Uchiha's personal opinion

"The days when ninjas divided the land and sea while we could only hide underground are over!"

"We White Zetsu also need water and soil under the sun!"

Afei, shouting loudly, felt inexplicably excited and waved his arms with increasing force: "Whether it's the decaying Iwagakure or the aliens of Mount Myōboku, they are all trashy chickens and whack-a-mole in front of our White Zetsu army, which is loyal to Lord Madara!"

"Trash!"

The White Zetsu immediately began to shout in their shrill voices.

"We will sustain our war through war!"

Abi continued shouting loudly, regardless of whether the White Zetsu could understand him: "Starting from the south, until we conquer the entire Land of Earth!"

"occupied!"

The White Zetsu continued to shout.

"Lord Madara's White Zetsu will surely be the eternal victor!"

"Ah! The victors!"

The White Zetsu are getting better and better at playing the straight man.

"We are the true inheritors of Lord Madara's will, and we are determined to create a beautiful new world full of White Zetsu for Lord Madara!"

Afei took a deep breath and shouted in an unprecedentedly solemn voice, "Everything for Lord Madara!"

"Everything for Lord Madara!"

"Madara-sama!"

"hooligan!"

One of the white Zetsu, for some unknown reason, shouted a slogan that was not intended to be shouted.

The White Zetsu fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even more frenzied shouts—

"Lord Afei!"

Chapter 445 Speechless

Under the effective coordination of Uchiha Tokumitsu and the Military Affairs Office, the preparations for war by Konoha and various factions of the Shogunate continued to advance in an orderly manner.

Even the most dull-witted ninja understood that a great battle was imminent, and that it would inevitably be a battle of annihilation.

Therefore, the crazy actions of Kumogakure and Iwagakure are understandable—they believe that the shogunate's target is themselves!

Although Ashura did not believe that Uchiha Tokumitsu was making such a big fuss just to deal with Iwagakure and Kumogakure, which were already on the verge of self-destruction, it did not stop him from making a lot of threats in front of Yotsu.

"Do you think the rebels in the south are just a bunch of traitorous Iwagakure? You're sorely mistaken!"

"The Tokugawa Shogunate is now sharpening its swords, eyeing us covetously, waiting to finish us off in one battle and wipe out Kumogakure and Iwagakure in one fell swoop. If you still don't think about changing your ways, then you can only perish along with Iwagakure!"

"Give up! Mount Myōboku has ill intentions! Those heretics just want to use the ninjas to wear down the shogunate's power!"

Following the pre-arranged code, Ashura successfully met with his lover in a secret chamber within a stone cave outside the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Earth.

But no matter what, Huang Tu kept shaking his head and refused to agree to Ashura's conditions—Ashura hoped that he could lead the former ninja troops stationed in the south to launch a coup to change the current predicament of Iwagakure.

But for loess, this is simply impossible!

He is not a fool!

Now that Ashura, who had been declared dead by Mount Myōboku, suddenly appeared in front of him, it was already considered kind of Huang Tu not to report him or actively kill him immediately. How could he possibly be foolish enough to launch a coup?

It should be understood that the reason he was willing to believe Ashura's words and form a secret organization in the first place was more because he wanted to "use someone different to enhance his own status." But now that Ashura has lost his status as the envoy of the Holy Land, he has lost his greatest value.

Therefore, Huang Tu was naturally unwilling to do such a risky and self-serving thing.

"Dust Escape..."

Huang Tu uttered the name of the strongest force in the Tsuchikage lineage: "This is the only deterrent that Iwagakure can currently use against the Shogunate."

Ashura nodded without interrupting.

"I haven't mastered the power of Dust Release, and there's no one in the entire Iwagakure who can rival my father's Dust Release..."

Huang Tu slowly said, "Even Tesshi, the former commander of the Shimotsukuni Expeditionary Army who was ambitious and secretly colluded with the shogunate back then, was no exception."

"And if I may be so bold, the reason Mr. Ashura has returned to the ninja world is probably because he has already pledged allegiance to the Shogunate, isn't it?"

"...Although there are some discrepancies, this is roughly the case."

Ashura didn't elaborate much on his past grievances and grudges with the Myoboku lineage.

"Then... we are destined to be enemies."

