Chapter 62: Uchiha Madara Could Surely Not Be Here for a Tea Party!

Emiya Shihara's words...
truly struck a chord deep within Uchiha Madara's heart.

Surpassing Senju Hashirama had always been Madara's personal ambition, and if he could also surpass a legendary figure like Emiya Shihara, it would inevitably bring him an even greater sense of satisfaction.

This was a figure who had once stood on equal footing with the Sage of Six Paths, and whose renown arguably surpassed even the Sage himself. Anyone would consider it an immense honor to receive his validation!

Although Madara fancied himself above such sentiments of vanity, he had to admit that being entrusted with the future by Emiya Shihara was an affair genuinely exhilarating to his spirit!

"Is this the legacy of Lord Emiya's past will?"

A wave of gratification rippled through Madara's chest, and he immediately turned his gaze toward the legacy Emiya Shihara had left behind—Black Zetsu. He scrutinized Black Zetsu's grotesque and bizarre appearance, a flicker of curiosity crossing his mind.

"He looks somewhat peculiar..."

Madara glanced back at Emiya Shihara, involuntarily shaking his head. "One can hardly perceive any resemblance to Lord Emiya whatsoever..."

The disparity was simply too vast!

Perhaps amplified by Emiya Shihara's immense prestige, every time Madara had encountered him in the past, it had felt as refreshing as a gentle spring breeze.

Or perhaps...

There was another reason entirely.

Although Madara had met Emiya Shihara numerous times before, various circumstances had always prevented prolonged contact. Consequently, each fleeting encounter had been thoroughly pleasant, subconsciously casting a heavily idealized filter over his perception of Emiya Shihara.

"He is a creation born of the forces of Yin and Yang."

Emiya Shihara also looked down at Black Zetsu, speaking in a soft voice. "In a certain sense, Black Zetsu is also a living entity endowed with consciousness. When you manage to master Yin-Yang Release in the future, you will come to understand how truly precious his existence is..."

"Madara..."

Black Zetsu's voice was hoarse, and its face contorted into a sinister smile that it evidently fancied as amiable. "I look forward to your guidance in the future."

"Hn..."

Madara's brow involuntarily furrowed.

While Madara cared little for physical appearances, Black Zetsu's aesthetic clashed so violently with Emiya Shihara's that he still found it rather difficult to stomach.

Oh well.

Perhaps creations of Yin-Yang Release were simply meant to look this way.

After all, judging by Emiya Shihara's consistent reputation and integrity, such a magnificent figure would certainly never stoop to deceit. Black Zetsu must undoubtedly possess a wealth of arcane knowledge, and he would surely glean many vital secrets from him in the days to come.

"Madara."

"The path you have chosen to walk is by no means easy."

Emiya Shihara looked at Black Zetsu, letting out a gentle sigh. "I once wandered down many detours. I leave Black Zetsu in your care, hoping he may help smooth your journey..."

This sensation...
It truly felt like an elder passing on his mantle.

"Allow me to show you..."

At this juncture, Emiya Shihara turned his gaze once more toward Senju Hashirama's tombstone. "And let Hashirama witness that you can accomplish all of this."

"Naturally..."

"I shall not disappoint Your Excellency."

Madara's expression gradually softened, turning exceptionally solemn. He understood the profound weight of Emiya Shihara entrusting everything to him before Hashirama's grave, and he had no intention of failing those expectations.

As someone who deeply respected Emiya Shihara, Madara pondered for a moment and decided to offer a token of reciprocity for the invaluable legacy left to him.

"In that case..."

"Allow me to do a little something for Your Excellency as well."

"At the very least, I shall quell the wars of this era so that Lord Emiya need not depart with an overwhelming sense of disappointment in our generation..."

Madara's expression regained its haughty edge as he let out a cold laugh. "Though it may inadvertently benefit that scheming rat Tobirama, I suppose I can afford to indulge him just this once..."

"I will help Lord Emiya put an end to this conflict..."

"After all, wars are never easily settled through mere words. Some people possess wills far more stubborn than solid rock, and the only way to make them obey is to completely shatter their resolve..."

Madara clenched his fist, self-confidence surging back onto his features as he recalled his past encounters with the shinobi of Iwagakure: "In this regard, matchless power is far more dependable than words..."

"Do not refuse me."

Madara had always been supremely self-opinionated.

"Consider it a return gift to Lord Emiya."

