Reborn in the Mist

Raiga stood in stoic silence as I glanced through his squad’s reports. Even though Reina has returned and reprised her position as ANBU Commander, he still served in that capacity for various tasks I’ve assigned him and the organization.

It’s no consequence of his talent for it though, simply the need for Reina at the Estate, anchoring the affiliate Yuki clan and the Kaguya, was a more pressing matter I needed her attention on than her clandestine activities as part of the ANBU. Beyond that, there was of course, the investigation into what ties the Kaguya attacks to Lord Funato’s assassin.

With Mei’s report on Amegakure fresh in my mind and the Hidden Mist down one elite shinobi, it was glaringly obvious what the next path for the village would be and I intended to pave it without any blemishes.

Before getting ahead of myself or overextending the village’s capacities, I needed to finish what all I have started. Starting with the Daimyo and his Princess sister, Hanako.

In my hands were the past weeks’ correspondence between the Princess and everyone she’s bothered to pick a pen and write to. Her younger siblings, her forbidden lover, the aunt she favours and the two true childhood friends that didn’t end up as her lady-in-waiting. And most importantly, her brother, the Daimyo.

I confess, it felt a little dirty to have these private words pilfered by my shinobi, but it was like many things I would come to do in my tenure as the Fourth Mizukage, a necessary evil.

She wasn’t the only one I had the many eyes of the ANBU on either. Since I woke up from my coma I’d assigned Raiga several persons of interest to keep me up to date with. Clan heads, the Daimyos’s Baron vassals, and worthwhile Samurai lords with their own little fiefdoms here and there. Just about everyone that might make a ripple in the coming war.

The biggest fish was the Daimyo. I’d spoken loosely of war, violence, equality and power to the Princess, enough that my intentions would not be misinterpreted or my willingness overlooked.

The Daimyo ruled over two million denizens, including the near twelve thousand living within Kirigakure’s walls and the other twenty that fell under our influence. All knelt to the Daimyo for he was true power, yes?

No. These uptown snob nobles wouldn’t know true power for a very, very long time. Before Hidden Villages were what they are, clans ruled themselves independently and yes, the Daimyo existed then as well. Hiring clans as protective measures, for war efforts, for intrigue. A tradition of contract hiring that has been inherited by today’s shinobi except now, the multitudes of war hardened and power shinobi clans come together and obey one will.

The Kage. And I was one of the only five. Doubtless, the Daimyo had his own sphere of power, armies of skilled Samurai that have discerned the secret ways of chakra to empower their bodies and weapons such that each Samurai is as strong as a Chuunin and Named Samurai teeter on the edge of Jounin level strength.

But that was all there was to the Daimyo, a couple armies of Samurai led peasants would be nothing to the squads of Jounin Kirigakure has raised and will raise under my watch. Worse yet, they were fighting amongst themselves, killing each other long before I came into the picture.

Civil war was as much a tradition of the Land of Water as Kenjutsu. Father against son, Daimyo against their Barons and so forth until it’s just man against man.

Dirty a thought it might be but the Land of Water was destabilized in a such a way that Kirigakure with two Jinchuriki posed a threat to all the country, what Samurai could cut through a Tailed Beast?

The natural economics, culture and even military of the country was in disrepair after the Second and Third Great wars that Kirigakure swiping the board clean and starting over becomes the ideal situation for the yeoman and I was certain the Princess wasn’t stupid enough not to realize that.

Her letters proved me right. She’d written to the Daimyo two days after I’d given her my ultimatum and she minced her words well. In it she advised her brother to consider sending an envoy to negotiate land rights with me before it is too late, stating nothing about the fact that I had determined to move at my own regard.

She wrote the verbose letter subtly enough that the Daimyo, should he be illiterate, would understand the meaning, ‘The Mizukage wants land and is willing to support whomever to get it.’

I wasn’t willing to support whomever though, I specifically remember asking for the heads of the Bloodline Killing nobles and their land but it’s of little consequence. Princess Hanako had done her job and soon an envoy or perhaps the Daimyo himself would grace Kirigakure to negotiate.

Whatever the case, I would bring balance and order to the Land of Water with rapidity. Konan’s discovery of Mei and her capture of Daiki were pressing against my mind. What I wanted to do next was intensify security and I had a couple ideas for that, which meant another council meeting was in order.

I let myself smile as a rush of excitement jolted through me. Swivelling my chair about, I gazed across my village from the window. It was another dawn, making four consecutive days since I had a goodnights rest. As much as it pained me, I was getting used to this life. The blood, the sacrifice, the secrets and invasion of privacy and general rights.

I was going to make it all worth it and soon. I had a plan, no, a vision for Kirigakure and it was about time Kirigakure started looking forward to it.

“Raiga, in the tournaments, there was a boy or a man. Jin his name was. Assess him for ANBU worthiness.”

“Sir?” I could hear the confusion in his voice, but I didn’t mind, many ignorant would be enlightened soon enough.

“If he’s worthy then he’ll be off to serve the Princess, it’ll make your job easier won’t it? Besides, there’s more I want him to do.”

Weak as the Daimyo is, I couldn’t afford to get sloppy. His sister will be my unspoken hostage and if I manage to place Jin at her side, she will know it well too.

“Understood sir, I’ll get right on that.” I felt him about to take his leave but I called out again.

“Raiga, I have a plan for you too, a role, a very lucrative one if I can help it. Do well, dismissed.”