No matter what everyone in the Shinobi World was doing, the video on the Heavenly Screen continued to play. In the footage, the battle between Second Tsuchikage Mu and Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki had reached a fever pitch. The duel between the two Kage Level powerhouses was not merely a clash of strength, but a contest of wits and strategy.
Second Tsuchikage Mu hovered in midair, forming Hand Seals as he stared coldly down at Hozuki Gengetsu. His figure flickered in and out of view, as though merging with the nature around him. Mu's ultimate technique, Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, was a terrifying Ninjutsu that could break matter down into atoms. Any target it struck would be reduced to nothing in an instant.
"Hozuki Gengetsu, your Water Release may be powerful, but it's ultimately useless against my Dust Release." Mu's voice was cold and confident.
Hozuki Gengetsu stood on the water, its surface still as a mirror beneath his feet. He smiled faintly and slowly raised his hands, and countless tiny droplets began to condense in the air around him. His ultimate technique, Steaming Danger Tyranny, was a Ninjutsu that used water vapor to create explosions. It was immensely powerful and difficult to predict.
"Mu, your Dust Release really is impressive, but my Water Release is more than just water." Hozuki Gengetsu's tone held a hint of teasing, and a cunning light flashed in his eyes.
The battle erupted again. Mu darted through the air, firing beam after beam of Dust Release at Hozuki Gengetsu. Gengetsu dodged nimbly across the water while using water vapor to create countless explosions, trying to disrupt Mu's vision and rhythm.
The two traded blows in an exceptionally fierce battle. The surrounding land was torn apart by the power of Dust Release, while explosions sent towering waves surging across the water. Every attack from the two Kage Level powerhouses was enough to alter the terrain, but neither managed to inflict a fatal blow on the other.
Just as the battle reached a stalemate, a sharp glint flashed in Mu's eyes. He had noticed that Hozuki Gengetsu paused briefly when unleashing Steaming Danger Tyranny, seemingly to adjust the flow of his Chakra. Mu thought to himself, Now!
At the same time, Hozuki Gengetsu noticed an opening in Mu's defenses. He found that Mu's body froze for an instant after using Dust Release, seemingly to recover his Chakra. Hozuki Gengetsu sneered inwardly. Here's my chance!
Almost at the same moment, both launched fatal attacks.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!" Mu pressed his palms together, and a dazzling beam shot straight at Hozuki Gengetsu.
"Steaming Danger Tyranny: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" Hozuki Gengetsu slammed both hands against the water. A massive explosion of water vapor, accompanied by towering waves, rushed straight at Mu.
The two powerful Ninjutsu collided in midair with a deafening roar. The Dust Release beam intertwined with the exploding water vapor, generating an enormous surge of energy that tore apart the surrounding land and water.
When the dust and smoke cleared, Mu and Hozuki Gengetsu had both fallen to the ground, gravely injured. Mu's chest had been burned by the water vapor explosion, and his Chakra was nearly exhausted. Hozuki Gengetsu's body had also been grazed by the power of Dust Release, and his left arm had nearly lost all feeling.
Mu struggled to his feet, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. "Hozuki Gengetsu, your strength really is not to be underestimated," he said coldly.
Hozuki Gengetsu barely managed to hold himself up. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled. "Mu, you're not bad yourself. But this battle isn't over yet."
The battle between Second Tsuchikage Mu and Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki could be counted among the most brutal and astonishing duels in the history of the Shinobi World. Both were among the strongest in their respective villages, evenly matched in power, and the fighting had been exceptionally fierce from the start. Tsuchikage Mu relied on his unique Dust Release Ninjutsu, which could break matter down to the atomic level, while Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu countered him with powerful Ninjutsu such as his Genjutsu and Steaming Danger Tyranny. The aftermath of their battle had even changed the surrounding terrain, proof enough of how powerful they were.
However, as the battle continued, both gradually ran out of strength and even suffered grave injuries. Mu's body was badly damaged by Gengetsu's Ninjutsu, while Gengetsu was covered in wounds from Mu's Dust Release. Even so, neither stopped fighting. At this stage, victory no longer depended on the power of their Ninjutsu or the amount of Chakra they possessed, but on their willpower. They were fighting on conviction, on their devotion to their villages and their ninja ways.
