"Mobilize all Jonin and Anbu to capture Hōzuki Gengetsu! Announce to the entire Village that the Mizukage has defected!"
Wuming quickly declared.
The various clan heads responded one after another.
At this time, the clan heads did not yet know the terrible losses this soon-to-be Third Mizukage would inflict upon their families.
A strange smile played on Wuming's lips.
He then walked to the window and slowly gazed down at the entire Hidden Mist Village.
"Hidden Mist is a bit too urbanized. It's time for a winding exploration!"
Wuming was officially crowned the Third Mizukage at this moment!
The Bloody Mist Village, activated!
.....
When the Hidden Mist's highest authority announced that the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu, had defected,
the entire Hidden Mist Village was in an uproar!
"I never thought the Second Mizukage would actually rebel!"
"Damn it! He actually betrayed Hidden Mist and secretly colluded with Iwagakure. What a heinous crime!"
"Wait, Hōzuki Gengetsu is already the Mizukage, why would he do this?"
In short, there were all sorts of opinions circulating throughout Hidden Mist.
In the forest,
Hōzuki Gengetsu led some members of the Hozuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan, resting around a bonfire in the forest.
(The Kaguya Clan existed in the original work, but they were wiped out for rebelling against Hidden Mist.)
Among the Hozuki Clan, he also had firm supporters. When he left, more than half of the Hozuki Clan members followed him.
Unlike Madara, when Hōzuki Gengetsu defected, more than half of his clan members followed him.
Among them, the Kaguya Clan were Hōzuki Gengetsu's trusted subordinates.
If Hōzuki Gengetsu fell, the Kaguya Clan would surely be purged. They either had to rebel or follow Hōzuki Gengetsu.
"Old man, I'm not going to be the Mizukage anymore. It's my problem; I'm too frivolous and not suited to be the Mizukage."
Hōzuki Gengetsu looked sadly at the gradually burning bonfire.
If this Village hadn't been personally founded by Byakuren and himself, he would have started a massacre long ago.
With his strength, he could definitely kill these bastards.
But Hidden Mist was, after all, founded by his own hands.
He had also once placed his dreams in Hidden Mist.
Not destroying Hidden Mist with his own hands could be considered for the sake of the old man's spirit in heaven.
"Clan Head! Do not be sad. You still have us, the Hozuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan. We can still go to an island!"
A Hozuki Clan member comforted him.
"Right! The Land of Water has many islands. With so many islands, with our strength, we can just occupy one, slowly gather strength, and then counterattack the Village!"
The Kaguya Clan members also proposed one after another.
Upon hearing "go to an island," Hōzuki Gengetsu's mouth twitched.
Hidden Mist Village was already on an island, and they wanted to go to another island, huh?
"Alas! It seems I have no choice but to leave Hidden Mist, leave the Village I personally founded, and the location of the First Mizukage's tomb…"
Hōzuki Gengetsu was filled with sorrow; his mood at this moment was undoubtedly tragic.
"Clan Head, where do we go next? We will all listen to you!"
The Hozuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan said in unison.
At this point, Hōzuki Gengetsu no longer had the desire to seize power. He didn't want to bother anymore.
He originally thought that if he seized power, he would seize power.
At worst, he would live a carefree life and not touch power. With his strength, he could live very well. He never thought that those guys in Hidden Mist wanted him dead!
Hōzuki Gengetsu scanned the members of the Hozuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan; some had confusion in their eyes, while others had eyes shining with trust in him.
For the sake of these two clans, he had to find a place to settle down.
It was impossible to become a wandering Ninja clan like in the tumultuous era.
"It seems I should go find an old friend…"
"He should take me in, right…"
The figure of Mu flashed through Hōzuki Gengetsu's mind.
As the saying goes, one more friend, one more path.
Swish!
Hōzuki Gengetsu slowly stood up.
The Hozuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan held their breath, waiting for Hōzuki Gengetsu's command.
