Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 58: Reunion with Samui

Team 7 continued on their journey back home.

Out of their sight, Hagoromo Gengetsu reappeared, his gaze fixed on the Uchiha fan emblem on Sasuke’s back.

If Sasuke truly did as he suggested, Gengetsu wouldn’t mind taking him in. This would be a way to repay the Uchiha for their past alliance.

From Samui’s report, Gengetsu learned that during the relocation of the Hagoromo clan, the Uchiha clan had secretly helped. Coupled with the people currently living with the Hagoromo clan, Gengetsu was confident he could recruit Sasuke.

Of course, forcing someone wasn't effective. It all depended on Sasuke's own choice. Regardless, Gengetsu's efforts would be minimal while the potential gains could be significant. He decided to watch and see.

Watching the trio disappear from view, Gengetsu turned back for one last glance at the bustling town behind him. After the second battle in the Valley of the Fallen God, despite the chaos outside, he had enjoyed the pleasures of living again. Having indulged enough, it was time to focus on serious matters. In a flash, he vanished as well.

A day later, Tsunade, having learned from Team 7 about Gengetsu’s presence, turned pale. She was relieved he ignored the three kids but immediately dispatched Konoha ninja to investigate thoroughly. This was Gengetsu’s first appearance since the Valley of the Fallen God. As expected, he had vanished without a trace, leaving no clues behind.

“What on earth is he planning?” Tsunade wondered, looking out at the bustling streets from her window. “Could it be that he just wants to enjoy his new life?”

If it were her, she’d spend her second life in the casinos. But she knew she was too unique to be the norm. Everyone assumed Gengetsu had grand plans after his revival, yet he had shown no significant movements lately.

Turning her gaze to the heavily buried five-kage summit plan on her desk, she fell into deep thought.

Valley of the Fallen God.

After wandering, Gengetsu found the Valley of the Fallen God the most fitting and returned. Traces of his previous battle with the A-B combo lingered, along with new marks left by others. Due to his revival, the valley had become a hotspot for many in the ninja world. Konoha ninja eventually cleared out the riffraff, and the valley returned to its usual tranquility.

With the village attacked and missions piling up, Konoha couldn’t keep a constant presence in the valley, not expecting Gengetsu to return. Thus, using the principle of hiding in plain sight, Gengetsu resumed his place in the valley.

The statue of “Hagoromo Gengetsu” he had destroyed. This time, he sat atop the “Senju Hashirama” statue, waiting until a familiar figure swiftly approached.

“Hagoromo Han greets the clan leader.” The blonde, cold beauty knelt respectfully.

“Rise.” Gengetsu waved, asking, “Did you bring the items?”

Samui nodded, unrolling a storage seal. With a puff of smoke, dozens of books appeared. As per Gengetsu’s request, they were all on medical ninjutsu, including both Cloud Village’s knowledge and the Hagoromo clan’s collected works.

Gengetsu casually picked a book, flipping through it. “How is Cloud Village these days?”

“After the Raikage’s severe injury, there were some disturbances, but due to his high prestige and swift recovery, things have returned to normal,” Samui reported.

“The Raikage’s physique is indeed formidable,” Gengetsu commented without looking up. Though known for his taijutsu, the Raikage’s real strength lay in his powerful body, comparable only to the top Senju and Uzumaki. Notably, present-day Senju and Uzumaki were represented by Tsunade and Naruto.

Gengetsu’s own body was strong, but not to the extreme levels of Naruto’s boosted strength or the Raikage’s grueling training. He relied on his Steel Release kekkei genkai for combat and couldn’t recover from severe injuries as quickly as Naruto or the Raikage. This was one reason he sought medical ninjutsu knowledge.

Samui, thinking of something, spoke gravely, “Clan leader, I overheard Cloud Village discussing a possible five-kage summit, with the main topic being you.”

“A five-kage summit?” Gengetsu paused, fingers still on the page. His biggest defeat was during the first five-kage summit, a memory deeply etched. The five old, unscrupulous leaders! He laughed it off, considering visiting their graves to ‘reconnect’ and express how he would continue to live happily.

“Don’t worry about it,” Gengetsu said, resuming his reading. This time, it’s a different five kage. Uniting the often-warring five great ninja villages wasn’t easy. Their unity in the original timeline was driven by Akatsuki’s open threats, including capturing jinchūriki and causing significant turmoil, forcing cooperation.

Currently, with no immediate existential threat, even if the five kage wanted to cooperate, their villages wouldn’t be as willing. Gengetsu, understanding human nature, wasn’t concerned. If worst came to worst, another ambush? But there was no Senju Hashirama among the current five kage.

Seeing Gengetsu’s nonchalance about the summit, Samui felt admiration. She took the chance as he switched books to relay a message, “Clan leader, Elder Moteni wishes to meet you.”