"I never thought you'd like babies…"
"Are you going to raise him yourself?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu reached out and playfully poked Nagato, who was in swaddling clothes.
"Yes."
Mu nodded slightly.
"I plan to raise him until he's five years old!"
Mu intended to raise Nagato until he was five, first nurturing his basic values, then returning him to Hidden Rain Village to reappear as an orphan.
At that time, he would see if Uchiha Madara would choose Nagato.
If Madara chose Nagato according to the original plot, Mu would let Nagato follow the original script, making him his own chess piece.
If he didn't choose... this assumption is invalid.
Because Uchiha Madara would definitely choose Nagato.
Uchiha Madara chose Nagato certainly because he could only choose Nagato.
If just any Uzumaki Clan member could master the Rinnegan, then Uchiha Madara could simply grab any Uzumaki Clan member, raise them from a young age, and turn them into an obedient puppet.
He didn't expect that Uchiha Madara hadn't transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato at this point.
According to his original script, he would have taken the Rinnegan when Nagato was young.
One can only say that man proposes, God disposes.
However, this also made Mu consider implementing another script.
That is, to let Nagato follow the original script, but turn him into his own chess piece, making him an undercover agent in Akatsuki.
Uchiha Madara thought Nagato was his chess piece, but in reality, Nagato was carrying out a mission as his chess piece.
To put it in simpler terms, it was turning Nagato into a spy.
On the surface, Nagato was Madara's chess piece, but in reality, Nagato was his adopted son.
Because even if he got the Rinnegan now, he couldn't use it.
Mu would not abandon his other advantages for the Rinnegan.
So, it would be better to turn Nagato into his own chess piece to scheme against Uchiha Madara.
"Sometimes, I really don't understand what you're thinking, or what the meaning of doing this is, but it doesn't matter."
Hōzuki Gengetsu looked at Mu holding the baby.
He felt that Mu was playing a big game of chess.
However, he didn't want to know.
Rather than becoming a schemer obsessed with power, gambits, and calculations like Mu, Hōzuki Gengetsu preferred to be a "fun-loving person."
To be a fun-loving person who acts on his impulses, completely disregarding life, death, and logic, and fully immersing himself in his own art.
"Alright, it's fine if you don't understand."
"I'm already old; consider it a pleasure in my old age, cultivating a sapling is also very fulfilling."
Mu said with a smile to Hōzuki Gengetsu.
The reason he didn't tell Hōzuki Gengetsu about Uchiha Madara was because he could tell Hōzuki Gengetsu didn't want to know.
.....
Ōnoki had been very troubled lately.
He saw the Ninja World War raging intensely.
All sides were at war, expanding their territories.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was about the same age as him, or even younger, already had the title of "Ninja God."
Yet he had no title whatsoever.
All he had done was civil governance, not military achievements.
As the grandson of the First Tsuchikage and a disciple of the Second Tsuchikage and Second Mizukage, he had no notable battle achievements.
This made Ōnoki a bit anxious.
If his master hadn't stopped him, he would have truly wanted to lead Iwagakure into the war and compete with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Although he had learned Dust Release, he had never experienced war in actual combat.
"Sigh! When will the caged bird fly?"
Ōnoki muttered to himself, looking at the Ninja World map.
"Lord Sandaime(3rd), amazing news!"
"We won again today!"
Kakuzu pushed the door open and entered.
"The financials for real estate, construction, medical, arms, gaming, and media are in; we've earned a full two billion in just this month!"
Kakuzu read out the good news from various industries one by one, his eyes filled with excitement for making money.
Ōnoki was expressionless, leaning his chin on his hands, nodding in a resigned manner.
Perhaps he would have been happy in the past.
But now, he was already accustomed to it.
"Yes, yes, yes... my Great Elder..."
Ōnoki said with a yawn.
"What's wrong, Lord Sandaime(3rd)?"
Kakuzu noticed Ōnoki's mood and asked.
"Nothing, I just feel a bit bored. It would be great if there was a war; I've never commanded a large-scale battle before."
Ōnoki waved his hand and said.
Kakuzu flinched upon hearing that.
"Lord Sandaime(3rd), there must never be a war!"
"If a war breaks out, we won't be able to make money."
Kakuzu said nervously.
When an explosive tag goes off, a fortune is made.
"Haha! Just kidding, just kidding."
Ōnoki laughed and waved his hand, then buried the idea of starting a war in his heart.
"Hidden Rain Village telegram."
Kakuzu read the telegram message to Ōnoki.
Ōnoki frowned after hearing the content.
The message stated that Hanzou of Hidden Rain Village was having trouble holding out against the encirclement by the two great villages, Konoha and Sunagakure.
Amegakure was a puppet regime he had supported.
"Keep holding out!"
After writing, he handed it to Anbu.
....
"Damn Ōnoki, damn Iwagakure!"
"What a joke! Which Ninja village can withstand the attacks of Konoha and Sunagakure?"
Hanzou of Hidden Rain Village became even more furious after receiving Ōnoki's telegram reply.
It was already good that he could hold out for so long; he didn't expect Iwagakure to still tell him to fight.
"Although Iwagakure's support for Hidden Rain is good, they can't treat us as human resources like this!"
Hanzou of Hidden Rain Village was also a Ninja and a hero.
Facing such a reply from Ōnoki, he was naturally a bit angry.
"Leader! We must endure!"
"Wait for the right moment, once Iwagakure shows a weakness, we will naturally get our revenge!"
An Amegakure secretary quickly advised.
Hanzou of Hidden Rain Village took a deep breath and nodded.
He thought of the words of a great figure in the Ninja World!
"Yes! We must endure! Iwagakure is powerful, we cannot confront them directly!"
"Just as the Second Tsuchikage said, we must learn to endure. Endurance is not surrender!"
Hanzou of Hidden Rain Village's eyes gleamed with the light of endurance.
He would bite Iwagakure one day.
.....
"Iwagakure!"
"Will of Stone!"
"Resilient, unyielding!"
"Iwagakure is located in the center of the Land of Earth. The Land of Earth is located in the northwest of the Ninja World. Currently, there are five great Ninja villages in the Ninja World: Iwagakure, Konoha, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Hidden Mist."
"Grandpa Mu and Grandpa Hōzuki are the two strongest people in the Ninja World."
One-year-old Nagato was being introduced to the world under Mu's guidance.
"Hmm, not bad, you're very smart!"
Mu rubbed Nagato's head and praised him.
Nagato smiled and nodded, then smiled happily after being praised by Mu.
"Grandpa, can I watch cartoons for a bit?"
Nagato looked at Mu with eyes full of anticipation.
Children in the Hokage world are generally precocious; one-year-old Nagato already had a relatively complete set of thoughts and behaviors.
"Hmm, you can."
Mu nodded, indicating permission.
"It looks like you're raising him quite well."
Hōzuki Gengetsu said with a smile, looking at the well-behaved Nagato.
"It's alright, he's indeed good."
Mu looked at Nagato, who was going to watch TV, nodded, then looked at Hōzuki Gengetsu.
"Eh? You changed into new clothes?"
...
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