The Five Kage Arrive

Konoha, Hokage Building conference room.

The air was thick with the peculiar tension of the aftermath of battle, along with a faint, barely contained excitement. Everyone seated here was a core figure of jonin rank or above. They kept their voices low, and their conversations almost inevitably revolved around the "Wood Release Buddha" to the east of the village—already beginning to weather naturally, yet still clearly outlined—as well as last night's breathtaking attack and reversal.

"That was unbelievable... Was that really Wood Release? Like the First Hokage's in the records...?"

"It had to be! Other than the First Hokage, who else could possess that kind of power? Maybe the First Hokage's will manifested itself!"

"That bastard Danzo actually dared to lay a hand on the Hokage! An S-rank rogue ninja—he deserved it!"

"The other villages must have received the news already. Things probably won't be peaceful from here on out..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the seat of honor. His complexion was somewhat better than it had been the night before, but the furrows between his brows had deepened. Listening to the discussions below, he felt no relief whatsoever. The identity of the mysterious Wood Release expert remained unknown, and his stance was merely that he was "temporarily helping Konoha." Power beyond their control was, in itself, an enormous variable.

Danzo's defection had also completely ripped open Konoha's darkest festering wound, exposing it to broad daylight. Internal and external troubles would follow one after another.

He raised a hand and lightly tapped the table. The noisy conference room quickly fell silent, every gaze focusing on the Hokage.

"Last night, Konoha faced an unprecedented crisis." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was not loud, but it carried the weight of time. "Fortunately, a powerful ally who cared for Konoha came to our aid. We defeated a formidable enemy and protected the village. This proves that Konoha is not alone and without support."

He deliberately defined the mysterious man as an ally in order to steady everyone's nerves, though even he felt a trace of unease saying it.

"However, the vermin within our own ranks chose this moment to bare their fangs." His tone turned cold as his gaze swept over Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, who sat in the corner with exceptionally ugly expressions yet did not say a word.

The two advisors had been sitting on pins and needles since the meeting began, silent throughout for fear of drawing the flames onto themselves. "Danzo Shimura, former leader of Root, attempted to assassinate the Hokage amid the chaos and has now defected. As he possesses a large number of Konoha's secrets, his threat level is extremely high."

He paused, drew a deep breath, and announced the weighty decision:

"Danzo Shimura is hereby officially designated an S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha! He is wanted throughout the ninja world! Anyone who provides a valid lead on his whereabouts, assists in his capture, or kills him will receive a bounty and reward of eighty million from Konoha!"

A chorus of sharp inhales sounded through the conference room. An S-rank rogue ninja, wanted by the entire ninja world! This was nailing Danzo permanently to the pillar of shame. It also meant that Konoha would spare no cost in purging its own ranks.

Homura Mitokado and Koharu lowered their heads even further, their bodies trembling almost imperceptibly.

"Furthermore," Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "last night's disturbance was immense. The spies of every ninja village have undoubtedly already sent the intelligence back. Though we suffered no substantial major losses, intimidation and suspicion will surely follow. Border friction and diplomatic probing will not be scarce for some time to come. Every department must remain vigilant, strengthen patrols and intelligence gathering, and not relax in the slightest!"

He issued several specific directives with swift decisiveness. At last, he said in a grave voice, "That is all. Meeting adjourned. Every department will act according to its orders."

"Wait."

A cool female voice rang out, carrying an unquestionable authority. Tsunade rose to her feet, her golden ponytail swaying slightly with the movement. She did not look at anyone else, her eyes fixed directly on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The hot spring area created east of the village, along with that wooden Buddha," Tsunade said evenly, "give them to me. I'll trade the old Senju clan land in central Konoha, of equal area, for that land."

The conference room fell silent for a moment. Everyone was initially stunned, then realization dawned upon them. Lady Tsunade was the First Hokage's granddaughter. Having witnessed that awe-inspiring Wood Release firsthand last night, it was only natural that she might wish to preserve that battlefield relic as a memorial or warning. Trading old ancestral land in a prosperous district for remote postwar ruins was, however one looked at it, a bargain for the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked deeply at Tsunade. Naturally, he knew her purpose was far more than mere remembrance. The hot spring contained special ley line energy, and the wooden Buddha might still bear the chakra imprint or natural energy of that mysterious expert.

Tsunade likely wanted that land for research—or to prepare for her young apprentice, who was currently sleeping at her residence and possessed the potential for Wood Release.

"Fine." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not ask further and nodded directly. Publicly and privately, he had no reason to refuse. Tsunade's return and declaration of support were of vital importance to Konoha right now.

"Thank you." Tsunade offered a concise word of thanks and sat back down.

