[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-water-shadow-is-strong-but-excessively-caut":3,"chapter-this-water-shadow-is-strong-but-excessively-caut-this-mizukage-is-strong-but-excessively-cautious-chapter-187":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","This Mizukage Is Strong, but Far Too Cautious",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2194498,3774,"Chapter 187","this-mizukage-is-strong-but-excessively-cautious-chapter-187",187,"\u003Cp>\"Hokage, let's be direct. What is the matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shimura Danzo had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with Sarutobi Hiruzen; from his form of address, one could not tell at all that the two were once partners who had braved life and death together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding this, Sarutobi Hiruzen showed no concern, the kindly smile on his face never changing in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sarutobi Hiruzen took another puff from the pipe in his hand, then spoke unhurriedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hanzo of the Salamander just sent word; the Rain Nin have chosen to declare war on the Leaf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice reached the ears of the four people present, and all four revealed expressions of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has that old poison-master of the Rain Village gone insane?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shimura Danzo mocked with disdain, his words showing not a shred of respect for Hanzo of the Salamander, while a hint of joy flickered deep in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, upon hearing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both furrowed their brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evident that the three held vastly different attitudes toward war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, before the news of the Rain Nin declaring war on us arrived—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Border scouts detected large-scale movements of Rain Nin heading toward the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is highly likely that Hanzo of the Salamander is not merely declaring war on the Leaf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sarutobi Hiruzen opened another intelligence report, which finally brought a look of realization to Mitokado Homura's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hanzo of the Salamander is playing a grand game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitokado Homura exclaimed, a look of profound thought flashing in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all old foxes who had been famous in the ninja world for many years; Hanzo's intentions naturally could not escape their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, following this line of reasoning, it is highly probable that the Rain Nin have also declared war on the Rock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, there is no reason for him to only declare war on us and the Sand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Utatane Koharu analyzed rationally, a hint of gravity flashing in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Danzo, have your agents lurking in the Rock send the intelligence back as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We must verify this conjecture immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Sarutobi Hiruzen's guess coincided with Utatane Koharu's, for the sake of caution, he still ordered Danzo to utilize the Root's intelligence network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzo also realized the severity of the situation and agreed directly to Sarutobi Hiruzen's request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if this Hanzo of the Salamander is a rare genius in the ninja world—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is, after all, from the Rain, and ultimately cannot achieve great things; he is not worth mentioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitokado Homura said slowly, the glasses he wore glinting with a sharp light under the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This confidence of his stemmed from his arrogance regarding the Leaf's formidable strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With the strength of the Rain, it is impossible for them to move against three great nations simultaneously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The reason he dares to defeat them one by one—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is nothing more than his calculation that the great nations are wary of each other and will not take the initiative to deal with the Rain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Hanzo of the Salamander is taking this opportunity to attempt to drive the hands of the great nations out of the Land of Rain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Based on the movements of the Rain Nin, it is not hard to see that he wants to squeeze the 'soft persimmon' first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly stated Hanzo of the Salamander's intentions; after all, the other party had no intention of hiding it—this was a genuine \"overt scheme.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If nothing goes wrong, the Sand has already deployed a large amount of force to the border of the Land of Rivers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(The small country between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind is the Land of Rivers.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mitokado Homura revealed a smile and said slowly, not caring in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that in the hearts of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura, not only did they not take the Rain Nin seriously, but they also looked down upon the Sand, which was also one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among the five great nations, there were differences in strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, the strongest was undoubtedly the Leaf, followed by the Rock and the Cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sand had basically remained in the \"weakest\" position for years, while the Mist was slightly stronger than the Sand, but only to a limited extent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, the Mist's strength was on par with the Rock and the Cloud, but years of internal strife had further weakened the Mist's power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had essentially been stuck in the \"second to last\" position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Ryosuke's time on the throne was still short, which was an unavoidable matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Rain Nin's surprise attack on the Sand is also because they see the Sand's strength as the weakest of the three.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Following this order, the Rain Nin should only choose to move against us last.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utatane Koharu echoed Mitokado Homura; these two were not only fellow disciples of the Second Hokage and Sarutobi Hiruzen's peers, but they were also a married couple, and their conversation had a distinct air of \"the husband sings and the wife follows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's just a question of whether that time will ever come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utatane Koharu added, a look of indifference flashing in her eyes, her attitude similar to that of her husband, Mitokado Homura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The implication was nothing more than saying that with the Rain Nin's strength, they were likely no match for the Sand or Rock Nin, and it wouldn't even be their turn to fight the Leaf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But we cannot let the Rain Nin make the Leaf lose face for nothing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am willing to serve as commander and show the Rain Nin a thing or two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shimura Danzo, standing to the side, snorted coldly and requested to lead the battle with burning eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, but he remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\" X2\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could speak, the couple Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stopped Danzo's idea in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of dissatisfaction crossed Danzo's eyes, and one of his hands clenched into a fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Going to war now does not serve the interests of the Leaf.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1047,"2026-06-17T05:01:41.164Z","2026-06-17T05:05:37.377Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","9eaae728c4669edf962aa6a2cd1f77136cd19f55aa6de77f44188ea7c320705b","this-mizukage-is-strong-but-excessively-cautious-chapter-188","this-mizukage-is-strong-but-excessively-cautious-chapter-186",533,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-mizukage-is-strong-but-excessively-cautious-cover.jpg"]