Jinzaburo expressed his criticism in response to Mei's opinion.
Kisame also intervened, supporting him. "Kazuki-sama, what Jinzaburo said makes sense."
"Terumi Mei's plan is indeed a tricky one and can effectively reduce the number of casualties, but it is not the best plan for you to control Kirigakure." Kisame continued firmly. "Our village is already in ruins, filled with corruption. Both the Kaguya clan and the Terumi clan are not forces we should rely on; rather, we should consider them enemies and confront them with an attitude of conquest."
"Even if some people die, it is a necessary sacrifice. Kazuki-sama, you must not show them mercy!"
"These are all necessary sacrifices!"
Kazuki looked at Kisame with some surprise.
Zabuza said in a deep voice: "Kazuki-sama, maybe you don't understand Kirigakure well..."
"You may feel some sort of attachment to the place due to your lineage, but the shinobi there have been shaped by the bloody mist. They lack humanity."
"If you follow Terumi Mei's approach, allowing the larger clans to reorganize the village, internal conflicts will arise. By the time you are Mizukage, you will no longer have the strategic advantage to easily subdue them," Zabuza warned coldly. "The quickest and most effective way to transform Kirigakure into your Kirigakure is through force. Kill them until they tremble in fear and only then teach them how to behave!"
Tobirama, who had remained silent until now, exhaled slowly before muttering in disbelief, "Kazuki... You cast a genjutsu on them?"
Jinzaburo, Kisame, and Zabuza were proposing exactly what Tobirama had planned to advise.
If he wants to completely take over Kirigakure, then the best way is to destroy this village and then rebuild order on the ruins.
But before Tobirama could even open his mouth, these former Kiri-nin hurriedly spoke, fearing that Kazuki, who was kind to them, would treat those stubborn people in the same way, and in the end everything would return to the way it was before...
Tobirama doubted life when he saw how they had reached that level of loyalty.
"Tobirama, I've said before, I saw the Will of Fire in their hearts..." Kazuki sighed. "A genjutsu cannot touch the true human heart. I would never use something so shallow," Kazuki added in a reproachful tone. "Now I understand why you got a zero on your exam on the will of fire. I think you should go back and read more about the Will of Fire and my notes. Your understanding of the Will of Fire is still too superficial."
Tobirama snorted with a sarcastic smile, "Kazuki, your Will of Fire is so persuasive that it could be considered the most powerful genjutsu in the shinobi world. I could never master something like that..."
"When I came up with this ideology, I never imagined that even the shinobi of Kirigakure would fall under its influence. You really took it to another level…"
Kazuki shrugged and teased: "What did you expect? I got full marks on my will of fire test, I'm not like a certain Hokage who got zero points."
Tobirama chuckled, shaking his head. While in the past he would have reacted angrily to the joke, now this joke was something only the two of them could understand.
...
"You are right," Mei said after a moment of thought. "But the Third Mizukage will not be easy to defeat in a direct confrontation…"
"If he gets close to the ocean, it will be troublesome."
Kisame's gaze turned sharp, and he spoke with determination: "For the sake of Kazuki-sama and the salvation of Kirigakure, we will overcome any obstacles."
"I can return to Kirigakure as a double agent and lure the Mizukage into the heart of the Land of Fire. There we will defeat him on dry land," Kisame proposed.
Zabuza nodded gravely. "Mei is right, Kisame. I can join you as well. We'll work together as double agents."
Jinzaburo, on the other hand, looked confused as he looked at his companions. "What are you saying? Is the Third Mizukage that strong?"
"The Third Mizukage is very strong..." Zabuza sneered. "You Kaguya clan don't even know the Mizukage's information, and yet you actually planned to rebel?"
"It's ridiculous. If they want to rebel with that attitude, their only outcome will be total annihilation. Even with their Shikotsumyaku, they wouldn't stand a chance."
Jinzaburo snorted and turned his head away.
Kazuki asked with interest. "Can any of you tell me more about the Mizukage? What skills does he possess to earn such a reputation in Kirigakure?"
