Postwar Deliberations (4)

Tsunade sat at the Hokage's desk, watching Neji's figure disappear behind the office door. The afternoon sun shone through the glass, casting interplay of light and shadow on her face. She slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, her fingers unconsciously tracing the fine cracks on the desk—a mark left from a moment of emotional outburst.

"Six Paths Tier..."

She repeated the word softly, as if trying to understand its meaning through the weight of her tongue. Jiraiya had mentioned this legend in casual, drunken conversations, half-teasing and half-reverent—it was the realm reached by the Sage of Sage of Six Paths, the progenitor of ninjas, the pinnacle of Chakra, a divine realm unattainable by mortals. And all of this was unintentionally revealed to Jiraiya by the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku.

Now, a seventeen-year-old boy from the Hyuga Branch Family stood before her, calmly announcing that he had entered this realm.

Tsunade turned and walked towards her desk, her steps slightly heavy. The pile of documents on the desk seemed higher than usual—a list of the dead, reports of material losses, details of financial expenditures... Her gaze swept over the top list, Jiraiya's name was prominently displayed. Her fingers lightly brushed across the paper, lingered for a moment, and then moved away.

She sat down and took out a bottle of sake and two small cups from the depths of a drawer. She filled the first cup, held it to her forehead, paused for three seconds, and then poured it on the floor. She drank the second cup in one gulp; the strong liquor burned her throat, but it couldn't melt the ice in her heart.

"You probably noticed his difference a long time ago, didn't you?" she murmured to herself in the empty room, as if the white-haired hero were leaning against the door with his usual cynical smile.

Indeed, from the moment Neji volunteered to go undercover for Orochimaru three years ago, she knew that this boy would never be content to be bound by the Caged Bird for life. His eyes were too bright, too clear, not the eyes of a fifteen-year-old boy—there was a calculation beyond his years, a determination to pay any price, and... a kind of remoteness that she couldn't define at the time.

Now she understands. That distant view is the height that a fledgling bird, gazing at the sky, knows it will eventually soar above.

"Lord Hokage," Shizune's voice came from outside the door, tinged with caution, "The Five Kage Summit you arranged is approaching. Also... Neji- kun has returned to Konoha and has been staying indoors since entering his old residence. Should we send someone to keep an eye on him?"

Tsunade rubbed her temples. "No need. For him right now, any surveillance is pointless and will only escalate the conflict." She paused. "Tell Kakashi to... no, I'll go tell him myself. Inform the Kage that the meeting will begin in half an hour."

"Yes."

After Shizune left, Tsunade stood up and walked to the wardrobe. She took off her usual green robe and put on the formal robes of the Fifth Hokage. On the deep red robe, the fire emblem gleamed calmly in the light. She carefully tied up her hair and put on her Forehead Protector —these actions were slow and solemn, as if she were performing some kind of ritual.

The woman in the mirror had fine lines around her eyes, but her gaze remained sharp. She was once one of the legendary Sannin, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. Now, she would use this identity to announce the end of one era and the beginning of another.

"Jiraiya," she whispered to her reflection in the mirror, "What would you do if you were here?"

There was no answer. Only the footsteps of patrolling ninjas on the streets of Konoha could be heard outside the window—a daily occurrence during wartime.

The atmosphere in the conference room of the Hokage Building was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Tsunade sat in the main seat, flanked by the acting Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi, the Fourth Raikage A, the Kazekage Gaara, and the Mist Village representative Ao. Compared to the Five Kage Summit at the beginning of the Fourth Shinobi World War, this office was missing two people— Mei Terumi and Jiraiya should have been standing next to Tsunade.

Kurotsuchi's face was pale, and her right hand rested unnaturally on her left shoulder. In the meeting room earlier, Neji's eyes widened, and she didn't even see what he did—she only felt an invisible pressure pounding on her mind like a heavy hammer, as if her internal organs were being squeezed by a giant hand, her Chakra flow instantly became disordered, her body slammed uncontrollably against the wall, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, and she immediately knelt on the ground.

That wasn't a battle. That was a difference in dimensions.

"Everyone's here." Teuchi the silence, her voice echoing in the spacious conference room. "Let's skip the formalities. I'll get straight to the point: the Shinobi World Allied Forces are officially disbanded today."

