Backfiring

News of the convoy's ambush quickly reached all sides.

In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage finished reading the detailed report, and the furrow in his brow finally eased.

Third Hokage let out a breath and said, "Phew. Hidden Sand really went all out with this raid on our supply line. Good thing the convoy's shinobi defeated the enemy. Dan Katō and the others are truly impressive. A hundred men against three hundred, three Jonin against eight—escaping under those odds would have been an achievement in itself. Yet they actually turned the tables and wiped out the enemy. And our losses are within an acceptable range."

"This is a great victory, Shikaku. Riyue and those two tactical geniuses... They're certainly promising. This old man has a worthy successor!" Third Hokage smiled with delight. Gazing at the white clouds drifting across the blue sky outside, he took a pleased puff of his pipe.

In the Land of Wind, the promising young Third Kazekage read the report in his hands. After a long moment, he crumpled it into a ball of wastepaper.

"A bunch of useless fools! They ambushed Konoha's transport team with three times the numbers, and ended up being wiped out instead!"

At the Kazekage's furious outburst, a ring of black Iron Sand floated around him. He slammed his hand down on the table, and the Iron Sand fell heavily to the ground. The messenger beside him stood frozen in terror.

"Konoha! If you intend to invade the Land of Wind, then I'll make sure none of you ever make it back!"

"Inform the commanders at the front, Ebizo and Chiyo, that Hidden Sand will be sending another five thousand troops. I'll send my disciples Dosa and Kalo to reinforce them! Prepare to attack. Defeat Konoha, then counterattack into the Land of Fire!"

"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"

Riyue had unknowingly changed history. Even if Hidden Sand's ambush force had failed, it originally wouldn't have been wiped out, while Konoha was certain to suffer heavy losses. But with Riyue's help, Konoha had won a great victory. As a result, the Kazekage had resolved to send a large number of reinforcements to the front, which would change the situation there once again.

The stalemate between the two sides was about to take an unpredictable turn...

At Konoha's main camp, Tsunade sat in the commander's seat, resting her chin on one hand as she listened to the messenger's report.

Tsunade was in the prime of her youth, a peerless beauty in full bloom. At twenty-seven, she wore a Jonin vest and a Konoha Forehead Protector, giving her a capable, intelligent, and heroic air.

Her pale blond hair was tied into a low double ponytail at the nape of her neck, with locks falling on either side of her forehead. Beneath her fine brows was a pair of large, beautiful eyes. Her golden-brown gaze radiated confidence and dignity, making her unforgettable at a glance. She had a small, pert nose and soft, slightly thin lips. Tall and slender, with gentle curves, she was young and beautiful, with a touch more freshness and sweetness and a little less mature allure.

"Lady Tsunade, that's the full story of the convoy's ambush. We were lucky the Konoha shinobi escorting it wiped out the enemy. If we'd lost that shipment of medicine, the wounded at the front would have been in trouble." The messenger finished reporting the attack on the transport team.

Tsunade thought for a while, then asked, "You mean Teacher Sarutobi found me a disciple? And he'll be coming here soon? He also told people I agreed to take him on at his mother's request? And now the whole village knows?"

"Uh... that's what I just said. It must have been Third Hokage's intention. Lady Tsunade, you didn't know about this?" the messenger asked, utterly at a loss. Hey, Lady Tsunade, were you even listening to my report about the convoy attack just now?

"Unforgivable!" Tsunade knitted her brows. A large vein bulged on her forehead as she clenched her fists.

"Teacher Sarutobi, honestly! Finding me a disciple without asking me first would have been bad enough. But he also said I took him on at his mother's request? That makes it sound like he pulled strings! And he's made sure the whole village knows, so now everyone thinks Tsunade only takes disciples based on connections, not ability! This happened half a year ago, and I'm only finding out now! How long did he plan to keep it from me?!"

Tsunade's fists clenched with a sharp crack, frightening the messenger into stepping back, his head slick with sweat.

