Chapter 15: Glorious Combat

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

In the back mountains, Mū was currently training his Dust Release, and had even summoned one of his clones to assist.

His goal was crystal clear: He wanted his clones to be able to use Dust Release too.

He remembered that in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, even his clones could unleash Dust Release. If he managed to make that a reality here, his strength would increase by at least 50 percent.

With coordinated attacks between his clone and his main body, he could pull off some truly insane, game-breaking combos.

Whoosh!

An Iwagakure ANBU appeared behind Mū, kneeling down.

"Mū-sama, urgent intel, messages from both Konoha and Kirigakure!"

The ANBU respectfully held out two scrolls.

"Ho?"

Mū's eyes lit up with curiosity.

What did those two villages suddenly want with him?

He took the scrolls and skimmed through them quickly.

To his surprise, both Konoha and Kirigakure had sent formal requests to dispatch delegations to Iwagakure. It was to observe and learn from the newly established ninja academy.

"Tch… well, if that's the case, let them come. Perfect excuse to probe Konoha's inner workings while Tobirama's around."

Mū narrowed his eyes slightly.

Based on his memories, Madara Uchiha would leave Konoha shortly after its founding. He wasn't sure if that moment had arrived yet. But either way, the more chaos in Konoha, the better for him.

The weaker Konoha was, the stronger Iwagakure would become under his leadership.

"And that little mustache guy's coming too…"

Mū rubbed his temples.

Was the guy planning to challenge him to another fight? Well, it probably wouldn't end in mutual destruction this time.

With the knowledge from the other world, Mū now understood all of Gengetsu Hōzuki's moves, and more importantly, his weaknesses.

Plus, he now had Rasengan and much more combat experience. He was confident that his current self could outmatch Gengetsu.

"Let them come, then."

Mū approved both requests without hesitation.

…

A few days later

Mū personally led a group to the village entrance to welcome the guests from both Kirigakure and Konoha.

Since the two delegations arrived on the same day, Mū decided not to entertain them separately. Easier to just host them together.

That morning, a thick layer of mist rolled in at the village outskirts.

"Strange… why so much fog this early…"

Mū glanced at the haze with a frown, then silently formed a hand seal.

"Wonder who's gonna show up first, Konoha or Kirigakure?"

Mū rubbed his chin.

"I'd bet on Konoha. They're closer to us, and the countries share a border…"

While he was mulling it over,

Rustle

A group of figures appeared from within the mist.

It was the Kirigakure delegation.

Mū immediately flew forward to meet them.

"Hahaha, my mummy boi~! Long time no see, I almost didn't recognize you, Mū!"

A loud, cocky voice rang out.

A moment later, a tall man with a slicked-back yellow pompadour, a little mustache, and a high-collared coat stepped out of the mist with exaggerated flair.

"Jeez~ you didn't even crack a smile for your old friend? What's with the cold shoulder? We act like we've got some life-and-death feud or something!"

Grinning like he'd just reunited with a drinking buddy, Gengetsu Hōzuki slung an arm around Mū's shoulder without hesitation.

"Mūstache boy. Personal space, please."

Mū's voice was as flat as ever, and a moment later he disappeared in a flicker of motion, reappearing a few meters away.

"Hahaha, sorry, sorry!" Gengetsu laughed, waving both hands in apology. "How's that injury anyway? That explosion last time was totally an accident! You know how my steam gets, builds up, then boom! Even I can't stop it!"

He threw in wild gestures, as if trying to brush off the damage he'd caused, like it was part of some wacky comedy routine.

"Heh… I'm fine," Mū said, brushing off the comment. "Come on. Tobirama Senju should be arriving soon. I'll give you the tour first."

Behind his bandages, Mū's face twitched.

Back in the day, he hadn't been able to describe Gengetsu's chaotic, utterly unpredictable energy. It wasn't something language could fully contain.

But now, with his inherited memories? He had the perfect word.

Abstract.

That was Gengetsu in a nutshell, pure abstraction in the shape of a shinobi.

With a sigh, Mū led him into the village, leaving several officials behind at the gates to wait for Tobirama's arrival.

"Hm. Iwagakure's doing pretty well for itself now," Gengetsu said, glancing around casually. "Last time I came through here, the place looked like a junkyard made of clay and prayers."

He walked with both hands clasped behind his head, wearing a half-smirk as he eyed the newly built stone buildings.

