A brief period of peaceful life is always bound to be broken.
...
One week later, Gekko Chizan was notified and arrived at the small plaza above the Hokage Office Building, the one directly facing the Hokage Rock.
Minato Namikaze was already waiting for him there.
Uchiha Fugaku had also come along.
"Hey, Minato, why did you call me over in such a damn hurry?"
"I'm already busy to death—teaching classes, training, and now I still have to train your squad. Sigh, people really are just workhorses."
Gekko Chizan grumbled nonstop. Beside him, Uchiha Fugaku nodded heavily—his thoughts were exactly the same as Chizan's.
Busy! Busy every single day like a spinning top, never stopping for a moment.
"Hahaha, the more capable you are, the more work you do."
"Alright, I called you both over because there's something I need to talk to you about."
Minato Namikaze casually hooked an arm around each of them, pulling the three into a shoulder-to-shoulder formation.
The three of them had always been close friends. Even though they now stood in different positions, their friendship hadn't weakened in the slightest.
"Tch, Hokage-sama, what orders do you have?"
"Yeah, hurry up and say it. I still have work to get back to."
Gekko Chizan and Uchiha Fugaku both exerted force, directly lifting Minato Namikaze between them.
"There really is something. It's something I've been thinking about for a long time."
"The enemy that appeared during the Night of the Nine-Tails, and the matter of Takigakure, have both been weighing heavily on my mind."
"In the end, I decided I can't be confused all by myself. You two are my left and right arms—my closest friends and family. I'm counting on you."
Uchiha Madara and Takigakure?
Gekko Chizan didn't react much, but Uchiha Fugaku couldn't stay nearly as calm.
The whole village knew that on the Night of the Nine-Tails, it was an Uchiha who attacked the village, causing the Nine-Tails to go on a rampage. Although it was stopped in time, the damage was still severe.
Hearing Minato Namikaze's words, Uchiha Fugaku's expression changed again and again.
Seeing his reaction, Minato reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
"Relax, Fugaku. I know this isn't the Uchiha clan's fault. Although the attacker was also an Uchiha, it definitely has nothing to do with you."
"Chizan, you know who it was, right?"
"And that Rinnegan wielder as well."
Gekko Chizan nodded. At this point, many of the guesses had already been confirmed—there was no need for him to hide anything anymore.
After all, the other side had already surfaced. What was there left that couldn't be said?
"The one who left the Uchiha clan long ago, the one with terrifying ocular power capable of controlling the Nine-Tails."
"Tsk tsk, Uchiha Madara. If it's him, even having a Rinnegan wielder at his side wouldn't be anything strange."
"Add to that his hatred toward Konoha, and everything makes sense."
Uchiha Madara...
A name that had been silent for a very long time. Even shinobi of their generation had still heard of him.
A terrifying ninja who could contend with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama—and an ancestor of the Uchiha clan.
"Uchiha Madara, huh..."
"Indeed, that kind of bizarre dōjutsu ability—the Mangekyō Sharingan..."
"Chizan, Fugaku, our current situation is far more dangerous than it appears."
"The enemies hiding in the shadows are the truly deadly ones."
Minato Namikaze spoke seriously to himself. Hearing this, an uneasy feeling surged up in Gekko Chizan's heart.
He had a feeling this guy was laying the groundwork to rope them into something.
And he wasn't the only one who thought so—Uchiha Fugaku spoke up before him.
"Hmph, Minato, you didn't used to be this long-winded."
"Just say it. How do you want us to help?"
"Are we going to negotiate with Amegakure and Takigakure, or are we going to track down Uchiha Madara's whereabouts?"
Straightforward as ever, Uchiha Fugaku didn't give Minato Namikaze any chance to beat around the bush.
Hearing this, Minato Namikaze gave an awkward smile.
"That was indeed my original plan. At this stage, the other villages pose no immediate threat, so we can free up our hands to seek answers."
"However, for now, we only need to clarify Takigakure's motives."
"As for Amegakure, I've already handed that over to Root."
"And regarding Uchiha Madara, I've temporarily entrusted that matter to Jiraiya-sensei. He roams the shinobi world and is well-suited for gathering intelligence."
As he finished speaking, Minato Namikaze's gaze fell on Gekko Chizan.
The meaning behind that look couldn't have been clearer.
Seeing that look, Gekko Chizan knew this bastard had still set his sights on him.
"Damn it, I knew it—you're still making me run around."
"Why can't Fugaku go instead?"
"He's even better at running than I am!"
Gekko Chizan stretched out his arm next to Uchiha Fugaku's, and the two arms were immediately compared side by side.
And honestly—Fugaku's arm really was thicker.
Uchiha Fugaku had a sturdier build, more robust than both Minato Namikaze and Gekko Chizan.
But this comparison instantly darkened Fugaku's face. Who compares things like that?! This bastard!
"Then who do you suggest go?"
"You're one of Konoha's Twin Stars. Only you going can represent the village's attitude."
The same old line again—but Gekko Chizan wasn't about to fall for it.
"Oh, give it a rest. I'm not going."
"If we're going to Takigakure, I suggest sending Kakashi's team."
"During the last Chunin Exams, they were quite curious about Kakashi and the others."
"So let's give the young people a chance. Someone old and immobile like me can only stay in the village and teach properly."
The shamelessness of this speech was truly on another level. How old was Gekko Chizan, really?!?!?
And he was already calling himself an old man? Too old to move?
Heavens—why does this world have someone this shameless?
But surprisingly, his words did remind Minato Namikaze of something. During the previous Chunin Exams, Takigakure really had shown a different attitude toward Konoha's younger generation.
What Minato didn't know at all was that the reason they were curious about Kakashi and the others—especially Yugito—was entirely because they, too, were disciples of Gekko Chizan.
Of course they'd be curious! Not to mention that the person leading Takigakure's team was Konan. It would be strange if they weren't curious.
"Alright then. But I'm still very uneasy about leaving Amegakure to Root."
"You two know Shimura Danzo's personality. He definitely won't be content. I've long wanted to marginalize Root, or even gradually replace it."
"But that old man really isn't easy to deal with. The title 'Darkness of the Shinobi World' isn't just for show."
Oh?
That proposal actually piqued Gekko Chizan's interest.
Going after Danzo? He absolutely had to take the lead in that.
"You want to make a move on Root?"
"Yes. I've had that thought. The village needs unity—an unstable department like that is better off not existing."
"Then I'm fired up!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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