The three of them followed the river upstream, moving across the plains and over the rugged mountains until, after half an hour, they reached a small lake nestled in a quiet valley.
The scene was serene, lush green grass swayed in the breeze, flowers bloomed in vivid colors, and sunlight scattered across the lake's shimmering surface. At the edge of the water, a figure sat leisurely on a flat stone slab, a fishing rod in hand, his legs crossed as if the entire world were his to command.
When they arrived, Kisame and Jūzō immediately dropped to one knee on the grass, their heads bowed deeply.
"Greetings, my Lord," they said in unison.
Mei Terumī paused, her gaze drawn to the man reclining by the lake. From her angle, she could only make out his elegant profile—young, composed, strikingly handsome.
"Rise," the man said, turning his face toward them with a calm smile. "You've done well."
"Serving you is never hard work," Kisame and Jūzō replied as they rose to their feet.
Mei Terumī's eyes widened in disbelief. "You…!"
She covered her lips instinctively, surprise flickering across her delicate features. She knew that face—everyone in the shinobi world did.
Uchiha Gen.
The man who had once shaken the Hidden Mist to its core, whose name later reached legendary heights when Konoha confirmed him as the Fifth Hokage.
"It's me," Gen said with an easy smile. "What's wrong, Ms. Terumī? You look surprised."
"Of course I'm surprised," Mei said softly, her voice carrying a trace of tension. "I never imagined Kisame and Jūzō's loyalty would belong to the Fifth Hokage himself."
Lowering her hand, Mei composed herself, the corners of her lips curving in a graceful, practiced smile. She quickly masked her shock behind poise and curiosity. The Fifth Hokage's lover was Pakura, the Fifth Kazekage, and now, it seemed, his influence had extended even into the Mist's most dangerous circles. His ambition was clearly not small.
Gen's smile deepened, his tone light. "It may be hard to imagine, but it isn't unbelievable. After all, your village has... seen better days."
Mei's smile faltered, if only for a moment. She couldn't deny it. The Hidden Mist was fractured—bloody, oppressive, decaying from within. Even she had nearly lost faith in it.
Taking a slow breath, she straightened and said seriously, "Let's get to the point. Lord Fifth Hokage, what do you need from me?"
"Originally, I had only one matter to discuss," Gen said evenly. "But now that I've met you in person, there are two."
"First," he said, his gaze settling firmly on her, "I want to know, would you be willing to serve me?"
His tone was calm, yet there was undeniable authority behind it.
Mei gave a faint smile. "If I agreed immediately, I doubt you'd believe me. So tell me this, what made Kisame and Jūzō so devoted to you? They're risking their lives infiltrating something as dangerous as the Akatsuki Organization. Surely, they have their reasons."
Gen's lips curved. Sharp, as expected of the woman destined to become the Fifth Mizukage—quick-minded and composed, even under pressure.
"Their loyalty," Gen said, glancing at the two men before returning his eyes to Mei, "comes from many things, three parts strength, three parts sincerity, three parts shared ideals, and one part personal charm."
Mei caught the key phrase instantly. "Shared ideals?"
Her tone deepened. "Then allow me to ask—what is your ambition, Lord Fifth Hokage?"
Gen's smile turned faintly mysterious. "Are you sure you want to hear it? If you do… and then refuse to join me, I'm afraid I can't let you leave."
Mei exhaled slowly, her peach-colored lips tightening. "At this point, I doubt I could leave even if I wanted to. You wouldn't let anyone who knows about your spies walk away alive, would you? From the moment I followed Kisame, I'd already stepped into your snare."
Her smile returned, but now there was steel behind it. "Since I'm already caught, I might as well understand the truth—so I can decide whether to fake obedience… or truly serve you."
She turned and shot Kisame and Jūzō a cold glare. "Fellow villagers, and this is how you treat me? Backstabbing your own."
The two men remained stoic. They were soldiers executing orders, not plotters.
Mei didn't bother with thoughts of resistance. Against this lineup, even she knew—it would be suicide.
