Chapter 323: The King of Black-pots!

Chapter 323: The King of Black-pots!

In his secret letter, the Third Mizukage did not explicitly state that he had been controlled by Uchiha Madara's genjutsu.

The Third Mizukage subscribed to the philosophy that "family shame should not be aired in public" and would not expose his own disgrace to Konoha's Third Hokage.

In the letter, the Third Mizukage only mentioned one "fact": Uchiha Madara had secretly infiltrated Kirigakure and attempted to assassinate the Mizukage, but was ultimately repelled by Kiri shinobi!

The complete truth would damage Kirigakure's image.

A complete lie would be detrimental to the Third Mizukage's plan.

So, the Third Mizukage chose a "nine truths, one lie" approach.

He could guarantee that most of the things mentioned in the letter were true.

Did Uchiha Madara infiltrate Kirigakure? Of course!

Did he attack the Third Mizukage? That goes without saying!

Was Uchiha Madara repelled by Kiri shinobi?

On this point, the Third Mizukage wasn't so sure.

Uchiha Madara's genjutsu control over him had been incredibly firm, lasting for over a decade. The Third Mizukage didn't even know how he had broken free from it...

However, he knew that it was highly unlikely Madara was repelled by other Kiri shinobi...

Even the Third Mizukage was just a "plaything" in Madara's hands. In front of this legendary Uchiha, the other Kiri shinobi might not even qualify as "playthings"...

But since the Third Mizukage had broken free of the genjutsu, Uchiha Madara's "Invasion Plan" for Kirigakure had indeed failed!

At the same time, to increase the credibility of the letter, the Third Mizukage revealed another "fact": he had been severely injured by Uchiha Madara's Sharingan!

This was also true.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the "Mizukage's Secret Letter," his gray eyebrows knitting together involuntarily. Clearly, the information in the letter had a significant psychological impact on him.

'Kirigakure infiltrated by Uchiha Madara, the Third Mizukage severely injured...'

'A while ago, Iwagakure's Ōnoki and Kumogakure's A disappeared one after another, whereabouts unknown...'

'In the early stages of the war, Sunagakure's Third Kazekage also inexplicably vanished...'

In the letter, the Third Mizukage connected these seemingly unrelated events.

So much "bad news" regarding the Third Kages did indeed put a lot of psychological pressure on Hiruzen.

This wasn't just because the Third Mizukage described "objective facts."

It was also because Hiruzen knew another piece of intelligence: Uchiha Madara had not died at the Valley of the End as widely believed. Not only had he lived until now, but he had also been active for a time during the Third Great Shinobi War!

In the previous Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Uchiha Madara had even dispatched Uchiha Kagami, an Edo Tensei "reanimated ninja," to openly attack Konoha's two brightest stars of the Third War!

Although Nara Keisuke and Minato Namikaze later reverse-tracked Madara's location, successfully killed the legendary ninja, and brought his corpse back to Konoha...

Hiruzen had even personally incinerated Madara's corpse with Fire Release.

But remember, back at the Valley of the End, Uchiha Madara had also been killed by Hashirama Senju, and his corpse had even been studied by Tobirama Senju for a time.

Yet, Uchiha Madara had still "resurrected"!

Even back when he burned Madara's corpse, Hiruzen had worried about whether Madara would "resurrect" again.

Now, the secret letter from the Third Mizukage undoubtedly confirmed his worries.

Uchiha Madara had not only resurrected, but he had also made a move on Kirigakure!

According to the speculation in the letter, Uchiha Madara had not only targeted Kirigakure, but also Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and even Sunagakure!

This behavior undoubtedly fit Konoha's stereotypical image of Uchiha Madara—

The evil ancestor of the Uchiha!

Hiruzen didn't think the Third Mizukage would joke in such a letter. The description was quite credible... at least, there were no obvious suspicious points.

Moreover, to silently assassinate the Third Kazekage, Third Tsuchikage, and Third Raikage...

Hiruzen thought about it and couldn't think of any normal ninja who could do this.

Even if he teamed up with Hanzō of the Salamander, they couldn't do it!

Almost all shinobi knew assassination.

In Hiruzen's impression, the only ninja who had cultivated "assassination" to its peak was probably the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, of Iwagakure!

But even so, in the previous war, the Second Tsuchikage Mū had perished alongside the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki!

To silently assassinate a powerful ninja at the "Kage" level... even a "Kage" couldn't do it!

But if it were Uchiha Madara, the legend who stood equal to the First Hokage and whose strength was only slightly inferior...

Hiruzen inexplicably felt it was very reasonable.

The only thing the Third Hokage couldn't understand was why Uchiha Madara was obsessed with the Third Kages of each village.

If assassinating the Third Kazekage could be attributed to Madara wanting to start a war...

