After the crisis in the Land of Demons had passed, the following months were peaceful and calm. The common people lived and worked in peace, thinking that they had returned to an era of peace and stability.
But beneath this false peace, dark undercurrents were surging.
Tsunade stood on the roof of the Hokage Tower, leaning on the railing and looking at the scenery of the entire village. Jiraiya stood beside her, the two of them silent.
"Have things been settled on the Land of Wind's side?" Tsunade asked. She was referring to the Sand Village. As for the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, she, as the leader of a single village, naturally had no authority to arrange matters, nor the inclination to do so.
"More or less. Some of their jonin who were out on missions have been recalled. The One-Tail Jinchuriki has also been temporarily sealed. Barring any accidents, there shouldn't be any changes for the next ten years."
This time, with the Sand Village's surrender and the Land of Wind's complete capitulation, the spoils to be divided were only at the national level. The entire Land of Fire benefited, and the benefits would in turn be fed back into the hidden village. As for the Sand Village, it was thoroughly restricted. Their ninja academy was even forcibly closed. A large number of talented children were all taken to Konoha to be trained. The older children, those over six, were left to fend for themselves. Whether they became ordinary people or wandering missing-nin, the Konoha side would absolutely not allow them to grow up, to prevent them from causing more losses to Konoha in the future.
This was the cruelty of war and politics. When the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, founded Konoha back then, he could have done the same, but he did not choose to. Now, with the addition of a monster-level combat power like Kusuo, and without Hashirama's benevolent heart, the annihilation of a village had occurred.
It was very realistic. If any other village had encountered this situation, they would have certainly kicked them while they were down, trampling them to death.
"So, in this current situation, we are being completely targeted by the other three great nations," Tsunade said, taking a deep breath and unwillingly punching the iron railing in front of her.
The Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water. It was absolutely impossible for these three nations to allow the birth of another Hashirama Senju. That level of power was like that of a god. No one could guarantee what kind of actions Kusuo would take after he had fully matured. The Daimyo of the various countries and the Kage of the various villages would not pin their hopes on the enemy's mercy. They were not that foolish, not that naive.
"This was to be expected. That child, Kusuo... his growth is too fast," Jiraiya sighed. The situation in Konoha was already far from optimistic. A large number of sensory-type and garrison ninja had sent back news that the three great nations were joining forces, with frequent contact between them. Various war supplies were also being prepared in full swing. Their objective was as clear as day.
They were going to start a war. To suppress Kusuo before he could grow to the level of Hashirama Senju.
"With the village's current strength, to face an attack from three sides at once is too much. Is there any room for mitigation?" Tsunade's willow-like eyebrows were tightly furrowed, filled with an indescribable melancholy.
"Do you think it's possible?" Jiraiya said with a bitter smile. "They will not let that child Kusuo grow."
"But it's not like we don't have a fighting chance. If... we can get that guy back."
Tsunade was instantly enraged. "Impossible! I will absolutely not allow the person who brought disaster to the village and murdered our teacher to return! Even a temporary compromise is absolutely not allowed!"
Jiraiya was, of course, talking about Orochimaru. As one of the former Sannin, unless he encountered the Uchiha clan who were his natural counter, he was an absolute veteran Kage-level powerhouse.
However, Tsunade rejected the idea without even thinking.
"Is a moment of humiliation more important than the safety of the entire village?" Jiraiya's face was ugly. Although Tsunade's reaction was within his expectations, it was ultimately for the sake of the village. "Or... there's one last option."
"Unless... we hand over that child, Kusuo."
The moment these words came out, the two of them fell silent.
Hatake Kusuo. The source of it all. The other great nations were afraid of him, and the many glorious battle records were also created by him. Indeed, as long as Konoha handed over Kusuo, everything would be resolved. The other three great nations would absolutely not risk the loss of their national power to fight a deadly battle with a Konoha that had just won a great victory. Without the future threat hanging over their heads, the balance of power in the ninja world would once again be restored. Even if Konoha had many talents and was known as the number one ninja village, it wouldn't be worth being so wary of.
"Say no more!" Tsunade gritted her silver teeth and said grimly. "This matter is absolutely not to be mentioned again. I am not Sensei, and I am certainly not my great-uncle. I have my own way of doing things. I, Tsunade, will absolutely not agree to betraying a comrade in exchange for peace!"
With these words from Tsunade, Jiraiya grinned and clapped her heavily on the shoulder. "Haha! I knew it! Little Tsuna, you're not that kind of person. That kid Kusuo is the Child of Prophecy I've acknowledged. I won't just let him go so easily. If those guys insist on coming for a fight, then I, Jiraiya, don't mind letting them know the power of the Toad Sage!"
POW!
With a huge roar, Jiraiya was sent tumbling several times by Tsunade's punch, landing in a heap at the base of a wall, his face bruised and swollen.
"Trying to take advantage of me, old lady? Get lost!" Tsunade huffed, retracting her fist and speaking fiercely.
And at the base of the wall, Jiraiya, who had been punched so hard he was spitting blood in his depression, felt stars circling around his head. His whole person was in disarray.
"That's not right! That brat Kusuo has held her so many times, and I've never seen little Tsuna get angry. Why is her reaction so big when I haven't even touched her? Damn it!!"
"Could it be... that this is the so-called double standard?"
At this moment, Jiraiya was alone, doubting his own life.
...
Konoha outskirts, under the waterfall.
Kusuo, who had been guiding the three girls in their training, had no idea that the entire ninja world was already in turmoil because of him, or that Tsunade and Jiraiya were deeply worried about him.
He was currently supporting Hinata's waist, helping her to maintain her breathing under the higher-level waterfall. There was no other reason. Little loli Hanabi, although young, had excellent conditions as a child of this world and had already surpassed her older sister in her water-walking ability. As for Shion, due to her profound mastery of sealing jutsu, her precision in controlling chakra had also taken a qualitative leap.
In contrast, Hinata... for well-known reasons related to her figure, her center of gravity in the water was very difficult to control. The strength of her lower body was always unstable because of the weight of her upper body.
There was no other way. Kusuo could only use his two hands to support her from behind, manually helping her to stabilize her body. Although the effect of tempering her body was a bit less, the tempering of her breathing method by the waterfall's flow was still on point. It was just that after returning with the three girls every night, Kusuo's two arms were a bit sore. After all, lifting super-heavy equipment during exercise was nothing. A taijutsu ninja could do it. But to have you hold a small weight for a whole day of training... the demand on endurance was a bit harsh.
On the way home, Hinata said to him with a red face, "Kusuo, maybe... we shouldn't train like this in the future. I... I..."
Hearing Hinata's words of retreat, Kusuo spoke righteously, "Do you no longer want to prove yourself to your father? Do you no longer want to keep up with my footsteps?"
After this big stick, Hinata said in a voice as small as a mosquito's, "I do."
"Then that's right," Kusuo said, smiling and patting her head. "Besides, all our training... not only can it increase our tacit understanding all day long, but it can also train my endurance. This will be even more helpful for me in lifting and holding my sword in the future."
Hearing Kusuo's confident words, although Hinata was blushing and felt that something was not quite right, she still nodded in a daze.
-------
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