There was no doubt that Mizuki Ryosuke harbored deep resistance to the prospect of becoming Mizukage.
For him, reaching the pinnacle of an "ordinary" Kage-level powerhouse was already his limit. To bear the title of Mizukage was something he found utterly unacceptable.
A massive tree attracts the wind, and once one assumes the mantle of Kage, their existence no longer belongs to them alone. This title was not merely an emblem of honor or prestige; it was a burden, a shackle that bound one to the village's fate. With it came endless schemes, unseen threats lurking in the shadows, and political turmoil that never ceased.
There was no need to look far for an example—Mizuki Taki's death was a direct consequence of the struggle for Mizukage.
Even though Mizuki Ryosuke had largely neutralized the looming threat posed by Kirigakure's Uchiha Madara faction, this did not mean he could finally rest easy. Far from it.
The position of Mizukage now meant inheriting a village in chaos, a fragile and unstable Kirigakure, a place where countless unresolved issues festered beneath the surface.
Mizuki Ryosuke knew the difficulties involved better than anyone. By nature, he should have refused without hesitation.
Yet, at this moment, he hesitated.
Becoming Mizukage meant stepping into danger, but it also presented an opportunity.
Blindly avoiding risks was a fool's errand. Only by taking control of the game and planning ahead could one remain undefeated.
In this world, there was no such thing as absolute safety or absolute peril. Every choice carried its own weight.
Becoming Mizukage would multiply his dangers—but it would also grant him unparalleled authority.
For the first time, Mizuki Ryosuke wavered.
No one else could discern his thoughts.
While he remained lost in contemplation, Maeda Genshi continued listing the losses Kirigakure had suffered during the civil strife.
The Jōnin present listened with solemn expressions.
Before the rebellion, Kirigakure had around 300 Jōnin. Now, after the conflict, only 140 remained. The others had either perished or sustained injuries that rendered them unfit for battle.
Half of Kirigakure's elite forces had been wiped out.
Adding to the devastation, the deaths of the Mizukage and the Anbu Commander left Kirigakure with a vacuum in leadership, its structure in disarray.
The most staggering losses, however, came from the Chūnin ranks.
As Maeda Genshi uttered the final casualty count, the entire meeting hall was shrouded in oppressive silence.
"To summarize, the village stands at a critical juncture."
"We must elect a new Mizukage to stabilize the situation."
"Until then, I will do my utmost to ensure the village continues functioning."
With that, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
Every gaze in the room turned to Maeda Genshi, awaiting his next words.
When Maeda Genshi publicly withdrew from the Mizukage race, it was all but certain—the position would fall to one of three people: Mizuki Eiro, Hōzuki Mangetsu, or Mizuki Ryosuke.
"Before making any decisions, I want to recognize three shinobi for their extraordinary performance during the civil war."
Maeda Genshi's eyes swept over Hōzuki Mangetsu, Mizuki Eiro, and Mizuki Ryosuke.
"First, Jōnin Mizuki Eiro."
"He not only led the Mizuki Clan in resisting the Hōzuki Clan's rebellion but also worked alongside the clan elders to eliminate the traitors."
"Mizuki Eiro has proven himself worthy of his title as a prodigy."
As Maeda Genshi spoke, the Jōnin congratulated Mizuki Eiro.
The young shinobi, though wearing an expression of pride, could not conceal the excitement in his eyes.
"Next, Hōzuki Mangetsu—the successor to the legendary Hōzuki name."
"He led a significant force against the rebel ninjas on the frontlines."
"By stalling Yagura in combat single-handedly, he bought precious time for the Third Mizukage's forces to unseal the Three Tails."
"Furthermore, he played a decisive role in quelling the rebellion among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
"He slew Kurigara Kushimaru, one of the renegade Swordsmen, reclaiming one of the fabled blades for the village."
"This battle cemented his reputation as Kirigakure's foremost genius!"
Even Maeda Genshi, usually stone-faced, allowed a flicker of approval to pass across his features.
The Jōnin were stunned. Even those who had fought alongside Hōzuki Mangetsu were in awe of his feats.
A round of applause followed, as admiration filled the room.
To many of the older shinobi, Mangetsu's presence evoked memories of the legendary Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu.
Finally, Maeda Genshi took a deep breath and spoke.
"And now, before I speak of the final ninja, I must first express my utmost respect to him."
With that, Maeda Genshi stood up and bowed deeply to Mizuki Ryosuke.
The sudden gesture caught everyone off guard, Mizuki Ryosuke included.
Before anyone could react, Maeda Genshi continued.
"Mizuki Ryosuke—until recently, an unknown Tokubetsu Jōnin."
"Before this battle, he was but an ordinary shinobi of Kirigakure…"
His words made every Jōnin shift their focus to Ryosuke.
For most of them, the name and face were unfamiliar.
Only those who had fought at the lake truly understood the terrifying prowess of this young man.
"But during this counterinsurgency war…"
"He was the first to uncover Yagura's coup."
"He led an elite unit to annihilate an Iwagakure special operations force and retrieved crucial evidence of Yagura's treachery."
"It was thanks to his intelligence work that the Third Mizukage and I were able to preempt the rebellion."
"On that point alone, Mizuki Ryosuke stands unmatched!"
Maeda Genshi's voice carried weight with every syllable, and realization dawned upon the gathered Jōnin.
They finally understood that it was Mizuki Ryosuke who had first discovered the Anbu's betrayal.
Surprise flickered in their eyes as they regarded the young shinobi.
At this moment, Maeda Genshi's heart was filled with admiration.
Looking back on the entire conflict, Mizuki Ryosuke's every action, every plan, was an enigma—seemingly inscrutable yet perfectly calculated.
His sheer cunning left Maeda Genshi with only one thought: terrifying.
Had Mizuki Ryosuke not intervened, the outcome of the rebellion would have remained uncertain.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he single-handedly neutralized the advantage Yagura had spent years preparing.
Of course, the full details of his maneuvers—so intertwined with Kirigakure's darkest secrets—could never be made public.
As a direct witness to these events, Maeda Genshi could only sigh inwardly.
What a pity.
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