Chad had good and bad news.
On the one hand, he finished creating his Yang Seal just before Kumo's major deployment. That meant that, whether they were his wives or apprentices, all of them could learn an additional trump card and keep their bodies in peak condition forever, along with a backup chakra battery they would have to build up on their own over time.
He even deliberately traveled to the Land of Snow so that Koyuki could also use the Yang Seal (though the application itself had to be performed by him), and also to verify that the pregnancy was progressing without complications.
Out of nowhere, Koyuki became the first Daimyo who possessed genuine personal power rather than merely authority on paper, through tradition, or anything similar.
On the downside of the situation (though the negativity was relative in this case), Chad had to remove both of Shisui's eyes from his body and lose future opportunities to use Kotoamatsukami again.
In a way, it had been an oversight on his part, but one he should have anticipated.
He had no excuse; he was simply glad that no one was aware of his mistake.
After subjecting Mei Terumi to Kotoamatsukami, his body no longer just had to endure the strain of another demanding dojutsu and the burden of casting the technique, but the Mangekyo also began draining even more chakra in order to recover the expended ocular power.
With his body already near its limit, that additional expenditure could have started consuming him if he had allowed it to continue for too long. He did not even wait until returning to Kumo; he performed a small surgery on the spot and destroyed the eyes after extracting them.
There was no point in keeping them, since they would need to recover their ocular power after being transplanted, and he certainly would not risk leaving them somewhere they could fall into someone else's hands.
Waiting a few years might not be a problem for many people if they knew what those eyes could do and were patient enough.
"Thirty years to the west" and all that nonsense…
At first, he only removed one of the eyes, hoping that would lower the strain back to a safe level so he could preserve the other for the future, but it only solved the problem partially. Casting Kotoamatsukami had also taken a toll on his body, so rather than suffering from ongoing strain, it would be more accurate to say he was in a period of slow recovery.
So he extracted the second eye, finally allowing his body to stabilize, and after a few moments of contemplation, he destroyed it as well. He had been tempted to keep it, but the same problem applied as with the first.
Perhaps someone else in his place would have taken the risk, but Chad was a decisive person.
He had already used the eyes, and even if he destroyed them after a single use, so what?
He had benefited from them, gained two major opportunities in his favor. Keeping them out of stubbornness or some collector's instinct would only be a sign of immaturity and an invitation to disaster.
It was the classic move a third-rate villain would make, the kind that would become the cause of their ironic downfall, though it was not as if he considered himself a villain. Everything was a matter of perspective.
Besides, the Uchiha clan still existed, and he did not possess the instructions for something like Izanagi…
Precisely to allow his body to recover and even improve its condition (without having to support two Mangekyo, the strain was substantially lower), he spent time developing the Yang Seal.
"We sent the false information through spies from other villages, confirmed Akatsuki's cooperation, and we have people inside prepared to help us in exchange for asylum," the Raikage said while looking at a map of the Land of Water. They were in his office alongside several advisors and high-ranking jonin, discussing the details of the imminent attack. "Have we received any response?"
Even though a large-scale movement would take days to unfold, small details could be vital.
"We intercepted messages suggesting that the Daimyo of the Land of Water — and by extension Kirigakure — might be requesting support from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to cause trouble for us," Darui commented while pointing at a specific border northwest of the Land of Whirlpools. "Although we have not been able to confirm whether the alliance will proceed, as a precaution we have already deployed personnel to monitor possible movements and responses, equipped with summoning beasts to send warnings if they notice anything irregular."
Although movements from the Land of Fire, and by extension Konoha, could become a headache, Kumo's ninja were riding sky-high morale!
(I know, terrible joke. I couldn't resist.)
Proper funding from their Daimyo, permanent permission for conquest, loot from pillaging…
Just the benefits laid out on the table were enough to make anyone drool.
After two hours of briefing, the advisors withdrew to begin transmitting the orders.