The meeting officially ended. Everyone departed with complicated feelings, and the massive machine that was Konoha began operating at high speed around its new orders.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected, the earthshaking upheaval in Konoha the previous night spread throughout the ninja world at astonishing speed. At the heart of that intelligence, and the part that caused the greatest unease, was the towering Wood Release said to be "the First Hokage reborn"!

Hidden Cloud Village in the Land of Lightning, the Raikage's office.

The Fourth Raikage A's burly body nearly sprang from his chair. He gripped the urgent intelligence report, which described in near-panicked terms the Thousand-Hand Wooden Buddha that had appeared over Konoha, as well as its world-altering power.

"What kind of joke is this?! The First Hokage's Wood Release?! How could something like that possibly appear again?!" he roared, slamming his fist against the desk with a deafening bang. "Contact the intelligence division immediately and verify it! Verify it again! And send a secret message to that old fox in the Land of Earth! At a time like this, he must be even less able to sit still than we are!"

Just as the Raikage expected, Hidden Stone Village in the Land of Earth was already in chaos inside Onoki's office.

This Third Tsuchikage had lived through the end of the Warring States era and personally witnessed just how terrifying Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had been. At this moment, his small body hovered in midair as it trembled slightly, cold sweat beading on his brow. The descriptions in the report had stirred the terror buried deepest within him, memories he least wished to revisit.

"Wood Release... True Several Thousand Hands..." he muttered, his old face creasing into a knot. "That thing... How could it... Could Hashirama Senju truly have left some contingency in Konoha? Or has Konoha created another forbidden experimental subject?"

The immense sense of danger made him feel as though thorns pressed against his back. "We must get to the bottom of this! Contact the Raikage, Mizukage, and Kazekage at once! Under the pretext of 'postwar condolences and an exchange on the security situation,' we will make a joint visit to Konoha! We have to see with our own eyes what that thing is!"

Before long, the secret yet efficient diplomatic channels between the Five Great Ninja Villages were activated. Though each harbored their own ulterior motives, in the face of the threat of the "suspected reappearance of the First Hokage's Wood Release," enough to overturn the current balance of the ninja world, the four great ninja villages quickly reached a consensus.

Several days later, the visitors arrived in Konoha one after another.

The first to arrive was the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. He brought a team of capable Hidden Sand ninja. His expression appeared calm, but the vigilance and inquisitiveness deep in his eyes were impossible to conceal. Hiruzen Sarutobi personally welcomed him at the village entrance. The formalities were impeccable, yet the atmosphere was somewhat delicate.

Soon after, the Fourth Raikage A arrived with his right-hand men, Darui and C, along with several Hidden Cloud elites.

The Hidden Mist delegation led by the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi followed close behind. The beautiful female Kage wore a charming smile and spoke with fitting grace, but her occasional glances were sharp as blades.

The last to arrive was the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. He drifted down at a leisurely pace, looking every bit like a cunning old vulture deliberately arriving late.

He had just brushed away dust that did not exist when a shadow came crashing down on him.

"Onoki! You wrinkled, shriveled old runt who refuses to die! What are you, a damn turtle? It took you this long to crawl here! Did your broken bird fall apart on the way, or are your old bones finally about to be buried, leaving you too out of breath to move?!"

The words were vicious and loud enough for half the village to hear. Onoki's floating body abruptly froze. His old face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot, fury practically spraying from every wrinkle. The air around him hummed, and small rocks began to float uncontrollably.

"You little brat! You muscle-brained ox with no brains to speak of!" Onoki's voice was shrill and piercing, carrying the stubborn, biting edge unique to the Tsuchikage of Hidden Stone. "Your mouth is full of shit! Did lightning fry your brains in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning last night, or did the slightest stir in Konoha scare you so badly you couldn't hold in your piss and shit, sending you running over to grovel and lick their boots for confirmation?!"

"Bullshit!" Veins bulged on Raikage A's forehead as blue Lightning Release chakra crackled across his body. "I'm here to expose Konoha's little trick! To see whether they've used living people to create some freak again!

"But you, you scheming old bastard—back then, you and your teacher got swatted out of the sky like flies by Madara Uchiha. You nearly shit yourselves from fear, didn't you? Are your knees still weak now? Did you come here ready to recognize another new daddy?!"

"You're courting death!" Onoki erupted completely. Terrifying chakra surged from his short body, and the dangerous white light of Dust Release instantly condensed into a dazzling cube between his palms! "You sharp-tongued, yellow-haired whelp! Today, I'll teach you this foul-mouthed beast a lesson on behalf of your parents!"

"Come on, you old bastard! Let's see whether your Dust Release is faster, or my Lightning Release Armor is tougher!" Raikage A roared, lightning flaring violently around his entire body as he prepared to charge. Behind him, Darui and C instantly drew their weapons, lightning and water chakra winding around them. Kitsuchi behind Onoki let out a roar as the ground rose, while Akatsuchi pressed both hands to the earth, ready to strike.

