Chapter 213: The Attack of Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu! A-Huo's Methodology and the Executed Third Mizukage
Land of Water.
Northern Borderline.
"That bastard Mizutori really makes me sick..."
Gengetsu Hozuki's small mustache twitched, his expression full of fury. "He sure can run! These White Zetsus have been buried underground lying in ambush for so long, and they only just found his location!"
"If his skills as Mizukage were even a third as good as his ability to run away, Kirigakure wouldn't have ended up in this state!"
Mu shrugged and said faintly:
"It's to be expected, I suppose. After all, he's a famous powerhouse from the Warring States period, and having served as Mizukage, he knows the geography well. If you and I threw away our pride to hide, our concealment abilities wouldn't be any weaker than his..."
"Or any other Kage's, for that matter."
"However, whether they're 'Kage' or leaders from the Warring States period, those capable of blowing up their own territory to become a wandering rogue ninja... you could count them on one hand looking back five hundred years, or forward five hundred years."
"Only a village like Kirigakure, which you once governed, could produce such a talent..."
Logically speaking, Gengetsu Hozuki's current body shouldn't feel any pain.
But he just felt a tightness in his chest right now...
What the hell was this bandage bastard talking about?!
"I'll kill you!"
"I told you, you can't do it. You don't even know any sealing jutsu; do you think you're Ashina Uzumaki?"
Mu's speech was incredibly rapid, as if he had been waiting for Gengetsu Hozuki to say that exact sentence:
"Stop making a fool of yourself, you frog in a well from that isolated, backwater village. It's been almost fifty years since your village was founded, and you still can't even scrape together a decent sensory shinobi. Expecting you to learn sealing jutsu really is asking too much of you..."
"For you, combining a summoning beast with genjutsu is your absolute limit. Do you even know what a Kekkei Tota is?"
"Never mind, it's impossible for you to understand. So many kekkei genkai in Kirigakure have been squandered by generation after generation of Mizukage. By the way, who was the predecessor to the Third Mizukage again? So hard to guess..."
Gengetsu Hozuki's face turned black, and his chest hurt even more.
This two-faced, rotting bastard!
Gengetsu Hozuki really wanted to retort, but he was too clumsy with words; he could only seethe in anxious anger.
In the past, whenever he and Mu argued, he would always lose the verbal spar and end up getting furious and attacking first...
But now, even that trick didn't work anymore.
They were both Edo Tensei puppet bodies; neither could break the other's defenses!
After thinking for a moment, Gengetsu Hozuki finally found an angle of attack:
"Oh, you Iwagakure guys are just great! You and your disciple were so scared out of your wits by Madara Uchiha that you were always obsessing over how to target those red eyes. And look what happened now?"
"Not only did it result in an extra pair of Mangekyo, but Tobirama Senju even picked an Uchiha brat to join the organization. I don't even dare to imagine how terrifying an Uchiha who grows up under him and the other Kage will be..."
"That brat stepped on one of Iwagakure's explosive tags, right?"
"Onoki and Iwagakure are in for a treat!"
Now it was Mu's turn to remain silent.
It was common knowledge that he and Onoki had once been bullied by Madara Uchiha...
Mu's Particle Style was the product of his strenuous efforts after witnessing Madara Uchiha's Susanoo.
Through the White Zetsu network, although Mu and Gengetsu Hozuki were physically in the Land of Water, they had also seen the Sunagakure battlefield. They saw just how sinister Hanzo's fighting style had become after coming into contact with Tobirama's series of ninjutsu...
An Uchiha youth harboring a grudge against Iwagakure, being personally instructed by several Kage and Tobirama Senju... He genuinely didn't dare to imagine what kind of monstrosity would be cultivated in the future...
"Tobirama Senju is trying to artificially create a miniature Madara Uchiha!"
Mu said with a dark face.
"It's not as above-board as that..." Gengetsu Hozuki chuckled.
