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A/N - Thank you, Juan Arizmendi for becoming Azure Awakening Patreón!
<<<>>>
"So, it's confirmed that Kumo is not going to retreat, and they're hiring more ships and preparing a larger army to invade us?" The question was directed toward Ao, who still held control over most of Kiri's information-gathering forces.
"Yes," Ao responded solemnly. "I don't think there's even a chance of Kumo stopping their invasion unless we defeat them."
Despite the recent victory, the situation was quickly becoming more dangerous. If Kumo brought their full forces, things would escalate beyond control.
"Do we know what Konoha is waiting for? And more importantly, are they going to invade us or attack Kumo once their army leaves the Land of Lightning?" Mei asked, staring intensely at the open map. She was analyzing countermeasures, searching for a way to stop Kumo without losing too many lives.
"There's news that Konoha is moving its army toward Iwa and Suna. I suspect something big is happening," Ao said, his expression grim. The others in the tent had never truly experienced what a Great War meant, but he had.
"I'm afraid another Great War is unavoidable," he added with a quiet sigh.
"I think that's good news," Maki said, standing up. "At the very least, we can relax knowing the Hidden Leaf won't be attacking us. Besides, why should we care what happens to Konoha, Iwa and Suna. The weaker they get, better for us. Now let's focus on Kumo."
She walked over to the large map on display.
"We know A's forces are stuck on this island. They can't move unless Kumogakure sends ships. How can we counter that?" she asked, looking around the tent, expecting the more experienced members to weigh in.
"Maybe we should relocate our main forces," Todo, one of Ao's advisors, offered. "Set up camp on the island between them and Kumo, so their ships can't get through without passing us."
The eyepatch covering his left eye made him resemble Ao now. He'd lost it in the fight with Kumo, but still, his tone was calm, suggesting confidence.
"That could work," Mei responded, unimpressed. "But if A manages to reach us along with Kumo's main forces, we'll be in serious trouble."
"How would they reach us? They can't walk on water for that long," Todo grumbled, still firmly backing his idea.
Mei opened her mouth to explain why she disagreed, but before she could, Kaoru stood up, catching everyone's attention immediately.
"I think you're all too focused on defense," he said, a confident smile spreading across his face. There was something different about him now. A shift in his presence. His voice, his posture, everything had changed.
'He's grown so quickly during this war,' Mei chuckled inwardly, a strange sense of pride blooming in her chest.
"The last time, we didn't wait for Kumo to reach us. We saw a perfect opening and struck first. We sank their ships, destroyed their supplies, and killed a good number of their shinobi."
Kaoru walked beside Maki now, pointing to the island where Raikage's forces were positioned.
"We suffered casualties… important ones. But the mission was still a success. We won because Kumo didn't expect an attack. They thought we'd wait and fight them on the sea."
He scanned the room. Once he confirmed he had everyone's attention, he continued.
"If we decide to wait now, or move our camp, we're giving Kumo what they need: time. Time to hire more vessels. Keep in mind, they're not building those ships. They're hiring them."
He looked around again, showing a complacent smile. He was smug because no one else saw the obvious advantage.
"The word must have already spread that A lost all the ships he had. So, how expensive do you think it'll be for them to hire more now? The owners will be reluctant. No one wants to risk their treasured ships."
Kaoru gave a small smirk.
"What would you do if you owned one of those ships? You know Kumo will pay a fortune, so you'd go to negotiate, right? But if the moment those ships arrive, the vessels are destroyed, sunk right in front of Kumo's nose, what would happen then?"
Kaoru was enjoying seeing how everyone's faces lit up as they realized what he was suggesting.
"Because if the ships are destroyed before the contract is signed, the ship owners are not just losing a payday. They're losing their precious source of transportation as it won't be compensated. That fear alone would make it harder for Kumo to find new vessels. And those they do find will cost even more."
He finished with a smug, confident smile.