As for the Third Mizukage, Kazuki didn't really have much information.
Mei looked at Kazuki and said solemnly: "Thanks to my clan, I have heard tales from the elders about his strength."
"The Third Mizukage was once the bodyguard of the First Mizukage. He possesses formidable mastery of ninjutsu as well as secret Water Release techniques. He is said to be unsurpassed in Kirigakure."
"Because he has mastered the Hydrification Technique, normal physical attacks have no effect on him, and yet he is an expert in close combat..." Mei continued, her tone more serious. "Furthermore, near any source of water, he is able to use a variation of the Hydrification Technique to absorb large amounts of water and form a gigantic body, as if he were a tailed beast. He possesses the strength to subdue even the Three-Tails."
Jinzaburo blinked. If the Third Mizukage was so strong, why did the old fossils of his clan still insist on wanting to rebel? Immunity to physical attacks... how on earth could the Shikotsumyaku stand up to him?
And on top of that in Kirigakure! Surrounded by water on all sides... that only gives him more of an advantage.
The logic behind this suicidal confidence baffled him.
Seeing the look of existential crisis on Jinzaburo's face, Kazuki smiled.
Kisame, who was part of the Kirigakure ANBU, added more details: "Kazuki-sama, the Third Mizukage is not the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki, but there is evidence to suggest that he could communicate with the tailed beast. I even sensed the Three-Tails' chakra in him on one occasion."
"He's a very difficult opponent. Kazuki-sama, although you are incredibly strong, you shouldn't take any risks..."
Kisame took a deep breath and spoke to Kazuki, "Zabuza and I are part of the ANBU. We can pretend to be seriously injured and return to the village to transmit false information."
"We must prepare a trap, an ambush, and eliminate the Third Mizukage with a coordinated attack. The other shinobi of Kirigakure will not be a problem…"
"I agree with Terumi Mei. Jinzaburo's idea of eliminating the Third Mizukage head-on is too risky. I was thinking of mentioning it earlier, but I didn't get the chance."
"As for the strength of the shinobi clans, I still think the same, we should not resort to them. Only in this way can your will become the will of Kirigakure."
Zabuza knelt on one knee, his eyes fixed on Kazuki. "Kazuki-sama, please trust me and Kisame. We will accomplish our mission and lure the Third Mizukage into the trap."
Kazuki lifted Zabuza and Kisame up, then shook his head slightly. "Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have died. In Kirigakure, shinobi who return from such a disastrous defeat risk losing their lives…"
"I don't doubt your loyalty, but I don't want to risk your lives on this kind of mission."
"I will not hesitate to use you, but I refuse to accept unnecessary deaths."
Kisame and Zabuza looked at each other and their expressions became more determined, as if the will of fire was burning in their hearts.
Indeed, Kazuki was right.
Even if they were to return to Kirigakure with valuable information, shinobi who fail their missions are worthless, especially in war situations...
Deserters and the defeated received only that kind of treatment.
Especially after Fuguki's death, although the Third Mizukage reluctantly believed the argument of his collaboration with the enemy, if such a drama were to happen again this time, it would be strange no matter how you look at it...
Of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza and Kisame had gone out with them on two missions and three were already dead. That was very suspicious and abnormal.
Kisame and Zabuza, although they had only recently felt the warmth under Kazuki's command, were already willing to risk their lives.
Kisame and Zabuza are not afraid of death. If the death is valuable and meaningful, they are willing to sacrifice their lives.
"Kazuki-sama, this is the best opportunity!"
"Kazuki-sama, please believe us!"
Zabuza and Kisame begged.
In their minds, if Kazuki, who is willing to give his former enemies a chance, takes over Kirigakure, then the village will definitely get better and better in the future...
If that was what was going to happen, what were two lifetimes compared to all that was to come?
Kazuki frowned and waved his hand. "Let me think about it for a while..."
Kazuki began to analyze the Third Mizukage's capabilities.
According to what Mei and Kisame said, the Third Mizukage did have considerable power.
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