Second Tsuchikage: Opening against Uchiha Madara Chapter 054

(PS: Because Hashirama Senju’s son didn’t appear in the original work, and Tsunade’s father is unknown, for a character as influential as Hashirama Senju, I can’t create an original character to be his son. Some readers dislike original characters, but for the sake of plot fluidity and rationality, Tsunade is born directly here and set at 3 years old. You can just ignore Hashirama’s son.)

While Iwagakure was bustling with New Year celebrations,

Konoha was also celebrating.

This year, Konoha had a relatively good year.

The Ninja Academy, Anbu, and Administrative Department were established one by one in Konoha. Coupled with the large amount of funds provided by the Land of Fire’s Daimyo, and the diligence of the Konoha ninjas themselves, the entire Konoha was stable, except for the situation with Kumogakure.

“Happy New Year!”

Tobirama Senju, now the Second Hokage, came to visit Mito Uzumaki’s home.

“Hmm, Tsunade, come quickly and greet your grand-uncle.”

Mito Uzumaki called out the three-year-old Tsunade.

Little Tsunade reluctantly held her dice and was called out by Mito Uzumaki.

“Hmm, little Tsuna, what new poems have you learned recently?”

Tobirama Senju slowly sat down and asked while drinking tea.

Tsunade didn’t speak, still fiddling with the dice in her hand.

“Your grand-uncle is asking you, Tsunade. If you’re still so impolite, you’ll go stand outside!” Mito Uzumaki said with gentle anger.

Only then did Tsunade reluctantly put down the dice, her mind quickly recalling the poems she had learned.

Suddenly, she remembered a poem created by the Tsuchikage of the neighboring village, which she had seen in the newspaper.

“Grand-uncle, yes, I’ll recite it for you now…”

Tsunade, with her hands behind her back, began to recite: “Forty years of home and country, three thousand li of mountains and rivers…”

The more Tobirama Senju listened, the more something felt wrong. Why did this poem feel like it was dissing him?

Forty years of home and country, he was almost forty himself.

Three thousand li of mountains and rivers, though a bit exaggerated, the territory of the Land of Fire conquered by foreign enemies was not far from that number…

Mito Uzumaki, standing by, also felt increasingly uneasy.

She quickly told Tsunade to stop.

“Alright, Tsunade, stop reciting.”

Mito Uzumaki quickly pulled Tsunade over, looking apologetically at Tobirama Senju.

Tobirama Senju smiled helplessly and asked, “Little Tsuna, where did you learn that?”

“Hmm… I saw it in the newspaper, written by the Tsuchikage of the neighboring village…”

Tsunade pouted and told the truth.

Upon hearing it was Mu, Tobirama Senju immediately felt a bit broken again.

Damn it, Mu, that bastard.

“Tsunade, here are your dice, go play.”

Mito Uzumaki quickly handed the dice to Tsunade, sending her away.

“Hehe… it’s nothing…”

Tobirama Senju waved his hand.

Now, the northern and southern parts of the Land of Fire had been brought under control. Only Kirigakure and Iwagakure were still troublesome. He could only trust the wisdom of those who came later.

“News from Kumogakure suggests they’ve shown an intention for peace talks. Perhaps the war will end soon…”

Tobirama Senju showed a relieved expression.

“Be careful, don’t fall into a trap!”

Mito Uzumaki warned.

“Don’t worry, my jutsu is almost perfected…” Tobirama Senju said meaningfully.

Mito Uzumaki showed a serious expression and remained silent.

…On the other side, Iwagakure.

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”

“Mu, I can’t believe you can write poetry too. Your poem is well-written, especially the part about ‘three thousand li of mountains and rivers’…”

Mu and Gengetsu Hozuki were appreciating Mu’s previous poem.

Since the last New Year, Gengetsu Hozuki had extended his visit by seven days.

During these seven days, the two of them played together.

They soaked in hot springs, visited temple fairs, admired lanterns, fished, ate grilled snacks in Iwagakure’s commercial street, and watched the unique rock rain of the Land of Earth.

Gengetsu Hozuki even wanted to stay in Iwagakure and not leave.

Now, recalling that godforsaken place, Kirigakure,

What kind of hard life had he lived before!

Gengetsu Hozuki didn’t want to go back anymore.

It truly was “no thought of mist.”

Before coming, he had thought Iwagakure was still all mud houses and rocks, just like before.

