Konoha - Hokage's Office
Shikamaru had successfully become Chunin and was summoned by Tsunade. He arrived at the Hokage's office with a reluctant expression.
But as he prepared to push open the door, he heard Hongshi's voice coming from inside the office, and he hesitated whether to go in or not.
"Let me tell you a joke. Once upon a time, there was a big grape and a little grape who were going to the market. The big grape said to the little grape, 'Why don't you carry me?' Then the little grape got crushed to death, hahaha, it's so funny... Why are you all so serious? Lady Tsunade, why are you standing up?"
"(°ー°) I think I should leave."
Just as Shikamaru was thinking of coming back when the Hongshi wasn't around...
"Boom!"
The office door burst open, and Tsunade kicked Hongshi away with a Heavenly Foot of Pain kick, sending him crashing into the outside wall.
"Σ(), this could be fatal!"
Unexpectedly, Hongshi seemed completely unharmed, patting the dust off his body and head, and looking at Shikamaru was standing to the side with a look of astonishment.
"Yo, Shikamaru, you're here. Lady Tsunade is waiting for you."
"You... you're alright??"
"What's the big deal? It's inevitable for ninjas to have some minor disagreements."
Hinata had chased after them, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Hongshi was alright.
" Shikamaru- kun, good morning, congratulations on becoming Chunin."
"Ah, Hongshi-kun, Hinata-chan, good morning! What are you doing here?"
Tsunade: "Ah, Shikamaru's here. Come in."
The three stood still
" Lady Tsunade, what troublesome matter is it now..."
"I've reviewed your combat strength assessment. You've been classified as a high-level fighter by the Konoha High Command, and you're one of the most strategically astute ninjas of Konoha's new generation."
"And what about me? What about me!"
Hongshi was eager to know which level of combat power he belonged to.
"You? The Konoha High Command has decided to exclude you from the combat strength assessment."
" The Konoha High Command you're referring to are those two old men at the Konoha gate, right?"
In fact, Hongshi was marked as a hidden force.
Shikamaru asked, " Lady Tsunade, what's going on? Hinata is here too."
Tsunade: "Then I'll be blunt. Asuma went to Otogakure to gather intelligence, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"Based on my analysis, I've decided to attack the Otogakure in one month."
"What?! Lady Tsunade! That's incredibly reckless!"
"Oh my, as expected of Tsunade, her methods are truly ruthless, she strikes without hesitation!"
Tsunade: "Your intelligence mentioned that a large number of prisoners were transported to the underground of Otogakure. Given Orochimaru's habits, they were definitely captured for human experimentation. Such an evil ninja village cannot exist near the Land of Fire."
Shikamaru frowned, thinking to himself, "The intelligence we gathered only included the terrain and population of Otogakure; we didn't see any prisoners. Could it be that other teams went along as well?"
But he didn't express it. "Is it really a good thing to start a war in peacetime?"
Tsunade stared at Shikamaru: " Shikamaru, you have a heart that yearns for peace, which is good. However, it was not us who initiated the war, but Orochimaru who provoked it, causing Konoha to lose a large number of outstanding Jonin. He even tried to assassinate the Third Hokage. This is no longer a personal grudge."
Hongshi: "Hey, stop with the nonsense, just get to work!"
Tsunade didn't have a chance to use Hongshi, but instead focused her attention on Shikamaru. She could see that Shikamaru would inevitably become one of Konoha's brains in the future. " Shikamaru, as long as there is strength and weakness, there will be disagreements, and with disagreements comes conflict. True peace is hard to achieve. Konoha has suffered huge losses this time, and even the surrounding small countries and ninja villages are restless, wanting to probe Konoha's strength. If we don't respond with strong measures now, these rats won't run away. It's about using war to promote peace."
Hongshi never imagined that he would trigger such a huge butterfly effect.
"Is true peace so hard to achieve? Well, I'll just focus on doing my current job; everything else is too much trouble."
Tsunade took out a scroll. "Alright, this scroll contains the operation plan and a map of Otogakure. You are the commander-in-chief for this operation, and you have three days to prepare. The Konoha High Command also wants to take this opportunity to let these promising young people of Konoha experience the taste of war."
"Ugh, this is so troublesome. Who exactly are they?"
"You all know the people who must be chosen: Rock Lee and Tenten from Team Might Guy, the entire Team Kakashi, the entire Team Asuma, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame from Team Kurenai Yuhi, and Hongshi, but Hongshi has a special mission."
Shino Aburame: "So, someone still remembers me."
Hongshi asked, "A special mission? What for?"
Tsunade smiled and said, "This battle is to hone the young seedlings. You, the ancient tree spirit, will remain as medical-nin."
"What? You want me to play support? No way!"
" Hanabi Hyuga will be your assistant."
"(°ー°)... Please let me play support! I'll fight anyone who tries to take it! By the way, how did you know that?!"
Tsunade assigned Hongshi to support roles for safety reasons. After all, these children might face life-or-death situations in Otogakure, and honing their skills is a good thing; breaking them would be a greater loss.
Hinata: " Hongshi-kun, Hanabi is only seven years old, you pervert!"
Hongshi suddenly remembered something. "Right, jokes aside, I can play support, but I want someone from you guys."
"Who?"
