More than a month had passed since Seiryū returned to Konoha.
Strangely, no word of his return had spread beyond a small circle of trusted people.
That was intentional.
Madara and Ryota could strike at any moment. By keeping Seiryū's return a secret, Konoha could catch them off guard when the time came.
Over the past month, several important developments had taken place.
Ryota had made another move. He had located and captured the Four-Tails' jinchūriki.
Only the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails remained beyond his grasp.
Seiryū had also used the time to visit Mount Myōboku, where he successfully learned its form of senjutsu.
Just as with the senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest, he was unable to enter a traditional Sage Mode. Even so, his earlier theory had proven correct.
Senjutsu, and Sage Mode itself, was closely connected to Yang Release.
Once he mastered the senjutsu traditions of all three sacred lands, he would be able to trigger a transformation within himself.
Not only would his strength increase, but he would also complete another of his objectives.
Seiryū had planned to visit Ryūchi Cave next, or perhaps spend some time developing other useful techniques.
Unfortunately, more urgent matters had arisen.
For now, those plans would have to wait.
At that moment, several of Konoha's most important figures were gathered inside the Hokage's office.
"The Eight-Tails has revived in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning, within the Land of Lightning," Tsunade said.
Seated behind the Hokage's desk, she looked around the room with a grave expression.
"If this information has reached us, there is a good chance Madara has already heard it as well."
The Eight-Tails had returned.
Naturally, Konoha could not afford to ignore the situation.
"What are your thoughts?"
Hiruzen had stepped down as the Third Hokage and now spent much of his time teaching at the Academy. Even so, his experience and former position still earned him a place in meetings of this importance.
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
"The Tailed Beasts are too important to allow Madara to claim another one. Whatever his objective may be, we cannot let him succeed."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
"Madara already controls the power of seven Tailed Beasts. We have all seen what he is capable of when he uses their chakra."
His expression darkened.
"If he obtains the Eight-Tails as well, our position will become even worse."
Madara possessed more than the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had also found a way to wield the power of the captured Tailed Beasts.
Combined, those abilities had nearly brought Konoha to its knees.
The more Tailed Beasts he acquired, the more dangerous he became.
"I agree."
Tsunade shared their concerns, but the matter was too important for her to make a decision without hearing everyone's opinions.
Her gaze shifted toward Seiryū, who was sitting nearby and barely suppressing a yawn.
"What about you?" she asked. "What do you think?"
"What is there to think about?"
Seiryū leaned back in his chair.
"If we have to fight, then we fight. We cannot let the Eight-Tails fall into Madara's hands. That would only create more trouble for us later."
He spoke as casually as though they were discussing an ordinary mission.
"This is also a good opportunity to find out how strong they really are."
Based on the intelligence available to him, Seiryū believed Madara had not yet awakened the Rinnegan.
At present, Madara should only possess the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
That pair of eyes, however, was most likely in Ryota's possession.
It was time to test the true limits of their enemies' strength.
If Madara and Ryota succeeded in awakening the Rinnegan and gaining control of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, they could use it to absorb the Tailed Beasts.
That might allow them to revive the Ten-Tails far sooner than expected.
There was also the Reanimation Jutsu to consider.
It was an extraordinarily useful technique.
In another world, Madara had even been able to sever his own summoning contract and free himself from the caster's control.
Could anyone confidently claim that he had never studied the technique?
Tsunade studied Seiryū.
"So you are giving up on remaining hidden?"
"The situation has changed."
Seiryū shrugged.
"The Eight-Tails has revived. We cannot simply sit back and watch Madara take it."
His tone remained indifferent.
"We will have to fight them sooner or later. Can you deal with them without me?"
He looked around the room.
"If you can, I would be more than happy to enjoy some free time. I have been meaning to visit Ryūchi Cave."
The room fell silent.
No one could deny the truth of his words.
Even after losing more than two years, Seiryū was still Konoha's strongest shinobi.
During his spar with Tsunade a month earlier, he had completely suppressed her.
She had barely been able to mount a counterattack.
"Hokage-sama."
Fugaku, who had also been invited to the meeting, finally spoke.
He was the head of the Uchiha Clan, and his expression was solemn.
"The Uchiha will not stand aside while Madara and Ryota continue to threaten the village. We wish to participate in this operation."
The Uchiha Clan's position in Konoha had become increasingly difficult.
Because of Madara and Ryota, resentment toward the clan had begun to spread among the villagers.
Some openly blamed the Uchiha for the destruction caused during the previous battle. Others avoided or ostracized members of the clan entirely.
The Uchiha had fought to protect Konoha during that battle, but the source of the disaster had still been two men who carried their name.
That fact could not easily be ignored.
Tsunade had publicly defended the clan, which had reduced some of the hostility.
It had not erased it.
Fugaku was deeply troubled by the situation.
If the Uchiha wanted to restore their standing within the village, they needed to prove their loyalty through action.
Only by earning the trust of the villagers could they overcome the resentment directed at them.
It would also preserve the clan's chance of one day producing a Hokage.
"Very well."
Tsunade looked at Fugaku before nodding.
She had no reason to reject him.
Fugaku now possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan and was one of Konoha's strongest shinobi.
Tsunade herself held no prejudice against the Uchiha.
After becoming Hokage, she had changed the clan's role within the village. They were no longer confined to the Military Police Force, a position that had generated more resentment than respect.
Members of the clan were now allowed to serve in other divisions and hold positions of genuine authority.
Fugaku's strength and status as clan head were the reasons he had been invited to the meeting.
Tsunade turned toward Jiraiya.
"You will participate as well. Explain the situation to Nagato and ask him to join the operation."
She had not forgotten Nagato's value in battle.
Even Tsunade could not confidently claim that she could defeat him while he wielded the Rinnegan.
