Chapter 174: Aftermath and Choosing a Puppet
After the Naraka Path finished repairing the other Paths of Pain, Deva Path Pain looked with complicated emotions at Uchiha Douhuan and Kakashi, who had arrived after the battle subsided, then used a summoning technique to leave the scene.
"You just let them go like that?" Kakashi asked, somewhat puzzled.
"The battlefield over in Takigakure still needs them. Without their help against Iwagakure's elites, Takigakure's front would likely collapse within a few days," Uchiha Douhuan explained.
"Alright, as long as you have a plan," Kakashi nodded, then finally asked, "By the way, why did you appear here today?"
"I've been here all along," Uchiha Douhuan said. "During this period, a shadow clone of mine has been mixed in with Kirigakure's rebel army. After obtaining intelligence that they were about to launch an uprising, my real body came over."
"Alright," Kakashi nodded.
As the morning sun slowly rose, Kakashi glanced at Kirigakure Village, which was a complete mess after successive major battles, and asked with some headache, "What now?"
"Reporting to Lord Fifth, Kirigakure's rebel army has already retreated towards the north. Around Kirigakure, we have found a large group of villagers who were evacuated and settled in the village outskirts by the rebels during the coup," an Anbu member came beside the two at this moment and reported. "However, about half of those civilians left with the rebels when they withdrew."
"I understand. Gather them up and help them clear out an area to settle them first," Uchiha Douhuan instructed. "As for Kirigakure's reconstruction, after their Mizukage wakes up, we will send people over to help them."
"Yes!" This Anbu member accepted the order and departed.
Following that was the time for post-battle tallying of gains and treating the wounded. This time, their Konoha forces that came across the sea suffered no fatalities in battle, as both Kirigakure and the rebel army were already exhausted when Konoha joined the fight, allowing the fresh Konoha ninjas to fight with ease. Even injuries were few.
Among the remaining Kirigakure ninjas, the losses of Chuunin and Genin weren't too severe; after all, they hadn't resisted with full force when facing the rebel army earlier. However, casualties among Tokubetsu Jounin and above were particularly heavy. After Konoha ninjas tallied the numbers, intelligence submitted to Uchiha Douhuan showed that Kirigakure now only had 3 Elite Jounin, 19 Jounin, and 27 Tokubetsu Jounin left. In other words, these 49 individuals were all the high-end combat power Kirigakure had remaining.
"Reporting, Lord Hokage," just then, an Anbu member rushed to Uchiha Douhuan's resting tent. "A surviving Jounin from Kirigakure, due to using rather strong language to insult you, has already been executed on the spot by the Chuunin Squad Leader of our Third Chuunin Squad, Jounin Dongye Ryosuke."
Alright, now there are only 48 left.
Uchiha Douhuan put away the battle report and asked seriously, "What happened?"
"While we were assisting Kirigakure in gathering their remaining soldiers and receiving the previously evacuated villagers, this Jounin had a terrible attitude, expressed much dissatisfaction with Konoha's aid, and also used rather strong language to insult you and Lord Kakashi. Jounin Dongye, in a fit of anger, directly executed him."
"How could he do such a thing?" Uchiha Douhuan said with a frown. "Dongye Ryosuke, I know him. One of the Jounin promoted from the Security Department this year. I personally signed his promotion documents. How could he do such a thing? Kirigakure is our ally now! How is he?"
"Jounin Dongye has already been taken into custody and confined by us. As for how to deal with him, Lord Hokage, you will have to decide," the reporting Anbu member said.
"This matter must be handled seriously!" Uchiha Douhuan stated. "Actually attacking an ally! It seems the Will of Fire isn't remembered too firmly."
"Have him escorted back now. Demote him to Chuunin. When he can recite the Will of Fire from memory, I will then restore his Jounin position."
"Ah?" The Jounin who came to report hadn't expected the final disposition to be like this and was momentarily stunned. But he quickly reacted and immediately nodded, "Yes, I will arrange it right away."
After this Jounin left, Guy then found Uchiha Douhuan.
"Guy, how did this mission feel?" Uchiha Douhuan, after seeing Might Guy, greeted him with a smile and asked first.
"It was truly fantastic!" Might Guy grinned, baring his teeth and giving a thumbs up. "It's been a long time since I've had such an exhilarating battle! That Gan..."
