At the back mountain of Iwagakure, there was a natural cavern. When the village was first established, Ishikawa had built several secret chambers within this spacious cave. They were used partly to store valuable treasures and jutsu, and partly to provide a hidden meeting place for the village's leadership.
In front of one chamber, a man wrapped entirely in bandages sat cross-legged. In his hand he held a glowing silver card, upon which was inscribed the figure of a slender white beast.
Its strong limbs were bound by black chains. Behind it drooped five long tails. White steam wafted from its body, and its massive beast eyes blazed with a fire called rage.
"Haa… still unwilling to speak with me?"
Once again failing to communicate with the Five-Tails within the card, Mu opened his eyes slowly, full of helplessness.
Long ago he had defeated the Five-Tails and sealed it into the card. But for two years, the beast had refused to communicate, constantly battering against the seal.
Mu had tried transforming. Indeed, he could borrow the Five-Tails' power. His strength in that state far surpassed his normal self. But it never lasted long—three minutes at most. Any longer, and he suffered severe backlash.
"How did that rogue ninja do it?"
Frowning, Mu put away the card. At that moment, a short figure ran into the cavern—it was Onoki, still stunted in growth. His face was filled with gloom, clearly bringing bad news.
"Onoki, what's happened?"
Mu had been spending his days in this forbidden place studying the secrets of the beast card, while Onoki handled daily needs and passed along information.
"Grandfather failed again."
Onoki's face was heavy, his tone bitter.
"Sigh… the teacher is already far past his prime. Challenging a Tailed Beast alone at his age is far too much."
Iwagakure truly had no successors. Apart from Mu defeating the Five-Tails, no one else in the village could overcome the violent Four-Tails.
In that awkward situation, the elderly Ishikawa had personally taken the field to subdue the Four-Tails. But his strength was long gone. Several challenges ended in failure, and he even strained his back, now afraid to make sudden moves lest he throw it out entirely.
"It's my fault. I'm too weak to share the burden of the village."
At fifteen, Onoki clenched his fists, his bean-sized eyes full of unwillingness. His talent was dull—he hadn't yet mastered Dust Release like his grandfather and teacher. Against the Four-Tails, he was nothing.
"Onoki, don't belittle yourself."
Mu still had high hopes for his disciple. Though weak now, he believed Onoki was a late bloomer with a bright future.
"Any news of the Mist's Tailed Beasts?"
After comforting his student, Mu suddenly recalled his old rival, and asked.
"Nothing at all."
Onoki shook his head. All information about Mist's Tailed Beasts had been sealed tight by Byakuren.
Mu fell silent. Even without news of Gengetsu, he felt a tug deep within, a destiny urging him toward battle.
"In the end, we and Kirigakure will fight."
Holding his transformation card, Mu's confidence swelled. He raised his head, eyes flashing with determination.
Onoki was swept up in his teacher's emotion, raising his fists high and shouting,
"Kiri is nothing before you, teacher! Even Kumo and Konoha would tremble at your power!"
Suna: "What about us? Don't we count?"
"Heh heh~"
Mu enjoyed his disciple's flattery, gesturing for more. He loved hearing "truth."
"Oh?"
Just then, a cold hum filled the cavern, snapping Mu out of his pleasant mood.
"Who's there?"
Mu looked around warily, spreading out his senses.
"Teacher! Behind you!"
Onoki's terrified voice rang out.
Mu spun and flashed to Onoki's side, glaring at the figure now standing where he had been.
"Little brat, who did you say would tremble?"
By the dim glow of two lanterns, Uchiha Madara stepped forward from the shadows, high-collared robe draping his form. His scarlet eyes radiated pressure, leaving both teacher and student breathless.
"You… Uchiha Madara!"
Mu realized in shock that the Tailed Beast card in his hand was trembling. He pushed the thought aside, placing Onoki behind him.
"Our Iwagakure has signed a peace alliance with Konoha. You, a Konoha ninja, trespass into our village's forbidden place—what is your purpose?"
Madara had deliberately donned his Konoha forehead protector before revealing himself. Hearing himself addressed as a Konoha shinobi stirred complicated feelings, a fleeting smile hidden by his collar.
"Peace alliance? Your earlier words didn't sound like you intended to honor the rules that man built with such effort."
Madara wasn't here for personal reasons. He was here under the guise of "official business." Onoki's boastful words had been the perfect excuse to play the role of Konoha's enforcer.
"I-I was just bragging! Our alliance with Hashirama-sama is unbreakable!"
Onoki, realizing the danger, quickly explained. The memory of Madara suppressing his grandfather and the Four-Tails with a single glare still haunted him. Even in Iwagakure, he feared this man.
"Alliance? Then show Konoha respect."
Madara's eyes narrowed, tomoe spinning slowly. The cold chakra leaking out made Mu swallow hard.
Mu had once thought himself invincible after becoming a Tailed Beast Knight, even imagining revenge on the Gold and Silver brothers who had crushed him before.
But now, facing Madara, his confidence wavered. This aura was beyond anything the Gold and Silver brothers could match.
"And you… daring to call Hashirama by name!"
Madara's original intent had only been to scold them. But Onoki, in his ignorance, had called Hashirama by name right in front of him. Unforgivable! He should be called "the honorable Hokage-sama"!
"Huh?"
Onoki was dumbfounded. Was that wrong? If not "Hashirama," should he call him "Dad"?
"Susanoo!"
Irritated, Madara's Eternal Mangekyo flared. With a gesture, a deep-blue half-body Susanoo erupted, shaking the cavern. The explosion of power blasted Mu and Onoki back, burying them under dust and stone.