"Good, now for the real plan." Mabui pulled out another map and spread it over the one they had just used. This new map showed marks, times, and locations completely different from the first.
"Raikage-sama, is it really necessary to be this cautious?" Darui asked before continuing. "The possibility of there being a spy or one of the advisors leaking the information we discussed is… small."
He did not dare say nonexistent. That would have been an insult to the intelligence of everyone present.
"Of course we need to be this cautious," Mabui replied instead of the Raikage. "This is the first time in Kumo's history — and in the history of any great ninja village — that the Daimyo has truly urged us to expand our territory. Failure is not an option here."
Darui frowned, but nodded to show he understood what she meant.
This was no longer just another war like the world had not seen since the Warring States era. They were literally about to enter the history books.
As winners or losers, and he definitely preferred the former a million times over the latter!
"Since our objective is different compared to previous conflicts, we are also going to approach things differently," the Raikage said while pointing at the capital of the Land of Water. "Akatsuki, the mercenary organization we hired, will cause trouble in the capital days before our attack on Kiri."
Kiri would be forced to provide assistance to deal with S-rank ninja by sending several of their best shinobi, who hopefully would not return alive, since Akatsuki's second task was to kill any Kiri ninja who tried to stop them.
Zero prisoners. No one truly important would be sent to the capital.
While it would not greatly reduce the number of Kiri ninja they would face, losing mid-to-high-level combatants was the kind of thing that took its toll in large-scale conflicts.
"If I understand correctly, the Seven-Tails jinchuriki is part of the payment?" Darui asked hesitantly.
Money was not a problem, not with the Daimyo footing the bill, but…
That was a jinchuriki!
"Akatsuki does not seem to have any proper sealing masters. They are all a bunch of weirdos, and the jinchuriki, Utakata, is not exactly loyal to Kiri, so it is unlikely he will seek revenge," the Raikage explained with a dismissive wave of his hand. "In the best-case scenario, they will end up killing him once they realize they cannot control him, and in a few years Kumo could gain one or two additional tailed beasts. Worst case? Utakata dies before he even ends up in their hands. It is not our responsibility if something like that happens."
"Why not use Akatsuki to shoulder the 'crime' of killing the Daimyo of Water and the nobles in the capital?" Samui suggested. As one of the village's strongest and most reliable kunoichi, she had the right to attend this high-level meeting.
"Because, while as Raikage-sama said, they are 'a bunch of weirdos,' those weirdos are all S-rank criminals," Mabui said while tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Even if they come from the Land of Rain, provoking them without reason could lead to more losses than benefits."
"Besides, Kiri will 'betray' the Daimyo and we will enter as heroes," the Raikage laughed loudly. "Once Kiri's reinforcements arrive in the capital after receiving the call for aid and clash with Akatsuki's members, our people who have been stationed there for a long time will eliminate the Daimyo, the nobles, and… every related person, all at once." His laughter darkened, carrying the implications of true war and the reality that no one could escape its consequences. "Then the reinforcements will become the traitors who killed them while taking advantage of the chaos caused by Akatsuki in the capital."
It was not Kumo who raised a kunai against the nobles or the Daimyo of the Land of Water. It was Kiri's own ninja!
Kumo's ninja, acting under the orders of the Lightning Daimyo, had arrived as allies to help prevent the rebellion, but Kiri's insidious and bloodthirsty ninja had been too ruthless, slaughtering adults and children alike.
That would be the "official" version, and also the version that would later be "leaked" to the public.
Of course, no ninja village would truly believe such nonsense, but that was not the point. The goal was to spread the story among the civilian population, which would greatly help the transfer of power later on.
Akatsuki, as a mercenary organization, did not care about this minor infamy if in exchange they were allowed to legitimately hunt down Kiri's rogue jinchuriki.
"Samui, you will accompany Hibui and Kiyui during the events in the capital of the Land of Water. Meet with them later to get fully briefed and coordinate."
