--------------------------------------------------
The tension left Mū's shoulders.
He had prepared himself for careful negotiations, political bargaining, and perhaps an outright refusal. He never expected Konoha to accept the alliance without demanding anything in return.
Behind him, Ōnoki lifted his head. His surprise quickly turned into excitement.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Mū bowed once more. "Iwagakure will not forget your kindness."
He stood up straighter, trying to hide his relief. "Then I should go back right away and tell the Tsuchikage the news. I hope this is the start of a lasting friendship between Iwagakure and Konoha."
"You don't have to hurry off," Manji said with a smile. "You've traveled far. Stay a few days, explore our village, and join us for a banquet tonight."
Mū found himself respecting the First Hokage more with every word. The stories painted Manji as kind, gracious, and committed to peace, but meeting him in person made those descriptions seem inadequate.
"Then we'd be honored to stay!" He and Ōnoki bowed, then left the residence with Konoha shinobi guiding them.
..............
As soon as they were out of sight, Madara stepped forward.
"Great-Grandfather, I don't get it!! Iwagakure is a new village, not well known, and much weaker than Konoha. Why treat them as equals?" His frustration was clear.
Manji shook his head. "Madara, strength by itself can't keep the world together. If you want to achieve something lasting, you need to know when to compete, when to work together, and when to make a stranger into a friend."
He studied his great-grandson.
"If you want to be Hokage someday, you can't turn everyone you meet into an enemy. A leader needs more than just power and skill—he needs people who are willing to work with him."
Madara pressed his lips together. This lesson wasn't easy for him, but he understood what Manji was trying to say.
"I'll remember that..."
Manji gave a small nod.
Suddenly, all the color left his face.
His vision faded, and he slumped sideways in his chair.
"GREAT-GRANDFATHER!" Madara caught him before he hit the floor. Panic showed on his face as he held the old man's frail body.
"WHAT'S WRONG? CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
Manji gave no answer.
Madara turned to the door and shouted, "Get a medic! Hurry!"
..............
A heavy silence filled Manji's home.
The leaders of Konoha's main clans stood together inside, silent and close. No one wanted to say out loud what everyone feared.
Madara, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Izuna knelt by the bed. They watched Manji closely. His face was pale, his eyes stayed shut, and each weak breath was softer than the one before.
Izuna's hands tightened into fists.
"Well?" His voice shook despite his best effort. "What's happening to Great-Grandfather? Please, just tell us!"
The medical-nin responsible for Manji's treatment lowered his head. Sweat had soaked through the collar of his uniform.
"I'm sorry, but... there's nothing more we can do."
"..."
Izuna stared at him.
The Hyūga clan leader stepped forward, his face grim. "There has to be a way—some medicine, some jutsu, anything."
The medical-nin shook his head.
"Lord Manji's body has reached the end of its natural life. His organs are failing, and his strength is gone. This isn't an injury or illness we can heal."
"No jutsu can give back what time has taken."
The words hit everyone in the room harder than any attack.
Several clan heads turned pale. Others looked down as quiet sobs broke the silence.
Then Manji opened his eyes. His eyes were dull, but his mind was clear as he looked at the people around him. "Don't grieve... I've known for a while that this day would come. None of us can escape it."
His breathing became uneven. He paused, gathering the last of his strength before he spoke again.
"Konoha's future... it's in your hands now."
Everyone in the room listened without moving.
"Stand together. Protect the village we built, and never allow old clan grudges to tear it apart."
The clan heads glanced at each other, but Manji saw only uncertainty in their faces.
For decades, he had been Konoha's anchor. In every crisis, people turned to him. He made the hard choices, fixed their mistakes, and protected them from the consequences when he could.
They had grown used to following his lead.
In truth, they had relied on Manji's judgment for so long that the idea of leading without him scared them. The next Hokage hadn't been chosen yet, and none of the four candidates gave the same sense of safety.
Hashirama was compassionate, but many feared he might be too forgiving.
No one could deny Madara's strength, but his pride and quick temper made the smaller clans wary of him.
Tobirama was smart but strict, and Izuna was fiercely protective of the Uchiha.
No one knew which of them would win—or what Konoha would become under their leadership.
Manji understood their fear.
He had protected them too well. By fixing every big problem himself, he made Konoha's leaders depend on him. Now they had to make their own choices, and that responsibility scared them.
Still, they would learn.
They had no other choice.
Manji used the last of his strength to give them one final smile. "Don't underestimate yourselves. Each of you helped build Konoha. You have the courage and wisdom to carry it forward."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"I believe in you. Whatever difficulties await this village... you will overcome them together."
The last of the clan heads finally broke down.
Tears flowed through the room. After so many years with Manji, none of them saw him as a distant leader. He was the elder who guided their clans, forgave their mistakes, and gave their children a future beyond war.
To Konoha, he was more than just its founder. He was the man who had taught former enemies how to live as one people.
Manji looked toward the window. Sunlight poured through the open curtains, and beyond them was the village he had built.
His expression softened. Then his eyes closed.
One faint breath escaped his lips.
No other followed...
"GREAT-GRANDFATHER!"
"LORD HOKAGE!"
——————————
~ Every 200 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ 15 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)