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In addition to Elder Genji and the head of the Kaguya clan, Mei Terumi also rewarded those who had publicly voiced their support for her ascension to the position of Mizukage.
This was clearly a political maneuver—an attempt to win over more allies.
However, the so-called "rewards" were mostly symbolic. They amounted to little more than public praise and verbal acknowledgments.
Therefore, while the clan heads aligned with the opposition sneered inwardly, none of them spoke out.
What came next, however, was the true bombshell—the third and most critical announcement of the day.
Mei Terumi publicly declared that the Uchiha clan would be joining the Hidden Mist Village.
The moment the words left her mouth, it caused an uproar that echoed like a tidal wave through the meeting hall.
The first item on the agenda—repealing the brutal policies of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi—was urgent and necessary. No one could argue with that.
The second item—publicly rewarding her allies—was predictable political theater.
But this third item?
It changed everything.
What kind of family was the Uchiha?
Never mind their once-glorious legacy. Even now, their reputation loomed like a shadow over the ninja world.
As the most powerful clan of Konohagakure, the Uchiha had long held a status that demanded respect and fear alike. And their Sharingan—that blood-red eye that made even seasoned Jonin tremble—was one of the most terrifying Kekkei Genkai in existence.
Compared to them, even the prestigious Kaguya clan, the largest in the Hidden Mist Village, could barely stand on equal footing.
Although rumors had circulated recently that the Uchiha clan had suddenly uprooted and left the Hidden Leaf Village under mysterious and violent circumstances, it didn't change the weight their name carried.
Their former leader, Uchiha Fugaku, had reportedly died in the chaos, and the clan had suffered heavy casualties. Yet even in this weakened state, they remained a force that could not be ignored.
Especially considering one critical connection—Uchiha Haru, the enigmatic survivor and strategist of the clan, had a known relationship with Mei Terumi.
Everyone in the hall remembered what the masked man—Obito—had said.
Mei Terumi was chosen by Uchiha Haru.
That meant the Uchiha clan was already tied to her camp, whether anyone liked it or not.
Until now, the opposition could at least count on numbers and the influence of the Hyuga clan to form a weak balance of power.
But if the Uchiha clan were to officially join Mei Terumi's side?
That fragile balance would collapse instantly.
They would have no bargaining chips left—no leverage to challenge her authority.
Everyone present had reached the same conclusion almost simultaneously:
The Uchiha clan must not be allowed to join the Hidden Mist Village!
"No!"
"Those who are not of our blood will never be loyal at heart! We cannot let the Uchiha into our village!"
"The Uchiha aren't exactly known for being cooperative! Why else would they have left the Hidden Leaf Village?"
"Exactly! Their relationship with Konoha was always tense—bordering on hostile. They couldn't even get along with their own village!"
"This so-called migration—maybe it was an internal power struggle that tore them apart!"
"It's obvious that the Uchiha are ambitious. Ruthless. They'll claw their way to power wherever they go. We can't allow them to sink their fangs into Kirigakure!"
The hall erupted with opposition. Angry voices clashed with each other in a chaotic storm of distrust and indignation.
To these people, the Uchiha were a plague, not an ally. A snake waiting to strike.
Their protests continued uninterrupted for nearly an hour.
Every argument boiled down to the same paranoid fear: if the Uchiha clan were allowed in, the Hidden Mist would become their next battleground.
But through it all, Mei Terumi and the Kaguya clan leader sat in silence, their expressions calm, unreadable.
They didn't even blink.
They didn't react.
Not even when the shouting peaked in intensity.
This silence didn't go unnoticed by Elder Genji.
The moment Mei Terumi had announced the Uchiha's joining, his face had changed completely.
He wasn't just surprised—he was shaken.
It wasn't just the weight of the decision. It was Uchiha Haru's genjutsu—the nightmare that still haunted his thoughts.
The illusion Haru had used on him was otherworldly. Terrifying.
And the worst part?
Uchiha Haru still had something on him. A secret. A weakness.
If the Uchiha really did join the Hidden Mist, what would stop Haru from using that secret to blackmail him again and again?
Ignore it?
That would be a death sentence—for his reputation and maybe even his life.
But as the angry voices around him grew louder, Genji's anxiety slowly began to ease.
So many were opposed.
Surely Mei Terumi couldn't force such a controversial decision through, not against so much unified resistance.
They would vote. That was the tradition.
A simple show of hands.
And when the time came, he would vote no.
No matter what Uchiha Haru tried to do to him.
But just as he started calculating his position—carefully weighing his options—he noticed something strange.
Something deeply unsettling.
The voices of opposition were louder than ever, yes.
But Mei Terumi and the Kaguya leader still hadn't said a single word.
No attempt to argue.
No signs of frustration or anger.
Not even annoyance.
They were just… waiting.
Too calmly.
That's when Elder Genji's instincts screamed at him.
Something isn't right.
Mei Terumi was still young—perhaps too young for this kind of political maneuvering.