Once Madara made up his mind, he would turn a deafening ear to anyone else's opinions. His attitude was unyielding, to the extent that he insisted on traveling alongside Emiya Shihara.

"..."

Emiya Shihara furrowed his brow.

Come to think of it...
Who exactly was the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure right now?

Country of Grass.
The massive ninja army of Iwagakure was stationed within this small nation.

The current Second Tsuchikage, Mu, presided over the camp personally. He knew that their opposing forces from Konohagakure and Kumogakure were likewise led directly by their respective Kage.

Although the Second Tsuchikage considered his disciple, Onoki, to be exceptionally talented, facing a figure like the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, still proved far too green. After all, even Mu himself lacked any real confidence when facing Tobirama...

Even back in the Warring States period...
Senju Tobirama's moniker was thunderous enough to shake the nations.

Even though Tobirama had always remained sheltered beneath the brilliance of his elder brother, anyone foolish enough to underestimate him had essentially bidden farewell to their own intellect for the rest of their lives.

"Lord Mu, when can we launch the assault?"

Onoki's diminutive frame sat low in his chair. He watched the Second Tsuchikage continually leafing through maps, a rising tide of anxiety gripping his heart.

"Be patient, Onoki."

The Second Tsuchikage's body was wrapped tightly in bandages. He stared at the strategic map spread across the desk, holding a red brush and circling points of interest incessantly.

As a shinobi renowned for his strategic intellect, Mu's emotions remained utterly calm. "We are not merely facing Konoha; there are also Kumogakure's forces to contend with. Even if our military might is nominally the strongest on paper, we cannot afford to act rashly..."

The Second Tsuchikage tapped a crucial stronghold on the map, educating his disciple in a deep voice: "Onoki, you must learn to be composed, especially since the scale of this war far exceeds anything in our past experience. Therefore, the strategy we adopt must be all the more cautious."

"The current situation favors us. Konoha and Kumogakure should be the ones feeling anxious. As long as the Kannabi Bridge remains in our hands, our logistical supply lines will suffer no disruption, leaving us in an unassailable position in this war."

"But..."

Anxiety etched itself deeper into Onoki's face, making him look utterly incapable of composure. "I've heard that Kumogakure and Konoha are about to forge an alliance. Once they join forces..."

"What significance would that hold?"

The Second Tsuchikage shook his head, deeming Onoki's mindset far too impatient. "Even if they unite, it will be to no avail. As long as we steadfastly guard our current defensive lines, fractures are bound to appear within their alliance under the pressure of a prolonged stalemate..."

"Alliances between shinobi can never remain perpetually steadfast."

"Konoha lost Uchiha Madara long ago, alongside the First Hokage who possessed the singular might to suppress the entire world."

"Konoha today has grown exceedingly fragile. The people of Kumogakure will inevitably realize that rather than becoming Konoha's ally, reaping the rewards as Konoha's enemy holds far greater profit..."

The Second Tsuchikage possessed a profound understanding of the geopolitical landscape of the ninja world. He fancied himself even more perceptive of Konoha's predicament than Senju Tobirama: "The land of Fire occupied by Konoha is fertile and rich, yet completely devoid of natural defenses. Every single hidden village desires to tear a chunk of flesh from their body..."

"To become Konoha's ally..."

"Means bearing the brunt of blades and spears aimed at Konoha from all other directions."

"Yet the threats faced by the Land of Fire—shorn of Uchiha Madara and the First Hokage—possess insufficient power to steamroll the situation. This guarantees they will never have sufficient surplus strength in wartime to fulfill obligations toward supporting their allies..."

"Even if those muscle-bound brutes in Kumogakure lack brains, as time drifts onward, they will perceive that allying with Konoha in its current state yields losses outweighing the gains."

"Because they will sooner or later discover that their alliance with Konoha amounts to a one-sided contribution toward Konoha, while Konoha can never truly assist them in return..."

"As for promised spoils..."

"Nothing more than Konoha refraining from encroaching upon their territory."

"How short-sighted..."

The Second Tsuchikage had long since convinced himself that he had seen through everything. "Konoha seized the most fertile lands in the ninja world since the founding of the hidden villages; how could a Konoha with severely diminished might possibly covet territories beyond its capacity to control?"

"Does that mean our future entails continuously attacking Konoha?"

Onoki immediately pressed for clarification regarding Iwagakure's strategic direction.

"No."

