In Konoha's Hokage office, Sandaime sat pensively, his gaze fixed on the dawning sky. Another sleepless night had passed, spurred by urgent reports from his uneasy disciple Jiraiya, prompting a high-level meeting with three Hokage advisors.
The outcome of their discussion brought mixed emotions: the prospect of gaining valuable intelligence from Chi Sha and Sha Lan of Sunagakure excited their spirits, yet the anticipated bloodshed and financial strain weighed heavily on their minds.
"Hattori Masanari has proven to be more formidable than anticipated. If Jiraiya's report is accurate, Amegakure may rise in prominence again. With him and Hanzo aligned, other villages will think twice before challenging the Land of Rain," The Sandaime mused, his concern evident.
They can't afford an audacious Amegakure again. They were barely able to resist the pressure this time.
While the prospect of Rain's ascendance was undesirable, the reality seemed inevitable. Hence, leveraging the captive exchange to bolster Hattori Masanari's position appeared prudent, despite its implications for Konoha's resources.
In the Sandaime's estimation, Hattori Masanari's presence within the Land of Rain would render non-Kage-level adversaries powerless. However, despite Konoha's abundance of Kage-level and elite jonin, their influence was limited by the need to allocate resources for defense against rival ninja villages eyeing the Land of Fire's riches.
Kumogakure, kirigakure, and the nearby Sand and Rock Hidden Villages were among Konoha's many adversaries, necessitating a delicate balance between battlefield deployment and homeland security.
In this landscape, Konoha's strength and resources were stretched thin, leaving little room for error.
If it weren't for the ongoing conflicts between Sunagakure and Iwagakure, compounded by the Earth Country's invasion and occupation of parts of the Land of Wind, the possibility of joining forces might have been feasible, at least in theory.
"Indeed, the future lies in the new buds of Konoha. Once the next generation of Konoha shinobi matures, Sunagakure arrogance will be destroyed," mused Sandaime, acknowledging the importance of Konoha's youth in shaping its destiny.
Despite pondering the situation, Sandaime hokage couldn't devise a solution to Konoha's predicament of being surrounded by enemies. His only recourse was to place his faith in the next generation of Konoha shinobi who upheld the Will of Fire.
As he contemplated the future, faces of young, budding shinobi flooded Sandaime's mind, eliciting a smile from the Hokage. These youthful faces represented hope and resilience, embodying the spirit of Konoha's enduring legacy.
The caliber of this new generation of Konoha shinobi is truly impressive.
Setting aside Kirito, who has already been identified as a Kage-level powerhouse, we have Nawaki, Chizuru, Hana Hyuga, and Konoha golden sun, also known as Namikaze Minato, all showing promising potential. It's highly likely that they will all ascend to the rank of shadow-level powerhouses in the future.
Konoha's ability of nurturing exceptional talent remains as strong as ever.
"My primary duty now is to maintain stability within Konoha's borders, repel external threats, and provide ample time for the next generation of Konoha shinobi to flourish."
As the sun continued its ascent, the Sandaime released a long exhale of smoke, his mind resolute.
His sense of responsibility surged once more as he delved back into the mountainous pile of paperwork on his desk, fully committed to his duties.
The sandaime, it seem, still didn't sink to danzo level at this point of the history.
_________________________________________
"The next morning, bright and early, at Nawaki's residence.
Kirito rose promptly at six o'clock, swiftly changing his attire and completing his ablutions. He then settled into the serene courtyard, immersing himself in his daily chakra refinement and natural energy absorption exercises. Persisting in these routines aimed to bolster his chakra reserves and enhance his control over natural energy.
An hour later, he reopened his eyes and clapped his hands together.
A plethora of sealing techniques sprawled across the ground, swiftly forming a square sealing barrier.
Sealing Technique: Quadrangular Seal!
With the sealing barrier in place, Kirito extended his hand, channeling blue chakra to gather rapidly in his palm, forming a small, rapidly rotating chakra ball.
Rasengan !
Subsequently, he began infusing natural energy into the spiral pill, gradually increasing its size from that of a ping-pong ball to that of a volleyball. The pill emitted potent and distinctive chakra fluctuations—Senjutsu Chakra.
This special chakra, derived from natural Chakra mixed to normal chakra, would undoubtedly attract attention if not for the sealing barrier concealing its presence.
Sage art : rasengan !
"It's still too slow."
Kirito sighed as he examined the Senjutsu Chakra spiral pill in his hand.
Despite his sage-like physique, Kirito had struggled to achieve sage mode due to his insufficient chakra reserves. However, with his attributes raised to level 5, he finally succeeded in producing the rasengan.
Natural energy, superior in quality to chakra, required a significant amount of chakra to blend effectively and produce Senjutsu Chakra.
