Nawaki remembers that his memories from his previous life stopped at that one mission because he was killed in an explosion due to accidentally stepping into an explosive tag trap.
Carrying his desire to become a Hokage and discontent with the current situation, his consciousness gradually faded away.
When he woke up again, he saw a familiar face, Orochimaru.
And his body was filled with a strong and inexplicable energy.
He looked into Orochimaru's eyes, and Orochimaru's gaze was gentle.
"Orochimaru-sensei?" he tentatively called out and received a response from Orochimaru.
Subsequently, through Orochimaru's explanation, he learned about the current situation in the ninja world and the situation in the Seireitei.
Orochimaru didn't exaggerate anything and didn't mix in personal emotions but analyzed both sides with a neutral attitude.
From Orochimaru's description, Nawaki saw the vitality and ambition of the Seireitei and the twilight of the ninja world.
He also realized the power of the word "era."
The ninja world's ideology was lagging behind, so it was destined to be eliminated.
More and more residents were expressing the three words "new era."
In the Seireitei, they could have a better and fairer life, and they would naturally yearn for it.
In this period of life in the Seireitei, Nawaki saw countless merchants eagerly drawn to the Seireitei and witnessed its prosperity.
It was something even Konoha couldn't compare to.
He didn't know when it started, but he found that his desire to become Hokage wasn't as deep as before.
After interacting with Naruto, he even developed a deep admiration for him.
There was strategy, ambition, and an unimaginable scope to Naruto.
So in the end, Nawaki chose to stand with the Seireitei.
"Sister, I have grown up, and the Seireitei is the starting point of the new era," he slowly drew his Zanpakuto and, facing the sunrise, said firmly to Tsunade, word by word.
"Even you..." Tsunade's face looked miserable as she glanced at the other side of the battlefield.
Naruto stood tall, surrounded by a phoenix, looking up to the First Hokage. Wooden people and wooden dragons were by his side.
The final battle was about to begin.
And here, he was about to fight his beloved sister.
"Are you doing right by Grandfather and Second Grandfather? They killed Second Grandfather," Tsunade said emotionlessly.
"They only belonged to the old era, and you, my sister, are the one who dragged them out of the pure land, making you the culprit behind Second Grandfather's death!" Nawaki's face showed a pained expression.
Initially, their plan had been to transform the souls of the Second and First Hokage into Shinigami.
But the pure land was vast, and finding specific souls wasn't simple.
Nawaki had planned to revive the Senju clan and reunite the family within the Seireitei, but he hadn't expected his sister to use a technique like Edo Tensei.
The departed should rest in peace, but Tsunade had summoned the two grandfathers without permission.
Nawaki was deeply disappointed in Tsunade.
"I had no choice. The Seireitei intends to disrupt the peace of the ninja world. Grandfather and Second Grandfather understood my plight," Tsunade said calmly, her eyes gradually turning icy.
"I finally understand what Big Brother Naruto meant. The concept of transcending eras is something you can't grasp because your thinking is still stuck in the old era." Nawaki's voice became lower, and his aura steadily increased.
"Just as you can't understand the actions of the Seireitei, I can't endorse your conservatism and stubbornness. We are not on the same level, and there is no need for debate. Let's fight. Give it your all to defeat me!" Nawaki's Reiatsu erupted from within, matching that of a captain-level Shinigami, astonishing Tsunade.
"See, sister? I have entered the new era. I will become the blade in Big Brother Naruto's hands! Konoha won't be destroyed; it will survive in a new form."
With those words, Nawaki swung his Zanpakuto towards Tsunade fiercely.
"Wood Release: Wood Shield Technique."
Suddenly, a fang-shaped shield grew in front of Tsunade.
"Chi!" With a piercing sound, the Zanpakuto sliced the shield in half. Nawaki was close and struck again.
"Do you really want to kill me?" Tsunade was shocked and angry as she met the Zanpakuto with her bare fist.
Several tree branches wrapped around to form a sturdy knuckle guard.
Incredible strength erupted, pushing Nawaki back several steps.
