The Last Wood Release Creation Falls, Senju Nawaki Appears

The negotiations were nearing success, leaving only Tsunade in a state of utter despondency.

The others were already preparing to sign the absurd alliance treaty before them.

Mitokado Homura of Konoha.

A of Kumogakure.

Ebizo of Sunagakure.

Banda Yiming of the Land of Fields.

The four men drew close, forming a circle to carefully read the treaty that had been prepared well in advance.

The gazes of the others fell upon Mitokado Homura, their eyes filled with confusion.

What exactly was Konoha doing?

Had they truly fallen so low as to sell out the interests of their allies?

As their eyes drifted to Tsunade standing to the side, they found their answer: it was to suppress the Senju Clan.

Recalling the intelligence that had previously circulated regarding Sarutobi Hiruzen, they thought, To be so unscrupulous, to sell out the interests of one's allies—truly, that is you.

To be under his leadership is a tragedy, yet for his own village, it is a stroke of fortune.

"Please!"

Stung by the several gazes fixed upon him, Mitokado Homura forced himself to remain composed.

He felt a measure of admiration for Sarutobi Hiruzen's political foresight, for being able to anticipate the bottom line of every party involved.

"Ha..."

A could not help but laugh out loud; he, too, had not expected Konoha to agree to such harsh conditions.

With Kumogakure and Konoha in agreement, Sunagakure and the Land of Fields were merely incidental witnesses; if necessary, they could even be excluded entirely.

To prevent any accidents, he picked up his pen, ready to sign.

Rumble...

A thunderous roar shook the ground, causing the building to crack.

A's hand trembled, and a black ink blot fell onto the treaty, tearing it in two.

Sensing something descending upon him from above, a blue-white glow erupted from his body as he activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Crack...

With a single strike, he shattered the dark shadow.

He identified the object that had attacked him.

It was a withered tree trunk over ten meters long.

The giant tree that had once sheltered the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Fields had collapsed at that very moment.

Its lush green canopy had turned withered and dry, its branches piercing the Daimyo Mansion's structures like sharp swords.

It was also the very thing that had just attacked him.

Shaking the dust from his body, A scanned his surroundings.

The former Daimyo Mansion had been reduced to ruins, a fissure running through the earth. At the very center lay the roots of the giant tree, with large sections of the buildings destroyed.

The conference room where they had been standing was no longer recognizable, buried under rubble and withered branches.

Fortunately, all of them were powerful ninja and remained unscathed.

Only the Daimyo of the Land of Fields, whose strength was negligible, had been supported by Mitokado Homura; a large bump had formed on his forehead from a piece of flying debris.

He remained in a daze, staring blankly at everything before him.

"My Daimyo Mansion? My great protective tree?"

Sakata Ichimei broke free from Mitokado Homura's grasp and collapsed to his knees. His eyes widened, and snot and tears streamed down his face; it was unclear whether he was weeping out of fear or sorrow.

The Daimyo Mansion represented his status, his wealth, and his control over the country, and now it had been destroyed in an instant.

That protective tree was the guardian deity of the Land of Fields. When his father had passed the throne to him, he had insisted that he take good care of the tree, warning that disaster would befall the Land of Fields if he failed.

Seeing Sakata Ichimei's display, the others looked on with utter contempt.

Was it not just a mansion? Was it not just a tree?

Was it really worth weeping over so pathetically?

When he had sold out the interests of the Land of Fields, he hadn't shown a shred of remorse.

Could it be that the interests of an entire nation were worth less than a mansion and a tree?

Swish...

Swish...

A series of scraping sounds put them on high alert, forcing them to abandon any concern for Sakata Ichibyo, who remained kneeling on the ground in tears.

They looked toward the source of the noise: a tangle of vines.

Wherever the vines passed, the vibrant, life-filled earth turned desolate; weeds withered into dry grass, and the ground cracked from dehydration as the surrounding energy was drained away.

These very vines were detaching themselves from the tree trunks.

"The life force of the giant trees is being devoured?"

"What kind of evil technique is this?"

"..."

Various thoughts flashed through the minds of everyone present.

Feeling the flow of energy, they realized those vines were the culprits behind it all.

Following the direction of the vines, they looked ahead.

Senju Nawaki emerged from behind the thick trunk of a withered tree.

"Long time no see."

A low, gravelly greeting jolted them back to their senses.

"Senju Nawaki!" Ebizo looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment as the thought of retreating crossed his mind.

It was just as the Second Kazekage Shamon had said: some bargains were not worth taking.

The Senju Clan was currently a partner of Sunagakure.

The interests in the Land of Fields were nothing more than bait; it was separated from Sunagakure by several other villages, making it impossible to guarantee their own gains.

He took a few steps back, having already made his choice.

"What the hell is going on?" A asked, his eyes full of confusion and his voice laced with irritation.

The appearance of Senju Nawaki made him realize that the benefits Kumogakure had already secured would not be so easy to keep.

They had been blinded by the benefits dangled by Konoha Village.

"Senju Nawaki, you actually dare to show your face?" Mitokado Homura shouted sternly.

For Senju Nawaki to appear at a time like this—he hadn't improved at all, still just as reckless. What was he trying to do?

Was he not afraid that he would unite with the others to finish him off right here?

Seeing Ebizo's movements, he cursed inwardly. Was the man a coward, or simply too greedy?

"Nawaki!"

Tears welled up in Tsunade's eyes as she trotted forward, wanting to embrace Senju Nawaki.

Swish...

A wall formed by vines blocked Tsunade's path.

"Tsunade, you have made the wrong choice."

Senju Tojian appeared, rebuking her in a cold voice.

Such a foolish clansman, being used by Konoha without even realizing it; he could not allow her to influence Nawaki.

"Sister, you shouldn't have come, and you especially shouldn't have interfered in the affairs of the Senju Clan. Your heart has never belonged to the Senju Clan."

"As the Clan Head, I declare that any and all matters concerning the Senju Clan have nothing to do with you. I will notify the Ninja World of this later."

Senju Nawaki stopped Senju Tojian from taking further action and shook his head as he spoke.

The Ninja Way she had formed under the tutelage of the three Hokage—Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Sarutobi Hiruzen—was already too difficult to correct.