The Uchiha connection with Mizugakure?

[Bodhisattva]

I've been thinking about why there seems to be a natural connection between the Uchiha and Mizugakure.

Madara was the MizuKage.
Itachi partnered with Kisame and got along well.
Sasuke teamed with Suigetsu and they seem to get along well.

What could be the connection?
What caused Madara to become MizuKage?
Why do/did the Uchiha brothers work well with Kisame and Suigetsu?

Water is the natural enemy of fire and the Uchiha are enemies of Konoha, which is located in the Land of Fire. We don't know about the relationship between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire, but they appear to be at peace.

Perhaps Madara moved to the Land of Water during the great war to use that country against Konoha and the Land of Fire. But that doesn't explain why they seem to get along well.

Kisame was pleased to learn Tobi was actuall Madara/MizuKage, so that tells me he was respected in that village...

Other than the Water vs Fire connection, what else could be at the root of their alliance?

 

[GriffinofKonoha]

I think that after the battle of the Valley of the End against the 1st Hokage, Madara knew that he wouldn't have any power in Konoha anymore and so he decided to gain power in another village. He probably implemented himself into Kirigakure using genjutsu and/or taking over another ninja's identity. Kinda like what Orochimaru did when he appeared during the Chunin exams. Madara then moved his way up the ranks and eventually became Mizukage and created the ruthless training procedures and created the 7 swordsmen of the Mist. Just my theories on Madara's history.