The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

"Madam, Sister Lian."

"Mizukage-sama is occupied with urgent matters and has entrusted me to act in his stead."

Mizuki Ryosuke kept his explanation brief. Given the weight of the situation, the less they knew, the better.

Mizuki Lian, without a moment's hesitation, chose to believe him. However, observing his serious expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Ryosuke, what exactly is going on?"

Mizuki Ryosuke had already prepared his response.

"Madam, Sister Lian," he said, his voice solemn. "I can't reveal too much, but the situation is critical."

"For your safety, I must take you with me."

His sudden urgency made Mizuki Lian uneasy. Though she wasn't a shinobi, she had grown up in the Hidden Mist, where bloodshed was an inescapable reality. If Ryosuke, who had always been calm and composed, was showing this level of concern, then things had to be dire.

The looming conflict within Kirigakure was reaching its breaking point. While Ryosuke's maneuvering had significantly improved Mizukage's chances, there was still no absolute certainty of victory. Should Mizuki Taki fail, those closest to him—especially his wife and daughter—would face a grim fate.

Thankfully, Mizuki Ryosuke had foreseen this years ago and prepared an escape plan. His mother, Mizuki Rokka, and sister, Mizuki Lian, would be safely hidden away before the storm hit.

"Ryosuke, is the situation truly that bad?" Rokka, who had witnessed countless political struggles in Kirigakure, studied his face carefully.

"Madam, let's just say…" Ryosuke exhaled, his tone grim. "It's worse than it looks."

Rokka wasn't the type to waste time on unnecessary questions. Seeing his unwavering expression, she nodded.

"Understood."

When night fell, Ryosuke discreetly led them through the misty alleys of Kirigakure, ensuring they weren't followed before slipping into a seemingly ordinary estate—his personal residence.

Upon entering the compound, Mizuki Lian looked around in confusion.

"Ryosuke, did you forget something?" she asked, tilting her head.

"You'll see soon enough." Ryosuke's lips curled into a faint smile as he walked toward the lower levels of the house.

Lian furrowed her brows. She knew this house inside and out. As the one responsible for its upkeep, there wasn't a single corner she hadn't cleaned. What could possibly be here that warranted such secrecy?

Then, a thought struck her.

Could it be… something hidden under his bed?

Her cheeks flushed involuntarily.

Unbeknownst to Ryosuke, his supposedly well-guarded stash had been discovered by Lian multiple times.

…A tragic fate for a man's secrets.

But as Ryosuke led them past the bedrooms and down toward the basement, she quickly realized she had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Unlike the typical, cluttered storerooms found in most homes, Ryosuke's basement was surprisingly clean—no doubt thanks to Lian's meticulous care.

Reaching the center of the room, Ryosuke swiftly formed a sequence of hand seals. The last one—a Boar seal—was accompanied by him biting his thumb and pressing his bloodied hand against the ground, forming a glowing red pattern.

The Kuchiyose: Raumon (Summoning: Hidden Passage) technique.

With a low rumble, the floor shifted, revealing a descending stone staircase. A cold gust of air drifted from below.

Ryosuke stepped forward, lighting a torch fixed to the wall.

"This way," he said, gesturing for them to follow.

Mizuki Rokka and Lian exchanged glances. Both were taken aback—especially Lian, who had never once suspected the existence of something like this beneath their home.

Yet, trusting Ryosuke, they followed him into the depths of the underground passage.

As the entrance sealed shut behind them, the surface world was once again none the wiser.

The passage stretched deeper than either of them anticipated.

Lian and Rokka soon realized they had descended nearly fifty meters underground—far beyond the reach of an ordinary sensory-type shinobi's perception.

Ryosuke had deliberately designed it this way.

The deeper they went, the less oppressive the air felt, indicating a well-crafted ventilation system.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they arrived at a vast underground chamber.

With a clap of Ryosuke's hands, Fūin Kyūshutsu (Sealing Release) activated, and the entire space was illuminated.

What they saw left them speechless.

The underground hideout was a massive 200-square-meter room, divided into three distinct sections.

The first contained unfamiliar instruments—rows of scientific tools and sealed scrolls lined the walls. Rokka, who had been around Kirigakure's elite for years, recognized some of them as devices used by the village's Kekkei Genkai research division.

The second area was coated entirely in thick ice. Jagged icicles protruded from the walls, and the floor bore signs of repeated battles—scorch marks, deep slashes, and shattered frost.

This was where Ryosuke had been training his jutsu.

Lian shivered slightly, realizing that this icy terrain was not natural.

"This is… Hyōton (Ice Release)?" she muttered.

Her words were not unwarranted.

Hyōton was a unique Kekkei Genkai possessed by the Yuki Clan, known for their ability to manipulate ice. Yet, Ryosuke was not from the Yuki Clan—so how did he…?

Before she could ask, her attention was drawn to the third and final section of the hideout.

A massive, intricate Fūinjutsu (Sealing Technique) array covered a 50-square-meter area of the floor.

It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. The symbols spiraled outward in layers, forming a geometric labyrinth of power. Even without any knowledge of sealing techniques, Rokka and Lian could feel its overwhelming presence.

It was not an ordinary seal—it was something far more complex.

Even standing several meters away, an unsettling energy radiated from its core.

"This formation…" Rokka muttered, her brow furrowing.

She wasn't a shinobi, but after spending years alongside the Mizukage, she had seen her fair share of Fūinjutsu. This… was on another level entirely.

Lian swallowed hard, instinctively stepping closer to Ryosuke.

It was at that moment she finally understood—

This wasn't just some emergency hideout.

This place contained a secret that Mizuki Ryosuke had been protecting for a very, very long time.

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