Chapter 63: This is a New Era Dictated by Might! (Revised Edition! Subscriptions Requested!)

News in the ninja world spread with remarkable speed.

Just as Konoha and Sunagakure—no, Konoha and Kumogakure—announced their alliance, rumors of a pact between Kirigakure and Iwagakure were spreading like wildfire, carrying an even heavier weight of influence.

"Konoha shinobi have used wicked forbidden arts to disturb the peace of the dead, forcing the departed to fight the living. This is an absolutely intolerable and evil act!"

"The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, stopped at nothing to win the war, even resurrecting the ancient medical ninja Emiya Shigen, and exploiting this great healer for the sake of war!"

These reports spread rapidly across the nations.

So much so that Sunagakure, despite already having been defeated, began to stir restlessly.

The ninja of Sunagakure immediately caught the scent of opportunity. While they did not officially break their covenant, they dispatched troops to the Grass Country frontline to wait for the opportune moment.

If Konoha were to be defeated...
Sunagakure would tear up the treaty on the spot!

If Iwagakure and Kirigakure were defeated...
Sunagakure would immediately march north to seize the territory of the Earth Country!

If both sides suffered mutual destruction...
That would be a double blessing for Sunagakure.

Amidst this chaotic situation, the only remaining piece of good news was that Kumogakure was still willing to forge an alliance with Konoha, remembering the kindness Senju Hashirama had once shown them.

Konoha Camp.

Senju Tobirama's brows were tightly knitted together.

With Kirigakure stepping into the fray and forming an alliance with Iwagakure, the situation—which had slowly begun to open up—had once again plunged into a stalemate.

"A bunch of bastards..."

The young Danzo was well aware of the attitude held by those hostile villages. He knew they were simply seizing the excuse to make trouble, and he cursed through gritted teeth, "In the past, they clearly benefited from Lord Emiya's medical expertise, yet now they shout to the world that we have disturbed Lord Emiya's peace..."

"Quiet down."

Senju Tobirama glanced at Shimura Danzo and said in a deep voice, "This excuse is completely irrelevant. Until we win this war, anything can become their pretext."

"In the past..."
"It was merely a desire to seize the lands of the Fire Country..."
"And now, it is nothing more than an attempt to give their actions a veneer of righteousness in this war..."

Yet, it was precisely this veneer of righteousness...
That proved to be most fatal to Konoha.

Konoha already lacked the advantage when facing Iwagakure, and now with Kirigakure's forces added to the mix, those distant kin from the Uzushio Village could only assist with defense.

Even so...
Senju Tobirama knew where the real problem lay.

This was the backlash from his continuous use of Emiya Shigen in the war, or rather, the backlash from Konoha monopolizing the benefits brought by Emiya Shigen.

During the previous era of peace, Konoha stood supreme in strength.

Although the deterrent presence of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, still lingered—even after Tobirama chose to resurrect Emiya Shigen through the Reanimation Jutsu—Emiya Shigen had spent a decade traveling the ninja world, allowing all the major villages to share in the benefits of his revival.

Konoha had merely reaped the largest share of those benefits, such as the medical techniques left behind by Emiya Shigen and the power he had bestowed upon them.

Was not this situation...
The exact same as when Konoha was first founded?

Konoha had always claimed the lion's share of territorial advantages. The benefits the other villages derived from their own homelands fell far short of what Konoha enjoyed in the Fire Country. They had harbored resentment back then as well, kept in check only by the overwhelming presence of the First Hokage.

Now...
The First Hokage was dead.

Konoha still held the lands of the Fire Country.
Konoha still held the advantages brought by the medical ninja Emiya Shigen.

This backlash mirrored the origins of the Ninja World Wars precisely, save for the fact that someone had handed them a fresh pretext for war.

Judging by previous circumstances, Senju Tobirama had believed that swiftly ending the war would change everything, and that the matter of utilizing Emiya Shigen would be completely inconsequential.

Yet now, Konoha's strength was insufficient to end the war quickly. They even needed to find a way to forge an alliance with Kumogakure as soon as possible to stabilize the increasingly dire frontline situation.

"First, stabilize the alliance with Kumogakure..."

