If it weren't for Shimura Danzo and Kazuma, those two notorious troublemakers, the relationship between the Fire Daimyo and Konoha Village would still be stable.
The Daimyo provides the funding, and Konoha provides the military power.
Both sides work together to maintain the Land of Fire's security and prosperity.
To Mufasa, this dual-system arrangement felt unnecessarily complicated—like putting on armor just to swat a fly.
However, such was the nature of the ninja world.
It wasn't as if Mufasa hadn't tried convincing Tsunade otherwise.
"Tsunade, why don't you just eliminate the Daimyo? Same way I would."
"If you don't want to handle ruling, you could always delegate it to someone else."
Tsunade's response was immediate.
She nearly knocked him into next week with a well-aimed kick.
"Impossible!" she snapped. "The Land of Fire is surrounded by other nations. We need to maintain stability, not invite chaos."
"If we suddenly replaced the Daimyo with a fractured system, like your Land of Wind and its countless warring factions, we'd be in deep trouble."
"Our towns are wealthier. They could easily afford to hire rogue ninjas from across the world.
Even Konoha could get dragged into the mess. The Land of Fire would spiral back into the Warring States period."
"My grandfather fought hard to create this peaceful stability. I will not let it collapse under my watch."
She glared at Mufasa, eyes sharp like kunai. "So drop it, or…"
"Or what?" Mufasa challenged, crossing his arms.
Tsunade's voice was firm. "Or we stop being friends."
Her concerns weren't unfounded.
The Land of Fire was vastly different from the Land of Wind.
While the latter was barren and isolated, making it an undesirable target, the former was a valuable prize for any power-hungry faction.
Unlike Mufasa, Tsunade didn't have the luxury of overwhelming an entire country single-handedly.
After much debate, Mufasa begrudgingly agreed not to eliminate the Daimyo—only to give him a stern warning instead.
That warning turned out to be incredibly effective.
Tsunade, capitalizing on Mufasa's "Demon King" reputation, managed to recover all the resources lost due to Danzo's schemes and even secured the rights to build roads and railways.
As Mufasa watched her negotiate, he muttered under his breath, "Man, she really knows how to take advantage of a situation."
Noticing his grumble, Tsunade smirked.
"Oh, don't act like you're not enjoying this."
Mufasa shot her a side glance. "I'll be sending you the bill later."
Meanwhile, news arrived.
"My lord," a retainer whispered to the Daimyo, "I've heard that the Kazekage is on his way."
Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "Leave it to me."
The Daimyo hesitated. "I've heard that the Kazekage is incredibly strong."
Tsunade grinned. "My fists aren't exactly weak, either. If he wants to talk, we'll talk. If not…" Her knuckles audibly popped. "Then we'll settle things another way."
The retainers exchanged glances, visibly moved by her confidence.
Hosokawa, one of the senior advisors, nodded. "Then we leave it in your hands, Hokage."
Tsunade turned to Mufasa. "You're coming with me."
Mufasa raised an eyebrow. "How are we handling my compensation?"
Tsunade smirked. "How much do you want?"
He grinned. "I don't need money, what I do want is your jugs."
Tsunade froze, her face flushing. "Jugs…?"
Her voice turned sharp. "What nonsense are you spewing?!"
Mufasa quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I meant your slugs! The ones from Shikkotsu Forest!"
Tsunade blinked, processing his words. "You want a summoning contract?"
Mufasa nodded. "Yeah. My… 'specialized' combat style could use some reinforcements."
Tsunade folded her arms. "I can introduce you, but I can't promise the slugs will agree."
"That's fine. Just pass the message."
Meanwhile, Mufasa inwardly breath in relief, 'That's close, kekeke, I slipped up.'
Mufasa knew the slugs of Shikkotsu Forest were great healers.
If he could form a contract with them, then, if he somehow got injured, he would have someone to heal him, even heal others.
"Then we start tonight?" he asked.
Tsunade nodded. "Sounds good."
As the evening approached, the Kazekage and his army of ten thousand Sand Ninja advanced toward the Fire Daimyo's forces.
The ground trembled beneath their march.
Inside the Daimyo's palace, an alarmed retainer rushed in.
"Lord Daimyo, Lady Hokage has already gone to meet them!"
The Daimyo hurried to the battlefield, only to find an unexpected sight.
Tsunade and Mufasa stood at the front lines—arguing.
From a distance, the exchange looked intense.
Then, before anyone could stop them, fists started flying.
Tsunade's punch cracked the very earth beneath them.
But Mufasa was no pushover.
The two of them clashed, their battle escalating further and further away from the battlefield.
Soon, only the distant echoes of their combat remained.
The Daimyo and his retainers could do nothing but watch.
Finally, they all let out a collective sigh.
"Wow," one of them muttered. "That fight is insane."
On a hill in the distance.
Mufasa and Tsunade sat together, their figures silhouetted against the moonlit sky.
Tsunade smirked. "No one's watching."
