Chapter 186: Ghosts in the Mist (Part-8) [If The Daimyo Knows, We’re All Dead]

Chapter 186 - Ghosts in the Mist (Part-8) [If The Daimyo Knows, We’re All Dead] {I kept my word and gave you the Chapter since the goal was completed.} ~~~ Back in the Leaf's mountain base, a crowd was gathered near the entrance. Yugao had already returned with all the handlers and operators, and was standing near Four, quietly explaining everything that had happened at the swamp. Just then, the cave's entrance seal shifted again with the stone scraping as it opened and Ren stepped in with the rest of the team right behind him. Ren moved straight to the center, tugged off his mask, and sat down on the table's edge. The main members gathered around him without needing to be called. He looked at Four and said flatly, "Speak with the agents Yugao brought back and then give me a complete report." Four gave a short nod and turned, leading the handlers and operators deeper inside. A hidden stone passage opened as he walked, revealing a larger hall he'd already prepared while Ren's team was gone. In the meeting room, Utakata leaned forward, arms crossed, his frown clear. "Now that we've clashed openly with both factions in the Mist Village, there's a high chance they'll unite to hunt us down first. Only after that would they turn on each other." Ren shook his head. "It's possible they'll send hunter-nin to track us, but they can't ever truly unite. The Mizukage faction has already exterminated some bloodline clans, especially the Yuki clan. From what I understand, the Yuki clan was one of the main pillars alongside the Terumi. There's no way the bloodline clans will settle that quietly." He paused, letting that sink in, then added, "But you're not wrong. Even if they hate each other, they might temporarily put aside differences to get rid of us first, however that also gives us a chance to finish the mission." The others leaned in slightly as Ren continued, voice calm but focused. "Mist is best known for its hunter-nin. There's no doubt they'll issue a manhunt, but their main focus will be on me and Kakashi no doubt. So we'll act as the decoy." Utakata's frown deepened. "That's too risky. You might be able to handle it, but Kakashi's Sharingan is sealed for now. If an S-rank shows up, he might not get out alive." Kakashi, who had been silent so far, looked at Utakata, then at Ren. "There's no need to worry. I will complete the task as assigned. Just tell me what you need done." His voice left no room for argument. Ren didn't look away from Utakata as he answered. "Don't worry, sensei. Have some trust in Kakashi, he's not the type to die as some no-name, and I'll be the one drawing most of the real attention anyway. The rest of you have different jobs." He turned his gaze around the room, meeting everyone's eyes. "While Kakashi and I run circles around their hunter-nin, you'll target the Mizukage faction directly. Don't bother with high-level officers. Hit just enough of the mid-level and junior captains that you stir real rage and make it look like the bloodline clans, especially the Terumi did it. Fake the lava release, boil release anything, just make it boiled enough that they look like it's the work of Terumi clan." A tense silence settled over the room. Utakata spoke up again, voice low but steady. "Why not the bloodline clans too? If you're trying to split them up, wouldn't hitting both sides make it harder for them to sniff out who's pulling the strings?" Ren glanced at Utakata, fingers tapping the table once in a steady beat. "Because, Sensei," Ren began explaining, "if we attack the bloodline clans, we risk pushing them right back under the Mizukage's control. Fear does that. When people feel cornered, they'll cling to any power that promises to protect them, even if it's the same one that hunted them down in the first place. That's the opposite of what we want." He leaned back slightly, eyes moving from Utakata to the rest of the room. "There's another reason too. The Mizukage's faction is made up of people who are insecure and jealous like old clans without bloodlines, career shinobi who hate that someone is born stronger than them. If you push them the right way, they'll lash out. And when they do, their first target will always be the bloodline clans. Sure, some will suspect a third party is stirring things up, but as long as enough of them act out, the damage is done." He paused, letting that sit before continuing. "As for why we don't touch the bloodline clans ourselves, that's simple. We want them to win. The best outcome for the Leaf is that the bloodline clans come out on top in this civil war. If they do, the Mist Village will bleed for it." Ren's fingers drummed once more on the rough earth texture of the table. "Think about it. The Mizukage faction controls most of the Seven Swordsmen, the elders, even the Mizukage himself. If the bloodline clans really want to take power, they'll have to kill all of them. That'll break the Mist from the inside out. They'll be too busy rebuilding for years and they won't have the strength to pick fights with any other great village. That takes one major player off the board." He shrugged, a humorless smile crossing his face. "And if the Leaf was the one that gave them a push when they needed it most, the bloodline clans will remember that. When they rebuild, they'll owe us, or at least tolerate us meddling in their affairs later. Either way, the Mist will be too weakened to do anything about it." A silence settled over the room. Utakata, Kakashi, and Itachi listened without interrupting as all three of them were rational enough and could see the truth in Ren's logic. But Yugao, Tenzo, Hitoshi and the others glanced at each other, the scale of it sinking in. They'd known the mission was important, but realizing it could shape the future balance of the five great nations made the weight even heavier. Ren turned his gaze to Itachi. "Weasel. Try to get inside a few of the Mizukage faction elders' heads. Push them to act up, but be absolutely sure your identity isn't leaked. If they find out that Kakashi, you, and I are all here, they'll drop their civil war in an instant just to crush us first. Even the Mizukage himself might come." Itachi's Sharingan flickered once, then faded. He nodded once, serious as ever. Ren let out a quiet breath and waved a hand. "Alright. Rest for now. The next few days will be hell, take whatever sleep you can get now. You'll