Chapter 49: Fire through Water? Hiruzen's Warning
Tenzo Hyūga was in a state of daze.
As the helmsman of a thousand-year-old clan, how could he possibly believe in the "Will of Fire"? The survival of a dynasty like the Hyūga wasn't built on pretty slogans. It was built on double-dealing, cold pragmatism, and a ruthless instinct for self-preservation.
But human nature is a complex thing.
Even if you don't believe in an ideal, when something beautiful and noble is displayed right in front of you—respect, emotional fulfillment, a sense of belonging—you can't help but pause. Once a person is fed and safe, they instinctively start chasing purpose.
"Lord Hokage, your words are a revelation!" Tenzo said, steadying his breathing. "The Hyūga clan and I will hold them close to our hearts from this day forward."
Hiruzen offered a faint smile.
He didn't for a second believe that two sentences of "Will of Fire" propaganda would make Tenzo Hyūga suddenly pledge eternal loyalty. That wasn't how reality worked. An "Old Fox" like Tenzo needed to be handled with care—a constant cycle of communication to build a foundation of trust.
You had to give out the carrots, but you could never put down the stick.
"Clans that survived the Warring States Period often carry scars," Hiruzen said casually. "Back then, it was winner-take-all. If you lost a battle, your entire bloodline was wiped off the map. It's hard to build trust in a world like that."
"But this is the era of the Hidden Village. Konoha belongs to all of us. Old mindsets shouldn't be carried into this new age. It only causes 'unfortunate misunderstandings' that make things difficult for the administration."
"Wouldn't you agree, Tenzo?"
"I am grateful for your understanding, Lord Hokage!" Tenzo nodded frantically. "You see, having lived through the wars, my thinking fell into a rut. I suppose the lessons my father drummed into me were a bit too deep. I will ensure the clan reflects on this."
Hiruzen had given Tenzo an "exit ramp"—a chance to save face. Tenzo took it immediately, throwing his own dead father under the bus to take the blame. The old man is dead anyway, let him carry the fault, Tenzo thought.
Hizashi rolled his white eyes. Hypocritical old fossil.
Danzo, meanwhile, was watching Hiruzen with a hawk-like intensity. Why do his threats sound so much more professional than mine?
I need to learn this. How did he put it? Danzo began repeating Hiruzen's words in his head, committing them to memory. Then, he had a breakthrough.
The palest ink is better than the best memory. I'll write his speeches down in a notebook and memorize them at night!
Danzo's lip curled into a tiny, proud smirk. Hiruzen, you fool. Go ahead and show off your charisma. I will absorb every trick you have and use them to become the greatest Fourth Hokage in history!
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo, his expression turning odd. What is he mumbling about? He looks like he's reciting a mantra. Is he becoming a monk?
"Now, about the Hidden Mist," Hiruzen said, snapping the room back to focus.
"It's clear that Kumogakure is preparing for a massive internal purge. The Third Mizukage's patience has finally run out."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe. "Let me tell you a bit about the history of the Mizukages. There are a few lessons we can use to our advantage."
Hizashi leaned in, his eyes full of curiosity. The younger generation always hungered for the "Secret History" of the Great Nations.
Danzo gave a dry chuckle; he knew some of the lore, but he didn't see how it applied to the current board. Tenzo was equally interested—even among the "Old Guard," there was a hierarchy of information, and the Hokage always held the best files.
"The Third Mizukage has very deep roots," Hiruzen began.
"He was the personal bodyguard of the First Mizukage, Byakuren. At the very first Five Kage Summit, almost every bodyguard present eventually became their village's Second Kage—except for him. He became the Third. Doesn't that strike you as interesting?"
Tenzo nodded slowly. A hand-picked successor who was skipped over, only to take power later?
Hiruzen smirked internally. Why did he know so much about "unusual" successions? Because Arata's current body had also taken power in a weird way. While there was no conspiracy, outsiders always whispered: The Bodyguards lived, but the Kage died.
In his first few years as Hokage, Hiruzen had been obsessed with studying other "Shadow Successions" just to find precedents that would give him peace of mind.
"The Mist's system of succession is unique," Hiruzen continued. "They believe the 'Strongest' must lead. They have a rule: when a Mizukage takes office, anyone has the right to challenge them to a duel. If the Kage loses, they lose the hat."
"It was designed to foster a martial spirit, and normally, no one is suicidal enough to try it. But Gengetsu Hozuki was not a normal man."
Danzo and Tenzo nodded. Everyone knew the legends of the Second Mizukage—a battle-maniac who ended up killing the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, in a double-suicide draw during the First War.
"When there is a massive gap in power, letting the 'Strongest' rule is fine," Hiruzen lectured. "But when the gap is narrow, a leader must be judged on more than just their combat stats. Organization, management, and strategic vision must be part of the criteria."
Hizashi and Tenzo nodded, though they didn't think much of it. Neither of them was in the running for Hokage.
But Danzo felt like he'd been hit by a bolt of lightning.
Is he talking about me? Danzo wondered. He's saying that since Orochimaru and I are close in combat power, the tie-breaker is who is a better manager? He immediately began thinking of how to "optimize" his administrative reports.
"Gengetsu is long dead, and the Third Mizukage has ruled for over twenty years," Hiruzen said. "The fact that he's launching the 'Bloody Mist' policy now tells me one thing: the internal opposition to his rule has become a mountain he can no longer move."
"He's using the Mizukage's seat as bait. He's daring the ambitious clans to step forward so he can kill them one by one."
Danzo hummed thoughtfully. "So the Mist is about to descend into civil war? He's facing forces strong enough to topple him."
"Not necessarily. It depends on his skill," Hiruzen smiled.
"If he's smart, he'll play them against each other. He'll convince the Kaguya clan to hunt the Hozuki clan. He'll wait for them to bleed each other dry, then pick another ambitious clan to throw into the meat grinder. It's a self-sustaining cycle of violence."
"By the time the 'Bloodline Clans' are exhausted, they won't have the strength to oppose him. And the 'Common' ninjas, who hate the elite clans anyway, will act as his enforcers. In the end, the Mist will have a much smaller population, but every single survivor will be a terrified, obedient tool."
As Hiruzen spoke, his gaze drifted until it locked onto Tenzo Hyūga's eyes.
The Hyūga Clan Head felt the hair on his arms stand up. A cold shiver raced down his spine. He got the distinct impression that the Hokage wasn't talking about the Mist anymore.
Illusion! It's just an illusion! Tenzo screamed internally. This is Konoha! We have the Will of Fire!
"Of course," Hiruzen said, breaking the gaze and waving his hand dismissively. "That's just idle speculation."
"To actually pull something like that off would require a truly heartless leader. Personally, I find such methods disgusting. They're primitive, and they fly in the face of everything the Will of Fire stands for. Wouldn't you agree, Commissioner Tenzo?"
Tenzo's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed hard and bowed his head. "Your wisdom is absolute, Lord Hokage! Truly, your compassion is the village's greatest shield!"
Danzo watched the exchange and felt a surge of envy.
The Monkey... he's terrifying, Danzo realized. He just compared Tenzo to a sacrificial pawn in a civil war, then called him 'Commissioner' and made him say thank you for it.
I really am the Second's student... but Hiruzen is the one who truly inherited his 'Merciless' brain.
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you