"And don't you talk about our Kirigakure. Although we took quite a few detours, our relationship with Konoha right now looks extremely good! Theoretically speaking, there is no possibility of Konoha ever attacking Kirigakure again..."
"But certain people, ever since Ishikawa's generation, founded a 'Will of Stone' using a literal rock. I really hope your beloved disciple upholds this heritage and continues to fight it out with Tobirama Senju and Konoha until the very end!"
Mu took a deep breath and rubbed his temples.
Having a firm will is indeed a good thing, and one must have the courage to fight when facing a powerhouse...
But you also have to analyze the specific situation!
With the sheer oppressive might Tobirama Senju possessed, having dug up the previous generation's Kage from several villages and even combining them with the Edo Tensei and bizarre kinjutsu... Even knowing Particle Style was useless!
"I'm beginning to understand more and more why Tobirama Senju doesn't return to Konoha."
"If Onoki was this capable—managing Iwagakure to be so prosperous yet not wanting to initiate a war—I reckon I would have similar thoughts to Tobirama Senju."
Mu turned his head to gaze at the towns of the Land of Water.
For these past few months, he and Gengetsu Hozuki had been continuously searching for the Third Mizukage, Mizutori, across the Land of Water, while also carefully observing the changes in this nation bit by bit.
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrival, the transformation had been rapid and fierce.
The first thing injected into the Land of Water was core stability.
Supported by the bureaucrats from the Land of Fire, the Land of Water's administrative system rapidly transformed, drawing extremely close to the model of the Land of Fire.
Everything revolved around one word: "Rules."
With rules in place, the problem of widespread panic in the Land of Water, which had suffered terribly under the Blood Mist Village, was finally resolved.
Stability meant there was a clear distinction between right and wrong.
Instability meant living in constant fear of what tomorrow might bring. That intense pressure made everyone deeply insecure, preventing them from calming down to focus on relatively long-term endeavors.
After observing for a period of time, many of the roaming Kirigakure shinobi, even those who hadn't been actively recruited by Kimimaro, spontaneously returned to work under Hiruzen Sarutobi's banner.
In Kirigakure, just having a job was truly a blessing!
Next came material provisions.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi became the Grand General of the Land of Water, and following the arrival of the first batch of surplus supplies from the Land of Fire, the problem of starvation was swiftly alleviated.
Even though these supplies were purchased on credit by the Land of Water, the fair pricing meant there wasn't an excessive markup.
Moreover, Hiruzen Sarutobi utilized a "work-for-relief" method, assigning jobs to the vast majority of shinobi and workers. The visible hand of the administration intervened in the invisible market, giving them a clear timeline for when they could turn their lives around.
All at once, the people of the Land of Water had light in their eyes...
The impact this had on Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu was monumental.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't a native of the Land of Water, once he transformed the place into a haven of stability, the vast majority of shinobi and civilians simply didn't care about that fact at all...
Some people had even proactively started chanting the slogan of "First Mizukage"!
"You're right. Even if I were truly revived right now, completely free from Tobirama Senju's control..."
"The Kirigakure shinobi wouldn't listen to me anymore. From a state of utter ruin to being able to live a decent life... It's unimaginable that only a few months have passed. They're living even better than they did during my era..."
"Even the nobles of the Land of Water support Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Gengetsu Hozuki shook his head:
"To be honest, even with these White Zetsus that can tunnel through the earth, if Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't steadily connected the order and security of the Land of Water into a cohesive network..."
"Forcing Mizutori into fewer and fewer hiding spots, I'm afraid you and I would have had a very hard time finding him."
Mu sighed:
"Hiruzen Sarutobi is simply too steady; he doesn't act like a shinobi at all. The methods he used on the Land of Water and Kirigakure are completely the most 'foolish' and basic ones, yet no one can find a single fault with them."
"It's hard to imagine he was taught by Tobirama Senju. Scientific research shinobi like us usually have much more radical ideas. That bastard Tobirama really struck gold..."
