Hokage Building
Hiruzen's POV
Watching my dear student scream with enough fury to shake the entire Land of Fire, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of amusement. Her rage was so potent it practically crackled in the air.
"No wonder Reika loves teasing her," I mused. "It's actually kind of fun—assuming you can dodge her punches and kicks."
I gave a diplomatic cough. "Tsunade, I was just joking. Trying to lighten the mood."
Jiraiya, proving once again why I've always considered him my favorite, quickly stepped in to defuse the tension.
"Yeah, Tsunade, Sensei's just kidding. No need to go full rampage mode."
Tsunade glared at me with eyes promising imminent pain, then sighed and shoved Koharu off the couch before flopping down.
Koharu pointed an accusatory finger. "Tsunade, show some respect! I'm a Hokage advisor, and I was sitting there first!"
Tsunade turned to her, voice dangerously calm. "Old hag, I'm in a very bad mood. Say one more word and I'll throw you out the window. Then we'll see if you can fly all the way to the village gate."
Koharu turned pale and looked to me for salvation.
"Tsunade, calm down. Koharu's just nervous about the whole Reika situation," I said, sighing. "And Koharu, don't provoke her. She's probably the only one in this room who can save you if she follows through on her threat."
Koharu shuffled next to Homura and quietly sipped her tea, not daring to meet Tsunade's gaze.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru stood in front of me while Tsunade slouched on the couch. My advisors took their usual positions nearby. I looked at them all, steepling my fingers thoughtfully.
"If we fought Reika together, what are our chances of victory I wonder?"
I turned to Jiraiya. "Give me a firsthand account of what happened."
Then to Orochimaru. "Fill in anything Jiraiya may have missed and any details as well you may have seen."
Finally, to Tsunade. "And once they're done, I want your analysis of her genjutsu."
Tsunade's POV
Emotion: Furious
Furious doesn't even begin to describe how I felt listening to those two buffoons recount my defeat—no, my utter humiliation—at Reika's hands. The flames of rage burned inside me.
How do I beat her? I thought. Wood Release? No, too many of my clan died in those experiments. I might not survive it either. Sage Mode? Possible, but Katsuyu's requirements are steep…
A more ridiculous thought crept into my head. Do I really have to seduce her kid just to get a leg up on her?
I cringed. Sure, it'd be hilarious… but morally? Questionable. Socially? Disastrous. Could I even live with myself?
"Tsunade!"
I snapped back to reality. Everyone was staring.
"What?"
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke. "We were asking about Reika's genjutsu. How did it feel? You were miles away just now."
"I was… strategizing." I folded my arms. "Next time we fight, I need a trump card."
He nodded. "Understandable. After what happened in the market district, countering her ocular powers is essential. So—your thoughts on her Sharingan?"
Of course. He's trying to confirm whether I believe she's awakened the Mangekyō.
I sighed. "Old man, I already told Jiraiya and Orochimaru about the next evolution of the Sharingan. No point in keeping it a secret."
He looked to them for confirmation.
Jiraiya scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah… Tsunade filled us in."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Very informative, I must say. It's becoming more clear why the Uchiha are feared."
The old man grunted, whether in surprise or disappointment that he couldn't use the the wise mentor card, I couldn't tell.
"Then again when was he ever wise? Informative yes, but also a pervert like Jirayia just better at hiding it than the punch dummy."
"You never used to care about things outside of medicine, drinking, gambling, and pounding Reika into the dirt," he said.
I shrugged. "When your rival is an Uchiha, you learn about Sharingan—just in case. My grand-uncle left notes on it. I studied them."
He inhaled deeply from his pipe—probably laced with something questionable—and locked eyes with me.
"Your verdict?"
"Eighty percent chance she's awakened the Mangekyō."
Jiraiya and Orochimaru took it in stride. Homura and Koharu looked like they'd seen a ghost. Then came Konoha's eternal buzzkill and face that make kids cry: Danzo.
"Hiruzen!" he barked. "Even your student believes she's awakened that cursed power. We must act! Let the ANBU work with Root—we'll take her down."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "Reika is still a loyal shinobi. We won't treat her like a criminal on baseless fear. Watch your words."
