Becomes a Rebel Ninja After Annihilating the Hyuga Clan
Chapter 122

“The photo… was it really sent by Advisor-sama?”

Fuguki Suikazan instinctively felt something was off. Why was the servant asking such a question? Could there be more to that photograph than he knew?

As he noticed the servant didn’t have the photo in hand, Fuguki’s eyes wandered beyond the gate, trying to glimpse the shadow of Ryuzen Hozuki, the head of the Hozuki Clan, inside the courtyard. His expression shifted slightly, and while speaking, he attempted to push past the servant. “Yes, Advisor-sama also asked me to point out the specific story behind the photo to Lord Ryuzen.”

Ryuzen, the current head of the Hozuki Clan, was a key figure in Mist Village.

Fuguki moved quickly, but the servant was quicker. The servant stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Despite being dwarfed by Fuguki’s massive frame, the servant maintained a polite smile without losing his composure. “There’s no need to trouble you, sir. The clan leader has already discovered the ‘story’ behind the photograph himself. Please return now.”

Fuguki’s face remained stoic, but inside, he was certain that there was indeed something suspicious about the photograph. He didn’t understand why the Mist Village’s inspection team hadn’t discovered anything unusual, but he wasn’t ready to admit defeat so easily.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Lord Ryuzen. He’s been keeping to himself lately and hasn’t been attending Advisor-sama’s meetings. Advisor-sama specifically asked me to check on his health. How’s he been recovering?”

“Thanks to your concern, Lord Ryuzen is doing well. His injuries are healing, and as long as he avoids crowded areas and takes precautions against infection, his recovery should be swift,” the servant replied smoothly.

A flicker of anger passed across Fuguki’s face.

He glared at the servant, who maintained his calm and slightly exaggeratedly innocent expression. Fuguki’s rage simmered but couldn’t fully erupt. Clearly, this insolence was allowed by none other than Ryuzen himself. Though Ryuzen was frail, his pride was infuriatingly high. Since the Kisame Hoshigaki incident, in which Fuguki lost Samehada and barely escaped with his life, his standing in the Mist Village had plummeted. He knew full well that his reputation had taken a hit, and people viewed him with contempt everywhere he went.

Still, no matter how much it irked him, Fuguki knew he couldn’t afford to make a scene in the Hozuki Clan’s domain.

“Very well then, I won’t impose further.”

Fuguki realized there was nothing more he could do here. While he was almost certain there was something hidden within the photograph, it was clear that all those who had handled the photo—from the Mist Village Advisor, to the photo’s first recipient, to Fuguki himself—had been used as pawns by Terumi Mei to send a specific message.

There was no way to undo the situation now. Continuing to press would only lead to further humiliation. Clenching his fists, Fuguki cast one last glance at the Hozuki Clan’s courtyard walls before stepping back. He gave a pointed warning, “Mist Village is unstable right now. There are many traitors and insurgents trying to disrupt our stability. You’d best be careful not to become tools in their schemes.”

Though many factions within the Mist were plotting in secret, the village had managed to maintain order. This was one of the reasons why the Advisor had kept things under control after the disappearance of Yagura.

“Thank you for your concern, but the Hozuki Clan knows what’s best for its interests,” the servant replied, unfazed. “As for your warning about being used, I must say… you seem quite qualified to speak on that subject.”

Fuguki’s expression darkened even more. If the photo indeed contained something hidden, it was likely he had already been used as a tool without realizing it.

With bitter understanding, he turned away and left.

The servant who had pushed Fuguki’s buttons stayed at the entrance, watching him walk away. After about five minutes, when Fuguki’s figure had disappeared entirely from view, the servant finally returned inside the estate.

“Lord Ryuzen,” he said respectfully, approaching a man dressed in white, feeding fish by the pond.

“You asked him?”

“Yes. Judging by Suikazan Fuguki’s expression, the photo was indeed sent from the Advisor. The Advisor likely intended to use it to send us a warning. Like everyone else who handled the photo, neither the Advisor nor Fuguki noticed the hidden message,” the servant explained quietly.

“This village… it’s become hopeless…” Ryuzen Hozuki muttered.

He glanced down at the photograph in his hand, which depicted their Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, bound in chains. But as the servant had mentioned, right in the center of the image was a line of clear, unmistakable text:

“The tide of change is unstoppable. Those who resist will either perish or submit.”

“We will overturn the old order and lead the people of this land into a new era.”

“We are not here to rebuild the Mist Village.”

“We are here to rebuild the Land of Water.”

“This is both an honor and a destiny.”

“May the tree of peace grow strong in this land, and may the sun’s light dispel all shadows.”

At the very end of the message, two words appeared, as if scribbled in a casual postscript:

Yang Guang.

Yang Guang? Was that the name of this mysterious organization?

Ryuzen wasn’t sure, but he felt a deep sense of unease, nearly trembling at the sheer audacity and ambition in those words. Clearly, neither the Advisor, Fuguki, nor the inspection team had noticed these stirring, prophetic words. If they had, this photo never would have reached Ryuzen’s hands—someone already discontented with the village and the Daimyo of the Land of Water.

The Advisor’s plan had been to garner Ryuzen’s sympathy for Yagura, since Yagura, like Ryuzen, came from a noble family within Mist Village. The logic was that even though Yagura’s rule had been bloody, there was an expectation of solidarity between the noble clans. However, with the revelation of Terumi Mei’s alliance with Hashirama Senju to overthrow the village, it became clear that the power shift would impact all major clans, including the Hozuki.