"Konoha is of no consequence."

"Our war with Konoha requires only a secure logistical lifeline and a secondary detachment to hold them at bay. While Konoha's strength remains formidable, to us, they are nothing more than spoils of war to be plucked at leisure."

"The true entity requiring vigilance is Kumogakure."

The Second Tsuchikage's gaze fell back upon the map, resting on his own markings as he instructed in a low, resonant tone: "Kumogakure will not sit idly by while we occupy the Land of Fire and grow dominant. Therefore, in any military engagement, we must prioritize concentrating superior forces to eliminate those brainless fools in Kumogakure first..."

"Once we defeat Kumogakure..."

"There will no longer be any constraints upon our future. Our massive army can sweep overwhelmingly into the Land of Fire, compelling Konoha to cede the most bountiful fruits of victory to us."

"Remember this, Onoki."

The Second Tsuchikage looked at his disciple, wishing to burn this strategic doctrine into the boy's mind: "Until Kumogakure is resolved, even if we extract gains from Konoha, those gains do not truly belong to us until the war concludes..."

"Understood, Lord Mu."

Onoki nodded with a grave expression.

Though Onoki still harbored a greater desire to defeat Konoha, he placed his faith in his teacher's judgment above all, knowing Mu had served as the brains of Iwagakure long before taking office as Kage.

"Come to think of it..."

"Have there been any unusual movements from Kirigakure?"

The Second Tsuchikage looked down at the desk map, centered as it was around the Land of Earth, granting him visibility over the maritime threat posed by Kirigakure.

The ninja world was spherical.

Kirigakure, isolated overseas, held a geographically significant position because it could theoretically assault the nations of the mainland from multiple directions.

"No news thus far..."

"They're probably attacking Konoha as well..."

Onoki mused aloud, speaking softly. "After all, our Land of Earth boasts numerous defensive fortresses; even if Kirigakure wished to wrest territory from us, the difficulty would be astronomical..."

"We must still remain cautious."

"For enemies invariably strike when least expected."

The Second Tsuchikage shook his head, ordering his subordinates among the Iwagakure Anbu to rapidly scout intelligence along the coastline. He hardly wished for a fire to break out in his own backyard just as the situation turned favorable.

Unfortunately.
When bad luck strikes, human misfortune seems only to compound itself.

Before the scouting parties could even be dispatched, an urgent piece of intelligence arrived from the direction of the Land of Earth, bringing a severe headache: the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, had landed at the head of an invading force!

"That mustachioed lunatic is truly insane..."

A flicker of fury crossed the Second Tsuchikage's eyes. He was fiercely incensed by the Second Mizukage's sneak attack, as it completely disrupted the operational plans he had prepared in advance!

"However..."

Unexpectedly, Kirigakure's Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu was not seeking total war; instead, he had dispatched envoys bearing a proposal for an alliance, hoping to combine forces to crush Konoha and secure ultimate victory in this conflict.

"How could such a thing be believed?"

The Second Tsuchikage Mu did not trust the Mizukage's word in the slightest.

Yet Kirigakure's envoys seemed well-acquainted with Mu's skepticism; they brought forth news that compelled the Second Tsuchikage to agree to a meeting.

For this piece of intelligence...
Struck the high echelons of the ninja world as a thorny dilemma.

"This is intelligence we gathered from Sunagakure: Konoha has been utilizing a high-ranking medical virtuoso to treat critically wounded soldiers throughout this war. The recovery rate for these wounded has remained consistently high, enabling numerous shinobi to return to the front lines time and time again."

"If you continue to lock yourselves in a stalemate here..."

"Even with Iwagakure's vast ninja army, you cannot endlessly bleed resources against Konoha. With that formidable figure's assistance, Iwagakure's chances of achieving victory will plummet drastically..."

"..."

The Second Tsuchikage Mu furrowed his brow in displeasure.
Did they really need Kirigakure to point this out?

He had long since been aware of Emiya Shihara's existence, having even crossed paths with him in the past and requested his intervention to treat villagers of Iwagakure suffering from severe burns.

"What you mean to say is..."

The Second Tsuchikage Mu fell into hesitant contemplation.

"We ought to join forces against Konoha!"

Kirigakure's envoy stared directly at the Second Tsuchikage, posing a rhetorical question: "Lord Tsuchikage, do you truly believe Iwagakure alone can defeat the allied forces of Kumogakure and Konoha?"