Before she could finish speaking, A slammed her fist on the table with a dull thud. "Tsunade, what do you mean by this? Obito Uchiha still alive, the threat of Akatsuki hasn't been eradicated, and you're saying you want to disband the Allied Forces?"

His voice boomed like thunder in the room, his bronze skin revealing bulging muscles as he struggled to suppress his rage. The Fourth Raikage was never one to hide his emotions. Cloud Village had lost more than three-quarters of its ninja in this war, Cloud Village two of its Jinchuriki had been captured, killed, and turned into puppets. Now, Konoha casually dismissed the threat with a "disband," as if all those sacrifices had become a joke.

Tsunade met his gaze, unyielding. "Raikage, you and I both know that the upcoming battle is beyond the capabilities of a regular ninja army. Obito possesses the Rinnegan and can control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path; ordinary ninjas are merely..."

"Cannon fodder?" Kurotsuchi sneered, her young face filled with mockery and sorrow. "So Konoha plans to handle this themselves? What a clever plan. Obito Uchiha is Konoha's sacrificed hero, Neji Hyuga is Konoha's A-rank traitor—but actually, he's your Konoha's spy, though he doesn't seem very obedient right now. Both monsters came from your Konoha, and now you casually say 'leave it to us,' Lord Raikage, don't you think that's too much of a coincidence?"

Her words were as sharp as needles. The Kitsuchi figure standing behind her paled, and he hissed in a low voice, "Acting Tsuchikage! Watch your words!"

"Watch your words?" Kurotsuchi abruptly stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound. "Father, Grandpa is dead! He died at the hands of Obito Uchiha, who came from Konoha! Three-quarters of our Iwagakure ninja are buried on that battlefield! And now, another Konoha ninja, Neji Hyuga, almost killed me, the acting Tsuchikage, with a single look in the meeting room just now!"

Her voice trembled with emotion, her eyes red but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall. "Konoha nurtured these monsters and released them to wreak havoc on the entire Shinobi World. Shouldn't we be given an explanation? Now, with just a word of 'disbanding the Allied Forces,' you want to take all the blame—no, you want to seize all the initiative! Once you've dealt with it, will Konoha naturally become the sole overlord of the Shinobi World?"

The meeting room fell into a deathly silence. Ao stood silently behind the Mist Village, his single eye lowered, seemingly uninterested in the argument. But Gaara noticed a very subtle fluctuation of Chakra in the eye covered by the eyepatch.

Tsunade slowly stood up. She didn't slam her hand on the table or raise her voice, but the aura of a Kage Level powerhouse emerging from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood made the temperature in the entire room drop several degrees.

"Kurotsuchi," she called him by his name, her voice as cold as ice, "I understand your grief over losing your grandfather, and I respect Ōnoki's sacrifices for the Shinobi World. But that doesn't mean you can slander Konoha at will."

She surveyed everyone present, her gaze sharp as a knife. "Obito Uchiha merely inherited Madara Uchiha's will, and Madara Uchiha had already defected Konoha at its inception. But why did Neji Hyuga pursue power? Because the Caged Bird Seal of the Hyuga Branch Family was etched on his forehead and into his soul from birth. The root of these tragedies is something all the Kage know perfectly well—it's the unchanging hierarchy and oppression of the Shinobi World for thousands of years, the unspoken rules of the major ninja villages."

She pointed out the window, towards the streets of Konoha: "Now, they possess the power to overturn everything. Obito wants to create an illusory peace with the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Neji..." She paused, "I can't fully see through his thoughts yet, but at least he hasn't attacked Konoha, and is even willing to assist in fighting Obito if necessary."

"So," Tsunade, rested it on the table, and leaned forward, "You want an explanation? Fine, I'll give you one: whether it's Obito or Neji, if you believe you have the ability to capture, judge, and execute them, then go ahead and do it. Konoha will never make an enemy of any other ninja village because of this."

Her gaze finally settled on Kurotsuchi's face. "But the question is, can Iwagakure do it? Or rather, can any of you here, since you've united, do it?"

Kurotsuchi opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Tsunade's words were like ice water poured over her head, instantly cooling her boiling emotions. The anger was real, the grief was real, but the feeling of powerlessness... was even more real. She remembered the suffocating feeling brought on by that glare in the conference room...

She slumped back into her chair, all her arrogance vanished, leaving only a pale and tired young face.

A's fist slowly loosened. He leaned back in his chair, his heavy breathing unusually clear in the silence. After a long while, he spoke in a deep voice, "Can Konoha control Neji Hyuga?"