Without this message, Ryuzen might have felt some outrage at Terumi Mei’s actions. But now, things were different.

Terumi Mei wasn’t just aiming to replace Yagura. She wanted to completely dismantle the old order.

And in that context, Yagura’s fate was insignificant. What mattered now was that the entire village—and the Land of Water—was at risk of being reshaped by Terumi Mei and this “Yang Guang” organization.

“What should we do now?” the servant asked in a soft voice.

Much like how the Hyuga Clan’s servants were members of the branch family, the Hozuki Clan’s “servants” were actually loyal clan members tied by blood and bound by the interests of the clan.

“Wait and watch,” Ryuzen whispered, voicing what the photograph had essentially told him to do.

It wasn’t asking Ryuzen to rebel or to aid Terumi Mei directly. It simply warned him not to stand in the way of this inevitable change.

In summary, it was clear:

Wait.

Watch.

Wait for Terumi Mei and her backers to make their move. Watch as the tides of revolution swept through the village.

Those who tried to resist would be crushed, like ants under the wheels of a massive, unstoppable train. The train wouldn’t care about the pride or resistance of those in its path.

This message, delivered in such a cunning manner, left Ryuzen no choice but to feel the weight of its terrifying implications. Though the Hozuki Clan had no intention of rebelling, if the tides truly turned, Ryuzen knew he would guide his clan to adapt, rather than be swept away.

“The real question is, how will they strike?” Ryuzen mused aloud. He had initially assumed that Hashirama Senju might return to forcefully crush the Mist Village into submission. But after seeing the written message, he wasn’t so sure.

Violence alone wouldn’t create lasting obedience. While the Mist Village’s shinobi might not be able to defeat Hashirama in direct combat, they’d never stop rebelling if they lost their home. They would use their knowledge of the terrain to constantly harass him.

If Yang Guang truly aimed to tear down the old order, brute force alone wouldn’t achieve it. The collapse would likely have to come from within.

Only an internal failure could shatter the spirit of the Mist Village’s resistance.

“Who could be the weak point?” Ryuzen wondered. Moments later, a servant approached, informing him that a letter had arrived from the Advisor, inviting him to attend the Fifth Mizukage’s inauguration ceremony in two days.

At first, Ryuzen intended to decline the invitation, as he had done many times before. But he suddenly stopped, spilling the rice he was feeding to the fish.

He murmured to himself: “The weak point…”

The fish in the pond continued swimming in circles, oblivious to their master’s shift in demeanor.

Bubbles rose and popped on the surface of a lake as sunlight filtered through the trees.

The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, who was about to become the

Fifth Mizukage—the second youngest Mizukage after Yagura—sat quietly by the lake, blowing bubbles under the shade of the trees.

Several members of the Mist Village’s ANBU, sent by the Advisor, kept watch nearby, ready to guard against any threats.

Just as Ryuzen suspected that Utakata might be the weak point for those seeking to overthrow the village, the Advisor had taken precautions, assigning ANBU to protect Utakata. Of course, against someone like Hashirama Senju, this defense was laughably inadequate.

But if Hashirama resorted to brute force, then this so-called “revolution” would be nothing more than a farce.

The shinobi world had always been one where violence was met with greater violence, where power was usurped by those with even greater power. If Hashirama’s plan was merely to use force to subjugate, it would offer no real “new order”—just another cycle of domination.

How many would truly follow him if that were the case?

Having seen the changes brought about in the Land of Waves, the Advisor was convinced that Hashirama’s revolution would be more sophisticated than that. Still, basic precautions were necessary.

The sound of footsteps crunching over leaves caused the ANBU to tense momentarily, but when they saw who approached, they relaxed.

It was Harusame, Utakata’s mentor and a highly respected Mist Village Jonin.

“Master,” Utakata said, rising to his feet.

Harusame adjusted his glasses and gave the ANBU a polite nod before turning to Utakata. A hint of pity flickered in his eyes.

“Feeling down?” Harusame asked, patting Utakata’s shoulder before sitting beside him. He smiled gently. “You seem troubled.”

“It’s not that…” Utakata hesitated, glancing at the ANBU nearby. Knowing they would report their conversation to the Advisor, he carefully continued, “I just feel lost. I used to think becoming Mizukage was just a role to play. But the closer it gets, the more anxious I feel.”

“Master… the position of Mizukage is something so many people dream of, but I still haven’t even fully mastered my Tailed Beast. How can I ever compare to Lord Yagura? How can I bear the responsibility of being Mizukage?”

Harusame was momentarily taken aback, glancing at the ANBU who were listening closely. He knew everything they said would be relayed back to the Advisor. Straightening, he spoke sternly, “Don’t underestimate yourself, Utakata!”

“The Mist Village is in a time of crisis. If the Advisor chose you, it’s because he trusts in your abilities. He believes you can be just as great as those before you.”

“What you need to do now is focus on controlling your Tailed Beast and become a perfect Jinchuriki within the year. Only then will you truly deserve the title of Mizukage!”

Though this didn’t quite sound like Harusame’s usual demeanor, Utakata was deeply moved.

The Advisor believed in him.

His mentor believed in him.

Both of their expectations weighed heavily on his shoulders, but it was also an acknowledgment of his potential. He didn’t want to disappoint anyone.

A warm smile crossed Utakata’s face. “Thank you, Master.”

“I am your teacher, after all. I wouldn’t lead you astray,” Harusame smiled back, standing up and saying casually, “By the way, I’ve been working on an experiment that can help you control your Tailed Beast while you sleep. Want to give it a try?”

Utakata chuckled softly. “Of course!”