"How is this possible?"
"There's no need to question the people's perception. They can see clearly who has more capability."
The senior official in charge of counting votes for the centrist faction responded.
"Can people whose eyes have been deliberately blinded truly see so far? What does the investigation team say?"
The senior official supporting Yagura remained hopeful, believing that if Suikazan Fuguki becomes the Fourth Mizukage, it will only lead Hidden Mist Village into hell.
The senior official responsible for overseeing the voting mechanism picked up the script, hesitated, and then said, "No errors, upon investigation, the majority of the populace leans towards Suikazan Fuguki Jonin."
Whatever manipulation involved here is unknown.
The public opinion survey is the most crucial step in the Mizukage election, yet it's also arguably the most useless.
As long as someone deliberately guides it, they can control the narrative below, changing the direction of public opinion.
Compared to seriously considering whom to support, they are more like irrelevant bystanders watching the commotion, possibly only seeing the false image made by others.
Due to the asymmetry of information and intelligence, they are severely misled.
But regardless, the outcome has already been settled.
"Damn it! There's something wrong with this; I demand a re-vote! There must be something wrong here!"
The senior official supporting Yagura still couldn't believe that Suikazan Fuguki had so much support.
"The way you're shouting is really unbecoming. Regardless of whether you believe it or not, this is the truth. You can't deny such a fact just because you don't believe it. Mizukage and Elder Master, the result is already evident; Suikazan Jonin has garnered so much support that even without the final high-level vote, I'm sure you both can see the ultimate outcome."
The senior official looked towards the Third Mizukage and Elder Master.
The Elder Master merely furrowed his brows without speaking.
The Third Mizukage sighed; to him, it didn't matter who became the Fourth Mizukage as long as Hidden Mist's strength could be quickly restored, whether from the Blood Mist or the Reform faction.
Suikazan Fuguki showed no emotion, his heart nevertheless delighted.
Undoubtedly, the Fourth Mizukage position belonged to him.
"Additionally, I have another question."
The senior official in charge of vote counting suddenly spoke again.
"What question?"
The Third Mizukage asked.
"This question needs Karatachi Jonin to answer."
"Yagura?"
The Third Mizukage turned to the right, looking at Yagura with a surprised expression.
Had Yagura done something?
Yagura responded in a calm voice: "Please go ahead."
"According to the intelligence I suddenly received this morning, the garrison forces at the southern border have abandoned the border defense and returned to the village aggressively. It's said to be due to an order from someone."
The implication was clear; he was saying that the southern border's Hidden Mist garrison was mobilized back by Yagura.
"What!? Karatachi Jonin actually—"
The meeting room immediately erupted, with everyone casting shocked glances at Yagura.
The garrison forces at the border absolutely cannot be mobilized back without special permission.
Even with a command from the Mizukage, it must be decided through a high-level meeting; otherwise, the high-level group has the right to hold the Mizukage accountable.
Because if the garrison forces encounter problems, foreign ninja forces might directly invade the Land of Water, bringing disaster to Hidden Mist Village.
"Indeed, the southern garrison forces were mobilized at my command, returning to the village."
Yagura admitted frankly.
This made the senior official who questioned Yagura choke up, as Yagura admitted outright before he could present further evidence.
This charge would be enough to banish Yagura to a land of no return!
The senior officials supporting Yagura were also dumbfounded, not expecting Yagura to be so bold as to bypass the high-level meeting and falsely use Mizukage's command to deploy the southern garrison forces back to the village.
"Yagura, are you insane? What if the south is invaded by foreign enemies at this moment; what then?"
Everyone now had no time for the Fourth Mizukage election issue because the Fourth Mizukage position had already been determined. The most urgent matter now was to quickly redeploy the returning southern garrison forces back to the border to prevent the southern military deployment of the Land of Water from slipping.
Suikazan Fuguki was overjoyed internally; initially, he didn't expect Yagura to be so crazy as to directly overreach and bring back the garrison forces.
It seemed the opponent was already at the end of his rope, knowing he was no match in the election, so he resorted to an act seen as madness by everyone—a coup!
The remaining senior officials also realized this, glaring at Yagura with unfriendly eyes, ready to take him down at any moment.
However, they refrained from immediate action due to Yagura's strength, instead looking towards the Third Mizukage.
Among all present, only the Third Mizukage could subdue Yagura.
The Third Mizukage looked at Yagura with complex expressions, never imagining that Yagura, who always followed him quietly and fulfilled his duties, would be so insane.
"Yagura, do you have nothing to say?"
"Victory or defeat are commonplace; it's not the natural outcome for securing the position of the Fourth Mizukage, is it, sir?"
Yagura stood from his seat, his baby-like, naive face with purple-red eyes showing striking resolve.
"It's still not too late to stop now. Don't keep making mistakes! Even if you don't become the Fourth Mizukage, you are still one of the village's finest Jonin!"
The Third Mizukage also stood up, hoping to prevent a confrontation with Yagura, as that would lead to losing a powerful ninja for Hidden Mist.
Currently, only three of the Seven-swords Ninja remain; losing someone of Yagura's caliber would rob Hidden Mist of intimidating forces for a long time.
This was something the Third Mizukage did not wish to see.
"Sorry, I must betray your trust, sir."
Yagura shook his head; at this point, there was no turning back from the coup.
Furthermore, he had planned for this scenario for over five years, there was no possibility of stopping halfway now.
"Do it."
As Yagura finished his words, the conference room doors suddenly exploded, causing fierce lightning flashes.
A figure shot out like lightning, feet landing on the ceiling, reddish-brown hair draping down, her whole body hanging upside down.
"Yagura, you sure are slow! I've been waiting outside and I'm already impatient! After holding back for years, I can finally give them hell!"
"R-Ringo Ameyuri!?"
Everyone seeing the unceremonious female ninja causing chaos in the meeting room stared wide-eyed as if they had seen a ghost.
Hadn't she died from illness?
What was going on?
Why had she conspired with Yagura?
Suikazan Fuguki also widened his eyes in disbelief, watching Ringo Ameyuri and feeling a sudden sense of foreboding.
Facing people's panicked expressions, Ringo Ameyuri merely charged her swords with lightning, flashing a friendly smile to everyone.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Gate!"
Boom!
Thick smoke and explosions immediately enveloped the conference room, causing significant portions of the Mizukage Building outside to collapse.
Thunderclouds densely filled the sky, lightning bolts flashing repeatedly, hitting the Mizukage Building, seemingly trying to reduce the entire building to dust.
Yagura was the first to leap out from the explosion, jumping outside, staring helplessly at the chaos created by Ringo Ameyuri.
Blasting even the village's vital symbol—the Mizukage Building—fearlessly large.
However, considering the grievances suffered by the other party over the years, it was somewhat understandable to vent some pressure now; entirely understandable.
"Fine, destroy it if you must. Besides, I think the current Mizukage Building is too old; we can build a nice new one afterward."