"No," Tsunade answered decisively. "None of us can completely control those extraordinary powers. But at least Neji currently harbors goodwill towards Konoha, and I am willing to believe in that goodwill, and I am also willing to bear the risks of believing."

She sat down again, her demeanor regaining its composure. "Disbanding the allied forces is not about shirking responsibility, but about facing reality. The next level of combat is no longer suitable for large-scale legionary operations. Let the elite troops from each village return alive, rebuild their homes, and raise the next generation—this is the best way to honor the fallen."

Ao finally raised his head, a glint of light flashing in his single eye. "Before leaving Mist Village, Mizukage prophesied that if he were to sacrifice himself, he would formally pass the position of Mizukage to Chojuro. Of the five thousand elite troops from Mist Village who participated in the battle, less than three hundred were lost besides the Mizukage. If the allied forces disband, I can lead my troops back to Mist Village immediately to report to the Sixth Mizukage."

His statement was clear: Mist Village no longer wanted to get involved in this mess.

Gaara spoke for the first time at this moment, his voice as calm as the desert night wind. "The alliance between Sand Village and Konoha remains in effect. After the Allied Forces disband, the Sand Village forces will withdraw in batches, but Temari and I will remain in Konoha to attend Lord Jiraiya's funeral."

He paused for a moment, then looked at Tsunade: "Furthermore, I have something I need to discuss with the Hokage privately."

Seeing this, Ai quickly weighed the situation. Cloud Village suffered heavy losses; unnecessary expenditures and sacrifices had to be reduced. Continuing to expend their elite forces here to entangle with Konoha was indeed unwise. Moreover...

He recalled the terrifying Chakra that erupted from Neji Hyuga —a power far deeper and more fundamental than that of Tailed Beast. If that was the Six Paths Tier, then if Neji Hyuga truly harbored hostility towards Cloud Village, the entire Land of Lightning could vanish from the map overnight.

"... Cloud Village agrees to disband the Allied Shinobi Forces," A finally said, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth. "But Konoha must promise to regularly report the progress of the purge of Obito Uchiha and his followers to all nations. If the situation gets out of control and endangers the entire Shinobi World, the Allied Shinobi Forces have the right to reorganize."

"That makes sense." Tsunade nodded.

Kurotsuchi remained silent for a longer time. Kitsuchi gently patted her shoulder from behind, a small gesture that made the young woman close her eyes. When she opened them again, the anger was gone, replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility.

"Iwagakure ...agrees," she whispered, "But Konoha must provide medical support to assist in treating our seriously wounded."

"Okay." Tsunade looked directly at her. "Also, regarding the shock you suffered earlier... I will personally treat you after the meeting."

Kurotsuchi paused for a moment, pursed his lips, and didn't say thank you, but nodded slightly.

"Then," Tsunade looked around, "The resolution to disband the Allied Forces is passed. All units may begin evacuation immediately. Konoha will provide necessary supplies and ensure safe passage."

The meeting ended in a complicated atmosphere. Qing was the first to leave, her departure swift and decisive, as if staying even a second longer would be a waste. As Ai stood up, she gave Tsunade a deep look, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she only gave a cold snort and strode away with her guards.

Kurotsuchi swayed as she stood up, Kitsuchi quickly steadied her. Tsunade walked up to her, her palm glowing with a soft green light. "Relax, don't resist my Chakra."

The treatment was quiet. Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu was unparalleled; in just a few minutes, Kurotsuchi's disordered meridians were smoothed out, and the nausea from the pressure on her internal organs disappeared. At the end, Kurotsuchi looked down at her hands and suddenly murmured softly, "He really just... glared at me?"

"Six Paths Tier power transcends the scope of conventional Ninjutsu." Tsunade withdrew her hand, her tone calm. "It's more like a domain, a rule."

Kurotsuchi a bitter smile, "So you don't even have the right to resent?"

"You have the right to resent," Tsunade said, "But after you resent, remember that you are a Kage. Thousands of people in Iwagakure are waiting for you to lead them out of this disaster."

The young female acting Tsuchikage looked up at Tsunade, a complex light flashing in her eyes. In the end, she said nothing and left the conference room accompanied by Kitsuchi.

Only Gaara remained. He dismissed Kankuro and Temari, and only after the door was completely closed did he speak, "I hope that Temari and Shikamaru's wedding will be held as soon as possible after Lord Jiraiya's funeral."

