After finishing his work, Sasori let out a long breath. He had finally identified the source of his inexplicable pressure—because the leader always came up with strange requests.
"What do you want this time?"
"A chain that can seal Chakra. Preferably, it should also suppress the strength of Taijutsu shinobi, while still allowing them some movement."
"Don't you think those last two conditions contradict each other?"
"For anyone else, maybe. But you are Sasori of the Red Sand, the Federation's greatest puppeteer. Even in the entire shinobi world, no one can compare to you."
No matter how many times he heard such words, Sasori's resistance to flattery was always the weakest. If someone praised his art on top of that, the matter would be settled without further debate.
"Hmph. Aside from suppressing Chakra, all that's needed is to lock a few muscles and joints so they retain only minimal mobility."
The corners of Sasori's lips lifted slightly as he spoke with a low hum. His knowledge of human anatomy ranked among the top three in the shinobi world. After only a brief thought, he had already devised two tools—one to seal Chakra, the other to restrain Taijutsu users.
"This shouldn't be difficult for you. Why come to me at all?" Sasori asked curiously. Even without his constant research into the human body, such a task shouldn't have been beyond Hyuga Mirai.
Mirai smiled awkwardly. "The quantity is a bit much. I'll need the Puppet Division to handle it."
"How many?"
"Five thousand to start. Possibly more later."
Sasori drew in a deep breath at that number, then pointed toward the door. "Go find Pakura first."
Five thousand—at minimum. Without Pakura's support, the Puppet Division couldn't secure that many materials. Within the Federation's capital, the total number of active and apprentice mecha puppeteers was just over three hundred. To fulfill Mirai's request, at least two hundred would need to work together.
"My clone is already looking for her. You'll have notice by tomorrow."
With that, Mirai left. The Four Nations Alliance and the Chunin Exams required Pakura's awareness, but she alone knowing was enough.
If all went well, at least ten thousand shinobi from the three villages could be captured. As for Konoha, Mirai would still need to negotiate with Tsunade. If that drunkard had even one-third of Kabuto's diligence, she might already have persuaded some clans by reputation alone.
From Tsunade the Wood Release princess to the reclusive Hokage—it had taken her only two years.
On the way back, Tsunade remained mostly silent. She and Hiruzen Sarutobi did not return to Konoha together, but Kurenai Yuhi and Tokuma Hyuga could clearly sense Tsunade's foul mood.
After all, Tsunade had been the last to learn about the Four Nations Alliance. Even without being Hokage, Kurenai could feel how suffocated Tsunade must have felt during the negotiations.
Fortunately, their return was uneventful. In less than a day, the three were back in Konoha.
Both the Chunin Exams and preparations for war required time. For now, there was no need to convene a jonin meeting. Still, the exams had to be announced early—at the very least, Konoha couldn't afford to disgrace itself under the guise of gathering intelligence.
Tokuma and Kurenai were also given secrecy orders. Tsunade knew Tokuma would likely tell Kiyo Hyuga, but she hoped it would stop there.
"Tsunade-sama, if there's nothing else, we'll take our leave."
"Alright. Red, you stay."
Back in the Hokage's office, Tokuma and Kurenai had completed their mission. But Tsunade held Kurenai back. Once they were alone, she asked:
"Red, last time you mentioned taking a team as a jonin instructor. Why not choose three from the next graduating class? With your strength, teaching three new graduates will be more than enough."
Kurenai's red eyes flickered in surprise. "Tsunade-sama, do you intend for my students to participate in the Chunin Exams?"
"That's right. That is my plan."
"But the time is too short. From graduation to the exam, it won't even be three months..."
Resting her chin on her hand, Tsunade said, "I know. But this time, all graduating genin must enter. After all, the Five Great Nations and surrounding smaller countries are co-hosting. If the numbers are too few, it defeats the purpose."
Kurenai nodded slightly in agreement, though inwardly she shook her head. If she didn't know Tsunade's true status, she might have believed Tsunade genuinely cared about the exam.
"But Tsunade-sama, I don't know anything about this year's students..."
"Don't worry. I'll choose a few suited to your style. If you're dissatisfied, you can refuse."
Hearing this, Kurenai had no choice but to nod. "Understood, Tsunade-sama."
As she reached the door, Kurenai turned back. "Tsunade-sama..."