"No, I'm going back to give Teacher a piece of my mind!" Tsunade sprang to her feet, ready to rush all the way back to Konoha. Young Tsunade was indeed more impulsive.

The messenger hurriedly stopped her. "Lady Tsunade, you can't! If you go back to Konoha now, who'll command the troops?"

Tsunade stopped and took a long breath, suppressing the urge to hit someone. "Hmph! Teacher's dumped a huge burden on me, and I'm not taking it! He's so crafty, making sure the whole village knows. By the time I object, it'll be too late! Teacher's really getting senile. How could he do something like this?!"

The messenger tried to reassure her. "Lady Tsunade, don't think of it that way. Your new disciple... no, the person recommended by Lord Hokage is actually very talented... Would you like me to tell you a little about him?"

Tsunade cut him off with a shake of her head. "No need. I'm very strict about choosing disciples! Letting me teach someone like that would only do him harm, understand? I won't take him, even if Teacher begs me. If he doesn't meet my standards, he doesn't meet my standards!"

"But, Lady Tsunade, Lord Hokage told me to—"

Tsunade waved her hand. "Go back and tell that person not to come. If he wants to become my disciple, he can ask Teacher himself. Let him convince Third Hokage to take him as a disciple! Tell Teacher that!"

"Yes, yes, Lady Tsunade. Then... I'll go report back." The messenger withdrew helplessly, thinking, I've never met that Hyuga child, but how could someone who became a Chunin at five be anything but talented? He's a genius. Lady Tsunade, your standards for disciples are really high if you won't even take a genius. Sigh, Third Hokage, I did my best.

The messenger left Tsunade's tent, feeling dejected.

Riyue's transport team met the unit Tsunade had sent to escort them. Under their protection, they arrived safely at the camp, where workers were busy unloading the cargo. Shinobi from the Logistics Department took charge of the supplies, and everyone was occupied with one task or another.

Dan Katō called Riyue over to meet Tsunade first. After all, Third Hokage had ordered Dan to train Riyue, but once they reached the camp, he was supposed to hand him over to Tsunade. A disciple who arrived here should naturally pay his respects to his teacher first; it would be rude not to.

So the two left the matter to their companions and headed for Tsunade's tent. Konoha's main camp was enormous. Thick logs had been joined together to make a temporary outer wall, and inside stood rows of tents and makeshift wooden buildings. Only the warehouse and the Medical Station had brick and concrete walls. They occupied a large area and were heavily guarded. Each exit had guards, patrols moved back and forth, and security was strict. Tsunade's tent stood toward the inner part of the camp.

As the two approached Tsunade's tent, they happened to see a shinobi coming out. He was walking toward them, while Tsunade's voice could be heard faintly from inside: "This is outrageous! I'm not taking a disciple..." There was also the sound of something shattering.

Even Riyue, standing some distance away, could hear her clearly. Hey, hey, Tsunade sure had a bad temper when she was young!

Hearing that, the shinobi quickened his pace, then ran straight into Dan Katō and Riyue.

"Hey, Dan! Long time no see!" he called happily, waving to Dan. It was the messenger who had just left.

Dan led Riyue over. Riyue looked around curiously.

"Hi, Kazomi!" Dan said with a smile. The two embraced.

"Dan, how have you been? An old friend shows up and you don't even tell me? I heard the convoy you were escorting had a tough fight with Hidden Sand. Nicely done!" Kazomi gave them a thumbs-up.

Dan smiled and nodded. "I'm doing well. We just arrived at the camp and handed over the supplies. We were on our way to see Lady Tsunade."

"I'd suggest waiting a little before you go," Kazomi said quietly, leaning closer.

"Why?" Dan asked, puzzled.

"Lady Tsunade's in a foul mood! Now's not a good time. I'm only warning you because I consider you a brother. I wouldn't want this to affect how Dan looks in Lady Tsunade's eyes."

Dan awkwardly scratched his head. "Uh... what's Lady Tsunade angry about?"