"Ugh…"
Onoki's small body ached all over. He looked up in despair at Madara standing inside the towering Susanoo. His newly found "Will of Stone" wavered.
"Hmph."
Seeing Onoki's despair, Madara was satisfied. "For your ignorance as a child, I'll spare you this time. Watch your words."
Onoki's short stature had once again saved him. Who could be angry at a child?
"But you—do you want to dance?"
Ignoring Onoki, Madara fixed his gaze on Mu, who had stood back up, eyes still locked on him with defiance.
"The Will of Stone won't shatter from your words."
The burning card in his chest gave Mu courage. Facing this overwhelming foe, he stood firm. Inspired, Onoki too forced himself to rise, his eyes regaining steel.
"Oh?"
Madara liked that. Only defiant opponents gave him satisfaction. With a wave, Susanoo's great arm swung down.
"Teacher!"
Onoki's legs trembled uselessly as the massive fist descended.
"Boom!!!"
Dust billowed. Onoki's heart sank.
"Hmph. Just this level, and you dared to boast?"
Madara shook his head, ready to leave, disappointed.
"Mu King! Five-Tails Mu King! Sonic Divine Steed!"
A strange electronic voice rang out. Madara paused.
"Signal Bike! Rider! Mu King!"
"This is… a Tailed Beast Knight?"
Madara tilted his head curiously as Mu stepped out of the dust, transformed.
His body was striped black and white, steaming heat radiating. Blue compound eyes shone with resolve. With each step he chanted strange words:
"Track!"
Clack—
"Destroy!"
Clack—
"Eliminate!"
Clack—
"Swift as sound!"
"Teacher!"
Onoki cried in joy, seeing Mu reborn as a Tailed Beast Knight.
"So this is the legend?"
Madara's eyes lit with curiosity. This was his first time seeing one in action.
"Uchiha Madara, apologize while you can."
Flooded with power, Mu was brimming with confidence.
"Very well. Let me test what a Tailed Beast Knight can do."
Madara's battle spirit soared. He moved his stiff muscles, Susanoo obeying, swinging down at Mu.
Mu crouched, then blurred into a streak of light, vanishing.
"Oh? Not bad speed."
Madara's eyes darted, searching.
"Looking for me?"
The voice came from behind him. Madara turned, scowling. His back was his most guarded spot.
"Die!"
Susanoo sprouted two extra arms, slamming down, but Mu vanished again.
"Only dodging?"
Madara grew impatient. He hated overly nimble foes.
"As you wish."
Mu reappeared, body glowing red-hot from speed. His time was almost up. He had to end it now.
"Heh, interesting."
Madara poured chakra into Susanoo, evolving it to full armored stage.
Mu leapt high, using Light and Heavy Rock Technique to hover. Then he dove, foot blazing with steam.
"Horn Breaker!"
He fell like a divine white steed, horn gleaming, aimed at Madara.
"Good!"
Excited, Madara had Susanoo meet him head-on.
"Teacher!"
Onoki clenched his sweaty fists.
"Boom!"
The impact resounded, shockwaves shaking the cavern.
"Crack…"
Madara's eyes widened. His Susanoo's fist fractured.
"Crack, crack…"
It splintered further. Mu's steaming foot broke through, striking for Madara's face.
"We've won!"
Onoki shouted.
"Bet—"
Madara's eyes spun, golden light forming.
"Huh?"
But then Mu froze mid-strike.
"Arghhh!"
Steam burst from him. He crashed to the ground, transformation undone.
"Teacher!"
Onoki rushed to his side, tearing off the belt to reveal Mu, steaming and burned, gasping painfully.
"Only the weak rely on power they cannot control."
Madara understood instantly. The bandaged man had been consumed by the beast's backlash.
"Don't come closer!"
Onoki spread his arms, blocking Madara, staring up with trembling yet resolute eyes.
"Kid, you've got spirit."
Madara had no killing intent—his mission didn't require it. He smirked, amused by Onoki's courage.
"If you spare my teacher, you can take whatever you want!"
Though his legs shook, Onoki tried bargaining.
"Oh? But if I kill you both, I still take everything."
Madara raised a brow.
"Uh…"
Onoki's face paled.
"But I don't kill children."
Madara turned, his eyes fading back to black. Looking once more at the wheezing Mu, he vanished into the shadows, leaving only a warning:
"As the price for sparing him, no one can know I was here. Next time, think before you speak."
"Haa…"
Onoki collapsed, clutching his pounding heart. This encounter had carved a permanent shadow in him—one that might last his whole life.
Meanwhile, Madara reflected as he left Iwagakure.
"Not bad. Strong enough to shatter Susanoo, even forced me near to using other eyes. Tailed Beast Knights… interesting."
If just the Five-Tails had such power, what of the Nine-Tails?
"That fox… where did it run off to?"
For two years Madara had scoured the Fire Country, finding only one canyon with traces of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Nothing more. Sometimes he even wondered if it had already been captured.
So he wandered to other lands. His first stop: the Land of Earth. After a little "lesson," it was time to move on.
"If not here, then to the next."
With that, his completed Susanoo unfolded great wings and soared into the stormy skies.
Destination: the Land of Lightning.
"Buuurp~ Charcoal-grilled ninja, my favorite~"
In a canyon of the Land of Lightning, the Nine-Tails happily swallowed its last charred Cloud shinobi, humming a tune as it burped contentedly.
Satisfied, it thought: The Land of Lightning is far better. In Fire Country it could never sleep easy, fearing that smiling wooden man greeting it with a "Hello!" every time it woke.
"Lord, the Nine-Tails is here!"
A clamor of footsteps approached. The fox's eyes lit up.
Ah, more food. This time, maybe raw ninja sashimi.
(End of Chapter)
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