"And," Mu added, "you can stay and observe whether Iwagakure is unfair to Konoha."
Jiraiya closed his eyes, then turned to face Mu.
"In that case, I will observe first!"
Jiraiya ultimately chose to "endure humiliation" and stay!
The humiliated Jiraiya!
"First, I definitely didn't choose to stay because you asked me to be an AV actor!"
"It's for Konoha! For the Konoha villagers!"
"For the Konoha villagers, a little inconvenience for me is nothing."
Jiraiya said with a righteous and serious expression.
(Jiraiya: Don't mind me, this is all part of the plan.)
Orochimaru, who was nearby, couldn't hold back.
"Jiraiya… when you said that, did you laugh yourself?"
Orochimaru couldn't help but speak up.
Jiraiya was expressionless.
Mu rubbed his forehead.
Forget it.
Anyway, it's better than having this guy jumping around outside.
It would be a pity to kill him; Mu still wants to use Jiraiya for other purposes.
"Alright, you two, come with me!"
Mu clasped his hands behind his back.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya immediately followed behind Mu.
.....
Konoha Village, the main gate wide open.
Snowflakes slowly fell from the sky.
This was the first snow of the year.....
Amidst the falling snow, the Iwagakure Ninja troops entered in an orderly fashion.
Konoha villagers, dressed in cotton clothes, stood on both sides of the street, their faces brushed by the wind and snow.
They watched silently, with complex emotions, as the Iwagakure army entered.
They were unsure of Konoha's future.
But they knew that the future was bright, but the path was winding; everything developed in waves, spiraling upwards.
On the street, a sea of people, Konoha villagers stood on both sides watching.
Mu led the Iwagakure Ninja troops into Konoha!
Mu wore a black cloak, black gloves, and beneath the cloak was a black and red Iwagakure armor vest, with the Uchiha Clan's flame fan on his back, looking incredibly heroic.
"Is that the Second Tsuchikage? He looks unfathomable....."
"I heard he's very old, older than Third Grandpa; Third Grandpa even has to call him uncle...."
"A true hero should be like this!"
"Alas! The tide has turned, we'll have to work for Iwagakure from now on....."
All the Konoha villagers looked at Mu with curiosity and surprise.
This legendary figure!
The one who had twice directly targeted Konoha with his forces!
Once during the First Great Ninja War, as the supreme commander of the Four Great Shinobi Villages, he led them to besiege Konoha.
This time, he personally led his army into Konoha without shedding blood.
Even Hashirama and Uchiha Madara fell into his hands.
"Konoha ah..."
"Another year of heavy snow....."
Mu caught a snowflake in his hand, his gaze distant.
Mu's gaze swept indifferently across the faces of the Konoha villagers.
There were various emotions.
Some were grateful that Mu had not chosen to massacre them.
Some were unwilling, feeling resentful that Konoha had failed.
Some were relieved, glad that it was Mu who had conquered Konoha.
Among them, some of the Uchiha Clan looked at Mu with a hint of hatred.
Mu gave them a cold glance.
Hopefully, the Uchiha Clan will be a bit more obedient.
If they want to cause trouble, Mu wouldn't mind personally orchestrating the night of their extermination, giving the Uchiha a Red Moon Night.
Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
The three of them were already waiting in front of the Hokage building for a long time.
"Please, Second Tsuchikage-sama, enter the Hokage building."
"We hope Tsuchikage-sama will treat Konoha kindly."
The three bowed slightly, indicating their surrender and non-resistance.
However!
Mu waved his hand indifferently.
Under the gaze of all, Mu made an unexpected request.
"Where is Senju Hashirama's tomb? I want to see it."
Mu waved his hand.
As soon as these words were spoken, not only were Homura Mitokado and the other two stunned, but all the Konoha villagers were also shocked.
Thus, Mu and his party arrived at the Konoha Cemetery.
In the deepest part of the Konoha Cemetery, there were three majestic tombs.
They belonged to Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and Senju Tobirama.
The graves of the three people.
Although the remains of these three people were gone, Konoha still used their former clothes or items to represent their bodies.
"I can do it myself....."
Mu stopped the others who wanted to accompany him.
Then, amidst the swirling wind and snow, whoosh!!
The wind and snow howled, making his cloak rustle.
Mu came alone to Senju Hashirama's tomb.
"Senju Hashirama..."
"I'm back... Your Konoha is now mine....."
"If you knew, what would your reaction be?"
"Iwagakure, under my leadership, will rule the Ninja World, accomplishing what Konoha could not....."
"Iwagakure is far superior to Konoha!"
Mu gazed deeply at Senju Hashirama's tomb and muttered to himself.
His voice was only audible to him.
The reason Mu came to pay respects at Senju Hashirama's tomb was, firstly, to win over the hearts of the Konoha people.
Secondly, he simply wanted to see it.
Then, Mu took out sake, dice, and some fresh flowers from a scroll.
"I wish you a happy life in the Pure Land!"
Mu poured the sake in front of Senju Hashirama's grave, casually threw a few dice, and placed the fresh flowers on the tombstone.
"You are buried beneath the spring, your bones turned to mud; I dwell in the human world, my hair turned white by snow....."
Mu sighed.
Mu's actions moved all the Konoha villagers!
"Wuwuwu, this is truly a hero cherishing a hero!"
"Mu actually went to pay respects to an enemy, this is too great! Is this the greatest breadth of mind in the Ninja World?!"
"Mu even brought Shodai(1st)-sama's favorite dice, he really, I'm crying myself to death!"
For a moment, the entire Konoha Village was filled with a sorrowful atmosphere.
Even some older villagers shed tears and cried out loud.
Then Mu got up and went to Senju Tobirama's tomb.
"Senju Tobirama, your Anbu and Ninja School systems are very good; I am very satisfied!"
Then Mu poured another cup of sake.
Stepping on the thin snow, he arrived at Uchiha Madara's tomb.
"Madara, you're still alive, aren't you?"
Mu held up the sake cup, as if sensing something.
Mu suddenly turned in a meaningful way.
Towards a distant mountain peak, he slightly raised his cup.
At this moment, White Zetsu, who was observing Mu entering Konoha from afar, was startled!
At the same time, Uchiha Madara, in his underground hideout, saw Mu raising his cup to him through the jutsu placed on White Zetsu, via White Zetsu's eyes!
At this moment, goosebumps rose all over Uchiha Madara's body.
"This guy... actually knows I'm still alive....."
Uchiha Madara closed his eyes; his time was also running out.
After removing the life support, he would probably only live for a few hours.
Now, Obito's side was already arranged.
He just needed to wait.....
"Alas!"
"Life is unpredictable; my heart is in the Ninja World, but my body grows old in this netherworld....."
Uchiha Madara slowly closed his eyes, his hair completely white, he was a hero past his prime.
Who could have predicted that my entire life, my heart would be thinking of the Ninja World, yet I would grow old and die in this netherworld underground hideout...
Fifty-plus years in the hideout, it would be a lie to say I didn't miss anything.
When I was alone underground, I would think of Hashirama, I would think of Izuna, I would relive all the past events, then swallow the pain and sorrow mixed with memories, continuing to barely cling to life while waiting for the right moment, and at the same time, constantly fearing that Mu might suddenly break in one day.....