Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand Chapter 113 - 8: The Intrigue of Kirigakure

Two figures embraced each other tightly. At that mont, Hidan suddenly realized the truth—this pockmarked man was actually one of their own! He was a "barb," a mole planted by their village in Kirigakure!

Those seemingly ordinary words they exchanged earlier turned out to be a secret code for identification!

But why would the esteed Maki, the Head of Personnel from Sunagakure, carry nothing more than an ordinary steel blade as his weapon?

Why had Maki stared at the chipped edge of that worn-out blade for so long, muttering to himself?

All of Hidan's doubts were now resolved. After the secret code was matched, the target of Siren's attack was no longer him but Maki. What appeared to be a life-or-death battle was, in reality, a ploy to leave marks on the blade.

The jagged and uneven nicks on the blade must have been a special kind of cipher used by the intelligence division, detailing the ti and place for their current eting!

Hidan was deeply impressed by his own deductive abilities. His respect for both Maki and Siren grew imnsely. How were their minds wired this way? The entire sequence had been a performance, yet not a single flaw was discernible. Clearly, he still had much to learn.

At this mont, Maki was already bowing deeply, a perfect ninety degrees, tears welling in his eyes as he addressed Siren.

"Senior Yamashita Toru, you've endured so much."

Siren's expression remained unchanged as he gently helped Maki up. However, Maki stubbornly refused to straighten, forcing Siren to softly persuade him.

"Ten years... It's been ten years since I last heard that na. Sotis, I even forget it myself. Enough with the bowing—there's no need for such formality between us."

Maki replied solemnly, "This bow is not just from personally; it represents the gratitude of the entire village. Thank you for the sacrifices you've made. Back in the day, you were hailed as the most handso man in Sunagakure's ANBU. To infiltrate Kirigakure, you willingly disfigured yourself and swallowed charcoal. You've provided our village with invaluable intelligence on Kirigakure. Lord Jinghang specifically instructed to convey the highest respect to you before I left."

Siren shook his head and said, "These sacrifices are nothing—just a worthless facade of flesh. Compared to our comrades who gave their lives on the battlefield, I'm the lucky one.

"Speaking of Jinghang, he was my junior back at the ninja academy. And now, he's beco the Third Kazekage. anwhile, I've spent ten years in Kirigakure and only managed to attain the rank of Shōshi. Heh, such is fate."

"Senior, you're too modest. Lord Jinghang ntioned that once this negotiation concludes successfully, you'll be able to return to the village with us. With the current advancents in our dical division, restoring your appearance will be no problem at all."

"No, I cannot leave just yet," Siren replied firmly.

"Why not?" Maki asked.

"Because sothing monuntal is brewing here. If the instigators succeed, it won't just affect Kirigakure—the repercussions will extend to all five great ninja villages. Forget the Five Kage Summit; it could very well spark a new wave of large-scale wars!"

"Maki, stay on guard!" Siren's grave tone prompted Maki to imdiately assign Hidan to keep watch on the outskirts.

Without a word, Hidan leaped away, landing deftly on a distant tree to begin his patrol.

After hearing Siren's account, Maki felt a headache coming on. This was no ordinary ninja village—it was a veritable nest of chaos!

For years, Kirigakure had been plagued by internal strife. The factions of the Mizukage, Genshi, and the recently erged Martial Arts Faction had been locked in relentless power struggles. Bloodshed and ard rebellions were commonplace, draining the village of its most talented ninjas and bloodline users. The village's strength had been severely weakened.

Although the Third Mizukage was a gentle and ambitious leader, he could only watch helplessly as his village spiraled into turmoil. He yearned to end the senseless conflict and allow the village to recuperate.

In a bid for peace, the Mizukage humbly approached Genshi for reconciliation. His heartfelt appeals moved the elderly Genshi, who had witnessed the village's founding and shared a deep desire for its prosperity. Genshi agreed to step back, ceding full administrative authority to the Mizukage while serving only as an advisor without decision-making power.

With this newfound unity, the Third Mizukage eagerly planned to implent sweeping reforms, drawing inspiration from Konoha and Sunagakure. However, he soon encountered unforeseen resistance—none of his policies could be effectively implented. The source of this obstruction was the burgeoning Martial Arts Faction.

Frustrated, the Mizukage was determined to identify the culprits behind this defiance. He tasked his trusted aide, Yagura Kagekatsu, with investigating the matter. What Yagura uncovered was shocking: the core mbers of the Martial Arts Faction included three of Genshi's four Shōshi, six of the eight Guardians, and the entirety of the elite Seven Ninja Swordsn. Additionally, a significant number of jōnin had pledged their allegiance to the faction. When had the Martial Arts Faction grown so powerful? They now encompassed the strongest combat forces in Kirigakure.

The faction's de facto leader was Genshi's senior disciple and chief Shōshi, Yoi. Their influence extended beyond Kirigakure, with bases and underground organizations across the continent. Under the guise of Genshi's faction, they rallied support among lower-ranking ninjas with promises of ard expansion to secure overseas resources for the village. anwhile, the Mizukage and Genshi found their forces dwindling.

This was intolerable. If left unchecked, the Mizukage feared he would beco a re figurehead. Resolving to reclaim his authority, he began consolidating his power and launched a series of operations targeting the Martial Arts Faction.

First, he covertly allowed the Seven Ninja Swordsn to ambush the visiting Third Kazekage, Jinghang, while simultaneously leaking information to Konoha. This led to the loss of four of the seven swordsn. The subsequent Victory Valley Battle involving Sunagakure was also a continuation of this strategy.

Next, he manipulated Yoi's top general, Renman Shimizu, into prematurely launching a coup. The Mizukage, in alliance with Genshi's faction, swiftly crushed the rebellion, forcing Renman to flee to the Land of Fire. The later "Wind and Fire Operation" bore traces of the Mizukage's influence as well.

These calculated moves severely weakened the Martial Arts Faction, forcing them into temporary retreat. The Mizukage regained control of the village.

However, just as the Mizukage was poised to implent his grand vision, tragedy struck. He fell gravely ill with an unknown disease, slipping into a deep coma. Around the sa ti, Genshi suffered a sudden stroke. With both leaders incapacitated, Kirigakure was plunged into a power vacuum.

Seizing the opportunity, Yoi rose to prominence, becoming the de facto leader of Kirigakure. Were it not for the lingering presence of the Mizukage and Genshi, as well as the checks imposed by Yagura and the Mizukage's loyalists, Yoi would have undoubtedly claid the title of Mizukage.

If Yoi were to seize full control, Kirigakure would devolve into a militaristic nation. Leveraging their extensive network of underground forces, they would ignite conflicts across the continent, heralding a new era of war!

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