Gengetsu Hozuki's expression was filled with emotion:
"Recently I've been wondering, why is it that even though the Land of Water lost the war and didn't seize any spoils, they are living better than before? Were we doing something wrong in the past?"
"We were always fixated on the spoils of war, but we forgot how massive a price we had to pay to get them. For example, you and I mutually destroyed each other over that little bit of territory. The blow that dealt to Kirigakure and Iwagakure was catastrophic..."
Mu remained silent. "I don't understand economics! When you see Hiruzen Sarutobi later, ask him yourself..."
Gengetsu Hozuki looked thoughtful.
Through Mu's overactive imagination, Madara Uchiha's typically whimsical planning was interpreted by the bandage man as an order for "Gengetsu Hozuki to proactively kill the Third Mizukage, thereby handing legal justification to Hiruzen Sarutobi"...
It was perceived as a heaven-shaking, massive conspiracy!
However, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's unhurried and methodical approach, this had conversely become an issue of little consequence. It was merely the icing on the cake, not a timely deliverance from snow...
Gengetsu Hozuki also lost his feelings of resistance and instead felt somewhat eager to try.
After all, exchanging blows with powerhouses was one of his hobbies.
Especially since Kirigakure had a unique rule: "Whoever has the biggest fist gets to be Mizukage."
Having a fight was perfectly in line with the local customs...
"Gengetsu and Mu, the Hokage has already led a team to your location. You may begin the operation..." A-Huo's voice echoed in the depths of their minds. "He brought some of Kirigakure's newly rising talents."
"Lord Tobirama's intention is that not only should Gengetsu Hozuki attack, but Mu must also prepare to strike Hiruzen Sarutobi with Particle Style when the opportunity arises. You two must coordinate well."
"Be careful. Mu, do not enter the frontal battlefield. Be prepared at all times to cover Gengetsu Hozuki's retreat..."
With the advantage of the White Zetsu, Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu had discovered Mizutori earlier than the Land of Water forces.
However, the two hadn't acted immediately. Instead, they first had the White Zetsu orchestrate a scenario where the Kirigakure shinobi would discover the intelligence. Only then did they obediently report to A-Huo and wait for further instructions.
It wasn't that these two lacked the desire to rebel against Tobirama Senju, it was just that they truly had no options left...
He was both the referee and the athlete!
"Understood," Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu replied in unison.
Meanwhile, at the Mountains' Graveyard.
A-Huo turned to Madara Uchiha, saying with a beaming smile:
"Lord Madara! Everything has been arranged according to your instructions. Gengetsu Hozuki will shortly execute the Third Mizukage right in front of the Kirigakure shinobi, beating Hiruzen to the punch!"
"By doing this, the Third Mizukage will be permanently nailed to the pillar of shame, cursed for ten thousand years and beyond..."
"Having Mu and Gengetsu Hozuki attack together also serves as a sufficient test for the Hokage. This is absolutely not a child's game to help him; it is an assessment with the strictest of standards."
"You truly balance leniency with severity. Once Hiruzen Sarutobi passed one hurdle, you fairly offered him assistance, but then rapidly established the next threshold..."
"As a patriarch, your grasp of maneuvering and scaling is truly masterful to the highest degree!" A-Huo said with heartfelt admiration.
Beside them, Obito listened in stunned silence, his mouth unconsciously forming an 'O' shape.
So that was it...
Was this how it was?
Madara Uchiha, in truth, was also bewildered listening to this.
The reason he hadn't made any specific arrangements for Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu was simply that he forgot...
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi had completely crushed Kirigakure's military formations right from the start.
Under such circumstances, even if Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu had intervened, it would have been difficult for them to pose a significant obstacle for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So Madara just ignored the two of them. Anyway, when they came back it would just be endless bickering. It was amusing to listen to occasionally, but over a long period it got a bit annoying... Besides, with the dual control of the Rinnegan and the Edo Tensei jutsu, they couldn't turn the world upside down out there anyway...
