Chapter 427: Spreading Wild Rumours
"…It really is the Second Mizukage?"
"This is getting intense, people from everywhere have shown up. Looks like only the Kumogakure Village is missing."
Even after Hōzuki Gengetsu proved his identity, they weren't shocked by who he was. Instead, they were busy marveling at Granny Chiyo's overwhelming "charm."
"By the way, has the Kumogakure Village revived any of their previous Raikage with Impure World Reincarnation?"
"No idea… probably not?"
Ever since they learned that Hōzuki Gengetsu had been personally revived by the current Mizukage from the Amegakure Village, they immediately began wondering whether other villages had done the same.
If the Third Raikage had also been revived, and also secretly fallen for Granny Chiyo, then wouldn't Granny Chiyo end up experiencing the Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite?
That move was even more powerful than the signature technique of Shizune's distant relative, Katō-senpai.
Originally, they had planned to immediately find Granny Chiyo to confirm everything, but now they found themselves hesitating instead.
"What are you all looking for?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu scratched his head in confusion.
"N-Nothing."
They waved their hands in denial.
"…Hurry up and take me there. Stop thinking about the Raikage, he's not going to show up."
The moustached man's lips twitched slightly as he suppressed the urge to explode.
He reassured himself internally, this was a time of peace in the ninja world. Times had changed. The Five Great Ninja Villages were united against external threats, and that was a good thing.
He had to treat the younger generation of other villages just like his own, and demonstrate the composure and elegance expected of a senior from the Kirigakure Village…
"Huh? Second Mizukage-sama, how do you know that?"
"I don't. But I understand the Third Raikage's personality."
"Personality? What does that have to do with anything? Even someone like Uchiha Madara ended up falling for Granny Chiyo."
"…"
Hōzuki Gengetsu fell silent.
What he meant by personality was that the Third Raikage wouldn't act as intelligently as he did. If the Third Raikage suspected Uchiha Madara of plotting something, he would just charge in and start fighting, trying to kill… or seal Madara.
There was no way the Third Raikage would be as great as him, enduring humiliation, even sacrificing his reputation, all to uncover the truth.
But he couldn't shatter these girls' illusions.
If they found out that this wasn't some sweet romance between Uchiha Madara and Granny Chiyo, but rather a dark conspiracy, what if they refused to take him there?
Or worse, what if they went to confront Madara and alerted him?
Endure!
"You're right, but what you don't know is that the Third Raikage actually liked men. He had an unspeakable relationship with the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
Hōzuki Gengetsu smiled as he changed his explanation.
As for slandering the Third Raikage?
He had already sacrificed his own reputation by claiming to be Granny Chiyo's admirer for the sake of the ninja world. Surely the Third Raikage could make a small sacrifice too?
Besides, what if it was true?
"What?! The Third Raikage too?"
The group was shocked.
"Yes, exactly—wait, what do you mean 'too'?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu nodded, then suddenly realized something was off.
"Well… we just heard that the Fourth Raikage and the current Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer B, are already closer than brothers."
"Yeah, yeah! People say they eat at the same table, sleep in the same bed, and even bathe in the same tub!"
"Isn't the Fourth Raikage almost fifty? He's still unmarried, it's probably so no woman interferes with his bond with the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
With three women together, gossip naturally flowed. Each added their own spin, quickly constructing an entire narrative about the Raikage and Killer B.
…Wait, is that real?
Does that mean the Raikage lineage might end here?
Hōzuki Gengetsu was stunned.
He had made something up on the spot—had it actually turned out to be true?
No matter how much he fabricated, the Third Raikage had still married and had children—that fact couldn't be erased.
But the Fourth Raikage being nearly fifty and still unmarried… was that true brotherhood taken to the extreme?
Though shocked inside, Hōzuki Gengetsu maintained a calm exterior, putting on the demeanor of a seasoned senior who had seen it all.
"Perfectly normal. In the Kumogakure Village, the 'A-B Combo' actually refers to roles like one and zero. And based on what you're saying, the current Raikage has already toned things down quite a bit. Back in the day, the Third Raikage—that was truly terrifying. Did you know he had two titles?"
"The Strongest Spear and the Strongest Shield! Do you know what that means…?"
"It means the Third Raikage was both the attacker and the one being attacked!?"
Maki and Yukata answered in unison.
"…Exactly correct."
Hōzuki Gengetsu hadn't expected modern ninja to be this "knowledgeable"… or this corrupted. A wave of sorrow rose in his heart, though he couldn't show it.
"The scars on the Third Raikage's body were all left while he was on the receiving end. And as the attacker, he once nearly 'played' the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki to death—even Kakuzu got 'broken' in the process."
(Kakuzu: ?)
Hōzuki Gengetsu continued spreading outrageous rumors without the slightest guilt.
He only felt regret that none of them were curious about why the Second Tsuchikage, his old rival, hadn't shown up.
Otherwise, he could've happily spread even more nonsense about Mū.
He could've just said Mū actually liked young boys, and that Ōnoki, who never grew up, was his favorite… What a pity.
"But wait, wasn't the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara also that kind of relationship? And now Madara is still pursuing Granny Chiyo."
"…"
Yukata's question instantly froze Hōzuki Gengetsu's smile.
Damn it, how did he forget about that?!
"Ahem… what you don't understand is this: the First Hokage got married and had children."
"Uchiha Madara pursuing Granny Chiyo now is actually his way of getting back at the First Hokage. He's thinking, 'Oh, you got married? Then I'll get married too. You're straight? Then I'll be straight too.'"
"He doesn't truly love Granny Chiyo at all! That's why I've stepped forward to stop him! If Chiyo was pursuing her own love, I would never interfere. As long as she's happy, even if I remain alone, I'd be satisfied. But Uchiha Madara is different—he's treating Chiyo as a substitute. I absolutely cannot allow that to happen! I will stop Uchiha Madara and protect Chiyo's happiness!"
The more Hōzuki Gengetsu spoke, the smoother and more emotional his words became, deeply moving the three girls.
Only Temari sensed something was off.
She vaguely remembered something…
Wasn't Hōzuki Gengetsu the one rumored to have had an improper relationship with the Second Tsuchikage, Mū? A tragic pair who parted ways due to their villages' conflict?
Wasn't it said that the "Grass" in the Kusagakure (Hidden Grass) Village symbolized the union of the Mizukage and Tsuchikage, and that "Hōzuki" in Hōzuki Castle referred to Hōzuki Gengetsu?
No wonder he understood all this so well—he was one of them himself.
Wait, no!
If Hōzuki Gengetsu loved Mū, then why was he now claiming to admire Granny Chiyo?
Something was wrong!
After carefully analyzing it, Temari reached a conclusion—Everything Hōzuki Gengetsu was saying… was actually about himself!
Because Mū had left descendants in Hōzuki Castle, every successive lord bore names like "Muwei" or something like that.
Hōzuki Gengetsu believed Mū had betrayed him, so he decided to "betray" Mū in return, and thus set his sights on Granny Chiyo!
(End of this chapter)