Chapter 74 – Council of Decisions
The light through the paper windows in the Hokage's office was soft but tense. Silence hung between the people inside, Tsunade behind her desk, Shizune at her side, Kakashi standing near the window, and Sakura not far from Naruto. No one spoke at first.
They were all thinking about the same thing.
Gaius. Diana. The crushing pressure they brought with them. And how easily the situation could have turned into a disaster.
Naruto broke the silence first.
"Granny Tsunade… let me go with them."
His voice was quiet, but steady. He stood straight, fists clenched at his sides.
Tsunade looked up at him, tired but firm. "You can't. It's too dangerous."
"That's why I have to go," Naruto insisted. "If it's dangerous, then I want to be there. They came here for my sake, I can't just let them go alone."
Tsunade exhaled slowly through her nose. She didn't reply.
Shizune looked at Naruto sympathetically. Sakura looked torn.
Kakashi's single visible eye watched Naruto with silent concern.
Tsunade finally spoke. "Naruto… you don't even know what they're truly involved in. They're strangers."
Naruto hesitated for a second. Then he nodded to himself, as if making a decision.
"…They're not from here," he said.
Tsunade frowned. "You mean not from Konoha? I'm aware."
"No," Naruto said, shaking his head. "Not from this world."
The room went still.
Sakura blinked. "What?"
Kakashi didn't move, but his posture changed. Shizune's breath caught softly. Tsunade only stared at Naruto.
He swallowed. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth."
Tsunade leaned back slightly in her chair. "Explain."
Naruto glanced at Kakashi and Sakura, then back at Tsunade. He took a breath.
"There's this… thing only I can see. Like a scroll floating in the air. It lets me talk to people in other worlds. Gaius, Diana, they're part of it. We can all see each other, talk to each other, like we're in the same room."
He paused, hands tightening.
"When Jiraiya-sensei… when he died… the chat sent a mission. The mission was about Avenging Naruto's Teacher. They accepted. That's why they came here."
No one spoke for a while.
Sakura frowned slightly. "…Naruto, something like that"
"I know how it sounds," Naruto said quickly. "But I'm not lying."
Kakashi didn't look doubtful. If anything, he looked thoughtful, and a little tired. Tsunade rubbed her forehead slowly.
"So you're telling me," she muttered, "that your 'friends' are from other worlds, and they came here because something told them to help avenge Jiraiya."
Naruto nodded.
Tsunade didn't say she believed it. But she didn't say she didn't.
Before she could speak again, the doors to the office slammed open.
Danzo walked in, flanked by the village elders Homura and Koharu. His cane tapped against the wood floor. His face was cold.
"Who," he said sharply, "is responsible for attacking Konoha's elder?"
Naruto immediately stepped forward. "He wouldn't have been thrown if you didn't start it!"
"Watch your words," Danzo snapped, his single visible eye narrowing.
Sakura instinctively stepped closer to Naruto. Kakashi moved a bit forward too, not aggressively, but protective.
Tsunade slammed her palm on the desk. Wood cracked under her hand.
"Enough."
The room fell silent under the weight of her voice.
She glared at Danzo. "Who is Hokage? You? Or me?"
Danzo didn't answer. His jaw tightened.
Homura stepped in, trying to ease the air. "Tsunade, we only wish to make sure Konoha is safe"
Koharu nodded. "Yes, these strangers~"
"I didn't ask for your commentary," Tsunade cut them off sharply. "Leave. All of you."
Homura and Koharu exchanged uncertain glances, but stepped back. Danzo held her gaze for a long moment.
"You'll regret it, Tsunade," he said quietly.
"I'm the Hokage, Danzo. Not you. Close the door on your way out," Tsunade said, not even bothering to look up at him.
Danzo's jaw tightened, a faint tremor in his hand betraying his restraint. He turned without a word and walked out. The door slid shut behind him with a quiet thud.
The room was quiet again.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked tired. Angry. Sad.
Naruto stepped forward, softer this time.
"Please," he said quietly. "Let me go with them. I don't want to sit here doing nothing."
Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she opened them and looked at Kakashi.
"…Fine."
Naruto blinked.
Tsunade sighed. "But you're not going alone." She looked at Kakashi properly this time. "Kakashi. Take Lead and The Team 7 will Provide support."
Kakashi gave a silent nod.
Naruto let out a breath of relief, almost a laugh. "Thank you, Granny Tsunade."
Sakura managed a small smile. Shizune looked relieved too.
Tsunade didn't return the smile. But her voice softened just a little. "Don't make me regret it."
The sky was shading toward evening as Gaius and Diana walked along the dirt road beyond the village gates. The forest stretched quietly to both sides. Birds occasionally fluttered between trees.
They didn't speak much.
Gaius walked calmly, warhammer at his side. His helm was clipped to his waist. His expression was unreadable.
Diana walked beside him, cloak brushing softly against her armor. She held the scroll Tsunade had given them.
They continued walking.
Gaius didn't open the Shared Gate yet. Inside it, still waiting, were Titus, Meltaurus, and two Bladeguard veterans. Gaius would only call them once they reached enemy territory.
Not far ahead, voices approached.
Three figures walked along the path from the opposite direction, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino. They stopped when they noticed Diana and Gaius.
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed slightly. Ino tensed. Choji put a hand near his pouch.
"Identify yourselves," Shikamaru said calmly.
Diana lifted a hand slightly, non-threatening. "We're not enemies. We're just passing through , but we need directions."
Shikamaru watched her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Where to?"
"The Rain Village," Diana said.
Shikamaru sighed softly. "Troublesome… From here, head north-west. Stay on this road until it splits at the river, then follow the path toward the mountains. You'll see the storm clouds, it always rains there."
Diana nodded. "Thank you."
They walked past the trio. Gaius gave them a brief glance but no words.
As the two disappeared down the path, Ino leaned toward Shikamaru.
"…Did you really give them the right directions?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru said, hands in pockets. "Didn't see a reason to send them the wrong way."
Since the Rain Village isn't a secret place, and the information wasn't sensitive, especially because he didn't want to start a fight anyway.
A short distance ahead, Diana stood on a higher tree branch, listening to them speak. She gave a small nod to herself, then returned to the road.
"Their directions are accurate," she said quietly.
Gaius nodded. "Then we continue."
They walked on, the distant horizon dark with clouds, the storm country of rain ahead of them.
End of Chapter 74
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