Orochimaru did not keep the Third Mizukage waiting long. The Third Mizukage arrived with three Mist Village ninjas of different appearances at the former Mizukage's office, which had been reduced to a bare platform.
Following behind them were Yuki's personal disciple, the future Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, Yagura Karatachi, and the recently selected first generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
"Mangetsu, are these all the high-ranking members of your Hidden Mist Village?"
"It seems a certain important figure is absent?"
Orochimaru raised his eyelids, casting a casual glance at the group of Mist ninjas standing on the platform, and softly asked Hozuki Mangetsu, who was making gestures beside him.
"Oh... hiss..."
Hozuki Mangetsu let out a groan, whether of comfort or discomfort, and reluctantly looked up.
"Oh..."
"More or less..."
"Elder Genshi has not arrived yet."
"But that old man is old and rarely shows himself."
Orochimaru nodded and turned his gaze to Yuki, giving him a signal.
Yuki immediately understood and disappeared from his spot with a Shunshin.
Yagura Karatachi stared blankly as his teacher was dispatched by a stranger from Konoha with a mere glance, his heart filled with shock.
"Teacher, he actually..."
Unlike other ninja villages, the Hidden Mist Village had a rule set by the First Mizukage: only the strongest in the village could be the Mizukage.
Yuki's ascent to the Third Mizukage was not solely due to his status as a disciple of the Second Mizukage or his qualifications from participating in the First Five Kage Summit with the First Mizukage.
The Ice Release of the Yuki clan and his own formidable strength were the key factors that allowed him to surpass all his rivals and become the Third Mizukage.
Yet, this strongest ninja of the Hidden Mist Village was willing to obey the commands of this unfamiliar Konoha ninja.
Then, what was this person's strength...
Was it this Konoha ninja who caused the sudden freezing of the Mizukage's office earlier, followed by its destruction by a powerful and inexplicable chakra?
Yagura shivered at the thought.
The psychological activities of the other three clan leaders were no different from Yagura's.
When did their village's strongest individual have no seat on their own territory?
When did Yuki, who had suppressed the Hozuki, Terumi, and Kaguya clans, become someone's mouthpiece, not daring to complain even once?
Orochimaru perceived their inner thoughts clearly, tapped the table lightly, and swept his gaze across their faces.
"I know you have some doubts, but..."
"Please wait here with us for a while!"
"When Senior Genshi arrives, I will explain the purpose of gathering everyone here."
Orochimaru looked at their surprised and uncertain expressions and then nodded at a middle-aged Mist ninja who bore some resemblance to Hozuki Mangetsu.
"Clan Leader Hozuki, you can stand beside me first."
Hozuki Gengetsu froze, looking at Orochimaru in surprise.
"Dad, this is my teacher. He won't harm you!"
Hozuki Mangetsu saw the confusion in his father's eyes. Although he didn't fully understand what Orochimaru intended, he could tell that his new master's attitude towards the Hozuki clan was clearly different from other Mist ninjas.
If he was calling his father out of the Mist ninja ranks alone at this moment, he must have his reasons.
Hozuki Gengetsu was startled by his son's address to Orochimaru. After a moment of hesitation, he awkwardly bowed to Orochimaru.
"This... Lord..."
"I wonder if you..."
Orochimaru glanced at him and waved his hand gently.
"Mangetsu said I wouldn't harm you, and I naturally won't. Come over!"
"Any doubts will be clarified once Senior Genshi arrives."
Hozuki Gengetsu hesitated for a moment.
"This..."
"Yes!"
The weak had no right to refuse an invitation from the strong.
Besides, his son had already become this strong individual's disciple; what other choice did he have but to comply?
"...Please excuse everyone for waiting. I am truly sorry, old man!"
A bald old man with a snake-headed staff suddenly appeared before them, smiling as he surveyed everyone, then his gaze fell on Orochimaru, the only one sitting.
"This must be Orochimaru of the Sannin from Konoha?"
"Truly young and promising!"
"Since the deaths of the First and Second Mizukage, I have not been involved in the affairs of the Hidden Mist for many years."
"If visitors come to the village, they should consult directly with the Third Mizukage."
"If even the Third Mizukage cannot resolve the matter, what use could this old bone of mine be?"
Orochimaru chuckled and slowly stood up from his seat.
"Senior Genshi is mistaken."
"Senior has dedicated more than half his life to the Hidden Mist, and can be considered half the master of the Hidden Mist Village. How can you refer to yourself as a guest?"
As soon as Orochimaru spoke, everyone's expression changed drastically, except for the slow-witted Hozuki Mangetsu and the clan head of the Kaguya, Naoken Kaguya.
Genshi's cloudy eyes stared at Orochimaru for a moment, then he turned his gaze to the Third Mizukage standing respectfully beside Orochimaru.
His hand gripping the snake-headed staff tightened, and he asked sternly:
"Third, why do I not quite understand what Lord Orochimaru is saying?"
"When did Konoha start calling the shots in the affairs of our Hidden Mist Village?"
Yuki dared not meet Elder Genshi's gaze. He shook his head with difficulty, his voice hoarse, and said:
"Elder Genshi, the Hidden Mist..."
"This junior has already pledged allegiance to Lord Orochimaru on behalf of the Hidden Mist!"
As Yuki finished speaking, silence descended upon the scene.
Genshi's body trembled, and he stared blankly at Yuki, who was looking at his toes for a long time. Suddenly, he slammed his staff heavily downwards.
"Rumble!"
The bluestone floor of the Mizukage's office was instantly pierced through by this angry strike from the old man, creating a transparent hole.
"Bastard!"
"You..."
"How dare you?"
"Coward!"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and sat back down on the chair.
