News of the Youth-Preserving Pill spread throughout the Ninja World, sending it into an uproar once again.
For a time, undercurrents surged through the Ninja World once more.
In Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, said, "Hurry, hurry! Kitsuchi, send people to escort them back! No, take my Shadow Guard and go yourself. Nothing must happen to my Youth-Preserving Pill!"
Kitsuchi nodded solemnly. "Yes, Father. I'll leave right away and make sure I bring the Youth-Preserving Pill back!"
Ōnoki glared at him. "Haven't I told you to address me by my title at work?"
Kitsuchi felt rather helpless. His father's temper had only grown worse over the past two years. "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
Satisfied, Ōnoki waved him off. "All right, go... Come back soon, and don't disappoint me..."
"Yes!"
Kitsuchi rose and left.
As Ōnoki had grown older in recent years, managing the village had become increasingly taxing. His old back was especially prone to going out, and whenever it did, the pain was unbearable. Yet he still had to push on.
"Iwagakure has no one ready to carry on the torch. Kitsuchi is strong enough, but he lacks political insight. Roshi and I disagree politically, and Han is a complete slacker. The less said about him, the better."
"Deidara is extremely talented. He might even learn Dust Release, but that little brat spends every day researching his bullshit art and making explosive clay. He's a lost cause."
"And Kurotsuchi is too young... How am I supposed to feel safe leaving Iwagakure in your hands...?"
Ōnoki muttered to himself, "The Youth-Preserving Pill... What a wonderful thing. Why couldn't the Hyuga belong to Iwagakure?"
"Damn it! Heaven favors Konoha far too much... Bastards... We have to get our hands on something like this..."
His eyes kept darting about, and no one knew what schemes he was cooking up.
In Kumogakure, Raikage A roared, "What?! What did you say?! Youth-Preserving Pills?! Something that good actually exists?"
"Darui, go escort them back. Then find out which nearby Factions got pills and snatch every last one for me."
Darui looked serious. "Boss, leave it to me."
After he left.
Fourth Raikage A consulted his advisers. "Quick, think of something. I want these Youth-Preserving Pills, but I don't want to pay. How do we do that? Ideally, bring me the people who make them, too."
Simple and brutal: if he wanted it, it was his.
That was how Kumogakure thought.
In Sunagakure, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, cursed furiously. "How can something like this exist?! Damn it, if those two old fossils Ebizo and Chiyo regain their youth, who's going to call the shots in the village...? Damn Hyuga, those meddling bastards..."
"Still, these Youth-Preserving Pills really are good. Baki, take the Anbu and escort the delegation. Nothing must happen to the pills."
Rasa had a powerful need for control. He would not tolerate people or events beyond his grasp. His cruelty toward his son and his betrayal of Pakura both proved that he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
"Damn Hyuga... You'd better never fall into my hands."
"Otherwise..."
In the office of Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
His eyes were vacant.
A pair of scarlet eyes opened in the shadows. "Youth-Preserving Pills... How interesting. Hyuga, just what are you hiding? Zetsu, I'm leaving this to you. I want to know the Hyuga's secrets..."
Black Zetsu's raspy voice rang out. "Understood, Obito."
"Shut up. Call me Madara."
White Zetsu said, "Of course, Lord Madara. Do you know what it feels like to take a dump?"
"Shut up!"
But he had no idea that Zabuza, already deeply dissatisfied with this bloody village, was about to attempt to assassinate Yagura. Zetsu's departure gave him his chance.
Zabuza said excitedly, "Good! The Fourth's Anbu have gone to escort the Youth-Preserving Pills. With no one around, now's the perfect time. This damned Bloody Mist Policy has to end... The Land of Water shouldn't have to suffer like this!"
It was also this assassination attempt that allowed Kirigakure's various factions to confirm that Fourth Mizukage Yagura was being controlled, sparking a revolution. Leading it were the Great Elder Genji, the team captain and future Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, and Ao of the Shadow Guard.
Amegakure.
Nagato had also received the news. He said coldly, "Has an unpredictable factor appeared in the Ninja World?! The Hyuga?! Youth-Preserving Pills."
