Isobu * Founding of the Village

When Isobu was captured and put into the Amber Purifying Pot, he thought he was going to die.

He was locked in that dark jar, the surroundings were as stuffy as a coffin, Chakra seeped out bit by bit, as if it were being slowly drawn away by something.

He stayed inside for an unknown amount of time, and when the bottle was opened, the entire beast was illusory.

Right now, he probably doesn't even have enough Chakra to condense a single Tailed Beast Bomb.

He thought he was going to be killed by these cunning humans, or sealed away like this and used as some kind of weapon.

Unexpectedly, he was released, and some people even offered to take him back to where he used to live.

But how could he possibly know where he originally lived?

It was pulled out of the water, stuffed into a jar, and then poured out, but it had no idea where it was.

Moreover, it was still unknown whether what this person said was credible. The only reason he hadn't left immediately was because the aura emanating from these people was terrifying. Isobu knew that he definitely couldn't leave now.

Seeing that Isobu hadn't spoken yet, Izuna tilted his head and said, "Don't you know where you live?"

Isobu nodded slowly.

Do you know which country you were originally from?

The Three-Tails shook its enormous head.

How could he possibly know the current state of humanity, or what those territorial divisions and Daimyo had to do with a Tailed Beast from the water?

He couldn't help but ask, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"I'll take you home," Izuna said.

Isobu stared at him for a moment. "Don't you want to use me to gain power?"

Izuna's expression seemed a little awkward. "Um... why would I want your power? Would it make me able to process documents faster, or would it make me less bored and stop looking for work?"

Isobu was confused.

"I'm asking you," Izuna said, crouching at the bow of the ship and gesturing towards the sea, "Have you done anything earth-shattering with this power all these years?"

Isobu paused for a moment, then said, "Uh..."

"I still eat and sleep as usual," Izuna answered for him. "Isn't the purpose of having power to eat and sleep well? I'm already living that kind of life, so what do I need power for?"

Hashirama stood to the side, stroked his chin thoughtfully, and nodded seriously. "Oh, right..."

Madara crossed his arms and nodded, "Izuna is right."

Tobirama stared with Dead-Fish Eyes: "On the condition that I can eat and sleep well."

Izuna waved his hand. "This kid likes to go against us, just ignore him."

Hashirama chimed in, "Yes, ignore him. We'll work hard, and we'll make sure everyone has enough to eat and wear!"

Tobirama's Dead-Fish Eyes were almost turning into Byakugan.

Isobu looked at the people on the boat, his tail swaying slowly in the water. "You have an interesting way of speaking."

"Of course." Izuna accepted the compliment without any modesty, then steered the conversation back to the main topic, "Since you don't remember where you live, how about we find you a new place to stay?"

Isobu thought for a moment and said, "Alright."

"So what kind of environment do you like?"

"As long as there's water, that's fine."

Izuna waited a moment, and seeing that he wasn't going to continue, asked again, "Anything else?"

Isobu blinked his small eyes in confusion.

"Gone?" Izuna's expression was one of disbelief.

"Um..." Isobu hesitated, "Can I still make a request?"

"I can't really mention it," Izuna answered frankly. "After all, you're too big; there's not much room for you."

Isobu was silent for two seconds, then slapped its tail in the water. "Then you decide on the location."

"Hmm, alright then." Izuna stroked his chin. "Are you going to stay here for now, or come with us?"

Isobu thought to himself, "If I stay here, won't I still be targeted by humans? The humans who captured me before looked at me with such calculating eyes. The people on this ship seem different; they genuinely want to help me settle down, but who knows?"

Humans are always prone to going back on their word.

But after weighing the options, he realized that these people wouldn't covet his power.

So he said, "I want to follow you."

Izuna nodded.

Upon hearing Tobirama, Tobirama reopened the Amber Purifying Pot and called out towards the sea, "Three-Tails!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the sea exploded with a deafening roar.

The entire beast Isobu, sprang up as if its tail had been stepped on, its three tails whipping wildly, creating waves several meters high that violently rocked the boat, almost capsizing it.

