Tsunade's eyes widened in shock the moment she saw Nawaki.
A long-lost loved one suddenly reappearing before her eyes—as if he had truly returned, so vivid and lifelike. As though he'd just come back from a long trip. And all those painful memories had been nothing more than a bizarre and terrifying nightmare from which she'd awoken in the middle of the night.
"Big sister!"
Nawaki sprang up with both arms, vaulting out of the tower with a beaming smile as he sprinted toward Tsunade.
The boy's energetic, youthful presence was exactly like back then... Right before he died!
Bang!
Tsunade's expression darkened. She slammed her fist straight into Nawaki's forehead, sending him crashing abruptly to the ground.
Nawaki had expected a warm hug, so he was momentarily stunned. The next moment, waves of pain coursed through his entire body!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
With one hand pressed against her sore chest, Tsunade started kicking furiously with the other foot.
Damn it, you little brat! I told you to stick with Orochimaru and gain some battlefield experience, but you charged ahead faster than Orochimaru himself! Are you trying to show off or something?
A proud heir of the Senju Clan, blown up by a simple Explosive Tag trap! Don't you have any shame?! Do you know how many years I grieved for you?! I'll kick your ass until you finally listen!
"Sis! Sister! It hurts! Ow! Oh no—my bones are gonna break! Ouch! Ahhh—Grandpa save me! Onee-san's gonna kill me—help! Helpppp..."
Clutching his head and curling into a ball, Nawaki rolled around, screaming in pain, desperately begging Hashirama Senju for help.
Hashirama had been about to say something, but when he caught sight of the murderous glare from his granddaughter, he simply shut the window again, ignoring Nawaki's bewildered, confused, and desperate stare.
Getting old, you know~ It's totally normal for old folks to have hearing and vision issues, right?
"You can feel pain? You can even die? Then I'll let you charge ahead! Keep charging!"
Under Tsunade's precise control of power, Nawaki's entire body visibly swelled within seconds.
Just surface bruises—no broken bones—but twice the pain!
Within two minutes flat, Nawaki was completely numb!
"Alright, that's enough. Kids usually learn after one mistake."
Kei Yamanaka judged that Tsunade had vented sufficiently, and seeing Nawaki's remorseful look, finally stepped forward to mediate.
"Hmph! Once isn't nearly enough! Use that same illusion you hit me with on him—the Seven-Year Edition! Make sure he learns his lesson!"
Tsunade took a deep breath but still wasn't satisfied. She slammed her foot down on Nawaki's chest.
This little brat died too easily!
How many years had she grieved? How many years had Lady Mito mourned?
She'd personally drill him every single day from now on—or else she'd never get a wink of sleep from pure rage!
"...Fine."
Kei gave Nawaki a pitiful look.
With a one-handed seal, he instantly cast the enhanced seven-year version of [Demonic Illusion: Reincarnation Paradise] onto Nawaki.
As for the illusion scenario—
The tragic "Slashing Sister" scenario that worked on Tsunade will work fine on Nawaki too. Just reuse it.
"Huff~"
Tsunade huffed through her nose.
Calling forth his Anbu subordinates, he tossed the rope-bound Nawaki—still trapped in the Genjutsu—straight into the command staff's resting quarters for a nap.
Once again, war was on the horizon.
She genuinely feared that this hotheaded guy, whose mind was filled with nothing but reckless passion, would charge out and die again!
Better to let him sleep peacefully within the illusion for seven days.
Seven days...
Everything should be over by then!
Inside the corridor leading directly to the control room, Kushina—just finishing her tour of the expedition ship—saw Tsunade's anger gradually fading. She quickly broke into a run and moved quickly to stand beside Kei Yamanaka.
The airborne fortress—the expedition ship—having steadily climbed to a sufficient altitude, activated its light blue barrier shield, blocking out the fierce high-altitude winds.
Gradually accelerating, it passed the turtle-shaped island ahead and headed straight toward Mist.
"You're just in time."
Kei pointed toward the Kohaku no Johei lying on the ground.
Since Kushina already knew the plans, she naturally understood what to do. Immediately shifting into Perfect Jinchuriki Mode, she began channeling Nine-Tails chakra into the open-mouthed Kohaku no Johei.
Meanwhile, the tower door opened to reveal Senju Hashirama and others stationed inside.
