Chapter 66

After tonight, the Mist Ninja Village would inevitably fall under Kaito's influence. His approach, however, wasn't one of sheer domination. If he overexerted his strength, he might risk obliterating the village entirely. A complete annihilation wouldn't serve his purposes—it would only make rebuilding and consolidating power more difficult in the future. Worse still, it would waste the valuable resources the village could provide once under his control.

A controlled show of force, however, would send the right message—a powerful deterrent to the Mist Ninja without plunging them into chaos. Kaito's leadership was rooted in careful calculation, unlike those whose ambition blinded them.

A group of his supporters, numbering in the hundreds, stood quietly behind him, ten meters from the gates of the Mist Ninja Village. Each of them burned with the desire for battle, but they kept their eagerness in check, remembering Kaito's clear instructions: tonight was about setting the stage, not mindless destruction.

Their loyalty was fierce, forged through Kaito's unyielding resolve and the clear direction he had provided over the past month. They'd witnessed his capabilities but hadn't yet had the chance to contribute. Tonight would be different. They would fight for something greater—a future with Kaito at the helm, not just of their clan, but of a transformed world.

As time passed, the Mist Ninjas began gathering at the village's entrance, hundreds arriving and quickly growing into the thousands. Among them stood Terumi Mei and Master Yuan, who remained hidden in the shadows, keeping a strategic distance from the larger forces.

Kaito glanced at Terumi Mei but said nothing. He'd already set the terms—her role tonight was to observe. If his plans came to fruition, the spectacle alone would solidify his position. She need only stay out of the way.

The entrance to Mist Ninja Village was now crowded with warriors. Despite the depletion caused by Obito's policies, those who remained were battle-hardened and disciplined. Still, their strength, while commendable, would not change the outcome tonight.

Suddenly, a voice broke the tension. "Who are you, and why have you attacked the Mist Ninja Village in the middle of the night?"

The Mist Ninja forces parted, revealing a green-haired figure with purple eyes, no more than twelve or thirteen years old but carrying the authority of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

Kaito's eyes narrowed as he calmly assessed the situation. The system's information confirmed what he already suspected: Yagura was a formidable foe, not to be taken lightly. His own power was considerable, but it was the larger political game that interested Kaito more.

"The Uchiha clan's leader, Kaito," he responded coldly.

Yagura's eyes widened briefly as recognition flashed across his face. "Uchiha?" he muttered, recalling the reports from Konoha about the Uchiha defection. What was Kaito doing here, so far from the Leaf Village?

Before Yagura could gather his thoughts, the sharp voice of the orange-haired man next to him cut through the silence. The man was easily recognizable—Fuguki Suikazan, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

"Why has the Uchiha clan left Konoha to show up here?"Fuguki Suikazan asked, his serrated teeth bared in a malicious grin. "And after destroying our gate, do you think Konoha is declaring war?"

Kaito remained unfazed, barely acknowledging the man's bluster. He had already seen through the power dynamics at play. The Mist Ninja were fractured, with factions like Terumi Mei's waiting to challenge the status quo.

His response was cool and calculated. "This news has already spread throughout the ninja world. Are you telling me the Mist Ninja Village remains in the dark?" He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "It seems your leadership is more concerned with concealing information than leading effectively."

Fuguki Suikazan's eyes flicked towards Yagura, suspicion beginning to brew within their ranks.

Yagura's face darkened. "This is Konoha's problem, not ours," he snapped. "And you haven't explained your purpose here."

"I was asked to correct the path your village has taken," Kaito replied, his voice icy yet measured. "The policies of recent years have weakened you, and it's time for a change."

Yagura's expression shifted, and he glanced subtly towards Terumi Mei, now standing a safe distance away from her own loyalists. Kaito knew this wasn't lost on him. The Mist Village was a powder keg, and Kaito's presence here had sparked the match.

Yagura was no fool. Kaito's very presence, the timing, the internal dissent—it was all too perfectly orchestrated. Still, Kaito needed to maintain control of the narrative. He wasn't here to destroy, but to shift the balance of power.

The tension between the two leaders was palpable. Yet Kaito wasn't focused on brute strength. His gaze was fixed on the bigger picture, the long-term plan that would see the Mist Village under new leadership, with or without Yagura.