The End of the Konoha Crush Plan

Tsunade forced down her grief and noticed the white sheet of paper in Kikyo's hand. She vaguely remembered it from the Canopy Screen—the Death Paper, which could cause someone to die unexpectedly.

She took a deep breath, struggling to keep her voice steady. "I'm sorry, Izumi—or should I say, Miss Kikyo."

"If you found that paper on Teacher Sarutobi, it rightfully belongs to Konoha. I hope you'll hand it over to me."

Kikyo shook her head slightly. She raised the white sheet, her gaze seeming to pierce its ordinary surface and see the deep darkness hidden within.

"Lady Tsunade, this paper was at the heart of Naraka's plot. It holds an ominous power. Keeping it would only invite disaster upon Konoha."

Without waiting for Tsunade's reply, she gathered pure spiritual power in her hands and tore the seemingly ordinary sheet to pieces without hesitation! The scraps turned into motes of light in her hands, then vanished completely.

"You!" Tsunade moved to stop her, but Jiraiya grabbed her arm.

His expression grave, Jiraiya slowly shook his head. "Tsunade, let her do it. Izumi—no, Kikyo is right."

"Anything so deeply tied to someone like Naraka would only bring trouble. I'm sure Teacher wouldn't want Konoha put in danger by it again."

Kikyo gave Jiraiya a slight nod of appreciation, then bent to pick up the Dog Talisman. Its glow had faded, leaving it looking like an ordinary stone. She solemnly held it out to Tsunade.

"Fifth Hokage," Kikyo said, her voice clear and sincere, "though this talisman's power now lies dormant, it once protected Konoha's Hokage. I'm entrusting it to Konoha."

"Consider it a gesture of goodwill from me and the Paradise Organization, which I represent. We hope to form an alliance with Konoha."

"I believe that one day, the power of