Chapter 15

At night, Mizunuki Ryosuke was invited to attend a dinner at Mizunuki Long’s home with Lian.

The meaning of this meal was certainly not simple, and to a certain extent, it even went against the strategy Mizunuki Ryosuke followed of the "Golden Mean."

But even so, Mizunuki Ryosuke still came as invited.

Not for anything else, just to make Lian happy.

Mizunuki Ryosuke also saw Mizunuki Lian’s biological mother, Mizunuki Rokuka, for the first time, a beautiful woman who still had charm.

During the meal, Mizunuki Long and Mizunuki Rokuka were very polite to Ryosuke.

Excluding everyone’s status, the atmosphere at the dinner table had a bit of the feeling of a prospective son-in-law visiting for the first time.

Mizunuki Long didn't mention anything about the village or ninjas, but only asked about Mizunuki Ryosuke’s well-being regarding some trivial matters of life.

Mizunuki Ryosuke’s performance was also flawless, which made Mizunuki Long’s eyes show some appreciation.

After dinner, Mizunuki Ryosuke consciously said goodbye, and Mizunuki Long didn't keep him.

As the Mizukage and the leader of the Mizunuki clan, he should still keep the distance he should have with others.

Even if it didn't matter from any angle, Mizunuki Long had already shown an attitude of acceptance towards Ryosuke.

Even with Mizunuki Lian as a link, the relationship between the two should be at a gradual stage and should not be rushed.

On this point, Mizunuki Ryosuke and Mizunuki Long had a full tacit understanding.

On the pavilion of the simple and exquisite Japanese-style courtyard, Mizunuki Long looked at Mizunuki Ryosuke’s departing back, the luster in his eyes flickering.

A Shadow, a person who reigns at the pinnacle of a village, or even a country.

How many people who can hold the position of Shadow are simple characters?

The Jonin exam in the morning had already made Mizunuki Long vaguely see many things in Mizunuki Ryosuke.

In the eyes of an old fox like Mizunuki Long, Mizunuki Long’s strength was definitely not as simple as he revealed. ===== CHAPTER 29 =====

QQ

Combined with Mizunuki Ryosuke’s age, he could definitely be considered a "genius" level character.

Recalling the things that had happened to this young man recently, Mizunuki Long could basically conclude.

This young man is "hiding his clumsiness."

How could a clansman who had only awakened Ice Release for a few days create ninjutsu?

This is like an elementary school student who has only been learning math for a few days inventing the Pythagorean theorem.

It is true that he has talent, but at the same time, this bloodline might have been awakened for a long time.

Thinking of this, Mizunuki Long felt as if the young man just now was covered with a mysterious veil.

If it weren't for revealing some flaws, Mizunuki Long wouldn't have discovered at all that such a genius was hiding under his nose.

Although he saw through it, Mizunuki Long would not say it.

Because he knew very well in his heart that the situation of the Mizunuki clan was definitely not very good right now.

After a little careful thought, Mizunuki Long also seemed to roughly understand Mizunuki Ryosuke’s thoughts.

This sharp young man probably smelled the dangerous atmosphere in the village, which is why he didn't want to reveal his talent.

After all, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down; in the current precarious Hidden Mist Village, it seems that biding one’s time is the best choice.

It was precisely because he vaguely guessed Mizunuki Ryosuke’s thoughts that he agreed to Tian Tian Yuanshi’s proposal to promote Ryosuke to Special Jonin.

After all, being promoted to Jonin at this age is indeed too much of a spotlight.

Since this young man didn't want to stand at the forefront, Mizunuki Long was also willing to provide him with a layer of protection.

Thinking of this, Mizunuki Long couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Originally, he just wanted to operate behind the scenes to let the Mizunuki have one more Jonin so that they could have more say in the village.

But he never expected to discover a pillar.

"Cough, cough, cough."

After a fierce cough, Mizunuki Long looked at the blood on his palm, a trace of depth flashing in his eyes.

I don't know how long he can hold on?

Suddenly, he turned and wrote two names on a piece of white paper laid flat in front of him.

They were Ryosuke and Eiro.

"Which of you, in the end, can lead the Mizunuki further?"

Mizunuki Long muttered to himself, his eyes gradually becoming sharp.

In any case, as the leader of the Mizunuki clan, he had to stand his last post and try to create a good situation for his successors.

Returning home, Mizunuki Ryosuke also began to think about the things that had happened recently.

Combined with the latest information obtained, Mizunuki Ryosuke began to list the information he had mastered.

Although the Mizunuki clan now reigns at the pinnacle of the Hidden Mist, they also have countless enemies in the village.

Because the Third Mizukage’s control over the village is insufficient, the village has now fallen into a vortex of infighting and divided into several factions.

A Jonin promotion exam has already exposed enough information.

The current Hidden Mist.

In addition to the Mizukage faction, which symbolizes the Mizukage and the Mizunuki clan, there is also the opposition faction of Mist Anbu Minister Gouju Yagura.

Gouju Yagura is also the strongest challenger to the position of Mizukage.

According to Mizunuki Ryosuke’s judgment, Gouju Yagura dares to openly challenge the Mizukage’s authority, and his strength has at least reached the "Shadow" level, and he has other trump cards in his hands to ensure that he can confront the Mizukage head-on.

It’s just that I don't know what Gouju Yagura’s current state is, and whether he has been controlled?

Combined with the original work, Mizunuki Ryosuke judged that Gouju Yagura definitely played a key role in the process of Madara’s invasion of the Hidden Mist.

At the same time, Jonin squad leader Tian Tian Yuanshi also has a clear difference in position from the Mizukage; in Ryosuke’s judgment, this "old squad leader" should belong to the neutral faction.

But combined with some details during the Jonin exam, Mizunuki Ryosuke vaguely felt that this Jonin squad leader might already have a trend of leaning towards Gouju Yagura.

This is not good news for Mizunuki Ryosuke.

Finally, Mizunuki Ryosuke also listed the two other camps of "Ninja Clans" and "Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

It’s just that these two forces did not appear at the Jonin meeting, and Mizunuki Ryosuke had no way to judge their positions.

Ninja clans refer to other ninja clan forces besides the Mizunuki and Kaguya; the attitudes of the Mizunuki and Kaguya go without saying.

The most critical one is the attitude of the Hozuki clan.

The Hozuki clan, the main family of the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu, has gradually faded from view since the fall of the Second Generation.

But everyone knows that their influence and strength are still not bad, occupying many key departments in the Hidden Mist.

The Hozuki’s unique "Hydrification" bloodline also gives the Hozuki terrifying combat power in special environments.

Many small ninja clans are even more closely huddled together around the Hozuki clan, forming a not-so-bad force.

Finally, Mizunuki Ryosuke put a heavy mark on the "Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the elite ninja organization of the Hidden Mist.

Established and developed by the Second Mizukage, it has now reached its peak, consisting of seven elite Jonin holding different ninja swords, and is an extremely powerful force.

The seven working together to confront an ordinary Shadow-level powerhouse is not a problem at all.

Theoretically speaking, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen only obey the Mizukage’s orders, but from a practical point of view, Mizunuki Ryosuke put a big question mark on whether the Third Generation can command the Seven Ninja Swordsmen at present.

After careful thought, Mizunuki Ryosuke judged that the situation is still not optimistic, and he must not stand in the open at this moment.

Stay steady, "Golden Mean" to the end!

"The Second Rule of the Golden Mean: Never expose any of your trump cards when you don't need to expose yourself." ===== CHAPTER 30 =====