Sage mode entailed a perfect fusion of the chakra within a ninja's body with the natural energy of the external world, resulting in Senjutsu Chakra enveloping the entire body. However, maintaining sage mode demanded ample chakra reserves.
Unfortunately, Kirito's current predicament stemmed from his inadequate chakra reserves, preventing him from fully entering sage mode. Consequently, he could only generate a limited amount of Senjutsu Chakra.
Moreover, the release speed of the rasengan remained sluggish, failing to meet the requirements for combat.
"Patience is key. It's time for breakfast."
Kirito composed himself and dispelled the sealing barrier, making his way to the dining room.
Upon arriving, he found an unexpected guest at the table—Tsunade, a fiery blonde beauty and Nawaki's older sister.
Dressed in a loose white bathrobe, Tsunade appeared slightly disheveled, her eyes still bleary from sleep. Nevertheless, she wore a warm smile as she greeted Kirito.
"Ohh, that's a new face. Nawaki, introduce your friend to me "
"Elder sis, this is Kirito, grandma disciple and my future right hand when i become the hokage. Kirito, allow me to introduce you. This is my sister, Tsunade, a hero of Konoha."
Nawaki beamed proudly as he introduced his sister to Kirito.
My sister is great, praise me now.
"Master Tsunade, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kirito Tohsaka, currently interning as a medical ninja at the hospital. I look forward to working with you in the future."
Kirito greeted Tsunade respectfully, his eyes reflecting a hint of admiration.
Upon hearing Kirito's words, Tsunade's bleary eyes suddenly sparkled with vitality. She reached out and pulled Kirito into a tight embrace, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Ah, you're the one they call konoha medical Genius. It's so strange hearing that grandma took a disciple, and someone so good at the healing arts. You're like a dear brother to Nawaki. Thank you for taking care of this idiot all these years. From now on, consider me your sister, just like Nawaki does. Understand?"
Tsunade's heartfelt gratitude stemmed from Kirito's unwavering support and guidance, which had contributed significantly to Nawaki's growth. Despite her battles on the front lines, she had kept in touch with Mito and Nawaki, learning of Kirito's importance to them.
Knowing her little brothers, if he jumped into the shinobi life without preparation, he would have died long ago.
Kirito's assistance had played a crucial role in Nawaki's remarkable progress, leading Tsunade to extend her warmth and affection to him.
Kirito, caught off guard by Tsunade's overpowering embrace, struggled to breathe under her enthusiastic onslaught.
'Nawaki, stop her before she kill me...'
Recognizing his sister's penchant for overwhelming affection, Nawaki intervened just in time to save Kirito from impending suffocation.
"Big sis, i think you should let him breath "
"Oops, my apologies. I got a little carried away."
Tsunade released Kirito, her demeanor returning to a more composed state.
"It's alright, Tsunade-sama. I'm perfectly fine."
Kirito gasped for air, casting a wary glance at Tsunade's chest. He couldn't help but feel that another moment under her embrace would surely have been his last.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he regretted it, realizing that Tsunade was looking at him with a knowing smile.
Kirito recognized that mischievous expression from Mito.
Quickly changing his words, he said, "Sister Tsunade, let's eat. I'm famished."
"Alright, Kirito, Nawaki, let's dig in together."
Tsunade quickly dropped the mischievous act at her sister's prompting, gently ruffling
Kirito's hair with satisfaction.
Suddenly having a surrogate older sister like Tsunade felt odd to Kirito at first. However, he could sense Tsunade's genuine warmth, reminiscent of many Senju Clan members' sunny disposition.
Having such a beautiful and powerful sister actually felt rather comforting. Besides, he could glean advanced medical knowledge from Tsunade for free in the future.
With Tsunade's hands-on guidance, Kirito anticipated significant strides in his medical expertise, perhaps even a breakthrough in the cell fusion technology that had eluded him.
Lost in these thoughts, Kirito found himself smiling as he savored his meal.
---------
Kirito's good mood dissipated shortly after breakfast.
Tsunade's announcement that they would visit Grandma weighed heavily on his heart.
Mito's health had deteriorated rapidly over the past year. Fearing her inability to control the Nine-Tails, she had been relocated to a secluded villa outside the village, under constant Anbu surveillance and frequent relocation.
Accessing Mito had become increasingly challenging for Kirito, requiring prior approval from the Sandaime. Despite weekly visit requests, both Kirito and Naoki had been denied entry for the past two months.
Momoka, a Hokage consultant, had the privilege of daily visits, leaving Kirito and Nawaki feeling excluded.
At nine years old, Nawaki had matured significantly, understanding the gravity of Mito's condition. Each visit left him visibly changed, prompting him to redouble his efforts in training and academics.
