(A reader asked, 'Ōtsutsuki still exist on the moon, why not directly use the Ōtsutsuki from the moon for research?')
(Answer: The author remembers, but hasn't watched the movie, so they need to catch up. The strength of the movie's Ōtsutsuki is hard to define, and I'm still thinking about it.)
"Lord, an urgent report from the Land of Wind! The Second Kazekage, Shamon, is dead!"
An Anbu rushed in to report.
Hearing this news, Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu paused slightly.
"Alas, another old friend has departed..." Hōzuki Gengetsu sighed.
"Hmm... How did he die?" Mu asked, looking up slightly.
"According to intelligence, he died from poison gas backlash while researching poison puppets," the Anbu reported truthfully.
"So careless..."
Mu had originally thought Shamon would lead Sunagakure in the Second Ninja World War.
He didn't expect him to die like this.
"Let's attend Shamon's funeral and see our old friend off one last time," Mu suggested to Hōzuki Gengetsu.
"I had the same intention. After all, we once fought together." Hōzuki Gengetsu nodded, a nostalgic expression on his face.
...
Konoha Village, pre-war mobilization.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had gathered most of Konoha's high-ranking officials.
"Everyone, what are your thoughts on Iwagakure? If Iwagakure enters the war, we must be prepared, especially against Mu, Hōzuki Gengetsu, and Kakuzu."
"Those three are Iwagakure's top combatants. Although they may be old, they are still not to be underestimated!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice, looking at the Konoha high-ranking officials and clan leaders below him.
"Kill! Our Uchiha Clan advocates war!" The Uchiha Clan Leader stood up coldly.
"I think it's better to be cautious. If Iwagakure doesn't join the war, we should try not to provoke them..." Akimichi Torifu said calmly.
(Uchiha Kagami's death is currently unknown, but Akimichi Torifu appeared during the Nine-Tailed attack and fought the Nine-Tailed with Hiruzen, so he should have lived until Naruto's birth.)
"Our Hyuga Clan will follow Hokage-sama's arrangements." The Hyuga Clan Leader still obeyed the Hokage's orders.
"Nara Clan, what do you think?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Konoha's think tank.
The Nara Clan pondered for a moment, then told a cold joke.
"Perhaps... we could send a few six-month-old Nara family deer meat to Mu and the other two... Our Nara family raises deer." The Nara Clan said, stroking his chin.
(In the original work, the Nara family really does raise deer.)
As soon as he spoke, the older high-ranking officials couldn't help but smile.
Even the usually unsmiling Uchiha Clan Leader's lips curved upwards.
"What are you all laughing about?" Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura raised their eyebrows slightly, not understanding what these old men were laughing at.
"Hehe..." Akimichi Torifu also smiled slightly.
Clearly, as part of Ino–Shika–Chō, he had heard that rumor.
"Torifu, what are you laughing about?" Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Ahem, Hiruzen, you don't know this, but I also heard about this from the elders in my clan."
"During the First Ninja World War, both the First Tsuchikage and the First Mizukage ate deer meat from the Land of Fire, and guess what? They both died from eating it!"
"One deer killed two Kage, unprecedented and never to be repeated! Hahahaha..."
"Now that Mu and those few are old, maybe they'll be gone after eating the young deer meat..."
After listening to Akimichi Torifu's explanation,
"There's even such a thing... How interesting..." Hiruzen Sarutobi also chuckled softly, finding it amusing.
He didn't blame the Nara Clan for being inappropriate.
Danzo Shimura still had a cold face: "Boring..."
After telling the joke, the Nara Clan directly stated his plan: "According to the latest intelligence, Sunagakure's Kazekage is dead, so they will not attack us."
"Kumogakure hasn't found a suitable Jinchuriki yet, so they are not to be feared."
"Hidden Mist is undergoing a major purge, so I don't think we need to be afraid."
"The top priority is to seize our eastern lands now and drive the Hidden Mist troops into the sea."
"Iwagakure will not participate in the war. My reason for this judgment is that the Iwagakure forces in the western part of the Land of Fire have not increased; in fact, they have decreased."
(Konoha still refers to the western part of the Land of Fire previously occupied by Iwagakure as the Land of Fire, while Iwagakure directly designates it as the Far East of the Land of Earth. Both sides have their own names for it.)
After the Nara Clan's explanation,
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, agreeing with what he said.
Now was a good time to start a war.
His son and his three disciples all needed battle merits.
Most Konoha Ninja hoped for a war to wash away the shame of the previous conflict and to establish battle merits.
...
"My condolences!"
"My condolences!"
Land of Wind, Hidden Sand Village, sandstorms everywhere.
The entire Hidden Sand Village was in sorrow.
Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu stood side by side,
standing out among the Hidden Sand Ninja.
"Grandpa Mu! Grandpa Gengetsu!" A young child cried and ran over.
According to seniority, Shamon's son should call them uncles.
However, Shamon had a child late in life, so by age, calling them grandpas was appropriate.
"It's little Shasō... You've grown up... I remember holding you when you were little..."
"My condolences, be strong. Your father surely wouldn't want you to be so sad... If you have any problems, just come to Grandpa Mu, and I'll help you sort them out..." Mu leaned down slightly and gently hugged Shasō, comforting him.
"Yes, if you have any difficulties, just come to your Grandpa Gengetsu and Grandpa Mu. We two will arrange things for you, don't worry..." Hōzuki Gengetsu also spoke up to comfort him.
"Wuwu... Thank you, Grandpa Mu and Grandpa Gengetsu. I will definitely be strong, wuwu..." Shasō nodded and sobbed at the same time.
Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu went to Shamon's grave.
They both offered flowers and bowed slightly.
After the funeral ended,
"Lords, thank you for coming to the funeral." The yet-to-be-appointed Third Kazekage approached Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu, flattered.
"Are you the Third Kazekage? Did Shamon designate you?" Hōzuki Gengetsu looked at the Third Kazekage coldly.
He always disliked usurpation because he himself had been usurped.
The Third Kazekage, who was asked, broke out in a cold sweat.
As a successor, the most feared thing was to be accused of an illegitimate claim.
"Lords, we can testify that Nidaime(2nd)-sama did indeed pass it on to him before his death!" At this moment, Ebizo and Chiyo walked over.
After receiving a clear answer, Hōzuki Gengetsu softened a little.
"Nidaime(2nd)-sama has passed away. You two elders, you must take care of yourselves..." Chiyo and Ebizo said to Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu.
"Mm..." Mu and Hōzuki Gengetsu nodded.
After leaving Sunagakure,
"Mu, tell me, who among us will die first?" Hōzuki Gengetsu suddenly asked.
Mu hesitated slightly: "I hope we both live well..."
"A normal person lives for about eighty years, a Ninja for about a hundred. We still have decades to live..." Mu said indifferently.
"That's true. Why don't we have some fun these next few years? Do you know about the new movie I just made? It's a huge hit!"
"And the scripts you wrote for me before were also good, like 'A Million Ryo,' 'The Earl of Kikyo Mountain,' and 'How the Stone Was Forged,' they were all good..."