"Lord Madara, Mu is still alive. I heard he's celebrating his birthday today."
Black Zetsu reported the news to Madara.
"Heh heh, that old immortal, he's still not dead..."
"Let's see who outlives whom..."
Uchiha Madara's eyes turned cold, then he took a pen and wrote a few strokes on a piece of paper.
"Tell White Zetsu to deliver this as a birthday gift!"
....
"Wishing Second Tsuchikage-senpai good health. From Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"Wishing Grandpa Mu a long life! From Shasō of Sunagakure."
"Happy 60th birthday, Mu! From Third Raikage."
"Wishing Tsuchikage-senpai all the best, from Hanzou of Amegakure."
"All Iwagakure Ninja forces wish Nidaime(2nd)-sama a happy birthday!"
"Iwagakure Research Department..."
"Iwagakure Frontline..."
After finishing the cake, Ōnoki personally read out the blessings from all sides for Mu.
Reading to the end, Ōnoki suddenly paused.
"Teacher? There's a strange letter here..."
Ōnoki walked over, holding a letter, looking puzzled.
Mu didn't pay much attention.
It was his birthday today, and there were many people sending gifts.
"Let me see..."
Mu focused his gaze.
"Madara!"
There was only one word on the letter.
That was Madara!
"Heh heh..."
Mu chuckled twice.
Uchiha Madara wanted to ruin his mood, to tell him that he was still alive.
This was simply a provocation.
Mu naturally wouldn't get angry.
He was already so old, how could he get angry so easily?
Don't get angry; all illnesses in this world are caused by anger.
.....
After Mu's sixtieth birthday,
About a year and a half later, the Ninja World War ended.
It concluded with Konoha, Sunagakure, and Amegakure each declaring victory.
Because of concerns about internal issues, no one would admit defeat.
Instead, everyone claimed they had won.
If one were to speak of the biggest winners of the Second Great Ninja War, only Kumogakure and Iwagakure stood out.
Mu also received news of the Ninja World War's end.
He also heard about many famous figures in the Ninja World: the Sannin, White Fang, Ninja Hero, Hanzo the Demigod, Chiyo, Third Kazekage... all these individuals had risen to prominence.
Towards the end of the Ninja War, White Fang was scorned for a failed mission and eventually committed suicide.
However, these matters had little to do with Mu.
Mu only heard that the Ninja War had ended.
Immediately after the war, Ōnoki hurriedly came to find him.
"Teacher, I want to launch a war to annex Konoha!"
Ōnoki said to Mu with a serious expression.
Mu slightly focused his mind.
Then he spoke: "I am old now, and there is not much I can help you with. I may not be able to participate in the war."
Mu cherished his life, and his strength had declined significantly with age.
Until he developed a method for longevity or cellular regeneration, he would not risk his life for the Village.
"Teacher! I can do it! Our Iwagakure has accumulated strength over many years and is very powerful, almost capable of crushing Konoha!"
"Four-Tails Roshi and Five-Tails Han have both mastered their Tailed Beast transformations."
"The Hozuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan, Explosion Release, and my own Dust Release!"
"Plus, we will ally with Amegakure and Kumogakure!"
Ōnoki confidently said to Mu.
Mu hesitated for a moment. Just looking at the numbers, it seemed like they could indeed crush Konoha.
Kumogakure, Amegakure, and Iwagakure would all contribute their strength.
"You are the Tsuchikage, it's all up to you."
Mu sat in his chair and closed his eyes.
Ōnoki nodded ambitiously, then quickly left.
Hōzuki Gengetsu, who was also old, walked over.
"Ahem... youth is truly wonderful. Getting old significantly weakens one's strength..."
Hōzuki Gengetsu sighed.
"Are you also afraid of aging?"
Mu smiled slightly, looking at Hōzuki Gengetsu.
Hōzuki Gengetsu wasn't like this fifteen years ago.
Fifteen years ago, Hōzuki Gengetsu was optimistic.
It seems that when people get old, they do start to feel like they haven't lived enough.
In fact, sometimes true aging isn't physical.
It's psychological.
When you realize your thoughts are no longer young, that means you are truly old.
Mu slowly stood up.
"I'm going for a walk..."
Mu walked on the streets of Iwagakure.
He suddenly had a feeling of being in a different era.
Looking at the rock statue on the wall, he vaguely remembered the vibrant, thriving state of everything when he first took power, as if it were yesterday.
Although it was still good now,
The era's advantages had passed, and the economy had slowed down.
This was also the reason Ōnoki would launch a war.
Firstly, the economic slowdown, and secondly, Ōnoki had been Tsuchikage for many years and didn't want to step down, which is why he planned to launch a war.
Because during wartime, it would be impossible for Iwagakure to change its leader.
"Alas..."
Mu slowly sighed, his voice revealing a hint of helplessness and vicissitude.
"It truly is... time is a blade that cuts down the proud!"
With his hands behind his back, his steps slightly slow, he walked leisurely along the side of the road, like an ordinary old man.
Just then, three young boys quietly appeared behind Mu.
"Grandpa, do you need to cross the road?"
One of the boys, seeing the situation, kindly asked.
Mu slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the three boys.
When Mu saw their faces,
The expressions of the three instantly changed.
Their friendly smiles were replaced by astonishment, their eyes wide, as if they had seen something incredible.
"It's actually... Second... Second Grandpa!!"
One of the boys exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
Although Ōnoki often appeared in public,
The old Tsuchikage had rarely gone out since stepping down.
There were even rumors that Mu was seriously ill or had died.
According to public opinion, Mu had been seriously ill for decades.
"Hello, Second Tsuchikage Grandpa!"
The other two boys also snapped out of it and quickly greeted Mu in unison, their voices filled with awe and respect.
Mu looked at the three young men, a gentle smile on his face.
He used to think it was old-fashioned for people to call him 'Uncle'.
Now, being called 'Grandpa' didn't bother him anymore.
Mu nodded in response.
"Yes, hello, what are your names?"
As a former Tsuchikage, Mu had always paid close attention to the growth of the new generation.
He often read books written by young people from Iwagakure.
He felt that occasionally interacting with these young people, understanding their thoughts and lives, was also a very meaningful thing.
Of course, Mu might just have been too bored...
"Second Grandpa, my name is Higashi Shinjin."
The first boy answered first, his voice slightly nervous.
"My name is okage!"
The second boy immediately followed, his tone somewhat excited.
"My name is Daishi!"
The last boy also quickly reported his name.
The three boys were very respectful.
Mu slightly focused, searching his long memory for the names of these three people.
He remembered!
In the original work, these three people, although minor characters, had a significant impact on the plot!
Higashi Shinjin led the Iwagakure army to break through Konoha's defenses.
He led the Iwagakure army to attack the Land of Fire, successfully cornering the Konoha defense force led by Kazura Hagane to a desperate situation with only four people left, and finally died at the hands of Minato Namikaze, meaning he died in Minato's famous battle.
As for the other two, okage and Daishi, they were also not ordinary.
In the original work, these two participated in the Kannabi Bridge Battle.
They were the two Iwagakure Jonin who abducted Rin Nohara.
"Hmm, hello, you're already Chunin at such a young age!"
"You must enjoy the present, eat well, drink well, and don't let anyone make you suffer..."
Mu nodded, speaking profoundly.
"Thank you, Old Tsuchikage, we will definitely, definitely work hard!"
Higashi Shinjin and the other two nodded excitedly again and again.
Mu nodded, then left.