The battle was not merely a contest of strength, but a contest of wills. Both understood that falling would mean not only personal defeat, but could also affect the honor and future of their respective villages. So they gritted their teeth and gave their all until the very last moment. That spirit was the most precious quality in the world of ninja: no matter how desperate the situation, they held fast to their beliefs and fought to the end.
Their battle lasted a long time. In the end, both exhausted their strength and could no longer fight, and the match ended in a draw.
After the battle, their subordinates quickly intervened and rescued their respective Kage. Although Mu and Hozuki Gengetsu were successfully brought back to their villages, their physical condition rapidly deteriorated due to their severe injuries and overexertion in battle. Not long after returning, the two died one after the other. Their deaths deprived Iwagakure and Kirigakure of powerful leaders and the Shinobi World of two legendary figures.
The battle between the Second Tsuchikage and the Second Mizukage not only displayed their individual strength, but also reflected the fierce competition and cruel realities faced by the ninja of that era.
In the real Shinobi World...
Beneath the Heavenly Screen, the ninja watched as Second Tsuchikage Mu and Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki were brought back to their villages by their respective subordinates. Though they had once been evenly matched opponents on the battlefield, their fates were now so similar: not long after returning to their villages, they died one after the other from severe injuries and overexertion. The scene left every ninja present deeply moved, their hearts filled with complicated emotions.
Many older ninja who had lived through that era could not help recalling the past. They spoke in low voices about the cruel, helpless struggles between ninja in those days. In that war-torn era, ninja had been forced to take up arms and fight their enemies for their villages' interests, their families' honor, and even their personal beliefs. Every battle brought sacrifice and pain, and even powerhouses like Mu and Hozuki Gengetsu ultimately could not escape the whims of fate. Their passing seemed to mark the end of an era, symbolizing the close of that age of ninja filled with blood and fire.
For the younger generation of ninja, the scene made them realize even more deeply how hard-won peace was. Many young ninja had never experienced war firsthand. They had grown up in a relatively peaceful era, and to them, war was only words in textbooks or stories told by their elders. Yet seeing the fate of the two Kage Level powerhouses, they could not help contemplating the meaning and cost of war.
Some young ninja discussed their thoughts in low voices. One sighed, "So war was that cruel. Even Kage Level powerhouses couldn't escape death." Another said, "Our generation is really lucky to live in an era of peace, without having to go through the partings and deaths our predecessors did." Yet another declared firmly, "It's precisely because we know how cruel war is that we should cherish the peace we have now and work hard to protect this hard-won tranquility."
Hearing the younger generation's reflections, the older ninja felt both gratified and somewhat worried. They were glad that the younger generation had realized how precious peace was, but worried about whether these young people truly understood the cruelty of war and whether they would be able to shoulder the burden of protecting peace someday.
An unnamed place in the Land of Wind...
Orochimaru stood quietly atop a sand dune, a profound light flickering in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes. The images on the Heavenly Screen gradually faded, but the battle between Second Tsuchikage Mu and Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki, and its outcome, seemed still to be replaying in his mind. The corners of his mouth lifted into a faint, meaningful smile as he murmured, "How interesting... even dead powerhouses can be remembered in this way."
His thoughts gradually drifted back to the research he had pursued for years. Orochimaru had always had an endless fascination with forbidden techniques and the mysteries of life. The lines of research left behind by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, in particular, had captivated him. The forbidden technique Tobirama developed, Impure World Reincarnation, could summon the souls of long-dead ninja back to the world of the living and revive them in physical form. This Ninjutsu not only broke the boundary between life and death, but also brought countless possibilities to the Shinobi World.
Orochimaru recalled the results of his past research. He had collected the flesh of several deceased Hokage, attempting to revive them through Impure World Reincarnation. Now, however, he felt a trace of regret and dissatisfaction. He murmured, "Limiting myself to the flesh of Hokage seems a little narrow-minded... the power of strong figures like Mu and Hozuki Gengetsu is just as worthy of exploration and use."
Names began to surface in his mind: the Third Raikage, the Third Kazekage, the First Tsuchikage, the Second Mizukage... How exciting it would be if these powerhouses who had once dominated the Shinobi World, with their power and wisdom, could be summoned back through Impure World Reincarnation. A trace of fervor flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he realized he could expand the scope of his research and include the powerful dead of other villages in his plans.