"Lord Mu!"

An Iwagakure shinobi hurried over, delivering a piece of intelligence in a hushed whisper: "Our shinobi infiltrating the Land of Fire report that they encountered Lord Emiya Shihara and were forced to retreat! Rumor has it that Lord Emiya is currently heading toward the front lines here!"

Normally.
Infiltrating deep behind enemy lines called for acts of sabotage.

Yet running into Emiya Shihara left them entirely helpless.

After all, any mission dispatched deep into enemy territory for high-stakes infiltration was invariably led by elite Jounin at the very least, most of whom had personally witnessed Emiya Shihara during that great disaster relief effort.

Most importantly...
The infiltrating Iwagakure shinobi possessed an airtight excuse for retreating.

"Accompanying him... is Uchiha Madara."

The Iwagakure shinobi whispered a name that caused the Second Tsuchikage's brow to knot together tightly.

"What is he here for?"

The Second Tsuchikage Mu was forced to deeply reflect upon this development.

Because this Second Tsuchikage realized the situation was spiraling into chaos beyond his control. Yet calling off the military campaign now was utterly out of the question!

Still...
What on earth was Uchiha Madara doing here?

A figure of that caliber could hardly be visiting a warzone to hold a tea party!

"We can accept the alliance with Kirigakure."

After a brief spell of thought, the Second Tsuchikage Mu abruptly opted to accept Kirigakure's proposal, even expanding upon it with a stratagem of his own: "However, our allied operational objective against Konoha must be the total destruction of Konoha itself—under the pretext that the enemy utilized a vile, wicked forbidden art to desecrate the ancient saint of our era, Emiya Shihara!"

"No matter what..."

"We can never tolerate anyone in this era employing evil forbidden arts to disturb the peace of the dead. Inform Lord Second Mizukage that if he harbors no desire to have his own corpse exploited after death, this alliance had best proceed without discord!"

It seemed...
Raising such a banner would prove no simple task.

After all, wicked forbidden arts were far too prevalent among shinobi, with practitioners across all hidden villages desperately researching high-powered ninjutsu in pursuit of battlefield victory.

Yet...
Such deeds were practiced in darkness, never spoken of aloud.

Truly malevolent jutsu could only ever serve as ultimate trumps, and even Iwagakure would never openly sanction its shinobi to employ them, fearing the descent into depravity.

In reality...
This banner also proved remarkably easy to hoist.

Because Emiya Shihara's legend was deeply rooted in the hearts of the ninja world; virtually every shinobi had grown up listening to stories of Emiya Shihara since childhood.

"At the very least..."

The Second Tsuchikage Mu harbored ulterior motives.

As a Kage, he was hardly cut out to be a pure philanthropist.

"We demand that Lord Emiya Shihara's soul be granted peace, exposing Konoha's wickedness to the light and casting ourselves in the righteous camp..."

"With any luck, this might also cause Lord Emiya to cease aiding either side in this war. Stripped of his medical ninjutsu, Konoha will struggle to maintain this stalemate, allowing us to secure an overwhelming advantage in the conflict..."

In days gone by, Emiya Shihara had shown benevolence toward Iwagakure; Mu himself had once joined Onoki in petitioning him to save lives. Under no circumstances should that grace be forgotten.

Viewed from this perspective...
If their war was waged to ensure the peace of Lord Emiya's soul, surely Lord Emiya would find himself entirely justified in refusing to treat Konoha's wounded casualties?

Perhaps Emiya Shihara's relationship with Konoha would even fracture entirely; Mu simply refused to believe that someone as kind-hearted as this medical ninja would relish aiding Konoha in waging war.

Given that the man had once selflessly rescued people of Iwagakure without giving a damn about the opinions of two Konoha brats...

"Come to think of it..."

Onoki mused with a trace of curiosity, recalling his own encounters with Emiya Shihara: "Was it truly Konoha's wicked forbidden art that disturbed the peace of Lord Emiya's eternal rest?"

"Lord Emiya never spoke of such matters..."

"But the aura of death clinging to him does not lie..."

The Second Tsuchikage Mu possessed somewhat broader intelligence networks, nodding as he replied: "We remained unaware of it in the past, but in retrospect, it must be the wicked forbidden art of Konoha's Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, for he utilized combat methods combining corpses with explosive tags throughout this war..."

"In any case."

"This is an opportunity for us to exploit the enemy."