Senju Tobirama let out a long sigh. In the end, he was still relying on the grace his elder brother had left behind for this world to secure an ally for Konoha.

"Lord Hokage..."

Someone still wished to raise an objection.

Because the alliance ceremony between Konoha and Kumogakure was to be held on Kumogakure's home turf, it would spell disaster if they fell into an ambush by Kumo shinobi.

While the alliance with Kumogakure remained of utmost importance at this juncture, exposing the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, to such grave danger...

However...
Senju Tobirama's stance was resolute.

The alliance between Konoha and Kumogakure was critical right now. If they did not even dare to show up for a binding ceremony, they would be looked down upon far too much!

Not only would they be mocked by Kumogakure...
Should Kumogakure perceive that Konoha failed to take the alliance ceremony seriously and use that as a pretext to cancel the pact, it would plunge Konoha into an even worse situation!

"Though I am growing old..."
"I am not lacking in the courage to face danger."

"Besides, Kumogakure announced this to the ninja world in advance. They have shown utmost sincerity, and we cannot be discourteous, lest they think Konoha's shinobi are petty..."

"This alliance is of paramount importance..."

Senju Tobirama rejected the dissuasion of the others, his attitude unyielding: "Once the alliance between myself and Lord Second Raikage is concluded, Konoha can regain the upper hand..."

"Under the current circumstances, Lord Emiya is unlikely to persuade Iwagakure to withdraw their troops. Let us meet with him after we return from Kumogakure!"

Meanwhile.

The Iwagakure Camp.

The Second Mizukage of Kirigakure, Hozuki Gengetsu, had already arrived ahead of schedule at the Iwagakure camp. This Second Mizukage possessed immense daring and cared little for the danger of falling into an ambush or assassination.

"I thought you intended to launch a surprise attack on the Earth Country..."

The Second Tsuchikage, Mu, reached out to clasp Hozuki Gengetsu's hand, speaking carelessly in a manner guaranteed to displease everyone present: "After all, Kirigakure is isolated overseas, and the shinobi of Kirigakure have never possessed any semblance of credibility..."

"No, no, no..."

Hozuki Gengetsu burst into a hearty, uninhibited laugh, grabbing the Second Tsuchikage's hand in return: "At least in the face of shared interests, we are quite credible! If you refuse the alliance, it won't be too late for me to lead a raid on the Earth Country!"

"Right now..."
"To set your mind at ease, I deliberately braved great danger to come and meet with you, and even had our village's shinobi forces cross the sea to enter through another route!"

"..."

A flicker of distrust surfaced in the eyes of the Second Tsuchikage, Mu. He understood Gengetsu's true thoughts; the man was merely afraid of being attacked by Iwagakure while passing through the Earth Country.

Even if Iwagakure honored its word, the Kage of a village would never deliberately allow his subordinates to march through hazardous territory.

There were so many small nations in the ninja world.
It was far safer for Kirigakure's forces to bypass them through minor territories.

"Rest assured, bandage-man!"
"We come to this alliance with absolute sincerity!"

Hozuki Gengetsu stated his true intentions with utmost earnestness: "Compared to the narrow valleys of the Earth Country, Kirigakure prefers the fertile expanses of the Fire Country..."

"That couldn't be better."

The Second Tsuchikage grudgingly accepted the explanation.

Although there was evident disparagement of the Earth Country hidden within the Mizukage's words, Mu had no intention of quibbling over such minor details.

"Sigh..."
"We hadn't planned on approaching you..."
"Unfortunately, the defenses of Uzushio Village are simply too impenetrable."

Hozuki Gengetsu's demeanor seemed to relax slightly as he spoke with utter nonchalance: "We had no choice but to seek a shortcut and find a way from here. Actually, we originally wanted to ally with Sunagakure, but that village collapsed far too quickly, and Kumogakure is trying to cozy up to Konoha. Adding it all up, we had no choice but to pick a guy like you..."

"Hmph..."
"We never intended to ally with you either."

The Second Tsuchikage never lagged behind in verbal sparring, though as they exchanged retorts, they smoothly transitioned into trading intelligence: "However, an unexpected variable might appear on the battlefield..."

"What variable?"
"Lord Emiya Shigen is coming to the battlefield..."

