Target: Uzushio Village!

The Land of Waves.

Inside an unremarkable room.

The light was dim.

A nautical chart lay on the table in the middle, with a kunai pinned to the island where the Land of Whirlpools lay.

The door burst open, and an exceptionally burly man with bare arms strode inside.

He cast a sidelong glance at the people in the room and asked coldly, "Genji, why isn't the Mizukage here?"

An oppressive aura poured out of him. It was as though a storm had swept through the shabby room, making it hard to breathe.

A masked guard instinctively reached for a strangely shaped sword.

The guards behind the Third Raikage instantly went on alert, their eyes locking onto the man who was about to draw his blade.

Genji, dressed in a dark haori, rose and gave his guard a look telling him to stay calm.

He inclined his head slightly. "Lord Raikage, the Mizukage has entrusted me with handling the matter of Uzushio Village."

The Third Raikage looked him up and down. As an elder who held real power in Kirigakure, he barely qualified.

He sat down squarely opposite the Kirigakure ninja, with his two guards standing respectfully behind him.

"Tell me what you're planning."

Genji bowed slightly and looked at the island pinned beneath the kunai on the map. "The waters around Uzushio Village are covered in sensory formulas. We've already tried several times. It's virtually impossible to slip in undetected."

"So we have to fight our way in?"

"Yes, Lord Raikage. A frontal assault is our only option."

Just then, the door opened again, and a ninja wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector walked in.

Genji greeted him. "Jonin Iwato."

"Lord Genji."

The Iwagakure Jonin glanced at the Third Raikage and his party, then sensibly found a corner to sit in, making himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The Third Raikage glanced at the Iwagakure ninja but said nothing.

Although friction between Kumogakure and Iwagakure was constant, Uzushio Village's Sealing Jutsu was crucial to them. That was why he had been willing to take the risk of coming in person.

For that goal, even cooperating with Iwagakure wasn't out of the question.

Unlike Ōnoki-that cowardly old fox only dared send a few Jonin to fish in troubled waters and grab a share of the spoils.

Genji quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Avoiding a clash was the best possible outcome.

"In short, a surprise attack is no longer feasible. We can only launch a frontal assault."

Seeing that no one objected, he pressed on while he had the chance. "I suggest we begin our assault on Uzushio Village tomorrow night, after dark."

The Third Raikage frowned. "If we're attacking head-on anyway, why not now?"

"Lord Raikage, the Mizukage won't arrive until tomorrow. To ensure that nothing goes wrong..."

Genji maintained a respectful attitude and offered a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Uzushio Village's Sealing Jutsu was bizarre and had earned a formidable reputation during the Warring States Period, leaving a deep impression on the various shinobi clans.

Having two Kage present would make things safer.

In truth, he was already sweating inwardly. If they didn't wait for the Mizukage, they probably wouldn't be able to compete with Kumogakure for Uzushio Village's spoils.

How could he allow that?

The Senju Clan Compound.

"What's wrong?"

Kushina had been watching Liu Yun all along. Noticing that something seemed off, she asked quietly.

He glanced at the concerned Kushina, the warm and kindly Mito Uzumaki, and Tsunade and Nawaki, who were busy bickering.

The flutter of his butterfly wings had already affected many people.

For instance, Jiraiya had taken Minato as his student several years early.

And Tsunade had started taking Nawaki on missions early to give him experience.

Then there was Kushina.

Many things in the future would change as a result.

But at least for now, his influence was confined to Konoha. It couldn't yet affect a major event like Uzushio Village's destruction.

In other words, the major hidden villages joining forces to destroy Uzushio Village was bound to happen.

Kushina and Mito Uzumaki would lose the vast majority of their clansmen forever.

Meeting their concerned gazes, he took a deep breath. "I have a theory, but I don't know whether I should say it."

Mito Uzumaki paused, then said gently, "Child, we're family. You can tell us anything."

Tsunade said casually, "You're my... no, my future student. Why be so formal?"

Kushina took his hand.

As for Nawaki... while Tsunade wasn't looking, Nawaki was busy stuffing his face.

He nodded, his tone more serious than ever. "Teacher, I remember you saying that war was coming. And on our mission a few days ago, we encountered ANBU from Kumogakure and Kirigakure working together."

Tsunade nodded and asked in confusion, "Is there a problem?"

Uh... were people in Konoha really this unfazed?

There were already signs of their enemies joining forces. Even if they didn't know Uzushio Village was the target, Konoha should have been more vigilant.

Seeing her student fall silent, Tsunade explained, "You might not know this, but with Uzushio Village there, Kirigakure won't pose much of a threat. Kumogakure is also unlikely to take such a long detour to attack Konoha from the coast.

"And the Hokage already knows about this. He'll make preparations."

"Teacher, I got perfect scores in both Shinobi World Geography and Shinobi World History," he said, enunciating every word. "What if Kumogakure and Kirigakure have joined forces because their target is Uzushio Village?"

Both Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade froze at his words.

A few seconds later, Tsunade instinctively shook her head. "How could that be? Are they trying to start the Second Shinobi World War?"

"But teacher, war wasn't far off to begin with..."

He watched as Mito Uzumaki's brow slowly furrowed.

He continued, "It's only a theory, but we can't gamble on this, can we?"

Tsunade murmured, "How could that happen? Uzushio Village is so powerful."

Mito Uzumaki's expression grew solemn. As a veteran who had lived through the Warring States Period, she was accustomed to considering the worst.

Something Liu Yun had said struck a chord with her. Gamble on Kumogakure and Kirigakure not coming for Uzushio Village?

Absolutely not. She couldn't afford that gamble.

Uzushio Village was indeed powerful, but if it faced two major hidden villages...

There was almost no hope of victory.

This was no longer the Warring States Period, when shinobi clans fought on their own.

The new one country, one village system had greatly strengthened the hidden villages.

Then...

What would Kumogakure and Kirigakure gain from Uzushio Village's destruction?

Kirigakure would remove the thorn preventing them from reaching the mainland, allowing them to threaten Konoha.

And Kumogakure?

Mito Uzumaki recalled a piece of intelligence. Rumor had it that Kumogakure's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was extremely unstable.

With war approaching, what they needed was...

"Sealing Jutsu?!"

Mito Uzumaki slowly uttered the words.

Tsunade snapped out of her daze and asked in confusion, "Grandma, what did you say?"

Mito Uzumaki shook her head and forced a faint smile. "Nawaki, take Kushina back to rest."

Nawaki stood up, somewhat bewildered. Seeing everyone's serious expressions, he hurriedly nodded.

Kushina realized something. She bit her lip hard, and a deep worry welled up inside her.

She still had family in Uzushio Village.

Could what Liu Yun said be true?

She desperately wanted to stay and listen, but Mito shook her head gently yet firmly.

She could only obediently return to her room and pray without pause.

Within moments, only the three of them remained in the room.

Mito looked at him and gently patted his shoulder. "Good child, wait here for a moment."

Then she turned to Tsunade. "Tsunade, go tell Hiruzen to come here!"