Chapter 179: The Fall of the Uzumaki Clan

The Mizukage and Raikage clashed in a massive battle near the shores of the Land of Lightning.

A battle between two Kage—especially one involving tailed beasts—was impossible to hide from the sharp perception and intelligence networks of the major shinobi villages.

News of the fight spread like wildfire, swiftly drawing the entire shinobi world's attention, even eclipsing the ongoing Third Great Ninja War.

Neither Kirigakure nor Kumogakure made any attempt to suppress the flow of information—they knew it couldn't be stopped.

Before long, the background, sequence, and outcome of the battle were compiled and laid out before the high-ranking officials of every major nation.

The result? From the Kage themselves to the ordinary people in the streets, jaws dropped and eyes widened in disbelief.

Especially when word got out that the Third Raikage personally traveled to Kirigakure for diplomatic talks—the strongest proof that the rumors were true.

No one could uncover the exact details of what was said between the Mizukage and Raikage.

But one thing was obvious: Kumogakure was drawing closer to Kirigakure.

A deep sense of unease settled in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.

And less than a month after the Mizukage and Raikage concluded their talks, that unease was confirmed.

First, a trade request from Konohagakure—an order for ninja tools—was rejected by Kirigakure for the first time.

A few days later, while Konoha's envoy, Mr. Sarutobi, was in Kirigakure confronting Yagura about the issue, Konoha's ninja observed cargo ships departing Kirigakure, heading for the Land of Lightning and unloading at their ports.

Those ships were all too familiar—they were the same supply ships that had been supporting Konoha over the past six months.

"Mizukage... Raikage!"

When Hiruzen Sarutobi received confirmation of this, he could no longer stay calm.

He might not know the exact terms of the deal struck between the two villages, but Kirigakure's actions sent a clear and dangerous signal to Konoha.

Their only remaining ally was moving toward their enemy.

Hiruzen understood all too well: the only reason Konoha had managed to hold its ground on so many fronts was thanks to Kirigakure's support.

The Raikage had lost to the Mizukage in battle—and then had the nerve to win him over diplomatically!

And that brat of a Mizukage? Absolutely infuriating.

Hiruzen refused to believe that Yagura had been swayed merely by Kumogakure's promises. Whatever Kumogakure could offer, Konoha could too.

Except for one thing—something only Kumogakure had to offer: the current unfavorable state of war that Konoha found itself in.

That brat siding with Kumogakure likely meant he wanted to see Konoha lose. He didn't care about a clean victory. He wanted to watch everyone bleed.

Shameless! Did he really think everyone else was blind?

Konoha's response was swift and aggressive. Their envoy, Mr. Sarutobi, confronted Yagura under direct orders from the Hokage.

"Mizukage-sama! Konoha has always been Kirigakure's most loyal ally! Is this how you treat your allies now?"

"Take a look at this."

Yagura casually tossed a scroll at him. It landed at Mr. Sarutobi's feet.

Of course, this wasn't the original—it was a perfect replica, made to prevent Konoha from destroying the evidence.

Mr. Sarutobi picked it up, confused by Yagura's completely different diplomatic tone.

"What is this?"

"A letter from your high-ranking official, Shimura Danzo—secretly contacting the Raikage and plotting against Kirigakure." Yagura spun a pen lazily in his hand. "Take it. Show it to the Hokage. And your elders too."

"I should be asking you—is this how you treat your allies?"

Startled by Yagura's sudden outburst, Mr. Sarutobi's hands trembled as he unrolled the scroll. His face turned pale as ash.

He couldn't tell if it was real, but he had no choice—he had to bring it back to Hiruzen.

When Hiruzen finally read it, his face darkened with every passing line.

The truth was obvious.

What happened between Hiruzen and Danzo afterward in the Hokage's office doesn't need repeating.

Danzo's unauthorized scheme, combined with the Third Raikage's maneuvering, had removed any political cost for Kirigakure's betrayal.

That letter transformed Kirigakure's image—from a backstabbing traitor to a village forced to respond to Konoha's own treachery.