Konan asked, "I've already sent Itachi Uchiha and Kakuzu to escort them. Nagato, what should we do?"
"If the reports about regaining youth are true, many powerful ninja could emerge. That would add a lot of complications to our plan..."
Nagato put on airs. "A god is invincible."
Konan said longingly, "I want to be young again."
Nagato fell silent for a long while. "Get the money from Kakuzu."
Konan left, thoroughly satisfied.
Looking at his shrinking wallet.
Kakuzu wept in secret.
"That spendthrift woman. What good is buying that crap?"
But seeing how strong the market for Youth-Preserving Pills was, Kakuzu felt his chance to get rich had arrived, so...
"Right! I can buy and resell them!"
"Heh heh... I'm also very fond of business that costs me nothing."
Nearby Konoha was the first to enjoy the benefits of the Youth-Preserving Pills. Once the Clan Heads got their hands on them, they could hardly wait to go home.
The Hokage Building in Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were cautious by habit, so they had Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu test the pills first. They even dressed it up as looking after their teammates, saying they would stand guard for them. The two were deeply touched.
"It's true. The Youth-Preserving Pills really work. I... boo-hoo..." Looking at her youthful reflection in the mirror, Utatane Koharu could not help crying with joy. She had taken a ten-year Youth-Preserving Pill and returned to the time when she had been at her most beautiful.
"Homura, am I pretty?"
"Koharu... Twenty-seven-year-old Koharu is so beautiful..."
Mitokado Homura stared, entranced, his heart pounding. Sure enough, my first love is still the most beautiful.
"Homura, look at that silly face." Utatane Koharu tapped his forehead with a finger and teased him.
"Heh heh..." Mitokado Homura blushed and could only grin foolishly. Damn, young Koharu is so hot.
"You... What would you do without me, you silly man?" Utatane Koharu gazed affectionately at Homura, who had also become young again, and took his hand as she spoke gently.
"Then let's stay together forever, all right?" Mitokado Homura held Utatane Koharu's hand and spoke with deep affection. Regaining his youth had made him much bolder, and he no longer hid his feelings.
"Homura, yes." Utatane Koharu had experienced both kindness and coldness lately, as well as murderous intent from her teammates. In the end, she had realized that only he treated her best and always supported her.
"Koharu, is this really not a dream? If it is, I hope I never wake up." Mitokado Homura's eyes grew wet. After years of pursuit, his wish had suddenly come true, and he could hardly believe it.
"Look at you, silly. I'm warm to the touch." Utatane Koharu responded tenderly and gave him a light pinch.
"Ow! It's real! Wonderful... It's not a dream... Not a dream... Hahaha..." Mitokado Homura hugged Utatane Koharu and spun her around, feeling like the happiest man in the world.
"Homura, put me down." Utatane Koharu finally remembered that their two other teammates were still there and immediately regained her composure.
"No, Koharu!"
"Homura!"
"Koharu!"
"..."
Should we just leave, then?!
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō were utterly fucking speechless. You're not even bothering to hide your lovey-dovey act anymore, huh?!
Still, they had witnessed the Youth-Preserving Pills' miraculous effects.
They hesitated no longer.
They took the pills immediately.
Then Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Shinobi Hero in his prime, and Danzo, a cool guy in the flower of youth, appeared.
"Ahahaha! This young body!" Feeling his vibrant physique and abundant energy, Danzo laughed heartily.
"Hell yeah!"
"This old man is back in action! Heh heh..." Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped paying attention to his three teammates, turned, and ran home.
Screw discussing anything.
It can wait until tomorrow.
Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen had left, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura departed together in lovey-dovey bliss to enjoy their youth...
"Hiruzen!"
"Koharu!"
"Homura!"
"..."
By the time Danzo came to his senses, everyone was gone.
When Konoha's Clan Heads returned home, they took Youth-Preserving Pills together with their wives, and then...
"Darling, you're so good to me. Come on..."
The Ninja World.
It was another sleepless night.
Before you continue