Huang Tu shrugged and said helplessly, "Out of consideration for our past relationship, I won't inform the village of your existence, but I will absolutely not believe a word you say, and I won't lay a hand on you this time..."

"But this will only happen once!"

"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts!"

Ashura shook his head, "The ambitions of Mount Myōboku..."

“The Sayings of De Guang, Chapter Seven, Section Three”

Huang Tu suddenly spoke.

"what?"

Ashura was somewhat surprised.

"The phrase 'not of our kind' that you mentioned comes from the third paragraph of the seventh chapter of the Sayings of De Guang."

Huang Tu said seriously, "You have become so accustomed to spouting the Shogunate's confidential information in such a short time and are even proficient in using it. This shows how deeply you have been brainwashed, so I can't trust you at all!"

"...If I said that's not the case, you wouldn't believe me, would you?"

Ashura felt as disgusted as if he had swallowed a dead fly!

It seems like Uchiha Tokumitsu has said everything, and he keeps adding more quotes to the collection!

What are we supposed to do about this?!

Huang Tu politely twitched his lips, trying to make it appear as if he was smiling without saying a word.

He just looks honest and simple; he's not really stupid! So how could he possibly believe Ashura's seemingly sincere but actually malicious words?

"When we meet again, we will be enemies, not friends. I hope Mr. Asura will take care..."

Huang Tu made a gesture of invitation to indicate that he was ready to welcome the guests.

"He can't leave!"

Suddenly, a cold, hard voice came from outside the secret room.

"It's you!"

Huang Tu was immediately taken aback.

Ashura also looked towards the door.

The stone door to the secret chamber was still intact, indicating that the voice had been transmitted through an extremely profound secret technique.

Ashura focused his senses for a moment, then flicked his finger, sending out a chakra ball that struck the corner of the door.

A five-colored, two-legged tadpole, which had been stunned, revealed its true form.

"I never expected this..."

Ashura never expected that the hermit Fukasaku of Mount Myōboku would find him so quickly!

This also shows that the Greninja of Mount Myōboku pays extraordinary attention to these high-ranking members of Iwagakure!

Otherwise, they wouldn't have known the whereabouts of the yellow earth and the appearance of the Asura.

Huang Tu's face also darkened.

Clearly, he realized at this point that he was very likely under the surveillance of the Greninja of Mount Myōboku!

This is not a good thing!

Although Iwagakure and Myoboku Mountain seem to be on the same side now, for the ninja villages, intelligence is the most important thing! Otherwise, if so many outdated and unacceptable secrets are leaked, the ninja villages' deterrent power will be greatly weakened!

"Asura... I want to have a serious talk with you!"

The voice of the immortal Fukasaku once again penetrated the shield of the stone gate.

At this point, the sage Fukasaku still did not choose to break down the door.

For Ashura, who had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, these direct attacks were meaningless; and the Greninja of Mount Myōboku were not capable of setting up a barrier with a wide coverage area like the Shogunate.

Ashura glanced at the yellow earth, but didn't say anything more.

Although Huang Tu's face was still dark, there was a hint of embarrassment in his expression.

This is his secret base! Yet it can't even block out sound!

"I think there's nothing more to discuss..."

Ashura said coldly, "Besides, as for the reason... you should ask Gamamaru!"

"The great immortal never said that..."

Upon hearing this, Huang Tu gasped in shock.

The words of the hermit Fukasaku also indicate that the so-called news of Ashura's death was completely fabricated by the Myoboku lineage! Moreover, it seems that there was a deep conflict between Ashura and Myoboku, which even led to a complete break!

If Mount Myōboku can break with its earthly followers, Ashura, today, what about tomorrow?

What does Iwagakure truly represent to the sacred Mount Myōboku? In the eyes of these outcasts, is Iwagakure just cannon fodder that can be discarded at any time?

This is something that Huang Tu, as the assistant to the Tsuchikage, needs to consider!

"...But I hope we can have an open and honest talk!"

"It is Fukasaku," the hermit said again.

"No...it's all too late!"

Ashura remained unmoved and said, "Once they discovered the presence of Gamamaru's unusual Sage Chakra within my will, everything was destined to be irreversible..."

"Did Uchiha Tokumitsu say something to you?!"

Fukasaku's voice began to carry a hint of exasperation: "Don't forget your identity and mission!"