Yagura no longer cared about Konoha's diplomatic protests. He dumped every new letter straight onto the foreign affairs desk and told them to deal with it.

He had more important things to do.

The tech department had finally delivered the result of their months-long project—a personal computer straight out of the early 2000s!

As Mizukage, Yagura had the honor of being the first to use it.

Minesweeper. Solitaire. Pinball. Snake. Tetris. 100-Floor Descent. Mario...

Every nostalgic idea Yagura threw out was painstakingly turned into a working game—at the cost of many poor engineers' hair.

Clutching the computer in his arms, Yagura inhaled deeply. It had been years, but the scent of video games still brought joy to his heart.

Game on.

February 24th: gaming.February 25th: gaming.February 26th: gaming.February 27th: gaming.February 28th: Karatachi Yagura, what have you become…February 29th: Isobu wanted to play too.March 1st: Wait, everyone's addicted? Who started this nonsense?!March 10th: The post-gaming crash.

Eventually, Yagura was dragged out of his digital cave by Mangetsu and Zabuza.

Eyes wet with emotion, the reformed gaming addict looked at them and said,

"You'll never understand the pain of a gamer who's been cut off from his PC for years…"

...

"Ahem."

Back in his seat, Yagura glanced at the group of bleary-eyed young staffers before him, relieved to see he wasn't the only one with dark circles under his eyes.

"Heh... the Mizukage personally tested the tech department's work."

Elder Genshi chuckled. "Turns out, the civilian-use computer we all brainstormed together is a success."

The tech department head, exhausted but proud, stood up to accept the compliment with humble gratitude.

"Alright, everyone. Go home and rest up tonight," Yagura said.

He wasn't just talking to the tech department. Every young ninja in the office with dark circles shrank in their chairs, guilt written all over their faces.

Except Yagura, of course. He was the Mizukage. He did his job first and then indulged—no one could complain.

He picked up the most urgent military report on his desk.

It was about the Uzumaki Clan. His next priority.

The Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed. The few remaining Uzumaki survivors were scattered—some had escaped the country, but most still lived on their homeland.

Kirigakure and Kumogakure had agreed: they would carry out a sudden, decisive strike. The goal was to locate and seize the Uzumaki clan's secret sealing jutsu scrolls before Konoha could react.

Before the operation could begin, they had to gather detailed intel on every last remaining Uzumaki.

Not just numbers or locations—Yagura wanted to understand their mindset.

He also sent agents into the Land of Whirlpools to influence public sentiment.

Konoha hadn't sent aid when the country was attacked.

The Senju Clan had been the Uzumaki's allies—but the Sarutobi Clan was not. And the Senju were nearly extinct.

Kushina Uzumaki, sent to Konoha, had been brainwashed by Hiruzen into dreaming of becoming Hokage—but it was her clan that ruined that dream.

All of it true. Or at least... truth with a little spin.

After a month of psychological operations, the groundwork was complete.

The plan was ready.

On April 1st, in a move that shocked the entire shinobi world, the shinobi of Kumo and Kiri launched a joint surprise attack on the remaining Uzumaki!

In less than half a day, the mission was complete—without anyone else knowing.

Kumogakure successfully seized the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu scrolls.

And their forces occupied an island on the eastern edge of the Land of Fire—a perfect springboard for future invasion.

Wasting no time, the Kumo shinobi advanced from that island and stormed the unguarded eastern coast of the Fire Country, rapidly pushing their front lines forward.

Just like that, the war—which had finally been turning in Konoha's favor—took a disastrous turn.

The shockwaves were instant.

...

Back in Kirigakure, the last few Uzumaki survivors who chose to resist were quickly overwhelmed. The rest surrendered and accepted the Mist's proposal—they would relocate to Kirigakure.

Kirigakure withdrew from the Land of Whirlpools, bringing over a hundred Uzumaki with them. Mission accomplished.

And with that, Yagura and Elder Genshi's strategic plans for the Third Great Ninja War had reached completion.

All they had to do now... was wait for peace to take root and grow.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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