"Hm? What is it, Red? Any doubts?"
"No, nothing."
Now was not the time to ask. A village's shadow wouldn't admit to something so unthinkable based on baseless suspicions.
Leaving the Hokage building, Kurenai went to the Kurama clan to check on Yakumo, but Yakumo was still away on a mission.
As Yakumo's teacher, Kurenai not only taught her shinobi knowledge and training but also explored the Kurama clan's bloodline Genjutsu. Only by continually experiencing illusions herself could she grasp their secrets. After enduring dozens of Yakumo's Genjutsu, Kurenai had begun developing another method—using all five senses to cast illusions.
It was a kind of bloodline-style Genjutsu, though she was still far from mastering it. If she succeeded, then back in the daimyo's castle, Darui and C of Kumogakure might already have fallen into illusion the moment they saw the senbon in her hand.
After leaving the Kurama clan, Kurenai stopped by the Ninja Academy. Watching the soon-to-graduate students from a distance, she saw little promise beyond the clan heirs. She wondered whom Tsunade would assign under her.
"Released."
Suddenly, Kurenai's expression shifted. The Genjutsu she had cast on a few civilians near the Hokage building had automatically dispelled. It was a trick she had developed—people wouldn't notice they were under illusion, but once they saw a specific face Kurenai had imprinted into their vision, the illusion would break.
Using Genjutsu on her own villagers wasn't right, but she had her reasons. After more than ten years of hard training, if she couldn't track down the truth, she didn't know how much longer she could persist.
"That direction... home?"
Determining the location of the first broken Genjutsu, she muttered softly. In the village, she couldn't use sensory techniques. Without a sensory bloodline, such jutsu would be too easily noticed by another sensor.
She had cast this trigger-type Genjutsu on more than one person. Soon, another civilian's illusion also dissolved, letting her roughly gauge Tsunade's path.
'Forgive me, but this is the only way.'
Forming a seal with one hand, Kurenai silently apologized to the civilians she had ensnared, then used Body Flicker to leave the Academy.
A teacher or two noticed her departure, but once they recognized Kurenai, the Genjutsu expert of Konoha, they thought little of it.
At the previous graduation, Kurenai had also observed many times, but after what happened back then, she abandoned the idea of becoming a team leader. Today, she must have rekindled that intention, so she came to watch again.
Meanwhile, Tsunade returned cheerfully to the Senju compound. Pushing open the door, she immediately smelled the familiar fragrance of alcohol. Licking her lips, she removed her shoes and headed inside. Seeing Hyuga Mirai at the table with fine side dishes and two bottles of sake, she couldn't resist sitting beside him.
"I've been waiting for you."
As she sat, she reached for the bottle to pour herself a cup—but Mirai stopped her hand.
"Sorry, Princess Tsunade. Not this time. You'll just have to watch me drink."
"W-What?" Her light brown eyes widened in disbelief. Then, shifting her gaze, she quickly said, "But I heard something important."
"The Chunin Exams, right? You, the reclusive Hokage, are about ready to pass the title to Kabuto. Now, if you were told to persuade Konoha to merge with the Federation, what are your odds?"
Tsunade lowered her head in shame.
Her odds were practically zero. If she even mentioned it, both the villagers and the clans—who had lived in Konoha for sixty years—would raise objections.
The clans still held seventy percent of the village's strength. Even with her police force, she relied on the Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans. Though she had been drawing them closer, she still had no confidence in convincing them.
Two years of peace had made Tsunade accustomed to such a life. Though she had advanced her electromagnetic field techniques, in other areas her progress was slow.
"You have more than half a year left. Hurry, Tsunade. I don't want to have to intervene."
"Hey, that last part is what you really mean, isn't it?"
Tsunade's eyes fell sadly on the dwindling sake and side dishes. They were precious—delicacies crafted by last year's champion of the Land of Hot Water's culinary competition. Not available anywhere in the Land of Fire, and she hadn't even taken a bite before it was nearly gone.
"Quit whining. Half a year remains. Use it well."
Mirai was only provoking her this time. After finishing, he tidied the dishes and prepared to leave.
But Tsunade suddenly grabbed his sleeve. As Mirai turned, she said, "At least leave me one bottle..."
"Stop acting pitiful."
Mirai pushed her face away, packed up the unfinished sake, and walked out.
(End of Chapter)