The Second Tsuchikage said this as he led the guest into a tent within the camp, adding casually, "Along with his entourage..."

"Oh, oh, oh! Bring me some hot tea!"

Hozuki Gengetsu waved at Onoki to serve tea, seeming entirely unfazed by Emiya Shigen and his entourage: "Doesn't matter, we already knew of his existence anyway, and his medical ninjutsu is indeed quite formidable..."

This Second Mizukage of Kirigakure showed a complete disregard for diplomatic etiquette. He snatched a steaming cup of tea from Onoki's hands and drank it straight down without caring about the scalding temperature, as if entirely immune to heat.

"..."

Onoki was left staring in utter bewilderment.

Furthermore...
This Mizukage was truly bizarre.

They were clearly discussing a life-or-death war...
Yet the Second Mizukage's attitude exhibited an unprecedented, almost surreal relaxation.

Hozuki Gengetsu sipped his tea leisurely and continued discussing Emiya Shigen and the war: "The outcome of a war is ultimately decided by power. It will be enough for our allied forces to crush Konoha with overwhelming might. No matter how powerful a medical ninja is, they cannot—"

"Lord Emiya's entourage is Uchiha Madara."

The Second Tsuchikage, Mu, casually interrupted Gengetsu, dropping a name that made the Second Mizukage's blood run cold.

"Puff!"

Hozuki Gengetsu spat out the hot tea he had just been drinking, spun around, and glared at Onoki, who had poured it: "Hot, hot, hot, hot... Are you trying to scald me to death, brat?"

"Don't use my disciple as an excuse to cover up your loss of composure!"

The Second Tsuchikage snapped back instantly, speaking in a cold tone: "How could someone who fights using high-temperature steam possibly find tea too hot!"

"Well, that complicates things..."

Hozuki Gengetsu set down his teacup. The hot tea spilled on him slowly transformed into vapor, drying his clothes once more.

"If they've joined Konoha's side..."

The Second Mizukage's brows furrowed, clearly deeply displeased by any news concerning Uchiha Madara: "Our allied forces might not hold the advantage anymore. We are all shinobi who survived the Warring States period; even if we could resolve this through sheer numbers, we could never endure such catastrophic losses..."

Having said that, Hozuki Gengetsu stood up, appearing ready to leave: "Thinking about it now, it seems we aren't all that well-suited for an alliance..."

This guy...
He truly had zero integrity whatsoever!

"Then you aren't walking out of here today."

The Second Tsuchikage knew this man's temperament all too well.

"Sigh, I never imagined I'd walk right into a trap..."

Hozuki Gengetsu sat back down with a helpless expression, once again ordering Onoki around: "Fine, brat, get me some tea and snacks..."

"..."

Onoki was left staring in mounting astonishment.

Wait...
Was this really the proper demeanor of a village's Kage?

Why did the man look like an elderly gentleman on the outside, yet possess such a delightfully uninhibited, devil-may-care personality?

"Is the news confirmed?"

Once he was seated again, Hozuki Gengetsu's expression suddenly turned solemn: "If this intelligence can be verified, we'll need to prepare tactics to deal with Uchiha Madara ahead of time..."

"Absolute certainty."

The Second Tsuchikage nodded.

"Then that couldn't be better..."

The corners of Hozuki Gengetsu's mouth curled upward. He stroked his small mustache and broke into a confident grin: "Along with the humiliation of the Warring States era... Let us put an end to all of it in this war!"

"..."

A flash of shock crossed Onoki's face!

The youthful Tsuchikage disciple stared in disbelief at Hozuki Gengetsu. He had never imagined that this man would dare to challenge Uchiha Madara!

As someone who had witnessed Uchiha Madara's power firsthand, Onoki still harbored deep-seated terror of the man. His relentless day-and-night training was meant to ensure he would not cower if he ever faced such an enemy again, yet residual fear still lingered in his heart...

Perhaps...
He had truly underestimated this Mizukage!

This Second Mizukage actually possessed the strength to challenge Uchiha Madara!

"Don't get so full of yourself."

The Second Tsuchikage instantly popped the balloon of confidence Hozuki Gengetsu had blown up, saying in a heavy tone, "It's best to first ascertain their intentions. After all, he came alongside Lord Emiya, and I refuse to believe that great man would let him run amok..."