"Understood!"
"Darui, you will lead a large group here, to the east," the Raikage instructed his right-hand man. "Leave some traces behind so Kiri sends people to defend the border, but do not enter the Land of Water. Instead, begin seizing territory around the Land of Keys and nearby regions."
"More scattered forces? Understood." Darui nodded.
This was the "false" plan discussed in front of the advisors present, supposedly a first step to make Kiri nervous months before the real operation. Now it was obvious they would not wait nearly that long…
"With this, Kiri will be forced to split off at least half of its forces to deal with both problems, especially with the provocation from Darui's group," the Raikage said before looking at Chad. "You will take command of the main contingent and handle Kiri directly. I will send B with you so he can clean up the battlefield."
Chad frowned at that.
"I know you are worried, but he will follow your orders," the Raikage assured him, narrowing his eyes. "Otherwise, I will sew his mouth shut myself."
He knew Chad and B did not get along, but between his brother-from-another-mother and Chad, the choice of leadership was painfully obvious. At least neither of them ever acted with malicious intent toward the other; at most, they traded barbs like children.
Besides, it was B's own fault for skipping the meeting, claiming he was in the middle of a period of musical inspiration and did not want to lose to Kiyui. If he complained about his assignment afterward, then he should have answered the summons.
Maybe this would finally make him take things more seriously, though the Raikage would settle for him cutting his rapping in half.
"Should we use the Sea Kings to attack Kiri?" Darui proposed.
Everyone looked at him as though he had just said something utterly ridiculous.
"No," Chad rejected immediately. "Remember that even though I can summon them, they are not under my control. Using them recklessly could result in them attacking us as well or escaping and causing problems along maritime routes that would only hurt us in the long run."
Not to mention that if they found a marine chakra beast and reproduced, that would escalate into outright Lovecraftian horrors.
But even without that specific scenario, the seas could become far more dangerous and drastically hinder trade. Fishing would have to be limited to shallow coastal areas, which would be unsustainable in the long term.
Darui seemed to realize the flaw in his suggestion and coughed to cover his embarrassment.
"Anything else to add?" the Raikage asked while looking around, especially at Chad, who had control over the Mizukage. "Good, you may leave. Chad, stay behind. Let us discuss the upcoming hunt."
The others departed to prepare for their next assignments, leaving the two alone.
"How are things progressing on Terumi's side?"
Because of the sensitivity and implications of the matter, only the two of them knew that the Mizukage was already on their side. The few people who had some idea about it merely believed that Chad's charisma had managed to conquer the woman after a single meeting.
"The preparations are going well," Chad said, interlacing his fingers as he crossed one leg and rested his clasped hands atop his knee. "She has been modifying the rankings of several missions to lower the survival rates of many chunin and jonin teams. She also decided to 'upgrade' the border defenses to make them appear stronger, but she will send me the schedules and vulnerable points. She is also preparing a generous dowry for the wedding, including Kiri's forbidden scroll, confidential information, research notes, and more."
To Kiri's inhabitants, Mizukage Terumi Mei appeared to be legitimately suspecting that they would soon face conflict and was moving resources and information around to establish an effective defense at minimum.
No one had yet noticed the sudden increase in casualties during B, A, and S-rank missions. They blamed it on a streak of bad luck and growing tension.
No one realized that the new defenses, seemingly stronger and more consolidated, would actually make an outside invasion easier if approached in a specific manner.
No one found it strange that the Mizukage was reviewing Kiri's forbidden scroll and the archive's most important notes in preparation for the next attack.
In their eyes, the Mizukage was doing everything possible to protect them. They did not have the slightest suspicion about her true intentions!
In fact, part of the village's attention was focused on the ring the Mizukage wore on her finger. People were dying to know who possessed the courage to be involved with that woman, but Terumi seemed far too shy to provide any details.
She always claimed everyone would find out once this period of tension was over.