Pfft!
A crimson long blade instantly pierced through the illusory Shinigami!
Shinigami: "???"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "???"
Ōnoki: "???"
Mu: "Hehehe..."
The Shinigami stared blankly at the Totsuka Blade piercing through him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Six! He had always been the one to harvest humans.
No human had ever dared to swing a sword at him!
Haji Mu, are you that bold?
And how did you even see me!?
"What is this!?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled, realizing he had been disconnected from the Shinigami.
"Human, I'll remember you..."
In an instant, the Shinigami's entire illusory form was sucked into the Totsuka Blade's gourd.
Whoosh!!!!
Mu's eyes were cold as he watched the Shinigami being forced into the gourd.
This was a bold attempt of his.
Reaper Death Seal and Totsuka Blade's sealing were both extremely high-level Ninjutsu in Konoha.
And Totsuka Blade was a spiritual weapon in the original work.
Since it was a spiritual weapon, it should be able to hit the Shinigami, right?
It was just a matter of who was faster, whose 'code' was higher.
"Pfft!"
The next second, Mu landed a charged punch on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
"Pfft!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi spat out blood and was sent flying.
He was continuously struck by Mu in mid-air.
Every punch hit a vital point.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Hiruzen Sarutobi crashed heavily to the ground, his armor fragments scattered everywhere.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked to his left, where Hanzou was captured, and to his right, where the Third Mizukage and Third Raikage had been killed, along with Danzo Shimura.
It seemed the battle was decided.
"Monkey, give up. Your so-called strongest technique is nothing but a petty trick in my eyes."
Mu instantly flew in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Mu looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi indifferently, deep in thought.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knelt heavily on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Still can't do it... Even with all my strength, I can't win..."
"Shodai(1st)-sama! Tobirama-sensei! Mito-sama! Father! I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, truly did my best!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knelt on the ground, muttering to himself.
Even after giving his all, he still couldn't kill Mu, or even achieve a mutual destruction.
He had used every technique, even preparing for the worst.
Yet, he still couldn't win!
Mu didn't hesitate, quickly performing a sealing Jutsu to seal Hiruzen Sarutobi's Chakra, and at the same time, he threw out the Six Paths Treasures, the Kōkinjō, to entangle Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Teacher, why don't you kill him?"
Ōnoki asked with slight confusion.
"He's useful. He'll be key to our takeover of Konoha."
Mu decided he wanted Konoha's residents to see for themselves.
The Third Hokage being captured by him would break Konoha's morale, leading to their surrender.
Konoha had many Bloodline Limits and secret techniques.
It was better to preserve them if possible, not let Konoha burn completely.
After all, these would all be Iwagakure's assets in the future.
"Hiss! Teacher, are you going to continue the war?"
Ōnoki asked with some astonishment.
Even Hōzuki Gengetsu and Kakuzu looked at Mu in astonishment.
Shouldn't they be cutting their losses now?
However, Mu's thoughts were different.
Mu glanced at Ōnoki indifferently: "Of course!"
"How can this old man return empty-handed after traveling all the way from Iwagakure?"
"The moment I decided to participate in the war, Iwagakure was destined to win!"
Mu felt that since he had actively started the war,
There could only be two outcomes!
Win! Or lose!
Instead of an awkward stop in the middle, it was better to fight to the end.
At the same time, he also had the idea of expanding the war!
He might as well turn this war into a Ninja World Unification War!
Integrate the Ninja World's resources and research longevity.
Unify the five great Ninja Villages and establish a new order!
While he was still able to act, he would see these matters through to the end!
"Ōnoki, Kakuzu, you two return to the village to hold down the rear. Gengetsu, you go back too. I'll handle the front lines from now on!"
Mu looked at them confidently, giving orders.
"Teacher! It's too dangerous! Konoha still has a lot of clans that haven't been dealt with..."
Ōnoki advised with concern.
"No need to say more. In front of Dust Release, I don't think numbers will affect me."
Mu said indifferently.
"From now on, I will take over the front lines!"
Mu's eyes narrowed as he spoke.
"Mu! I have something to say!"
At this moment, Hōzuki Gengetsu spoke up.
"What is it, Gengetsu?"
Mu asked in confusion.
Hōzuki Gengetsu glanced at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist behind him.
Then he hesitated to speak.
"Gengetsu, what's wrong? Speak your mind if there's something bothering you."
Mu stepped forward and took the hand of his old comrade-in-arms.
He and Hōzuki Gengetsu had just shared another life-and-death experience.
If Hōzuki Gengetsu hadn't come, he might have paid a significant price to kill those twelve people.
"I want... I want to borrow some people from you. I want to take over Hidden Mist. After that, I'll regain control of Hidden Mist, and once I do, Hidden Mist and Iwagakure will merge!"
"Do you... trust me?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu spoke this decision seriously.
Today, the defection of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist gave Hōzuki Gengetsu the idea of regaining control of Hidden Mist.
Mu, even at his old age, could still lead Iwagakure to directly confront Konoha.
Then he, Hōzuki Gengetsu, might also be able to regain control of Hidden Mist!
Hidden Mist had always been a source of regret for him.
After so many years, the anger in his heart had subsided.
It was replaced by sadness for the suffering of Hidden Mist's residents.
The Bloody Mist had plunged Hidden Mist into hell.
"Good!"
Mu didn't hesitate.
Since he was going to launch a unification war,
Then letting Hōzuki Gengetsu take charge of Hidden Mist was also a move for him, saving him the trouble of personally fighting his way there.
"Fifty years of trials and tribulations, how could I not trust you?"
Mu tightly clasped Hōzuki Gengetsu's hands.
Hōzuki Gengetsu's eyes shimmered with tears, then he tightly gripped Mu's hand.
"After I successfully take control of Hidden Mist, I will lead Hidden Mist to merge with Iwagakure!"
Hōzuki Gengetsu promised.
"Good! One in the west, one in the east, then the Ninja World will be within our grasp!"
Mu directly expressed that Hōzuki Gengetsu should go for it boldly!
"I'll transfer the Hozuki Unit and the Kaguya Unit to you!"
Mu said.
Most of these units were composed of young people.
Their sense of belonging to Iwagakure far surpassed that of the Hidden Mist they had never met.
They were all born in Iwagakure; they felt more like Iwagakure people than Hidden Mist people.
Moreover, these people had already married and had children in Iwagakure.
Naturally, there would be no betrayal or anything of the sort.
That's why he felt at ease.
Hōzuki Gengetsu, he naturally trusted him!
But for a politician like Mu,
Being emotional was actually a big taboo!
So, it was necessary to combine emotional trust with realistic interests to ensure nothing went wrong.