Kapitel 43: Prince Zuko

The effects of having Prince Zuko exist where felt across the entire world.

When this started Kirigakure was only testing the waters to see if the so called Prince Zuko could be connected to Konoha somehow. His appearance on the battlefield was too coincidental and he happened to wipe out all of Uzushiogakures remaining enemies. Pulling in Konoha was really a last ditch effort to pull away the shit storm that had hit the Land of Water due to the event. At the moment the three other nations and the smaller villages involved in the attack at Uzushio were taking aim at Kiri and the Land of Water.

An unknown man appeared that could use the Hozuki clans Hydrification technique. It was hard to deny the connection to Kiri. Except Kiri was absolutely sure the man wasn't one of theirs. Facts didn't matter in the situation however and the Water Daimyo was coming down hard on the Mizukage to have the Hozuki clan find this unknown ninja of their lineage. The only clue the Mizukage had was the mans very own words. The report from Shuichi said: exiled prince of the Land of Fire, prince Zuko.

Thus the little witch hunt against Konoha took place. Who would have thought such non sense would actually bear fruit?

As an emissary for Kirigakure and the land of water Yusuke Karatashi had dealt with a lot and had grown weary. A country constantly at civil war for several years will do that to a man. After all these years however the birth of a Prince to a rival nation was a first. A member of the Hozuki clan had the opportunity to rise to the the position of Fire Daimyo. An alliance between the Hozuki clan and the Land of Fire would be imminent if this was true. The problem was what would the Water Daimyo do?

Traditionally such a prince would be eliminated immediately but the boy was a Hozuki. The current Mizukage was part of the Hozuki clan. This was a messy connection that could be troublesome for overall peace. In a country that was born of civil war this was especially troublesome. The country had fought one another for much less and the claim to a rival nation is a far better reason than any before it.

Prince Zuko was likely the first through tenth name on the Water Daimyo's assassination list at the moment. The only deterrent being the fact the Daimyo couldn't easily offend Kirigakures strongest man and his clan. By offending the Mizukage it's likely the other major clans would back the extremely loved Kage. If the Land of Water descends into civil war once more the Hozuki may have two lands with a clan member as Daimyo.

Karatashi thought it was just better to retire. During his stay here in Konoha he noticed the land was peaceful, it wouldn't be a bad place to move. Well that's if you forget the fact his family would soon be hunted down as traitors if they did. Then again if things played out the way they're going this may all be within the borders of the Hozuki. To think such a thing would happen during his tenure as emissary.

Speak of the devil here he comes. Such a person could be recognized as a Hozuki easily. The classic white Hozuki hair, standing at 5'6", a face that seems rather boyish. The girl next to him comes as a surprise, then again such a raven haired beauty is fit for a prince. Exiled or not.

He walks into the room carefree, no hint of arrogance, it's more like apathy. Instead of a prince it would be better to call the boy a thug. The girl on the other hand carried herself more like a noble. This is likely an arranged marriage by the Fire Daimyo to ensure his second sons rise to power. Karatashi had done his homework. The Fire Daimyo's first son, Tora, was apparently a waste. The first prince never left his mother's villa and rumors of an immoral relationship were slowly spread over the years.

The rumors had nothing to tread on at first but then as the first prince never appeared publicly in ten years they got more traction. Some say the prince was fattened to a tub of lard that can't move. Others say the mother is keeping him locked in to gain her sons affection. The current leading rumor is that the woman ate her child. As a rule Karatashi never paid any heed to such rumors.

What he paid attention to was the intelligence gathered by ninja and the spies currently in the Fire Capital. The only guaranteed information is that the boy was a waste, spoiled beyond belief by an over-doting mother. The Fire Daimyo likely wished to replace the terrible accident that would be this son as soon as possible. With no other option grooming his secret Hozuki bastard wouldn't be a bad alternative.

Politically Karatashi was impressed by the Fire Daimyo's resolve in this endeavor. After the first ninja war a few Hozuki kunoichi were taken prisoner by Konoha. The Daimyo likely had his way with one of the imprisoned Hozuki women. To take the child from such a dishonorable affair and secretly cultivate him as a political and actual weapon was quite an impressive feat. There were however some points that didn't make sense.

Why reveal this child now? Why choose Uzushio to reveal the child? How would this benefit the Fire Daimyo?

The land of water actually managed to steal the data required to learn the true story of Zukos birth. Albeit at a heavy price. The retrieved prison surveillance and guard details showed the disturbing reality.

The sob story he had been fed about the Daimyo and his secret love with a Hozuki prisoner wouldn't move him. A Daimyo having his way with an imprisoned kunoichi was nothing new. The power and adrenaline rush they received from bedding a woman that could slay an army of men was a great merit in their eyes. A kunoichi that lived long enough to give birth to a bastard however was indeed a first.

Karatashi actually went over the prison logs himself regarding the Hozuki and could confirm the Daimyo had his way with the Hozuki women. All of them. Prince Zukos paternity was with out question. No other men had bedded the prisoners. The boys birth mother however could not be confirmed as the birth record only said: Hozuki woman. The boy was undoubtedly a Hozuki and the Daimyo's child.

Karatashis only conjecture for the motive behind the boys reveal was that Konoha and their Daimyo were prepared for the events of Uzushio. They may have lost the Uzumaki but they would gain the Hozuki and at this current time maybe the entire land of water. Gengetsu was after all a famed man of honor. Such a man would not deny the child his clan and would likely die himself to protect him. Not to mention seek reparations by having the boy assume the seat of Daimyo. A condition that would likely be met by cementing an alliance.

The only problem being that the boy needed to be able to live long enough to become Daimyo. Considering who the newest member the bounty bingo book had. The Mizukage may really have to personally protect the boy.

Full name: Prince Zuko Shijimi/ Hozuki

Rank: S

Wanted by: Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Amegakure, Tanigakure, Yumegakure, + several others.

Warning:

Fire Daimyo's Son.

Kirigakure affiliate.

Water release and taijutsu master.

Destroyed allied army at Uzushiogakure.

Extremely dangerous.

Location: unknown.

Reward: 100,000,000 Ryo.

This would be an eventful return to Kirigakure. Prince Zukos location and visage will soon be confirmed after today. With such a bounty every single major bounty hunter would come the boys way. Karatashi could only think he really had to retire. Soon at that.