"Wait… are you saying we should invade Kumo?" Todo asked, trying to sound respectful, but clearly showing on his face that he thought the idea was ridiculous.
"No," Kaoru responded. "We're not invading Kumo. We're infiltrating their docks, sinking their ships and getting out." This time, he was pointing at the spot on the map indicating a massive port where Kumo was currently gathering its vessels. One of the largest in the Land of Lightning.
"And who would even…" Todo began, but Kaoru cut him off before the question could finish forming.
"I'll go, of course," Kaoru said brightly, grinning as if someone had just offered him a vacation. "There's no one better at fighting on water than me. And with both the Raikage and the Eight-Tails out of the picture, there's no one in Kumogakure who can stop me at sea."
His smile widened, and there wasn't a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"All I need is a few strong shinobi to cover me if something goes wrong and I'll become a nightmare for any ship that even thinks of sailing into Kumo's harbor."
He puffed his chest slightly, showing confidence in his skills.
"Are you planning to become a pirate now?" Mei laughed, shaking her head, but her eyes drifted toward Maki, who was quietly watching Kaoru.
'She's not loving the idea,' Mei thought with a quiet sigh. She could already see it, Maki's internal conflict waging war behind those eyes. 'Maki the sister is going to try and kill the plan. Shame. It's a good one.'
While Maki hesitated, weighing Kaoru's plan against her instinct to protect him, the rest of the council looked on with admiration.
'Suiren, you were right,' Orihime thought, her eyes welling with emotion. 'Both of them really are exceptional.'
'I knew he was clever… but I didn't expect this level of strategic thinking,' Shin thought to himself, watching his student with proud eyes. He had considered a similar plan, but hesitated knowing it would inevitably place Kaoru in danger.
But the one most impressed was Ao.
'The sister is already S-rank at such young age and the brother is strong enough to face jonin as an eleven-year-old.'
His gaze shifted from Kaoru to Maki, who were still locked in a silent exchange of glances.
Ao smiled.
'These two… if given time to grow, they'll make the Land of Water one of the strongest nations on the continent.'
He no longer saw himself as part of Kirigakure. That tie had been already severed. His future was now bound to Takimura. And though he hadn't said it aloud, he had already begun to assume the role of Maki's advisor, fulfilling the final wish of an old friend.
"Ru," Maki finally said, exhaling. "Who do you want to take with you?"
She had chosen. Maki the commander had triumphed over Maki the sister. The plan was too valuable to ignore.
Kaoru beamed, his gratitude shining through as he stepped forward.
"A few of those pirates I brought back with me. Some people from Takimura. And if Lord Ao has any recommendations from his forces, I'd welcome them. I need people I can trust, people who are capable at sea."
"Ru," Mei spoke up suddenly. "Take Akane." Her expression faltered for a moment, a hint of sadness passing behind her eyes.
"She needs the change… and her close-combat skills will be good for you."
It was more for Akane than for Kaoru, but he didn't mind. He trusted her completely. And besides, training his Chakra Rotation would go much faster with Akane around, she was far ahead of him in that regard.
"Kaoru, I recommend Mizuki too," Shin said. But the smile Kaoru gave in return said it all. He'd already spoken to her. She had agreed before the plan had even been presented.
"Alright, Kaoru's plan is solid," Maki said, folding her arms. "But that doesn't mean the rest of us should sit still and do nothing." She turned back to the map, waiting for others to make suggestions.
"How about we do the same? Hit their ships before they even set sail?"
"Instead of that," Ao interjected, "what about the pirate clans in Kiri? Are they all still loyal to Kirigakure?"
The question sounded simple on the surface, but Maki caught the real meaning behind it immediately.
"That's one of the things I wanted to bring up," she said. "The head of the Shegachi clan asked me for a private meeting a few days ago. I didn't meet her then, because, honestly, considering my… condition caused by this brat's disappearance, if I'd gotten angry, I might've killed her."