Mufasa glanced around, his keen senses scanning the area. "Yeah, seems like we're alone."
Tsunade stretched her fingers. "Alright then, let's do it."
Mufasa cracked his knuckles. "Fine. Take it out, break it apart."
With a firm grip, Mufasa tried to open the stubborn wine bottle. "Why is this so damn hard to break?!"
Tsunade huffed. "Put some muscle into it."
Mufasa strained, his fingers tightening. The cap refused to budge.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "I said use your strength, not brute force. Look, you're making a mess—it's leaking."
Frustrated, Mufasa exhaled sharply. "If you're so good at this, you do it."
Tsunade scoffed. "Fine. Give it here. How hard can it be?"
With a flick of her thumb, the cap flew into the air, spinning before landing a few feet away.
She handed Mufasa the opened bottle. "There. Now drink."
Mufasa took the wine with one hand and gave Tsunade a playful slap on the back with the other.
The two shared a laugh, their voices echoing through the night.
The distant villagers of the Land of Fire murmured in awe at Tsunade's strength and Kazekage's sheer presence.
Tsunade took a deep swig. "When did you bring so many people here?"
Mufasa chuckled. "Oh, those? Just electromagnetic projection illusions—pure bluff."
Tsunade nodded, unimpressed. "I've sent a message to the sligs. If the Great Sage of the Shikkotsu Forest wants to see you, you'll get a reply soon."
Mufasa raised his bottle. "Appreciate it."
They clinked their bottles together in an unspoken toast.
Tsunade leaned back against a boulder. "Still, I think you're wasting your time."
Mufasa raised a brow. "Why's that?"
Tsunade shrugged. "Katsuyu has been around forever. He might not be interested in someone as unpredictable as you."
Mufasa laughed. "If he doesn't meet me, it's her loss."
Tsunade shook her head. "You're always so confident. Do you ever worry about anything?"
Mufasa gazed at the moon, his voice softer now.
"I worry all the time. That's why I don't waste any chances. Tsunade, your village needs to strengthen itself. When the time comes, don't hold back."
Tsunade responded by slamming a palm toward him.
Mufasa pivoted sharply, balancing on one leg like an acrobat.
The force of the attack sent a shockwave through the ground.
A loud boom echoed through the valley.
And so, the two continued their strange game—drinking, sparring, and talking deep into the night.
As dawn approached, their conversation took a serious turn.
The battlefield loomed before them.
The Sand Village side remained eerily silent.
The Land of Fire's encampment, however, was alive with flickering torches and restless shinobi.
Yasu, the young strategist, lay in his tent, struggling to sleep. He could hear the distant clashes.
'Damn it. Is the Hokage holding her own against the Kazekage?'
But as the night wore on, he relaxed.
The sounds weren't of combat, but of camaraderie.
At sunrise, Tsunade and Mufasa returned, battle-worn yet satisfied.
Tsunade stretched her arms before dropping one leg lazily onto Mufasa's shoulder.
Mufasa sighed. "Tsunade, do you even care about personal space?"
Tsunade smirked. "What's wrong now?"
Mufasa gestured at her leg resting on him. "Does this look appropriate?"
Tsunade simply rolled her eyes.
"Quit whining. Didn't you agree to put on a show? You're supposed to make me look like an unbeatable Hokage. Now cooperate."
And just like that, their negotiations reached their conclusion.
Both sides agreed—neither would seek control over the Land of River.
Highways and trade routes would remain open, commerce would be free, and taxes would be kept equal.
Mufasa stormed off in mock frustration, his cape billowing behind him. "This isn't over. I'll be back!"
His sand shinobi forces disappeared into the distance, leaving the Land of Fire camp relieved.
Yasu exhaled. "Finally, some peace."
He turned to Tsunade, grinning. "Lady Tsunade, that was impressive. You really know how to handle things."
Tsunade smirked. "Thanks. Now, where's my payment?"
And so, under the unlikely alliance of Mufasa and Tsunade, a small country quietly changed forever.
With the treaty secured, the River Country Development Company officially launched. Yamato Nadeko, now the region's chief administrator, took charge of its reconstruction.
The first priority? The prisoner-of-war labor camps.
Food, manpower, supplies—everything was reorganized.
The captured shinobi resigned themselves to their fate, contributing to rebuilding efforts instead of fighting.
Mufasa had seized the assets of rogue warlords and black-market dealers, leveling the playing field in the camps.
There was no room for theft or violence.
Strict rules were in place—any disputes had to be taken to the Sand Village's administration.
Breaking the rules meant severe consequences.
Daily work assignments ensured that no one slacked off.
The system forced cooperation, forging unlikely bonds between former enemies.
Some prisoners even chose to stay after their sentences ended, turning the camps into fully functioning towns.
Along the trade routes, settlements sprang up, each named after their original camp numbers.
The most symbolic change? The once lawless outpost of Radiant Moon River was officially renamed Radiant Sun River, marking the birth of a new era.