"Stop right there!" Tsunade slammed her hand on the desk and rose behind him. "What do you think the Forest of Death is? It's Konoha's natural barrier. It was once my grandfather's..."
Naruto stopped at the doorway without turning around. He could hear the hesitation in Tsunade's voice. It was not a firm refusal, but a delaying tactic.
"Lady Hokage," Naruto said coldly, "Akatsuki won't care how many wild boars are in the Forest of Death. They only care how many cannons we have."
Tsunade gritted her teeth, her face turning livid. She knew Naruto was right, but being Hokage meant she could not act entirely as she pleased. She needed time to persuade the advisers and placate the major clans.
"This matter needs further consideration..."
Further consideration. Naruto hated those words most of all. In the Imperium, such delays meant defensive lines collapsing and entire worlds falling.
"Take your time considering it."
Naruto pulled open the door and strode out. He had no time to play political games with her. Permission? What he needed was land.
He had investigated it. That plot of land had originally belonged to the Uzumaki when Konoha was first founded.
Rather than return to his residence, he went straight to Root's Schola Progenium.
On the academy grounds, the first batch of "students" was undergoing physical training. They had once been orphans adopted by Root. Now, they were the Commissar's direct subordinates.
"Everyone, assemble." Naruto stood at the center of the field. His voice was not loud, yet it drowned out every shout.
The training stopped instantly. The children rapidly formed ranks, silent as the grave. Their eyes were fanatical and hollow, reflecting only Naruto's figure.
"Sasuke." Naruto called out.
Sasuke Uchiha emerged from the shadows. He had changed into a black skintight tactical uniform