"Mizuki Ryosuke, on behalf of the village, I accept your request."
After a moment of silence, Maeda Yuanshi's deep voice resonated through the chamber. His sharp gaze swept over the room, and his expression hardened slightly, as though he had come to a critical decision.
"Thank you, Squad Leader Maeda."
Mizuki Ryosuke inclined his head slightly. The agreement was within his expectations, so his expression remained composed.
"You two, I will send someone to deliver the village's rewards to your residences later."
Maeda Yuanshi then turned his attention to Oniteng Manzuki and Mizuki Eiro. Neither of them had any objections, though their expressions subtly shifted. Meanwhile, the observing Jōnin cast Mizuki Ryosuke wary glances, clearly reassessing their view of him.
Without pause, Maeda Yuanshi continued, "Everyone here understands the village's current state. Right now, our greatest need is a Mizukage who embodies Kirigakure's ideals—someone capable of leading us out of this crisis."
"The time has come to vote for the Fourth Mizukage."
As his words echoed across the chamber, a sense of gravity settled over the Jōnin. This was the moment they had all been anticipating.
Mizuki Eiro inhaled sharply. The tension in his chest tightened—this was his long-awaited opportunity.
"Due to the sudden death of the Third Mizukage, the village had little time to prepare for the transition of power," Maeda Yuanshi continued. "Therefore, after discussions with the elders, we have decided to modify the traditional selection process."
A ripple of surprise passed through the Jōnin. They exchanged glances, but with the three leading Mizukage candidates remaining silent, they continued listening intently.
"Unlike before, when all Jōnin would directly vote for a new Mizukage, this time, we will first select three candidates from among the nominees."
"After that, the village will thoroughly evaluate these three candidates and determine which among them is the most suitable to become the Fourth Mizukage."
This announcement marked a major deviation from Kirigakure's usual Mizukage selection process.
Traditionally, a single candidate would be chosen—typically someone endorsed by the previous Mizukage. If approved by the village elders, that individual would immediately gain authority as Mizukage-in-waiting. From there, it was a matter of securing more than fifty percent of the votes at the Jōnin meeting to finalize their position.
This was exactly how the late Third Mizukage, Mizuki Taki, had ascended to power. However, his tenure had been heavily contested by Terumi Mei and Yagura, which led to prolonged political deadlock. It took him two years to consolidate control.
But now, with the village in chaos following civil war, the situation had changed drastically.
The traditional system no longer worked.
Kirigakure's internal powerhouses—Mizuki, Kaguya, and Hōzuki—had all suffered severe losses. The old order had crumbled, and the village was in the midst of restructuring.
If any single faction tried to seize power, the others would rebel. Under these circumstances, no candidate could hope to secure an outright majority.
Unlike the previous leadership transition, this time, Kirigakure urgently needed stability. It could not afford to wait another year for a new Mizukage to emerge.
Additionally, the civil war had dramatically shifted power dynamics within the village.
For generations, family-based ninja clans had dominated Kirigakure. But the recent bloodshed had weakened these factions, while civilian-born ninja—previously overshadowed—were now on the rise.
Without their support, even a victorious candidate would face constant opposition.
Understanding these stakes, the three leading contenders—Mizuki Ryosuke, Mizuki Eiro, and Ghost Lantern Mangetsu—raised no objections.
They knew that Maeda Yuanshi's plan was the most practical under the circumstances.
"The rules have been set," Maeda Yuanshi declared. "Let's begin the vote."
At his signal, the chamber stirred into action.
Kuroshima Morita, an elder of the Hōzuki Clan, and a Mizuki Clan Jōnin were the first to make their nominations.
One by one, the remaining Jōnin followed suit, casting their votes for their preferred candidates.
Throughout the process, Mizuki Ryosuke, Mizuki Eiro, and Ghost Lantern Mangetsu remained seated, showing no outward reaction.
Finally, the results were displayed on the counting board at the front of the room.
First place: Mizuki Ryosuke, 27 votes.
Second place: Ghost Lantern Mangetsu, 25 votes.
Third place: Mizuki Eiro, 19 votes.
The remaining nominees received only scattered votes, failing to reach double digits.
Thus, as expected, the three frontrunners were officially recognized as Mizukage candidates.
However, one detail stood out—out of the 140 Jōnin present, more than 40 had abstained from voting.
Among them were Maeda Yuanshi's loyalists. But the rest?
They were neutral Jōnin—civilians without clan affiliations.
And their abstention held significant implications.
Whoever could win their support would hold the decisive edge in securing the title of Mizukage.
For years, these independent Jōnin had been disregarded by Kirigakure's elite clans. But now, they had become the village's kingmakers.
Mizuki Ryosuke's gaze settled on the results.
His name sat at the top of the list.
A complex mix of emotions swirled within him.
He never expected to be in this position.
Of his 27 votes, some came from Kuroshima Morita's faction—remnants of the late Third Mizukage's supporters.
But others?
They came from the civilian Jōnin.
It seemed that his earlier speech—his call for honoring the Third Mizukage's final decree—had resonated with them.
These were votes of trust.
And yet… Mizuki Ryosuke wasn't sure how to feel about it.
For a moment, he hesitated, caught in a rare moment of reflection.
Before he could dwell further, Maeda Yuanshi's voice cut through his thoughts.
"The count is complete."
"Everyone has seen the results, so there is nothing more to discuss."
"This concludes the Jōnin meeting."
"All of you may return home and await further instructions."
He turned to the three candidates.
"The village will soon arrange a series of assessments. Be prepared."
With that, Maeda Yuanshi rose and exited the chamber, showing no interest in further discussion.
One by one, the other Jōnin followed suit, filing out of the room.
Mizuki Ryosuke remained seated, watching as they departed.
For the first time, he truly felt the weight of what was to come.
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