--------------------------------------------------
On the outskirts of Konoha, a tall man wrapped from head to toe in white bandages walked beside a small boy.
"Teacher, do you think Konoha will agree to our request?" Ōnoki looked up at Mū, unable to keep the concern from his voice. "I'd rather not travel all this way just to be shown the door."
Mū kept walking at the same steady pace. He thought about the question for a moment before speaking, his voice coming through the gaps in his bandages.
"I doubt that will happen. Everything we've heard suggests Konoha's First Hokage is a reasonable man who favors peace. He has no reason to insult an envoy who comes in good faith."
"All right. I trust you."
Ōnoki nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.
Soon, they arrived at Konoha's entrance. Both slowed down as the village gates came into view, much larger and more impressive than they had imagined.
Even from outside, Konoha's size was staggering.
"HALT. STATE YOUR NAMES AND PURPOSE." One of the gate guards stepped forward, standing alert yet still polite.
Mū moved half a step ahead of his student. "My name is Mū, and this is my student—Ōnoki. We represent Iwagakure and have come to request an audience with the First Hokage."
The two guards exchanged a glance.
Neither guard had heard of Iwagakure, but that was common now. After Konoha united the Land of Fire, clans everywhere started forming their own villages. New representatives came every few months to show respect—learn from Konoha—or build diplomatic ties.
"Wait in the guardhouse while I deliver your request."
The senior guard vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
..............
The mood inside Manji's residence was somber.
Manji rested under a thin blanket, eyes closed and breathing weak. Sickness had changed his appearance, making him look very different from the strong leader he once was.
Madara stood quietly by the bed, watching the old man with a worried look.
"Madara..." Manji opened his eyes and rested one hand over his great-grandson's. "There's no need to look so miserable. I've lived long enough to see more than most men could dream of. Life, death, joy, grief—I made peace with all of it years ago."
His voice was weak now, but he still looked calm.
"When I'm gone, don't waste your life mourning me. Spend more time with your father instead. Tajima is growing old as well."
"Great-Grandfather..."
Madara felt a tightness in his chest.
"You'll live to be a hundred..." Madara stopped, realizing the problem with that statement. "I mean—you'll recover. You still have years ahead of you, so don't talk like this."
Manji replied with a soft cough and looked up at the painted beams above him.
The doors opened soon afterward, and Tobirama entered with Izuna. Both stopped beside the bed and bowed.
"LORD HOKAGE."
"I'm retired," Manji said with a tired sigh.
"You will always be Konoha's Hokage to us," Tobirama said.
"Always." Izuna nodded at once.
Manji turned toward them. "I left the two of you in charge of Konoha's administration until the election. What happened?"
Since no new leader had been chosen, Tobirama and Izuna managed the village together to keep things running smoothly during the change.
"Two envoys arrived at the gate. They claim to represent a newly established village called Iwagakure. They insist on meeting you." Izuna reported.
"Huh?" Madara's expression stiffened before Manji could answer. "I've never heard of it. Another backwater settlement trying to borrow Konoha's reputation, I assume."
He moved forward, sounding irritated.
"Great-Grandfather is ill and needs rest. Send them away. I'll deal with whatever they want."
Iwagakure.
Manji noticed the name right away.
He raised a hand before Madara could continue. "They traveled a long way to reach Konoha. Turning them away without hearing them would be discourteous."
"You're in no condition to entertain strangers," Madara argued. "Let me handle it."
"No." Manji already knew how that would turn out.
In the original history, Madara had received Iwagakure's delegation himself. His contempt had destroyed any hope of cooperation and left the visitors humiliated.
Letting him handle it again would only lead to the same outcome.
"Bring them here," Manji said.
"Understood." Izuna bowed.
..............
Not long afterward, a Konoha escort led Mū and Ōnoki into Manji's residence.
The courtyard was simple but elegant, showing the dignity of a place where many important decisions had been made over the years. Inside the main hall, Manji sat at the head of the room in a plain robe.
Though he looked sick, Manji sat up straight and smiled warmly. He seemed less like a powerful leader and more like a friendly grandfather welcoming visitors.
Madara stood beside him.
"..." He did not look friendly at all.
He looked at the visitors with clear suspicion, and the tension in the room grew even before anyone spoke.
'He looks terrifying...' Ōnoki glanced at Madara and quickly hid behind his teacher.
Mū showed no fear. He approached Manji and offered a deep bow.
"Lord First Hokage, my name is Mū. This is my student, Ōnoki. We have come from Iwagakure to pay our respects."
"You're welcome here." Manji smiled. "You've traveled a great distance. Please, sit and rest."
The conversation began with harmless matters. Manji asked about Iwagakure's founding, the condition of the Land of Earth, and the difficulties the new village had faced. Mū spoke of the journey to Konoha and the customs they had encountered along the way.
As they talked, everyone started to relax and the conversation became less formal.
Once the moment felt right, Mū placed his hands on his knees and bowed again.
"Lord First Hokage, I'll be direct. Iwagakure is still a young village, and our position remains fragile. We came to propose an alliance with Konoha."
He raised his head. "We hope to open trade routes between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire, encourage commerce between our civilians, and allow our shinobi villages to support one another as we develop."
"..." Madara frowned.
In his eyes, an obscure village that had barely established itself had no standing to request an equal alliance with Konoha. The dismissal was already on his tongue.
Then he glanced at Manji's pale face and forced himself to remain silent.
Manji listened to the proposal without interruption.
When Mū finished, he nodded.
"Of course." Manji had answered right away, without any hesitation.
——————————
~ Every 200 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ 15 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)