"Hmph. Naive as always."
The old man turned back to me. "Why only eighty percent? What holds you back?"
"Reika does things her own way. This could all be an elaborate genjutsu—one she crafted with her husband. I suspect Daigo had a hand in it. Also, we don't know what triggered it. Her father died years ago, likely increasing her Sharingan evolution. But the Mangekyō? That's usually a recent trauma."
The old man processed it, stroking his beard. I dropped the real bomb.
"You're all overthinking it."
Everyone blinked.
"Tsunade?" he asked, warily.
"You're letting fear and grand uncle paranoia puppet your minds," I said. "Reika awakening the Mangekyō doesn't automatically turn her into Madara. You're letting ghost stories shape your judgment."
Danzo exploded. "Some in her clan call her the Second Coming of Madara!"
I rolled my eyes. "And that's why you've never had a girlfriend, Danzo. Madara didn't have kids. Reika did."
"Hmph! Women would only slow down my hand signs!"
"Or maybe you're just ugly and power-obsessed."
The old man waved for me to continue.
"Reika's a mom now. From our last spar, she's mellowed. I genuinely think she's focused on raising her son—not causing chaos."
Homura raised an eyebrow. "Tsunade, we understand motherhood can sometimes change people for the better, but this is Reika. You know her best. She's terrifying, in some cases more than Madara ever was."
"Huh I forgot he existed for a second there."
Koharu nodded. "She needs a muzzle. And sealing. Preferably on some private island away from the rest of us"
"Thanks a lot grand uncle. You raised such amazing students!"
Jiraiya shrugged. "Honestly, I agree with Tsunade. We already knew she was powerful. Now we know she's more powerful. Just don't piss her off."
Orochimaru laughed.
"They're scared because she's uncontrollable now for them. A three-tomoe user is manageable. But if she's awakened the Mangekyō… that's death and devastation wrapped in blue flames. The damage from the potential fallout with her would be devastating "
The old guys look choked up after being called out like that.
Jiraiya blinked. "Isn't that an exaggeration?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Not at all. The Mangekyō's true terror lies in the power the Susanoo and other factors."
We all fell silent as he stood and looked out the window looking at the night sky his hands behind back clenched due to fear .
"First reason, hearing or describing the Susanoo doesn't do it justice. Once you see it and bask in it presence you realized how terrifying the power of the Sharingan is. The Susanoo It's a monstrosity, chaos incarnate. Mountains crumble. Armies fall like ants. Tailed Beasts—extremely powerful in their own right—become practice dummies. Its defense is also so strong I doubt a Tailed Beast Bomb could break through without some difficulty. Once you ever see it you understand why the Uchiha despite their pride and ego deserved to be called the strongest clan in the five elemental nations. Power like that makes a man rethink a lot things about what he be doing in his life, how can he fight something like this, is there any hope of surviving the next day if I have to fight that."
He turned back to us, grim-faced.
"The second reason involves you, Jiraiya and Tsunade."
Our ears perked up.
"Kushina."
I stood, glaring. "You think Reika would harm Kushina? They're close!"
Jiraiya agreed. "They're like sisters. Reika would die protecting her."
Danzo scoffed. "You're all blind. The Mangekyō can enslave Tailed Beasts!"
We went pale.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Truly? A Sharingan that can control a Tailed Beast?"
Me, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru all fought in the second great war. We seen Tailed Beast in action and there a massive game changer of any battle, and the fact that not only can those eyes summon a powerful chakra construct, but they can even enslave a tail beast on top of that has well!
"So unfair! Why the hell do the Uchiha get such fearsome power! Were they blessed by the sage of six paths himself!? What about the Senju clan? What do we have to do get power like that? Beg, kneel before a altar, do some freaking rain dance while naked!?
Hiruzen nodded. "Tobirama saw Madara summon the Nine-Tails from a distance when fighting the first hokage for three days. Its eyes matched his. It obeyed him like a trained dog. If Madara could do it—so could Reika."