"Then I'll leave that to you!"

Hozuki Gengetsu neatly shifted the responsibility back to the Tsuchikage, returning to the enjoyment of his afternoon tea: "What else can I do? My strength is hardly a match for Uchiha Madara, and my brain certainly can't compare to you, bandage-man. Let's just drink our tea..."

"..."

Onoki's eye twitching uncontrollably.

Originally...
He had thought the man was some sort of heroic figure...
Now it seemed this Mizukage was simply a master of letting things slide!

"Brat! Pour the tea, pour the tea!"

Hozuki Gengetsu lorded over the Iwagakure camp, shouting loudly to bully the Tsuchikage's disciple with an air of complete lawlessness.

"..."

Onoki genuinely wanted to smash the teapot over his head.

However...
Thoughts remained just thoughts.

Surprisingly, the Iwagakure camp possessed an unexpected harmony.

The Second Tsuchikage, Mu, and the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, were rivals of many years. They understood each other's mindset beneath this banter. At least for this moment, their alliance was officially forged, leaving only the arrival of Kirigakure's main army.

However...
Before Kirigakure's army could arrive.

The ones who truly reached the Iwagakure camp were the visitors they least wished to see.

Emiya Shigen.
Uchiha Madara.

Along the journey to the frontline, Uchiha Madara and Emiya Shigen had received plenty of news: the alliance between Iwagakure and Kirigakure, Sunagakure shinobi creeping toward the Grass Country frontline, and the ongoing pact between Kumogakure and Konoha.

Clearly.
This place had become the nexus where the Five Great Nations converged in a storm of wind and clouds.

Naturally.
They had also caught wind of the war slogans chanted by Iwagakure and Kirigakure.

"A bunch of shinobi left over from the Warring States era—how could they possibly care about some forbidden art? They merely wish to utilize Lord Emiya..."

Uchiha Madara saw through the nature of his contemporaries with crystal clarity: "These villages act solely for their own interests. Spouting such high-sounding nonsense now is merely an attempt to drive Lord Emiya away from Konoha in disgust, preventing that scheming rat Tobirama from utilizing Lord Emiya's medical skills. To everyone else, I suppose it's a pleasant surprise..."

"Hmph..."
"This ninja world has long since been beyond saving..."

At this point, Uchiha Madara reached up to touch his own eye sockets: "Only our plan can truly save this world..."

The five great ninja nations each harbored their own agendas.
Within those villages lived tens of thousands of shinobi, every single one harboring different thoughts. Only a method powerful enough to overturn the heavens and earth could truly bring about eternal peace!

The Grass Country.

Upon a hill.

Uchiha Madara and Emiya Shigen arrived.

Looking down at the Iwagakure camp in the distance, Uchiha Madara sneered repeatedly at their petty calculations, fully aware of the ploys running through those villages' minds.

"By now, the armies of all five great shinobi nations are gathered here. The slightest conflict could cause this war to escalate. Alliances and betrayals can happen at any moment..."

"I originally thought this war would be drawing to a close by the time we arrived. It seems far more troublesome than I anticipated..."

"The flames of this war are only burning brighter..."

"That insidious rat Tobirama always loves using petty tricks. This time, the very Konoha Hashirama wished to protect might be burned to ashes in this war..."

"However..."
"It is ultimately of no consequence."

"Mere pebbles cannot hope to contend with me..."

In Uchiha Madara's eyes, the only person worthy of being called a rival—Senju Hashirama—was already dead. The remaining bunch were nothing more than a flock of scattering chickens and dogs...

Uchiha Madara's mindset was one of supreme arrogance and self-conceit.

Compared to Emiya Shigen's egalitarian respect, which viewed everyone as individuals, Uchiha Madara's brand of equality meant treating absolutely no one in the ninja world with any regard at all.

"Let me handle this personally..."

Emiya Shigen shook his head, having no intention of letting Uchiha Madara participate in this battle: "If you were to step in, countless people would likely die, wouldn't they?"

This was not a matter of Emiya Shigen's self-confidence.

Had it been prior to their journey, Emiya Shigen perhaps would not have had such confidence, for his total chakra output was too limited, and he likely would have found a fight quite taxing.