Might Guy trailed off mid-sentence and started scratching his head. It was clear he was trying very hard to recall Kisame's name.
"Hoshigaki Kisame," Uchiha Douhuan prompted.
"Right! Hoshigaki Kisame! He's truly a worthy opponent!" Might Guy exclaimed with emotion.
"Hehe, as long as you're happy," Uchiha Douhuan chuckled.
Towards Might Guy, Uchiha Douhuan had shown considerable respect. After he took office as the Fifth Hokage, Might Guy's name was among the first batch of people he promoted. Originally, due to his ninja skills not being quite up to par and having barely managed to get promoted to Jounin through an accumulation of many missions, he was directly promoted to Elite Jounin by Uchiha Douhuan.
Many thought his promotion was due to Kakashi, but even if Kakashi hadn't said anything, Uchiha Douhuan would still have done so. After all, Uchiha Douhuan was possibly the only one in the entire Konoha who knew just how high this fellow's upper limit truly was.
"Guy, what brings you to me?" After the two exchanged pleasantries for a while, Uchiha Douhuan finally asked about serious matters.
"Um, Lord Hokage, can I return to the village first?" Might Guy scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and said. "After all, I can't be of much help here, and if I'm out for too long, I'm afraid it will delay Lee's training."
"You may," Uchiha Douhuan nodded. "I heard you got seasick on the way here, right? Then how about this: I've already sent word to Shiranui Genma and the others. This afternoon, they will bring Yamato and the supplies for Kirigakure's reconstruction over using the Flying Thunder God Formation. How about you return with them then?"
"That would be truly fantastic!" Might Guy grinned broadly. He felt somewhat embarrassed coming to find Uchiha Douhuan, as even the Hokage was busy in Kirigakure Village, yet he proposed wanting to return early. He hadn't expected Lord Hokage not only to not mind but also to thoughtfully consider his seasickness problem. This moved him greatly.
"This is youth! Lord Hokage!" Might Guy, tears in his eyes, said excitedly to Uchiha Douhuan.
Uchiha Douhuan: ...
Respect was respect, but Might Guy like this, he really couldn't quite handle.
"Alright, Guy, if there's nothing else, help me call Kakashi over," Uchiha Douhuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said to Might Guy.
...
After Kakashi was called over by Guy, Uchiha Douhuan asked, "How are those two Jinchuriki?"
"The Six-Tails Jinchuriki has woken up. However, under the seal you personally placed, he can't even knead chakra now, and his connection with the Six-Tails has been completely severed," Kakashi reported.
Kakashi considered his own Sealing Jutsu level not bad in the ninja world. His teacher back then was a Sealing Jutsu master, and his master's wife was an Uzumaki clan Sealing Jutsu grandmaster. But a few hours ago, the sealing jutsu formula Uchiha Douhuan placed on Utakata left him in awe.
The sealing jutsu Uchiha Douhuan used to completely seal the Six-Tails was the same type the Fourth Hokage used to seal the Nine-Tails in Naruto – an Eight Trigrams Seal composed of two Four Symbols Seals. However, Uchiha Douhuan added a Three Powers Seal between these two Four Symbols Seals, and also layered a Five Elements Seal on the outermost periphery.
This kind of chain combination seal, in the eyes of someone who understood Sealing Jutsu, was no less than an exquisite work of art. Generally speaking, only a sealing master from the Uzumaki clan could possibly construct such an intricate seal. Yet, Uchiha Douhuan was a member of the Uchiha clan.
If not for Uchiha Douhuan's pair of Mangekyou Sharingan, given his pitiful genjutsu level, Kakashi would have suspected this fellow was from the Uzumaki clan.
"That fellow isn't important. Just have Guy take him back to Konoha later," Uchiha Douhuan said. "The important one is Yagura Karatachi. Has that fellow woken up yet? I, the Hokage, can't keep staying in the Mizukage Building, can I?"
"That fellow's condition is not optimistic," Kakashi sighed. "He was previously controlled by Mangekyou pupil power, and the pupil power imprint has been continuously eroding his life. He's now like an oil-exhausted lamp. The medical-nin we brought have been maintaining his life, but it's likely impossible for him to wake up. The best solution now is to extract the Three-Tails and then choose a new Jinchuriki."
