I want to use bold text for conversations in the system, but I'm too lazy to do it manually, and webnovel doesn't support "**" for bold and "*" for italics.
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Chapter 020: Terumi Mei: Facing Three Hokage? Screw That! (Seeking Data)
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Tobirama Senju]: ...
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: Um, you're skilled in water-style jutsu, right?
[Tobirama Senju]: Brat from Kirigakure!
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: You're good at Water Shockwave, Water Dragon Bullet, right?
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: And Water Wall... You can even use large-scale techniques in places without water, like wastelands or deserts, essentially creating water sources artificially.
[Tobirama Senju]: ...
[Tobirama Senju]: ... Brat from Kirigakure, what are you trying to say?
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: So it really is you.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: First time meeting. I'm a jonin from Kirigakure, currently a candidate for Mizukage. Based on how things are going, I'll likely become the Fifth Mizukage.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: Right now, I'm undergoing evaluations and assessments from the elders.
Terumi Mei introduced herself.
But.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Pfft... Hahaha, Tobirama, so your fame comes from water-style jutsu!
[Tobirama Senju]: ...
[Tobirama Senju]: This is all because of you, big brother! What I excel at are forbidden jutsu!
[Tobirama Senju]: The forbidden jutsu I developed myself!
[Tobirama Senju]: But big brother always said those techniques were too dangerous and banned them. I didn't want my hard work to go to waste, so I wrote them in the Scroll of Seals.
[Tobirama Senju]: But... other ninja only ever saw me using water-style.
[Tobirama Senju]: So, this is all big brother's fault.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Uh... I didn't think that far ahead back then.
[Tobirama Senju]: ... That's exactly why I can't do anything about you.
Life is hard, and Tobirama sighs.
Being a Hokage but being mistaken for a Mizukage is also frustrating.
[Tobirama Senju]: @Minato Namikaze, Minato, are you skilled in fire-style?
[Minato Namikaze]: Well... I'm good at wind-style.
[Tobirama Senju]: Oh... That's not bad.
Tobirama seemed to regain some pride.
Because.
Not all of Konoha's Hokage specialize in fire-style.
At least his big brother, himself, and Minato don't.
So Terumi Mei's method of identifying people based on their jutsu specialty just shows her lack of experience.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: ...
Terumi Mei.
Terumi Mei had already confirmed that these people were the real deal—past Hokage of Konoha.
Especially Hashirama Senju. According to notes left behind in the Mizukage's office by the First Mizukage: [Hashirama Senju is so strong he doesn't seem human, with infinite chakra, like fighting a tailed beast].
So this was probably real.
Not just that.
Even the Second Hokage, Tobirama, had terrifyingly oppressive chakra.
"..." Terumi Mei.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: ...
She suddenly wondered if joining this group chat had been a good move or not.
Originally, she thought the First or Second Mizukage might be in the group.
As a successor, she could seek their guidance or advice.
But...
Looking at the member list:
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-), Members: 5
Members: Tobirama Senju, Big Dumb - Hashirama, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake]
"..." Terumi Mei.
These guys are all from Konoha!
And the other person in the group—the one being observed—Kitahara Kaede.
That black-haired, golden-eyed boy.
He's also wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
"..."
Damn it.
Both villages are in decline, so why does Konoha get so much help?
[Tobirama Senju]: By the way, Mizukage candidate, how did you get in here?
[Tobirama Senju]: Isn't this a Konoha group?
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: ...
Judging by the member distribution and numbers, it is indeed a Konoha-dominated group.
And she's the only outsider. But...
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: I think it's because of the group's name.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: First, it's called the "Descendant Chat Group."
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: You are all former Hokage, and I'm a future Mizukage.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: First, according to the system's evaluation, I have Kage-level strength.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: Second, in the history of the ninja world, Kirigakure is also part of that history.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: So, my ability to join suggests this group's scope might be much broader.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: Not limited to a single village, but aligned with the original First Hokage's vision.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: The Five Kage Summit—sitting down to discuss and build a peaceful ninja world.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: So I believe this group is conceptualized around the entire ninja world.
This explanation was essentially buttering up Hashirama.
Clearly, it was a cautious approach.
But.
Terumi Mei really did decide to play it safe.
Because this group connects the past, present, and future.
And right now, this group... damn it... is full of Konoha people.
Doesn't that mean the advantage lies with Konoha?
After the Bloody Mist era, Kirigakure can barely scrape together 10 genin candidates. What fighting power does it have left?
Her?
Yes.
She alone could carry Kirigakure.
The combined strength of the other Kirigakure ninja isn't even enough to challenge her.
But...
She definitely can't beat Tobirama Senju—a guy who's a Hokage but is more of a Mizukage than the actual Mizukage. His water-style mastery is at least on par with hers.
So he'd know exactly how to counter her water-style.
Even with her Lava and Boil Release...
Her chances are slim.
Not to mention, Tobirama has his big brother, Hashirama Senju.
This reminded Terumi Mei of another note left by the First Mizukage:
[Once, I witnessed the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha battle. The First Hokage handled the Nine-Tails like it was a chick. Absolutely terrifying.]
So just how strong was the First Hokage?
And Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen were originally modeled after Tobirama's innovations, adapted by the Second Mizukage to fit Kirigakure's style.
Thinking about it this way...
Her First and Second Mizukage are long gone... So how can she stand up now?
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: Although after the First Hokage's death, the Great Ninja Wars broke out, and Kirigakure was inevitably involved.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: But for thousands of years, people have been fighting each other.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: The one thing they never do is reflect on history.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: Though I'm just a woman, I want to look back at the past and choose a path toward peace for everyone.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: So, the first thing I'll do as the Fifth Mizukage is sign a peace treaty with Konoha lasting at least 30 years.
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: During my tenure, I will never declare war on Konoha.
This statement was quite something.
On one hand, it flattered Hashirama by invoking his ideals of peace.
It also distanced Kirigakure's past involvement in the wars from Hashirama's vision.
And finally, she emphasized her identity as a female kunoichi...
Terumi Mei was clearly skilled in diplomacy.
See.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: This...
Hashirama, who had initially planned to scold the Mizukage candidate for intruding, found himself at a loss for words.
In the end, he just nodded.
But.
[Tobirama Senju]: Mizukage, is your village in serious trouble? Like, if another Great Ninja War broke out, Kirigakure wouldn't survive?
"..."
[Future Mizukage - Terumi Mei]: ...
Terumi Mei fell silent.
Because... that hit the nail on the head.