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"You two head back and rest as well. As you've heard, the village might proactively start a war, with Iwagakure as the target. Now it all depends on whether Ōnoki is willing to give us a chance for revenge. The Raikage wants vengeance, but how could I not feel the same?After all, the damage Iwagakure inflicted on Konoha during the Third Great Ninja War is still etched in many people's hearts."
Looking back at Konoha's history, aside from against Amegakure, Konoha basically never initiates wars against other countries or villages.
The thing with Amegakure was only because Hanzo of the Salamander went too far and provoked Konoha directly.
After parting with Kazuki, Shisui and Itachi returned to the clan grounds together.
On the way, Shisui glanced around to confirm no one was following them before relaxing. He lowered his voice and leaned in:
"It seems the elders are determined to go through with a war against Iwagakure."
Itachi was silent for a few seconds.
"As the elder said, the pain Iwagakure caused the village has always lingered, and many people can't forget it. If the cooperation terms with Kumogakure remain unchanged, this would indeed be a war of revenge for the village. Besides, given the elder's personality, if Iwagakure's counterattack becomes too aggressive, the elder would definitely be the first to pull our forces out of the war."
Whatever tricks Iwagakure can play, Konoha can play too.
Back in the Third Great Ninja War, you were worried about getting stabbed in the back by Kumogakure, forcing you to end the war with Konoha prematurely.
Well, Konoha can do the same.
We'll stab you in the back first, hurting you badly and snatching your resources in the process.
Then, when your counterattack gets too intense, Konoha pulls out—bye-bye!
Go ahead and try invading the Land of Fire while fending off Kumogakure's assaults. Let's see if you, Ōnoki, have the guts.
The tactics you've used before—we can turn them right back on you.
Konoha's original intent in cooperating with Kumogakure to launch a war against Iwagakure was for revenge plus resource plundering, not to fight Iwagakure to the bitter end.
That kind of fun can be left to Kumogakure.
When the time comes, Konoha withdraws decisively. Then we'll see if you, Ōnoki, have the nerve to send people to Konoha demanding war reparations.
"I never thought I'd have the chance to fight alongside you on the battlefield."
Shisui stopped walking, smiling as he raised his hand.
Itachi paused for a moment, then raised his own hand and high-fived Shisui:
"It's getting late. Head back and rest soon."
Watching Itachi's figure quickly disappear, Shisui clicked his tongue.
"This kid's personality is getting less and less likable as he grows up. I really don't know how the elder is raising Itachi."
Shaking his head, Shisui pushed aside his random thoughts and hurried home.
He'd been on the road for several consecutive days and was feeling quite exhausted.
Get some proper rest—tomorrow he still had to attend cram school, then prepare to head to the battlefield at any moment.
If war broke out as expected, the Uchiha would undoubtedly be one of Konoha's elite forces.
Given Kazuki's personality, he wouldn't mobilize a large number of civilian ninjas as cannon fodder to engage in a war of attrition with Iwagakure.
It was already deep into the night when Kazuki arrived at the Hokage office building.
"Can you prepare some food—grilled meat would be best, beef or venison works. Also, two bottles of sake and some side dishes."
Kazuki pulled out several 10,000-ryo bills and stuffed them into the hands of an ANBU member.
"Yes, Lord Advisor."
The ANBU took the money and quickly departed.
For others, getting good food in the middle of the night would be difficult, but Kazuki and Tsunade didn't fall into that category.
As long as they wanted it, they could have it anytime.
Whenever Kazuki was away from the village, the Hokage office building practically became Tsunade's home.
When he wasn't around, it wouldn't look good for her to drag Shizune to the Uchiha clan grounds to sleep.
So Tsunade simply stayed in the Hokage office building.
As for the Senju clan grounds, they had long fallen into disrepair and were uninhabitable.
Tsunade was too lazy to renovate them. If Kazuki hadn't stopped her, she probably would have sold the land already.
After all, the Senju clan grounds were located in the village's central district, where land prices were astronomically high.
That's why Kazuki was considering whether to change their living arrangements.
Kazuki was back and heading straight to the Hokage office building in the dead of night. Without needing him to say a word, the ANBU proactively notified Shizune, who then, as the little secretary, went to wake Tsunade.
After all, the ANBU wouldn't dare barge into Tsunade's resting room while she was sleeping to call her.
"Lady Hokage, Kazuki has returned and is waiting for you in the office."
Shizune quickly got dressed, skipping her morning routine, and ran to wake Tsunade.
Unfortunately, Tsunade was deep in sleep and had no intention of responding to Shizune. She clamped her legs around the blanket, rolled over, and continued snoozing.
I finally gets some rest—I just fell asleep not long ago, and you're telling me that brat Kazuki is back and wants to see me?
Forget it. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. The world may be vast, but sleep is the greatest.
Tsunade was dead set on playing possum.
"Lady Hokage? Lady Hokage?"
Shizune called and shook her, but Tsunade didn't budge.
Knock knock.
At that moment, the resting room door was knocked on. Kazuki opened it and walked in. Glancing at Tsunade pretending to be dead on the bed, he said directly to Shizune:
"Never mind, let her sleep. She's had it rough. But since you're up, come keep me company for some food—grilled meat, beef preferably, and sake…"
Before Kazuki could finish, the person who had been playing dead suddenly sat bolt upright, as if her body had springs—whoosh—she was up in an instant.
The moment she heard "grilled meat" and "sake," Tsunade was wide awake.
To hell with the world being vast and sleep being greatest—food and drink come first.
When Kazuki wasn't around, Shizune strictly forbade her from drinking, and Tsunade had been craving it badly.
I knew this would happen.
From the second Kazuki mentioned grilled meat and sake, Shizune could predict Tsunade's reaction.
Sure enough, she shot up like a rocket.
Shizune couldn't help but facepalm.
"Ahem, I suddenly don't feel so sleepy anymore. Since Kazuki's prepared food, let's eat and drink a bit before getting to business."
She deftly threw off the blanket and, in just a few seconds, got fully dressed.
She even tied her long golden hair into a single ponytail, fully prepared for chowing down on meat and guzzling sake.
When it comes to flipping a switch, no one beats Tsunade.
Kazuki slowly raised his hand and gave a thumbs-up.
All he got in return was a pair of eye-rolls from Tsunade.
The grilled meat, side dishes, and sake were all set up in the Hokage's office.
After spending so much time with Kazuki and Tsunade, the ANBU ninjas had greatly improved their skills in this area.