"Alright." Uchiha Douhuan nodded. "How much longer can that fellow's life be maintained?"
"A month at most," Kakashi replied. "Should we send word for Shiranui Genma and the others to bring Karin over? Currently, she's the only suitable one on our side to become a Jinchuriki."
"Have you never considered becoming a Jinchuriki yourself?" Uchiha Douhuan asked. "After you become a Jinchuriki, your current biggest problem of chakra capacity would be solved effortlessly."
"If it were another Tailed Beast, it might be fine. But the Three-Tails..." Kakashi smiled wryly and pulled up the forehead protector covering his left eye, revealing the Mangekyou imprint. "I estimate the Three-Tails would immediately lose its sanity upon seeing these eyes."
"Alright," Uchiha Douhuan nodded. "As for making Karin the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, let's not rush it. Let's ask for Miss Karin's opinion first before making a decision. You've seen that child Naruto's experience; becoming a Jinchuriki isn't entirely a good thing."
"Alright, I understand," Kakashi nodded.
...
In the following days, Kirigakure's ninjas and remaining villagers began reconstruction work under the assistance and supervision of Konoha ninjas.
However, perhaps due to the events that occurred a few days ago, both Kirigakure's villagers and ninjas harbored considerable resentment, and their attitude during work wasn't very proactive.
During this period, Uchiha Douhuan, staying in the first-repaired Mizukage Building, carefully reviewed the files of the three Kirigakure Elite Jounin who had survived the previous great battle, then summoned them individually.
The attitude of the three towards Uchiha Douhuan couldn't be described as very good; they merely maintained basic politeness. Uchiha Douhuan also didn't mind this. After all, the entire Kirigakure probably wished him dead; finding someone who didn't hate him would be difficult.
However, after observing the three for a period, he finally selected a suitable candidate from among them.
Takagi Shōban, an Elite Jounin of Kirigakure, participated in the Third Great Ninja War and was one of the few Kirigakure ninjas who had seen Uchiha Douhuan on the battlefield and was fortunate enough to survive.
However, his survival back then wasn't due to his exceptional strength, but because this fellow's bottom line on the battlefield was much lower than Uchiha Douhuan had anticipated.
Back on the battlefield of the Third Great Ninja War, this person, upon realizing he was no match for Uchiha Douhuan, directly abandoned his entire squad to delay Uchiha Douhuan's advance, fleeing alone. How could Uchiha Douhuan at that time have ever seen such a thing? That's why he managed to escape with his life.
But because of this, this Kirigakure Elite Jounin named Takagi Shōban was not very well-regarded within Kirigakure Village. Except for Uchiha Obito, who controlled Yagura Karatachi and promoted his position with the malicious intent of disgusting Kirigakure, the other higher-ups in Kirigakure, especially Mizukage Aide Gensui, greatly disliked ninjas like him who abandoned comrades to flee.
"So, this is a person who prioritizes his own interests above all else?" Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly, looking at Takagi Shōban's file. "However, as a puppet, such a personality is just right."
Soon, Takagi Shōban was invited by Uchiha Douhuan to the Mizukage office.
"We meet again, Mr. Takagi." After the other arrived, Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly in greeting.
"I wonder what matter Lord Hokage has summoned me for," Takagi Shōban said with a stern face.
"This time, after our Konoha received your Mizukage's plea for help, although we dispatched troops at the fastest speed to provide support, it is regrettable that we failed to rescue your Mizukage from the hands of the rebels. The Fourth Mizukage probably won't last much longer."
Hearing this news, Takagi Shōban's facial expression remained perfectly calm. For him, as long as he himself could live, what happened to the Mizukage was unimportant.
"However, your ninja village cannot continue like this. Therefore, I plan to help you become the Fifth Mizukage," Uchiha Douhuan stated.
After Uchiha Douhuan's voice fell, a slight fluctuation finally appeared on Takagi Shōban's face.
"Well then, I wonder, Mr. Takagi, do you have such aspirations?" Uchiha Douhuan asked with a smile.
"Me, the Fifth Mizukage?" Takagi Shōban confirmed in disbelief.
"Of course," Uchiha Douhuan said.
(End of Chapter)
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