This was the relaxed attitude unique to the Asura of the Shinobi World.
Let alone allowing Gengetsu Hozuki and Mu to roam free for nearly a year, the spokesperson plan Madara Uchiha had previously conceived was intended to span twenty years directly, without any supervision...
Even for the current Hiruzen Sarutobi, asking him to formulate the detailed development plans for Konoha for the next twenty years would be extremely difficult.
But Big Brother Madara could simply wave his hand and think it was no problem.
"Hmm..."
Madara Uchiha pondered. "A-Huo, not bad! You've made progress again recently..."
"Even without me explaining it, you can grasp certain things. But you still fall slightly short. Do not become arrogant."
At this moment, Madara recalled the method Izuna had taught him in the past.
If clansmen praise you and think you're amazing, even if you don't know why, just act aloof, nod your head, praise them back with a couple of sentences, and that's it—that way you don't show weakness!
"Understood, Lord Madara."
"Being by your side, constantly influenced by what I see and hear, even an idiot could improve. Just watching you increases one's IQ!" A-Huo chuckled, rubbing its hands together, and shot a subtle glance at Obito.
Obito paused for a moment before hastily chiming in: "Right, right! Mr. A-Huo is absolutely correct! The Great Clan Head is too amazing!"
Today was Obito's precious day off, even though it was only a half-day...
"Just average. When I was younger, my thinking was much more agile than it is now."
Madara coughed lightly.
Perhaps he truly had intended it that way, just not consciously thinking about it; his muscle memory had simply completed the layout...
That also makes sense!
Hiding in the shadows, Black Zetsu watched this scene silently, its heart filled with shock.
Holy crap...
Where the hell did this A-Huo White Zetsu come from?
Are you Black Zetsu, or am I?!
How is it more skilled at coaxing Indra than a veteran like me?!
Truly, every generation of the God Tree produces new talent...
"How did this A-Huo evolve to this point today?"
"Aside from Madara Uchiha enhancing it with the God Tree, the only other factor is that it went to Konoha..."
Black Zetsu couldn't help but analyze the reasons: "God Tree enhancement is nothing special. Tobi, the Son of the God Tree, isn't smart either. So it can only be related to Konoha."
"Is this Will of Fire really that demonic?"
"Didn't it just read those quotes transcribed by that guy named Hiruko? Can that stuff really open one's mind?" Black Zetsu made up its mind to find an opportunity to read it for itself.
This upward management ability seemed to have surpassed its own...
Black Zetsu simply didn't believe it!
Could this thing actually rival the temptation of the Infinite Tsukuyomi?
As for A-Huo, it discovered that at least in the current environment, "half a volume of Hiruzen's words is enough to pacify the Graveyard"...
Just as the quotes said, as long as you grasp the core contradiction in Madara's heart—his conflict between the "Will of Fire" and the "Infinite Tsukuyomi"—and proceed slowly and methodically, you will be successful in every endeavor!
By distinguishing between primary and secondary contradictions and pushing forward with unwavering confidence, one's thinking will be clear and actions powerful.
"This Obito kid, I need to keep an eye on him for Lord Hokage too..."
"Madara will definitely use that Warring States rhetoric to stimulate him into awakening his eyes."
"Awakening his eyes is necessary; without power, nothing can be accomplished. But he cannot be hijacked by negative emotions, letting his logic and emotions fall into a vortex of extremism..."
"I have to give him a preventative shot, make him understand the complexity of the shinobi world. I also have to find a way to rationalize the cruel trials Lord Madara will subject him to..."
A-Huo also valued Obito very highly.
Although this Uchiha brat seemed a bit foolish in its eyes, he truly possessed a tenacious spirit, never complaining of hardship or fatigue despite the incredibly high-pressure training.
His progress was incredibly fast!
The entire person was like a sponge, rapidly absorbing all kinds of knowledge.
More importantly, his personality was excellent. Even when the foul-tempered Kinkaku and Ginkaku frequently mocked him, he didn't get angry.