Chakra surged within him, flowing down his feet and into the stone slab beneath.
A faint green chakra light suddenly emerged from the hole that Elder Genshi had created, and in an instant, a tender green sapling grew.
The sapling grew rapidly, its branches twisting and intertwining, forming a row of independent benches right beside Elder Genshi's legs.
Exactly four of them, no more, no less.
"Elder Genshi is over sixty, yet he still has such a temper?"
"Why not calm down and discuss it properly?"
Orochimaru, as if performing a trivial task, chuckled and broke the tense atmosphere.
"Besides..."
"Mizukage is already one of my people. Senior Genshi criticizing my subordinate in front of me, his master..."
"This is not something a respected elder should do!"
Genshi's eyes narrowed, and the veins on the back of his hand, gripping the staff, bulged.
"This is... Hashirama Senju's Wood Style..."
Naoken Kaguya's palm suddenly produced a sharp bone spike, which he forcefully thrust towards the wooden chair with green leaves.
"Crack!"
The bone spike formed by the Shikotsumyaku let out a mournful cry, and with a crackle, it shattered into bone fragments.
"So... so strong!"
Naoken Kaguya, known for his bravery and combat prowess, stumbled back from the recoil, staring in shock at the undamaged wooden chair.
It was like a bucket of cold water drenching him, leaving him utterly stunned.
Orochimaru looked at the changing expressions of the Hidden Mist's high-ranking officials and slowly let go of his smile.
"The meaning should be clear by now, right?"
"I am not the First Hokage, nor do I possess his compassion for all beings."
"Therefore..."
A dangerous glint appeared in Orochimaru's eyes, his sharp killing intent locking onto everyone present.
"Those who oppose the Hidden Mist accepting Konoha's rule will only be able to sleep in the Pure Land!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Wood Style chakra, which had been calm moments ago, suddenly became chaotic. The power contained within the four chairs erupted, instantly binding all the present Hidden Mist ninjas in place.
"Lord..."
"Yagura is my disciple and can serve Lord for me in the future."
"And the newly selected Seven Ninja Swordsmen, although still weak, will be a significant force in the future. What do you think..."
Yuki stepped forward, his gaze pleading as he looked at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru nodded slightly and casually released the restraints on Yagura Karatachi and the seven terrified youngsters.
As for the others...
Orochimaru looked indifferently at the three high-ranking Mist ninjas struggling painfully under the Wood Style's restraint.
"One last chance!"
"Serve me, or..."
"Be buried with the old Hidden Mist!"
His emotionless voice echoed in the room. Hozuki Gengetsu, standing beside Orochimaru, swallowed nervously.
"If it weren't for Mangetsu becoming his disciple, then now..."
Thinking of this, Hozuki Gengetsu broke out in a cold sweat.
The feeling of being bound by Wood Style was unbearable even for the Nine-Tails, let alone these ninjas of flesh and blood.
Within mere breaths, the Mist experts whose chakra was being drained by the Wood Style began to show signs of collapsing.
What were the consequences of a ninja's chakra being depleted?
Every ninja who learned chakra refining techniques was warned by their teachers never to exhaust their internal chakra.
This power, refined from the body's cells and spirit, once depleted, meant the complete exhaustion of a ninja's life force and spirit.
The only outcome was death!
"The Terumi clan is willing to accept Lord Orochimaru's rule!"
The clan head of the Terumi clan, Yuuya Terumi, was the first to speak, expressing his willingness to submit to Orochimaru.
He did not want to die!
His daughter was only recently born; he had not yet heard the little pink bundle named Mei call him "Father" in person...
"The Kaguya clan... is willing to follow a stronger power."
"Please grant this subordinate an opportunity to serve!"
Following Yuuya Terumi, who was preoccupied with his daughter, Naoken Kaguya spoke next, signaling his submission.
Naoken Kaguya, like a masochist, looked at Orochimaru with newfound devotion after being "educated" by the Wood Style.
His gaze became fervent, even obsessive...
Was this not the ideal leader that the Kaguya clan had been searching for all these years?
Fighting for the strong was the true mission of the Kaguya clan!
What Third Mizukage, what Hidden Mist Village? Let them all go to hell!
Orochimaru's lips curled into a satisfied arc, and he casually removed the Wood Style branches from the two of them.
"Senior Genshi, what about you?"
Orochimaru slowly walked up to Genshi, who was stubbornly enduring.
"Hmph!"
"The Hidden Mist is the Hidden Mist of the Land of Water, and Genshi is the Genshi of the Hidden Mist Village!"
Elder Genshi glared at Orochimaru, showing no fear of death.
"I only regret that the Second Lord entrusted his succession to such a spineless individual."
"If you want me to submit to Konoha, I will only die!"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded gently.
"Good!"
"If that is the case, Senior Genshi, have a safe journey!"
Elder Genshi gave a bitter smile, his gaze sweeping across the faces of these former powerful ninjas of the Hidden Mist, as if to engrave their likenesses into his soul.
"I will wait for you in the Pure Land!"
"Orochimaru, and you!"
"Your actions..."
Orochimaru sneered, flicked the empty sword from his sleeve, and Genshi's voice was abruptly silenced.
"Pure Land?"
"It may not be able to accommodate me there!"
Having casually slain Genshi, Orochimaru calmly turned to face the two clan heads and the younger Hidden Mist ninjas like Yagura Karatachi standing further away.
With a flick of his sleeve, ten thick venomous snakes shot towards them.
These ninjas, whose chakra had been largely drained by the Wood Style, could not dodge the fangs of the venomous snakes. They let out muffled groans and fell to their knees, clutching their necks.
"This is a reward for your wise choice!"
"Accept this power, and then..."
"Conquer the ninja world for me!"