Using a folder to shield herself from prying eyes, the young woman from the Cultural Department found herself drawn in by Yagura's smile. Taking a deep breath, she began presenting their concerns and strategies for the Sea Lantern Festival.
"F-First of all, the biggest challenge in promoting this festival is... As Elder-sama just mentioned, b-because this is the first official cultural festival in Kirigakure's history, the villagers lack a sense of identity with it. People will need time to accept and embrace it."
Adjusting her glasses, she gradually gained confidence as she continued:
"To make the villagers enjoy and recognize this festival as an annual tradition of Kirigakure, the most important goal is to foster a sense of participation and belonging."
Under the attentive gazes of those around her, the emotions in her eyes behind the lenses became more composed and focused.
"That concludes our analysis of the challenges and core objectives. Now, here are the execution plans we've devised."
...
After an entire day of intense meetings and discussions, the preliminary plans for the Sea Lantern Festival were finalized.
It was time for dinner.
Yagura grabbed a tray and lined up in the cafeteria. When it was his turn, he placed his tray on the counter. Once it was filled with food, he accepted it with a polite "Thank you" and turned to the cafeteria supervisor, an older woman.
"Auntie, could you ask everyone to wait for a little while after work? I'd like to hold a short meeting."
The cafeteria supervisor was caught off guard. She never expected that Yagura would personally need their help. Overwhelmed with excitement, she quickly nodded.
"Oh, oh! Of course! Got it!"
Say what you will about others in Kirigakure—
To the cafeteria staff, this boy, who was both adorable and had provided them with stable jobs, was the greatest Mizukage in history!
...
After dinner, once everyone had finished eating, the cafeteria staff swiftly cleaned up after receiving the supervisor's notice.
To prevent them from getting too worked up, Yagura waited outside.
Still, even from out here, he could hear the bustling energy inside.
The Cultural Department's young woman, the minister, was present as well—standing at a distance, likely afraid that getting any closer might cause her heart to explode.
Mangetsu, scrutinizing his childhood friend's annoyingly smug face, had to admit, albeit begrudgingly,
"You really are a lady-killer... Are you planning to charm women from eight to eighty?"
Beyond the girl's line of sight, Yagura lifted his palm, where arcs of electricity crackled ominously.
"Has it been too long since we last sparred? Feeling itchy?"
"You wouldn't dare!" Mangetsu immediately leaped back, warning, "I'll expose all your embarrassing moments!"
Unfortunately, his jump landed him right beside Mei Terumi.
Bad move.
This future Fifth Mizukage, whom Yagura had been meticulously training in governance, was his most loyal supporter.
With a sweet smile, Mei leaned in close to Mangetsu's ear. "Mangetsu, you know... I'm quite proficient in Lightning Release myself."
Mangetsu wanted to cry but had no tears. He turned desperately to Zabuza for help, only to find the latter standing with hands in his pockets, gazing up at the sky.
Too stupid. He refused to acknowledge knowing this fool.
"If you can master the Hydrification Technique, you won't have to fear Lightning Release anymore," Yagura advised sincerely. "You should aim to be like the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu."
"Easier said than done. It's not that simple," Mangetsu grumbled, frustrated by his own shortcomings.
"Even my father, let alone Chiren-san, never fully..." His voice trailed off.
Yagura caught the shift in his friend's emotions. "Chiren? You mean Hozuki Chiren?"
"Yeah."
Mangetsu met Yagura's puzzled violet gaze. "Ah, I never told you? While you were away from the village, Chiren-sensei returned to the Hozuki clan and later became my mentor."
"What?!" Yagura was genuinely taken aback.
But now, Hozuki Chiren, along with the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen, had perished at the hands of Might Duy.
...
After a long silence, Yagura averted his gaze. "I'm sorry."
"No need," Mangetsu replied. Having been exposed to various undercurrents, he had already pieced together some of the hidden truths.
So much time had passed. He had already let go of many things.
"No rush to master Hydrification, Mangetsu," Zabuza chimed in, clearly fed up with his sulking. "We still want to bully you a little longer before you become a non-conductive gelatin."
Mangetsu, misinterpreting the sentiment as genuine concern, scoffed, "Screw you."
The group of old friends playfully bickered, passing the time.
...