Hashirama and Madara both took a step forward at the same time, raising their hands.

"Stop! Stop!" Izuna quickly called out to them, then turned to Tobirama, "Don't use that bottle to trap him! The Amber Purifying Pot will slowly melt anything it absorbs. Letting him in is the same as locking him up!"

Tobirama froze, then immediately put the stopper back on.

Isobu floated on the surface of the sea, his small eyes wide open. "How do you know that name?"

Izuna was taken aback by his question, "What?"

How do you know my name?

"I know your name," Izuna replied matter-of-factly.

Isobu silent, his small eyes darting around Izuna's face twice, a question forming in his mind.

This isn't a name just any Ninja would know. Could this person be a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths?

"We can't seal you away." Izuna squatted at the bow of the ship, looking at the enormous, grayish-white creature on the sea, and was troubled. "But with your size, we can't make you follow us. Can you shrink?"

"I'm sorry, I can't," Isobu replied curtly.

Izuna thought to himself, "That makes sense. Tailed Beasts are already huge, massive Chakra- powered creatures. If they shrink further, wouldn't they just become Tailed Beast Bomb? This kind of setting only appears in fan fiction; it's impossible for it to exist in reality."

"What should we do then..." He scratched his head.

Madara, standing to the side with his arms crossed, suddenly spoke up, "Why not just make him Summoning Beast?"

Hashirama's eyes lit up. "Good idea. But when he's not using spirit summoning, doesn't he still have to stay here?"

"Don't you have a sacred place?" Madara tilted his head to look at him. "Besides, isn't Shikkotsu Forest a damp environment? Let him stay there."

Hashirama stroked his chin. "This... I'll have to ask the Katsuyu Sage if he agrees."

Isobu, slowly swaying its tail on the surface of the sea, interjected, "Or should I just stay on the seabed?"

Izuna looked down at him. "You can hold your breath?"

"I am a tortoise."

"That's true, but it's better to send you there as soon as possible." Izuna turned to Tobirama: "Tobirama, have you ever been to the Land of Rain?"

Tobirama glanced at him. "You're going to send him over there?"

"Yes," Izuna shrugged. "What do you think of my idea?"

Tobirama hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Hmm... there is indeed a large body of water over there."

Moreover, it's very close to the Land of Fire, and it's located on the border between the two countries. With such a behemoth stationed there, the other side shouldn't dare to act rashly.

That's a brilliant plan.

"I marked that direction," Tobirama said. "It's not inside the Land of Rain, but it's close enough."

"Then let's teleport there in a bit." Izuna clapped his hands, then remembered something and looked at Isobu, "It's just that it rains all year round in the Land of Rain, Isobu, do you like particularly humid environments?"

"I don't care," Isobu replied frankly.

"Alright." Izuna nodded. "One last question, who do you want to form Contract with? I strongly recommend Tobirama; he's the Sea King."

Tobirama said expressionlessly, "What 'Sea King'? Can you please stop calling me that?"

"Your Water Release are almost turning into ocean-style techniques; you're practically the Sea King!"

Ban managed to suppress a laugh, though he managed a slight upward smirk.

Tobirama rubbed his temples. "I really can't do anything with you."

Isobu on the sea for them to finish their discussion, then slowly spoke, "I'm fine with anything. Human, give me a drop of blood."

Tobirama sighed, bit his finger, jumped onto Isobu's nose, smeared the blood on it, then took two steps back, formed hand seals, and Chakra seep into the Contract's veins.

Isobu shuddered, and its three tails slapped the water's surface simultaneously, splashing water all over the people on the boat.

Izuna wiped his face and muttered, "I'd better go back to the Land of Hot Water to change my clothes before I leave."

"It's done." Tobirama the deck, shaking the water off his hands.

There was a moment of silence on Isobu's side, then he slowly turned his head, as if sensing something new.

"You humans call this Contract," Isobu's voice was muffled. "I have an extra thread attached to me, the other end of which is tied to you."

