Our return to Konoha was swift—at least for Kiba and Shino. They were more than satisfied with the daily updates I sent while dancing through the political cage I had willingly stepped into, all to set our plan in motion.
The idea was simple: travel to the Fire Capital using my status as the daughter and heir to the Daimyō of the Land of Iron, and leverage the influence of Lord Reizan. He had been visibly concerned that what had happened to Konoha might repeat itself in his own city. Our objective was to convince him to host the gathering in his treasured gardens—an open-air setting where Danzo and the Konoha elders would be forced to appear in the daimyo's presence.
Our original plan was straightforward. If Danzo showed up in person, I would launch him through the air using my silver threads to the location where the real me—alongside Kiba and Shino—awaited him. Kiba even suggested disabling Danzo's mouth during his airborne travel, so he couldn't use Wind Jutsu to alter his descent.
But we had a Plan B. If Danzo sent only a clone, the implications would be even more damaging. With all the forces of Konoha focused on the gardens, my revelations during the meeting would carry more weight—and the absence of the real Danzo would ignite the daimyo's paranoia. Lord Reizan, who knew nothing of ninjutsu, would see this as evidence that Danzo might indeed be acting against his interests. His absence would do nothing to calm that fear.
Meanwhile, I sent a second spiritual clone directly to Danzo's real location, to personally invite him to our little reunion with Team 8.
Needless to say, when the Jounin finally arrived at the secure compound Danzo had been hiding in, they found a curious new architectural feature: a wide, unexplained hole torn through the roof.
Ruining his political image and legacy in the eyes of his allies was worth every effort. When news of Danzo's disappearance under an alleged attack broke out, Lord Reizan attempted to question Danzo's men. And that's where Danzo's cursed seal worked against him. His agents couldn't disclose anything without his explicit permission—not even the details of the attack. All they could say was that they had been assaulted.
By the second day, elders Homura and Koharu—perhaps sensing Danzo's death in some spiritual or political way—sought to take control of the investigation. It was clear they aimed to pin everything on Danzo. It's easy to blame the dead; they can't defend themselves, especially when they've accumulated a lifetime of political dirt.
Luckily, I had the chance to suggest that the daimyo appoint a trustworthy Konoha Jounin to lead the investigation. Conveniently, Neji Hyūga was already in the capital. His clan had a solid reputation, and Reizan accepted my recommendation. Neji and Guy were placed in charge.
I made their job easier by putting them in touch with Ren—the second Regresor, a talented young seal master who had served in Danzo's organization since childhood. He was ready to abandon ship. My price for making the introduction? Simple: access to one of the bottled Sharingan Danzo had stashed away. Honestly, I just wanted to give Kuro a gift. She'd been asking for one for a while.
<<<< o >>>>
Our arrival at Konohagakure was far more peaceful than what our lives had been lately. Shino's spirit had quieted, and Kiba—with Akamaru—continued trying to make us laugh, even if only to shake off the weight of what we had done. Kuro's lessons, trying to teach Akamaru how to speak, were oddly calming, even though she was clearly a very bad teacher.
Upon arrival, Shino and Kiba headed to speak with the Jōnin Commander. Yesterday Jiraiya as acting Hokage had departed for the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron—an event my father Takama had been quietly preparing for since the war in Yumegakure ended. Alliances, strengthened ties, trust earned—all seeds planted during our journeys, now beginning to bloom.
The village was clearly on the path to recovery. Naruto's clone army had made a massive difference in rebuilding efforts. As for me, my path led straight to Konoha's hospital.
Mitsue joined me swiftly, and was happily swept away to assist with medical needs. Kuro, now in a smaller form, accompanied me as we made our way to the recovery ward—where Sasuke and Kakashi were meant to be.
Only Kakashi was there.
The nurse informed me Sasuke had been taken elsewhere for a procedure with Sakura. I considered leaving… but then I saw Kakashi.
His body was locked in a state of spiritual dissonance. He was slowly recovering, his consciousness would soon return—but I could see it. The lingering signs of dissonance would remain, even after he awoke.
I approached him. Just like I had done with Sasuke, I placed my hand on his chest and poured in my vitality. My silver flame ignited—like a newborn sun. A body of plasma.
From that flame, I separated a small spark. My bloodline allowed me to adjust its composition, tuning it precisely so it could harmonize with Kakashi's spirit and body. I became the bridge between the two, bringing them closer.
Then I noticed his Sharingan. Obito's eye. Even now, it drained him—burning chakra endlessly. It had gone beyond its limit.
So I used another fragment of my spirit. Just as I had aligned his body and soul, I connected his body and the Sharingan. I restored the vitality of the eye. And for the first time since it was transplanted, the Sharingan deactivated.
