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Chapter 148: In This Era, There’s No Second Uchiha Madara!
🕑 Added 2025-01-08 09:55:12 +0000 UTC"Pleased to meet you, Lord Yagyu."
"Likewise, Lord Mifune—I've heard much about you."
In the reception room of the Shogunate, Mifune and Yagyu sat on floor cushions, greeting one another.
"This is the letter Lady Hokage asked me to deliver personally into your hands."
Wasting no time, Yagyu produced a letter and handed it, with both hands, to Mifune.
"You've come a long way, Lord Yagyu. Thank you for your trouble."
Mifune spoke courteously, though his expression was solemn. Generally, each ninja village has its own standard envoys—rarely do they send top-tier powerhouses as messengers, since losing such a key fighter to misfortune would be devastating. Ordinarily, delegates are special jōnin or rank-and-file jōnin; if something happens to them, the village might reap extra benefits through retaliation, exceeding the value of training a typical jōnin.
But Konoha had sent none other than Yagyu—a man with a nine-digit bounty on the black market, widely seen as the only candidate for the Sixth Hokage. Evidently, this letter was critical.
Mifune opened the envelope with a grave face. Reading its contents only deepened his gravity. He set it down and nodded to Yagyu.
"As long as the other Five Kage agree to attend, the Land of Iron is willing to host the Five Kage Summit. I'd also be willing to serve as the conference's moderator and ensure the participants' safety with the full might of our nation."
"We are in your debt, Lord Mifune."
Forcing himself to endure the discomfort of kneeling in samurai style, Yagyu bowed slightly. He then rose with a smile.
“I still need to deliver invites to other villages. It’s a shame I don’t have time to tour your legendary samurai stronghold. I hope I can do so another time.”
“I’m sorry I can’t host you more fully,” Mifune replied, also rising with a smile. “But next time you visit, I will personally show you around our Samurai City.”
“Then, I must take my leave.”
Giving a polite samurai-style farewell, Yagyu vanished without a trace. Mifune’s pupils constricted; inwardly he was startled.
“That was the Flying Thunder God Technique, I take it? Ninja arts truly are astonishing.”
Samurai also practice sensory skills—though they usually refer to it as “heart’s eye.” From Mifune’s perspective, Yagyu’s chakra simply disappeared in an instant. Even if he pushed his sensory range to its limit, he couldn’t detect any trace of Yagyu’s chakra.
As the Land of Iron’s strongest samurai, Mifune knew that even top-level ninja specializing in Lightning Release or high-speed Body Flicker couldn’t exit his detection range that fast. Only a rumored space–time ninjutsu, transcending Yin and Yang Release, could achieve such a feat.
“That level of chakra and aura, plus the Wood Release of the First Hokage and the Flying Thunder God of the Second Hokage…” Mifune mused. “No wonder he’s become a figure akin to Konoha’s White Fang at such a young age.”
“If he really does become the Sixth Hokage, Konoha could return to the glory of its founding era.”
And with that possibility, Mifune felt a tinge of hope. If Yagyu rose to a status on par with the First Hokage, perhaps the shinobi world might revert to Hashirama’s age—where no one dared spark war, granting a long era of peace. That would be a boon for the Land of Iron and other smaller nations.
But first, they had to deal with the looming threat of the Akatsuki. With that in mind, Mifune gave orders to begin preparations for the upcoming Five Kage Summit. After all, with Yagyu himself acting as envoy, Mifune could guess the outcome.
...
The Land of Earth: The Gate of Iwagakure
“I am Yagyu, an elite jōnin from Konohagakure, here as an emissary of the Land of Fire’s Hidden Leaf Village. I’ve come to request an audience with the Third Tsuchikage. Here is my credential.”
Having already secured the neutral Land of Iron as the summit venue, Yagyu headed next to Iwagakure, the domain of the oldest sitting Kage: Ōnoki. As he had with Mifune, Yagyu stated his identity outright. On seeing it was the famed Wood-Release ninja, the gate guards hurried to notify the Tsuchikage’s office.
Before long, a short-haired girl wearing a jōnin vest over a red long-sleeved undershirt—and black mesh leggings exposing long, fair-skinned legs—arrived, gazing confidently up at Yagyu without a hint of embarrassment.
“Wow, you’re tall—just my type. Let’s see if you’re as strong as the rumors say.”
“Oh? ‘Lava Release’ Kurotsuchi. A pleasure to finally meet you,” Yagyu greeted with a gentle smile, instantly recognizing this kunoichi who was about two years older than he was.
