severely damaged Konoha has still managed to firmly block us in the coastal region with just this defensive line. How exactly do you plan to exploit this so-called best opportunity?"
Terumi clan head questioned without courtesy.
If the person seated opposite were the Kirishima clan head, he'd naturally speak courteously. But Kirishima Shinya sitting across from him wasn't the Kirishima clan head—just a jonin from the Kirishima clan. Even if he could be called the first heir to the future Kirishima clan leadership, as long as he hadn't truly inherited the position, his status as merely an heir wasn't sufficient to warrant special attention to his tone.
Kirishima Shinya didn't speak. He surveyed everyone in the tent once more, confirming no dubious minor characters had mixed in. Only then did he smile and say, "I've had people bring the Gami Pot!"
"What?"
Across from him, Terumi clan head shot to his feet, glaring furiously at Kirishima Shinya. "Kirishima Shinya, what madness has possessed you?"
Yagura Karatachi also frowned deeply.
The so-called Gami Pot was a special ninja tool possessed by the Kirishima clan. Reportedly, it was forged hundreds of years ago by some powerful individual from the Uzumaki clan and could be used to seal tailed beasts.
Currently, one of the two tailed beasts the Hidden Mist Village possessed—the Three-Tails—was sealed within the Gami Pot.
Logically, such an item should be controlled by the village. But every family had its difficult scriptures to recite. Konoha Village had the Uchiha clan as a ticking time bomb; the Hidden Mist Village likewise had its own troubles.
Namely, the Hidden Mist Village had far too many prominent clans, and they were far too powerful.
The Kirishima clan inherited the Boil Style bloodline limit. The family's strength was extraordinarily formidable. More troublesome still, the First Mizukage had come from the Kirishima clan. It could be said the Kirishima clan were the Hidden Mist Village's founders, possessing incomparable influence within the village.
The Gami Pot had originally been a ninja tool possessed by the Kirishima clan. Though successive Mizukage coveted this treasure and felt such items should be controlled by the village, the Second and Third ultimately couldn't bring themselves to request it. Much less this newly appointed Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
"I'm not mad—my mind is very clear. That guy Orochimaru has managed the defensive line blocking us as solidly as an iron barrel. But if Konoha Village comes under attack from a tailed beast, do you think this defensive line before us will remain so solid?"
Kirishima Shinya's mouth split open in a savage grin.
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