*Land of Waves, Parliament Hall*
A soft murmur filled the ornate hall as Yuto rose from his seat at the head of the long table, a warm smile on his face. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice carrying easily through the room. "I'm pleased to officially announce that, starting today, Lady Tsunade will be taking on the role of Minister of Health for the Land of Waves."
A wave of polite applause followed his words. Tsunade offered a tight, somewhat complicated smile in return.
She hadn't even cared that much about the position of Hokage, yet here she was—Minister of Health… in what used to be a backwater nation.
Well, it wasn't exactly backwater anymore, that was for sure. She had to give them that. The place was a maze of clean, broad streets and gleaming skyscrapers. Neat rows of factories hummed with activity. By any measure, the Land of Waves could now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the great nations.
But the real reason she'd agreed to the position? Her eyes flickered to the man at the head of the table. She was here to see it for herself. To see if he could actually deliver on that promise of an "equal world."
"Minister Tsunade, allow me to introduce you to everyone," said Uzumaki Rina, stepping forward from her position behind Yuto. She gestured smoothly around the table.
"This is Director Yakushi Nono, from the Department of Coordination." A woman with kind eyes and sharp round glasses nodded.
"Hanzo the Salamander, President of the Umbrella Corporation." The legendary shinobi gave a curt, almost imperceptible nod.
"Nagato, leader of the Akatsuki organization." The red-haired man's rinnegan remained passive.
"Zabuza Momochi, representing our industrial and livestock sectors." The former demon of the mist looked…bored.
"Konan, our National Security Advisor." The woman with paper a flower in her hair offered a small, polite smile.
"And Kimura Yu, representing our deep-sea industries." A weathered man with rough hands and a straightforward gaze gave a hearty nod.
'Since when is Zabuza a workers' representative?' a voice chirped incredulously from within the Spirit Pearl. It was Kushina.
'Wasn't that guy a prisoner?' Mikoto's voice followed, laced with confusion.
"He was released early for being named 'Model Worker' four times in a row," Yuto said, lowering his eyelids slightly and speaking softly. "Coupled with his halo as the 'Hero of the Land of Waves,' he was voted in as a representative by the people."
"Pfft—are you serious?" Kushina sputtered, dumbfounded.
"Isn't that just asking for trouble?" Mikoto snorted.
"It's fine. Not a major issue," Yuto murmured back calmly. "If the people are willing to give him a chance, we'll see what he does with it."
"Now then," Yakushi Nono said, adjusting her glasses as she stood, effectively bringing the meeting to order. "With our new colleague welcomed, let's move to the pressing business. Based on intelligence from our operative within Konoha—Uchiha Obito—the Allied Shinobi Forces are preparing to launch a war against us in approximately two months. I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts."
'Two months?'
Tsunade's jaw dropped. This was the first she'd heard of it.
'So soon? Could the Land of Waves even withstand something like that?'
'This was bad. Really bad.'
The combined strength of all five great villages wasn't something to laugh at.
"Our shipyards need manpower. Just leave us ten thousand captives and we'll be fine," Kimura Yu from the deep-sea industries was the first to speak. This representative, once a normal fisherman, spoke with a distinctive, plain-spoken honesty.
Tsunade froze. 'What the hell does that even mean? We're talking about war with the Allied Shinobi Forces, and you're bargaining over… shipyard workers?'
"Our Amegakure also needs laborers to aid in construction," Nagato chimed in.
"Amegakure's a tiny place, it doesn't need that many people! Our industrial and livestock sectors are the ones facing a real labor crunch!" Zabuza Momochi shot a glance at Nagato and said flatly, "These are the pillar industries of the Land of Waves that keep our Nation standing."
"Wait, what are you even arguing about?" Tsunade finally couldn't hold back, frowning as she spoke. "Hasn't this gotten completely off-topic?"
"Not at all. Everyone is discussing the post-war allocation of personnel," Yakushi Nonō adjusted her glasses and said with a smile. "To be precise, the allocation of prisoners."
"Huh? Pri—prisoners?" Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, for the Allied Shinobi Forces, being captured by us is practically the only possible outcome," Nonō explained with a smile.
Tsunade could see it—the unshakable confidence in her eyes.
And she was floored.
The Allied Shinobi Forces—easily a hundred thousand shinobi strong. The entire Land of Waves didn't even have ten thousand civilians, and these lunatics dared to say things like that?
"Let's not get too carried away," Yuto said, shaking his head with a faint smile. "The Allied Shinobi Forces do have some strength. But if you factor in Elder Danzo their hundred percent drops to fifty."
"Hahaha, the Leader sure has a way with words!"
"That's exactly how our old friend Danzō is meant to be used!"
"We have to thank Lord Danzō for his… contributions…"
The parliament hall erupted in a chorus of sarcastic laughter.
"Indeed. To express our admiration and sincerity towards Elder Danzō," Yuto raised his hand and issued an order. "Release that list of war criminals."
—
That Evening – Konoha
The air on the training ground was cold and still. Kakashi stared at the man before him, his single visible eye narrowed. "So… you're telling me that sensei's death… and Lady Kushina's… it was all you?"
"Yes." Obito's voice was flat, devoid of its former passion. He didn't look away. "I was the masked man that night. Back then, I was lost in the Moon's Eye Plan. I believed everything in this reality was just a painful illusion. That even if sensei and his wife died, they would be reborn, perfect and happy, in the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Kakashi's hands clenched into white-knuckled fists at his sides. Every instinct screamed at him to lunge, to make Obito feel a fraction of the pain he'd caused. But the sheer emptiness in Obito's gaze held him back.
"…This was all for Rin, wasn it?" he finally managed, his voice tight.
Obito said nothing. His silence was confirmation enough.
"You damn fool," Kakashi breathed out, the fight draining out of him, replaced by a weary grief. "If Rin could see the things you've done… what do you think she'd say to you? Could you even face her?"
"You're right," Obito muttered, finally looking down at the ground. "That's why I'm here. Not for Konoha. But for atonement."
Kakashi let out a long, shaky sigh. The anger faded, leaving only the old, familiar guilt. He hadn't been able to protect his sensei. He hadn't been able to protect his child. What right did he have to judge?
"…Forget it. I don't have the right to blame you anyway. At least… you came back. That's something."
Deep down, beneath the layers of guilt and grief, a tiny, fragile spark of warmth flickered to life. His oldest friend was back. It was a miracle he never thought he'd see.
Shh-shhh-shhh.
A soft rustling sound broke the silence. They both looked up as pieces of paper, like giant, lazy snowflakes, began fluttering down from the twilight sky.
"What's this?" Kakashi muttered, reaching out and snatching one from the air. He unfolded it. And stared.
[*To All Shinobi of the World*]
[*The Land of Waves hereby announces the following war criminal list. These villains are guilty beyond forgiveness!*]
His eye scanned down the page and immediately widened in shock.
[1. Shimura Danzo "This man is cunning,ruthless, and never stops saying 'It was all for Konoha!' None of his actions, however, could ever be considered human!"
Severity: Five Stars.]
Beneath the text was a photograph. It was Danzo. There was no mistaking the bandaged face and cold eye.
But he was also wearing an extremely skimpy bunny girl outfit.
Kakashi's brain short-circuited. He numbly scanned the rest of the list. There was Orochimaru… with… dramatically enhanced assets. Itachi Uchiha with ridiculous, lopsided pigtails. Obito himself, with a giant, handwritten "OK" sticker pasted across his chest. And several daimyō from the great nations, each photo more bizarre and humiliating than the last.
It was chaos printed on paper. Kakashi could only stand there, leaflet in hand, speechless.
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