Naruto: Becoming Mizukage

Mizuki Ryosuke, originally Zhang Wei from the Great Celestial Dynasty, was reborn in the dangerous world of ninjas, in the Mist Village (Kirigakure) of the Naruto universe. 

Born into the Mizuki clan, which possesses the rare Ice Release bloodline, he found himself in a turbulent time, at the end of the First Ninja World War during the reign of the Second Mizukage.

Mizuki Ryosuke had no inclination to return to his previous life. He was resolute about surviving in this new world, but understood a crucial lesson from his past life—if he wanted to live peacefully, he had to avoid danger. 

The world of ninjas was incredibly perilous, filled with powerful figures like the Senju and Uchiha clans, whose battles could level entire landscapes. In such a world, the weak could be crushed like insects by the strong.

While he did not possess any "cheats" or supernatural boosts from his previous world, Mizuki Ryosuke quickly realized he was a natural genius.

He could master any ninjutsu, even secret arts, just by studying them. However, despite his enormous potential, he chose to keep his talents hidden from the village. 

The reasons were clear: standing out in the Mist Village would paint a target on his back.

If he were to reveal his abilities, he knew the village and his clan would view him as a valuable asset and push him into the spotlight. He would be seen as a prodigy, a potential future leader, which would undoubtedly bring both internal and external threats. 

His potential would make him a prime target for political rivalries within Kirigakure, assassination attempts by enemy villages, and even attract the attention of dangerous individuals like Orochimaru, who coveted rare talents and kekkei genkai (bloodline limits).

Mizuki Ryosuke's fear was not unfounded. The history of village leadership, especially among the Kages, was rife with danger. 

Shadows (village leaders) led the most perilous lives, as they were targets not only for foreign enemies but also for internal betrayal. Several Kages had met untimely ends at the hands of their subordinates, apprentices, or political rivals. 

The thought of becoming Mizukage terrified Mizuki Ryosuke, as it meant living under constant threat from all sides.

Moreover, the Mist Village, also known as the "Bloody Mist" for its ruthless ways, was not a place where one could rise to the top without facing significant danger. 

Kirigakure, under the Third Mizukage, was steeped in political strife and internal conflicts. The Third Mizukage, Mizuki Taki, was Mizuki Ryosuke's uncle, and his rise to power had not been smooth. 

Despite his status as the patriarch of the Mizuki clan and his close ties to the previous two Mizukages, it had taken Mizuki Taki two years to fully assume leadership after the Second Mizukage's death.

This delay was due to both his poor health and the strong resistance he faced from various factions within Kirigakure. The second Mizukage had left behind a powerful legacy, and many of his loyal followers did not accept Mizuki Taki's authority. 

Prominent clans like the Kaguya, known for their Dead Bone Pulse, were particularly opposed to Mizuki Taki's leadership. The Kaguya clan had a long-standing rivalry with the Mizuki family, and this tension made the political landscape even more treacherous.

The turmoil in the Mist Village was exacerbated by the interference of Uchiha Madara, who had orchestrated much of the chaos in the shadows.

Since the end of the Valley of the End battle, Madara had been secretly manipulating events in the ninja world, and Kirigakure was no exception. 

Under his influence, the Mist Village became a breeding ground for conflict, and Madara's eventual manipulation of Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, turned the village into a brutal, warlike state, earning its infamous "Bloody Mist" reputation.

Madara's influence extended deep into Kirigakure's power structure. He had control over the village's Anbu forces and even its tailed beast, the Three-Tails. The ease with which Madara moved within the Mist Village showed the extent of his authority. 

He had used Anbu ninjas from Kirigakure to seal the Three-Tails into Rin Nohara, turning her into a tool for his grand scheme. Knowing this, Mizuki Ryosuke understood that the village was already under the control of forces far beyond his reach. 

If he were to reveal his talents, he risked being pulled into the web of manipulation spun by Madara or others like him.

The current state of the Mist Village was unstable, to say the least. Internal strife between clans, the weak authority of the Third Mizukage, and external pressures from the other ninja villages recovering from the First Ninja War all contributed to the precarious situation. 

While other villages were strengthening and expanding, Kirigakure was riddled with infighting, and the Mizukage lacked the power to unite the village under a single banner. 

The political landscape was too dangerous for someone like Mizuki Ryosuke to rise to prominence without making powerful enemies.

In light of these dangers, Mizuki Ryosuke's strategy was simple—stay hidden. He would continue to keep a low profile, avoiding the attention of powerful figures both inside and outside the village. 

Revealing his Ice Release ability, or worse, his intellectual genius for learning jutsu would only serve to bring him unwanted attention and threats. His focus was on survival, not ambition.

Mizuki was fully aware of the traps that awaited those who sought power in the ninja world. He had no desire to become a pawn in someone else's game or a leader targeted by enemies both foreign and domestic. 

Instead, he would bide his time, keeping his head down while silently honing his skills. For now, survival was his primary goal, and avoiding the dangerous spotlight was the key to achieving it.

Mist Village, with its bloody history and shadowy manipulators, was not a place for idealistic dreams of leadership or heroism. In this world, only those who understood the real dangers lurking beneath the surface could hope to survive. 

Mizuki Ryosuke was determined to be one of those survivors. Keeping a low profile was the safest and smartest choice, and for him, living quietly in the shadows was far better than risking everything for fleeting power.