However, along the road here, while helping Uchiha Madara examine his physical condition and observing the awakening progress of the Rinnegan, Emiya Shigen had successfully acquired Hashirama's cells.

[S-Grade Quest: Obtain Senju Hashirama's cells. Total chakra capacity increased; Wood Release power enhanced (currently restricted by Reanimation Jutsu).]

Naturally.
Aside from that, it wasn't the main point.

The truly important thing was that his reanimated vessel had been reinforced through Hashirama's cells, and his total chakra output had now surpassed the S-grade threshold.

[Chakra Energy: S (Roughly equivalent to 10 Kakashi-units).]

When combined with the infinite chakra of the reanimated body and the ability to cast jutsus without hand seals, it should at least be enough to make these people willing to listen to what he had to say.

"Uchiha Madara, Emiya Shigen..."

Sitting inside his tent, the Second Tsuchikage was still pondering the situation concerning Emiya Shigen, quietly awaiting the intelligence report dispatched by his scouts.

"That great figure poses no trouble..."

The Second Mizukage sat at his side, offering his own assessment: "Though he is a good man, morality holds no sway in war. As long as Uchiha Madara doesn't make a move, it shouldn't be too big of a problem. Besides, we have no quarrel with Uchiha Madara anyway..."

"Lord Tsuchikage, Lord Mizukage, we have visitors!"

An Iwagakure shinobi hurried into the tent, reporting the arrival of the very figures they had just been discussing: "It is Lord Emiya. He has come alone..."

"Has he finally arrived?"

A sense of relief washed over the Second Tsuchikage; his main worry had been not knowing what the other party intended. Now that Emiya Shigen was willing to visit of his own accord, they could probe his intentions firsthand.

"He's probably hoping we'll make peace with Konoha..."

Onoki scratched his head, a trace of embarrassment on his face: "Given Lord Emiya's request, Lord Mu, it seems we really won't be able to refuse..."

"Hey, brat!"
"You truly understand nothing of politics!"

The Second Mizukage tapped Onoki firmly on the head.

"Don't bully my disciple."

The Second Tsuchikage issued a cold reprimand.

"Though Onoki's thinking is indeed rather naive..."

The Second Tsuchikage let out a sigh, his brow furrowing even tighter: "If he's here to negotiate a ceasefire, Lord Emiya's thoughts are far too idealistic. This is no longer the peaceful era of antiquity..."

Indeed.
Such thinking was far too naive.

Though Emiya Shigen commanded immense prestige, the forces of the five great shinobi villages were gathered here in the Grass Country. How could an armed standoff this tense be halted by mere words?

Without securing sufficient benefits...
How could anyone possibly agree to call it quits and walk away?

"Let's go."
"We will go out to greet him."

"After all, he bestowed great grace upon Iwagakure."

The Second Tsuchikage had no desire for his disciple to become entirely devoid of human sentiment. He stood up on his own accord, adjusting his Tsuchikage conical hat: "Should he ask us to withdraw our troops..."

"Are we going to refuse?"

Embarrassment crept onto Onoki's face.

"Naturally, we cannot simply refuse outright!"

Irritated by his disciple's rock-hard, unyielding stubbornness, the Second Tsuchikage snapped angrily: "Nor can we agree. As the future Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, you must learn to think from other perspectives..."

"What an absolute fool..."

A mocking chuckle escaped Hozuki Gengetsu's lips.

"Shut your mouth!"

The Second Tsuchikage cast a cold glare at the Second Mizukage before resuming his lesson to his disciple: "Even if I were willing to agree, the others in the Earth Country would not. We have poured too many military resources into this to retreat empty-handed. We simply need to stall for time..."

"Even if you agreed..."

Hozuki Gengetsu grinned, wearing a mischievous smile as he tossed out a piece of advice to Onoki: "As your ally, I wouldn't agree to it either..."

"If he insists on pressing us for a definitive answer."

"Then we can only ask him to provide a convincing justification for our withdrawal..."

"Such as... force."

The Second Tsuchikage grasped the brim of his hat and said in a heavy tone: "We need to make this ancient sage understand that this era is no longer the paradise of antiquity, but a new world where destiny is forged solely through power!"