Konoha Is No Longer the Number One Ninja Village
The battle between Uchiha Shisui's Susanoo and Shukaku, the One-Tail, was as devastating as an earthquake.
Within just a few exchanges, the once-grand arena lay in ruins, its former magnificence erased. The Konoha shinobi, accustomed to years of peace, were forcefully reminded of the horrors of war.
Even during the height of past conflicts, they had not faced the relentless pressure of a tailed beast's raw power. Now, even the residual shockwaves from Shisui's Susanoo and Shukaku's sand techniques were enough to endanger the Chūnin caught in the crossfire.
Having retreated to a safer distance, the Konoha shinobi shifted their gaze toward Naruto and his group.
Shisui's Susanoo was formidable—comparable to a tailed beast at its peak—but Naruto was the true enigma. If he intervened, there was a chance Shukaku wouldn't stand a chance.
Elsewhere, Hundreds of Meters Away
The Fire Daimyō, who had previously maintained an air of composure while fanning himself, had now collapsed onto the ground, trembling. If not for the quick reaction of the Konoha ANBU, the leader of the Land of Fire would have likely perished in the chaos of the arena.
As he stared at the battle between Shukaku and Susanoo, his hands and feet trembled. His voice, barely above a whisper, repeated in disbelief:
"This… this isn't what we agreed upon… This wasn't supposed to happen…"
Tsunade, having steadied herself despite her lingering hemophobia, glanced at the shaken Daimyō with a mixture of disdain and frustration.
"My lord, care to explain? I warned you not to meddle in Konoha's internal affairs."
The Daimyō's gaze darted nervously. Avoiding her eyes, he muttered, "Tsunade-hime… does Konoha also possess such monsters?"
Tsunade's expression darkened as she nodded. The Daimyō swallowed hard before finally admitting the truth behind his dealings with Orochimaru and the Sarutobi clan six months ago.
Six Months Ago
A faction of the Sarutobi clan had approached the Daimyō, seeking his support to reinstate the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Daimyō, whose authority had been threatened by Konoha's recent reforms, readily agreed. The shift in power was jeopardizing the long-standing influence of the nobility, making the idea of removing the current Hokage an appealing prospect.
"Tsunade-hime, I only sought to stabilize the balance of power…" the Daimyō murmured, attempting to justify his actions.
Tsunade's patience was running thin. Pressing a hand against her forehead, she exhaled sharply. "I told you before—Jiraiya and I are pushing for reforms because without them, both Konoha and the Land of Fire will be left behind. The world is changing. Without progress, we won't survive."
Her amber eyes locked onto the Daimyō's. "Are you saying you'd rather see Konoha and the Land of Fire crumble than surrender a portion of your power?"
Silence followed. After a long pause, the Daimyō finally spoke. "I… understand, Tsunade-hime. I will restrain the nobles and fully support Konoha's policies."
"You better mean that," she muttered, before shifting her attention back to the battlefield.
A Desperate Situation
Shisui was holding his own against Shukaku, but Konoha's forces were struggling elsewhere. Reports from the ANBU confirmed that the village was being pressed hard on multiple fronts. Even if they managed to claim victory, the cost would be devastating.
Tsunade weighed her options. There was only one potential solution—seeking outside aid from Uzushio Village.
Making her decision, she ordered most Konoha shinobi to hold their ground while she and a handful of ANBU approached the one person who could shift the tide of battle—Naruto Uzumaki.
Confronting Naruto
As she neared Naruto, he turned, sensing her approach. His blue eyes held amusement as he smirked. "Well, if it isn't Tsunade-sama. It's been, what, over two years?"
Tsunade wasted no time on pleasantries. "Naruto, Konoha needs your help. Jiraiya and I are willing to offer you an appropriate reward."
Naruto studied her for a moment before replying, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Konoha is asking for help from a missing-nin? Why don't you ask Orochimaru instead? Oh, right… he's busy fighting the old man."
Tsunade clenched her fists but kept her voice steady. "Naruto, if you aid us, Konoha will no longer pursue the Nine-Tails within you—or the Uchiha living in Uzushio Village."
Naruto's brow arched slightly, but he remained unimpressed. "Even if I don't help, Konoha isn't in a position to threaten Uzushio Village."
His smirk deepened as he added, "But if you really want my help… I'll need something in return."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"
Naruto's response was swift. "The Land of Kawa."
Tsunade's patience finally snapped. "You're going too far, Naruto! Konoha isn't incapable of handling Suna and Orochimaru. You used to be one of us!"
Naruto chuckled. "And yet, Konoha exiled me." His expression darkened. "For years, Uzushio Village's economy has helped sustain the Land of Fire. A good relationship benefits us both. But don't mistake my goodwill for loyalty."
Tsunade tried to reason with him. "A stable alliance between us is worth more than extortion."
Naruto shrugged. "Negotiations always start high. Don't take it personally, Tsunade-senpai. Stress is bad for your beauty—even the Yin Seal can't fix that."
Before she could respond, his gaze turned sharp. "Besides, you're forgetting something. Sure, Konoha might hold off Orochimaru and Suna… but what if Uzushio Village joins the attack?"
Tsunade's breath hitched. That possibility had never crossed her mind. If Uzushio turned against them, Konoha wouldn't survive. At best, the village would be left in ruins.
Naruto walked past her, leaving only a final remark:
"I have no plans to become Konoha's enemy—yet. But it's time you recognize reality." His voice carried the weight of an undeniable truth.
"Konoha is no longer the number one ninja village."
With that, he vanished, leaping into the air. A massive Rasenshuriken formed in his hands as he descended toward Shukaku.
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