Who said Iwagakure was bad? This Iwagakure is fantastic!

“By the way, is that poem of yours perhaps alluding to Tobirama Senju?” Gengetsu Hozuki said with a mischievous smile.

“No! Absolutely not!”

Mu immediately denied it.

Actually, he had just written it down in his spare time; he wasn’t the original author.

“Ah~ I’ve been too comfortable in Iwagakure these past few days. Indeed, I’m most relaxed when I’m with you. Those bloodline limit families in Kirigakure are too scheming; my brain cells are almost dead from being with them…”

Gengetsu Hozuki said, lying on the tatami mat.

“You are the village’s Kage. You’ve been here for so long, aren’t you afraid of being usurped and sidelined by those people?”

Mu spoke slowly.

“Sigh! Sidelined, then sidelined. I’m not doing it anymore. Being a Kage is a tough job, especially in Kirigakure. I really don’t know how old man Byakuren endured it.”

Gengetsu Hozuki said with his eyes closed, looking like he had given up.

“Oh? Who are your political rivals?”

Mu narrowed his eyes slightly. Because Kirigakure had always maintained a secrecy policy, and he hadn’t sent Anbu to Kirigakure, he wasn’t clear about the situation there.

“Hmph! Don’t even mention that Ice Release user. That person has always insisted on a high-pressure policy, which I can’t stand. And the old man gave that person immense power before he died.”

Gengetsu Hozuki said through gritted teeth.

“So that’s how it is…”

Mu’s intelligence had already guessed who that person was.

An Ice Release user, that was close enough.

Do you remember the young man standing behind Byakuren at the Five Kage Summit in the original work?

In the original work, the Kage of the four villages all brought their second-generation successors.

Only Byakuren brought that nameless person, who was the Third Mizukage.

It can be seen that in the original work, Byakuren did not bring Gengetsu Hozuki, which might mean that the Third Mizukage was more to Byakuren’s liking, or that Gengetsu Hozuki and the Third Mizukage had a conflict.

The two might be opposites.

The short-bearded man was cheerful and straightforward, while the Third Mizukage was similar to Byakuren’s tendency for a high-pressure, strict policy (the original description of Byakuren was strict and high-pressure).

Based on Mu’s understanding of the short-bearded man,

The short-bearded man was optimistic, cheerful, and open-minded; he simply couldn’t have created the Bloody Mist Village.

(PS: Some people say the Bloody Mist was created by Madara and Obito. Although Madara showed signs of controlling Kirigakure, why would Madara create the Bloody Mist Village? Obito is even less likely. Zabuza was about the same age as Kakashi; when Zabuza killed all his peers, Obito was still kissing Rin’s photo…)

Therefore, the Bloody Mist Village was most likely caused by the Third Mizukage.

“It’s not that I’m trying to stir up internal conflict in Kirigakure, but you should be careful of that person…”

Mu looked at Gengetsu Hozuki seriously.

“Hmm, I will. Hehe, how could an outsider harm me? Only insiders in the village would harm me…” Gengetsu Hozuki said sarcastically, expressing his dissatisfaction with Kirigakure’s internal affairs.

Late at night, Gengetsu Hozuki led his delegation out of Iwagakure.

Before leaving, Gengetsu Hozuki expressed his desire to live in Iwagakure after retirement.

Mu naturally agreed to his request.

“Take care, Mu…”

Gengetsu Hozuki tightly clasped Mu’s hand, then departed.

“Tsuchikage-sama, the latest intelligence from the Land of Fire’s intelligence station!”

After Gengetsu Hozuki left, an Anbu member quickly arrived.

Mu opened the scroll and saw

It was news that Konoha and Kumogakure were going to have peace talks.

Mu narrowed his eyes slightly. Could the plot be advancing a few years early?

Tobirama Senju might be killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku…

“Hmm…”

Mu would not allow Tobirama Senju to live forever.

Konoha had a strong foundation and many bloodline limits. If they developed wholeheartedly, they could surpass Iwagakure.

“Perhaps I can try… If Kinkaku and Ginkaku can’t kill him, I’ll go personally to finish the job, and while I’m at it, kill Sarutobi Hiruzen and a series of other successors…”

Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

A hint of killing intent shot out from his pupils.

(Thank you all for the gifts. You don’t have to send large gifts, as I don’t add more chapters, and I feel guilty taking them. You should keep them for yourselves. If you just want to support, you can use free gifts.)