Power and Deals
Before the mechanical voice of the system in my mind had faded, a system notification pop-up immediately loomed into my view.
[Ding! Remnants of Tsunade demons have been completely eradicated.]
[Bond stability has been solidified. Current affinity remains at 90; repeated events will not decrease the original value.]
[Congratulations, host! You have triggered a Bond Critical Strike and received an SS-rank reward: Strength of a Hundred Seal - Dual Cultivation Specialization Improvement Method (Through the resonance and fusion of Yin–Yang Release, you can rapidly accumulate Chakra without any side effects, and make both Yin–Yang Release users eternally youthful and slow down aging)!]
Naruto leaned against the carriage wall, his gaze sweeping over the words "Dual Cultivation Resonance" on the system panel, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes.
He mentally analyzed the flow of the technique, suppressing the urge to try it immediately.
Tsunade opposite her, was looking down at her blood-stained hands.
She repeatedly spread and clenched her fingers, without the slightest tremor in her muscles.
These hands, which should have been ruined in the illusion of the sea of blood, were now as calm as a still pond.
"I can continue treating people now."
A whisper escaped her throat.
"What lone star, what curse? You're the one who admitted defeat first."
Naruto raised his hand to fasten his blood-stained shirt. "If you ever use dead people as an excuse again, I'll personally drag you back to your bedside."
Tsunade suddenly looked up, a flame igniting in her emerald green eyes.
She raised her fist and slammed it into Naruto's face, the sound of the wind rippled through the air in the confined space.
The fist hovered half an inch from Naruto's forehead before transforming into a palm, slamming heavily onto his shoulder and roughly straightening his crooked collar.
"I lost the three-day bet."
Tsunade gritted her teeth. "You say east, I won't go west. When we return to Hidden Leaf, I'll take over the Fifth Hokage position."
Naruto looked down at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, "You got bumped into her clothes, so you've saved some face."
Tsunade paused, and a blush crept up her neck from behind her ear.
She angrily raised her leg to kick, but Naruto, as if anticipating it, pulled his leg back to avoid it, and the two of them were half a step apart, pulling the heated atmosphere back to a safe distance.
"I have a plan to improve the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
Naruto casually tossed out the hook, saying, "It can solve the damage to your meridians caused by years of using the Yin Seal to store Chakra."
Tsunade immediately reached out and touched the Chakra pathways on his wrist, her breath catching in her throat. "You dare to interfere with even Medical Ninjutsu?"
"We'll talk about the price you'll have to pay once you've secured your Hokage."
Naruto flipped his hand over, the back of his fingers gliding across the back of her hand, and swiftly withdrew his hand.
His gaze swept past Tsunade, looking out of the carriage. "You've taken over the position left by the old man, so the old rules in the Hokage Building have to change. Danzo's mess and Orochimaru's stronghold—neither can be left unresolved. Your village awaits your return to rule; as for how to smooth out those rotten roads, that's my job."
This declaration, imbued with absolute possessiveness, made Tsunade away, avoiding that intensely aggressive gaze.
In the corner, the Kabuto Yakushi, and due to muscle spasms, a few indistinct syllables rolled out of his throat.
Tsunade pressed one hand against the top of his head, her emerald green Chakra forcibly severing his pain receptors. She looked up at Naruto: "He was talking in his sleep about 'Tayuya' and 'Guren'. Orochimaru's people?"
Naruto swallowed those two names and matched them with the S-class target signal on the radar.
The carriage rolled over the last stretch of muddy road and came to a smooth stop outside the main gate of Hidden Leaf.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Bai was already waiting inside.
She held a clean set of dark clothes in her arms. Her gaze swept over Naruto's blood-stained body, and a hint of heartache flashed in her eyes, but there was no trace of panic or overstepping of propriety.
She handed her coat to Tsunade as she got out of the car, then quietly stepped back half a step to Naruto's side, firmly establishing the boundary between logistics and medical duties.