Nawaki tightened his grip on his Zanpakuto, feeling a strong numbing sensation in his arm.
With the enhancement from the Wood Release cells, Tsunade's strength had increased, but she wasn't invincible.
"Impressive, indeed a Fifth Hokage." Nawaki praised and dissipated his Zanpakuto into the air.
"Encompass all, Dark Forest."
As he spoke, Nawaki's Reiatsu transformed into an extreme darkness, overflowing like black dots.
The lush grass on the bright field withered visibly, and tall black trees rose up, forming a dark forest in the blink of an eye.
Eerie and terrifying faces were visible on the tree trunks.
"What a sinister aura." Tsunade was immediately moved.
"Sinister? What is evil?" Nawaki's figure gradually disappeared into the dark forest.
"Don't use your ignorant perception to define anything," he said, and the black trees extended long, slender tendrils, piercing towards Tsunade.
"Melt..." On the side, Mei Terumi quickly formed seals but was forced back by Orochimaru with a single strike.
"They are siblings reuniting. It's better not to disturb them," Orochimaru said as he approached Mei Terumi, his right hand transforming into liquid and coiling around her.
An eerie voice sounded in Mei Terumi's ear, "I heard you're of marriageable age but still haven't found a partner. Would you be interested in finding one in our Seireitei?"
Orochimaru's words made Mei Terumi's face contort in anger.
Leaving aside her age, even from a purely physical perspective, who would dare marry her after her disfigurement?
In Mei Terumi's view, this was an insult from Orochimaru.
She immediately used various ninjutsu against Orochimaru.
Orochimaru gave a sinister smile and employed various snake techniques to counter her attacks.
While Orochimaru's combat abilities might not be outstanding among the top-ranked Shinigami, his ability to be elusive was unparalleled.
Moreover, he was adept at using substitutes.
So among the Shinigami, Orochimaru was undoubtedly the opponent they least wanted to encounter.
During Orochimaru and Mei Terumi's battle, Nawaki and Tsunade also engaged in a fierce fight.
Nawaki's abilities seemed tailor-made to counter Wood Release, lacking the vibrant vitality but instead exuding a terrifying stillness.
Tsunade's Wood Release deteriorates rapidly when it enters the range of Nawaki's Dark Forest.
Inside the Dark Forest, there is a pervasive aura of death and unsettling gazes.
As the Dark Forest grows wildly, Tsunade feels her chakra being completely suppressed.
"I never expected you to possess this kind of power," Tsunade says with a bitter expression as she looks at the unfamiliar Nawaki.
There is also a hint of relief in her heart.
Because Nawaki's dream has always been to become the Hokage and possess the power to protect the village.
Now, he has the power, but he no longer desires to become the Hokage.
"A boom." Black wooden figures rise from the forest.
Tsunade doesn't back down; she also creates vibrant wooden figures.
"A boom." The two wooden figures collide, and Tsunade's wooden figure immediately starts emitting a slow black smoke and is pushed back under the immense force.
Though the two wooden figures are massive and eye-catching, compared to the First Hokage's wood release, there is no doubt they are like adults compared to children.
"A boom." With the resounding collision, Tsunade's wooden figure keeps retreating, and Tsunade, standing on the head of her wooden figure, is sweating profusely.
She never imagined that her brother would possess such formidable power now.
Shouldn't the power of a Shinigami have some connection to their life before death?
Before his death, Nawaki hadn't even reached the level of a Chunin, so even becoming a Shinigami shouldn't grant him this level of power.
As the attacks from the Dark Wooden Figures intensify, Tsunade's wooden figure once again takes several steps back, and one of its arms is torn off completely.
Looking at Tsunade, panting heavily, Nawaki's expression remains calm as he calmly asks, "Are you wondering why I have this power now?"
Without waiting for Tsunade to answer, Nawaki continues, "It's because of the techniques our teacher mastered. With the help of his technology, I've made significant progress in both my training speed and strength." Nawaki reveals a wristband on his arm.
"This is a special wristband created based on the power of the Tailed Beasts. It can unlock potential and accelerate training speed. It's still in the development stage, but with the help of this wristband, my potential has been fully unlocked, and I reached Kage-level in just a few months," Nawaki explains calmly.
