- It's quiet for now, but I have no doubt that as soon as the failure of the ambush and the swordsmen's deaths become known, they'll be on full alert," the jonin said quietly, nervously crumpling the scrap of cloth in his fist that hadn't been tucked into his pocket.
As the village leader's closest associate, he was destined to share the Third's fate, and the outlook was bleak with the latest failure.
The blow might not have been so severe, but Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shuu, in addition to the fighting elite of the Mist, also served as a kind of counterweight to the clans, if not in number, then certainly in strength.
With the loss of five members of the organization, and the fact that one of the remaining members belonged to the Hozuki clan, only Jinpachi Munashi, who was noticeably weaker than the strongest of the seven swordsmen, was left on the side of the head of the Touman, and this deterrent to the clans had all but disappeared.
- Mitake, as soon as the observers give the signal, launch plan B," Kage said after a few moments of silence, giving the jonin in front of him a hard stare, "let the clans bleed to death before they can take advantage of their numerical advantage.
- Mizukage-sama, are you sure? Utakata is still too young to control the biju's power with confidence," the jonin, who had faced the tailed beast in the last war, shuddered.
It was then that they had lost the Sanbi jinchuriki to a weapon of mass destruction from Iwagakure.
- 'I'm sure,' the Mist leader cut off, 'even releasing the biju will be more devastating to them than to us.
- 'It will be done, Mizukage-sama,' Mitake bowed his head.
- In the same way, we should prepare for the coup attempt and prepare the loyalists for the first strike, even if we have to strike it ourselves.
- Will do," the jonin bowed his head.
- And send Mangetsu on a mission to keep him out of the way while you still have time, preferably without the sword scroll.
- Yes, Mizukage-sama," the subordinate nodded and turned around, almost running out of the office.
Having received clear instructions, he calmed down and concentrated, preparing for the inevitable.
The leader of the Mist looked at the cracks on the desk for a few minutes, then abruptly stood up and began to pace the room, sometimes muttering to himself:
- Nothing is over yet, it's just beginning!
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