"Illusion Art: Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
Uchiha Iori's ocular power surged like a tide. The red glow of his Mangekyō Sharingan flickered in the darkness, and Tsunade was pulled into the world of the illusion.
"Tsunade, why are you spacing out? We're still in a meeting." Uchiha Iori patted her shoulder to remind her to focus.
"Oh... right..." Tsunade suddenly came to her senses and realized she was sitting in the middle of a familiar meeting hall. Her heart raced. The scene before her felt strangely familiar.
She remembered that today was the day she and Dan Katō had first met. Because of Nawaki's death, she had called at the meeting for medical ninja to be assigned to teams.
But everyone had treated her coldly. Only Dan Katō had stood up to support her.
At the thought, Tsunade anxiously looked around, hoping to see Dan Katō again.
Strange, why isn't he here? And who... is that? Tsunade scanned the meeting hall, her mind full of questions.
Dan Katō was nowhere to be seen. In his place stood an unfamiliar man.
"The fighting will only grow fiercer from here on. We must prepare for a hard struggle. Is that understood?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely, pipe in his mouth.
As the meeting drew to a close, Tsunade was filled with anxiety and confusion. She stood up, a simmering anger rising inside her.
"I believe many ninja die in war because they don't receive timely treatment after being wounded in battle."
"If we assigned a medical ninja to each team, we should be able to increase the entire team's chances of surviving and completing its missions."
"That's why training skilled medical ninja, developing Medical Ninjutsu, and establishing it as a system are our most urgent priorities!"
Tsunade stood and spoke loudly, but just as she remembered, no one stood up to support her.
Everyone below whispered among themselves. Even her friends Jiraiya and Orochimaru didn't stand up to support her.
She was waiting for Dan Katō to stand up for her, when she suddenly remembered that she hadn't seen him earlier.
Strange. What's going on? Is this a dream? Tsunade felt a throbbing headache. Her thoughts were shrouded in a dense fog, as though some force were preventing her from thinking too deeply.
Just then, a man stood up and firmly supported Tsunade's proposal.
"I support Senior Ninja Tsunade's proposal. If we had medical ninja providing backup, we could greatly reduce casualties after battles."
He paused, looking around before continuing, "Even from an economic standpoint, keeping experienced ninja alive is more cost-effective than training new ones."
"Knowing they can be healed if they're injured would also let ninja fight with greater peace of mind."
"That's why I believe Senior Ninja Tsunade's proposal has real merit."
The man who had stood up wasn't Dan Katō, the man Tsunade remembered. He was the unfamiliar man she had noticed earlier.
What he said was different from Dan Katō, too. His analysis was calm and rational, completely unlike the heartfelt Will of Fire.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. He paused to think.
He lowered his pipe and said solemnly, "You make a good point. But we're at war, and we can't spare enough resources to train medical ninja. Still, I'll put this matter on the agenda."
He looked at Tsunade. "Assigning a medical ninja to every team isn't realistic, but I'll see to it that we train skilled medical ninja, develop Medical Ninjutsu, and establish it as a system as soon as possible."
"Tsunade, I'll establish a Medical Department, and you'll be its first director. I'm putting you in charge of all related matters. I'll approve the funding as appropriate."
Tsunade listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief. Things were different from what she remembered. Although he still hadn't agreed to add medical ninja to the teams, the Medical Department was moving forward much faster.
After the meeting, Tsunade caught up with Iori and pulled him aside.
"Who are you? Where is this? Did you do something?" Tsunade's expression was complicated as she gripped his collar.
"Lady Tsunade, what are you talking about? I'm Uchiha Iori. Did I do something?" Iori asked in confusion.
"N-no, it's nothing." Tsunade let go and didn't press him further, though doubt still filled her heart.
This illusion was so realistic that she still couldn't find a flaw.
All she could do was go with the flow and see what happened.
"Then I'll be going, Lady Tsunade. I have things to take care of." Iori straightened his clothes and took his leave.
"Okay. See you next time." Tsunade had calmed down and watched Iori leave.
The rest of the day, Tsunade investigated Konoha, following the memories of her past.
Night
Senju Residence
Tsunade sat quietly in her room, her thoughts surging like a tide. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
Let me think through the situation. Am I dreaming, caught in an illusion, or... have I traveled through time?
Everything before me is almost exactly like the past I remember. The only one missing is Dan, replaced by an unfamiliar man from the Uchiha Clan named Iori.
I've tried to dispel the illusion, but it hasn't worked. But if this is a dream, why is there someone I don't know? Could I really have returned to the past?
For now, I can only adapt as things come. If he has some ulterior motive, it'll eventually come to light.
Tsunade reassured herself. She picked up her glass, trying to use alcohol to chase away her troubles.
"It looks like she can't tell it's an illusion. My secret technique seems to have worked very well."
Iori stood in the distance on the street, talking to himself.
The people around him seemed unable to sense or touch him, passing straight through his body.
"Now, let the story continue."
Over the following days, Uchiha Iori gradually took Dan Katō's place in Tsunade's life, and even outdid him.
Though Tsunade remained wary of him, her heart was gradually moved by his kindness and resolve.
At last, one day, Tsunade handed Iori the necklace she had always kept close.
"Isn't this the necklace you always wear? Why are you giving it to me?" Iori looked at the necklace and asked curiously.
"It's nothing. Haven't you always said you wanted to become Hokage? This necklace belonged to my grandfather. I'm giving it to you."
Tsunade's voice trembled, her expression complicated. This was her final test. For months, she hadn't found a single flaw in this world.
And the fate of the man Uchiha Iori had replaced, Dan Katō, had begun to unravel after he received this necklace.
If something was going to go wrong, it would most likely happen here.
Just as Iori was about to reach out for the necklace, Tsunade suddenly pulled her hand back and said, "Wait. Are you sure you want to take it? This necklace might be cursed."
Over the past few months, Tsunade had developed feelings for Iori. She hesitated. If this really wasn't an illusion, and the necklace really did get him killed, what would she do?
Iori reached out and took the necklace from Tsunade's hand. "It's all right. I don't care even if it is cursed. I'll definitely become Hokage."
He raised his thumb and smiled at Tsunade, his voice full of conviction and confidence.
"All right, then. Please, make sure you stay alive." Tsunade spoke with some regret. This world was so realistic that she could no longer tell what was real and what wasn't.
As time passed, Tsunade went from being on edge at first to gradually forgetting about it altogether, completely immersing herself in the illusory world.
Her feelings changed, too. Her initial unease gave way to calm, and she even began to enjoy this "new" life.
"Tsunade, I have a mission for you." One day, Kizashi Mokume came to the Senju Residence and found Tsunade.
"Okay." Tsunade thought nothing of it. It was just an ordinary mission.
Yes, just an "ordinary" mission.