Kurotsuchi’s eyes lit up. She studied Yagyu with new interest.
“You’ve got a way with words. I like you better already. Follow me.”
Despite her mastery of Lava Release, neither her fellow villagers nor outsiders usually gave her such a title, let alone a moniker. They typically referred to her as “Ōnoki’s granddaughter.” That didn’t bother her—it was simply the truth. Even her father was often called “Ōnoki’s son.” Both she and her father knew that without Grandpa shielding Iwagakure, the Cloud Village would likely attack them first. Thanks to his Dust Release, Ōnoki had ensured peace since the Third Great Ninja War.
Still, Yagyu’s unique acknowledgment tickled her pride. Soon, Kurotsuchi led him into the Tsuchikage’s office within the Tsuchikage building.
“Lord Tsuchikage, an honor to make your acquaintance.”
Yagyu bowed slightly in respect to the diminutive old man perched on a high stool—none other than Ōnoki.
“Wood-Release ninja Yagyu… I’ve heard your name quite often.”
Studying the young leader-in-the-making, Ōnoki’s expression grew complex.
“Never imagined that among Lord Hashirama’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, not one inherited his Wood Release. Then, in Konoha’s most weakened era, there’s a throwback descendant who awakened it.”
“Konoha truly is a cradle of genius—how fortunate you are…”
In that moment, a flash of killing intent flickered in Ōnoki’s heart. He entertained the notion of using his Dust Release for a surprise attack—perhaps eliminating the Leaf’s next-generation leader right then and there. Even if it triggered a Fourth Great Ninja War, it might be worth the cost. As someone who had personally witnessed Uchiha Madara’s power and been humiliated by his Susanoo, Ōnoki knew all too well the might wielded by the “God of Shinobi” and the “Shura of the Ninja World.” If Yagyu grew to rival the First Hokage, that could let him dictate terms for the entire shinobi world. And this man wasn’t nearly so benevolent as Hashirama had been.
Yet recalling the intel on Yagyu, Ōnoki suppressed that impulse. Not only did he possess the First Hokage’s kekkei genkai, but he’d also mastered the Flying Thunder God of the Second Hokage, granting him an unassailable advantage. If Ōnoki failed to kill him in one strike, Iwagakure would face certain doom.
So Ōnoki tamped down the thought and asked,
“So, Princess Tsunade sent you as an envoy. You’re not just here to say hello to an old relic, are you?”
“Indeed.”
Yagyu nodded, producing a letter.
“This is the document Lady Hokage ordered me to bring personally to the Tsuchikage.”
“Kurotsuchi, bring it here.”
“Got it, Gramps.”
After receiving the letter from Yagyu, Kurotsuchi handed it to Ōnoki. He opened it and read silently. A moment later, his expression darkened in earnest.
“The Akatsuki, a mere mercenary group… so that’s how deeply they were hiding?”
Ōnoki—who treasured Iwagakure’s talents—had employed the Akatsuki in the past for extremely high-grade missions. Indeed, Iwagakure was the only major village to hire them openly. When he gradually realized the group’s dangerous nature, he scaled back that cooperation. Now he learned that not only did they house numerous S-rank rogue ninja, but their leader possessed the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths. So the mythical top-tier dōjutsu was real. If the Six Paths legend wasn’t entirely fabricated, what about everything else?
Inwardly, Ōnoki pretended calm, outwardly lifting his chin.
“I’m not sure I accept Lady Tsunade’s intel at face value. Thus far, only Konoha has suffered large-scale losses, apart from Kumo losing their Two-Tails Jinchūriki.”
“But if you yourself have come, I’ll show you some courtesy and attend this Five Kage Summit.”
“Kurotsuchi—show our guest to the reception hall.”
“No need, but thank you for your hospitality,” Yagyu said politely, reading the meaning behind Ōnoki’s words. “I still must visit the other villages, so I won’t impose this time. Next time, I’ll be sure to properly tour your famed ‘Steel City.’”
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
With that, Yagyu vanished without warning. Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi both looked uneasy at the abrupt disappearance.
“Gramps… that guy’s chakra is insane,” Kurotsuchi muttered. “Standing next to him made me feel suffocated.”
“A bloodline like Wood Release can’t be legendary without that level of chakra,” Ōnoki said grimly. “An overwhelming power is one thing, but combine it with that kind of mobility… Once he’s fully matured, who would stand a chance?”
“In this era, there’s no second Uchiha Madara!”
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RoseWhisky
It's the rainy season in my city, so there might be some delays in publishing the chapters. Just this week, I was without internet for three consecutive days :(