With the cafeteria thoroughly cleaned, the supervisor informed Yagura that they were ready.
At that moment, Ao arrived with four lantern artisans, followed by several teenage apprentices.
In his usual serious manner, Ao took out a scroll. "The materials are inside. Please verify."
Yagura pushed the scroll back. "No need. I trust you."
"Understood! I deeply appreciate your trust!"
Ao then introduced the young apprentices.
"These young craftsmen are the next generation. I've already confirmed that they're fully capable. The prototypes are—"
"Alright, I believe you," Yagura interrupted, feeling mentally exhausted just talking to Ao.
For something as simple as making lanterns, having master craftsmen seemed excessive. The younger apprentices would suffice.
"Alright, everything is in place."
Yagura waved at the young woman from the Cultural Department.
"Sato! You take charge from here, alright?"
He had explained beforehand that the actual work would be handled by her and her department's staff. His role here was more symbolic—as a mascot, really.
Sato took a deep breath and summoned her courage. "Yes! No problem!"
...
The cafeteria staff were gathered in a relatively open area.
Sato, facing them, took a deep breath. Since they saw each other daily, the familiarity helped her stay calm.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Sato from the Cultural Department. I'm really sorry for keeping you after hours."
She quickly got to the point. "We need your help with something."
The cafeteria workers exchanged puzzled glances.
"Us? What could we possibly help with?"
"Yeah, we're just ordinary folk."
"Why would you come to us? Hahaha!"
Sato smiled earnestly. "We'd like you to help with some handiwork."
"Handiwork?"
Just then, Ao unsealed the scroll and pulled out a fully assembled sky lantern.
After inflating the lantern, Mangetsu expertly lit a small flame inside.
The warm glow instantly captured everyone's attention.
"Are you asking us to make these lanterns?" the supervisor asked.
"Yes," Sato confirmed with a bright smile. "With the New Year approaching, Mizukage-sama wants to host a festival in Kirigakure's main district. These lanterns will be the stars of the event. On that night, the entire village will release them together!"
The cafeteria workers gasped in astonishment.
"The whole village?! That's a lot of lanterns!"
"Wow, how romantic!"
Sato reassured them, "Don't worry! We'll provide all materials, and you'll be paid 20 ryō per lantern!"
The cafeteria workers were stunned. "We're getting paid, too?!"
"Of course! Mizukage-sama would never exploit you!"
With Yagura's presence as a massive endorsement, the Cultural Department's pitch was a success.
And so, the first step of the plan proceeded smoothly.
...
"What good news? What good news?" Akari perked up with interest.
"The Mizukage is currently..."
Yuzuki quickly relayed what she had just seen and heard.
"Really? No way!" Akari exclaimed in shock. Realizing her voice was too loud, she quickly glanced around to check if the neighbors had overheard.
She pulled Yuzuki into her home, shut the door, and lowered her voice.
"You're telling me—twenty ryō per lantern? And they'll even teach us how to make them if we don't know how?!"
In all her decades living in Kirigakure, Akari had never heard of such a generous offer. The only comparable extravagance was the recent hiring spree for cleaning staff at the Mizukage Building.
Yuzuki had even managed to get a trial shift! By the time Akari decided she wanted to try as well, it was already too late.
"It's true! Absolutely true!" Yuzuki affirmed seriously. "They still need a lot of people, so I came to ask if you're available."
The lanterns were meant to light up the entire main district of the village. Just thinking about the sheer scale of the task, Yuzuki knew that relying on the hundred or so people in their canteen wouldn't be enough. More hands were needed.
"Of course I'm available!" Akari said without hesitation. "Should we ask Fukumoto across the street too?"
"That might not be a good idea," Yuzuki hesitated. "If too many people find out..."
She wasn't just considering their neighbor—she also had an older sister and a younger sister who could use the work.
"Her family is struggling right now. Her son was recently sick, and they're short on money," Akari said, playing the sympathy card. "She hasn't even been able to chat with us lately. Let's just tell her, no one else."
Yuzuki softened. "Alright, but just her."
...
This wasn't an isolated case.
While neither Yagura nor Satō had openly stated they were still hiring, they also hadn't said they were done. With only a handful of young workers, a few older ones, and ten skilled artisans, it was impossible for just the canteen's hundred-plus people to complete so many lanterns for the entire village.
