As Second Tsuchikage

Mū gave a silent nod. He had already anticipated the need for more allies. Tobirama alone brought their chances up dramatically, but if Mū wanted certainty, if he wanted to crush Madara with overwhelming force, then reinforcements were essential.

"I can try reaching out to Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure," he said steadily, eyes sharp with focus.

Tobirama folded his arms, considering it. "I can contact the old men in Uzushiogakure."

They both understood the unspoken concern. Madara possessed the Nine-Tails now. That alone complicated everything. But if Uzushiogakure lent its sealing expertise, subduing the beast would become much more realistic.

The moment was brief, but decisive. Without any ceremony, the two struck an agreement. Each would gather forces. Each would prepare. And together, they would launch a united strike against Uchiha Madara.

"We'll stay in contact after this," Mū said, then vanished from the Hokage's office with a flicker of chakra.

Tobirama remained in the candlelit room, staring at the flickering flame. His face was unreadable, but his mind was racing.

"This must never reach my brother's ears..."

Already, he was planning to select thirty shinobi from the Senju Clan. Not just any shinobi, those whose hatred for the Uchiha ran deepest. Even after the founding of Konoha, some wounds hadn't healed.

Families were broken during the Warring States era. Sons, daughters, wives, parents, all lost to Uchiha blades. Those kinds of men had nothing left to lose, and Tobirama knew from experience: those were the ones who fought with no hesitation.

They weren't afraid to die. And in war, that made them deadly.

…

Land of Water-Kirigakure

After traveling across the Land of Fire and over the sea, Mū arrived in Kirigakure. He moved like a shadow through the mist, arriving at the edge of a large construction site deep within the village.

There, Gengetsu Hōzuki was overseeing reforms with his trademark small mustache and ever-present smirk.

Since returning from Iwagakure, he had thrown himself into reshaping Kirigakure's shinobi system. The ANBU were being established. Plans for a proper academy were underway. But most notably, Gengetsu had already created an elite combat group, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

They ranked even above the ANBU and were handpicked for their killing ability.

Suddenly, Gengetsu paused. His chakra flared subtly, a chill running down his spine.

Whir...

He turned his head slightly. Something was off.

"Been a while, Lil' Mustache."

A smooth, almost bored voice echoed through the mist.

Gengetsu tensed. "Bastard... Mū, you actually showed up in Kirigakure?!"

He immediately scanned the surroundings for signs of a trap. "You're not here to start a fight, are you?"

His tone was cautious but edged with irritation.

"No," Mū replied calmly. "I'm here to propose an alliance."

He stepped forward and extended a hand.

Gengetsu raised an eyebrow. "Oi, what shady scheme are you pulling now?"

Mū didn't flinch. "I've partnered with Tobirama Senju. We're organizing an assassination, Madara Uchiha."

He offered his hand again, gaze unwavering.

For a moment, Gengetsu was still. War and chaos were his bread and butter, and few things excited him more than a high-stakes conflict. Normally, he'd jump at the chance to take on a legendary opponent. The idea of bringing down someone like Madara was... appealing.

But the moment the name left Mū's lips, something in Gengetsu's face changed.

He loved battle. He thrived in bloodshed. But he wasn't stupid.

"You've lost your damn mind!"

It slipped out before he could stop himself.

Mū simply shook his head and turned away. "So our brave Gengetsu Hōzuki doesn't dare fight Madara. Fine~. Tobirama and I will handle it ourselves."

"Wait, Tobirama's in on this?" Gengetsu's expression twitched. That bastard was forming alliances behind his back? With Mū of all people?

"You're not doing this without me!" Gengetsu shouted, lunging forward to grab the hem of Mū's cloak. He thumped his chest with exaggerated bravado. "Madara Uchiha? I'll punch that smug bastard into next week!"

A rare smirk tugged at Mū's lips beneath the bandages. "Gengetsu Hōzuki, you're the coolest Water Style guy I've ever met."

Gengetsu flushed at the praise and instinctively ran a hand through his tall, slick yellow pompadour, trying, and failing, to hide the satisfied grin forming on his face.

…

Land of Lightning-Kumogakure

"First Raikage-sama, that's the situation. Whether your village joins or not… it's up to you."

Mū stood tall before the First Raikage, voice calm, eyes unwavering. Assassinating Madara Uchiha wasn't a trivial request, especially now that Madara possessed the Nine-Tails.

The First Raikage's expression was stern, jaw clenched in thought. Word had already reached him that his elite duo, the Gold and Silver Brothers, had never returned from their mission. Given their power, it likely meant they'd been crushed under the beast's paw.

After a long silence, the First Raikage turned to the man beside him, a younger shinobi with equally imposing presence, his chosen successor, the man history would know as the Second Raikage. For now, simply "Aye."

"What do you think, Aye?" the First asked, his tone expectant.