Tobirama Senju stepped forward first, heading toward the location of the Kohaku no Johei.
Hashirama followed closely behind, muttering in discontent under his breath.
"Big bro, you really don't lack chakra… What kind of nonsense is it to seal the Three-Tails from Mist within your own body?"
"Brother, we originally captured those tailed beasts anyway."
"But didn't we give them back though?"
"We retook it. Now Mist is our enemy."
Tobirama shot back coldly at Hashirama's resentful complaints.
Recently, along with Orochimaru, he hadn't merely been researching the Gedo: Rinne Rebirth Technique from the Rinnegan. After learning about the origins of the God Tree and discovering the connection between the Ten-Tails and the nine tailed beasts, they had also made some intriguing discoveries.
For instance, tailed beasts showed an extremely high affinity for Natural Energy!
Based on their experiments, human cells affected by tailed beast chakra underwent dramatic changes, greatly enhancing their capacity to sense, absorb, and harmonize with natural energy.
From this, they deduced that tailed beasts likely had the innate talent and capability to refine Sage Chakra.
It was just a matter of whether or not they could, wanted to, or were willing!
In other words, a jinchuriki who fully adapted and accepted tailed beast chakra within their body also gained the potential to master Sage Mode!
Moreover, once the tailed beast itself mastered the art of refining Sage Chakra, it could even assist the jinchuriki during battles, continuously generating more Sage Chakra and vastly extending the duration of Sage Mode!
If Tobirama had remained in his Impure World Reincarnation state, it might have been acceptable.
But now, after being reborn with a second chance at life, how could he possibly accept watching helplessly while Izuna Uchiha's ocular power skyrocketed under Madara Uchiha's guidance?
Ignoring his older brother's grumbling voice,
Tobirama pressed one hand onto the Four Symbols Seal located on his abdomen.
The Three-Tails Isobu, long since beaten into submission, obediently offered its chakra.
A, the Third Raikage, exchanged a glance with Onoki.
Both took a deep breath, suppressing the overwhelming urge to openly mock the absurdity unfolding before them.
Who could possibly believe that the man standing before them, lacking the slightest air of a mighty warrior, was actually the Ninja God who single-handedly once subdued the entire ninja world?
"That should be enough," said Kei Yamanaka, sizing up the chakra collected inside the jar.
Since they already had the complete Seven-Tails Chomei, the other tailed beasts wouldn't have to contribute nearly as much chakra.
After all, their goal wasn't to awaken a fully active Ten-Tails—just enough to reawaken the God Tree.
Upon hearing this, Kushina and Tobirama ceased releasing tailed beast chakra.
Of the nine tailed beasts, only the Six-Tails Saiken remained, currently located within Kirigakure.
Once the vanguard Surprise Attack and Diversion Platoon, along with the main frontal force, drew the attention of the Mist shinobi and White Zetsu, they would launch a swift aerial strike to seize the Six-Tails!
They could then quickly reactivate the God Tree and then immediately fell it, using it to destroy the army of one hundred thousand White Zetsu clones.
————————————
Inside the Mizukage building in Kirigakure,
Hikaku Uchiha stared at the man before him—who appeared as if from nowhere. The stranger had a mohawk-style haircut, a long braid hanging from the back of his head, and was dressed in a white robe cinched at the waist with a red sash. A faint sense of danger stirred within Hikaku.
This unique chakra was unlike anything emitted by an ordinary ninja.
The suddenness of his appearance...
Red earrings, the diamond-shaped Kāma symbol on his chin, the grotesque tattoo around his left eye, black fingernails...
Could this really be one of the Otsutsuki Clan—the very one betrayed by Kaguya Otsutsuki—that Kei Yamanaka had once told her about? Could this really be Isshiki Otsutsuki?
And judging from his appearance, this must be the vessel barely sustaining him—Jigen?
But how had he suddenly shown up like this?
Didn't Kei say that this man was extremely cautious, never revealing himself unless he had absolute confidence or his current vessel was deteriorating?
With a polished and composed smile, Jigen gave a slight bow. His outwardly friendly gesture couldn't mask the underlying arrogance.
"Who would have guessed that the Mizukage is actually Hikaku, the legendary living weapon of the Uchiha from centuries past?"
"Who are you? What do you want here?"
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