There was no sarcasm in her voice, only truth. Of everyone on the council, Maki harbored the deepest resentment toward Kirigakure. Her willingness to even entertain diplomacy was already a massive compromise.
"I've already sent a messenger to her. She'll arrive in a few hours," Maki continued. "Her clan's nothing more than a band of merchants and pirates… but they're the largest in Kiri now."
She'd done her research. The Shegachi hadn't participated in the war against Takimura. They hadn't sent troops or blades. What they did send, however, was money. Funding the Mizukage in silence.
"They didn't get involved in the fighting," Maki added. "And that means they are independent enough to make their own decisions… and the Mizukage has little influence over them."
The Shegachi clan had been staying far from politics, and because of that, they had more independence than the other clans, but the new clan head was not content with their current standing and was slowly transforming the Shegachi.
"We are also invited to a strategy meeting in Kiri camp," she muttered, her tone turning bitter. "With that bastard Yagura."
Ao frowned but said nothing at first. Then, to everyone's surprise, he spoke.
"Lady Maki… take Lady Mei in my place."
The tent fell silent.
Ao's words weren't just a suggestion. They were a declaration. If Maki represented him at a formal Kiri summit, it would mean only one thing: Ao had officially left the Mist.
"I've already spoken with my men," Ao continued in a calm voice. "All five hundred of us, along with our families, agree. It's time we make our loyalties clear."
A quiet beat passed before Maki responded.
Then she grinned, her earlier fury melting away.
"Thank you, Lord Ao. I promise you won't regret your decision."
<<<>>>
Kaoru left the meeting feeling triumphant. The plan had been accepted. Now came the boring part - preparation.
He would be gone for months, most likely until the war ended. There would be no returning until the mission was complete. His task was simple in theory, destroy as many ships as possible, but in execution, it would be long, dangerous, and isolated. If Kaoru made a serious mistake, the help would not be able to arrive quickly.
"Kaoru, how did it go?" Mizuki was waiting just outside, her eyes betraying her eagerness even though her posture remained composed.
"Everyone agreed," he said, beaming.
Mizuki blushed lightly, then gave a faint smile. "That's great. I'm glad we'll be hunting Kumo's ships. We need to end this..."
She trailed off, turning sharply toward the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Hunting the ships, huh?" Emma's voice rang out, laced with amusement. "Aren't the prince and princess the least bit bothered that they'll be ruining innocent lives? Or do you believe merchants are just another type of scum - expendable, as long as it benefits your side?"
The words were aimed at Kaoru, but they struck something deeper in Mizuki, a wound neither of them had known was still open.
'Should I kill her right here and now?' Kaoru genuinely considered it for a moment. But she was still one of the best navigators they had access to. Most of the shinobi he'd be taking from Takimura were dependable and strong, but they knew little about the sea. Emma's skills were rare. Unfortunately.
"Keep talking like that," Kaoru said coldly, "and you'll lose the right to walk and speak freely."
His anger sharpened as he saw Mizuki's face, her expression had closed off again, hurt slipping behind her usual calm.
'Is bringing her along a good idea?' Kaoru clenched his jaw. 'I'm not sure anymore.'
**
A/N -
I was bored yesterday and wanted to find a good, new anime to watch… but after scrolling through page after page, nothing really caught my interest. Newer anime just doesn't seem to hit the same for me, perhaps I'm getting older xD
I gave TBATE a try, but honestly, I think I'd rather stick to the manhwa version instead. On the bright side, I'm super excited for the Lord of the Mysteries anime coming this summer. Can't wait for that one!
Character Notes:
Kaoru – Pirate King Trainee – Captain Jack would be proud.
Maki – Commander vs. Sister – "Brain said 'good plan,' heart said 'choke him and lock him in the village.' Brain won. Barely."
Emma – Professional Problem Child – "Specializing in inserting existential crises where none were needed. Also apparently immune to survival instincts."
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