"Not just Hokage. The flesh and souls of Kage Level powerhouses from other villages, and even legendary ninja hidden in the shadows of history, are all worth collecting and studying." Orochimaru's thoughts grew clearer, and his ambition swelled with them. He imagined that if he could revive all these powerhouses, he would be able to command a force capable of changing the balance of the Shinobi World.
Yet he also knew full well that such a plan would not be easy. Collecting the flesh of these powerhouses would require extremely discreet operations, and performing Impure World Reincarnation would demand extensive preparation and resources. More importantly, if the other villages discovered what he was doing, they would surely hunt him down and surround him without end. But Orochimaru did not care about those risks. To him, pursuing the limits of knowledge and power was what mattered most.
"Perhaps it's time to rethink my research," Orochimaru said softly, a hint of excitement and anticipation in his voice. In his heart, a grander, more deranged plan was taking shape. And those dead powerhouses might, in the near future, return to the world of the living in another form and become tools for realizing his ambition.
His whisper seemed to linger in the air: "The boundary between life and death was always mine to break... this world will one day be changed by my research."
One of Orochimaru's underground bases
Hozuki Suigetsu was trapped in Orochimaru's secret base, surrounded by cold walls and dim lights. A human face appeared in a huge water tank. His body had been injected with a drug that suppressed Chakra, leaving him completely unable to break free. Even so, his gaze remained fixed on the footage playing on the Heavenly Screen, his eyes shining with excitement and unwillingness to accept his situation.
On the Heavenly Screen, the footage of Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki's battle stirred his heart. That was a legendary figure of his clan, a powerhouse who had once dominated the Shinobi World. Hozuki Gengetsu's Water Release Ninjutsu and his Genjutsu, Mirage, had swept all before them on the battlefield. Watching Gengetsu's confident, powerful figure, Suigetsu was filled with envy and longing.
"If I could be that strong... if I could be like him..." Suigetsu murmured, his fists clenching involuntarily, though his restraints kept him from exerting any strength. His old dream surfaced in his mind: to become a powerhouse no one could defeat, roam the Shinobi World freely, slaughter enemies in every direction, and make everyone remember the Hozuki Clan's mighty name.
Reality, however, was cruel. Not only had he failed to realize his dream, but Orochimaru had captured him and brought him to this dark secret base, where he had become the man's research subject. Every day, he endured the pain of various experiments. His body was cut apart, reconstructed, and even injected with all kinds of strange drugs. Orochimaru was fascinated by his body, and the Hydrification Technique unique to the Hozuki Clan had become a particular focus of his research.
Suigetsu's heart was filled with anger and unwillingness to accept his situation. He hated Orochimaru's cruelty, but he hated his own powerlessness even more. If he had been as strong as Hozuki Gengetsu, how could he have ended up like this? He imagined that if he possessed Gengetsu's power, he would break out of this cage without hesitation, utterly destroy Orochimaru's secret base, and then leave in style to continue his journey through the Shinobi World.
"Damn it... I have to get stronger, and I have to get out of here!" A fierce fighting spirit blazed in Suigetsu's eyes. He knew he could not remain trapped here forever, or remain Orochimaru's test subject forever. He had to find a chance to break his bonds and regain his freedom.
Just then, the footage on the Heavenly Screen shifted to the scene of Hozuki Gengetsu being rescued and brought back to his village by his subordinates. Seeing it, Suigetsu felt a pang in his heart. Even a powerhouse like Gengetsu had ultimately been unable to escape dying from severe injuries. It made him realize that no matter how strong he became, he might not be able to take complete control of his fate. But he was not discouraged. Instead, his conviction grew firmer.
"Even if the road ahead is full of danger, I'll get stronger! Not for anyone else, but for myself!" Suigetsu said under his breath, his voice firmer than ever before. He knew he had no one to rely on, and he could no longer run from reality. Only by growing stronger could he truly take control of his fate.
He closed his eyes and began silently mobilizing the Chakra remaining in his body. Although the drug suppressed his power, he did not give up. He tried again and again, searching for a way to break through his restraints. He knew the process might be long and painful, but he was ready.
Orochimaru, just you wait... someday, I'll make you pay for what you've done! Suigetsu vowed silently. The flames of revenge flickered in his eyes, which were also filled with anticipation for the future.
The images on the Heavenly Screen gradually vanished, and the secret base fell dim once more.