Upon returning home, Fumori Masaki informed Satomi that he would be accompanying Tobirama to the Land of Iron.
Senju Touka was also present, and both women were somewhat surprised to hear this.
"I apologize, I had planned to spend time with you during this period," Fumori Masaki said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Previously, whenFumori Masaki was home, he was also busy with his training, and although he made time to be with her, it was very limited.
However, recently, there had been nothing urgent, allowing Satomi to enjoy her days withFumori Masaki, especially after she became pregnant, she cherished such moments even more.
Upon hearing the news, she was still a little reluctant.
But Satomi was not an unreasonable person; she understood the responsibilities of a ninja.
She said understandingly, "If it's a mission, then there's nothing we can do.
Go ahead, don't worry."
"With me here, you don't need to worry about Satomi's situation," Senju Touka said directly when she sawFumori Masaki about to say something else.
"I'll leave it to you, Lady Touka,"Fumori Masaki nodded slightly.
"However, this matter is also an opportunity for you," Senju Touka smiled slightly, "To be one of Tobirama-sama's only two bodyguards, this is not a privilege just anyone can have.
Only those whom Tobirama-sama trusts deeply can be chosen."
"Come to think of it, the bodyguard Hashirama-sama took with him that year was also Tobirama-sama," Satomi recalled.
"Not only that, I heard that the second leaders of every ninja village were people who had accompanied the First Kage to the Five Kage Summit," Senju Touka said, as if hinting at something.
—No, Hozuki Gengetsu was not the one who accompanied the First Mizukage to the Five Kage Summit back then.
Kazemori Masaki thought to himself, but not much information about the details of that Five Kage Summit was spread, so it was normal for Senju Touka's intelligence to have some errors.
Moreover, in terms of results, it wasn't wrong; although the First Mizukage's bodyguard at that time did not become the Second Mizukage, he became the Third.
"Lady Touka's meaning is…" Satomi's eyes widened slightly, her expression showing a hint of surprise and delight.
"Heh heh," Senju Touka smiled without speaking, glancing atFumori Masaki, "Masaki-kun, you must seize this opportunity.
Such chances don't come around all the time."
Kazemori Masaki nodded slightly.
Although he considered himself to have high military merits, he wasn't sure if he would definitely get the qualification to inherit the Hokage position.
However, now that Tobirama was sending him and Sarutobi Hiruzen to the Land of Iron together, it showed that both he and Sarutobi Hiruzen were on the list for Hokage succession, which already put his mind at ease.
If it were like the first Five Kage Summit, where only one person could be brought, then it would be almost certain who the "Crown Prince" of Konoha would be,Fumori Masaki thought.
News of the second Five Kage Summit quickly spread throughout Konoha Village, and everyone was discussing it, hoping that this summit would sign a more effective and longer-lasting peace treaty.
Even the victorious ninja villages were somewhat unable to bear the pain brought by the war.
And the fact thatFumori Masaki and Sarutobi Hiruzen were chosen as Tobirama's bodyguards to go on the mission together was also known.
Anyone who had some understanding of the first summit vaguely guessed what this meant.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was within expectations, butFumori Masaki was somewhat unexpected.
It wasn't for any other reason, but his background made it unimaginable; people originally thought that the next Hokage might not come from the Senju clan, or at least from other major clans.
In any case,Fumori Masaki's status rose once again.
Although this method of determining Konoha's "Crown Prince" could not be openly stated, it did not prevent the leaders of those great clans from secretly resolving to form connections withFumori Masaki.
Tobirama saw all of this.
He naturally understood the meaning behind it, and he had no intention of hiding it.
Subtly revealing it was easier for everyone to accept than a direct announcement, giving them a buffer period so that when the successor was truly chosen, it would not cause a very large upheaval.
This method was not only used by Tobirama; other ninja villages were also using it.
Bloodline, master-disciple, and personal guard were basically the methods for choosing the next successor.
Although sufficient strength and the trust of the ninja clan were required, these three types of people were very close to the Kage and could all receive guidance from the Kage.
As long as their talent was outstanding, they could basically surpass their peers, and under the Kage's coordination, they could also build good relationships with the ninja clans, so it was not an issue at all.
Therefore, to some extent, it is correct to say that the Hokage lineage is all about connections.
More accurately, all Kage of all ninja villages are about connections.
Ninja villages are, after all, products of a feudal system.
While they cannot rely purely on bloodline inheritance like daimyo, the Kage must at least maintain another kind of inheritance—that is, of ideology—and therefore, a close relationship with the previous Kage is more likely to gain recognition.
Among Tobirama's disciples, he admiredFumori Masaki and Sarutobi Hiruzen the most, so he chose these two.
If he really had to choose one, he personally leaned more towardsFumori Masaki.
In terms of the inheritance of the Will of Fire, both were equally good, butFumori Masaki's ingenious ideas were better, and Tobirama felt they would bring better development to the village.
If he could truly only bring one person to the Five Kage Summit, then Tobirama would only bringFumori Masaki.
However,Fumori Masaki's backing wasn't particularly strong, and if he were to inherit the Hokage position, there might be some subsequent troubles.
Fortunately, Tobirama felt that he could remain in the Hokage position for a few more years, or even ten years if he maintained himself well.
He still had time to plan, gradually lay out his strategy, weaken the family powers within the village, and provide a more stable backing for his chosen successor.
Subsequently, a few days before the Five Kage Summit began, Tobirama,Fumori Masaki, and Sarutobi Hiruzen departed from Konoha Village and, under the escort of the Anbu personal guard, arrived at the border of the Land of Iron.
From here, the Anbu ninjas could not enter; only the three individuals were permitted entry.
Now that the ninja village system had been accepted by various countries on the continent, the interests of samurai began to decline.
Not only was their status no longer as important as before, but due to their inner frustration and vexation, they forgot the virtues a samurai should possess, revealing a fierce and tyrannical side.
This was evident in the samurai of the Land of Rain, Land of Rivers, and other places who bullied others based on their power.
Those samurai who firmly believed in loyalty, trustworthiness, benevolence, and harmony were unwilling to remain in the chaotic countries and left one after another, coming to the Land of Iron, the only country that rejected the ninja village system.
The climate of the Land of Iron was cold, and the living environment was harsh, which provided an excellent opportunity for tempering, thereby cultivating a group of exceptionally powerful samurai—
It could be said that all the master samurai in the entire ninja world were concentrated here.
Any strongest samurai in a great nation would pale in comparison; the experts in the Land of Iron could even be on par with Jonin among ninjas.
Therefore, the Land of Iron's strength was formidable, making the Five Great Nations wary of provoking it easily.
If asked whether the Five Great Nations could defeat the Land of Iron, the answer would naturally be yes, but it would come at a great cost, and no country was willing to be the first to act, especially with rival nations lurking nearby.
However, the Land of Iron had no interest in participating in ninja wars, and there were no significant conflicts of interest between the two sides, so a balance was maintained.
It became a neutral country trusted by all Five Great Nations, who were willing to enter with only a few personal guards because no one believed that enemy ninjas could conspire assassinations within the Land of Iron.
After the three entered the Land of Iron, Tobirama informed them about some taboos in the country.
He explained that while samurai in their own countries might not harbor too much resentment towards ninjas because of their greed for money or other things, the people in the Land of Iron were stubborn and detested ninjas the most.
"As long as you don't violate these taboos, the samurai won't do anything to you," Tobirama said.
"Of course, don't be too yielding either, letting them look down on us.
You must grasp the right balance."