Konoha Village.
Two angry elders stormed out of the Hokage's office.
Inside, Tsunade was sprawled wearily in the Hokage's chair. Ever since Naruto had left Konoha, she had practically made the office her own territory.
The window slid open quietly, and a yellow-haired youth hopped in, his fingers gently massaging her temples.
"Mmm, a little lighter, not so hard..."
Tsunade frowned. Something about the small hands on her face felt wrong. She whipped her head around and saw Naruto Uzumaki.
"Naruto!"
A smile immediately broke across the blonde kunoichi's face, but a moment later, her expression turned suspicious. "When did you get back? You little brat... you weren't eavesdropping outside just now, were you?"
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had just finished giving Tsunade a thorough scolding. Since the Hokage wasn't home, his assistant had to take the heat.
The two old advisors had criticized every single thing Naruto had done since taking office. According to them, every one of his actions was destroying Konoha's very foundation.
Attacking the Sand Village without authorization.
Kidnapping the Fifth Kazekage without authorization.
Signing a vassal treaty with the Sand Village without authorization.
Annexing the Land of Rice Fields without authorization.
Annexing the Waterfall Village and the Land of Waterfalls without authorization.
If this were wartime, when the more aggressive factions of the ninja villages were in power, Naruto's actions would have almost certainly started the Fourth Great Ninja War, with Konoha as the world's public enemy.
Tsunade found it hard to argue with them. Although she supported Naruto, the kid's moves were incredibly bold. He had essentially annexed two allies in a row, leaving Konoha with almost no positive reputation in the ninja world. Phrases like "bullying the weak" were already being whispered by others.
The only silver lining was that once the resources from the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Rice Fields were integrated, Konoha would also receive more mission requests.
Now, Konoha's ninjas were accepting missions almost non-stop, to the point where they were short-staffed. The dispatched Sand ninjas, however, were reaping the benefits. When had they ever seen so many high-paying missions?
Some Sand ninjas found themselves in a difficult position. On one hand, they wanted to maintain the prestige of being from a major ninja village. On the other, they wanted to keep enjoying the lucrative missions assigned by Konoha. A Sand ninja could now earn more in a month than they used to in an entire year.
After more than a decade of the Fourth Kazekage's penny-pinching, followed by a few months where the Fifth Kazekage couldn't even guarantee a basic salary, the money from Konoha's missions was beyond what any of them could have imagined. Having been poor for so long, they had grown to fear poverty.
"I listened for a bit..." Naruto admitted, holding up his fingers. "This is just the growing pains of moving the ninja world toward unification. It can't be avoided."
Tsunade pressed her brow. "The only good news is that we've pushed all the responsibility onto the Akatsuki. They've drawn a lot of attention away from us... But that organization is a little too strong, isn't it?"
"Don't worry," the young Hokage said, propping himself up on the edge of the desk next to her. "They're just a bunch of sewer rats who can't stand the light of day. Even if their leader shows up, I'm confident I can win!"
He truly believed it. Even if Black Zetsu's schemes brought Madara Uchiha back to life, Naruto was sure he could handle him. He now possessed a Tenseigan that could rival the Rinnegan, along with the chakra of the Nine-Tails, Seven-Tails, and One-Tail. Besides Kaguya Otsutsuki, he was confident he could defeat anyone in the ninja world.
"Don't get too confident, you little brat." Tsunade shook her head, turning her chair to face him. "While you were gone, intelligence ninjas from the south of the Land of Fire sent a message. The Mist Village has sent people who have landed in the Land of Fire and wish to meet with us."
"The Mist Village?"
"The 'Blood Mist' era in their village has ended. They hope to end the state of war with the Land of Fire. It seems they're undergoing some bold reforms..." Tsunade picked a document from a pile and tossed it to him. "Take a look. The Mist Village is asking for a lot, and these are just their initial demands. They're practically asking for the moon."
Due to the long-term impact of the Blood Mist era, the Mist Village's economy was in shambles. To revive their village, they were requesting that the Land of Fire provide them with aid to restore their strength. In return, the Mist Village was willing to sign a peace treaty, become Konoha's overseas ally, and help keep the Cloud Village in check.
At such a sensitive time, when Konoha's only remaining ally on the continent, the Grass Village, was in constant fear of being annexed, it was strange that someone would actually volunteer to be their ally.
However, the Mist Village really had no other choice.
A rogue ninja had started a civil war in the Land of Water. The enemy killed the new daimyo and organized a ninja army, which was now marching on the Mist Village. This civil war had started at a very coincidental time, just as the Mist Village was beginning to flourish. Right when they were about to rise, a rogue ninja popped up to seize power.
That rogue ninja's name was Zabuza Momochi.
"So, Zabuza Momochi started a civil war in the Land of Water?" Hearing the news from Tsunade, Naruto's expression suddenly grew strange. "That guy... he went back?"
Back then, Team 7 had been hunted by Danzo's Root ninjas and had fled to the Land of Waves. Kosuke Maruboshi captured Zabuza, and Kakashi used this to threaten Haku. The two sides conspired to kill Gato, and from Gato, they learned about Jiraiya's intelligence.
After that, Team 7 headed north to find Jiraiya. What started as a C-rank mission to eliminate bandits had escalated into something far beyond an S-rank mission.
After parting ways in the Land of Waves, Team 7 never saw Zabuza and Haku again. They assumed the pair had fled south. Who would have thought they'd go back and start a civil war?
That fellow Zabuza, he actually wants to seize the position of Mizukage by force! Did he find Gato's treasury or something?
"Zabuza Momochi has also sent people to Konoha," Tsunade said, clenching her fist with a headache. "That guy is even greedier than the official Mist ninjas. The conditions he proposed are even harsher. It doesn't seem like he's serious about an alliance at all."
"That's normal, right?" Naruto couldn't help but chuckle. "Zabuza probably doesn't have a single political bone in his body."
"As if you, a little brat, have any political sense?"
"..."
The young Hokage waved his hand, not wanting to argue. He just changed the subject. "The messenger that fellow Zabuza sent... it wouldn't be Haku, would it?"
"It is," Tsunade confirmed in a low voice. "We know too little about the situation in the Mist Village, so for now, we've shelved both proposals. However, Great-Granduncle Tobirama has taken the initiative to go there and gather intelligence."
"Lord Second Hokage?"
"Yes. He was too bored staying under the Hokage Rock. He took Great-Grandpa with him and rushed to the Land of Water to see what's going on."
-----
Bonus:
Zabuza: I have money now, I want to be the Mizukage!
Mei Terumi: In your dreams.
Zabuza: Hey, woman, you just wait!
Mei Terumi: I'm not even Mizukage yet, who are you to talk?
Tobirama Senju: I want to be the Mizukage!
Mei Terumi: What the... Lord Second Hokage, why have you graced us with your presence? Isn't this a bit... against the rules?
Tobirama Senju: My brother is with me. His name is Hashirama Senju. Ever heard of him?
Mei Terumi: ...Right. Well, why don't you take a look at the Mizukage's office, see if you're satisfied? Feel free to decorate it yourself! I'll just go and... urge them to hurry up with the vote of confidence!
Tobirama Senju: ...Hmm. Young lady, I have high hopes for you.
Mei Terumi: ...Hehe... jerk.