Though this was partly because, compared to many eccentric old men, the crude mockery of Kinkaku and Ginkaku was child's play. With a little patience, they actually ended up feeling embarrassed themselves...
Obito had essentially entered a bizarre comfort zone; coaxing old men was something he was very good at.
"According to the ancient texts and what Lord Madara has said, the more innocent an Uchiha is, the more likely they are to breed intense negative emotions when stimulated, leading to extremism..."
A-Huo pondered internally: "This is actually because their perspective isn't profound enough. Their underlying logic always relies on black-and-white thinking."
"I must have Obito study what Lord Hokage said during his sixth inspection of the Scientific Research Department—"
"'The shinobi world is a delicate shade of gray. This is the reality of human nature, and we are all part of this gray. The Will of Fire is the unwillingness in our hearts, the desire to burn and forge a different kind of manifestation'..."
As long as this preventative shot was administered, A-Huo believed Obito wouldn't make any mistakes.
And given Obito's status in the Hokage faction, his Uchiha origins, plus the tutelage of six Kage and Madara, and the enhancement from the God Tree's premium materials... If he also awakened a decent pair of Mangekyo Sharingan...
He was also Ao's junior brother, Kakashi's brother, and even had a photo taken with the Hokage.
With such status and strength, pulling his brother A-Huo up in the future would definitely not be a problem!
With a few good words in front of Lord Hokage, it could make a magnificent turn and escape its current identity.
Who knows? With the capabilities of Konoha's Scientific Research Department, they might even be able to help it break free from the shackles of its White Zetsu body...
And become a true "human"!
"Go on, A-Huo. Take Obito and watch Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance with those guys..."
Madara waved his hand dismissively with great flair. "I need to contemplate the next stage of the layout!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Madara..."
"Thank you for your hard work, Great Clan Head..." Obito echoed, though his heart felt a bit peculiar.
He had realized it...
The Great Clan Head's heart was highly conflicted. He was both testing Lord Hokage and wanting to help him!
"Typical thoughts of an old Warring States man. Commander Fugaku once told me, and Clan Head Isshin had similar thoughts, saying that hardship is the best nourishment for a shinobi..."
"Actually, many elders in the village give me this exact feeling! They always want the younger generation to hone themselves by eating bitterness..."
"In my eyes, Commander Fugaku is the true great educator! He really should give the Great Clan Head some lessons. He already has two sons, while the Great Clan Head and Clan Head Isshin have no children; it's all just empty theory..."
"And Kinkaku, Ginkaku, Grandpa Ashina, they're all like this too. Not a single normal person among them..."
Obito ruthlessly criticized them in his mind:
"How is this a mysterious organization? It's clearly the Warring States Weirdos Association!"
What Obito didn't know, however, was that the current Isshin had changed. And if he hadn't stopped him, his idol, the great educator Fugaku, would have taken Itachi to the battlefield...
When it came to pressure education, it was enough to make even Indra's reincarnations break down.
It was an existence that surpassed the Sage of Six Paths.
Obito and A-Huo went next door and started watching the live broadcast with the four Kage.
"Gengetsu and Mu are about to make their move..."
"With full firepower this time, I wonder if they can cause trouble for Hiruzen Sarutobi. Mu has Particle Style, after all; if that hits, it's over." Kinkaku crossed his arms, analyzing the situation.
"It would indeed be over. But given Tobirama Senju's personality, people of our generation from the Warring States period won't go easy on the younger generation. If you die, it just means you lacked skill."
Ginkaku narrowed his eyes: "But this level of intensity is genuinely shocking. Sending two Kage at once, and enhanced ones at that..."
Ashina Uzumaki didn't care about any of this. He just waited with a chuckle for Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance.
In his view, a shinobi capable of cultivating even the "Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration" would succeed in whatever they did...
As for Particle Style, while a Kekkei Tota was troublesome, it was fundamentally still chakra!
