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Mangetsu noticed that when Makoto started speaking, everyone else fell silent. He immediately understood that they all looked to Makoto as their leader.
It seemed this woman truly commanded respect among these people. He had underestimated her before.
Originally, he could have fabricated a lie to stir their emotions, making things proceed more smoothly. However, lies could very well have negative repercussions. Especially when risking their lives, if a lie were exposed, it could completely shatter the rebels' morale.
From that perspective, he could be vague, but he couldn't outright lie.
"Makoto-san, I can see you hold considerable sway among these people. Therefore, regarding what I'm about to say, I hope you can impress upon them that even if your opinions differ, they must absolutely not leak today's discussion. Otherwise, we might be killed by Igawa's men before we can even take action."
Having to rely on Makoto to communicate with these people left Mangetsu feeling powerless.
But Kirigakure's series of actions had made these people deeply resentful of Kirigakure ninja.
Unless he killed them all, the inherent "hostility" they carried wouldn't disappear until the real problem was resolved.
Makoto turned to look at the people behind her. "Today, not a single word of what you hear here is to be repeated outside."
"Understood."
"Got it."
"..."
Seeing each person give their assurance, Mangetsu finally spoke. "Kirigakure has two Jinchūriki. One is the Fourth Mizukage. The other became a rogue ninja many years ago."
"A rogue ninja? If he was that strong, why did he leave?"
"Sorry, I don't know. Or rather, what I know might not be the whole truth. Unless you were there, no one can say for certain what happened back then. In any case, for many years, Kirigakure has had only one Jinchūriki. This time, the Anbu retrieved the other Jinchūriki. If, before, Kirigakure's main combat power consisted of two Mizukage, now they've added another Jinchūriki."
As soon as Mangetsu finished speaking, discussions broke out again.
"We couldn't win before; now they've suddenly added another powerful person. How the hell are we supposed to fight? Might as well surrender!"
"Exactly, continuing to oppose Kirigakure is no different from suicide!"
Makoto turned around, glaring at those who had spoken.
The people who had just been passionately venting their emotions immediately lowered their heads, their defiance gone.
Only after Makoto saw them quiet down did she speak again. "Surrender? Do you really dare surrender? Think about it. Why have we all come this far? If they had just left us... left our loved ones a way to survive, would we need to risk our lives fighting them? You want to surrender? Go ask your dead relatives if they'd agree. I'm a straightforward person. Unless I die, I "will" avenge my daughter, even if it means being torn to pieces. Now, continue!"
Mangetsu wore an awkward smile.
Even though he was once a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, these people who had fled from small villages wouldn't look at him with any special regard. As for Hōzuki Gengetsu being a Mizukage... the person who ordered their families slaughtered was also a Mizukage.
The "Hōzuki" name didn't carry the weight he imagined in their hearts.
"Although the other Jinchūriki has been captured, it's not like we have no chance. According to information from our source, this Jinchūriki does not wish to side with Igawa Bu. Therefore, until he is persuaded, the balance of power hasn't been broken. Our only opportunity is to engage Kirigakure in battle before he submits to Igawa Bu. In other words, we are running out of time," Mangetsu explained.
"Excellent!" Makoto clenched her fist, a fanatical glint in her eyes. "I've been saying all along we need to act early, but none of you agreed. Now, doesn't it align with my thinking?"
Mangetsu smiled wryly.
Their plans had coincidentally converged, but the reasoning behind them was vastly different.
"Let me briefly outline my thoughts." Mangetsu rubbed his hands together. "Even if this Jinchūriki won't assist Kirigakure for now, we need a clear understanding—with just our numbers, we are no match for two Mizukage and numerous Kirigakure ninja. Therefore, our target shouldn't be the two Mizukage. It should be Igawa Bu. If we kill him, we win this battle!"
"Bullshit!" The moment Mangetsu finished speaking, Makoto shot back. "Igawa Bu? What's the use of just killing him? Our real enemies are the two Mizukage, especially the Fourth Mizukage. Our goal is simple: we want him dead!"
Seeing Mangetsu about to speak, Makoto continued, "I know what you're thinking. At the end of the day, you're still a Kirigakure ninja. Your mind is stuck on the idea that if we kill Igawa Bu, Kirigakure will return to normal. Let me ask you: will the dead come back to life?"
Suigetsu, seeing how Makoto spoke to Mangetsu, also grew angry.
Mangetsu held a high position in his heart. He couldn't let his elder brother be insulted like this.
"Hey, could you at least let my brother finish what he has to say?"
"I'm not covering his mouth. My thinking is straightforward: Igawa Bu must die, and the Mizukage must die too! Don't tell me you want the Mizukage to survive and continue serving him? As expected, ninja are mostly unreliable," Makoto sneered.
"Speaking of Kirigakure ninja... I'm not sure if you've heard of 'Asachi Midorima'?" Mangetsu interjected.
"Of course I have. Back then, bounty posters for him were plastered in every village. I thought to myself, how could a kid's head be worth so much? Now I realize, he's more of a man than any of you. When facing pursuit by Igawa and the two Mizukage, he didn't talk about 'surrender,' nor did he talk about sparing the Mizukage," Makoto said coldly.
"We aren't talking about surrender either," Mangetsu retorted.
"Right! It's just that the person you'd surrender to isn't Igawa Bu; it's the Mizukage. After all, he's your leader." Makoto refused to listen.
"Tch, you're really getting on my nerves." Mangetsu pulled a bounty poster from inside his shirt. "After Midorima escaped, he issued a counter-bounty against Igawa Bu. But note, this bounty poster never appeared in Kirigakure... or perhaps it did, but Igawa later banned it. It states, 'The one colluding with foreign villages is Igawa Bu. The Third and Fourth Mizukage are under genjutsu control.' Considering Midorima's character, I personally believe what's written here."
Makoto took the bounty poster, examined it carefully—she couldn't read the words—then tossed it back to Mangetsu. "So what?"
"We only need to kill Igawa Bu to break the genjutsu controlling the Third and Fourth Mizukage. Of course, I'm not saying the two Mizukage shouldn't face consequences. On the contrary, as Mizukage, they are responsible for Kirigakure. The state Kirigakure is in now, they bear heavy responsibility. Their own pride wouldn't allow them to act as if nothing happened. Similarly, the elders wouldn't agree to let Yagura continue as Mizukage. So, once Igawa is dealt with, the matter of the Mizukage will be resolved accordingly. If you're dissatisfied with the outcome, we will protest alongside you. Will that work?" Mangetsu asked.