"Hahaha!" Gen laughed openly, his tone warm rather than mocking.
"Proud of yourself?" she snapped, crossing her arms. "What's so funny?"
"You misunderstand," he said lightly. "I'm laughing because your clarity impresses me. A sharp mind like yours is rare, almost on par with Tsunade-senpai herself."
Her expression softened despite herself. Being compared to one of the Legendary Sannin was no small compliment.
"Hmph. Even so, I should've known better than to talk to those two in the first place." She paused, then arched an eyebrow. "Though, why not compare me to the Fifth Kazekage? If I recall correctly, Pakura is your girlfriend, isn't she?"
Gen chuckled. "She is. But honestly, she's still not quite at Tsunade-senpai's level—in strength, experience, or vision. She was too naïve before."
His tone shifted, becoming solemn again. "Now then, since you're ready to listen, my ambition is simple."
He met her gaze, his words carrying quiet gravity.
"My ambition is peace."
Mei's brows lifted. "Peace?"
Gen nodded. "Yes. That's what Kisame and Jūzō serve—not just me, but the idea of peace itself."
"Peace..." Mei echoed, her tone thoughtful. "If it could inspire such devotion, it can't be as simple as maintaining the current balance."
"Of course not," Gen said sharply. "The peace we have now is only the calm before the next great war. It's fragile, a pause, not an end."
His eyes grew darker, his voice colder.
"There are too many nations in this world, too many hidden villages. As long as that remains true, there will always be conflict."
"The peace I seek," he continued, "is a world with only one nation… and one shinobi village."
Mei froze, stunned into silence. Her lips parted slightly, the color draining from her face as she processed his words.
When she finally spoke, her voice trembled between disbelief and anger.
"You're mad. To take on the entire world, that's a dream destined to fail!"
"Is it?" Gen smiled faintly, almost amused. "I already have the support of Konoha's shinobi and the Fire Daimyo. Soon, I'll have Sunagakure as well."
Mei frowned. "Even if that's true, one country and two villages can't stand against the rest of the world. The Hidden Mist, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, the smaller nations, the Daimyo, their armies and wealth, combined, they're overwhelming."
She hesitated, then added, "And despite my hatred for the Fourth Mizukage and the Elders, I still care for my homeland. I don't want to see the Hidden Mist erased from the map."
Her gaze flicked toward Kisame and Jūzō. "Do you two really want to see our village destroyed?"
"The Hidden Mist can fall," Kisame said calmly, "so long as what it stands for survives."
Jūzō nodded. "I feel the same."
Mei understood at once—the village could remain, but its power would have to bend to Gen's will.
"I see…" she said quietly. "That I could barely accept. But your dream is still impossible."
Gen chuckled, a soft sound that carried quiet confidence. He set his bamboo fishing rod upright, embedding it into the stone beside him, then stood, his coat rippling slightly in the wind.
"What are you laughing at?" Mei demanded, irritation flashing in her eyes. His calm certainty was infuriating.
Gen clasped his hands behind his back and looked across the lake. "You mentioned the Mist, the Stone, the Cloud, the smaller villages, the Daimyo, their armies, their treasures…" He turned his head slightly, his voice low and sure. "I don't see any of them as true obstacles."
He was dressed simply today—khaki shirt, matching trousers, and a black cloak edged with fire motifs. The casual attire did little to hide the quiet majesty of his bearing. Gone was the ethereal young prodigy; what remained was a man utterly accustomed to power.
Mei's temper flared. "You arrogant fool!" she spat. "You're strong, yes—but not invincible!"
"Curious, are you?" Gen said suddenly, glancing at Kisame and Jūzō with a faint smile. "You two as well."
"Yes, Lord," Kisame admitted respectfully. "Forgive me, but even at your level, disregarding all those forces seems… excessive. Even with Konoha and Sunagakure, the world's power is immense."
Jūzō added, "The Fire Daimyo and the nobles are tied to other nations by blood and gold. Without drastic action, they'll never unite behind one banner."
