Intimidation: Hozuki Gengetsu's Nemesis—Mu

Konohagakure.

After Takenaka Kaguya had finished dinner with Hashirama Senju and his wife, he left carrying the gift Mito Uzumaki had specially prepared for him.

Along the way, a faint smile remained on his face, as though he were still savoring the warmth of that family just now.

However, he did not know that after he left, a look of concern appeared on Hashirama Senju's face. He sighed and said, "Sigh, Takenaka is probably going to be in trouble next."

"Hm? Hashirama, what do you mean by that?" Mito Uzumaki looked at Hashirama Senju in confusion and asked.

"Mito, you shouldn't have invited him to our home today, you know? When he followed you here, Tobirama pulled a few strings.

If I'm not mistaken, Byakuren, the First Mizukage of Kirigakure, already knows that Takenaka came to visit us.

On top of that, Madara and I made him leave last time, and considering his situation in Kirigakure, this matter will likely make his circumstances even more difficult," Hashirama Senju said with a sigh.

Hashirama Senju was actually a very wise man. Although he usually seemed carefree and liked to bulldoze his way through battles, he truly was not mindless.

As his wife, Mito Uzumaki naturally knew what kind of man her husband was.

"Gasp!"

At that moment, Mito Uzumaki could not help drawing in a sharp breath. Then, she said worriedly, "Hashirama, then let's help Takenaka.

We may not know what happened to him, but I can tell that Takenaka is a kind child.

We can't let those people from Kirigakure really take his life."

Hearing this, Hashirama Senju gave a bitter smile. When he saw the expression on Mito Uzumaki's face as she served Takenaka Kaguya food during dinner, he knew that she had come to see Takenaka Kaguya as the younger brother who had never gotten the chance to grow up.

Reaching out and taking Mito Uzumaki's hand, Hashirama Senju said softly, "Mito, don't worry too much either. I don't know whether Kirigakure truly intends to deal with Takenaka, but that child is no ordinary person.

Compared to when I met him on the battlefield last time, his Shili has grown considerably stronger. If he had possessed his current Shili back then, even Madara and I would not have found it easy to take him down.

It isn't that I, Hashirama Senju, look down on those people of Kirigakure, but if they truly want to deal with Takenaka, they will probably have to sacrifice at least half of their elite Ninja.

So don't worry too much. If it truly happens, then that is Takenaka's own fate, and there is nothing much we can do to help him.

After all, the two places are too far apart. We simply cannot get there in time."

After he finished speaking, Mito Uzumaki was astonished. Although she knew Takenaka Kaguya was very strong, the only person her husband had ever evaluated so highly was probably Madara Uchiha.

"All right, then. I just hope Takenaka stays safe and well," Mito Uzumaki said with a sigh.

"Mm, let's go back inside."

As for Takenaka Kaguya, he had just returned to the place Konoha had arranged for them. As soon as he went upstairs, he saw Hozuki Gengetsu staring at him with an icy expression, faint killing intent lurking beneath it.

After all these years on the battlefield, Takenaka Kaguya was exceptionally sensitive to killing intent.

With that thought, he activated his top-tier Observation Haki. In an instant, everything Hozuki Gengetsu was thinking entered his mind.

Not only that, but even Byakuren's inner voice from the room next door was completely detected by his top-tier Observation Haki.

Takenaka Kaguya's expression darkened as well. However, he did not make a move. Before Byakuren and Hozuki Gengetsu decided to attack him, he would not act.

"Lord Gengetsu, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" Takenaka Kaguya walked over and asked.

"Nothing. Teacher is waiting for you in his room. He should have something to say to you," Hozuki Gengetsu replied coldly.

Upon hearing this, Takenaka Kaguya could more or less guess what Byakuren wanted to argue with him about. He immediately shook his head and said, "I just got back. I'm tired, so I won't be going.

If there are any issues, we can discuss them tomorrow."

With that, Takenaka Kaguya walked around Hozuki Gengetsu and headed straight for his room.

However, at that moment, the Chakra within Hozuki Gengetsu suddenly surged violently. He then raised his hand and formed it into the shape of a pistol.

This was the Water Gun Technique, a secret Ninja art passed down through the Hozuki Clan for generations. The right hand was shaped like a gun, firing a bullet-like stream of liquid from the tip of the index finger to pierce the enemy.

Under the cover of his top-tier Observation Haki, Takenaka saw it in advance. He stopped walking without looking back, lowered his voice, and said with killing intent, "Hozuki Gengetsu, before you make a move, you'd better think carefully about what you're doing. Don't force me to really kill you!"

He had originally possessed Conqueror's Haki, though he had not yet entered the beginner stage. Yet as Takenaka Kaguya spoke those words, his Conqueror's Haki unexpectedly reached the beginner level.

In an instant, cold sweat streamed down Hozuki Gengetsu's face. It was as if some terrifying thing had fixed its gaze upon him, and he did not dare activate the Water Gun Technique at all.

Just like that, Takenaka Kaguya did not turn around. He stood with his back to Hozuki Gengetsu, yet Hozuki Gengetsu did not dare act.

A moment later, seeing that he had intimidated Hozuki Gengetsu, Takenaka Kaguya continued forward. As he walked, he lowered his voice and said, "There are some things I don't want to explain, nor do I want to fight over them. But you'd better not force me, or you may not be able to bear the consequences."

With that, he opened the door and returned to his room.

In the corridor, after Hozuki Gengetsu watched his figure disappear, he could not help panting heavily, as though he had narrowly escaped death.

"Damn it, Takenaka Kaguya. I will definitely kill you." Once Hozuki Gengetsu came back to his senses, he only felt that he had utterly humiliated himself today. He clenched his fists and cursed inwardly in resentment.

"Heh heh, how embarrassing."

Suddenly, a teasing voice rang out from the air.

"Who?"

Hozuki Gengetsu immediately pointed his finger toward the source of the voice, with the Water Gun Technique ready to fire.

At that moment, in the previously empty corridor stood a man wrapped head to toe in bandages, with only his eyes and nostrils exposed.

"So it's you, Mu—the First Tsuchikage's disciple, the only man in the entire Shinobi World who possesses Kekkei Tōta." Hozuki Gengetsu stared at Mu with a cold expression as he spoke.

Opposite him, Mu was not surprised that Hozuki Gengetsu had identified him at once. He was one of Iwagakure's higher-ups and had already been confirmed as the next Tsuchikage's successor, so it was perfectly normal for Hozuki Gengetsu to know of him.

"Heh heh, how interesting. I never expected that just wandering around here would let me witness such a fine show!"