Both Koharu and Homura crossed paths on their way to the Hokage's office. Neither looked surprised; they had anticipated seeing each other. After all, both served on Konoha's Council of Elders, and if the Hokage summoned one, it was almost certain the other would be called as well.
When they arrived, Tsunade was already seated behind her desk, with Inoiki Yamanaka standing quietly at her side, his expression neutral.
Homura spoke first, his tone sharp with irritation.
"What could be so urgent that you summon us the moment we wake?"
Tsunade's golden eyes narrowed.
"The matter is of utmost importance. I've uncovered evidence of corruption—at the highest levels of Konoha."
Koharu and Homura exchanged a wary glance before demanding in unison,
"Who?"
Without answering directly, Tsunade gestured toward two wooden boxes placed on the desk in front of her.
"See for yourselves."
The elders leaned forward. Inside lay neatly stacked papers and tightly bound scrolls. From a distance, the documents looked ordinary, but as they began to read, the colour drained from their faces. Each page revealed records, deals, and activities they had thought buried forever. The deeper they read, the heavier the silence grew, until beads of sweat slid down their temples. Neither dared continue past the first few files.
Finally, they looked up. Koharu's voice was the first to break the silence, quiet and strained.
"What do you want from us… Princess Tsunade?"
Tsunade's palm slammed against the desk with a sharp crack that echoed through the room.
"Hmph! You speak as though I brought this evidence to bargain with you. You're mistaken. I intend to see you both stand trial, and you will face the consequences of your actions."
Koharu and Homura stiffened, their composure unraveling. Koharu's voice wavered, desperate yet defiant.
"Don't be so harsh, Tsunade. We were comrades of your sensei, the Third Hokage. He knew of our dealings and chose to overlook them—for his own reasons, for his students' sake. Let us go."
Tsunade's gaze hardened, her voice laced with finality.
"But I am not him."
Her eyes flicked to the empty air behind them.
"Escort them out."
In an instant, masked ANBU materialized from the shadows. Without a word, they seized the two elders and led them away. The doors closed with a dull thud, leaving behind only silence.
Inoiki finally spoke, his measured tone carrying both relief and caution.
"With those two gone, Danzo's hold over Konoha—maintained through their influence—has crumbled. This is the moment, Lady Tsunade. You can officially dissolve the Council of Elders and form a new cabinet suited to your leadership. A council of merit, not politics. Place capable shinobi at your side—those who can truly help you govern this village."
Tsunade leaned back in her chair and gave a thoughtful nod.
"I've been considering the same. The Council of Elders will be dissolved soon enough."
Her gaze shifted toward Inoiki, her expression softening slightly.
"And you? You've finally recovered. What do you intend to do next?"
Inoiki straightened, his voice steady and resolute.
"My path is clear. I'll resume training immediately, pushing my body until it's once again in perfect harmony with my strength. Once I'm ready… I'll set my sights on Amegakure. The last time I crossed blades with the leader of the Akatsuki, I barely escaped with my life. But that battle tempered me. I've grown—my power has surged. This time, I won't run. This time, I'm certain I can crush him."
Tsunade studied him for a long moment, her sharp eyes gauging the conviction in his voice. Finally, she gave a firm nod.
"If you can still speak with such confidence after facing the leader of the Akatsuki… then I'll trust that you will follow through."
With a respectful bow, Inoiki turned and left the Hokage's office. His steps carried him steadily through the quiet village streets until he reached his home.
Inside, he unsealed a large storage scroll with careful hands. One by one, the faint shimmer of chakra released a collection of finely crafted blades—each a weapon he had forged to suit his unique fighting style. These were the very swords he had abandoned on the battlefield in the Land of Earth, during his desperate clash with Pain. They had later been recovered by his father when he went searching for his missing son.
Now, reunited with his weapons, Inoiki felt the weight of the upcoming battle settle firmly on his shoulders.
The sun hung high, casting a warm brilliance over the training grounds. The air shimmered faintly with heat, cicadas buzzing lazily in the distant trees. Inoiki stepped into the open field and unsealed his arsenal. One by one, hundreds of blades appeared, shining in the daylight—though nearly half bore cracks, bends, or fractures, reminders of his desperate battle in the Land of Earth.
In the past, such damage would have weighed heavily on him. Restoring them meant a long journey to the Land of Iron, where only master blacksmiths could repair such specialized swords. But now, Inoiki no longer needed to rely on anyone else. His mental power had ascended—strong enough to manipulate the very structure of matter itself.
With a slow, deliberate breath, he extended his hand. At once, the broken blades began to glow, their steel softening into radiant dust that shimmered like sunlight reflected on flowing water. The fragments lifted into the air, swirling together until they fused into one enormous sword—a towering mass of shining steel that gleamed brilliantly beneath the morning sun.
For a heartbeat, it stood there—an impossible giant weapon—before dissolving once again. The luminous dust split apart, dancing gracefully through the training grounds until it reshaped into hundreds of smaller blades. As the glow faded, each repaired sword gleamed sharp and flawless, their edges catching the light like mirrors.
Inoiki narrowed his eyes, holding one hilt firmly as he muttered to himself:
"Before, my blades were confined to fixed forms. Small swords joining into larger constructs, bound by rules like a puzzle. But now… now I can control each particle. Their shape has no limits. Whatever weapon I imagine, they will become."
And in the brightness of morning, surrounded by his reborn swords, Inoiki knew—this was only the beginning of his new strength.
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