"The meeting today was pleasant, Tsunade-senpai. I hope next time we meet, our goals will align. I will contact you then."
With just that, Aizen turned and strode back toward the town, not sparing her another glance.
"This guy…"
Tsunade frowned, watching his retreating back. That name—Aizen—was now firmly engraved in her heart.
Contact me? How exactly is he planning to do that?
His last words lingered in her mind, leaving her puzzled. She didn't chase after him for answers.
"Lady Tsunade… do you really intend to agree with him?" Shizune leaned closer, her voice cautious and unsure.
To be honest, Aizen terrified her. People you couldn't see through were the most dangerous of all.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. She hadn't given him her word, yet her heart was already wavering.
Yes…
This village was founded by my grandfather and his kin. The Sarutobi and Shimura clans only joined later.
And now? With the Senju nearly gone, only I remain…
Why should they be the ones to control the village?
"Ughhh! Enough! Let's go gamble!"
The more she thought, the worse her headache grew. Throwing up her hands, Tsunade marched off, needing time to sort her thoughts.
"L-Lady Tsunade, you just lost so much yesterday…" Shizune trailed after her, nearly in tears. Having such a teacher was exhausting.
That afternoon, Aizen and Pakura departed once more. Meeting Tsunade had been unexpected, but useful.
No matter what, Tsunade—princess of the Senju, hero of Konoha—was someone he had to draw to his side.
The Espada he was forming was not just for battle against the Spirit Palace. The "key to the king" mattered, yes, but his vision was greater.
Kenya desired not only Konoha, not only the Land of Fire, but the entire shinobi world under his rule.
But one man alone could not control such vast lands.
He needed capable allies—not just fighters, but administrators.
Two days later, in Sunagakure's central square.
Countless villagers and shinobi gathered as Jinnaruo unfurled a massive scroll from his back. Within the sea of sealing scripts was a single, bold character—grain.
He pressed his palm against it.
Bang!
Smoke billowed, and in an instant, towering piles of sacks appeared, stacked like a mountain, glistening in the sun.
"Woooaaahhh!!!"
Cheers erupted, echoing like thunder.
Jinnaruo, Aizen's number one bootlicker, seized the moment and shouted,
"This is the food Master Aizen has secured for us!"
The crowd roared even louder, applause and shouts shaking the air:
"Master Aizen!"
"Long live Aizen-sama!"
"Master Aizen, thank you! You saved our families!"
Standing calmly at the edge, Aizen simply raised his hand in a gentle wave. That small gesture only deepened the villagers' admiration.
Everyone in Sunagakure knew the truth: ever since his battle with Uchiha Kenya, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa had been plagued by illness. Rarely did he appear in public.
Most affairs were now delegated to Aizen, Minister of the ANBU. Aizen would pass on his "recommendations" to Rasa, and the Kazekage's seal would eventually be stamped on them.
In the Kazekage's office, however, the truth was far darker.
Kenya, in his true form, sat correcting paperwork late into the night, the Aizen disguise laid aside for once.
After finishing the day's training in the system's space, he stretched, gazing at the bright moon through the window.
[Template character: Aizen Sōsuke — Unlock Rate: 20.37%]
"This… isn't the life I wanted."
His lips curled in frustration. He didn't chase the hollow respect of being a Hokage, or the miserable existence of Naruto after marriage.
What he sought was the indulgent, untouchable luxury of a Celestial Dragon from One Piece. Not endless duty and paperwork.
Even if the shinobi world bowed to him, would that be satisfying?
"…But first, there's one more matter I need to resolve."
Kenya walked to a bookshelf, pulling out a scroll that jutted slightly from the second shelf. He turned it clockwise two and a half times.
Rumble—
A hidden compartment slid open.
Inside lay a scroll—something he had found while combing through Rasa's office after assuming the Kazekage's identity.
A scroll written by none other than Orochimaru.
Its contents were shocking: Orochimaru's detailed [Konoha Collapse Plan], addressed directly to Rasa.
Orochimaru's scheme was nearly identical to the one from the "original story": infiltrating Konoha during the Chūnin Exams, coordinating an attack from within and without, and destroying the Leaf in a joint strike.
The similarities were eerie—at least 80% the same.
The differences lay in two points:
Orochimaru made no mention of Gaara. Whether he didn't know Gaara was the One-Tail Jinchūriki, or deliberately left it out, was unclear.
In the original timeline, Orochimaru killed Rasa outright, seizing full control of the plan.
Finally, the letter stated that if Rasa agreed, they would rendezvous in Liusha Village, Land of Wind—on New Year's Day.
And that day was now less than half a month away.