The chakra of both sides' guards collided without restraint, producing a teeth-grating screech. The ground at the village entrance cracked apart, violent winds rose, and the onlookers were forced back again and again, their faces deathly pale. A Kage-level battle was about to erupt in bloodshed right at Konoha's gates!

At that critical instant, just as Dust Release and Lightning Release were about to clash—

"Both of you—STOP IT!!!"

A furious shriek filled with terrifying chakra tore through the raging chakra field! Wherever the sound waves passed, the stone paving cracked apart with sharp snaps!

A golden figure did not walk in, but slammed down between the two sides like a cannonball! The instant Tsunade landed, a shallow crater several meters wide exploded beneath her feet, sending shattered stones flying. Her golden hair whipped wildly without wind, and tangible fury burned in her amber eyes as she first drove a fist into the ground in front of A!

BOOM!!!

Under that monstrous strength, the ground did not merely crack—it directly exploded into a deep pit. The violent shockwave forced even the burly Raikage back half a step, and the lightning around him flickered.

Then, without even turning her head, Tsunade swung her backhand, leaving an afterimage as she precisely struck Onoki's palm.

Smack—BZZZ!!!

A strange, crisp sound mingled with the hum of annihilating energy. The Dust Release cube that could decompose all things was forcibly knocked off course and warped by Tsunade's slap, which contained extreme Yang Release chakra and monstrous strength. More than half of its white glow dispersed, while the remaining energy shot wildly into the sky, carving a blinding white streak across it!

"Tsunade! You—" Onoki was both shocked and furious, his palm numb.

"What do you mean, 'you'?! Shut up!" Tsunade snapped her head around, first pointing at A's nose, her spit nearly hitting his face. "Are your brains completely packed with thundercloud muscles, leaving not even a crack for actual brains?! You're at someone else's front gate, baring your teeth and claws at another old fossil with one foot in the grave? Are you here for a visit, or are you putting on a show of stray dogs barking at each other for Konoha?!

"If you want to fight, roll back to your Valley of Clouds and Lightning and fight there! Smash the mountains and split the rocks for all I care! But if you keep throwing a tantrum here, I'll rip apart every piece of muscle you're so damn proud of and stuff it into that stinking mouth of yours that does nothing but spew shit!"

That torrent of furious abuse was so crude and so imposing that it directly left the Fourth Raikage, who had just been raging like a thunder god, utterly stunned. His mouth hung open, lightning flickering across his body, yet he could not get a word out.

After cursing out the Raikage, Tsunade abruptly turned on Onoki, her finger nearly poking his hovering nose. "And you! Onoki of the Two Scales! Have you lived all these years only to stuff your brains into a dog's belly?! Pretty good at provoking people, aren't you? Can't get through three sentences without bringing up Grandpa First Hokage.

"What, was the shadow from back then bigger than that old face of yours? So now you're using this as an excuse, looking for a reason to die together with this brute so you don't have to face reality?! Let me tell you, if you want to die, die somewhere far away! Don't dirty Konoha's ground! Konoha isn't responsible for collecting the corpses of two old idiots like you!"

Onoki trembled from rage, his old face flushed red, and even his floating body swayed. "Tsunade! How dare you speak to me like that! I am the Tsuchikage!"

"Tsuchikage? Pah!" Tsunade nearly spat in his face. "In my eyes, you two are just a pair of oversized baby bastards throwing tantrums on the spot after failing to snatch candy from each other outside a kindergarten! Tsuchikage? Raikage? Keep putting on airs, and I'll beat the 'Kage' out of both of you until even your mothers can't recognize you!"

She slammed her fists together, producing a thunderous clang like metal striking metal. Terrifying chakra formed a visible vortex around her. "I'll say this one last time: if you're going in, then shut the hell up, tuck your tails between your legs, and follow obediently! If you don't want to go in, I'll personally send you on your way—to the innermost private room of Konoha's intensive care unit, with a complimentary full-body shattered-bone reconstruction package! Choose!"

Dead silence.

Absolute dead silence.

Only Tsunade's heavy breathing and the crackling sound of her clenched fists could be heard. The muscles on A's face twitched. His fists clenched and loosened; in any case, he had already vented enough, and he could not really fight the Tsuchikage. Finally, he forced out a single word through gritted teeth. "...Move." He shot Onoki a vicious glare and took the first step forward.

Onoki's chest heaved violently as he stared at Tsunade, his gaze practically wishing to devour her whole. But when his peripheral vision caught Tsunade's poised fist and the terrifying crater in the ground, he ultimately gave a heavy snort and followed after her with a dark expression.