Naruto: I, Rasa, Am Innocent! Chapter 183 182: Old Era's Last Bastards! (voteNow!)

"I knew sothing was off from the start!"

"Everything was going fine, but my plans kept failing over and over. There had to be a traitor."

"Those useless bastards in the village and that incompetent Third Mizukage actually suspected ? ? Fuguki Suikazan, betraying the village?!"

Fuguki Suikazan snarled, voice thick with rage.

"So it was all Yagura's fucking conspiracy from the beginning!"

"That son of a bitch."

"He ruined the whole damn village just to grab the Mizukage seat. And he ruined too."

"All because I stood in his way!"

Fuguki's eyes burned blood-red.

Across from him, Jinpachi Munashi looked just as pissed.

"I can't believe that bastard Yagura personally added my na to the surrender list."

"I thought Sunagakure wanted dead so badly they put a bounty on my head."

"Turns out the one who really wants gone is that piece of shit Yagura."

"Scared I'd threaten his precious seat? Or terrified I'd eventually find out all the dirty shit he pulled?"

Jinpachi locked eyes with Fuguki.

"We're not letting this slide. We settle the score. Now."

Fuguki nodded hard.

"Damn right. We're making that fucker pay."

Fuguki's hatred ran deep. His future had been torched. He'd been branded a rogue ninja, hunted like an animal across the entire Land of Water. People spat on his na everywhere he went.

Worst of all—his wife, Kisa's mother, had died during one of those chases. The Mist ninja who actually killed her were already dead. But the real culprit, the man who set everything in motion, was still sitting pretty in the Mizukage Tower.

"So how the hell do we do it?" Jinpachi asked.

"Our Shark Skin and Exploding Blade groups have over a hundred crew and dozens of ninja. But against the full Hidden Mist? We're still outnumbered and outgunned."

"Yagura's definitely hiding inside the village like a coward."

Fuguki said, "We're not alone. The Taketori clan hates Yagura's guts too. We can reach out to them."

"Plus, after this rumor blew up, plenty of people inside the Mist are pissed at Yagura and still loyal to the Seven Ninja Swordsn. We're the last two left. If they're not riding with him, they'll ride with us."

"We can pull in way more recruits."

Jinpachi nodded.

"The Taketori are worth talking to, but they're ambitious bastards. They only want the Mizukage seat for themselves. Working with them is like bargaining with tigers—be careful as hell."

"Inside the Mist there are definitely people who still believe in the glory of the Seven. But ninja need more than ideals. They need food, money, safety."

"We don't have the resources to offer them shit."

Fuguki fell silent. Jinpachi had hit the nail on the head.

Right then a runner burst in.

"Captain Fuguki! Captain Jinpachi! There's an official from the Land of Water outside asking to see you."

"Land of Water minister?"

Fuguki and Jinpachi shared a look.

"Bring him in."

A plump official walked in monts later, smiling wide and keeping his posture low, showing maximum respect.

"Great news! Wonderful news, gentlen!"

"Captain Fuguki, Captain Jinpachi—the daimyo sends his warst regards…"

Fuguki cut him off with a wave.

"Skip the ass-kissing. Get to the point."

The official's smile twitched but recovered fast.

"Straight to business, Captain Fuguki. I like it. Here's why I'm here."

"The great age of voyages is here. The daimyo isn't so stubborn relic of the old era—he's ready to embrace change. The Land of Water has plenty of room for navigation groups."

"But he wants the groups operating near our waters to follow so basic rules. Nothing crazy—just enough so the coastal civilians don't get screwed over too badly."

"He wants those rules worked out together. Him, you, and Captain Jinpachi. Rules that work for the Land of Water and for both your groups."

"In exchange, the daimyo will officially recognize your Shark Skin and Exploding Blade groups. He'll hand you control over every other navigation group out there. He'll supply resources, long-term commissions, and block the Hidden Mist from coming after you."

Fuguki understood imdiately.

The daimyo saw he couldn't stop the navigation groups, so he wanted to bring them under his thumb—turn them into another kind of ninja village. Land of Water on top, groups on the bottom.

But that was fine.

Right now the Shark Skin and Exploding Blade groups couldn't stand eye-to-eye with the Land of Water anyway. Being beneath them was acceptable.

Get the resources. Grow stronger.

The sea was massive. Infinite. Who the hell knew what the future would bring?

First, solve the problems right in front of them.

They were short on cash. The daimyo's man had just walked in offering everything they needed.

No way in hell they were turning this down.

"My Shark Skin Navigation Group accepts."

"My Exploding Blade Navigation Group accepts."

The official bead.

(He'd pitched slightly different lines to each man, but it didn't matter. Cooperation was what counted. Good for the Land of Water ant good for him.)

The official had barely stepped out when Fuguki and Jinpachi sent runners toward the Hidden Mist to recruit, persuade, and make promises.

anwhile, inside the village, ANBU kept walking into Yagura's office with fresh reports.

"Lord Mizukage, not everyone believes the rumor. Most of us don't. We see everything you've done for the village. Without you, we would've collapsed even faster."

Yagura's expression softened a little.

Then he read the actual village chatter—and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsn were the true heart of the Hidden Mist!"

"Fuguki Suikazan should've been the real Mizukage!"

"If the Seven were still here, the village would be in way better shape than it is now…"

Those kinds of comnts made up nearly half the village.

Only half the people actually supported him.

"Completely fucking disappointing."