"Ever since the Uchiha took power in Konoha, the village's barrier has clearly undergone significant changes. Its strength now far surpasses what it once was. It seems the Uzumaki clan has been quietly working in the shadows," Black Zetsu muttered as he observed from afar.
He knew very well what could truly threaten his existence in the shinobi world: the Six Paths power, Yin-Yang Release, senjutsu—and sealing techniques. The Uzumaki clan, unrivaled in sealing arts, had not only survived but innovated during their years within Konoha.
"The Uzumaki clan should've been erased long ago. It's a mistake that they were allowed to integrate into Konoha. I wonder what spell Uchiha Xiuyu cast on them."
Obito stood nearby, his expression hidden behind the cold mask. His feelings about Konoha remained twisted and bitter. He'd turned against his former master during the Nine-Tails Rebellion, but Konoha had never been easy prey.
"Kumogakure may have lost before, but if the Four Great Ninja Villages unite this time, will Konoha be able to withstand them again? If Konoha falls, the rest of the world will follow. The Moon Eye Plan could proceed more smoothly," he said.
"What's Nagato's status?"
"Still adapting to the Rinnegan," Black Zetsu replied with a grim tone. "He hasn't fully mastered it. Capturing the Tailed Beasts will still take years. The bigger problem is Akatsuki's manpower—Orochimaru's gone, Biwa Juzo is dead. We're short-handed."
"How's recruitment going?"
Black Zetsu scoffed. "How do you think? Not well."
Obito let out a quiet breath. "Fine. I'll handle it. But for now, our priority is preparing for the Chunin Exams."
---
In Konoha, the news had already spread.
All five major nations would send genin to Konoha for the first-ever joint Chunin Exam. Even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had been informed.
The letter had been penned personally by Uchiha Fugaku, the current Hokage. The Daimyo, though not fond of the Uchiha's strong-arm methods, couldn't deny their effectiveness.
Still, he remained uneasy.
Uchiha's image had improved over the years thanks to Su Xiuyu's earlier efforts. The civilians no longer feared the Uchiha; they simply didn't understand them. Yet even so, they respected them.
The Police Force no longer belonged solely to the Uchiha but included civilians and members of other clans. The power dynamic had shifted. Some civilian shinobi had even risen through the ranks, mentored by Uchiha veterans. Exceptional talent was welcomed into the Uchiha clan—though the standards were impossibly high.
In many ways, Uchiha had become what the Hyuga once were: powerful, noble, but far more inclusive than their ancestors.
Since Fugaku's rise to Hokage, the clan had taken a more visible role.
"Shisui," Fugaku ordered, "meet with the Third Hokage. Inform Jiraiya to return to the village. Itachi, head to the Short Side Street. We have reports Tsunade passed through there two days ago."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," both responded and vanished to carry out their tasks.
---
Sarutobi Hiruzen, long retired, lived quietly in his family estate. When Minato had taken office, the young Hokage had lacked allies and leaned on Hiruzen's experience. But with Uchiha in power, the old guard was left behind.
There was no shortage of talent now—between the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans, the new generation had everything they needed.
"Sandaime-sama," Shisui greeted, bowing respectfully.
Hiruzen looked at him, eyes clouded with emotion. Shisui had always been, in his mind, the ideal heir to the Will of Fire—a pure-hearted shinobi. But Danzo had betrayed that dream. It wasn't until after Danzo's death that Hiruzen uncovered the truth: Shisui had been manipulated and discarded.
"It's been a long time, Shisui. How have you been?"
"I've been well. Sandaime-sama, I come on behalf of the Fifth Hokage. Please reach out to Jiraiya-sama immediately. I'm sure you've heard about the joint Chunin Exams."
Hiruzen nodded, heavy with thought. "Yes… A storm is coming."
His gaze darkened. "The Four Great Villages are aligning. They want to corner Konoha. This exam is no celebration. It's a battlefield."
"Understood. Please reach out to Jiraiya as soon as you can. Also…" Shisui coughed lightly. "Please remind him not to spy on the women's bathhouse when he returns. Our barrier system is a little more—sensitive—than it used to be."
For a brief moment, Hiruzen's face burned with embarrassment. He placed a protective hand over the crystal ball tucked in his robes. Since the barrier enhancements, his own surveillance jutsu had stopped working entirely. His once all-seeing ball was now just… a ball.
Shisui's gaze lingered a second too long on it. Hiruzen paled.
Did he know?
"One more thing," Hiruzen said, trying to shift focus. "If the Four Villages truly march against us… Is Konoha ready? Are the Uchiha ready?"
Shisui didn't hesitate.
"We are not guaranteed victory—but we will not allow Konoha's honor to be tarnished on its own soil."
Hiruzen stared into his eyes.
"Then let me ask this—your ancestor, Uchiha Xiuyu. Is he still alive?"
Shisui smiled faintly. "Lord Xiuyu is indeed alive. But he is no longer in this world."
Hiruzen leaned back, sighing deeply. The crystal ball felt heavier in his hand than ever before.
"Not in this world, huh..."
Even the Hero of Konoha had to admit—there were powers out there he could no longer reach.
------------------------
The steam curled lazily in the air as Jiraiya sank deeper into the hot spring, eyes half-lidded in bliss. That peace, of course, was short-lived. A soft splash echoed nearby, and a small toad with a scroll in its mouth emerged on the rock beside him.