"Hey Mū, after all the battles we've had… you think you can see through my jutsu now?" he asked, tone light but laced with something sharp.

Then, suddenly, Mū stopped walking. He narrowed his eyes at the mist swirling around them. There was something wrong.

This level of fog? At this time of day?

Not in Iwagakure. Not even close.

If this wasn't some kind of trick from Gengetsu's clown brain, Mū would gladly eat a mouthful of dirt.

"…Mūstache boy. You got anything you want to confess?"

He turned his head just enough to glance at Gengetsu.

"Oh my dear mummy boi!" Gengetsu laughed. "If I didn't point it out, you probably wouldn't even have noticed, huh?"

He gave a grin that said he didn't care. And then, everything changed. The stone buildings of Iwagakure shimmered like water and disappeared into thin air. In their place, a thick forest appeared.

Illusion.

"Hahahahaha! Mū!" Gengetsu shouted gleefully. "Long time no see, how about a good ol' blood-pumping battle?!"

His eyes gleamed with excitement, steam rising faintly from his body. "I've been itching to spar with you again!"

Mū's expression turned cold.

This guy… was he even human?

He hadn't even properly entered the village and was already starting a fight? Seriously?

Back in the day, Mū had just assumed this kind of behavior came with the shinobi lifestyle.

But ever since inheriting memories from another world, he'd come to a painful realization.

This world was insane.

Madara Uchiha had once dragged him into a brutal brawl with no warning and zero context, his Sharingan blazing just because he felt like it.

Now this fool with a mustache was ambushing him in an illusionary forest because it sounded fun.

"Oi! Mūstache boy! Are you trying to start a war or someth—"

"Water Style: Water Bullet Technique!"

Before Mū could even finish scolding him, a barrage of high-pressure water bullets shot through the air.

"You!"

Mū's expression hardened as his hands snapped into position on reflex.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

A thick slab of stone erupted from the ground in front of him just in time, absorbing the watery assault. The bullets splattered against the rock, sending up sprays of mist and grit.

"You're as reckless as ever, huh…"

Mū exhaled in mild irritation, then clapped his hands together.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

A glowing white cube burst from his palms and surged forward with terrifying force, heading straight for Gengetsu.

And yet, Gengetsu didn't move. He let the cube hit him dead-on.

BOOM!!

The cube detonated in a brilliant explosion of light and obliteration, reducing everything in the blast radius to nothingness.

As the smoke cleared…

Gengetsu casually stepped out from the opposite side of the field, not a scratch on him.

"Idiot, Mū! Don't tell me you forgot I can make water clones and mist mirages?"

He laughed, then slammed his palms together.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

From the depths of the swirling mist, a massive water dragon surged forth with a deafening roar, jaws wide as it hurtled toward Mū.

"Heh!"

Mū's eyes narrowed. He calmly performed a series of seals.

A colossal dragon made of earth spiraled out of the ground, twisting upward and colliding with the incoming water beast. The two jutsu smashed into each other mid-air, cancelling each other out in a violent spray of mud and shattered chakra.

Meanwhile, away from the chaos, Mū's clone was already in motion.

It had been silently scouting the area from the moment Gengetsu stepped foot in the village, or rather, the illusion of the village. Mū had sensed something was wrong the moment the mist rolled in. That's why he had quietly created a clone before even greeting his guest.

Now, his clone was scanning for the real threat.

The shell.

From the memories he'd inherited, he knew Gengetsu's unique ability depended on that bizarre, clam-like summon. It was the key to all his illusions and mist-based trickery. If Mū wanted to end this fight quickly, the shell had to go first.

After a few moments of silent tracking, the clone located its target.

"There you are!"

With a blur of hand seals, his arm transformed into a massive stone gauntlet brimming with chakra. Without wasting a second, the clone dropped from the sky like a missile.

Boom!

The rocky fist came down hard.

"Nani?!"

Gengetsu's face twisted in shock as he felt the illusion shatter from underneath.

This wasn't right. How had Mū gotten smart all of a sudden?

He used to run circles around him, tricking him left and right with layered illusions. Now, before Gengetsu had even warmed up, Mū had pinpointed the shell and shut it down?

What the hell had happened to this guy? But something else confused him even more. Why hadn't Mū used Dust Release to destroy it?

That would've vaporized the shell instantly. Instead, he'd gone in with brute force. It didn't make sense… unless Mū was holding something back.

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