On the other side, although the great battle between Konoha and Suna had come to an end, that didn't mean everything was over.
On the contrary, now that the war had ended, there were even more matters to deal with.
Inside the main command tent at the frontline base, Tsunade, the overall commander of this operation, was reviewing documents with a stern expression.
Each time she finished reading a document, she would hand it to the person on her left and begin giving verbal instructions on how to handle it. If she couldn't clearly articulate a decision, she would bluntly say, "You decide."
Sitting on her left, Minato took the documents with a look of silent grievance. After glancing at them, he began furiously scribbling down responses, all while gritting his teeth.
Do you even realize I'm only 10 years old? This is war, not some child's game. Telling me to make decisions on my own, do you really think that's appropriate?
And you're just casually using me like a laborer? I—
Tsunade completely ignored Minato's unspoken complaints and nodded with great satisfaction.
This kid really has something, quick-witted, decisive. Truly a fine candidate for Hokage. Shin didn't train him so diligently for nothing.
I'm not being lazy. I'm just helping him get used to Hokage duties ahead of time.
And not just now, once I return to Konoha and become Hokage, I should definitely involve this kid even more.
Yep, that's settled.
As Tsunade drifted off into her thoughts, the space inside the tent suddenly distorted. A man wearing a yellow spiral-patterned mask and a black cloak abruptly appeared in front of her.
"Hihihihi" The masked man let out a strange laugh and reached his right hand toward Tsunade.
Minato merely glanced up and continued working on his documents.
Tsunade's eyes lit up, and she nonchalantly smacked the hand away, pretending to be annoyed. "Where the hell did you run off to?"
"Uh..." The masked man, a bit dispirited by her reaction, removed his mask and said, "Why aren't any of you scared? So boring."
Under the mask was none other than Shin.
He had disguised himself like this and operated under the name of Madara... well, for secretive purposes.
Partly to use the name to intimidate people, and partly to see if Madara had any backup plans left after his original scheme failed, maybe something he could lure out.
Tsunade and Minato were both speechless at his comment.
This isn't even the first time you've dressed like this. Can you stop being so childish?
"I asked you a question!" Tsunade suddenly became annoyed. "Where did you go?"
Hearing her interrogative tone, Shin wasn't happy either. He replied irritably, "Do I have to report to you wherever I go?"
"What did you just say?" Tsunade's chakra flared up, her eyes turning cold. "Are you asking for a beating?"
"You think I'm scared of you?" Shin responded. "Come outside if you've got the guts."
As he spoke, Shin began walking out.
Like hell I'll let that slide. She snorted coldly and followed him out.
Minato's face turned visibly red with frustration. He couldn't take it anymore.
He slammed the stack of documents on the table and glared furiously at the two who had stopped in their tracks because of the sudden outburst.
"You two idiots, can you stop acting?!"
"I'll do the work if I must, but this is just insulting. Next time you want to leave, just go. I'll accept it, alright?"
Tsunade and Shin looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"We were just trying to spare your feelings. Giving you a way out, and you're still not happy?"
"But your suggestion's not bad. Next time, I'll just say it outright."
With that, the two of them, no longer the least bit hostile, left hand in hand, all smiles.
Get lost...
---
After leaving the tent, Shin activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, and together with Tsunade, vanished from the spot, reappearing beside a deserted riverbank.
Once they arrived, Tsunade's expression finally grew solemn.
"How's Konoha?" she asked, her voice full of worry.
Shin was momentarily stunned by the question. Then he chuckled and said, "How did you figure it out?"
Over the past six months, he had been going out occasionally under the pretext of gathering intelligence while concealing his identity with a mask like this one.
Each trip didn't last long, and since he wasn't stationed in the same battle zone, Tsunade often didn't even know he was gone, or what he was doing.
What surprised him, however, was how sharp she was. She had immediately guessed that his actions were connected to Konoha.
"Because…" Tsunade replied, "you were too calm when Koharu died."
"I see."
She sure understands me well.
The person he hated most in his life was Koharu, so naturally, he bore the deepest killing intent toward her.
Tsunade had long known that he was planning to kill Koharu in the most brutal way possible. Just killing her wasn't enough, he wanted to break her spirit, too.
But when Koharu was killed by Hiruzen, Shin showed no resentment over someone else stealing his target. In fact, he looked quite pleased.
So Tsunade concluded: Hiruzen must have killed Koharu because Shin secretly orchestrated it.
And knowing Shin's vengeful nature, Koharu's death would only be the beginning.
Hiruzen, Danzō, and Homura... he definitely wouldn't spare a single one of them.
It wasn't just revenge; it was also to clear all obstacles from her path.
With both motives overlapping, Shin wouldn't hesitate for a second.
After a moment of thought, he answered, "Danzō and Homura attempted to launch a coup. Hiruzen, who happened to return to Konoha in time, discovered it early and preemptively struck at Homura and his subordinates and clan members."
"Danzō got word and came to support Homura. The three sides broke out into a massive battle in Konoha, resulting in the deaths of over 300 shinobi and more than 3,000 civilians."
"In the end, Hiruzen was assassinated by his own bodyguard and is presumed dead. Danzō forcibly seized power and became the interim Hokage, and now he's scheming to become the official one."
Tsunade clenched her fists tightly upon hearing that.
Shin had only given a brief summary, but she could already imagine how dangerous and chaotic it must've been.
And seriously, what kind of madness is this?
Three of Konoha's high-ranking leaders engaged in a no-holds-barred power struggle inside the village, resulting in such horrific casualties...
Just as she was about to speak, Shin added, "Based on some on-site investigations, I can responsibly say that all those who died were destabilizing elements in Konoha. Not a single innocent was harmed."
Tsunade shot him an irritated glare.
What could she even say now that it had already happened? Still, there were some things that needed to be said.
She yanked Shin by the ear, fuming. "So, can this mysterious someone tell me if the internal chaos in Konoha is finally over?!"
"Ow! That hurts!" Shin exaggerated the pain, trying to win her sympathy.
Seeing that Tsunade wasn't falling for it for once, Shin turned his head sideways in surrender and said, "It'll be over soon. And again, no innocents will be harmed!"
Though vengeful by nature, he wasn't a bloodthirsty killer.
As long as the entire Konoha Council members were completely eliminated, along with their clans and more than 3,000 pieces of radical supporters already purged, he was just about satisfied.
As for the dove faction of the Uchiha clan…
Over the past half-year, the Uchiha clan members had seemingly seen the light. They fully submitted to Tsunade, following her every command without complaint, trying desperately to prove their loyalty.
With Tsunade's protection and Minato's persuasion, Shin gave in, mainly for the sake of his wife and his younger brother.
He gave a harsh lesson to Fukuyama, who had used Tsunade and Minato to manipulate him, then gave a stern warning to the dove faction, letting them off with a warning for now.
After all, Kagami, the one who had orchestrated everything behind the scenes, was already dead.
Some things… just needed to be put to rest.
"By the way," Shin added, as if something had just occurred to him, "Konoha is now completely ready, all that's left is for you to return and take up the mantle of Fourth Hokage."
"It's time."
And besides… there's someone you need to meet, he said to himself silently.