Gekko Hayate couldn't quite understand the Hokage advisor's decision to stay in Daimyo City. The reasoning of needing to capture Hama and others didn't hold much weight, as he doubted anyone would be foolish enough to return at such a time.
But—
As a guard, he couldn't make decisions for the Hokage's advisor; he could only follow orders.
Fortunately, the days spent in Daimyo City were anything but dull. In fact, these days were quite beneficial. Most of the advisor's free time was spent training, leaving one to wonder if he was avoiding the village's overwhelming work.
During the remainder of his time, the advisor also occasionally guided Hayate and Kurenai. Despite being older, they both clearly regarded themselves as juniors in front of Uchiha Sōgen. Over the past month, Hayate had seen breakthroughs in his previously stagnant Leaf-Style Kenjutsu, thanks to Sōgen's guidance. Kurenai, meanwhile, had the rare opportunity to hone her genjutsu skills by facing off against the Sharingan. They were also fortunate to witness the advisor spar with top fighters from all over the Land of Fire, which greatly expanded their understanding.
Indeed,
Sōgen had been in Daimyo City for more than a month and a half.
Although training was a priority, he didn't spend every day lost in it. After all, if pure training was his goal, he could do that more comfortably back in Konoha. During his time here, he made efforts to challenge others to sparring matches every few days.
As the capital of the Land of Fire, Daimyo City is not only economically vibrant but also attracts the best of the ninja world. Ninja clans and villages from all over the Land of Fire gather here.
Ninjas, contrary to the image of ascetics, rely heavily on the support of the state. Thus, one can see many ninjas here from clans and villages that rarely appear in Konoha. Those who come to Daimyo City and make a name for themselves are, without exception, powerful, even famed in Konoha.
Sōgen challenged these formidable opponents.
In one-on-one, one-on-two, and even larger battles, he won with overwhelming dominance, sending a message to the ninja villages and clans across the Land of Fire about Konoha's strength and silencing any ambitions against it.
After all,
Hearing about Konoha's strength is one thing; witnessing the power of an Uchiha firsthand is another!
While sparring, Sōgen was pleasantly surprised by the unique secret and forbidden techniques he encountered. Though he had not yet seen any rare kekkei genkai, he had the opportunity to observe some extraordinary skills.
By the way,
Sōgen's actions had the Daimyo's permission.
Just as Sōgen intended to use his absolute power to quell rogue ninjas in the Land of Fire, the Daimyo wanted to better understand Sōgen's strength. Without the Daimyo's support, Sōgen might not have found so many opponents willing to spar with him.
However—
As Sōgen continued to win these matches with ease, the Daimyo had mixed feelings. A prosperous Konoha promised long-lasting peace for the Land of Fire, yet it also meant a diminished likelihood of Hama's success.
Another blisteringly hot day dawned. The sky was so clear and vibrant it almost seemed unreal. Gazing up, it looked like one flawless sheet of blue glass, not a cloud in sight, as the sun poured its intense light onto the earth below.
"Hayate, who is that old man? He's important enough for our lord to meet in person." At the embassy entrance, Kurenai stood to the side and nudged Gekko Hayate, her voice low.
"That's The Wandering Monk."
Hayate kept his eyes fixed on the two figures in conversation.
One was Sōgen, and the other was an elderly man, his hair and beard stark white, dressed in simple robes. The only thing that stood out about him was his unusually long eyebrows and beard.
"The Wandering Monk?"
Kurenai blinked. "What a strange name."
She clearly had no idea who this monk was.
"It's not a name; it's a title."
Hayate looked at her with mild surprise. "Kurenai, you've really never heard of it?"
"Nope." Kurenai shook her head honestly.
"Alright. But it makes sense—The Wandering Monk was more active decades ago, so it's understandable you haven't heard of him." Hayate only knew about The Wandering Monk because he'd read about him in his grandfather's training journal, which led him to the library for more information. He was even briefly investigated by the ANBU for digging into such matters.
"The Wandering Monk is a title, just like our lord being called The Flame Demon. The monk hails from the Tsuchigumo clan of Mount Katsuragi."
Hayate explained in quick, hushed tones.
The title originated from legend. It's said that a thousand years ago, a monk named Yaku Shikaku followed the Sage of Six Paths in studying ninjutsu and spiritual arts. Through decades of diligent training, he gained the power to command spirits and demons, and was tasked by the Sage of Six Paths to rid the land of malevolent beings. After many years of purging evil, he earned the title of "Monk" from the Sage. Many places still worship statues of this "Monk"—the Fire Temple among them.
The man sitting across from Sōgen was Tsuchigumo Moyara of the ancient Tsuchigumo clan. The clan had once received an invitation from the First Hokage to join Konoha, but they refused due to their adherence to old traditions. Despite declining, they possessed a terrifyingly powerful forbidden jutsu and unique secret techniques that have been passed down through generations, granting Moyara the title of The Wandering Monk.
"That's... quite something."
Kurenai's expression was conflicted.
It was surprising that such a name, which didn't sound nearly as intimidating as The Flame Demon, had such an impressive story behind it.
"Unfortunately, the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden techniques are a tightly guarded secret. When I first researched The Wandering Monk, ANBU investigated me, and I got nowhere—only trouble." Hayate sighed at the memory.
But he quickly regained his focus as Sōgen and The Wandering Monk finished their greetings and began to walk toward the embassy, prompting the entourage to follow.
Their guest was not alone; the monk was accompanied by his granddaughter and some followers.
