Chapter 73 The Five Kage Gather

While Madara Uchiha captured the Three-Tails in Kirigakure and began making preparations to control the future Third Mizukage—

The Five Kage were also arriving in the Land of Hot Water one after another.

The first to arrive was the Hokage of Konoha, the village closest to the Land of Hot Water—

Tobirama Senju.

Accompanying Tobirama were Kagami Uchiha and Torifu Akimichi.

“Lord Second!”

As the group continued along the road, Kagami suddenly noticed several figures approaching from ahead.

Hearing him, Tobirama and Torifu immediately looked forward.

Not far away—

The dark-skinned Second Raikage, wearing his usual hat, was approaching with two Kumogakure shinobi accompanying him.

The instant Tobirama saw the Second Raikage, his brows furrowed.

After all—

Before Madara Uchiha’s return, relations between Konoha and Kumogakure had been extremely tense.

Had Madara not suddenly reappeared, the two villages might already have met each other on the battlefield.

“Neither of you make any unnecessary moves.”

Tobirama spoke to Kagami and Torifu behind him.

“We came here to discuss how to deal with Madara Uchiha.”

With that, the three of them continued toward the Second Raikage’s group.

“Second Hokage.”

Once the two groups met, the Second Raikage was the first to greet Tobirama.

“We’re here to discuss how to deal with Madara Uchiha.”

“I hope the Second Hokage can temporarily put aside the previous grievances between our villages.”

“That goes without saying.”

Tobirama replied solemnly.

“If our villages are going to fight, then that is something to settle on the battlefield.”

As they spoke—

The two groups arrived before a massive building in the Land of Hot Water.

A number of officials were already waiting outside to receive the arriving Kage.

“Lord Hokage. Lord Raikage. Welcome.”

Under the guidance of one of the attendants—

Tobirama, Kagami, Torifu, the Second Raikage, and his guards were led into a large conference chamber.

At the center of the room stood a round table.

Five chairs had been arranged around it.

Behind each chair—

A flag hung from the wall.

The five flags bore the characters:

Wind.

Fire.

Lightning.

Water.

Earth.

When Tobirama and the Second Raikage entered—

Someone was already seated beneath the flag marked Earth.

His entire body was wrapped in bandages.

He was none other than—

The Second Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Mū.

Two Iwagakure shinobi stood behind him.

One of them was rather short—

But possessed an exceptionally prominent nose.

If Madara were present, he would have immediately recognized him.

This shinobi was Mū’s disciple—

Ōnoki.

The future Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure.

Like Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ōnoki was still very young in this era.

“The Second Tsuchikage arrived before us?”

The Second Raikage glanced at the bandaged man sitting at the table.

Then—

He and Tobirama moved toward the seats beneath their respective village flags and sat down.

“You two from Konoha and Kumogakure…”

Mū rested his arms on the table.

“You’ve already encountered Madara Uchiha, haven’t you?”

The instant the name Madara Uchiha was mentioned—

Not only did Tobirama and the Second Raikage react—

Even Ōnoki’s expression changed.

Years ago—

Mū had taken the young Ōnoki with him to Konoha in hopes of discussing an alliance between Iwagakure and Konoha.

Unfortunately—

They had failed to meet the First Hokage.

Instead—

They encountered Madara Uchiha.

Madara had rejected Iwagakure’s proposal without the slightest hesitation.

Then—

He had unleashed Susanoo and effortlessly overwhelmed both Mū and Ōnoki.

Many years had passed since that incident.

But Ōnoki still felt lingering fear whenever he remembered Madara.

Now, merely hearing Mū mention that name again caused Ōnoki’s heart to tighten.

The image of Madara’s long black hair and scarlet Sharingan immediately surfaced in his mind.

“I haven’t personally met Madara Uchiha.”

Before Tobirama could answer, the Second Raikage clenched his fist.

“But he has already turned my village upside down!”

Of the three villages currently represented in the room—

Kumogakure had suffered the greatest losses.

First—

They lost Kinkaku and Ginkaku, along with five of the Sage of Six Paths’ treasured tools.

Then—

Ai, the leading candidate to become the Third Raikage, was killed by Madara.

And finally—

Even the Two-Tails had been taken.

Naturally—

The Second Raikage hated Madara Uchiha deeply.

“I’ve already fought him personally.”

Tobirama spoke after the Second Raikage finished.

“As for the details…”

“We should wait until the Kazekage and Mizukage arrive.”

“The eyebrowless bastard still isn’t dead?”

The instant Tobirama mentioned the Mizukage—

Mū spoke coldly.

“You bandaged bastard!”

“I heard that!”

An angry shout suddenly came from outside the room.

The next instant—

The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, stormed into the conference chamber.

“You dare curse me to death while I’m not here?!”

Gengetsu glared at Mū.

“And here I was regretting that I didn’t blow you to pieces the last time we fought!”

“What did you say?”

Mū’s voice turned cold.

“You want me to kill you right here?”

“Come on, then!”

The moment these two old rivals met—

They immediately began clashing like fire and water.

Mū spread his hands apart.

“Particle Style…”

A brilliant white light began gathering between his palms.

Gengetsu showed no fear whatsoever.

He immediately raised one finger—

A Water Gun already poised to fire.

“That’s enough!”

Just as Mū and Gengetsu were about to attack each other—

The Second Raikage abruptly stood.

BANG—!

He slammed his palm heavily against the table.

Hearing his furious shout—

Mū finally snorted coldly and dispersed the Particle Style gathering between his hands.

Then—

He sat back down.

Gengetsu also clicked his tongue in irritation before taking his own seat.

The guards brought by the Second Tsuchikage and Second Mizukage could only stare helplessly.

Two of the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ Kage—

And the moment they met, they nearly started fighting.

It was truly an eye-opening sight.

The atmosphere inside the conference chamber became extremely strange.

Then—

The Second Kazekage of Sunagakure, Shamon, finally arrived with Chiyo accompanying him.

With his arrival—

All Five Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Villages were finally gathered in one place.