"Go! We're going to the Land of Earth!"
At these words, the two clans were first astonished.
Then came obedience.
But there were also dissenting voices.
"Clan Head! No, if you choose Iwagakure now, you will confirm the accusation of colluding with Iwagakure!"
An elder from the Hozuki Clan said nervously.
Just defected, and now going to Iwagakure? Wouldn't that just confirm the charge of colluding with Iwagakure?
"The Land of Water can no longer accommodate us. Let them say what they want. My conscience is clear!"
"Besides, I, Hōzuki Gengetsu, will go wherever I want!"
Hōzuki Gengetsu said faintly.
Time would prove him right.
History would have its own verdict!
...
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Building.
"Have you heard? News has come from the Land of the Moon…"
"I heard, I heard. I heard that esteemed individual actually chased a donkey cart all night, and commoners by the roadside saw it…"
"Is this true or false? Didn't Uchiha Madara already die…"
"Oh, alright, alright, these are topics that cannot be touched. There are gods three feet above your head…"
"How dare you discuss these things privately? Do you miss being punished?"
Before the Iwagakure morning meeting, a group of Iwagakure officials were discussing this matter.
Currently, two explosive news stories had appeared throughout the Ninja World.
One was the death of the Raikage and the Kage due to the Gold and Silver Brothers' ambush.
The other was the alleged appearance of the Tsuchikage in the Land of the Moon, having an intense marathon with Uchiha Madara. It was said that Uchiha Madara drove a donkey cart for a hundred miles overnight, with the Tsuchikage chasing him all night.
In fact, compared to the first news, everyone still preferred the second, more gossipy and interesting news.
The Tsuchikage chasing a donkey cart, Uchiha Madara, these were all trending topics.
As for why Black Zetsu wasn't mentioned, it was too dark; Black Zetsu wasn't seen. Everyone thought it was Uchiha Madara driving the donkey cart to escape.
"Ahem, ahem!"
With a series of coughs,
Mu, wearing his tsuchikage robe, slowly sat in the main seat.
The Iwagakure officials instantly became serious, all putting on stern faces, looking earnest.
"I presume everyone has heard that news. Here, I want to clarify something!"
"It's all false! That news is utter nonsense!"
"It's a rumor. Rumors stop with the wise. Everyone, do not spread rumors; do your job well!"
Mu, with dark circles under his eyes, slowly spoke to refute the rumors to the officials.
"Mmm-hmm!"
The Iwagakure officials all nodded, indicating they would not spread rumors.
"Alright, next, let's talk about the assassination of the Kage and the Raikage. From Iwagakure's side, I plan to personally go to the Land of Lightning to attend the Second Raikage's funeral!"
Mu said.
In fact, Mu still felt quite guilty that he hadn't saved the Second Raikage, who was, after all, a friend with whom he had shared life and death.
"As for Konoha, just send a symbolic letter to express condolences."
Next were the various administrative affairs of the Iwagakure officials.
Mu answered them one by one.
"Tsuchikage-sama, we have found a suitable Jinchuriki candidate. It's an orphan named Roshi, currently about half a year old. His parents died during a mission, and we found him suitable to be the Four-Tails Jinchuriki!"
The Ninja in charge of Jinchuriki selection immediately reported.
Mu raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.
Roshi? Could it be the Roshi?
Counting the time, his birth at this point seemed reasonable.
Roshi died at fifty years old, so being born before the Second Ninja World War was also reasonable.
"Hmm, approved!"
Mu nodded.
(According to Minato's biography, Minato encountered the Four-Tails and Five-Tails when he was young, which was roughly during the Third War. In the plot, Roshi and Han were already able to control Tailed Beast power, so I concluded they were born before the Second Ninja World War. There's also a simpler way: subtract Roshi's age at death from Jiraiya's age at death; they are four years apart, so it can be concluded they are of a similar age group.)
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