But the Kaguya clan leader? he was a veteran of war and politics, a hardened warrior with no patience for disrespect.
Why wasn't he speaking?
Why wasn't he lashing out?
Why weren't either of them reacting at all?
This wasn't just restraint.
This was strategy.
A trap.
And Genji knew it too late.
Even though he despised Mei Terumi… even though he loathed the alliance forming between her, the Kaguya clan, and Uchiha Haru…
However, Elder Genji knew that decisions couldn't be made solely based on fleeting emotions. If one truly wished to stay at the top and remain unshaken, they had to learn to adapt to shifting tides. What ultimately determined one's stance wasn't ideology—it was interest.
That principle had guided Elder Genji's rise for decades. It was through calculated, cold judgment that he had slowly climbed the ranks to his current position. And today, he would employ that same mindset to make his decision.
The uproar in the meeting chamber had lasted over an hour before it finally died down. Not because the opposition was satisfied, but because they had exhausted their arguments. Every possible objection had already been shouted, rephrased, and shouted again.
One of the opposition clan heads, stern-faced and eyes sharp, stood up and delivered the final blow:
"So we absolutely cannot agree to the Uchiha clan joining the Hidden Mist Village!"
The others followed with hard stares, locking their gazes on Mei Terumi, who had only recently been appointed as the Fifth Mizukage.
With such overwhelming opposition, they were eager to see how she would respond. Would she follow standard procedure and call for a vote?
They were confident. With the majority on their side, the vote would be theirs.
Would she ignore the resistance and force the Uchiha's integration?
That would provoke public outrage. Acting so aggressively right after taking office would ruin her political capital. She'd lose trust, respect, and perhaps even her title.
Or would she admit defeat and retract her decision?
That, while humiliating, would at least be a tactical retreat. It would preserve the future and give her a chance to regain her footing. Better to bow now than fall later.
From their perspective, none of Mei Terumi's options looked good.
No one told her to bring up such a ridiculous proposal in the first place—inviting the infamous Uchiha clan into Kirigakure, of all things. They believed they had cornered her.
But just as the opposition's internal celebrations began to bloom, Mei Terumi finally spoke.
Her voice was steady, clear, and cold. Her posture unyielding. She didn't seem concerned in the slightest about the storm of protest she faced.
"Whether or not the Uchiha join the Hidden Mist Village is not up for discussion," she said calmly. "It is already decided. I am informing you, not consulting you."
Her words dropped like a bomb in the room.
"I have already made the decision," she continued, "and there will be no changes."
Though her tone remained cool, there was a steely dominance behind her words—unyielding, absolute, final.
But these were no ordinary shinobi sitting before her. These were Kirigakure's elite—clan heads, seasoned elders, strategists, and veterans of the Blood Mist Era. They had seen more death and deceit than most shinobi alive. No amount of bravado or assertiveness could intimidate them so easily.
And yet, they couldn't help but react.
The opposition leaders smirked among themselves.
Of the three scenarios they'd prepared for, Mei Terumi had chosen the worst: outright defiance. She wasn't relying on diplomacy or strategy—just raw will.
It was a rookie mistake.
Voting would have been smarter. Even if she lost, she could preserve her reputation as someone who listened to the village.
Conceding would've been painful, but survivable. Over time, she could rebuild her influence.
But defiance? That was asking for chaos.
A Mizukage who dared to openly insult and ignore the ruling clans on her first day in office? Without allies, without a firm foundation? How long did she think she'd last?
To stand against the majority like this wasn't strength—it was foolishness.
At this point, the opposition didn't even need to keep speaking. Their followers were already raising their voices again, echoing their outrage throughout the chamber.
But something was different this time.
Just as their voices rose again, they were abruptly silenced—not with words, but with a look.
Mei Terumi's cold gaze swept over them, sharp as a kunai.
But that alone wouldn't have been enough.
Behind her stood the head of the Kaguya clan—her unwavering ally.
His gaze was even colder, his face like carved stone. One glance from him silenced the dissenters. No one dared speak.
This was the head of the Kaguya clan.
Even in the Hidden Mist Village, where blood ran freely and power meant survival, there were very few who didn't fear him.
But the clan heads in the opposition were furious. Was this a dictatorship now? Did they no longer have a voice?
They prepared to rise, to make a final stand.
But before they could utter a word, Mei Terumi spoke again—and this time, what she said left their faces twisted in disbelief.
"I have already decided that the Uchiha clan will join the Hidden Mist Village. That is final."
"In addition," she said with deliberate calmness, "I am establishing a new Security Department within Kirigakure. Its purpose will be to maintain order, protect the safety of our citizens, and oversee the enforcement of our laws."
"This responsibility will be entrusted to the Uchiha clan."
"The head of this new department will be Uchiha Haru."
Her words sent shockwaves through the room.
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This Week Bonus Chapter - 200 Power stones
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Love the story and can't wait to see what happens next?
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Thank you for reading, and I truly appreciate your support! 💖
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