The link was now stable. Strong. The light returned to the eye—along with a new possibility for Kakashi to grow. Until now, the Sharingan had been both power and shackle. Now, it would be power alone.
Kakashi's eyes opened.
I spoke softly. "Good morning, Kakashi-san. It's good to see you again."
He blinked at me. His hand instinctively rose to his Sharingan.
"My Sharingan…?"
I smiled. "It's still there. But now, you'll be able to activate it when you need it. It won't drain your chakra constantly anymore."
He lowered his hand, nodding slowly. Then sat up in bed.
"What happened to the village? What happened to Pain?"
"The village is safe. Tsunade performed a miracle. Pain was defeated thanks to the efforts of Jiraiya, Naruto, and Sasuke."
Kakashi let out a long, genuine sigh of relief.
Behind us, the door creaked open. Tsunade entered, still in a hospital robe, followed by a concerned nurse.
"Lady Tsunade, please rest. You've only just woken up—"
"Ah, so you're awake too, Kakashi. That's a relief. Hinata—it's good to see you as well," Tsunade said, her voice a blend of command and weary relief.
I could see her spirit. Her balance. She was utterly exhausted. She had pushed herself past every limit to keep the village alive. I knew she had taken steps to preserve her bloodline at the request of her ancestor, Kyo Senju—who boasted constantly that the future of the Senju was secure. Somehow, through senjutsu, Jiraiya had been looped into that plan… but Tsunade's sacrifices had endangered that future.
"Tsunade-sama… I can see you're still weak. I helped Kakashi—perhaps you'll allow me to help you too?"
Kakashi gestured toward his left eye. "It's the same eye…" And with a thought, his Sharingan activated—then deactivated. The relief on his face was unmistakable.
Tsunade sat down on Kakashi's bed, clearly grateful not to stand any longer. She looked at me. "I don't know what you mean by 'help'… but I suppose seeing it for myself wouldn't hurt."
I placed one hand on her chest and another over my own heart.
I focused on her flame. It was small now—burnt down. She had given everything. The legendary vitality of the Senju had been pushed far beyond natural recovery. I drew in breath—The Breath of the World—calling natural energy through the White Threads of Life that connected Yumegakure no Kai to me.
I felt the energy rise within me, though not enough to bring about a new transformation. My own flame was too strong for that.
But that wasn't my goal.
I gathered the energy I had drawn. I altered it through my bloodline—blurring the lines between spirit and body. Then I fed it into Tsunade's life force.
And slowly, I watched her begin to heal and to be restored beyond what anyone considered possible.
<<<< o >>>>
Before my disbelieving eyes, I felt my energy return—my chakra reigniting in a way I hadn't experienced since my youth. Every cell in my body, drained and overused by the effects of my Creation Rebirth, suddenly reawakened. Aches and fatigue evaporated. It was as if the vitality I once had before the attack was not only restored, but multiplied.
And then something unfamiliar: I sensed a new kind of energy flowing through me. Natural energy. But I could tell—this was not the natural energy of our world. I closed my eyes to better understand it and felt the resonance of Yumegakure no Kai. The energy was deeply spiritual, not merely physical, and through it, I perceived its source: a colossal silver flame beside me, wrapping around me, nurturing me.
For a fleeting moment, I felt true peace. Real serenity. And then, like a gentle breeze, it began to recede. I opened my eyes just in time to see Hinata Gin smiling—before her legs gave out and she collapsed.
My reflexes, sharpened by decades of battle, responded instinctively. I caught her before she hit the ground.
The nurse at my side gasped. "Lady Tsunade... you look younger!"
Kakashi was still there, staring in disbelief. I reached for Hinata's face and glanced down at my hands. I realized that I wasn't keeping my Jutsu active to maintain my youthful appearance. They weren't wrinkled. They felt strong. Energized. The girl in my arms had done something I thought impossible.
"You really are a troublesome patient," I muttered, cradling her.
Just then, Sakura entered the room. Her eyes were tired, dark bags barely hidden by a thin veil of chakra-enhancing makeup. I recognized the signs—stimulants and long hours of medical Jutsu.
"Tsunade-sama… you look well. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you awake and healthy."
Seeing her like this, I couldn't help but feel proud. She'd carried on in my absence, holding the village together.
"I am, Sakura," I replied with a small smile. "But it seems it's time I stepped back. You need rest."
I gently laid Hinata across Kakashi's bed, who now sat upright with no apparent difficulty.
Sakura hesitated, then gathered herself. "Tsunade-sama… Shizune, she…"
I stopped her with a soft, firm voice. "I know. I spoke with her in Yumegakure. I don't like it either. But I have to keep moving forward—for her, and for Konoha."