"Cough, Elder Ryun, the Hokage has called a meeting. Please hurry... up?" The Anbu member sounded slightly awkward.
Uchiha Ryun held Tsunade's waist and smiled. "Alright, I'll be there soon." Then he looked at Tsunade. "Tsunade, I have a meeting soon. You..."
"I'll go with you! Hehe." Tsunade hugged Uchiha Ryun's arm and glanced at the Anbu member.
Uchiha Ryun nodded. "Lead the way."
The Anbu member nodded and walked ahead, guiding Uchiha Ryun to the Hokage's office.
----
Land of Water, Kirigakure Village
"Mizukage-sama, are we feeding the Three-Tails today?" Yagura asked. He was the Third Mizukage's most outstanding disciple, and his Water Mirror Technique made him invincible among his peers.
"Yagura, you are my most excellent disciple. Today, you, along with me and the Anbu guards, will go to feed the Three-Tails. Yagura, I may never have the chance to become a jinchūriki in this lifetime, but you can." With that, the Third Mizukage patted Yagura's shoulder and stood up.
"Master... I will. In the future, I will protect Kirigakure!" Yagura's expression was solemn.
The Third Mizukage smiled. "I believe in you!" He then clasped his hands behind his back and walked ahead toward the lake where the tailed beast resided.
The Anbu led the way while the Third Mizukage and Yagura chatted casually behind them. In a flash of lightning, two Anbu members collapsed. The Third Mizukage froze. Just as he was about to warn Yagura, he realized Yagura had already fallen unconscious.
The Third Mizukage, whose eyes were usually half-lidded, opened them fully. He spoke calmly. "Why don't you show yourself? Hiding in the shadows is cowardly."
"Oh? You have courage, Third Mizukage." Madara Uchiha pushed aside the willow leaves and stepped forward, clad in his Six Paths armor. He walked slowly toward the Third Mizukage.
The Third Mizukage's heart turned cold. He had seen this man's portrait before—it was Madara Uchiha! The Ghost of the Uchiha. He... he wasn't dead! Damn it!
"What's wrong? You asked me to come out. Now that I'm here, why are you silent?" Madara's voice was filled with disdain.
"Madara Uchiha, you're alive!" The Third Mizukage broke out in a cold sweat. There was no one in the ninja world who didn't know Madara Uchiha's name.
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, and the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, had once been forced to their knees by Madara's sheer presence. A single Susano'o could destroy an entire nation.
Hadn't he been killed by Hashirama Senju? How... how was this possible?
The Third Mizukage was drenched in sweat. His hands quickly formed seals. "Water Release: Water Pillar!" A powerful suction force erupted.
Madara raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."
He didn't resist the force but instead allowed it to pull him forward. Then, with a powerful kick, he sent the Third Mizukage flying.
"Really, I thought you'd be stronger, being a Kage and all. But this is all you've got." Madara sneered.
"Enough playing. Submit to the genjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan!" Madara immediately plucked out two ordinary Sharingan eyes and replaced them with his original ones.
In an instant, the pattern of Madara's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in his eyes.
(Note: These are Madara's original eyes. The Eternal Mangekyō belonged to Izuna. In this fanfiction, implanting the eyes grants the Eternal state, not fusion. Thus, Madara's original Mangekyō Sharingan still exists.)
In that instant, the Third Mizukage fell into a daze. He was sealed within a red cage in his consciousness, fully aware of everything outside but unable to control his body.
He even discovered a mechanism embedded in his heart—if he forcefully broke the genjutsu, his heart would shatter!
In other words, this was a death trap. Moreover, under the ocular power of someone like Madara Uchiha, even if he wanted to die or break free, it was impossible!
"Master!" The Third Mizukage stood up and knelt before Madara.
Madara nodded. "Continue as usual. Don't let anyone notice anything unusual."
"Yes!" The Third Mizukage flicked his robe and walked over to Yagura and the Anbu, helping them up. Seeing this, Madara nodded and left.
Inside the Cave
Black Zetsu, seeing Madara return, hurried forward to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Lord Madara, on your success! Controlling the Third Mizukage!"
Madara waved his hand. "He's just trash. If it weren't for the plan's funding needs, I wouldn't bother controlling an ant like him."
"Yes, yes, Lord Madara is absolutely right." Black Zetsu chuckled darkly, then prepared to manipulate the Mizukage for funds.
After all, to rescue his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, he had to pull out all the stops.
Madara nodded and closed his eyes to rest. This body was far weaker than before. Just this brief fight had left him slightly fatigued.
'I wonder how that grandson of mine is doing. Back then, I failed to protect my little brother. No matter what, I must protect my brother's grandson.'
----
Outside the Hokage Building, Konoha
Uchiha Ryun sneezed, puzzled. 'Who's talking about me?'
Tsunade noticed and asked, "Ryun, do you have a cold?"
"No, not at all. I think someone must be talking about me. I wonder who." Uchiha Ryun scratched his head and chuckled.
"Oh, probably the girls in the village who admire our great 'Military God,' huh?" Tsunade suddenly thought of this and pouted.
"Silly, no matter how much they admire me, didn't I still fall for you? Besides, we're getting married in three months, right?" Uchiha Ryun's voice was magnetic.
"I like hearing that. Say more!" Tsunade grinned foolishly. That's right, they were getting married! The invitations had already been sent to all the clans today. Who didn't know?
Uchiha Ryun smiled. He looked at the invitation in his hand. When he handed it to the Hokage later, he wondered if he'd be happy!
"Halt! Identify yourselves." The guard at the door seemed new and didn't recognize Uchiha Ryun.
The Anbu who had led Uchiha Ryun frowned. "You—what are you doing? Step aside!"
Scolded by the senior, the newcomer was at a loss. The Anbu member cupped his hands. "Elder Ryun, this kid is new to the Anbu. He's a civilian and doesn't know much. Please don't take it to heart."
Uchiha Ryun waved his hand. "It's fine. We're all family. Besides, this young man is just doing his duty. I'm proud the Hokage has such a subordinate."
Then, he patted the guard's shoulder. "Keep up the good work!"
With that, he took Tsunade's hand and strode through the door. The Anbu inside immediately saluted upon seeing them.
"We greet Elder Ryun and Director Tsunade!" Uchiha Ryun and Tsunade told them to stand at ease.
After they disappeared, the senior explained Uchiha Ryun and Tsunade's identities to the guard, who finally realized how important they were.
"Th-then what should I do, Captain?" The guard panicked.
The Anbu captain patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. Elder Ryun said it's fine, so it is. But in the future, be more observant. What's the use of just being good at fighting? Learn to read the room."