Tobirama said, "I will terminate the Contract afterward and will no longer bind you."

Isobu thought to himself, "I hope you keep your word."

"Since the Contract is signed, see you tomorrow, Isobu." Izuna waved to the enormous gray-white creature on the sea.

Isobu slightly, and the entire beast slowly sank downwards. Its grayish-white carapace disappeared beneath the surface, its form becoming increasingly blurred until it finally merged into the deep blue seawater and vanished from sight.

Only a ring of ripples remained on the sea surface, slowly spreading outwards.

Izuna withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the three people behind him who were half-soaked by the splashing water.

"Let's take a bath before we leave the Land of Hot Water."

Ban was wringing the water out of his hair when he heard this and hummed in agreement.

Tobirama wrung out the water from his sleeves, glanced at Izuna expressionlessly, and asked, "So what's the difference between renting a boat and not renting one?"

Izuna, hands on hips, said, "I've already told you, this is about style! This is about a sense of ritual! Don't you even know what a sense of ritual is?"

Tobirama remarked, "Is the ritual of farting something really considered a ritual, like getting soaked to the bone?"

Hashirama, was in a good mood. He wiped the seawater off his face and laughed heartily, "Let's go!"

Susanoo rose again, and a giant hand lifted the ship from the sea, carrying the four people towards the Land of Hot Water.

The dockworkers were drying their nets when they saw a blue Giant descending from mid-air carrying a small boat. They merely glanced up at it and continued working.

They've seen so much these past few days that nothing can surprise them anymore.

The four of them found a reasonably intact inn. The Tavern Keeper brought up hot water and then placed a few clean bathrobes by the door.

The Hot Spring was indeed the most relaxing thing; once Izuna went in, he didn't want to come out.

The shrimp were almost completely soaked until they turned red before the impatient spotty fished them out and cleaned them.

That evening, Izuna leaned against a pillar under the eaves and flipped through a Travelogue he had picked up from the Ruins.

The paper was crumpled, with water stains on the edges; it was probably some old stock from someone's shop that had been soaked and dried.

Tobirama, Hashirama, and Madara sat around a low table, reviewing the documents Konoha Tobirama the light of an oil lamp.

They are somewhat worried about the current situation.

The Warring States Period ended with the establishment of Konohagakure, where the Senju and Uchiha jointly founded the Konoha. However, this came with a condition: both sides paid a heavy price at the time.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the period before the alliance was the weakest period for Uchiha and Senju.

Hashirama Senju's insistence on forming an alliance led to escalating conflict between the two sides, even resulting in the death of Madara Uchiha's younger brother Uchiha Izuna. Their alliance was less a success of Hashirama's dream and more a sign that the fighting could no longer continue.

The initial alliance war was not initiated by Madara, but by Hashirama.

Ban's idea was to maintain the confrontation that had lasted for the past thousand years. If it could be maintained, then it would be better to maintain it indefinitely. There was nothing wrong with that. Although the tribe could survive, it was not stable. But compared to facing people's hatred and turmoil, he preferred to maintain the status quo and live a relatively peaceful life.

But Hashirama was stubborn. He wanted an alliance, a place without war. But the Senju and Uchiha couldn't just form an alliance without any reservations.

After Hashirama finally launched the war.

Hashirama was initially able to launch the war not because the Senju clan approved of his ideas, but because they believed they could completely annihilate the Uchiha, their enemy who had been vying with them for resources for a thousand years.

At first, the Uchiha and Senju were able to maintain a high level of intensity in their battle. But later, it was no longer a matter of hatred, but a matter of the survival of their clans. By the end, they had stopped fighting seriously and were no longer willing to fight. Their economy, food supplies, and population were all rapidly declining, and if they didn't stop fighting, both sides would face annihilation.

In the early days of Konoha's establishment, the Shinobi Village lacked sufficient capital accumulation, making it difficult to compete with the other Shinobi Clans of the Land of Fire in terms of overall Strength. Tobirama was somewhat worried at the time that such an alliance would not last long and would dissolve.