"Is this your goal in capturing the Tailed Beasts?" Tsunade asks angrily, locking eyes with him.
"No," Nawaki reveals a meaningful smile, "This is just a gift from our teacher. The Tailed Beasts have a much greater purpose, and you will find out in the future," he says as the power of the Dark Wooden Figures surges, and one punch shatters Tsunade's wooden figure.
Watching Tsunade fall from the sky, Nawaki's expression remains stern.
"Sister, come to your senses. The decline of the Shinobi world is an undeniable fact! You are part of our plan; join the Seireitei, and our brother can be revived."
Listening to Nawaki's words, Tsunade suddenly falls into a daze. Her vision begins to darken, and the surroundings are filled with a faint black aura.
"Dan," she murmurs as her memories take her back to the happy moments with her lover, Dan Kato.
At that time, Dan was gentle and caring, the man she wanted to spend her life with.
But the life of a ninja is full of uncertainties.
Whether you're a lower-ranked ninja or even a high-ranking Jōnin, you can die at any moment on a mission.
And Dan did die on one of those missions.
Since that day, she lost the love of her life.
"Is this what you want, a life of a ninja? Is this what you desire, to see these tragedies unfold in the lives of others?" The vision of Dan, looking at her with tenderness, speaks softly.
"The Shinobi world is sick, and it needs a cure," Dan says softly.
Since his resurrection and learning about everything, Nawaki has developed a deep disgust for the Shinobi world.
He still loves Konoha, but he wants to make it better.
That's a change in perspective.
Giving up on the obsession with becoming Hokage and integrating into the Seireitei, letting it accept Konoha, and allowing Konoha to be reborn from the inside out.
"Join the Seireitei, and I can be revived," the illusion of Dan, in a gentle tone, says.
Tsunade's expression is in extreme turmoil, and she emits painful groans.
"If I can join the Seireitei..." Her inner struggle continues, but it seems she remembers something, and her expression returns to calmness.
If it's that idiot...
In Tsunade's mind, the image of a carefree and lecherous figure appears.
He stood by her side without hesitation when she became the Fifth Hokage, facing pressure from the Seireitei. He even risked his life to gather information within the Seireitei.
It made Tsunade understand.
There are people in this world who love her just like Dan did.
It's Jiraiya, who accompanied her through difficult times.
Whether it's for Konoha or Jiraiya, she can't waver here; she can't fall for the Seireitei's scheme.
Tsunade takes a deep breath and looks coldly at the illusion of Dan.
"Dan, the past is the past. I won't dwell on it. I need to look forward. I have a mission more important than feelings."
The illusion of Dan is shattered, and then the black space fades away.
Tsunade opens her eyes and returns to the battlefield. Her wooden figure at her feet is still intact, and Nawaki in front of her looks at her with a complex expression.
"Why are you so stubborn, sister?" Nawaki, somewhat helpless, draws his Zanpakuto.
"No need for more words, Nawaki. Let's fight for our respective beliefs. I won't lose," Tsunade boldly declares.
Boom! At this moment, a phoenix descends from the sky, completely engulfing the First Hokage's wooden figures and wooden dragon. The entire land turns red.
Naruto's chakra descends upon the battlefield, drawing everyone's attention.
Tsunade and Nawaki simultaneously halt their attacks.
"Do you see it, sister? This is the power of Big Brother Naruto," Nawaki admires as he gazes at the center of the flames.
"This is why the Seireitei is unbeatable. This is the beginning of a new era! Under this wave, the old era will be completely swept away!" Nawaki's voice grows impassioned.
"The Shinobi Gods of the old era will all become stepping stones for the Seireitei!"
Looking at the unfamiliar Nawaki, Tsunade feels despair in her heart.
She really wants to know what kind of charisma Naruto has that persuaded so many to leave Konoha.
From the current situation, even with the Shinobi Gods present, the Shinobi Allied Forces are still no match.
Under Naruto's onslaught, the Shinobi Gods have almost lost their combat ability.