Tsunade's pupils contracted slightly. "So eager?"

Gaara continued, "I feel the crisis in the Shinobi World still exists. Sand Village will always be Konoha's most loyal and steadfast ally."

"I agree," Tsunade asked.

Gaara gently swirled the water glass. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

The two looked at each other for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them. Gaara nodded slightly. "The Sand Village will attend Lord Jiraiya's funeral with the highest honors."

"Thanks."

After Gaara left, Tsunade stood alone in the dimly Hokage Office. Outside the window, Konoha began to light up, their twinkling lights outlining the village's gentle contours. She knew that beneath those lights, some were weeping, some were celebrating their survival, some were plotting, and some were lost in confusion.

And she must be responsible for all of these lights.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the Hyuga Clan Compound in the old Konoha district, Neji sat cross-legged in the center of the training room in a slightly old but tidy two-story house.

He closed his eyes, but the whole world appeared in his perception in another form—not the 360-degree field of vision of the Byakugan, but a more essential "information". He "saw" the flow of Chakra Konoha a seven-colored river, "heard" countless thoughts buzzing like a swarm of bees, and "felt" the rise and fall of Natural Energy like the tide.

The Tenseigan granted him a perceptual dimension bordering on godhood.

Sasuke was in the Uchiha Old Residence, three blocks away, his Chakra fluctuating violently and chaotically, clearly undergoing some kind of high-intensity training—perhaps trying to master the new ability of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Naruto was in Ichiraku Ramen, eating ramen while talking to Iruka-sensei, his Chakra warm and bright like the sun, but deep within it was a barely perceptible crack of sadness.

Kakashi stood silently before the Memorial Stone, Obito's name gleaming coldly in the moonlight. Sakura worked through the night at the hospital treating the wounded; her Chakra was resilient and delicate, but on the verge of exhaustion. Hinata sat in her room, staring blankly out the window, her thoughts like tangled threads, complex and unfathomable.

And further away...

Neji's senses reached out of the village like an invisible hand, sweeping across forests, rivers, and mountains, finally locking onto a hidden underground cave hundreds of miles away. There, Obito's Chakra flickered weakly like a dying ember, while the enormous presence of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was like a dark sun, constantly devouring the surrounding life force.

But another familiar Chakra lingered nearby—cold, lifeless, belonging to the dead.

Nagato.

Neji opened his eyes, a pale blue light swirling in his pupils. He stood up and walked to the window. Night had fallen, and Konoha was immersed in a rare post-war tranquility. He knew this tranquility wouldn't last long, but at least tonight, let people sleep peacefully.

He sat down again and began trying to understand the "knowledge" that had emerged in his mind along with the Tenseigan. It wasn't just about how to use techniques, but also fragmented information about the nature of Chakra, about Natural Energy, and about the deep rules of this world. It was like an incomplete ancient book that he needed to piece together and decipher on his own.

On the border of the Land of Rain, deep in the desolate mountains.

Nagato walked with the light steps characteristic of Impure World Reincarnation on the rugged rocky ground. His Rinnegan glowed with a pale purple light in the night, his gaze piercing through the rocks and soil, locking onto the massive and malevolent Chakra fluctuations deep underground.

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. The empty shell of the Ten-Tails. One of the root causes of all tragedies.

During the day, the moment he sensed the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path being summoned, he immediately broke free from Orochimaru's control and followed the resonance originating from the Rinnegan to this location. He knew Obito was here—that bastard who exploited his ideals, tarnished the name of Akatsuki, and caused Konan's death.

The cave entrance was hidden behind the waterfall, the roar of the water masking all other sounds. Nagato passed through the curtain of water without hindrance, stepping into the dark, damp passage. Sticky secretions covered the walls, and the air was filled with a putrid stench mixed with a strange, sweet smell—a byproduct of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path Chakra and release.

A deep, muffled sound, like the simultaneous beating of countless hearts, echoed from the depths of the passage.

Nagato quickened his pace, killing intent gathering in his Rinnegan. He wanted to end everything here, for Yahiko, for Konan, and for all the innocent people who died in the illusion of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

However, when he rushed into the deepest, enormous cavern, all he saw was an empty grotto and a pool of dark red liquid on the ground that had not yet completely solidified—blood mixed with extremely faint Obito Chakra.