And if it's chakra, it must be countered, or at least mitigated, by sealing jutsu...
Obito also grew tense listening to them.
During these days, he had come to understand that while these Warring States weirdos had outrageously strange personalities, when it came to fighting, each one was more ruthless than the last...
Even the Konoha Committee Members in the village, excluding the few who specialized in combat, might not necessarily fare well against them!
"Lord Hokage, you must be careful!"
Obito silently prayed for Hiruzen Sarutobi in his heart.
Border of the Land of Water.
Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, travel-worn, alongside Kimimaro, Kisame, Mei Terumi, and a group of Kirigakure elites.
It was the familiar coastline battlefield.
At this moment, the Third Mizukage was fleeing frantically ahead, accompanied by his few remaining lackeys.
Only Genji, Fuguki Suikazan, and Yagura Karatachi remained, along with a few Anbu who had a criminal record in the Blood Mist Village.
Among these people, Fuguki Suikazan also belonged to the group with a criminal record.
Genji was neutral. Yagura Karatachi wanted to run but was closely watched by the Third Mizukage, essentially forced onto this sinking ship...
"Hiruzen! Sarutobi!"
"Must you force me out of the Land of Water?"
"Fine! Then we go out to sea. One day, I will return!"
The Third Mizukage's eyes flashed with venomous hatred: "Destruction is always easier than construction. I can't beat you in a head-on fight, but that doesn't mean I'm easy to deal with..."
Yagura Karatachi and Genji looked troubled.
But there was nothing they could do...
The chain of suspicion had already formed.
Let alone the fact that the two of them couldn't defeat the frenzied Third Mizukage.
Having been dragged along with him for so long, even if they surrendered immediately, there was no guarantee Hiruzen Sarutobi would spare them.
In the rear, Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.
A Kage proficient in Water Style, who had abandoned his dignity to frantically flee and become a wandering bandit, was indeed as annoying as a fly.
But he wasn't overly concerned.
Even if he let him escape, once the Land of Water's Flying Raijin relay stations were rebuilt and the security network was further perfected, if Mizutori dared to enter the heartland, he would be seeking death!
But just before Mizutori was about to enter the sea.
An old acquaintance he never in his wildest dreams imagined would appear, materialized right in front of him.
It was a chibi-sized, "Jokey Boy" version of Gengetsu Hozuki...
Suddenly emerging from stealth, extremely close to Mizutori, tilting its head and looking at him with a bizarre gaze.
Mizutori's eyes instantly went wide!
And at this moment, another materialized Jokey Boy clone appeared behind him, the sharp blade in its hand instantly impaling him!
"How... how is this possible..."
"Gengetsu Hozuki's jutsu? And two clones!"
Mizutori trembled, coughing up massive amounts of dark blood.
The moment the Jokey Boy's sharp blade impaled him, a massive amount of oil spread into his body, preventing him from using Water Style to escape.
"Lord Second Mizukage?"
Genji and Yagura Karatachi shouted in unison.
"Get lost!" came a voice from nowhere, dripping with impatience.
The Kirigakure shinobi immediately scattered like birds and beasts.
Almost simultaneously, violent explosions occurred!
The two Jokey Boy clones detonated fiercely. The powerful shockwave and high-temperature steam rapidly blasted Mizutori beyond recognition, leaving him lying on the ground like a broken ragdoll.
With Mu's "Dustless Bewildering Cover" further aiding the Jokey Boy clones' stealth.
Coupled with the Rinnegan's "Animal Path" enhancing cloning and summoning abilities, as well as the unique combination of the Edo Tensei and the Six Paths puppet body... The current Gengetsu Hozuki, distinct from a standard Edo Tensei body, was even more formidable than when he was alive!
Not only could he manifest multiple Jokey Boy clones, but their power had also increased significantly...
Mizutori lay on the ground, his eyes trembling.
The most humiliating, most powerless scene from his memories had crossed thirty years to reappear once again!
