Children and Grandchildren Chat Group
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: …
Terumi Mei stared at the screen in front of her, eyes wide with disbelief.
The live broadcast was showing something absurd—her own Kirigakure ninjas being casually bribed by a Konoha genin.
"Just now, you said we'd get 100,000 taels if we gave up the mission," the Konoha boy said calmly.
"Now we're offering 300,000 taels to hire you to fight against Gato."
A black-haired teen was trying to convince two Chūnin from Kirigakure.
The Chūnin shook their heads.
"Impossible. We're not that kind of people."
"Then 500,000!"
"Well, we're not just anyone…"
"Doing this would betray our employer."
"One million taels!"
"…"
"Today, we'll follow your orders."
"Three million taels!"
"Don't consider us Kirigakure ninjas today."
"Five million taels!"
"Deal. We're at your service!"
Just like that, the two Chūnin from Kirigakure were bought.
After all, as Chūnin, their highest mission rank was B-level, which they still had to split rewards for with teammates.
So… they weren't exactly wealthy.
"Looks like it worked, Kakashi-sensei," Kitahara Hitoshi said casually.
"And don't worry about the cost. We'll deduct the five million from Gato's seized assets. The wool comes from the sheep, after all."
"Yeah…" Kakashi wiped the sweat from his brow.
He was sweating bullets. He suddenly realized… he had underestimated Kitahara Hitoshi's methods again.
When the two Kirigakure ninjas agreed, Kakashi finally saw the pattern—he had walked into Hitoshi's plan.
Back when Dazna requested a C-rank mission, Kakashi had brought the team without concern.
But based on Hitoshi's analysis, Dazna's deception had been obvious from the beginning.
That meant… Hitoshi's actual goal had never been simple protection. He was aiming for the economic assets of the Land of Waves.
Even buying off the Kirigakure Chūnin had been part of that plan.
"So, Gato's threat is about to be eliminated?" Dazna asked, overjoyed.
"Yes," Hitoshi said. "We'll deal with the Gato problem as part of this mission."
"You're the bridge builder. When the bridge is complete, you'll restore trade and reopen your nation."
"The Land of Waves will prosper again, no longer isolated by the sea," he concluded.
"That's amazing!"
Old man Dazna clapped in celebration and took out a gourd from his back, downing a drink with a flushed face.
"Hey, Sasuke, does that mean we get paid too?" Naruto asked, putting away his Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Sasuke was silent but nodded slowly.
"If we defeat Gato, we'll get a cut."
"With that money, we can upgrade our gear… there are a few things I've wanted to buy…"
"Damn… seriously…"
"I'm not even the team's leader anymore…" Sasuke muttered.
In combat, Naruto had saved him. In strategy, Kitahara Hitoshi had outclassed him. Now, even funding their supplies required leaning on Hitoshi's deals.
He had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Thus, Team 7 entered a strangely rewarding phase.
But…
Kakashi sighed behind them.
He wanted to shake his head.
Because Hitoshi wasn't simply doing this for noble reasons. If Gato was removed, and the Land of Waves—having no ninja of its own—were threatened by other villages, Hitoshi could intervene again.
He would label the other ninjas as villains and defeat them under the guise of justice, seizing their assets as "rewards."
No one would question it.
The commoners of the Land of Waves saw only a hero.
Kakashi stared at Kitahara Hitoshi's back.
Kitahara stood quietly.
But to Kakashi… it felt like he was staring into the void.
Behind Hitoshi… loomed not a simple shinobi—but a stormy darkness and a pair of purple Rinnegan eyes.
Kitahara Hitoshi… was terrifying.
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: …
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: Wait a minute…
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: Those two Chūnin aren't part of Kirigakure! They're rogue-nin!
Senju Tobirama: Huh?
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: …
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: …
She didn't respond again.
Her mind flashed back to ten minutes earlier.
At the time…
She had been working at her desk.
Though not officially the Fifth Mizukage yet, she had already started taking over the village's responsibilities.
She was sorting through ninja registries and rogue-nin reports when a transparent screen appeared out of nowhere.
The message read:
Want to revive Kirigakure?
If so, then come!
Terumi Mei, Kage-level candidate detected. You are qualified to join the Children and Grandchildren Chat Group.
Choose to accept or reject. After rejecting, you cannot join again.
This is also a live-stream group featuring Kitahara Hitoshi, with three hours of broadcast daily.
…
She hadn't said anything then. Just watched.
This chat group ignored time and space, even death. It spanned past, present, and future, gathering powerful Kage-level figures and the new generation.
If this wasn't a genjutsu, then she had just received an invitation to something incredible.
Powerhouses from other eras… maybe even the First or Second Mizukage…
Could the current ruins of Kirigakure be restored?
She accepted.
Now… it really was a live broadcast.
And there were other strong Kage-level shinobi.
Senju Tobirama.
That name was still famous in Kirigakure—feared and respected.
She had to test it.
Mizukage Candidate – Terumi Mei: Um, @Senju Tobirama, Second Mizukage-sama?
Senju Tobirama: What?
Big Pillar Hanhan: What?
Big Pillar Hanhan: Good one!
Senju Tobirama: You damn brat! Who are you calling the Second Mizukage?!