" Tayuya, one of the Sound Four we captured earlier."
Shikamaru looked at him strangely. "You mean that arrogant woman who swears all the time?"
Tayuya the intense interrogation by Ibiki Morino and Inoichi Yamanaka, Tayuya was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
"That's right, I have a way to make her obey my orders, and I will train her to become a major fighting force for Konoha."
Tsunade looked quietly at Hongshi: " Hongshi, do you promise?"
"Ensure."
"Alright, I'll write a letter in a bit, you can take it with you. Now, back to the main topic. This operation will involve 25 members each from the Hyuga Clan Main Family Branch Family, a total of 50 people. Shikamaru, once you've finalized the battle plan, submit it to me immediately. This battle is crucial to Konoha's standing in the Shinobi World; victory is the only option!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Hinata standing nearby, then asked, " Lord Fifth, then I..."
" Hinata and Neji have another mission, the details of which I won't reveal for now. It's scheduled for three days from now, Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, will lead the team. You'll find out the details of the mission then."
" Lord Jiraiya? I understand!"
"What you carry on your shoulders is the burning flame of Konoha, let it radiate its intense light and heat, illuminating the entire Konoha!"
"Yes!"
"Alright, you may all disband."
Konoha Interrogation Room
Tayuya was wearing a set of Sealing Jutsu Chakra runes, and to prevent suicide, her limbs and neck were chained, her mouth was gagged with a bamboo tube, and her eyes were covered with a black cloth. The long torture had exhausted her, and her mental defenses had been completely broken. Her worship and fanaticism for Orochimaru had vanished without any rescue, leaving only resentment.
"Am I just a worthless pawn in Orochimaru's eyes?"
Tayuya Tayuya's resentment towards Orochimaru was growing infinitely stronger, the cell door opened.
"Thank you, Teacher Ibiki."
"Oh, it's alright. After all, it's the Lord Hokage's order. Besides, we won't get any valuable information from this Sound Ninja woman. Alright, I'll leave the rest to you. But be careful, this woman is dangerous; she's a master of Genjutsu."
"Oh, it's because I admire her Ninjutsu skills."
The visitors were naturally Hongshi and Ibiki. After opening the cell door, Ibiki turned and left, not caring what Hongshi would do with him.
"Waaaaah..."
"Oh, Tayuya- chan... oh no, sister, never mind, just call me 'chan' (young lady), you still remember me? Well, it's true, I'm so handsome, no woman could forget me day and night."
"Waaaaah!" Tayuya shook her head frantically.
"What did you say? Just take these things off yourself."
Hongshi took out the key and unlocked all the restraints on Tayuya.
Tayuya's eyes were filled with complex emotions: anger, resentment, and sorrow...
Lord God: "How the hell did you figure that out?!"
For once, Hongshi was serious. " Tayuya, now you know what kind of person Orochimaru you used to swear to follow to the death is, right? He doesn't care about your life or death at all. So... be my..."
"Shut up! You bald bastard! You're only fourteen and you look like a lump of charcoal. Aren't you afraid of scaring people when you go out? Look at your head, even a fly would fall and die if it stepped on it! And it's none of your business! I've wanted to curse you for a long time. You're so ugly, yet you try to pick up girls. It's terrifying! Are you going to take responsibility?"
Hongshi had never heard such blunt truth before, and he immediately exploded... oh no, he hadn't.
"Σ() Oh my god, the Mental World!"
An hour later...
The two spent a pleasant month in their Mental World.
Tayuya's delicate body trembled.
"(°ー°) Hello, boss! You're the most handsome man in the world! I'm so blind to your beauty."
"Hmm... that's the truth. First and foremost, one must be polite, and secondly, one must tell the truth. Alright, let me deal with your Cursed Seal first."
This Mental World didn't consume too much of Hongshi 'Chakra.
Hongshi placed his hand on Tayuya's nape, activated the Preta Path: Sealing Technique: Absorption Seal, and instantly absorbed and sealed the Cursed Seal seal. At the same time, he used Medical Ninjutsu to heal her injuries.
Tayuya was radiant at this moment, with red hair and a tall, slender figure. Under the transformation of the Mental World, she had become gentle and refined.
"Alright, Tayuya, from now on, you are my subordinate. Your current identity is Konoha Genin. Follow me, and you will shine brightly in the Shinobi World."
"I'll fight for you, my boss."
Hongshi looked at the shy Tayuya, "Emm, you should wear this. From now on, your name will be Gyokucha."
"As you wish, my boss."
When the two walked out of the cell and passed by Ibiki Morino, he was taken aback.
Tayuya was dressed in a pure white kimono, adorned with camellias embroidered in black thread on the chest. Her red hair resembled a red rose blooming on white jade, and her jade-like feet lightly touched the ground, exuding utmost purity.
Upon seeing Ibiki Morino, Gyokucha bowed to him and said, " Ibiki- sensei, thank you for taking care of me during this time."
The enormous change caught Ibiki Morino, who had been engaged in torture work for many years, completely off guard.
"Σ()? Hongshi, what did you do to her! Please teach me!"
"With heart and love, everything can be changed."
The Lord God said, "I won't ask where you got these clothes or where you kept them. I just want to know Tayuya changed her clothes. Please tell me."