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"A true leader must possess foresight, but adapting to the situation at hand is equally crucial. Besides," the Elder continued in a measured tone, "if we succeed in capturing Kirigakure, you will become the Fifth Mizukage. There will be no need to grovel before Konoha or Iwagakure."
"I understand, Elder-sama. Your advice is wise," Mei Terumi replied after taking a deep breath. She bowed respectfully to the Elder, her earlier hesitation vanishing completely. Turning toward Miao and Deidara, she offered a sultry smile. "Very well, young man. I accept your terms."
"A wise decision," Miao responded with a faint smirk. "Only by securing Kirigakure can you secure your future." He showed no surprise at Mei's choice; had she been as intelligent as he presumed, even without the Elder's counsel, she would have eventually agreed.
What truly impressed him was the sharpness of the Elder's mind. In mere moments, the old man had cut straight to the heart of the matter. This Elder, once the most revered figure in Kirigakure, had suffered persecution under the Fourth Mizukage and his cronies, forcing him into exile. Since then, he had joined Mei's rebellion, lending it his immense prestige and influence—an invaluable asset that fueled the rapid growth of their resistance.
Miao had heard tales of this Elder during his time in Water Country. The oldest living person in Kirigakure, he commanded unparalleled respect not only within the village but across all of Water Country. A legendary shinobi from the early days of Kirigakure's founding, his life seemed almost unnatural in its longevity.
"Such monstrous vitality… Truly, the older one gets, the more enigmatic they become," Miao mused inwardly.
What Miao didn't realize, however, was that the Elder's swift approval of their alliance wasn't solely based on Miao and Deidara's strength.
Having lived through the dawn of Kirigakure, the Elder had witnessed firsthand the terrifying power of the Sharingan. Of all those who wielded it, none left as profound an impression on him as Uchiha Madara—the man who had mastered the Sharingan to perfection. Known alongside Hashirama Senju as one of the strongest shinobi in history, even the mighty Nine-Tails had fallen victim to Madara's ocular prowess, bowing to his will.
Thus, when faced with the prospect of overthrowing the Fourth Mizukage—a man capable of perfectly controlling the Three-Tails—the presence of someone like Miao, wielding the Sharingan, represented a significant advantage. With his abilities, their chances of victory increased dramatically while minimizing casualties. For the sake of Water Country, this was a boon worth embracing wholeheartedly. It wasn't merely Miao and Deidara's combat skills that swayed the Elder—it was the strategic edge they brought.
After hearing the Elder's reasoning, the other high-ranking members of the alliance nodded in agreement. Though Miao and Deidara were outsiders, their priority lay in capturing Kirigakure and toppling the Fourth Mizukage. Moreover, Miao's Sharingan could prove instrumental in dealing with the formidable Mizukage.
"Alright!" Mei chimed in, winking playfully at Miao. "It's settled. We plan to launch our assault on Kirigakure in exactly one month. Specific plans are still being finalized, so for now, you'll have to wait patiently, little brother. But don't think about backing out when the time comes—or else big sister might give you a... melting kiss."
"Hmph. I look forward to it," Miao replied coolly, his lips curling into a faint grin. Beside him, Deidara scoffed arrogantly. "In the face of my art, everything else is meaningless."
Meanwhile, deep within the hidden underground chambers of Kirigakure, a dim light flickered above a wooden table. Seated casually with legs crossed was a shadowy figure clad in a black robe, their face obscured by a hood. Opposite them stood another figure draped in the iconic black cloak adorned with red clouds. Green appendages framed their head, and their face was split starkly between black and white—none other than Zetsu, the intelligence operative of Akatsuki.
"Oh? Another member of the Uchiha clan? And one wielding the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, no less?" The cloaked figure's voice echoed low and gravelly in the chamber. "That shouldn't be possible. Itachi should have exterminated every last Uchiha outside of his brother..."
As the figure spoke, they slowly raised their head, revealing a single eye-hole in their intricately patterned mask. Within it glowed a crimson three-tomoe Sharingan, casting an eerie and mysterious aura in the dim room.
"That's what Itachi, Kisame, and the others reported firsthand," White Zetsu remarked with mock regret. "Shame I didn't tag along—it sounds like quite the spectacle. Apparently, Hoshigaki went down in an instant to some genjutsu trickery."
The cloaked figure's visible eye widened slightly. They were well aware of Kisame's true strength—a genuine Kage-level shinobi whose abilities far exceeded appearances. To hear that he had been defeated so effortlessly was startling indeed.
"Itachi did annihilate the Uchiha clan beyond any doubt. No mistakes there," Black Zetsu interjected in his raspy, sinister tone. "This individual doesn't appear to belong to the Uchiha branch in Konoha. According to Itachi, they're likely remnants of the Uchiha bloodline scattered elsewhere."
"Remnants of the Uchiha lineage who've awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan... Impressive talent. Could we recruit them into the organization?" the masked man pondered aloud.
"Doubtful," Black Zetsu replied flatly. "From what we've gathered, they've allied themselves with that brat Deidara. They harbor animosity toward Itachi and seem intent on exacting revenge against Konoha."