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Upon realizing this, Igawa Bu's mind suddenly cleared.
However, no matter how one looked at it, Kirigakure was still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Even with that person's assistance, taking control of Kirigakure would not be a simple task. It required careful planning and even contingency measures to ensure nothing went wrong.
Those who stood in his way—such as Ōgaki Yū, Mangetsu Hōzuki, and Yagura—had to be eliminated.
As for people like Midorima Asachi, Mei Terumī, and Zabuza, once he gained control of Kirigakure, he would have plenty of time to deal with them.
Ambition was like wildfire. All it took was a single spark to ignite an unstoppable blaze.
Igawa sorted through the logic in his mind and found no major flaws. He quickly wrote a letter, then retrieved the scroll given to him by that person. Upon unsealing it, a paper bird emerged. After attaching the letter to the bird, he finally exhaled in relief.
The era of Yagura's rule over Kirigakure… should come to an end now, shouldn't it?
After the second day of the selection tournament concluded, the organizing committee, led by Yagura, began preparations for the next stage.
First, the competitors with the longest match times in the first two rounds were eliminated, leaving 24 participants to be divided into groups.
But before that, another issue arose: whether the participants should be informed of their matchups in advance.
Those in favor argued that since the first round consisted of random encounters, matches ended too quickly, leaving spectators unsatisfied. This greatly diminished the entertainment value of the tournament.
More importantly, random encounters favored stronger fighters, while weaker ones had no time to strategize before facing superior opponents—an inherently unfair system.
Opponents, however, countered that while advance notice would indeed improve the matches' spectacle, it would also give participants time to prepare unexpected tactics, potentially leading to more severe injuries or fatalities.
"These are already the elite of the younger generation. Any unnecessary casualties would be a tremendous loss for Kirigakure," argued Fuguki Suikazan. "Besides, if someone can't even win a random encounter, they have no place among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
What seemed like a minor issue sparked heated debate for over half an hour. In the end, Yagura made the final decision: the matchups would be announced in advance. His reasoning? The Seven Ninja Swordsmen lacked tactical thinkers.
Some shinobi weren't skilled in combat but excelled in strategy—like the people of Nara clan of Konoha.
If even one of the Seven had been a strategist, they wouldn't have fallen victim to Might Dai's near-wipeout. A better approach could have been taken.
"But what about the village's operations? Not to question your decision, but the fiercer the matches, the higher the risk of severe injuries. Even if no one dies, recovery could take months. Who will handle the village's defense then?" Fuguki pressed.
"That is a serious concern," Yagura admitted. "But whether or not we announce the matchups early, the problem remains. My proposal is that all of us here take shifts on guard duty until the village stabilizes. Any objections?"
He scanned the room. Everyone, including Ōgaki Yū, remained silent.
Yagura's tone made it clear he had already planned this. Opposing him now would be tantamount to defiance.
Besides, the second-round matchups were still to be decided. If they angered him, what if their favored candidates were paired against unfavorable opponents?
"Gema has already prepared the duty roster. You'll each receive a copy. Unless there are unforeseen circumstances, we'll proceed as scheduled. If you need leave, find a substitute."
The others exchanged glances, relieved they hadn't spoken up. Otherwise, they'd have drawn Yagura's attention.
Igawa took the roster and skimmed through it—Yagura's name was clearly listed.
Wait… why is he on here?
A sudden tension gripped Igawa. What if that person encountered Yagura?
Yagura wasn't like the Third Mizukage. He had the Three-Tails sealed within him.
The power of a tailed beast… well, those who knew, knew.
"Ahem… Lord Mizukage, why are you on the roster? Did Gema make a mistake?" Igawa quickly pointed out the "error."
"Why shouldn't I be?" Yagura countered.
"You oversee everything. Shouldn't your time and energy be reserved for more important matters?" Igawa argued.
"Don't worry. I'm still young. I can handle this much," Yagura replied with a smile.
Igawa grew frantic.
This wasn't about whether Yagura could handle it. If he was on patrol, what would happen to the plan?
But Igawa also knew that pushing further would arouse suspicion. After some thought, the only solution was to act on a day when Yagura wasn't on duty.
Once the matter was settled, the attendees began arranging the second-round matchups based on the first round's results.
Distracted, Igawa repeatedly zoned out. By the time he refocused, the pairings were already decided.
He glanced at Midorima Asachi's opponent and frowned slightly—displeased, yet somewhat relieved.
Not Kisame? Disappointing.
Some were happy; others, less so.
While Igawa wasn't entirely satisfied, Ōgaki was thrilled. Zabuza was practically guaranteed a spot in the final six, and another ANBU member also had high chances of advancing. Noticing Igawa's expression, Ōgaki smirked inwardly.
You think you can outmaneuver me? You're still wet behind the ears.
Seeing Ōgaki's smugness, Igawa feigned deference but sneered internally.
Truth be told, he was starting to look down on the position of ANBU commander.
What he cared about now was when that person would contact him. After all, until the Third was dealt with, he would never have peace.
What? Take care of the Third himself?
He wasn't strong enough for that.
Returning home, Igawa locked himself in his study again, consumed by thoughts of becoming Mizukage. But doubts crept in—what if that person failed and exposed him?
His current position wasn't bad. With patience, he could eventually take Ōgaki's place.
But if he failed now, he might lose his head.
As his thoughts spiraled, a white, human-like face suddenly emerged from his desk, startling him into a scream.
"Wh-Who are you?!" Igawa collapsed into his chair, legs weak.
"Me? I'm Zetsu. I'm here to coordinate with you. We've accepted your proposal," the man called Zetsu replied, half his body now visible as he rose from the desk.
"There's been a change—Yagura will be participating in the village patrols," Igawa said, suddenly considering postponement.
"Don't worry. We can handle it. Though… we may need your cooperation," Zetsu murmured softly.