Sano locked eyes with Kotomi as her killing intent reached his eyes. It was murderous, that was all that mattered to the shark. While her intent to kill was nothing compared to some he'd come across it was direct and sharp, as was to be expected of the Fifth's daughter. He smirked at her for a moment, knowing her feeling toward the shark were nearly identical to her brother's. He crossed his arms and held his ground as the arrogant son of the Fifth Mizukage spoke. Sangetsu was much too astute to interrupt when the others arrived, those loyal to Takeshi and the Fifth. He did not interrupt the boy when he spoke well of his father, but his long-winded speech about how no one liked him or his ideals was a load of crap. What Takeshi and others saw as a brutish moron others saw a powerful and wise leader who wouldn't be bullied. And where the Fifth failed to protect his village from Imperial claim Sangetsu was able to overthrow oppression and reclaim their independence under his leadership. The villagers wouldn't soon forget who led them to victory. 

Enter an entire battalion of Hunter-nin, all closing in on the iced over barracks of the Imperials and crowding beside Sano, none daring to step ahead of him like the six shinboi surrounding Takeshi and Kotomi had. The shinobi under Sangetsu's control knew discipline and loyallty. Where the Yuki saw a monster the shinobi under Sangetsu's command were no stranger to the shark's sense of comradery. He voiced independence and individualism yet acted like his units were schools of sharks. All the dirty work was done and all that was left was the clean up of the streets which slightly resembled the Bloody Mist regime. Several veteran hunters whispered to each other as others glared at Takeshi and his supporters. It seemed a rift brewed within Kirigakure as to who was really calling the shots. "Looks like someone has something to say about your new title..." A familiar face said to Sano from the crowd of hunter-nin and ANBU gathering behind Sano. It was a cousin of his, Mugetsu of the Hozuki clan, who had his arms folded in his sleeves as he eyed Takeshi. The growing split in Kirigakure was evident. Sangetsu was smart enough to see this coming and wasn't in the business of tearing at the sides even more at this point. 

He sighed as Takeshi spoke ill of him after under his leadership the forces of Kirigakure were able to reclaim their independence from the ones who took it from his father. The physical and mental rift this caused between the civilian and shinobi alike amounted to an enormous tension between the two sides. "To say I betrayed him Takeshi... how twisted of you. I knew your father better than you did. I remember his entire career as a shinobi from academy student to Mizukage.. Despite what you may think, your father reminded me a lot of my era... He had that same tenacity, that passion which he derived from love... When you see me you think of hatred. You and the others who think of Chigiri no Sato as a stain in Kirigakure's history are the problem. The Bloody Mist provided stout survival instincts and elite shinobi capable of protecting this wonderful village. And it produced shinobi like myself, shinobi with passion for battle and a love of duty and protecting those that are weaker than they. You may see me as a monster but I see myself as the apex predator, the strongest there is. And it is with this strength that I protect our weak. Don't you see this, Takeshi?" Sangetsu questioned the backbone of Takeshi's argument. Many of the villagers who were torn between the two sides were looking to Takeshi to see how he would take this. Sano's comrades reveled in his speech and cheered him on. Most of them were supporting him as he was someone powerful who would support the village. And during a time when uncertainty was commonplace and instability was widespread, a veteran like Sano was what the village needed after oppression was rampant across the village. He knew Takeshi would again refute all that he said but he was used to this. A thick skull would be expected of someone like Takeshi. It was his prejudice that led him to believe the times of Chigiri no Sato were to be hidden, not embraced, and had no value. But truth be told in a world of Shinobi the Bloody Mist was a factory for elite killers with deeply ingrained survival instincts and developed many quick-witted strategists out of necesity. It produced more honed skill and natural talent than any other village in such a short timespan. 

"You're the one calling me a monster, Takeshi, not this village... I have changed, you just don't see it. Just because I'm not your father you seem to have this perpetual resentment for me... It is childish, my boy. Please, you and your sister should join me in the Mizukage's office for a talk.. Don't you think that would help.. [i]smooth things out, Takeshi?[/i]" Sangetsu stood strong against the murderous intentions of the duo and the six shinobi loyal to them. He seemed unphased by Takeshi's manipulative ploys to portray him in a negative light. Sano was having none of it. A much younger shark would have tossed diplomacy long ago and tore through his little guard of fodder and started an all-out civil war already. But a shark in his fifties is a wise shark now, despite the young man's claim that he has not changed with his age. Sano has most certainly calmed himself over the years especially when talking with his own villagers. He is not the same bloodthirsty killer that was born over half a century ago. 

The son of the Fifth Mizukage, though carrying his father's legacy with pride seemed to covet that pride just a little too much. As Takeshi condemned Sangetsu to hell in his farewell, Sano had but one thing left to say in response. The Fifth's son may have hated the shark, but the feeling was certainly not mutual. Sangetsu pitied his ignorance, yet a trait both Takeshi and Sangetsu shared was a lack of compassion. Maybe if they both found a bit of it for each other it would benefit the entire village, as unlikely as that would be. "You know not of who I am, Takeshi Yuki... The Bloody Mist is gone, I have accepted that long ago.. Little did I think my passion would be reignited now, but the time has come for a new wave to crash through Kirigakure! A new era has begun!!" Sano's voice boomed throughout what had now grown to be a small sea of shinobi cheering for their independence and structure being restored. Outcries of joy and victory were spouted throughout the streets. Citizens tentatively came out from hiding in their homes to rejoice with the Shinobi in the streets. Word of Sano's leadership and claim to the throne spread like wildfire. Where the last regime of the Yuki faltered, Sano and the Hozuki regime would not, despite how Takeshi's blind resentment would make it seem.