" The Ino-Shika-Cho will obey the Fifth Hokage's will." Why didn't they say so earlier if they had this kind of power? It's such a hassle, making me waste so many brain cells.
"Since you've made your decision, Tsunade, that's settled then. It's getting late, I'll Tsunade, we still have to prepare for the Fifth Hokage's succession ceremony tomorrow." Could it be that Tsunade has awakened the First Hokage's Wood Release Kekkei Genkai? Only the First Hokage could possess such an aura, right? She kept such a big thing from me; Tsunade really isn't a good friend.
However, with the Wood Release's restraint, the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan became an asset rather than a problem, which explains why Tsunade supported Uchiha Gen's actions.
" Hinata, come here, we need to go back now. Thank you so much for your help, Gen." Hyuga Hiashi looked at his sleepy eldest daughter with affection.
"Hmm, it was nothing. Hinata, go find your father." Releasing Hinata's hand, Uchiha Gen didn't seem to care at all.
"Thank you, Lord Gen." Hinata, held in her father's arms, glanced shyly at Uchiha Gen and thanked him in a soft voice.
The next day~
The Kumogakure Village delegation left hastily without even saying goodbye.
The relationship between Konoha and Kumogakure has reached a freezing point after this incident. Although Kuroi is not afraid that Konoha will kill the negotiating envoy, she would still like to send the news back to Kumogakure as soon as possible, just in case.
Lady Tsunade's strength that night was definitely strange. Her aura alone far surpassed that of Kage Level powerhouse. Based on past information, Lady Tsunade should not possess such strength. This matter must be reported to the Lord Raikage.
Land of Lightning, Thundercloud Gorge, Kumogakure.
"What? Konoha not only refused to pay compensation, but also provoked us? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? When did Sarutobi get such audacity? Who gave him the courage to speak to Kumogakure like that?" The Fourth Raikage A, looked incredulous upon hearing Kuroi's report.
" Fourth Hokage, according to my investigations over this period, the Third Hokage of Konoha, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, has passed away, and the Sarutobi Clan has been wiped out. Orochimaru, the mastermind behind this, has also defected from Konoha. The provocative words just now were spoken by Lady Tsunade is about to succeed as the Fifth Hokage." Kuroi reported to the Fourth Raikage in detail what she had seen and heard in Konoha during this period.
"What? The Third Hokage is dead? The Sarutobi Clan has been wiped out? Great, great, what a joyous occasion... Wait, something's not right. In this situation, why is Lady Tsunade provoking us, the Kumogakure, with such a tone? Are they giving up? Don't they want to live anymore?" Are the Third Hokage and the Sarutobi Clan really that insignificant? Even most other ninja villages would cower and cede territory and pay reparations for such a huge loss. Is Lady Tsunade that stubborn?
"According to my deduction, Lady Tsunade's strength may have far surpassed that of the Fourth Hokage at his peak. This should be the source of her arrogance." Recalling Lady Tsunade's Chakra that night, Kuroi couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.
"What? Far surpassing my prime? You've even seen me at my peak?" Is this kid's head all muscles? Can't he just shut up?
"I've seen it before. Don't you often spar with Eight-Tails Killer B? I've had the privilege of watching a few of your matches." Although he didn't want to admit it, the Fourth Hokage did seem to be inferior to Lady Tsunade.
"Hmm, when you say 'far surpass,' how much stronger do you mean?" I'm exhausted. My subordinates are all clueless about flattery; they don't even know how to speak tactfully. With so many people watching, don't they know the Fourth Raikage represents the face of Kumogakure?
"Hmm~ Probably several dozen times stronger than the Third Hokage?" For comparison, Kuroi could only use the Third Raikage, the strongest person she had ever seen, as a benchmark.
"Huh??? Are you sure you're not mistaken? Stronger than dozens of Third Hokage? Lady Tsunade could actually have that kind of power? Even the Senju Hashirama, Senju Hashirama, wasn't that strong, right? Lady Tsunade may be a descendant of Senju Hashirama, but she shouldn't be this ridiculously strong." Has Kuroi been scared out of her wits? She's supposed to be an elite Jonin of Kumogakure, surely she's not this naive?
"Wait, Fourth Hokage, if Lady Tsunade has awakened the same Kekkei Genkai as her grandfather, then the strength described by Lady Kuroi might be true." At this moment, the Raikage's assistant, the black-clad beauty Mabui, suddenly remembered the Senju Clan's signature technique.
"What! Mabui, you mean... Lady Tsunade has awakened the legendary Wood Release???" Now the Fourth Raikage began to take Kuroi's previous statement seriously. If this guess was true, then the high-end combat power of Kumogakure and Konoha would be completely incomparable. If a war really broke out, Lady Tsunade alone could probably sweep through the entire Kumogakure.
After all, high-ranking officials from various countries have kept detailed records of the combat power of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Although later generations treat these records as myths, even if there is some truth to them, it is enough to illustrate the terrifying power of Wood Release.
Lady Tsunade's strength was already on par with his own. If she were to awaken the legendary Wood Release, she would be dozens of times stronger than the Third Raikage. While that might be an exaggeration, she would definitely be several Third Raikage stronger.
This is a dilemma. If we start a war, we might get wiped out instantly. If we don't, the atmosphere has reached this point, and we can't back down even if we want to.
"What should we do, Mabui? Should we take a gamble? What if Lady Tsunade is just bluffing? Wood Release isn't something you can awaken so easily. So many Senju Clan back then, and none of them awakened it. If Lady Tsunade wanted to awaken it, she would have done so long ago. Why would she wait until now?" The Fourth Raikage began to hypnotize himself to reduce the pressure from Lady Tsunade.
"Um, Fourth Hokage, Lady Tsunade is a renowned Medical Ninjutsu master in the Ninja World. The chances of her awakening Wood Release are extremely high. Moreover, according to the intelligence our spies planted in Konoha have sent back, Konoha has never stopped researching Wood Release over the years. It seems they have succeeded now." They already have two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, and now they have Wood Release. Konoha's strength has probably surpassed what it was when the village was first founded.
Bang~
"Damn it, why does everything good happen to Konoha? Why doesn't our Kumogakure have Wood Release Kekkei Genkai? We have to go to great lengths to steal the Byakugan..." The irritable Fourth Raikage were shattered by Mabui, and his face darkened, with flashes of lightning crackling around him.
"Then, Fourth Hokage, how should we respond to Konoha? War or peace?" Soroi, the head of the Anbu, was already used to this situation.
"Hmph, neither war nor peace, maintaining the status quo. You think you can make Kumogakure down? Impossible." It seems I'll have to meet Ōnoki. Konoha's strength is now beyond Kumogakure can handle alone.