The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

Kaguya Yuta.

A prodigy of the Kaguya Clan, the feared and battle-hardened warriors of Kirigakure.

He awakened his Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) at the age of seven, became a full-fledged shinobi at eight, and was promoted to Jōnin by sixteen.

Once heralded as "the greatest genius in the history of the Kaguya Clan," Yuta was spoken of with the same reverence as Hōzuki Mangetsu and Momochi Zabuza, the strongest swordsmen of their generation.

Yet, from an early age, Yuta realized that he was different from the rest of his clan.

Unlike his kin, who reveled in reckless bloodlust and senseless combat, Yuta had foresight—a mind unclouded by the Kaguya Clan's archaic obsession with battle.

For years, he pretended to be just like them, feigning mindless aggression to blend in.

But in truth, his mind was constantly calculating, watching the Kaguya Clan blindly march toward their own destruction.

His clansmen took pride in their bodies, which were harder than steel, and their ability to tear through enemies with brute force. They refused to flee, saw tactics as weakness, and dismissed strategy as cowardice.

"If it takes more than three minutes to think about it, then it's pointless," they would say.

Such raw warrior instinct made them fearsome in battle—but also doomed them to repeat the mistakes of their past.

The Kaguya Clan, once one of the most powerful bloodlines in the Hidden Mist, was now a relic of the past, lost in the glory of their ancestors.

Only Yuta worried about their future.

It was not just the Uchiha Clan who had been blinded by their pride—the Kaguya suffered from the same arrogance.

The Uchiha had been feared in Konoha, their power seen as a threat to the village's stability. The Kaguya Clan, in turn, faced the same fate within Kirigakure.

And just like the Uchiha, they were too proud to see it coming.

The Mizukage saw their ambition and resented it. The other shinobi of the village feared them.

The Kaguya Clan believed that dominating Kirigakure was their birthright.

"Kaguya is Mist's strongest!"

"Mizukage? That title is ours by right!"

But their bold arrogance and unrestrained ambition only made them a target—a pawn in the hands of those who truly controlled Kirigakure.

Yet, even as they were manipulated and isolated, the Kaguya Clan remained blissfully unaware, marching towards their own annihilation.

Yuta clenched his fists.

He was the only one who saw the truth.

And as the only one with a clear mind, he had to act—before it was too late.

Originally, Yuta had planned to be patient—to slowly steer the clan away from destruction, guiding them like a frog boiling in warm water.

But after learning the truth from his father—the Kaguya Clan's patriarch—he realized that time had run out.

He had to act now.

And it would all begin with this Jōnin exam.

A small smirk formed on Yuta's lips.

His fellow Kaguya misinterpreted his expression, taking it as a sign of confidence—as if he had already won.

"Smack!"

A sudden, loud slap struck the back of his neck.

The force of the blow was enough to make the entire room fall silent.

Yuta turned, furious, only to meet the grizzled, war-hardened face of his father, the Kaguya patriarch.

This gesture—a bone-cracking slap—was considered a mark of encouragement among the Kaguya Clan.

"Good job, Yuta!"

"Crush that weakling!"

The booming voice of Kaguya Teruyoru rang throughout the gathering hall, his words filled with battle lust.

Yuta forced a smile, though it looked more like a grimace.

Silently, he stepped forward.

The Arena

Mizuki Ryosuke's sharp eyes scanned his opponent, a subtle gleam flashing in their depths.

A towering frame.

A murderous aura.

Shikotsumyaku.

Kaguya Yuta.

Once hailed as the greatest genius of the Kaguya Clan, now a Jōnin-level powerhouse.

The perfect opponent.

For Mizuki Ryosuke, this Jōnin exam was a political minefield.

He had known from the start that this was the worst time to be promoted.

Even if he didn't expect to be as powerful as Uchiha Madara by the time he made Jōnin, this promotion came too soon.

Too much attention.

Too much danger.

But refusing the exam outright? Not an option.

The Third Mizukage had personally endorsed his promotion—turning it down would be a slap in the face to the village leadership.

Yet, if he was too weak and lost easily, he would be seen as incompetent, a failure, a soft target for future enemies.

After weighing his options, Ryosuke had devised the perfect solution:

Give them a show.

Make the battle so intense, so "spectacular," that no one would care about the outcome.

Even if he lost, as long as he made the fight memorable, it wouldn't damage his reputation.

The ideal scenario? Facing an opponent who was:

• Overwhelmingly strong

• Unwilling to hold back

• Completely uninfluenced by village politics

And fate had delivered exactly that.

Kaguya Yuta.

A brutal warrior.

A true powerhouse.

And someone who despised the Mizuki Clan.

Perfect.

Against Yuta, Ryosuke could display enough power to make it look like a hard-fought battle.

Then, at the last moment, he would "lose by a single move."

It would be the perfect performance.

Mizukage would be pleased.

The village would see him as a respectable opponent.

And his true strength would remain hidden.

Once it was all over, the battle would become a footnote in history—just another minor duel in the Mist's long and bloody legacy.

People would forget the details.

They would simply recall:

"Oh, Mizuki Ryosuke? Yeah, he fought Kaguya Yuta once.

He put up a good fight."

That was all he needed.

On the outside, Ryosuke wore a stoic, serious expression.

But inside?

He was grinning.

The plan was perfect.