23 If Dead, Not Good

"I am not changing my mind, Funato-dono." I answered, cutting straight at any hope he might harbour as soon as Owl mask left.

The old man was justified in his nervousness at possibly triggering an international incident so soon into my reign but that's the thing, it was my reign. Maybe that's a bit too much Yagura.

I shook my head as his cane trembled in his grip. To be fair the ANBU teams we sent to the other nations would be received openly as per my orders. Through Owl mask, the ANBU commander, I've long since had their orders switch from covert investigations to emissaries from Kiri, bringing the news of Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage to the relevant individuals on the world stage.

It's a common practice amongst the hidden villages to do this when there's a new person in power and we'd have needed to send a new team with the message if I hadn't given the order.

They'll be accepted in, given lodgings and gifts to return with if the visited Kage feels so generous— but I doubt. In their time there, Owl mask assured me they'll be able to carry out their investigations into the Sandaime's death and would be the best people to gauge each Kage's reaction to the news.

As usual, I didn't care about any of this since I was certain Madara's death triggered the end of his Genjutsu hold on the Sandaime and not long after, his death. What I did care about was Amegakure and Konoha.

"But why? Why Amegakure?" the clan head demanded to know my reasoning.

I thought briefly about coming clean, revealing the existence of the existential threat to all of the shinobi world cooking doom and destruction in the rainy pits of the Hidden Rain. But I didn't know where I'd start from and frankly, I didn't need more than one person with full knowledge about this threat, at least not at this stage.

"Amegakure isn't simply a suspect, they're a prospective ally." I began and the man wobbled closer, eyes wide and curious. "Should Hanzo prove innocent I want to consider forming an alliance with his little nation, they haven't the best relations with the great villages but that can change, starting with me."

It was something I'd thought about in the earliest days of my new life here, back when getting enough sleep and a burning seal were the largest of my problems. Since I can't reasonable call a Kage Summit for a threat only I know exists, then I'll simply have to cajole Obito into revealing himself far earlier than he's prepared to.

Worst case scenario at this point is, he's killed Hanzo with Pein and Konan taking charge of the village. Meaning there are only three members of the Akatsuki at the moment to worry about.

I gritted my teeth at the thought, I hadn't mastered Isobu yet and I'll surely be needing his strength to go up against any one of these three, even when they're so young— I'm not so different after all.

Best case scenario, I have more time than I thought and Hanzo is still in charge, perhaps Obito is preparing to attack Konoha and release the Nine-Tails. I wasn't sure, I couldn't be sure from where I sat alone and that's why this investigation is so paramount.

"What good will come from aligning with Ame? I only see Konoha interpreting this as a staging ground for an invasion." The aged shinobi who has seen all three wars at this point looked me dead in the eye and asked, "Is it?"

I smirked, "Hanzo only need to be receptive. Kirigakure will offer protection and be the first of the five great nations to respect and recognize his efforts. What he'll be willing to do for such support…I wonder."

And here I thought his eyes couldn't go any wider.

He trembled forward, caution glinting in his eyes as he attempted to say something only for my door to swing open. Our attention is drawn to none other than Rina Hozuki dressed in a fine kimono, its deep indigo fabric adorned with colourful koi fish patterns. The traditional garment hugged her slender figure gracefully, accentuating her elegant posture as she made her way, the soft clap of her wooden sandals the only sound in the office.

She sensed the tense vibe radiating off of Lord Funato as she looked between us. She bowed slightly, "Mizukage-sama, Funato-dono."

Her glossy violet faded hair was styled into an intricate updo, adorned with a few carefully placed yin-yang hairpins that matched the motif of her kimono's dancing koi fish.

Lord Funato looked so incensed and confused to see her standing there and I was with him on the confusion part, then I looked at the time and sighed. "Lady Megumi's tea, I promised."

I glanced at her hands and found she only carried a small purse that could only fit loose change and maybe a comb but not the documents her grandmother was insisting I have a look at a day prior.

"Lord Funato, we'll have to discuss this another time, your advice will be much appreciated." I said and gestured for Rina to take a seat on the only couch in the drab office.

If the old man had many teeth left I'm sure I'd hear them grinding as he passed a look between myself and Rina before taking his sweet time leaving. He glanced at the documents he was reviewing and said with barely hidden bile, "I'll be leaving those."

The door closed behind him and Rina glanced from her fidgeting fingers to my smiling face. I felt a little awkward as I joked to break the building silence, "You're a bit too beautifully dressed for [Shurikenjutsu] training, Rina."

She chuckled softly, "Grandmother gave up her appointment with you so she could spend more time with mother, she's tasked me with…introducing you to topics of concern to the Hozuki as well as her advice for the Kaguya attackers."

Hearing all that made my brow heavier somehow, I frowned at the stack of papers and scrolls on my desk and nodded. "Very well, a promise is a promise but let's discuss these in a finer venue, my office isn't tea party host worthy yet."

By the way Rina's dressed I've already seen through the Lady Megumi's true aims here, her concerns and advice are always things she can offer to me in person like Lord Funato, still, I'd leave an ear open to listen for anything valuable.

"Of course, I know a place…that is, if you don't?" Rina hesitated, clearly not in full sync with her matriarch's intent.

"No, no, all the better, less thinking for me. Lead the way please."

Even if nothing of note comes from this, it should be a relaxing day out in Kiri and time away from channelling Yagura to deal with politicking.