Diligent in his studies and sealing techniques, Nawaki had made notable progress, now listening attentively in class and mastering numerous ninjutsu. His proficiency with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique marked a significant advancement in his repertoire.
Under Kirito's tutelage, he had honed his chakra control, proficiency in Water and Earth Release ninjutsu, and mastery of the Sage Mode.
Physical training under a Hyuuga teacher and learning Senju Taijutsu techniques had augmented his combat prowess, positioning him as a formidable special ninja.
Despite his young age, Kirito believed Nawaki possessed the strength of a seasoned chuunin ninja, barring encounters with genjutsu specialists.
"Why the long faces? Don't want to visit Grandma?" Tsunade teased, noticing Kirito and Nawaki's somber expressions.
"No, we're going," Naoki replied earnestly.
"It's been too long since I've seen Sensei. I wouldn't miss this opportunity," Kirito affirmed.
"Then let's go together. Wait here for me," Tsunade said, pleased with their response.
Half an hour later, the trio departed, greeted by an Anbu ninja at the doorstep.
"Master Tsunade, please follow me," the Anbu ninja addressed respectfully.
"Lead the way," Tsunade replied.
Mito's current whereabouts remained a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few in Konoha. Even Tsunade was unaware and relied on the Anbu ninja to guide them.
Though Kirito could discern Mito's location through his soul perception, infiltrating her residence posed a formidable challenge. Mito's dwelling now boasted a barrier that barred entry to spirits, likely her doing.
Sealing Technique: Spirit Sealing Array!
It was this enchantment formed by the sealing technique that hindered his ability to infiltrate as a spirit.
Yet, as the saying goes, there's no impenetrable barrier. Kirito suspected that someone had leaked crucial information about his successful mastery of spiritualization. This detail had been included in the underground bounty exchange, skyrocketing his bounty to a staggering 80 million,
surpassing even Nawaki's.
That's near 3 Asuma.
Unsurprisingly, leaving Konoha would undoubtedly attract numerous bounty hunters seeking the hefty reward.
Guided by the Anbu ninja, the trio clandestinely departed the village using the Transformation Technique, venturing deep into the Death Forest.
En route, Kirito sensed the presence of over a dozen jounin-level chakras with his natural energy perception. Additionally, through soul perception, he detected numerous ninjas from the Hyuga Clan, Aburame Clan, and Inuzuka Clan, each at least Chunin level. Spread throughout the Death Forest, these reconnaissance ninjas maintained constant patrols, ensuring near-complete coverage of the forest.
The significant deployment of guardian forces underscored Konoha's dedication to protecting Mito. With such formidable defense, even a Kage-level intruder would face significant obstacles.
Before long, the trio arrived at a secluded villa nestled deep within the Death Forest.
Here, ten Jōnin were stationed to guard the perimeter of the villa.
Upon seeing the trio approaching, the guards, who had been briefed in advance, recognized them and allowed their entry without obstruction. One of the Hyuga Clan Jōnin stationed at the door performed a brief inspection to confirm that they were not under any transformation technique before granting them access.
Inside the villa, Kirito was reunited with Kushina, who was diligently practicing her sealing techniques. Tsunade's reaction upon seeing Kushina was more animated than when she saw Kirito, culminating in a powerful embrace that resulted in Kushina's unconsciousness due to suffocation. Fortunately, Tsunade's exceptional medical skills promptly revived her.
Under Kushina's guidance, the trio finally reached Mito and Momoka, who were residing deep within the villa
Mito's mental state appeared relatively stable, but her physical condition had significantly deteriorated. Her once robust figure had withered, her hair had turned completely gray, and the yin seal between her eyebrows had notably faded.
She appeared frail, incredibly so.
This was how Mito appeared to Kirito and the others.
With Momoka's assistance, Mito rose from her bed, welcoming Kirito and the others with a smile.
"You are all here. I wish my sigh didn't give on me, so i could stare at you, tsunade, nawaki, Kirito "
Kirito felt a pang of sadness and emptiness in his heart, realizing that the moment he had dreaded was now upon them.
Through his soul perception, Kirito detected the faintness of Mito's soul fire, suggesting it could extinguish at any moment.
Teacher, it seem your time is already up.
Rather than rushing forward immediately, Kirito allowed Nawaki and Tsunade, who were already in tears, to approach Mito first. He stood back, watching them.
"Kirito, why are you still standing there? Come here quickly," Mito's voice called out.
As her words, Kirito moved forward, grasping Mito's outstretched hand with both of his own. Tears welled in his eyes as he smiled, addressing her
''Teacher."
Mito embraced them affectionately
"Im glad you are all safe "
--------------------------
Don't forget to drop stones and comment !
I will drop an early chapter every hundred stones.