"A message... from Sensei?" Jiraiya muttered, recognizing the messenger toad Sarutobi often used.
He took the encrypted scroll, unfurled it, and scanned the contents. His relaxed expression vanished instantly.
"A joint Chūnin Exam? From all five great Villages? Damn… that's not just politics—that's a storm waiting to explode."
He sighed, splashing water on his face as he rose. He'd only recently returned to the village after an intense training session with Naruto, but clearly, rest was a luxury he couldn't afford right now.
---
Meanwhile, far from the hot springs of Konoha, the situation was much less relaxing.
Itachi stood in a narrow alley, the location given by the ANBU intelligence team. It was precise—Lady Tsunade was here, accompanied by Shizune. But the reunion wasn't going smoothly.
"I respectfully ask you to return to Konoha, Lady Tsunade. The village is on the verge of a critical shift. Your presence is necessary."
Polite, composed, and unwavering—that was Itachi. Yet Tsunade's response was as cold as the wind blowing down the empty street.
"Tell the Third or the so-called Fifth Hokage that I'm not coming back," she said firmly. "You should turn around, Uchiha."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Don't you care about Konoha's future? It was your grandfather and my Uchiha ancestors who built it—"
"I care," she interrupted, softer this time, but no less resolute. "But I can't help. Not in the state I'm in."
Hemophobia—her hidden curse. The paralyzing fear of blood that haunted her in every battle. But of course, Itachi didn't know. Sarutobi would never share that level of classified information with Fugaku, let alone the ANBU.
"I'm under direct orders from the Hokage," Itachi said, the steel creeping into his voice. "You will return with me—today."
That shift in tone made even Shizune glance up. Calm as he appeared, Itachi had a line—once crossed, there would be no more diplomacy.
"Oh? The little Uchiha wants to act tough?" Tsunade smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Watch yourself, brat. My fists don't pull punches."
Without warning, she launched a Tenshō Kick, slamming her heel into the ground. Dust and debris exploded outward as the street cracked into a deep crater. Power surged through her limbs—a reminder that despite her trauma, she was still the Sannin of legend.
But when the dust cleared, Itachi was gone.
From atop a nearby streetlamp, he calmly called out, "Uchiha Shuriken Jutsu!"
A volley of glinting steel rained toward her.
"Hmph." Tsunade crouched low and shattered the earth beneath her feet. A wall of rock erupted in front of her, intercepting the projectiles. She stepped through the debris with a growl. "You're just like your clan—too cocky for your own good."
But something was wrong. The moment she emerged, the world around her shifted.
The bustling alley faded into silence. The buildings melted into shadows. The trees swayed unnaturally in a barren, desolate battlefield.
Tsunade froze.
Genjutsu... she realized immediately.
She prepared to dispel it—until her eyes locked on a patch of disturbed earth.
A hand pushed through the soil. A blood-covered body dragged itself out, organs trailing.
"...Sister," the corpse gasped. "I died... such a horrible death..."
"Nawaki—!" she choked, staggering backward.
Years of pain, buried beneath layers of bravado and alcohol, surged up with a vengeance. Her vision blurred. Her legs buckled. And the illusion swallowed her whole.
In reality, Tsunade collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune rushed to her side, shielding her instinctively. Even her pig, Tonton, stood guard, tiny hooves planted defensively in front of its mistress.
"What did you do to her?!" Shizune demanded.
"She's simply under a Genjutsu," Itachi said flatly. "My orders are to return her to Konoha—even if I have to bind her."
Before Shizune could react, her vision warped.
She too succumbed to Itachi's illusion. Her mouth moved absently as she slumped beside Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade... we have money now... No more running... no more debt..."
Itachi blinked, genuinely surprised.
They've been hiding from loan sharks?
Just then, two masked Uchiha operatives landed silently behind him.
"One each," Itachi ordered. "We're going back."
With Tsunade, Shizune, and even Tonton in tow, they left the alley.
---
"Ito, our fat sheep's been taken! What about our money?" one bystander grumbled after the Uchiha were gone.
"You think I'm letting that much money go? Hell no."
"You gonna stop the Uchiha yourself?"
"Me? Are you mad? I'd like to live. I'll just go to Konoha and collect it there."
Tsunade's reputation preceded her—not just as a Sannin, but as the unluckiest gambler in the ninja world. She always paid her debts… eventually. Even if it meant selling off pieces of the Senju clan estate.
By the next morning, they were nearing the gates of Konoha. The trip had been swift, thanks to traveling nonstop.
Then, without warning, a hand clamped down on Itachi's neck.
"You little bastard…" Tsunade growled behind him, fingers tightening. "Do you believe I won't snap your neck right here?"
She was awake—and pissed.
To be fair, Itachi had cast multiple illusions along the way, keeping her pacified until they were close enough to avoid escape.
"If that's what Lady Tsunade wishes to do," Itachi said calmly, "then I will not resist."
"You smug little brat—!" Her grip tightened. Just a little more and—
Itachi burst into a flock of crows, scattering through the air.
"…You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, hands still outstretched.
It was a crow clone. Again.
By now, they were at the village gate. Despite herself, Tsunade exhaled, glaring daggers at the Uchiha emblem.
She was back.
But if Itachi thought she'd forgive and forget?
He was sorely mistaken.
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