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Once Konoha began moving, its forces came down like thunder.
Before dawn, Konoha moved troops into the Land of Grass claiming they were protecting an ally.
Mū immediately sent Madara a formal protest:
"You speak of peace—yet your forces are massing along our border. What do you expect Iwagakure to do??"
Madara's reply contained only one explanation:
"My troops are merely passing through..."
..............
Inside Iwagakure, Mū looked at the latest border report, his face showing more worry with each line.
"Is Konoha really planning to start a Shinobi World War?"
Black Zetsu read the report next to him. After a moment, his eyes narrowed as he understood what was happening.
"Mū! Mobilize your forces at once. Madara is preparing to attack!"
Mū nodded and rose from his seat. "I had the same feeling. Something about this deployment is wrong. I'll go to the front line myself."
Black Zetsu stopped him before he could take another step.
"There's something you don't know. Tobirama Senju has a space-time ninja technique called the Flying Raijin. It lets him instantly move himself and others over long distances. If you leave for the border and Tobirama sends a strike team into Iwagakure while you're gone, the village will be destroyed."
"He has a technique like that? How did I never hear about it?" Mū froze.
Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes. He had watched Konoha for years and knew almost every weapon it had. Madara was dangerous in a direct fight, but Tobirama's techniques made him impossible to predict.
Mū turned to him with a more respectful expression. "Then what do you suggest, Sage Black Zetsu?"
"Stay in Iwagakure and send someone you trust to lead the border defenses. Contact the other three big shinobi villages and warn them that Konoha is getting ready to act..."
"Put the whole village on emergency alert. Do it now. We don't know when Konoha will attack..." Black Zetsu tapped the intelligence report.
Mū considered his options for a few seconds. "What about sending Ōnoki to the border?"
"That boy?" Black Zetsu thought for a moment, then nodded. "He is skilled enough. Make sure he knows not to start an attack. His only job is to defend the border."
"Understood." Mū left immediately to send out the call to gather troops.
..............
Elsewhere, Konoha was finishing its last preparations for the upcoming war.
Ichiraku Ramen was unusually quiet that day.
Kakuzu sat behind the counter with a newspaper open in front of him. After checking the latest prices, he looked up at Manji.
"Old Man, flour prices have gone up again. And the political situation across the shinobi world feels off. Something is about to happen."
"Mmm... War is coming." Manji narrowed his eyes. White Zetsu had already told him that Madara and Tobirama planned to start a war to unite the lands.
Kakuzu looked very worried. "What are regular shopkeepers like us supposed to do when the big villages start fighting?"
The corner of Manji's mouth twitched.
"I'm here. What do you have to fear?" He turned toward the window and gazed out at the quiet streets of Konoha.
'Mū, let's see whether you can survive Madara and Tobirama's blitz—'
..............
The atmosphere inside the Senju compound could not have been more different.
Happiness filled every courtyard, and clansmen gathered in the grounds with gifts and warm congratulations. The whole compound was celebrating the birth of Hashirama's granddaughter.
Several years before, Hashirama's son had married the daimyō's daughter. That wedding had been one of the biggest events in the clan's history. Now the couple had a daughter, a little princess who carried both the Senju Clan's legacy and the honor of the daimyō's court.
Her name was Tsunade.
The Senju had every reason to celebrate. Hashirama was a former Hokage, and the marriage had connected their clan to the daimyō's family. In wealth, power, and respect, the Senju now stood at the top of Konoha's great clans. Even the Uchiha could no longer match their status.
Tōka Senju approached Hashirama with a warm smile.
"Congratulations, Clan Head. Your granddaughter is adorable. One look at her is enough to make anyone love her."
Hashirama gently held the wrapped baby with great care. His face brightened as soon as he held Tsunade.
"Hahaha! Look at those chubby cheeks. She looks just like her grandmother!"
Mito Uzumaki stood beside him, watching her husband fuss over the baby.
"I never imagined we would already be grandparents," she said with a quiet sigh. "The years passed faster than I realized."
"They did..." A glimmer of nostalgia crossed Hashirama's face as he nodded. Then he glanced around the crowded courtyard, searching among the guests for several familiar figures.
His confusion grew.
"Wait. Where are Tobirama and Madara?"
Hashirama scratched the back of his head. Whenever the Senju had a birthday party, festival, or big family event, Tobirama, Madara, and Izuna were always among the first to come. None of them had ever missed an event as important as his son's first birthday.
Now his granddaughter had been born, one of the happiest events of his life, yet all three were nowhere to be seen.
"I know Izuna left for a mission in the north," Hashirama muttered, still scanning the crowd. "But what are Madara and Tobirama doing? How could both of them be too busy to come?"
Mito gave him an exasperated look.
"Madara is the Hokage, and Tobirama is busy with village matters. Neither of them has had a moment to rest." She folded her arms. "Unlike you. You spend your days gambling or lounging around beside me."
"HAHAHAHA!" Hashirama showed no embarrassment. He laughed, slipped an arm around Mito's waist, and pulled her close.
"I've spent my entire life fighting. Am I not allowed to enjoy my retirement?"
His gaze stayed on Mito's face. The Yin Seal had kept her young, making her look almost unchanged by time.
Hashirama studied her for another moment before nodding to himself.
"That Yin Seal is really helpful. Maybe I should learn it too..."
..............
In Kirigakure, Gengetsu Hōzuki quickly stood up after reading the information Mū had sent.
"Sage Fukasaku, take a look at this. Do you think it's real?" He quickly went over and handed the report to Fukasaku.
Fukasaku's expression changed as he read it.
"Stay calm. The report is real."
Gengetsu's face darkened. "I knew those four brothers in Konoha were a rotten bunch."
He crossed his arms and started complaining. "Hashirama Senju is the worst of them. The more honest he seems, the less I trust him. He spent years acting like a man who only wanted peace, but now his own people are getting ready to attack Iwagakure."
Gengetsu snorted.
"HE'S THE GREATEST HYPOCRITE IN THE SHINOBI WORLD!"
"Haha... Sometimes a man has no say in what his family does."
Fukasaku chuckled. He had lived long enough to know Hashirama's heart better than most. Hashirama had never wanted this war, but Madara and Tobirama had already stopped waiting for his permission.
"Then what should we do?" Gengetsu looked at him.
"..." Fukasaku considered the question before answering.
"We cannot let Iwagakure be defeated. If things get bad—Kirigakure will have to help them. We can attack Konoha along the coast and make Madara split his troops."
His eyes grew serious.
"And when it comes to Kekkei Genkai, Kirigakure has nothing to fear from Konoha."
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