Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 23: Rising Clouds in All Directions

For Konoha, the vacant position of the Fifth Hokage is of utmost importance at this time; everything else can be set aside.

Similarly, for the Sand Shinobi, finding the missing Fourth Kazekage is their primary task.

Apart from the Sand Shinobi currently detained in Konoha, the rest of the Sand Village ninjas have mobilized en masse, much like they did a decade ago when searching for the Third Kazekage. They are now skillfully searching for the Fourth Kazekage, or at least his body.

In some way, the Sand Shinobi have Orochimaru to thank.

After all, the initial plan was for the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, to lead the Sand Shinobi in a joint attack on Konoha with Orochimaru's Sound Shinobi.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Orochimaru chose to betray his ally, the Fourth Kazekage, first.

If it was to approach the Third Hokage and deliver a fatal blow while disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, Orochimaru certainly did not display such an intent during the Chunin Exams, where he could have easily executed a sudden attack to kill the Third Hokage.

If that wasn't the case, then what was the point of assassinating the Fourth Kazekage? Wouldn't having one more person, one more ally, be better?

However, due to Orochimaru's assassination of the Fourth Kazekage, the situation for the Sand Shinobi has improved significantly.

Otherwise, the substantial damage and casualties inflicted on Konoha by the Sand Shinobi would not have been dismissed so easily, with Konoha believing they were deceived.

Most likely, a real war would have broken out between Konoha and the Sand Shinobi, potentially escalating into a true Fourth Great Ninja War, as other ninja villages would likely follow suit, one after another.

In this light, Orochimaru's assassination of the Fourth Kazekage was somewhat beneficial.

The other three Kages of the Five Great Ninja Villages are still around.

Thus, upon receiving information about the attack on Konoha, they initially shared a schadenfreude smile and silently praised Orochimaru, hoping he would continue his efforts.

However, their expressions quickly turned serious when they learned that Hagoromo Gengetsu had broken free from the Reanimation jutsu and left Konoha on his own.

Although they might not know as much about the Reanimation jutsu as the Hokage, they were aware that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, frequently used this jutsu to harass his enemies during his time in office.

Based on the information they gathered, they could understand the jutsu to some extent.

In all likelihood, Hagoromo Gengetsu had not been resurrected but was in an Reanimation jutsu state with his soul temporarily summoned.

Even so, they couldn't deny one fact.

That is, Hagoromo Gengetsu, with his own consciousness, had truly stepped onto the land of the living world again after several decades.

At Iwagakure.

The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, received the news of Hagoromo Gengetsu's reappearance while receiving treatment for his chronic back pain in the hospital.

As he cried out in pain, the usually uncharacteristic Onoki's expression suddenly froze, and his eyes became incredibly complicated.

"Hagoromo Gengetsu..."

If anyone in the current ninja world knows Hagoromo Gengetsu best, it would be him. No one else could claim that title.

After all, he had personally seen Hagoromo Gengetsu, not during the final battle at the Valley of the Gods but earlier, even before the establishment of the Five Great Ninja Villages.

In the Warring States period, where children as young as five took to the battlefield, Onoki was already around fifteen or sixteen when Konoha was founded, making him an adult at that time.

During his ten-year career as a ninja, he had seen the then-powerful leader of the Hagoromo clan, Hagoromo Gengetsu, several times due to mission-related reasons. He had witnessed the incredible displays of talent from someone only a few years older than himself.

There was no need for formal reminders or repeated warnings from his teacher, the Second Tsuchikage, to know how terrifying Hagoromo Gengetsu was. Onoki already had a profound understanding of him and remembers it vividly to this day.

"Who would have thought that I, once just a minion, would now become the Third Tsuchikage? And you, once so invincible, have long since turned to dust."

Onoki shook his head, indicating for the nurse massaging him to step aside. He then put on his Tsuchikage robes.

"Tsuchikage-sama, what should we do?" Onoki's granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, who had brought the information, awaited instructions.

Without hesitation, Onoki ordered, "Have the Iwa Shinobi units near the Fire Country's border mobilize to intimidate Konoha. If there are benefits, seize them; if not, at least divert their attention. As for Hagoromo Gengetsu..."

Onoki pondered for a while, then sighed slightly and said, "Send a team to investigate. If they can't find him, it's fine."

No matter how glorious, it has already passed.

Even if he appears again, it will only be a brief flash of brilliance.

From a personal standpoint, Onoki would very much like to meet Hagoromo Gengetsu, someone he admired in his youth, once more.

But from a broader perspective, he couldn't afford to waste the village's resources on something potentially meaningless.

Onoki followed the latter course.

However...

A thought crossed Onoki's mind, and he smirked.

He wasn't in a hurry regarding Hagoromo Gengetsu, but he knew certain people would be.

"Bang!"

A loud slam resounded in the Mizukage's office.

The young Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, coldly ordered, "Dispatch all the pursuit units. We must find Hagoromo Gengetsu and bring him back to Kirigakure."

As the biggest victim of the battle at the Valley of the Gods, Kirigakure not only lost the First Mizukage, which diminished the reputation of the Mist Shinobi significantly, but the newly unified Kirigakure also faced internal conflicts after losing its central figure.

Even though the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, took office, his reputation was far inferior to the First Mizukage, making it difficult to unify the village.

Moreover, he himself died in the final stages of the First Great Ninja War, exacerbating internal strife within Kirigakure, eventually leading to the "Bloody Mist Era."

Even though the Bloody Mist Era has ended, the issues left behind by Kirigakure continue to trouble the current Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Hagoromo Gengetsu was the root cause of Kirigakure's tragedies.

So, when Mei Terumi, who was known for her small temper, heard about Hagoromo Gengetsu—a name her elders often cursed—reappearing in the ninja world, she was determined to capture him, regardless of his current state, to avenge her predecessors.

Fortunately, Ao calmly advised, "Mizukage-sama, Hagoromo Gengetsu should still be within the Fire Country. With the ninja world's unstable situation, mobilizing such a large force could easily cause Konoha to misunderstand. Please reconsider."

"Besides, that person is already dead. There's no need to spend so much effort looking for him."

Even if they found him, so what?

Hagoromo Gengetsu is already dead.

Would you kill him again?

Would he even be afraid?

After much persuasion, Mei Terumi finally relented, opting to send a smaller team to secretly track down Hagoromo Gengetsu instead of making a big commotion.

Lastly.

Compared to the Mist Shinobi's indecision, the Cloud Shinobi were much more straightforward.

Even though it was the First Mizukage who died, the First Raikage only lost an arm.

Upon receiving the news, the Fourth Raikage, Ay, lifted his massive dumbbell and issued a decisive order:

"Find Hagoromo Gengetsu at all costs and avenge the First Raikage's lost arm!"

"Yes, sir!"

No one objected.

The mighty war machine that is the Cloud Shinobi began operating efficiently.