I clenched my fists. "She wouldn't betray Kushina. She's not like that."
Danzo sneered. "Orochimaru, your verdict?"
Orochimaru folded his hands. "She's power-hungry, yes—but harming Kushina doesn't fit her psychological profile."
Danzo tapped his cane. "You say that now, but let your sensei explain the third reason why we fear the Mangekyō."
We all turned to Hiruzen.
He sighed. "The Mangekyō doesn't just give power—it amplifies the user's darkest traits. Their ideals become dogma. Their pride becomes unshakable. If you can't break their beliefs or beat some sense into them, prepare for the fallout."
He looked each of us in the eye.
"Now tell me you all know Reika better than I do. You been in the same class has her in the academy. You fought and bleed alongside her in battle, you see her ways of dealing with the enemies. Probably have talks with her that give you a good idea of her personality and ideals. So with all that. I want you to imagined what does she look like when taking all her beliefs and core of her being to the very extreme. Tell me should I be concern or is all in my head?"
Silence.
"Shit," I whispered.
Hiruzen's POV
Watching my students pale with realization only confirmed my fears.
"Well? Tell me I'm wrong."
Jiraiya sighed. "Reika loves combat. I've seen her gleefully torture enemies for intel. The amount times I see her choke enemies while setting them on fire is enough to give me nightmares "
Orochimaru added, "Well with new information about the Mangekyō side effects I can understand why sensei is concerned. Reika can at best of times be troublesome, and at the worst she can be down right terrifying. Even I would hesitate if I was supposed to confront her.
I turned to Tsunade.
She rubbed her temples. "If she ever turns her eyes toward the Nine-Tails… yeah, it's bad."
Good she not letting her relationship with Reika from blinding her from the horrible implications.
Then she looked up. "But you're forgetting something."
We all blinked.
"What?"
She smiled. "Her son."
"Her son?"
Tsunade nodded. "He's not like her. Sunny personality from what I seen so far. Mouthy. But not prideful or violent. He's her anchor."
I turned to the others.
"Orochimaru? Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya nodded. "He's playful. Bit of a trash talker—definitely inherited that."
Orochimaru tilted his head. "He's… interesting."
"How so?"
"His chakra is completely neutral. No warmth or cold leaning. And when I tried to sense his reserves—I was blocked. It felt like a seal."
I stroked my beard. "Interesting…"
"Wolf!" I called. A female ANBU knelt before me.
"Get me everything we have on Reika's child and his father as well."
She vanished.
I turned back. "Tsunade, where were you going with this?"
"If we help her son make bonds in the village—especially with Kushina—Reika will think twice before acting out. A mother with pride as her won't want to disappoint her child."
I nodded. "Good idea. her pride as a mom can possibly keep her worst ambitions in check."
Danzo glared. "You can't be serious."
"Oh? What would you do?"
Danzo sneered. "Simple. We force the boy into Root forged him into a weapon against her , hold him hostage, and use him as leverage. If Reika resists—we kidnap him and threaten her. Than we force her against the other villages. By doing that we get a dog that will bite at anyone we tell her too and she may possibly go blind as well for overusing her eyes! It a win no matter what!"
The room turned cold.
"You're suicidal," I muttered.
"If Reika finds out—she'll burn Konoha to the ground!" Jiraiya roared.
"She won't find out. We'll seal him to control him!"
"No, Danzo! That's final! I am the Hokage!"
Danzo face grim at the line.
God I love that line! It always the knockout punch for Danzo madness.
Danzo clenched his fists. "You'll regret this."
As he turned to leave—Tsunade appeared in front of him and punched him in the face so hard I winced. A few teeth flew out.
"Tsunade, what are you doing!?" Homura gasped.
Koharu trembled. "He's a Hokage advisor!"
Jiraiya looked both horrified and impressed.
Orochimaru laughed.
And Danzo lay there, unconscious—bleeding, toothless, and uglier than ever.
"And that," Tsunade muttered, "is why you don't threaten my rival. Only I get to trash talk about her and issue threats!."
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