Fortunately, Hashirama and Madara were exceptionally powerful. Their strength deterred other clans from openly challenging the Uchiha and Senju, forcing them to join them for self-preservation.

Konoha was thus cobbled together and established.

But if we simply fit together like this, each going our own way, then it's really no different from before. That's why a leader must be elected.

Hashirama Senju, the leader who initiated and ended the war, the God of the Shinobi World, became the only candidate.

Even Hashirama had to abandon the idea of making Hokage and forcibly construct the framework of a Shinobi Village through a highly centralized system, relying on Strength and prestige.

This method worked immediately. Under the forceful suppression of Hashirama and Madara, the people finally listened to them and stayed.

But that's all it was—staying behind.

They will not listen to someone who forces their way into a seat and has done them no favors.

This nearly caused Konoha to fall apart, and it was only through Hashirama's kowtows and pleading with each Hashirama that it was barely able to stay afloat.

This is Konoha before Izuna arrived.

If things continue like this, Konoha will eventually follow the same path as armed groups, becoming an even larger mission-completion machine, only the people receiving missions will change from clan members to Konoha Ninjas, nothing more.

But now, Konoha has broken this pattern.

Izuna's arrival brought about a reversal in public opinion, making the image of the Ninjas more three-dimensional and positive.

Furthermore, because of Izuna's Strength, those who wanted to make negative comments had to consider whether speaking ill of him would cost them their heads.

Most importantly, Izuna and the Konoha Ninjas genuinely did things that were good for the people.

This is the most important point. The people aren't stupid; they only believe what they see. The destruction of the Capital didn't result in any casualties, and the Konoha Ninjas even helped rebuild the streets, making them even better.

The support from the people has made the Ninjas' reputation stronger than ever before.

As long as the Ninjas maintain this image, they can advance triumphantly and completely shed their past status as mere tools.

However, Ninjas outside of Konoha have not yet realized this.

Information spreads too slowly in today's society; it's only now that Izuna's plays have reached the Land of Hot Water.

This is because the Land of Hot Water is a country of culture and entertainment.

The Land of Fire understood that the Ninjas ' momentum would not stop, so they fully supported Konoha's actions, hoping that the Ninjas would preserve their years of accumulated wealth and resources out of consideration for their sensible nature.

Meanwhile, the other Four Nations wanted to take advantage of the information gap to hire Ninjas to commit inhumane acts, causing the Ninjas ' reputation to plummet.

Even without the Evil Cult movement Land of Hot Water's higher-ups, this Summer Festival would have resulted in a bloodbath.

They don't even need to say much; the Ninjas ' ruthless methods to complete their missions are enough to condemn them to hell. At that time, the entire Land of Hot Water will become their free advocates, spreading the word about the Ninjas' brutality.

Unfortunately, Izuna once again disrupted the incident and found and eliminated the scapegoats, namely the Evil God and the Ninjas who were actually causing trouble.

Although I suffered some hardship, I received compensation afterward.

Today, the people of the Land of Hot Water do not harbor widespread resentment towards the Ninja community; instead, they support the good Ninjas led by Izuna.

This reversal not only failed to stop the rise of the Ninjas, but also made the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Whirlpools into an impenetrable fortress for them.

Now the nobles have realized that the world is no longer on their side, and the era of the nobles is over.

Therefore, the only thing that can suppress Ninjas is Ninjas themselves.

Thus, the Five Kage Summit was put on their agenda.

They wanted to incite their Kage Level fighters to fear Konoha.

People who rise to high positions will worry about having their power taken away.

As long as they feel that Konoha threatens their current position, it will make them value this position even more and stop looking to the nobles.

In this way, they can still continue their rule as rulers.

Even if they aren't given the same status as the Konoha Special Administrative Region, they can still rest easy and be bosses who make money.

"So the question now is," Tobirama looked up at the group of people sitting around the low table, "How do we face the Four Kage?"