Aye stroked his chin thoughtfully before answering. "Raikage-sama, I believe we should join. Madara Uchiha, now unaffiliated with Konoha, is a threat to all villages. Anyone who can control the Nine-Tails has already declared themselves an enemy of the world."

The First Raikage gave a grim nod. "Then you will lead thirty of our top shinobi to support the operation. If we act now, we might stop him before it's too late."

…

With Kumogakure committed, only Sunagakure remained.

Mū didn't waste time. He crossed scorching deserts and endless dunes to reach the village hidden in the sand, gaining an audience with the First Kazekage, Reto, a hard-eyed man whose posture was as stiff as the climate he ruled.

"Hmph. The Land of Wind doesn't waste strength on things that don't benefit us," Reto said coolly, arms folded across his chest as he stared Mū down.

Mū didn't flinch. "I ask Kazekage-sama to reconsider. Surely you understand that if the lips perish, the teeth grow cold."

Reto's eyes flickered. He recognized the proverb. Of course, he knew what Mū was implying, if the other villages fell, Sunagakure would be next. But knowing and acting were two different things. He wanted something in return.

"If Sunagakure participates," Mū continued without missing a beat, "Iwagakure is willing to relinquish all influence over the Land of Birds. Full control will go to you."

That caught Reto's interest. His fingers tapped slowly against his arm. After a pause, he gave a nod and turned to summon someone.

A shinobi stepped into the room.

Mū's eyes narrowed slightly. Shamon.

That name was etched in his memory. A master of both Sand Manipulation and puppetry. The origin of Sunagakure's two most dangerous combat styles. In another timeline, he would become the famed Second Kazekage.

"Shamon will lead thirty elite shinobi to join your operation," Reto declared.

Mū's expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he was satisfied. The team was nearly complete. One by one, the pieces were falling into place.

They were on the verge of assembling a force that echoed the future Five Kage vs. Madara alliance. Only this time, they would be facing him in his prime, with Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan blazing, and the Nine-Tails under his control.

He himself would take the place of Ōnoki. Gengetsu Hōzuki would stand in for Mei Terumī. Tobirama Senju would replace Tsunade. The Second Raikage would mirror the role of the Fourth Raikage. And Shamon, the man destined to become the Third Kazekage, would substitute for Gaara. With this lineup, five founding-era titans representing each major village, and with no Rinnegan in Madara's arsenal, the chances of victory were no longer just a fantasy. They were real.

None of them was weakened by age. None were held back by injuries, political concerns, or alliances. Every single one was in their prime, sharper and stronger than the generation that would come after. And with the First Hokage nowhere in sight to interfere or pull punches, they could go all out. This wasn't just a battle. It was going to be a reckoning.

…

Uzushiogakure

While Mū rallied the outer villages, Tobirama moved in silence. He arrived deep within the borders of Uzushiogakure, a village hidden by swirling tides and infamous for its sealing prowess. There, he was ushered into a traditional wooden home nestled within the cliffs.

Elder Uzumaki Rōjin greeted him with a tired smile. Though his hair had turned white and his back was bent with age, his eyes were still sharp. Known as one of the oldest living Uzumaki and something of a half-father-in-law to Hashirama, he was both respected and feared among the clans.

"Tobirama, what brings you to Uzushio?" Rōjin asked, sipping his tea with deliberate slowness.

Tobirama bowed slightly in respect. "Apologies for the late visit, Elder. I came to ask for Uzushio's aid in a critical matter."

The elder's brow rose slightly. "Oh? What kind of aid?"

Tobirama didn't mince words. "I need help killing Madara Uchiha."

The teacup clattered in Rōjin's hand, nearly slipping from his grip.

"Hashira—, I mean, the Hokage... does he know about this?" the elder asked, voice low.

Tobirama's expression didn't change. His tone remained composed. "My brother doesn't want to be the bad guy. He hasn't said anything directly, but I know him. Deep down, he wants Madara removed, for the sake of the village. But he won't raise his own hand. So that leaves me."

Rōjin narrowed his eyes. The logic sounded plausible… but knowing Hashirama, it didn't quite sit right. That man was many things, but a coward wasn't one of them. Still, Rōjin hadn't forgotten the past. Madara had once led slaughter after slaughter against their clan, leaving behind burning temples and weeping widows. If there was even a sliver of justice to be had, he wasn't going to ignore it.

"Fine," the elder said, placing his cup back down with a gentle tap. "How many do you need?"

"Thirty. All of them elite, preferably those trained in advanced sealing techniques. Speed, resilience, and battlefield coordination are also key."

Rōjin gave a slow nod. "You'll have them by the end of the week. Some of our finest were waiting for a real cause anyway."

Tobirama gave a small bow. "Thank you, Elder."

As he turned to leave, Rōjin added with a dry chuckle, "Just don't let that Uchiha bastard come back from the dead this time."