Tsunade took the coat, her gaze lingering between Haku and Naruto for two seconds, gaining a new understanding of the tight-knit system that had formed around this young man.
"Stop."
Two members of the Anbu wearing animal masks suddenly descended from the shadows of the city wall and blocked the carriage.
The leading Chunin produced a warrant. "By order of higher command, serious criminal Kabuto Yakushi must be immediately transferred to the Torture Division. Naruto Uzumaki participated in a high-risk battle outside the village and needs to undergo Chakra stability check with the Anbu."
Naruto didn't even lift his eyelids; his military boots stepped directly onto the binding ropes of the harness.
The soles of the boots rolled over the knots, producing a teeth-grinding scraping sound.
"I arrested the criminal, and the intelligence is mine."
Naruto, hands in his pockets, said, "If you want to check me, let the person who gave the order do it themselves."
The Anbu flicked his wrist, sending Kunai into his palm, attempting to force Naruto back.
"Smack!"
A blood-soaked coat crashed heavily at the feet of the Anbu.
Tsunade strode down from the carriage, ripped off her medical gloves and threw them onto her blood-stained clothes, unleashing the aura of the Legendary Sannin that had been suppressed for over a decade.
"From this moment forward, Kabuto Yakushi is the prime witness in the Fifth Hokage succession case. Anyone who touches him without my warrant will be charged with treason."
The surrounding air suddenly felt heavy.
The two Anbu's breathing became erratic. They exchanged a glance, stiffly sheathed their weapons, and retreated into the shadows.
Before the succession ceremony was even held, the authority of the Fifth Hokage had already been forcefully slammed into the soil of Hidden Leaf.
Half an hour later, outside the temporary interrogation room of the Hokage Building.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stopped Naruto from pushing open the door.
"Tsunade, we agree to you becoming Hokage. But he can't go in."
Mitokado Homura pointed at Naruto, his tone cold and hard, "The safety of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is Hidden Leaf's bottom line. He has secretly obtained Sasuke's tracking mark and must hand it over to the Anbu. The Otogakure's pursuit operation must not be interfered with by him."
Tsunade crossed her arms and coldly stared at the two old men. "The men you sent out didn't even manage to catch a glimpse of Sasuke. Now that you've managed to find Orochimaru standing here, you want to tie his hands first?"
Naruto chuckled and pulled out the base map left by Orochimaru from his pocket, revealing only a tattered cover.
"Orochimaru, hidden for twenty years, contains test subjects of Kekkei Genkai and mountains of secret technique scrolls."
He slammed the map on the wall. "I'll lead the way, and I'll take care of leveling the stakes. How many reconnaissance squads and how many sealing herbs you can provide will determine how much Hidden Leaf can ultimately move back to the warehouse. Trying to get something for nothing? Dream on."
The slow, deliberate sound of wooden clogs came from around the corner of the corridor.
Hyuga Hiashi entered the field accompanied by two elite members of the branch family.
"The Hyuga Clan can provide four Byakugan reconnaissance squads, as well as a full set of top-grade Soldier Pills and wound medicine."
Hiashi's gaze swept past the two advisors and landed directly on Naruto. His tone was decisive, like that of a businessman, "In exchange, all data within the Otogakure related to research on Dōjutsu and the Byakugan will belong to the Hyuga Clan."
Mitokado Homura's face turned ashen.
The Hyuga Clan, as the most powerful clan in Hidden Leaf, actually bypassed the central authority of the Hokage Advisor and Genin.
"Make a deal."
Naruto nodded.
Tsunade promptly made the decision. "The succession ceremony will be held in three days. During these three days, I will personally supervise Kabuto Yakushi, Naruto will have full authority to attend the proceedings. Prepare the necessary personnel, and depart in three days."
Kakashi climbed in through the window at the end of the corridor, pulling down half of his mask. "I'll go with you to bring back the people from Team 7."
Naruto glanced at him. "Sasuke chose this path, let him suffer the consequences himself. Kakashi, don't just focus on finding people, this time, don't leave Orochimaru even a single note with writing on it."