Konohagakure.
After accompanying Hashirama Senju and his wife through dinner, Takenaka Kaguya left with the gift Mito Uzumaki had specially prepared for him.
A faint smile remained on his face along the way, as though he was still savoring the warmth from earlier.
However, he did not know that after he left, Hashirama Senju's face showed a trace of concern. With a sigh, he said, "Sigh, Takenaka is probably going to be in trouble next."
"Hm? Hashirama, what do you mean by that?" Mito Uzumaki asked, looking at Hashirama Senju in confusion.
"Mito, you shouldn't have invited him to our home today, you know? When he followed you here, Tobirama made some little moves.
"If I'm not mistaken, Byakuren, the First Mizukage of Kirigakure, already knows that Takenaka came to visit our home.
"Combined with the fact that Madara and I made him leave last time, as well as his situation in Kirigakure, this incident will most likely make Takenaka's circumstances even more difficult," Hashirama Senju said with a helpless sigh.
Hashirama Senju was actually a very wise man. Although he usually appeared carefree and liked to crush everything head-on in battle, he was certainly not brainless.
As his wife, Mito Uzumaki naturally knew what kind of person her husband was.
"Gasp!"
At that moment, Mito Uzumaki could not help drawing a sharp breath. Then she said worriedly, "Hashirama, let's help Takenaka.
"We may not know what happened to him, but I can tell that Takenaka is a kind child.
"Don't let those people from Kirigakure truly 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 regarded Takenaka Kaguya as the younger brother she had never gotten to see grow up.
Reaching out and taking Mito Uzumaki's hand, Hashirama Senju said softly, "Mito, don't worry too much. I don't know whether Kirigakure really intends to deal with Takenaka, but this child is no simple matter.
"Compared with when I encountered him on the battlefield last time, his strength has improved by quite a bit. If he had possessed his current strength back then, even Madara and I would not have found it easy to take him down.
"As for those people from Kirigakure, it isn't that I, Hashirama Senju, look down on them, but if they truly want to deal with Takenaka, they will likely have to pay with the lives of at least half their elite Ninja.
"So don't worry too much. If it truly happens, then it will be Takenaka's own fate. There is nothing we can do to help him.
"After all, the distance between our two places is too great. 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 who had ever received such an evaluation from her husband was probably Madara Uchiha.
"Then all right. I only hope Takenaka stays safe and sound," Mito Uzumaki said with a sigh.
"Mm. Let's go back inside."
Meanwhile, after Takenaka Kaguya returned to the place Konoha had arranged for them and went upstairs, he saw Hozuki Gengetsu staring at him with an icy expression, carrying even a faint hint of killing intent.
After all these years on the battlefield, Takenaka Kaguya was extremely sensitive to killing intent.
With that thought, he activated Advanced Observation Haki. In an instant, everything Hozuki Gengetsu was thinking entered his mind.
Not only that, but even Byakuren's inner thoughts from the room next door were entirely detected by his Advanced Observation Haki.
Takenaka Kaguya's expression darkened as well. However, he did not act. Before Byakuren and Hozuki Gengetsu decided to make a move against him, he would not do anything.
"Lord Gengetsu, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" Takenaka Kaguya asked as he walked over.
"Nothing. Teacher is waiting for you in his room. He should have something to say to you," Hozuki Gengetsu said coldly.
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's anything, we can discuss it tomorrow."
With that, Takenaka Kaguya walked around Hozuki Gengetsu and prepared to return to his room.
However, at that moment, the Chakra in Hozuki Gengetsu's body suddenly surged. He then raised his hand and formed the shape of a pistol.
This was the Water Gun Technique, a secret Ninja art passed down through the Hozuki Clan for generations. By shaping the right hand like a pistol, one could fire bullet-like liquid from the tip of the index finger to pierce an enemy.
Under the coverage of Advanced Observation Haki, Takenaka saw it in advance. He stopped walking without looking back and said in a low voice filled 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 truly 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 stage.
In an instant, cold sweat streamed down Hozuki Gengetsu's face. It was as if some terrifying existence had locked onto him, and he did not dare activate the Water Gun Technique.
Thus, Takenaka Kaguya did not turn around. With his back to Hozuki Gengetsu, he still rendered Hozuki Gengetsu unable to act.
A moment later, seeing that he had intimidated him, Takenaka Kaguya continued forward. As he walked, he said in a low voice, "There are some things I do not wish to explain, nor do I wish to fight over them. But you had 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 seeing his figure disappear, Hozuki Gengetsu could not help gasping for breath, feeling as though he had narrowly escaped death.
"Damn it, Takenaka Kaguya. I will definitely kill you." After Hozuki Gengetsu came to his senses, he felt that he had utterly disgraced himself today. He clenched his fists and cursed inwardly in resentment.
"Hehe, how embarrassing."
Suddenly, a mocking voice rang out in 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 from head to toe in bandages, with only his eyes and nostrils exposed.
"It's you, Mu—the First Tsuchikage's disciple, the only man in the entire Shinobi World to possess Kekkei Tōta." Hozuki Gengetsu stared coldly at Mu as he spoke.
Opposite him, Mu was not surprised that Hozuki Gengetsu had identified him at once. He was also one of Iwagakure's upper ranks and had already been designated as the next Tsuchikage's successor, so it was perfectly normal for Hozuki Gengetsu to know information about him.
"Hehe, how interesting. I never expected that simply wandering around here would let me witness such an entertaining scene!"
Before you continue