The fact that he was defeated by Gengetsu Hozuki was, in his heart, even more humiliating than abandoning Kirigakure to become a wandering bandit...
"I used to think you were a person."
"But now, whenever I see you, my boot starts itching. Your head feels the same way, doesn't it?"
Gengetsu Hozuki emerged from his genjutsu, stomping heavily on Mizutori's head.
His small mustache twitched, the rage on his face already beyond control.
And having used the power of the Rinnegan, his eyes had also transformed into the ripple pattern.
"You..."
"Why are you still alive!"
Mizutori struggled, roaring hoarsely: "Didn't you die together with Mu?!"
"Many people are still alive. But rats in the gutter like you, what else can you do besides run? Once someone steps on you, you don't even have the strength to fight back!"
"Secretly learning my jutsu is one thing, but was my jutsu meant for you to abandon Kirigakure and run away?!"
Gengetsu Hozuki spoke while viciously kicking Mizutori.
At this moment, the Kirigakure shinobi from both sides watched in stunned silence.
The former Mizukage suddenly came back to life just to kick the crap out of the Third Mizukage?
This is too exaggerated! Does this kind of thing actually happen?!
The shinobi world truly is too magical...
"Do you see my eyes? Even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't stand a piece of trash like you anymore, and specifically sent me from the Pure Land to execute you!" Gengetsu Hozuki burned with rage:
"Forget it, a piece of trash who can't even take one of my attacks isn't worthy of hearing so much!"
"Defeated to this point, and your sensory skills are still lacking. You can't even figure out how to be a wandering rogue ninja!"
Gengetsu Hozuki's eyes turned ruthless. Compressing a massive amount of Water Style to a single point, while the oil controlled Mizutori's body and prevented him from using Water Style, he executed him on the spot with a Water Balloon Technique!
He was too familiar with Mizutori's jutsu...
At this moment, a chameleon suddenly appeared beside Genji, its long tongue wrapping tightly around the veteran who had lived through the Warring States and several generations of Mizukage.
Gengetsu Hozuki turned his head, looking at him with a gaze as cold as ice:
"Making you an elder was meant so you would speak fair words when the Mizukage made mistakes..."
"You piece of trash are just as disgusting as Mizutori. Only thinking about yourself. Did you ever consider Kirigakure?"
"To think you even supported something like the Blood Mist Village. Hurry up and die!"
Gengetsu Hozuki fired the Water Balloon Technique once again, shattering Genji's skull.
Then, a bull dropping from the sky gored his entire body, sending him flying. He was clearly dead beyond any shadow of a doubt.
The moment the Second Mizukage made his move, he executed a Mizukage and an Elder in the blink of an eye...
This efficiency was far faster than the Blood Mist Village!
"Who else among you wants to die? Those who support the Third Mizukage, step forward!"
Gengetsu Hozuki swept his gaze around, noticing that Yagura Karatachi and a portion of the Kirigakure shinobi looked relieved, which settled his heart slightly.
But he also saw Fuguki Suikazan and a few other Kiri shinobi with faces full of terror.
The Jokey Boy clones had already reformed after the explosion and silently appeared behind them.
The power of the Rinnegan's Animal Path activated: Centipede, Giant Bird, Cerberus, Giant Ox...
In the blink of an eye, these Kirigakure shinobi, terrified by the Third Mizukage's death, were also violently and completely erased by Gengetsu Hozuki. Conversely, Yagura Karatachi and the others were left unharmed.
"Although you are incompetent, the primary fault lies with the Mizu... with Mizutori. Step back for now."
"Wait on the side. This doesn't concern you anymore!"
Gengetsu Hozuki looked at them sternly.
Yagura Karatachi blinked. He seemed to taste a different meaning in this...
It seemed as though Lord Second Mizukage was giving those of them who were coerced by Mizutori a way out...
Yagura Karatachi quickly dropped to one knee to express his gratitude.