Now that the war had reached this point, why would Madara continue to assassinate the Third Tsuchikage, Third Raikage, and even the Third Mizukage?

'An unknown great conspiracy?'

Hiruzen's gaze focused on the scroll in his hand.

The Third Mizukage didn't mention Madara's motives for the assassination in the letter, but he speculated there might be a conspiracy.

By successively assassinating the "Kages" of Suna, Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri, Uchiha Madara must be plotting some great conspiracy affecting the entire shinobi world!

And in the secret letter, the Third Mizukage pointedly noted one thing:

The Third Kazekage, Third Tsuchikage, and Third Raikage had all been killed by Uchiha Madara, and the Third Mizukage was severely injured. Honorable Third Hokage, do you think Uchiha Madara will infiltrate Konoha and assassinate you next?

As for why Uchiha Madara would save Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, for last...

On one hand, Konoha's comprehensive strength was indeed ranked first among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

On the other hand, Hiruzen's comprehensive strength was also ranked first among the five Third Kages!

The hardest bone to chew should naturally be saved for last!

'Hmph!'

Thinking of this, Hiruzen snorted unhappily.

He felt the Third Mizukage was being a bit of an alarmist!

Although Hiruzen wasn't sure how the Third Mizukage had avoided Madara's assassination attempt...

Could the Third Hokage not do what the Third Mizukage could?

Mm...

After reading the Mizukage's letter, Hiruzen also agreed with the deduction that Uchiha Madara would target Konoha.

After all, from Hiruzen's perspective...

Uchiha Madara wasn't going to target Konoha.

This ghost of history had already targeted Konoha!

Even setting aside the fact that he summoned the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha before his first "faked death"...

During the Third War, Uchiha Madara had already made a move against Konoha!

Although that time he targeted Minato Namikaze and Nara Keisuke, not the Third Hokage...

But this only made Hiruzen believe even more strongly that Uchiha Madara was indeed plotting something in the dark.

'So what exactly does this Uchiha ghost want to do?'

Thought after thought popped up in Hiruzen's mind, only to be rejected one by one.

Finding no answers, he suppressed the continuous stream of distracting thoughts and turned to look at the four Kiri-nin who were still silently waiting for his response.

'Although I've heard the name "Village of the Bloody Mist" more than once, these four Kirigakure shinobi don't seem to carry the crazy, cruel aura of the Blood Mist...'

'Even the "Demon" Momochi Zabuza, who is said to have slaughtered all his classmates, doesn't look as terrifying as the rumors say.'

'Kirigakure's... future?'

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly for a moment, but he made no move, slowly putting down the secret letter.

"Envoys of Kirigakure, in principle, I agree to sign a truce agreement with your village."

Hiruzen spoke methodically.

His words instantly caught the attention of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.

No matter how useless these two high-ranking elders might be, they also disliked war.

They had both just read through the truce agreement drafted by Kirigakure. Most of the content was acceptable to Konoha, but some things...

Fortunately, Hiruzen's next words soothed the two elders' hearts.

"However, regarding the specific details of the truce agreement, we still need to discuss and deliberate."

Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Homura and Koharu nodded in approval.

Right!

The war had reached this point. Even though Kirigakure had lost so many resources and forces, Konoha had also suffered significant losses!

Since Kirigakure initiated the peace talks, it was only right for Konoha to propose some conditions in the agreement!

At the very least, Kirigakure could forget about getting the Three-Tails back!

On the issue of the Tailed Beast, Homura, Koharu, and Hiruzen were naturally united.

"Of course. Matters concerning the war cannot be decided hastily."

Seeing Hiruzen finally speak and show a positive attitude, a trace of joy appeared on Yagura's small face.

"I wonder how long Lord Hokage needs to give a reply?

"Lord Third Mizukage is still waiting for our response, especially regarding... the matter mentioned in the secret letter."

Secret letter?

Homura and Koharu immediately looked at Hiruzen. They didn't know what was in the Mizukage's letter.

Hiruzen waved his hand at his two old friends, signaling them to be patient.

He did intend to inform Homura and Koharu of the letter's contents later, and he might even have to drag Shimura Danzō out of Root...

But in front of the Kiri envoys, Hiruzen couldn't just hand the secret letter over to the elders for inspection.

"As the envoy said, this is a major matter of war, and I cannot give a precise response immediately."

Hiruzen put on a kindly smile, expertly speaking in bureaucratic jargon.

"After our discussion concludes, I will send someone to notify you immediately."

"I hope Lord Hokage's discussion can be swift."

Yagura knew this was just a stalling tactic, but he couldn't demand too much, so he simply said:

"Kirigakure has not only contacted Konoha but has also dispatched envoys to the other three villages simultaneously.

"Lord Third does not only wish to stop the war, but also wishes to convene a new Five Kage Summit!"