Mangekyo Illusion Technique: Kyōka Suigetsu

"Genjutsu: Kyōka Suigetsu."

Uchiha Iori's ocular power surged forth like a tidal wave, the crimson light of his Mangekyō Sharingan flickering in the darkness as Tsunade was pulled into the world of the illusion.

"Tsunade, why are you spacing out? The meeting is still in progress," Uchiha Iori said, tapping her shoulder to remind her to focus.

"Oh... right..." Tsunade snapped back to reality, finding herself seated in the center of a familiar conference hall. Her heart hammered against her ribs; the scene before her felt hauntingly familiar.

She remembered: this was the very day she had first met Dan Katō. Following Nawaki's death, she had been at this meeting, advocating for the inclusion of medical ninjas in every squad.

Yet, she had been met with cold indifference from the others, with only Dan Katō standing up to support her.

At this thought, Tsunade scanned her surroundings anxiously, desperate to catch a glimpse of Dan Katō once more.

[Strange, why isn't he here? And... who is he?] Tsunade's gaze swept across the hall, her mind filled with mounting confusion.

Dan Katō's figure was nowhere to be seen; in his place sat a man she did not recognize.

"Moving forward, the battles will only grow more severe. We must prepare ourselves for a grueling struggle. Does everyone understand?" Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his voice low and grave.

As the meeting drew to a close, Tsunade's heart was heavy with anxiety and bewilderment. She stood up, a fire of indignation igniting within her.

"I believe that many of the ninjas who die in war perish simply because they do not receive timely treatment after battle."

"If we could equip every squad with a medical ninja, we would surely increase the survival rate of the entire team and improve our chances of completing missions."

"Therefore, cultivating skilled medical ninjas, developing medical ninjutsu, and institutionalizing these practices is our most urgent priority!"

Tsunade stood and spoke loudly, but just as in her memory, no one rose to support her.

Everyone below whispered among themselves; even her close friends Jiraiya and Orochimaru remained seated, offering no backing.

She waited for Dan Katō to stand, only to suddenly recall that she hadn't seen him at all.

[Strange, what is going on? Is this a dream?] Tsunade felt a sharp headache; her thoughts were shrouded in a thick, heavy fog, as if some force were preventing her from thinking too deeply.

Just then, a man stood up, firmly supporting Tsunade's proposal.

"I support Jonin Tsunade's suggestion. If we have medical ninjas as support, our post-battle casualties will be drastically reduced."

He paused, looked around the room, and continued: "Even from a purely economic standpoint, ensuring the survival of veteran ninjas is far more cost-effective than training new ones."

"Knowing that they can be healed if injured will also give the ninjas more peace of mind during combat."

"Therefore, I believe Jonin Tsunade's proposal is of great value."

The man who stood was not the Dan Katō from her memories, but the stranger she had noticed earlier.

His words were also different from Dan's; his analysis was cool and rational, a stark contrast to the emotional Will of Fire.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not speak, taking a moment to reflect.

He set down his pipe and said solemnly: "What you say makes a lot of sense, but we are in wartime. We cannot spare the resources to train medical ninjas right now, but I will put this matter on the agenda."

He looked at Tsunade. "While equipping every squad with a medical ninja is not realistic at this moment, I will implement the cultivation of skilled medical ninjas and the institutionalization of medical ninjutsu as quickly as possible."

"Tsunade, I will establish a Medical Department, and you shall be its first director. I am entrusting this entire matter to you, and I will approve the necessary funding accordingly."

Tsunade listened to Hiruzen's words in disbelief. Unlike her past experience, while he still hadn't agreed to add medical ninjas to every squad, the progress of the Medical Department had been significantly accelerated.

After the meeting adjourned, Tsunade chased after Iori and pulled him aside.

"Who are you? Where is this place? Did you do something?" Tsunade's expression was complex as she gripped his collar tightly.

"Lady Tsunade, what are you talking about? I am Uchiha Iori. Did I do something?" Iori asked, looking puzzled.

"No, nothing." Tsunade let go, choosing not to press further, though her heart remained filled with doubt.

This illusion was far too realistic; she could not find a single flaw.

She decided to let things play out and see what would happen.

"Then, Lady Tsunade, I shall take my leave. I have things to attend to." Iori straightened his clothes and bowed his way out.

"Right. See you next time." Tsunade calmed herself and watched Iori depart.

For the rest of the day, Tsunade followed her memories, investigating Konoha.

Night.

Senju Residence.

Tsunade sat quietly in her room, her thoughts rushing in like a tide. She took a deep breath, struggling to keep her composure.

[Let me analyze the situation. Am I dreaming, am I under a genjutsu, or did I... travel through time?]

[Everything before me is almost identical to the past in my memory. The only thing missing is Dan, replaced by this strange Uchiha man named Iori.]

[I tried to dispel the genjutsu, but it had no effect. But if this is a dream, why would a person I don't know appear? Could I have truly returned to the past?]

[I can only play it by ear for now. If he has an agenda, it will surely be revealed in time.]

Tsunade comforted herself in her heart. She picked up a wine cup, attempting to use the alcohol to wash away her troubles.

"It seems she cannot distinguish this illusion. It appears my secret technique was a success."

Uchiha Iori stood on a distant street, muttering to himself.

The people around him seemed unable to perceive or touch him, passing directly through his body as if he were a ghost.

"Then, let the story continue."

In the days that followed, Uchiha Iori gradually replaced Dan Katō in Tsunade's life, performing the role even better than the original had.

Although Tsunade remained vigilant toward him, her heart was slowly moved by his gentleness and steadfastness.

Finally, one day, Tsunade handed the necklace she had always cherished to Iori.

"Isn't this the necklace you've always kept with you? Why give it to me?" Iori looked at the necklace and asked with a hint of curiosity.

"It's nothing. You've always said you wanted to become Hokage, haven't you? This is the necklace my grandfather left behind, and I'm giving it to you."

Tsunade's voice trembled slightly, her expression complex; this was her final test. For months, she had failed to find a single flaw in this world.

And the fate of the Dan Katō whom Uchiha Iori had replaced was destined to end precisely after receiving this necklace.

If a problem were to arise, it would most likely happen here.

Just as Iori prepared to reach out and take the necklace, Tsunade suddenly pulled her hand back and said, "Wait, do you really want to accept it? This necklace might be a curse."

After living together for months, Tsunade was not without feelings for Iori. She hesitated; if this truly wasn't an illusion, and if the necklace really did kill him, what would she do?

Iori reached out and took the necklace from Tsunade's hand. "It doesn't matter. Even if it is a curse, I don't care. I will definitely become Hokage."

He gave a thumbs-up and smiled at Tsunade, his tone filled with determination and confidence.

"Alright then, please, you must survive," Tsunade said, feeling a pang of regret. This world was far too realistic; she could no longer distinguish between truth and falsehood.

As time passed, Tsunade went from being constantly on edge to eventually forgetting the matter entirely, becoming completely immersed in the illusionary world.

Her mood shifted from initial tension and unease to a state of calm, and she even began to enjoy this "new" life.

"Tsunade, there is a mission for you later," Kizashi Mokume said one day, arriving at the Senju Residence to find her.

"Alright." Tsunade didn't pay it much mind; it was just a routine mission.

Yes, it was just a "routine" mission.