Funato bowed deeply the moment he entered. "Welcome, Mizukage-sama, pardon my absence earlier I was indisposed with-"
"It's quite alright, Funato. Come, sit quickly, there is much to discuss," I said, waving he and Eiko in. I'd summoned Raiga as well and he stood out in his mask and gear, a cloak draped over his form. With Reina consistently indisposed working with the clans he's gotten comfortable acting as Commander of my ANBU.
Eiko found his place opposite Raiga as both wore masks, his a tad more demonic. Once Funato shut the door and took his place beside Lady Megumi, I took a long, measured gaze across each of their faces.
Junichi was snug at my side. My brief absence had thrown him to the wolves, my councillors were difficult people to handle, each with their own agendas even if they all bowed and swore loyalty to my hat. As my untested assistant I'd tasked him with recording each of their meaningful actions in my absence as well as taking stock of the atmosphere of the other clans within the village as they would continue to petition for my attention even in my absence.
He'd taken well enough to the job and had a hardened look in his eyes that wasn't there when I left. I felt I could rely on him more, enough to finally include him entirely in these otherwise classified, privy council meetings.
Eiko remained a faceless anonymity to me even after seven months being here, but my gut instincts reassured me I had nothing to worry about the mysterious, uzumaki demon masked man. His Fuuinjutsu skills were nothing compared to Harusame but as the man's prized student he was no slacker. There was a reason the Sandaime allowed him to indulge his curiosities as one of the most important figures in the Intel and Comm's division.
Raiga…every time I thought of him I thought of the gold mine and Dojutsu wielding child he would discover in the Land of Rivers. Perhaps not anymore. I couldn't wait for the child to be born to send Raiga or even others to reap the wealth of the Katabami gold mine. That is if the Land of Rivers has even discovered it yet. An investigation would be made into it in time as the Water Daimyo would certainly not be funding Kirigakure or its expansion for some time.
Lord Funato, the man and his clan had nearly begun to give me some headache but according to Raiga's reports they have long since calmed down, especially after I'd saved their clan head from the assassin that must have been Zetsu. I lingered on his wrinkled features and wondered if he still had any ambitions for ruling through me rather than being ruled. Unlikely.
Lady Megumi was a devious one. She'd taken to speaking with the Konoha envoy, particularly the one sent from Danzo's ROOT. She was obsessed with enhancing her clan's standing just as much as Funato was with ensuring Kirigakure remained in the conservative past, and just because she'd chosen to stay true to her allegiances didn't mean she wasn't capable of becoming a turncoat in some way or form. It was imperative to keep an eye on her, especially now that her guarantee of an island was nullified by Princess Hanako's meddling.
And finally Uncle, I had no suspicions of the man that had stuck by my side longer than anyone in the world but perhaps that was a weakness waiting to be exploited on its own. Regardless, I held nothing but love for him and was certain he felt the same. I'd have to appease the familial part of our relationship and marry at some point but for now, he was more than satisfied seeing me as Mizukage and paving a glorious path for the Karatachi clan under the other two's noses.
I took a breath and resigned all these thoughts as I began what could be the most important meeting I've held in my office up till now, "Now that everyone is gathered I'd like to begin by saying our priority from now to the end of this year is to avoid entering another war at all costs. Does everyone understand?"
Lord Funato shifted in his seat but nods came from all present and I exhaled, "Good, now then, Eiko, tell me what we've learned from our prisoners."
Eiko straightened up at my mention, "Yes, Yagura-sama. Two of Kumo's Chuunin have given up their techniques in exchange for leniency, unfortunately the others, Jounin especially, are tougher to crack and refuse to give or confess more than their origins and their mission here."
I leaned back into my chair and said, "These techniques aren't known to us?"
He shook his head, "No, Lightning Nature chakra is rare amongst the Land of Water and variations of these techniques have yet to be created by our few Lightning Nature users."
"Not a bad haul then but I see the rest will bite their tongues off before they release anything useful to us, very well." I thought about the best way to make use of these fiends for a moment before nodding to myself, "How many have fair bounties?"
"Three." Eiko answered immediately.
"Good, we'll reap those after they've drowned in the Kaizoku Sea along with some other prisoners."
Lady Megumi interjected, "Drowning is a fair punishment but their corpses will not drift to Kumogakure on their own." Her tone was bitter and didn't leave anything to doubt her displeasure that I hadn't addressed how I intended to respond to Kumogakure's brazenness.