"I'm too late..." Nagato murmured, his Rinnegan scanning his surroundings.

The walls bore the marks of Space-Time Ninjutsu, indicating that Obito had used Kamui to leave just before entering the cave. And he left in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to clean up the bloodstains.

Nagato stood silently in place. Water dripped from the cave ceiling, splashing ripples in the puddles. He suddenly felt an extreme weariness—not physical, for this Impure World Reincarnation body did not tire; but spiritual, a weariness that had lasted for decades and seemed endless.

He remembered the day Yahiko died; it had rained just like that.

But in the end, he failed to protect anyone.

The Rinnegan's perception expanded to its limit, but Obito's presence had completely vanished. That guy was like a venomous snake merging into the shadows, swiftly escaping the moment he sensed danger, never giving a chance for a direct confrontation. And as long as Obito focused on evading, with Kamui's power, almost no one could catch him.

Unless...

Nagato turned and walked out of the cave. The rain had stopped sometime earlier, and a crack appeared in the clouds, letting pale moonlight fall on the barren land. He looked southeast—that was the direction of Konoha.

Several hours later, at the Sound Village Underground Base.

Orochimaru was drawing up designs in his newly built laboratory, dozens of drawings filled with intricate runes and structures scattered on the table. Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up. "Oh, a rare guest. I thought you'd already returned to the Pure Land."

"I need you to pass on a message to Neji," Nagato said bluntly.

Orochimaru put down his pen, his golden vertical pupils scrutinizing the Impure World Reincarnation before him with great interest. "What did you say?"

"Help me kill Obito." Nagato's voice was completely flat. "In exchange, I can tell him a secret—about the Rinnegan, about the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, about the Eye of the Moon Plan."

Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly. "It sounds like a good deal. But why don't you go find him yourself? Neji is in Konoha right now."

"I don't want to set foot on Konoha soil again. I tried to take Obito against Obito myself, but he kept avoiding me," Nagato said. "Besides... I'm too tired. This soul deserves to rest in peace."

He paused, then added, "Tell him that Obito's purpose in collecting the Tailed Beast — the Infinite Tsukuyomi —might not just be a large-scale Genjutsu. Perhaps he's preparing some kind of 'sacrifice' to welcome the return of his true 'master'."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "The real... master?"

Nagato offered no explanation, as this was merely his own speculation. He simply extended his hands and said, "Now, dispel the Impure World Reincarnation. I have said all I had to say."

A brief silence fell over the laboratory. Orochimaru looked at the man before him, the man he had once so desperately wanted his eyes, who now willingly sought eternal slumber, and couldn't help but feel a touch of irony from fate.

"Alright." He Hand Seals, Chakra flowing within him. "As you wish."

Paper-thin dust shed from Nagato's body, swirling and dancing like snowflakes under the lamplight. In the moment before completely dissipating, Nagato took one last look at the world, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions.

Then, it returns to nothingness.

Orochimaru stood there for a long time, then muttered to himself, "'The true master'... Heh, things are getting more and more interesting."

He put away the blueprints and headed towards the communications room. It was time to send some interesting intelligence to that "god" of Konoha.

Dawn breaks in Konoha with the chirping of birds.

Tsunade stayed up all night, and by the time she finished processing the last batch of documents regarding the disbandment of the Allied Forces, dawn was breaking. She stood by the office window, watching the first rays of sunlight climb over the Hokage Rock, illuminating the faces of the Hokage throughout the ages.

The First, the second generation, the third generation, the fourth generation... and herself.

"I will protect this village," she whispered her promise, whether to the stone statues or to herself, "In my own way."

At the same time, Neji awoke from his meditation, a flash of realization crossing his Tenseigan. He sensed a faint Chakra transmission coming from the direction of the Sound Village — Orochimaru's encrypted message.

The content is short, but it contains a lot of information:

"Nagato has vanished. His dying words were: The Eye of the Moon Plan is not merely Genjutsu; perhaps it's preparing a sacrifice to welcome our 'master.' Also, the design of the new instrument is nearing completion and can be tested in three months. -- Orochimaru"

Neji stood up and looked out the window at the gradually awakening Konoha.

Offerings? Master?

Nagato has deduced that the Eye of the Moon Plan is a technique to welcome Kaguya Ōtsutsuki; he's quite remarkable.

However, I am neither the writer nor the director of this great show; I am merely an observer, at most going with the flow, not going against it.