He then stood up, organized the remaining personnel, and obediently stood far away from the coastline, not saying a word.
The decisiveness with which Gengetsu Hozuki appeared and killed left Kimimaro, Kisame, and the other Kiri shinobi stunned.
Putting aside how this individual appeared...
This ruthless efficiency was even greater than the Third Mizukage's...
So decisive!
"The Rinnegan?"
"Identical to the one Nagato was reported to possess..."
"It seems this isn't a coincidence. There must be some kind of connection between Nagato and Madara..."
"As for these bizarre summoning beasts and Gengetsu Hozuki's revival, that should also be related to the Rinnegan. The intelligence never indicated Gengetsu Hozuki possessed such abilities."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind rapidly ran through the intelligence over and over again.
"You guys step back too. This is between me and the former Mizukage."
Kimimaro, Kisame, and the others were startled, but Hiruzen Sarutobi's authority had long since deeply rooted itself in their hearts over these days. They obediently and swiftly retreated to the side, preparing to provide support at any moment.
Gengetsu Hozuki and Hiruzen Sarutobi stood facing each other.
Meanwhile, Mu hid in mid-air using Dustless Bewildering Cover, acting as the "Naraka Path" ready to back up Gengetsu Hozuki at any time. He also observed with a critical eye, preparing his Particle Style, waiting to see if he could execute this Konoha Hokage...
Since Tobirama Senju had permitted it, he naturally had no need to hold back!
After a moment of silence, Gengetsu Hozuki slowly spoke:
"During these days, the Land of Water and Kirigakure have been in your care."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused. This seemed to be a communicative and polite Mizukage.
His interactions with him were from over thirty years ago...
He was still very young back then, and didn't have a very deep impression of Gengetsu Hozuki.
"You're too polite. The Kirigakure shinobi are actually very good people; it's just the environment that forced them to become demons..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled: "You returning from the Pure Land under the Sage of Six Paths' instructions this time... I assume it isn't simply just to execute Mizutori, right?"
Gengetsu Hozuki also laughed:
"Of course."
"I heard some Kiri shinobi are already calling you the 'First Mizukage'. Well, since you're a Mizukage, I, as the former Mizukage, must exchange a few blows with you according to the rules set by Lord Byakuren."
"In the name of the Second Mizukage, if you defeat me, you will be the rightful new Mizukage of Kirigakure."
"If you lose, then off to the Pure Land with you!"
Gengetsu Hozuki stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Not far away, the Giant Clam, whose cloaking was enhanced by the chameleon, continuously spewed thick, high-temperature saline mist.
He had long since laid the ambush, setting up the "Demonic Illusion: Steaming Multistoried Building" jutsu...
A full three Jokey Boy clones appeared in front of Gengetsu Hozuki.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched this scene thoughtfully. A small fireball appeared at his fingertips and flew towards Gengetsu Hozuki, rapidly passing right through his body.
"It's useless..."
"No attack can affect me..."
Gengetsu Hozuki watched this. He had no intention of explaining his jutsu to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Mizukage's succession was Kirigakure's last remaining shred of dignity; it couldn't be treated like a child's game!
"In this scenario, I cannot be defeated."
Gengetsu Hozuki smiled with arrogant confidence.
The reason his old rival, Mu, had developed invisibility and powerful sensory abilities was precisely because this jutsu of his was far too troublesome.
It could only be countered by an identical skill set; trying to crack it was harder than ascending to the heavens!
"Answer one question for me, and I can give you a hint."
Gengetsu Hozuki's heart stirred, and he spoke: "Why... why did Kirigakure and the Land of Water, under your hands, turn from such a ruined state into prosperity in less than a few months?!"
"You clearly didn't plunder spoils of war, nor did you inject massive amounts of supplies into the Land of Water. Konoha and Kirigakure only interacted through trade..."
"What is the principle behind this?"
Hovering high in the sky, Mu facepalmed.
This old rival of his truly couldn't keep a secret!
☆☆☆
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