"Very well, Lady Megumi, what do you suggest?" Better throw her a bone. I had a few ideas for a response to Kumogakure myself but—
"Send their heads to the Raikage, cut the scalps for bounty if you must but this is the least we can do in response." she said, on the edge of her seat ready to defend her point.
I glanced over Lord Funato who was nodding in earnest agreement and over to Uncle who had his arms folded but didn't seem to disagree either. Truth be told, I'd had the same thought the moment I heard of Kumogakure's activities on Midoriwara but the part of me that was Jason didn't want the bitter taste of making such a suggestion. But it was truly the least response we could offer and I'd done worse to my own people.
"Yes, I agree, but Kumogakure should know we have our eyes on them. I want to hurt them just as much as they've hurt us. I haven't an idea of just how much they've stolen under our noses and so…" I exhaled the rage rising up in my gut before it could overwhelm my more rational thoughts, "I am thinking we should damage their trade. Junichi, you mentioned that Baron Watanabe was receiving materials from a noble in the Land of Lightning."
"Yes, should we interrogate Watanabe for the nobles' information?" Junichi asked at my side.
I glanced at Eiko and nodded, "More than that, I want Watanabe to act as a trojan horse. We'll steal that noble as well as his identity and extract as much trade information about the Land of Lightning as possible before sabotaging it."
Uncle crossed his legs, "That's a deep cover operation, Watanabe may be a Baron but he's still just a civilian."
"You think he will fail? It doesn't matter. Once he fails he'll lose his head, I'm sure Eiko has a means to ensure that outcome. Barring that, I want the Hidden Frost and their country to understand that we aren't pleased with their trade partner. I'm sure there are a number of ships moving goods in and out between them that can be mysteriously lost."
Uncle frowned a bit, "You say you don't want a war but then suggest something as brazen as this."
I shook my head, "Worry not, unlike the Hidden Cloud I'll ensure these consistent losses aren't traced back to us definitively."
""How?"" Both Lady Megumi and Uncle questioned, they turned their questioning gazes on each other, a smile growing on their lips.
I allowed myself to join them in the mirth, "The whirlpools are natural disasters of their own making."
"Ah ha…I heard you unleashed a kraken on Umehebi's defences, you've finally unwrapped my gift haven't you?"
I laughed outright, "Kraken? Is that what they're calling Unaimaru?"
"The legends make themselves."
I wondered what the world would call Kaizoku if they saw him. I doubted I'd be allowed to summon the great unagi himself but I was satisfied with Unaimaru, at least for now.
"The 'Kraken' will be pleased to hear of such honour, even more so that I have this assignment for him. But first," I turned to Raiga, "You will work with Eiko to gather the necessary information. I want consistent targets. Both the Hidden Frost and Cloud should not feel safe taking their goods or men to sea."
"Yes, sir." Raiga answered stoically.
"Good, I think that's enough on Kumogakure for now. This response is adequate enough, yes?" My question was directed at Lady Megumi who wore a pleasant smile.
She nodded, "Crippling their relations with the Hidden Frost, especially once the latter understands this is a result of our ire will ensure the Hidden Frost seeks to appease us. More so, endangering the Land of Lightning's trade will damage their relations to any of the other nations, including ours but especially the Land of Fire."
Lord Funato chuckled, his laugh like gravel, "And with the Hidden Frost as their only land connection to the Land of Fire, Wind and Earth, they will be over encumbered and become easy pickings for bandits or any 'rogues'. Their every route would become obvious and the expense protecting these routes would triple overnight."
Uncle actually applauded, "It's brilliant and all without our explicit involvement. If we wanted, we could capitalise on the chaos and offer our protection to the Land of Frost and even Lightning merchants for a steep price but who can put a price on safety?"
Junichi shifted behind me, a tad hesitant before he spoke, "A question though, would we target the import trades as well? It would massively backfire if we were to blockade them entirely and whether or not there was proof of our hand in the chaos we'd become subject of investigation from all affected shinobi nations, not just Frost and Lightning."
I smiled up at the young Hoshigaki, nodding proudly as he stepped back into my shadow, "No, we won't prey on the imports but those will quickly cease once it becomes clear the Land of Frost and Lightning are having trouble paying for their imported goods. Besides that, this is a good time to bring up the topic of Konoha and their envoy."