"You don't know? I'll tell you, but don't tell anyone else. Lady Tsunade found out that Third Hokage had secretly found her a disciple without telling her. She's furious and says she won't take him on, no matter what." Kazomi spoke in a hushed, conspiratorial tone.

Dan gave Riyue a suspicious glance. Riyue had heard Kazomi too, and he looked just as puzzled. Dan continued, "Wasn't Lady Tsunade taking him on at someone's request? How did it become Lord Hokage taking a disciple on her behalf? Does Lady Tsunade not know about it?"

Kazomi nodded. "She doesn't know, and there was no request from anyone. It was probably Third Hokage's idea. Lady Tsunade is furious. She says she won't take on an unqualified disciple who got in through connections, even if Third Hokage himself asks."

Dan looked at Riyue again, meaningfully. Riyue pressed a hand to his forehead and grumbled inwardly, Sigh, old man Third, why do you always make things worse? You really overdid the lie this time, didn't you? Tsunade thinks I'm some good-for-nothing who got in through connections. Sigh, Tsunade's as stubborn as they come. Otherwise, she wouldn't have exiled herself for decades after Nawaki and Dan Katō died. I'd wanted old man Third to explain things to Tsunade, but now he's only made everything more troublesome!

Dan reminded Kazomi, "Don't tell anyone else about this. It was Third Hokage's decision. We just need to follow his orders!"

Kazomi nodded. "Yeah, I know. I have to hurry back and report. Dan, when we get back to Konoha, we should have a proper drink together. And as for Lady Tsunade, do your best!"

Dan's face turned a little red as he scratched his head. "Sure, we'll get together when we're back."

Kazomi quickly left the camp. Dan stared at Riyue, waiting for an explanation. Riyue could only sigh helplessly and admit it. "Sigh, this was old man Third's idea, but it looks like he's botched it."

If Riyue went straight to Tsunade now and told her that Third Hokage had taken him on as her disciple without asking her, she'd throw him out while she was still furious. She might even punch him out of the tent. The thought sent a chill through him.

Dan nodded. "So what will you do now? Will you explain everything to Lady Tsunade?"

Riyue considered it. Lady Tsunade has standards for choosing a disciple, and I, Hyuga Nichigetsu, have standards for choosing a teacher too! I'm not going to tell Tsunade who I am just yet. I'll hold on to that recommendation letter for now. I don't just want to show her whether I'm good enough to be her disciple—I also want to see whether she has what it takes to be my teacher!

Riyue answered firmly, "Then let's not tell Lady Tsunade yet. I was going to meet her privately, but there's no need now. Besides, I want to see whether Lady Tsunade is right for me as a teacher. If I do well, I don't think she'll turn me away."

Dan nodded. "All right, let's do that. I'll tell everyone to keep this quiet. Let's head back first and bring the others along to meet Lady Tsunade."

"Teacher Dan, you... weren't you dating Lady Tsunade?" Riyue suddenly asked.

Dan's face reddened, and he coughed a few times. "Uh... Riyue, you're still young. Don't ask about things like that. I admire Lady Tsunade, but I don't know how she feels about me."

"Oh, then do your best, Teacher Dan!" Riyue said with an innocent smile, though he thought, That doesn't make sense. By rights, after Nawaki died, Dan Katō should have stood up at the Jonin meeting and supported Tsunade's proposal, then confessed his feelings and won her heart. Dan Katō's death is supposed to happen this year. How come he and Tsunade haven't even started dating?

Riyue secretly glanced at Dan Katō's neck. Sure enough, he wasn't wearing the necklace with the First's green crystal pendant. Dan really hadn't started dating Tsunade.

Could this Naruto world be slightly different from the original Naruto world? Or is there some other reason? Riyue couldn't figure it out. In the end, he stopped thinking about it. With him around, Dan Katō wouldn't die so easily. Whether Tsunade ended up with Jiraiya or Dan was up to them. Riyue wasn't going to interfere.