"Mizukage-sama, these are the recent applications from clans and shinobi who've expressed interest in the Hyuga clan's Byakugan…"
Inside the repaired Mizukage office, a female ANBU placed a thick stack of forms on Kaguya Ren's desk, speaking with careful awkwardness as he worked with his head lowered.
"By the latest count, there are 237 qualified women who have submitted applications. About twice that number were rejected for failing to meet the requirements. When do you plan to have Hyuga Makoto begin work?"
"After I return from the talks."
Ren rubbed his brow as he looked at the still-alarming pile—this was already the "carefully filtered" list.
"Seriously… the Byakugan is strong, sure, but there are way too many married women on this list."
"Well… if we're talking about which clan has the highest number of married women applying," the ANBU added timidly, "the Kaguya clan is leading by an overwhelming margin, Mizukage-sama…"
"Cough—cough—" Ren hacked, nearly choking.
"…That's… probably my fault."
He leaned back in his chair, half helpless, half exasperated.
"I don't even know where the rumor leaked from. I only said once that 'compared to the Sharingan, I prefer the Byakugan a little more.' Somehow the clan elders heard it and immediately decided the Byakugan is the one-and-only 'mandatory accessory' for the Shikotsumyaku…"
"Isn't it?" the ANBU blurted, eyes wide.
"…Forget I said anything."
Ren sighed and turned to another stack.
"If I remember correctly, even though I only opened applications for the Byakugan, plenty of people said they're more interested in the Sharingan. Do we have that headcount?"
"About the same as the Byakugan applicants," the ANBU reported. "Since you said it will take several more years before we can 'open' Uchiha Shisui's usage rights, we didn't filter candidates according to your requirements…"
"…Raise Hyuga Makoto's and Uchiha Shisui's daily food and medical待遇 to the highest level," Ren said flatly, doing the mental math on the two unfortunate boys' future workload. A chill ran down his spine. "If they die young at their posts, it'll be… ugly."
"Understood."
The ANBU vanished as silently as she had arrived, leaving Ren alone with a mountain of governance.
"Damn it… why doesn't Kirigakure have a brainy civil-service group like the Nara clan?" Ren raked a hand through his hair, irritation rising. "If I have to do everything myself, when do I have time to research and get stronger?"
As he tried to recall if there was anyone in the village who could share the burden, a short, baby-faced shinobi knocked and stepped into the office, expression stiff with unease.
"Yagura?" Ren's eyes brightened. "What is it?"
"…Kaguya Ren." Yagura took a deep breath. "You want me to accompany the Third Mizukage as his guard to the peace talks with Konoha. Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Ren propped his cheek on one hand, tone light.
"I was born under the Third's rule," Yagura said slowly, voice tight. "I grew up under it. I rose under it. Even if you're right—and the Third was a puppet controlled by genjutsu for all those years… the one I served was still the Third Mizukage I saw."
He glanced toward the portrait in the office, then looked back.
"Do you really think someone like me can simply stand alongside you—someone who toppled him, and will force him to bear all that infamy?"
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Boring. You think you're a loyalist, so you can't 'mix' with me?"
"Then answer me: why did you 'serve' him? Because you believed he could govern Kirigakure better? Or simply because he sat in the Mizukage's chair?"
"…!"
Yagura froze.
Why had he been loyal?
Because the Third elevated him to jōnin? No. In Kirigakure, talent and strength would have carried him there sooner or later regardless of who ruled.
Because the Third governed well?
He had believed that—until Ren put those brutal, undeniable numbers on the table. Until everyone saw how few successors Kirigakure had. Until the war's humiliations made it impossible to pretend.
So it was simply loyalty to the village—loyalty to whoever sat on the throne?
Then shouldn't he be kneeling before the one endorsed by the Third, approved by the elder council, and recognized by the Water Country's daimyo?
Ren clicked his tongue.
"Look at you. A simple question, and even a genius jōnin like you can't answer. All you can do is drown in confusion. Kirigakure's 'spiritual civilization' really is a long road."
Ren stood and approached, staring into Yagura's eyes.
"There are plenty of people like you, aren't there?"
"…Yes," Yagura admitted, voice low.
"And yet your education drills one thing into you: even if you have to discard emotion, even if you have to sacrifice your life, you complete the village's mission."
Ren leaned close, voice a whisper by Yagura's ear.
"If completing the village's mission is above everything… what is the point of your 'inner struggle'?"
"Is the Mizukage Kirigakure's Mizukage—or is Kirigakure the Mizukage's Kirigakure? Is that really a hard question?"
Yagura stood rigid, silent for a long time.
Then, in a voice so weak it barely carried, he murmured, "Are you… some kind of heart-devouring demon, Kaguya Ren?"
"I'm just saying out loud what everyone already knows," Ren said calmly, patting Yagura's shoulder. "People only pretend not to see it because of convenience, fear, excuses."
"I'd rather spare us pointless infighting and bloodshed."
Ren stretched, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the weight of the office.
"If you can't turn the corner right away, fine. I'm young. I've got plenty of time to make stiff-headed people like you understand my way."
He waved dismissively.
"Go. Reset your mindset. In two days we leave for the talks. Don't let them think Kirigakure only has me to stand on the stage, Yagura."
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