In the embassy's reception room, Sōgen took his seat on the sofa, openly curious as he studied The Wandering Monk and his granddaughter, Tsuchigumo Hotaru. The girl, around six or seven, was likely about the same age as Tenten and Naruto. After a brief glance, Sōgen turned his attention back to Moyara.
He was curious about this monk's reason for coming.
Indeed,
The Wandering Monk was not one of the guests Sōgen had invited.
While Sōgen had been challenging skilled fighters across the Land of Fire, the monk had not been in Daimyo City, having lived in seclusion on Mount Katsuragi since the end of the Third Great Ninja War. But here he was, voluntarily visiting Konoha's advisor as an ally.
And this alliance was no pretense.
The Tsuchigumo clan was indeed an ally of Konoha, not a subordinate, but one of mutual cooperation. The Wandering Monk himself had aided Konoha ninjas in the Second Great Ninja War, notably against the Cloud Village. It was in that battle, where he used the Tsuchigumo clan's forbidden technique to annihilate a Cloud-held town, that he made his name known throughout the ninja world.
As a condition for deploying the Envoy of Obligation, an alliance of mutual support was established between Konoha and the Tsuchigumo clan. This alliance stipulated that Konoha must come to the aid of the Tsuchigumo clan whenever they face a crisis, and it was signed by none other than the now-deceased Third Hokage.
Perhaps this was the reason for the Envoy of Obligation's visit?
"Elder Tsuchigumo, it may be a bit blunt of me to say this, but instead of going in circles, I think it's better to ask directly to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Is there a reason for your sudden visit?"
He got straight to the point.
The small talk at the door had been more than enough for Sōgen, and continuing with more pleasantries was becoming tiresome.
The Envoy of Obligation sat calmly on the couch, his poised demeanor matching his reputation. Even under Sōgen's intense gaze, he remained unshaken. "This time, I'm here to confirm something with the Hokage's advisor," the elder spoke slowly, his raspy voice laced with a sense of weariness and age.
"Is it about the alliance?"
"Yes," he nodded in acknowledgment. "Years ago, I forged an alliance with the Third Hokage, stating that Konoha must come to our aid in times of insurmountable crisis… My question is, does Konoha still intend to honor this alliance?"
The Envoy of Obligation fixed his gaze on Sōgen, waiting for his answer.
"This question… Elder Tsuchigumo, I'm just the Hokage's advisor; I don't have the authority to make decisions on such significant matters. You've come to the wrong person. Only the Hokage himself can answer that question."
"Though I am old and barely able to walk, my mind hasn't gone dull. I know the Fifth Hokage, albeit not very well, but I understand his character. I'm not concerned about his acknowledgment of the alliance between our clans and Konoha. What I want to confirm is whether Konoha will continue to honor this alliance in the distant future."
"The distant future?"
Sōgen chuckled; it was an interesting way to phrase it.
"Elder Tsuchigumo, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"The Fifth Hokage trained alongside the Third Hokage; he may be younger than me, but he's not young. The future belongs to young men like you, the Hokage's advisor," replied the Envoy, observing Sōgen with a calm face but inner unease.
Since hearing about the Third Hokage's death last year—and the less-than-honorable circumstances surrounding it—the elder had been concerned about whether Konoha would continue to honor the alliance. After all, if Konoha intended to reject the legacy left by the Third Hokage, it would only be a matter of time before this alliance was disregarded as well.
And with his advancing age, he could sense death approaching.
His time was running out.
If he couldn't confirm the validity of this alliance, he wouldn't be able to die in peace. The Tsuchigumo clan had not produced any notable heirs in decades, and those who once showed promise had fallen due to the prying eyes drawn by their forbidden techniques.
Thus, they were left facing the embarrassment of lacking successors, and once he died, the Tsuchigumo clan—holders of forbidden techniques—would inevitably become a tempting prize.
To avoid this grim fate, he had been keeping a close watch on Konoha's current state, eventually directing his attention to the young man named Uchiha Sōgen. Reading through the records on him, he was struck by a resemblance to the man once known as the Asura, an invincible force throughout the Shinobi world.
Yet back then, the First Hokage restrained that Asura.
Konoha no longer had a second Hashirama Senju.
So, he'd made his decision.
As long as Uchiha Sōgen lived, he believed it was only a matter of time before Konoha saw an Uchiha Hokage. Upon learning that Uchiha Sōgen was currently staying at the Daimyo's residence, he'd brought his granddaughter and old servant down from Mount Katsuragi to visit this head of the Uchiha clan and advisor to Konoha's Hokage.
He wanted a clear answer here.
Only once he received that answer could he rest in peace.
Of course, that answer needed to be the one he hoped for. If not… he'd need to find another way.
"Interesting! Truly interesting!"
A noticeable smile spread across Sōgen's face.
He looked at the old man and asked, "Elder Tsuchigumo, aren't you concerned that you might be wrong? If you place your bet on the wrong person, the Tsuchigumo clan could suffer for it."
"A choice must be made," the Envoy replied calmly. "You can't please both sides. Even if my decision proves wrong, there's no regret. I have done everything within my power for my clan. Even in the afterlife, I would not be ashamed before our ancestors."
"And, I don't think I'll be wrong. It may sound prideful, but my seventy-some years haven't been spent in vain." He pointed to his eyes. "These old eyes have seen many people, and among them, young men of your caliber, Hokage's advisor, are rare."
This was the truth from his heart.
Staring at Uchiha Sōgen, he couldn't help but recall that terrifying man, like a demon god, who had once nearly uprooted every ninja clan in the Land of Fire that had refused Konoha's invitation if not for the intervention of the First Hokage.
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