Anyone with a bit of common sense could see that.
Soon, word spread. The hundred-plus women working in the canteen rushed home, telling their siblings, friends, and neighbors.
There was no need for an official announcement from the Mizukage's office—when there was visible benefit, people naturally flocked to it.
That night, as reports from the Anbu came in, Yagura and Satō exchanged a knowing glance in the Mizukage's office, both smiling.
Step one: Success.
The first concrete action of their plan—getting Kirigakure's people involved in the Sea Lantern Festival preparations—was now in motion.
What could create a stronger sense of participation than seeing the lanterns they made rise into the sky, illuminating the night?
Having previously handled the Mizukage's public relations, Satō had conducted grassroots research. She knew exactly which groups in Kirigakure supported Yagura, which were indifferent to his leadership, and which viewed him as weak for his pursuit of peace.
Right now, their closest allies were the canteen workers.
These women had received an opportunity directly from the Mizukage, making them some of his strongest supporters in the village.
Starting with an "easy mode" approach had proved effective.
"The students, the artisans, and the teaching materials are all in place," Satō reported.
"We still need a training venue," Yagura noted. "How about the ninja academy?"
"The academy?" Satō immediately thought of the students there. Their support for Yagura had grown ever since he abolished the Bloody Mist graduation exams.
"Yes! That's perfect!" she said, her eyes lighting up. "I also think we can mobilize the students! If this is something you request personally, they won't refuse!"
"Is that so?" Yagura chuckled, recalling the positive reception he had received when he last visited the academy.
"Alright then, it's decided. Tomorrow, I'll handle communication with the academy, while you oversee logistics—promotion, class organization, and registration."
Satō felt like she had been struck by an arrow to the heart. "Yes! No problem!"
"That's all for today. It's late—go get some rest. It'll be a busy time ahead."
"You too!"
Yagura stood up, dusting himself off. "Alright, let's call it a night. Mangetsu, Zabuza, let's go."
Zabuza, who had been roped into overtime, demanded compensation. "I'm starving. You're treating us to dinner."
"Fine, fine, it's on me."
As they stepped outside, Yagura pondered his options. "Ramen? No, we've had that too much lately. Barbecue or hot pot? Mangetsu, what do you feel like?"
"Big spender, aren't you?" Mangetsu teased.
Lately, the village had seen an influx of new restaurants, but even the heir of the Hōzuki clan found some of them expensive.
Since Yagura was treating—and Zabuza was eager for a good meal—Mangetsu decided to stay out instead of heading home. After a moment of thought, he said,
"Barbecue. Hot pot's too heavy for a late-night snack."
Yagura pulled out his wallet and counted his money. "Alright! Zabuza, you pick the place."
Zabuza slung an arm over Mangetsu's shoulders, grinning. "Deal."
...
A few days later, the final moments of December 31st ticked away.
As the clock struck midnight, the world entered the 44th year of the Hidden Leaf calendar.
But across the continent, the ongoing war did not pause for celebration.
With the conflict now locked in a brutal stalemate, the casualties and troop commitments from all villages continued to rise daily. Yet, there was no sign of a decisive shift that might end the war.
The battlefield had become a relentless meat grinder.
Konoha, on the defensive, gritted its teeth and held the line, occasionally launching counterattacks.
The three attacking villages—or rather, two now, as Sunagakure had withdrawn into its own territory—grew increasingly furious as their losses mounted.
What was supposed to be an easy, overwhelming victory over Konoha had turned into a prolonged struggle!
Kumogakure, frustrated by the lack of progress, intensified its attacks on the supply routes between Konoha and Kirigakure. Their assaults on military shipments became more frequent and bolder.
Most of their raids were intercepted by Kirigakure's forces, but casualties on both sides were starting to rise.
Yagura didn't even get to properly celebrate the new year.
Kumogakure's desperation hinted at a larger issue.
In the original timeline, Konoha had fought against four villages and only barely managed a pyrrhic victory, forcing Hiruzen Sarutobi to step down afterward.
Now, with Kirigakure providing support, it was more like Konoha and a half versus three enemies.
After just four months, Sunagakure had already been pushed into a corner.
The butterfly effect was already steering this war far from Yagura's original predictions.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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