They bowed slightly, expecting rebuke.
Gen only smiled. "Then why do you still follow me?"
"Because we believe in the future," Jūzō said solemnly. "We can't do it now but if we build our strength, one day we might."
Gen nodded, pleased. "You're both right. But your idea of the world's 'peak' differs from mine."
He turned slightly, his voice calm but resolute.
"I don't consider myself the strongest yet, but even so, I have more than enough power."
"Let me show you a glimpse of why I'm confident."
His eyes began to shift.
"Don't move," he said softly. "You won't be harmed."
Mei, Kisame, and Jūzō froze, their eyes fixed on him.
In the next heartbeat, Gen's Sharingan spun into its eternal form—the Eternal Mangekyō.
A vast surge of black chakra erupted from his body, sweeping across the clearing like a tidal wave. The ground trembled. His hair lifted in the invisible current, his cloak snapping in the wind.
The chakra thickened, bones forming, then muscles, armor, wings—until a colossal warrior stood towering over the earth.
Susanoo.
It rose nearly two hundred meters tall, its wings spreading wide, its armor gleaming like onyx under the sun. Compared to the titans of old, Madara, Sasuke, it was nearly their equal. A god given form.
Boom.
The ground caved slightly beneath it as the massive black wings beat once, sending shockwaves through the air. The lake surged violently, waves crashing against its banks. Grass flattened for hundreds of meters around them.
From the crystal chamber at its brow, Uchiha Gen's voice echoed down like thunder.
"So... what do you think of this power?"
The three of them could only stare.
For a long moment, there was nothing but the howling wind and the pulse of godlike energy.
Finally, Kisame spoke, awe trembling in his voice.
"This… this is power fit only for a god."
"Indeed," Jūzō murmured. "The Akatsuki's so-called 'god' is nothing compared to you, my Lord. He's a frog at the bottom of a well."
Mei clasped her hands before her chest, her breath quick and shallow. "Unbelievable… truly unbelievable…"
Gen smiled faintly. "A god? No. Not yet. True divinity is a change of being. I'm still flesh and blood, just far beyond what mortals call strength."
His gaze grew distant.
"Konoha's First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and Uchiha Madara once possessed similar power. Had they joined forces, no nation, no village would have survived. But their ideals clashed, one too gentle, the other too stubborn. The world's founders were lucky their gods couldn't see eye to eye."
He paused, voice dropping low. "But the current generation of leaders? They aren't nearly as lucky."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Konoha has no new Hashirama… only a new Uchiha Gen."
Naruto? He was still just a boy. Even at his peak, he might one day rival Sasuke but not him.
With a thought, the black Susanoo descended gracefully, landing beside the lake. The chakra dissolved into mist, and the earth grew still once more.
Gen landed lightly, his coat settling against his frame. The display had been brief, but enough. Prolonged use would draw attention—and there was one being in the world he didn't want attention from. The lingering spirit of the Sage of Six Paths still wandered this realm. Though the chance of attracting him was low, it was better not to risk it.
Even Gen wasn't yet confident he could face that power. Not until he mastered the Origin Initial Sutra's second level. Then, perhaps, he could survive even a god's gaze.
Pushing the thought aside, Gen turned back to Mei. "Now then, Ms. Terumī—will you serve me?"
Her lips curved slowly into a dazzling smile. "Of course, Lord Fifth Hokage. With power like that, who would dare refuse?"
It was both truth and calculation. Better to serve and secure the best future possible for the Mist and the Land of Water than to defy a force she couldn't hope to oppose.
Gen nodded approvingly. "Good. Then for the next matter—"
His eyes flicked toward Kisame and Jūzō.
"This one isn't for your ears. Take a walk nearby."
"Yes, Lord," they replied in unison, bowing before retreating silently into the forest.
The lakeside fell quiet again, the gentle sound of rippling water the only witness to the beginning of a new alliance and the first step toward Uchiha Gen's conquest.