Mizuki Mitsuhiko's sudden action left the entire room in stunned silence.
Terumi Mei and Takeda Yoichi exchanged puzzled glances. They were outsiders to the Mizuki clan and unaware of the internal turmoil that had erupted recently. As the saying goes, "family shame cannot be made public." They had no idea that Ryosuke had personally executed the Mizuki elders just two days ago.
While both Terumi Mei and Takeda Yoichi recognized Mizuki Mitsuhiko's status within the clan, they had no clear understanding of its significance. More importantly, they couldn't comprehend why Mizuki Mitsuhiko would kneel before Ryosuke, an act that carried immense weight in the hierarchical world of shinobi.
Ryosuke's gaze sharpened as he studied Mitsuhiko, his mind processing the implications.
Initially, when Mizuki Taki was alive, Ryosuke had recruited Mitsuhiko into his squad as a gesture of goodwill toward the Mizuki clan and Mizuki Taki. However, the situation had since taken a drastic turn—Mizuki Taki had fallen in battle, and Ryosuke's relationship with Mizuki Eiro had soured into open hostility.
Now, as the younger brother of Mizuki Eiro, Mitsuhiko's request raised several concerns. Was he here as a spy, sent by Mizuki Eiro to infiltrate Ryosuke's circle? Given the well-known animosity between them, that seemed unlikely. Mizuki Eiro wouldn't resort to such a foolishly transparent ploy.
A teacher-student relationship was a bond stronger than mere squad membership. It signified not just mentorship but also a formal connection of allegiance. Accepting Mitsuhiko as a disciple would make him an extension of Ryosuke's influence, his representative within the clan. This was not a decision to be taken lightly.
Instead of outright rejecting the request, Ryosuke asked calmly, "Why?"
Mitsuhiko took a deep breath. He knew this was the only chance Ryosuke would give him.
Ignoring the presence of Terumi Mei and Takeda Yoichi, he began to explain.
Mizuki Mitsuhiko had been born into privilege, the son of the powerful elder who once controlled a major faction within Kirigakure. From the moment of his birth, he had received treatment far superior to that of ordinary children. But wealth and status did not guarantee an easy life.
His greatest challenge had always been his own brother—Mizuki Eiro.
Mizuki Eiro was a prodigy, a shinobi hailed as "the Mizuki clan's greatest genius." His talent was undeniable, and because of this, the elder had placed extreme expectations on Mitsuhiko, demanding that he follow the same path and match his brother's accomplishments.
But no matter how hard Mitsuhiko tried, he could never measure up.
Mizuki Eiro's natural brilliance set an impossible standard. Mitsuhiko, who lacked his brother's exceptional skills, gradually became an afterthought in the eyes of the elder. Over time, the attention and resources that once belonged to him were redirected entirely to Eiro.
His own family had abandoned him. Mizuki Eiro treated him with thinly veiled disdain, considering him nothing more than a failure.
Yet Mitsuhiko refused to accept this fate. He was not willing to live in his brother's shadow forever.
And then Mizuki Ryosuke appeared.
Mitsuhiko had witnessed Ryosuke's terrifying mastery of Ice Release during the battle against Iwagakure. The devastating blizzards, the merciless ice spears, the overwhelming power—Ryosuke had single-handedly crushed Rock Shinobi forces with ease.
After returning to Kirigakure, Mitsuhiko had secretly investigated Ryosuke's feats. He learned of how Ryosuke had suppressed Yagura, faced Saiken, and reshaped the power dynamics of the village.
The more he learned, the more he realized—this was the man who could teach him true strength.
His decision had nothing to do with the elders. Nothing to do with Mizuki Eiro. Nothing to do with the clan's internal strife.
Mizuki Mitsuhiko wanted to prove that he was not inferior to anyone.
He no longer needed the backing of the Mizuki name. He would step out of his brother's shadow and stand on his own. He would surpass Mizuki Eiro—not as the elder's son, but as a shinobi in his own right.
As the truth unfolded, the room fell silent.
Terumi Mei and Takeda Yoichi had never imagined that Mizuki Mitsuhiko, the seemingly privileged genius of their squad, had such a painful past.
Ryosuke, on the other hand, remained unreadable. He quietly analyzed Mitsuhiko's words, his sharp eyes detecting no trace of deception.
No hesitation in his voice. No inconsistencies in his demeanor. No hidden motives.
With Mizuki Mitsuhiko's age and experience, if this was all an act, it would have been nearly impossible to fool Ryosuke.
With that certainty, Ryosuke considered his next move.
At its core, Mitsuhiko's request was driven by ambition—a desire for power and validation.
In a way, it was eerily similar to a certain Uchiha who once sought strength from Orochimaru.
Ryosuke remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke.
"Alright. I accept."
"You wish to learn? Fine. I will teach you the foundations of Ninjutsu and Ice Release."
"From this moment forward, you and I share a bond—not merely as teacher and student, but as disciples of the same path."
His voice was firm, carrying undeniable authority.
Mizuki Mitsuhiko's eyes widened in surprise before he quickly lowered his head and bowed deeply.
"Yes, Master!"
Ryosuke smiled faintly and accepted the title.
This decision was far more than a simple act of mentorship.
Ryosuke was playing a long game. If he was to seize the title of Mizukage, he needed to think beyond the present.
His feud with the Mizuki clan was not set in stone—it was a temporary rift caused by differing ambitions. The moment he became Mizukage, the clan would inevitably return to his side.
Mizuki Mitsuhiko, whether he acknowledged it or not, remained the son of the former elder and the brother of Mizuki Eiro.
Once Ryosuke solidified his power, Mitsuhiko's presence would be seen as a gesture of goodwill toward the Mizuki clan. He would serve as a crucial link, bridging the gap between Ryosuke and his former clan rivals.
This was the political value of Mitsuhiko's apprenticeship.
Beyond politics, Mitsuhiko also possessed natural talent. His Ice Release affinity aligned perfectly with Ryosuke's own, making him an ideal disciple.
Of course, Terumi Mei and Mitsuhiko, still young and naive, did not grasp the full depth of this arrangement.
However, Takeda Yoichi did.
As a shinobi of average talent, he could only watch Mitsuhiko with envy.
A part of him wished he could also become Ryosuke's student, but he knew such a thing would never happen.
For one, his abilities were unremarkable—Ryosuke would gain nothing from mentoring him.
Secondly, he was already older than Ryosuke, and in the strict hierarchy of the ninja world, a senior could not simply bow down and become the disciple of a younger shinobi.
At the end of the day, the ninja world was no different from the real world—it was still governed by the unspoken rules of power and influence.
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