Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?-Chapter 288: An Opportunity to Overturn the Old Order!

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Land of Wind - Sunagakure.

The Kazekage Tower conference room was similarly packed with elders and representatives from various districts.

The Fifth Kazekage, Baki, his hands flat on the table, issued his command. "Mobilize all available Shinobi! Tonight, advance at full speed! Target—Kusagakure!"

"There, rendezvous with the Shinobi forces of the other three Villages! Attack Konoha together!"

"Simultaneously, Elder Chiyo will lead the elite puppet master units! Strike the Konoha-Suna trade route! Attack Konoha on a secondary front!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"This campaign against Konoha must succeed! The Daimyo—has no more funds to support Sunagakure. From now on, everything depends on the strength of our Suna Shinobi!"

"If we cannot carve out a sufficiently large piece of fatty meat from Konoha, Sunagakure faces a bleak future."

——

Land of Water - Kirigakure.

Gengetsu gathered all the elders of the traditional warmongering faction. Ao presided over the war council.

"The new generation of the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen, led by Zabuza Momochi, will use the Kannabi Bridge as an entry point! Strike Konoha's coastal port and the surrounding islands! Our main Kirigakure forces will travel through the Land of Lightning, departing from West Port, and rendezvous on the border of the Land of Earth."

The new generation of the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen!

Besides the traditional, long-sealed blades, Gengetsu had commissioned the Land of Water's finest swordsmiths to forge several—substitute swords.

While certainly inferior to the originals, they were—adequate.

Barely granting this generation's strongest seven Shinobi the ability to "destroy a small nation overnight."

Zabuza, seated among the elders despite his youth, interjected, "Striking the surrounding islands is easy. But what if we encounter resistance from the elders stationed there?"

Kirigakure's caste system!

Even though Zabuza was currently Kirigakure's most promising "Young Genius Shinobi," a leader of the new generation, his caste was still just Vaishya.

And those elders, born into the highest caste, even the weakest among them, were Brahmin.

Meaning, a Vaishya's—weapon—had no right to strike a Brahmin's—noble parts. It couldn't transmit the Will of Water upwards. The Will of Water could only flow from higher castes to lower ones.

Similarly, even if the Brahmin elders committed transgressions, only Brahmin Shinobi could execute them. A lower caste blade could not strike a higher caste neck. To do so was insubordination, a violation of taboo...

Even Ao, the acting Mizukage, couldn't make such a decision unilaterally. He looked towards Gengetsu, seeking guidance.

Gengetsu tapped his cane. "Those elders lingering on the surrounding islands—can no longer be considered allies of our Village."

"If encountered—kill them without mercy!"

Zabuza, his face hidden behind white bandages, licked his lips. His blade thirsted!

To turn his sword against the Brahmin elders—This was an opportunity every commoner Shinobi dreamed of.

Gengetsu continued, "This battle concerns the future of Kirigakure! It is a battle for survival! Afterwards, everyone will receive what they deserve."

"Lord Gengetsu," Zabuza interjected again, "Since this is a battle for Kirigakure's survival, I am curious—Where is Lord Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage?"

"Silence! Zabuza, that is not your place to ask!" an elder snapped nervously. "You overstep!"

But Zabuza remained unfazed, his exposed eyes fixed on Gengetsu, gleaming with a dangerous light.

As if—

If Gengetsu couldn't provide a satisfactory answer, he might do something—unfriendly towards the elders.

The Mizukage was the Village's strongest warrior, the only path to breaking Kirigakure's caste barrier.

But from another perspective, wasn't the Mizukage just the strongest dog chosen by the elders to protect their interests and safety?

And now—the strongest, most loyal dog had been missing for months.

It was only natural for ambitious and capable Shinobi like Zabuza to have—other ideas.

Ordinary Mist Shinobi might simply aspire to replace him, becoming the next loyal, powerful dog within the caste system.

But Zabuza was different. He wanted to overturn the rules, to force these elders to become his dogs, then implement reforms from the top down.

But Gengetsu was Gengetsu. He'd survived two Bloody Mist Mizukage, his power unshaken.

Even sensing the dangerous undertones in Zabuza's question, he replied calmly, "The Mizukage has already infiltrated Konoha. He is Kirigakure's final trump card, ready to strike from within."

"Zabuza, I hope you won't do anything detrimental to Kirigakure's unity."

"As a Mist Shinobi, you know where your blade should point!"

"After this is accomplished, I expect to receive what I deserve..." Zabuza averted his gaze. "Then, Lord Gengetsu, I shall take my leave and prepare the attack on Konoha's harbor via the Kannabi Bridge."

After the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen departed, an elder exclaimed angrily, "Lord Gengetsu! That Zabuza—he's too arrogant! He shows no respect for us elders!"

"Perhaps we should eliminate him now, while he's still in the Village," another suggested, making a throat-slitting gesture.

Gengetsu struck the floor with his staff. "Is this any time for internal strife?! Kirigakure is weak! We must unite all available forces, offer whatever incentives are necessary!"

"Ao—issue the orders in my name as acting Mizukage. Let our Mist Shinobi mobilize."

The Fourth Shinobi World War—began in silence.

--

Gojo Kaigetsu, draped in the Hokage's ceremonial robe, sat firmly in the Hokage's office.

Minato, having departed for the Falls of Truth to attend to his wife and child, had made a decision that defied ancestral tradition before leaving—

He'd bypassed the entire nomination and election process, ignoring the fact that Gojo Kaigetsu was officially only a Chunin, and entrusted his Hokage robe and seal entirely to Gojo.

Minato himself, embracing simplicity, donned a traditional Konoha Shinobi uniform and departed with Kushina's delivery and protection teams for the Falls of Truth.

His final instruction to Gojo Kaigetsu was: "Acting Hokage, or Fifth Hokage—Kaigetsu-kun, the choice is yours!"

And just like that, Gojo Kaigetsu found himself robed in power.

He hadn't asked for it—Minato had insisted!

Gojo Kaigetsu toyed with the Hokage hat in his hand. This symbol of ultimate power in the Shinobi World—was now his?

Look at the other Villages—endless factional struggles, assassination plots, constant conflict over the Kage position. In Konoha, however, Minato seemed eager to retire, simply handing the Fifth Hokage title to Gojo Kaigetsu.

Was the Hokage title—worthless?

Knock, knock—

A customary knock sounded at the Hokage office door.

"Enter!"

Click~

Kakashi pushed the door open, his eyes widening instinctively as he saw Gojo Kaigetsu, clad in the Hokage robe, seated in the Hokage's chair. He froze. This—Why is Lord Gojo wearing his teacher's clothes?

Rebellion? Usurpation? Should I address him as Fifth Hokage, or turn and run, alerting the Anbu and Hokage Guard Platoon?

But Kakashi reacted quickly, snapping to attention and saluting.

"Lord Gojo, Tokubetsu Jonin Hatake Kakashi reporting as ordered."

Hatake Kakashi stood before the Hokage's desk, hands clasped behind his back, posture ramrod straight, facing the man with the black blindfold and ceremonial robe.

Just like when Gojo Kaigetsu had first met with Minato Namikaze.

"That won't do, Squad Leader Hatake. When on duty, address me by my title—call me—"

"Lord Fifth Hokage~"

"Ah—Yes! Lord Fifth Hokage!"

Gojo Kaigetsu waved a hand dismissively, accepting Kakashi's loyalty. "The matter in the Land of Lightning you were assigned—how progresses it?"

"Proceeding smoothly."

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