"Are you tired of living?"
Mu looked at Hōzuki Gengetsu.
"Heh heh, it doesn't matter. I feel like the two of us have had enough glory. We were born in an era of chaos, lived for so long, and did so many things. We've had enough glory."
Hōzuki Gengetsu shrugged, indicating he didn't care.
"The two of us experienced the chaotic era, helped establish the Ninja Villages, Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, all died by our hands, and we also experienced the First Great Ninja War."
"We all became Kage of our respective villages, and we are now the two strongest people in the world. With such a life, what more could we be unsatisfied with?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu's words made Mu nod.
Indeed, such a life would be yearned for by most ordinary people in the Ninja World.
This endless glory is captivating.
But Mu was still unwilling. In the long years,
A hundred years of glory is but a fleeting moment.
Only eternity is the true path.
"Hehe, Mu, why haven't you gotten married yet? Logically, your injuries should have healed years ago, so why are you still wrapped in bandages?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked Mu.
Mu's eyes became melancholic and deep, only looking at the sea: "I…"
Mu did not want to answer this question.
"Speaking of which, why haven't you ever found a wife? Don't you feel lonely by yourself?"
Mu suddenly asked, throwing the question back to Hōzuki Gengetsu like a hot potato.
"Hahahaha!"
Hōzuki Gengetsu merely let out a big, bored yawn.
Then his eyes, at this moment, stared straight at Mu, and he said softly, "Isn't it because you're still with me?"
When Mu heard this sentence,
His body trembled violently, and he was completely stunned.
He hadn't expected Hōzuki Gengetsu to answer like that, and his tone and gaze made Mu feel an unspeakable strangeness.
A chill surged in Mu's heart, and he got goosebumps…
Mu met Hōzuki Gengetsu's eyes.
It was as if he was getting to know Hōzuki Gengetsu all over again.
He realized a very serious matter.
That is, Hōzuki Gengetsu has shown no interest in women up until now.
Besides fighting, he just plays, looking happy every day but not knowing what he's happy about.
Could this guy…
Could this guy be gay?
He wanted to confirm something.
"Are you gay?"
Mu looked at Hōzuki Gengetsu and asked seriously.
Hōzuki Gengetsu raised an eyebrow, then a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he looked at Mu with a playful gaze, saying nothing.
Mu: "…"
Hōzuki Gengetsu: "…"
"I am…"
Hōzuki Gengetsu suddenly looked at Mu seriously, approaching him as he spoke.
"…"
Mu's heart stopped, and he stared wide-eyed at the approaching Hōzuki Gengetsu.
Is it still not too late to activate Sage Mode and throw out a few Dust Releases?
Just as Hōzuki Gengetsu approached within half a meter of Mu…
"I was tricking you, you bastard! Hahahaha!!!"
"Hahahaha, look how scared you are, hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter, hahahaha…"
Hōzuki Gengetsu burst into laughter, slapped his thigh, and pointed at Mu, laughing heartlessly.
"You bastard!"
Mu's face darkened, and he breathed a sigh of relief, wiping away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.
To be honest, jokes are fine normally.
But if this guy were serious, he would really throw Dust Release in his face.
…
Konoha Village.
Konoha has been quite restless recently.
"Hiruzen, stop hesitating. Let's start a war!"
"To reclaim Konoha's lost territory, first move against Hidden Mist, then deal with Sunagakure and Kumogakure."
"Hidden Mist has been undergoing reforms these past few years and has no time to spare for its distant land. Sunagakure and Kumogakure will sooner or later move against us, so it's better to strike first!"
Danzo Shimura advised with a grim face.
As for why Iwagakure was not included,
That's because Danzo Shimura himself felt that attacking Iwagakure was not safe.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, and the recent years had made his face much older again.
"This matter…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't unwilling to go to war.
But he was worried about Iwagakure interfering. If Iwagakure intervened, Konoha could easily find itself surrounded by enemies.
Although Konoha is currently the second strongest in the Ninja World,
He wasn't sure how strong Iwagakure's internal forces truly were, so he didn't dare to easily start a war.
The war should have broken out a few years ago, and he had tried his best to delay it.
"Don't worry about Iwagakure. If they wanted to participate, they would definitely make various small moves. Currently, Iwagakure is only developing its surrounding areas. Ōnoki also seems to be a conservative."
Danzo Shimura stroked his chin, analyzing one by one.
"But if Iwagakure joins the war, Iwagakure Village has three top-tier powerhouses: Mu, Hōzuki Gengetsu, and Kakuzu. These three participated in that great war back then…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said worriedly.
Mentioning these three people,
Danzo Shimura also showed a difficult expression.
His teacher Tobirama had already analyzed the abilities of Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu.
That Kakuzu was very uncertain. Since he could be mentioned in the same breath as Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu, his strength must not be far off.
He had never met Hōzuki Gengetsu, only heard about him from his teacher.
But Mu, Hiruzen and Danzo remembered him vividly.
Recalling that year,
The battle between Mu and Uchiha Madara in Konoha.
It had brought great shock to Hiruzen Sarutobi and his group.
Mu's Chibaku Tensei back then was a Ninjutsu they still couldn't achieve.
"Sarutobi, that guy Mu must be fifty years old by now!"
"That guy experienced the chaotic era, and his old injuries are probably more than ours combined. At his age, it's hard to say how much strength he can still exert!"
"Moreover, I heard he hasn't shown himself for a long time. Maybe he already…"
A sinister glint flashed in Danzo Shimura's eyes.
Although Mu is currently the strongest in the Ninja World,
Mu hasn't made a move in a long time, so his strength is uncertain.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was still a little afraid.
Recalling his teacher's teachings,
Senju Tobirama once told him that Mu was a very cunning, powerful, and intelligent person.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his cigarette.
Ever since returning from Iwagakure a few years ago,
Hiruzen Sarutobi had completely fallen in love with these cigarettes; they tasted dozens of times better than a pipe.
"Hiruzen, you must think carefully!"
"Konoha's internal situation can no longer bear it; it needs a war to stabilize. The Ninja within have long wanted to wash away the humiliation brought upon us by the Four Great Nations!"
Danzo Shimura looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi seriously.
Hearing Danzo Shimura's words,
Facing Danzo's continuous urging,
Hiruzen Sarutobi's deep eyes gradually replaced by determination.
At this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not as indecisive as he was in the later stages of the original work.
"Good! Go and discuss the attack plan with the other elders. I will make the other preparations!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi made the final decision.
...
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