Belief

Graveyard Mountains.

Madara Uchiha sat upon the throne belonging to the Asura of the Shinobi World, listening as Black Zetsu recounted the intelligence he had gathered.

"Senjutsu, the Wood Human Technique, the Mangekyo Sharingan, and the Majestic Attire: Susanoo manifested through the wood construct." Madara Uchiha was genuinely shocked by Senju Genma.

"Does that child also possess the bloodline of the Uchiha clan?"

"Could it be that after that battle all those years ago, it wasn't just me who obtained Hashirama's cells, but that Hashirama also used my body?"

"And then, under the direction of that naturally evil Senju Tobirama, they conducted some experiments I know nothing about?"

"Or perhaps, Hashirama was actually a woman, but she kept it hidden from me, and then, without my knowledge, secretly..."

At this point, Madara Uchiha's old face flushed, and he felt a touch of shyness.

"If that were truly the case, why didn't she tell me beforehand? It's not as if I wouldn't have liked it..."

"If she had told me sooner, would that woman Uzumaki Mito have even stood a chance?"

"Wait, no, the ages don't match up!"

"According to White Zetsu's intelligence, when this child Genma was born, the First Shinobi World War had already been over for seven years. Hashirama died not long after our battle, and Tobirama also died during the First Shinobi World War. The timeline doesn't fit."

"Then it is highly likely that one of Genma's ancestors intermarried with an Uchiha!"

"Our Uchiha clan, much like the Senju clan, does not forbid marriage outside the clan, and when the eyes are not awakened, we are not much different from ordinary people."

"The origins of Genma's parents are clear, so perhaps a clansman who had wandered off during the Warring States period married someone from the Senju clan. That would explain how Senju Genma, at only thirteen years of age, possesses such power."

"Just as recorded on the stone tablet, when the powers of the Senju and the Uchiha are combined, they can create even greater strength."

After saying this, Madara Uchiha thought of how Genma was not his and Hashirama's child, and he grew melancholy, falling into a sudden silence.

The main body of White Zetsu asked, "Lord Madara, since Senju Genma has the bloodline of the Uchiha clan and has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, do we need to have him inherit your plan?"

Before Madara Uchiha could speak, Black Zetsu answered for him.

"That child has already come into his own. Given Lord Madara's current state, it is impossible to force him through sheer might."

"Furthermore, based on my observations, that child is not the type to be easily deceived; he is not suitable for executing the Eye of the Moon Plan."

Unless someone was completely out of their mind, who would willingly help them execute that plan!

Madara Uchiha nodded, agreeing with Black Zetsu's assessment. "Black Zetsu is right. You all continue to search for a suitable candidate."

"Senju Genma will serve as a backup. If the time comes for my destiny to end and no suitable candidate has been found, then we shall have no choice but to try Senju Genma!"

"Understood." The Zetsus responded in unison before slowly sinking into the ground.

Half a month later.

Due to the failure of the war against the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind ultimately descended into civil war.

The Hidden Sand Village, left with no other choice, was forced to sign a peace agreement with the Hidden Leaf Village.

The terms of the agreement included the withdrawal of the Hidden Sand Village's troops from the territory of the Land of River, the payment of war reparations to the Land of Fire and the Land of River, and the redemption of the captured Shukaku with gold.

Just as the Kazekage had anticipated, the Land of Fire had no interest in the territory of the Land of Wind.

However, the massive war reparations still placed immense pressure on the Kazekage.

The main issue was that their vital jinchuriki was in the hands of the enemy, leaving them no choice but to pay.

If Bunpuku had returned to the village safely, he could have found various excuses to delay the payment and eventually let the matter fade away.

To this end, Rasa, whom the Kazekage was grooming as his successor, could only spend his days refining gold dust after recovering from his injuries, striving to pay off the debt to the Land of Fire as soon as possible.

As for the Land of River, unfortunately, the Hidden Sand Village did not hold them in any regard at all.

Upon returning to the Hidden Leaf, Senju Genma and his team did not rest, but instead followed Sakumo Hatake to the Hokage Building.

Although the post-war report would be submitted in writing to Hiruzen Sarutobi shortly, as high-ranking members of the unit, it was appropriate to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately following the conclusion of the war.

Knock, knock, knock.

Sakumo Hatake was very polite; before entering, he stepped in front of Tsunade, who had been about to kick the door open, and knocked on the office door.

Inside the office, knowing that today was an important day, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not using the Telescope Technique to watch anything strange, but was instead diligently reviewing documents.

He was just about to pick up a file to examine when he heard the knocking.

"Come in!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Having received Hiruzen Sarutobi's permission, Sakumo Hatake pushed the door open and entered.

"Lord Hokage!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, greeted everyone, and gestured for them to sit.

"You are all heroes of the village. This battle was fought brilliantly!"

"However, I still wish to understand the situation on the battlefield from more perspectives. Sakumo, why don't you tell me about it!"

"Yes!" Sakumo Hatake replied and began to explain the details of the final battle to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As for the part regarding Genma's battle with Shukaku, Genma recounted that himself.

He naturally did not reveal the full truth, so he added a little embellishment to the story.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was unlikely to interrogate an important jinchuriki from another nation over such a matter; at most, he would only have someone conduct a simple inquiry.

For this, Senju Genma had already made preparations in advance using the genjutsu of his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Bunpuku was a perfect jinchuriki. Although a perfect jinchuriki could be immune to genjutsu, there was a prerequisite: after being caught in a genjutsu, either the jinchuriki or the tailed beast had to remain conscious to wake the other party up using their own chakra.

If both parties were controlled simultaneously, the genjutsu could not be broken.

Senju Genma spoke for half an hour, describing the battle in vivid, flowery detail, and finally concluded with his own pyrrhic victory. Tsunade even welled up with tears as she listened.

Half a month had passed, and in truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had long since received the battlefield report and knew the general outcome of the decisive battle between the two nations.

Even so, hearing Senju Genma's description, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still alarmed by Genma's combat prowess.

As a student of Senju Tobirama and one of the elders who had been present since the village's founding, even if he had never fought a tailed beast in actual combat, he still had a general understanding of their strength.

That Senju Genma could defeat the One-Tail, even if it was a pyrrhic victory, was terrifying, giving him a new perception of Senju Genma's power.

"You all did very well. Genma, you have truly given me a great surprise this time!" Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed.

Senju Genma replied modestly, "Lord Hokage, this is nothing. I was only able to achieve this with the help of my partners in the village. It was thanks to the bonds with my comrades supporting me that I was able to defeat Shukaku."

Hiruzen Sarutobi praised him, "No, that is precisely what makes you worthy of praise. In you, I see not only strength but also the true Will of Fire!"