thank me later." The team broke off in pairs and small groups, drifting out of the main hall to find the quiet corners of the base that served as makeshift sleeping quarters. Kakashi was already gone in a blink; Utakata and Itachi slipped away without a word. Yugao, Tenzo, and Hitoshi lingered a moment longer, glancing once at Ren before leaving too, they all felt the pressure in the air and understood that their tasks were heavier than any storm they've seen till now. Ren didn't move from his seat. He shifted back, laying himself out across the rough stone table, one arm draped over his eyes. The base fell quiet around him except for Four's low voice in the distance, still working through the handlers' reports. He stayed like that, half-resting, half-listening, waiting for Four to come back with the last pieces he needed to finish the game. ~~~ It took a while for Four to return, so in the meantime Ren sent Hitoshi and Itachi out to check the situation around the Mist Village. They weren't going too deep but it would be just far enough to get a read on troop movements, morale, and any signs that either faction was mobilizing faster than expected. It was risky, but better than staying blind. When Four finally came back, he didn't waste time. He started reporting the moment he stepped into the room. "All the handlers are fine. There was nothing suspicious about their movements or behavior," Four said, voice calm but edged with exhaustion. "However... some of the operators, especially the younger ones have caused trouble." Ren cocked his head, waiting for him to go on. Four sighed. "They didn't outright betray the Leaf, but their actions drew attention. A few were sloppy, broke cover too fast, or made moves that raised red flags. The Mist's higher-ups started watching them. Their covers were basically blown the moment they left their positions." Ren pinched the bridge of his nose. "So that's why both the Mizukage faction and the rebels came to the swamp. They both knew something was off." Four blinked, surprised, so Ren quickly explained what had happened about the swamp standoff, the attempted deal, and the chaos that followed. Four absorbed it all and was tensed at first but calmed down as Ren explained further, then gave a short nod. Ren leaned back against the table. "Alright. So, what do they know about the Mist's situation right now?" Four crossed his arms. "It lines up with what we suspected. It started a while back. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi became increasingly ruthless. He enacted brutal laws, purged anyone who opposed him, and brought all the islands of the Land of Water under his direct control. Nobody's strong enough to contest him outright, so the whole village is suffocating under his rule." He continued, "But here's where it gets interesting. The Water Daimyo; he's been at odds with Yagura's power grabs for a while. The spies in the bloodline clans say the clans have good relations with the Daimyo. He's visited the Terumi clan compound several times in the last year. From all signs, he's backing them quietly because he feels Yagura is encroaching on his authority." Ren hummed thoughtfully. "So the Daimyo sees the bloodline clans as a counterweight. Makes sense though, he'd want to weaken the Mizukage's faction any way he can." Four nodded. "Exactly. And the intel from the handlers is consistent, 'The Mizukage is evil; his subordinates are cruel and greedy; the bloodline clans are the only ones who can free the Mist from its suffering.' That's the narrative that all the civilians are repeating in the land. So the seeds for civil war are already rooted deep." Ren ran a hand through his hair and let out a quiet sigh. "Good. That means the war will happen with or without us. But our presence might've shaken the timing a bit so we need to nudge it back on track." He glanced at Four and waved him off to rest, then called for Kakashi, who arrived quietly, face unreadable behind his mask. Ren leaned forward. "Kakashi. The next part of the plan touches the Water Daimyo's power, so be extremely careful and listen." Kakashi's eye narrowed a fraction. He nodded once, listening intently. Ren continued. "While you're leading the hunter-nins around and stirring up chaos, take a few into territories that are directly controlled by the Daimyo. Cause some trouble there, assassinations, sabotage, anything, but always in the name of the Mizukage faction. Kill one or two ministers if you can do it cleanly. Make it look like the Mizukage is tightening his grip, even outside the village." Ren's tone dropped and became dead serious. "But, Kakashi, if your name comes up even once, if there's even a whisper that the Leaf or you were involved, then your head, my head, the heads of everyone in this team won't be enough to satisfy the Daimyos' fury." He paused, letting the weight of that sink in. Kakashi didn't react, but the tension on his body tightened. Ren spoke on. "You know this already, but the Daimyos are technically the true rulers of the great nations. If a shinobi from another village acts directly against one of them, that's not just a shinobi issue anymore, it becomes a political nightmare. The other four Daimyo's would back him up just to protect their own status. There's no shortage of people who'd happily sacrifice us to keep the balance." Kakashi stared at him for a long moment, then asked, "Why me? I thought you didn't like me. So why give me this piece?" Ren exhaled, shaking his head with a tired half-smile. "I don't hate you, Kakashi. I just don't like your way of doing things. But I've read your file top to bottom. Genius from a young age, with best training possible available to you because of your father, the White Fang, Sakumo Hatake and the whole world knew your name before you were even a jonin." He paused as his voice turned lower. "But then, the whole thing with your father happened. ~~~~~ {This conversation with Kakashi will be very important as this would be one of my first attempts about actively changing the canon, so give your opinions please.} {Also, as I said before, this arc would be longer than any other before and that is why even though it's the 8th Chapter of the arc we only saw a minor skirmish, so you're in for a pretty long ride for this arc} {If you want, you can support me on pat-reon} { h t t p s : / / w w w . p a t r e o n . c o m / Z e e n o n } {You know what else} {280 Stones = Extra Chapter} {STONES!!!!}