Jiraiya nodded.
"Understood."
Tsunade continued listing the members of the operation.
"Minato and Sakumo will come as well."
She then looked toward Hiruzen.
"Sensei, you will remain in Konoha and oversee the village. If anything happens, contact us immediately."
They were preparing to face extraordinarily powerful enemies.
Even so, they could not afford to leave Konoha undefended.
Taking every elite shinobi with them would be reckless.
Their enemies were not limited to a single person.
Ryota was the only one who had been openly active in the shinobi world.
Madara had yet to reveal himself.
This entire situation could be a diversion intended to draw Konoha's strongest forces away from the village.
They had to proceed carefully.
"Leave the village to me," Hiruzen said.
He had no objections to Tsunade's arrangements.
Since becoming Hokage, her decisions had been consistently sound.
"I will ensure nothing happens to Konoha. If a threat appears that I cannot handle, I will contact you immediately."
Seiryū noticed that Tsunade had not mentioned his name.
He raised one hand.
"Am I not going?"
Tsunade looked at him.
"Or am I supposed to follow the original plan and remain in Konoha until someone unfortunate comes looking for trouble?"
Tsunade stared at him in silence for a moment.
"Of course you are coming with us. Did that really need to be said?"
"How was I supposed to know what the Hokage was thinking?"
Seiryū frowned.
"You listed everyone else but left out my name. Naturally, I assumed you were not allowing me to go."
He shook his head in disappointment.
"What kind of Hokage gives unclear instructions and expects everyone else to guess?"
The corners of several mouths twitched.
Speaking to the Hokage that way would normally be considered a direct challenge to her authority.
Only Seiryū would dare say something so disrespectful during an official meeting.
The man had no regard for rank whatsoever.
Tsunade, however, was already accustomed to his attitude.
"You are the future Hokage's assistant," she said. "Shouldn't understanding the Hokage's intentions be part of your job?"
Seiryū's expression changed immediately.
"What?"
He leaned forward.
"I have not even accepted the position yet, and you are already making my job difficult?"
His eyes narrowed.
"You expect me to guess what you are thinking? Then, when I guess incorrectly, you will use it as an excuse to punish me?"
Tsunade's eye twitched.
"Is that what I said?"
"You have not been Hokage for very long, yet you already sound like a bureaucrat."
Seiryū gave her a disappointed look.
"You have changed. Power has corrupted you."
Veins appeared on Tsunade's forehead.
"If I could defeat you, I would make you regret saying that."
Seiryū waved dismissively.
"Tsunade, I am the Hokage's assistant."
Tsunade laughed in disbelief.
"Shouldn't the Hokage's assistant obey the Hokage's orders?"
Seiryū answered as though the matter were obvious.
"The Hokage's assistant acts when necessary, but does not blindly obey every order."
He placed a hand against his chest.
"I am simply following the example established by my predecessor. It is tradition. More importantly, it is my duty."
Hiruzen fell silent.
Who exactly was that comment aimed at?
This boy truly had no restraint.
The previous Hokage was still sitting in the room.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly and decided not to respond.
The relationship between Tsunade and Seiryū was nothing like the relationship between himself and Danzō.
There was little chance of genuine conflict arising between them.
Even so, watching the two of them argue without the slightest concern for rank or dignity left Hiruzen exhausted.
"If there is nothing else to discuss, I will take my leave," he said. "All of you should exercise caution during the mission."
The others soon departed as well.
They needed to prepare for the operation, and none of them wanted to remain trapped between Tsunade and Seiryū any longer than necessary.
Once everyone was gone, Seiryū sank deeper into his chair.
"This is much more comfortable."
He stretched his legs out in front of him.
"Why does everyone act so serious during meetings? It forced me to sit properly."
He looked toward Tsunade.
"I was showing respect to you as Hokage. Remember to compensate me."
"You call that respect?"
Tsunade's expression darkened.
"Everyone now knows that my future assistant openly challenges my authority."
She crossed her arms.
"You even said something completely outrageous in front of my teacher."
Seiryū looked curious.
"Outrageous?"
He thought for a moment.
"Are you referring to disrespecting my teacher and rebelling against authority?"
He tilted his head.
"But you are not my teacher."
Tsunade stared at him.
Disrespecting his teacher?
What kind of shameless excuse was that?
"Get out."
She pointed toward the door.
"Get out, get out, get out!"
Her voice rose with every word.
"Looking at you is giving me a headache. Go prepare for the mission. We do not have time to waste, and we cannot allow Madara's group to reach the Eight-Tails first."
"Fine, fine."
Seiryū stood.
"I was hoping to surprise them, but then the Eight-Tails had to revive."
He sighed dramatically.
"Plans really do change at the worst possible time. I wanted to make a grand entrance."
Space twisted around him.
A moment later, he disappeared using the Flying Raijin Jutsu.
Half an hour later, Seiryū returned to the Hokage's office.
Tsunade stared at him.
He had used the Transformation Jutsu to disguise himself as a hunched old man.
His back was bent, his hair had turned white, and a long beard covered the lower half of his face.
Tsunade's expression darkened.
"What kind of trouble are you planning now?"
Seiryū stroked his beard and spoke in the trembling voice of an elderly man.
"I am Sage Seiryū, master of the Eternal Youth Jutsu."
He paused.
"No, that does not sound right."
He cleared his throat.
"I am Sage Seiryū."
He slowly raised his chin.
"I have lived for more than seventy years. My greatest wish is to restore the glory of a forgotten age."
Tsunade fell silent.
The act sounded painfully familiar.
During the Dragon Vein mission, Seiryū had used the same identity to deceive an Uzumaki Naruto from another time and place.
That Naruto had apparently been the son of Minato and Kushina from a parallel world.
"You..."
Tsunade rubbed her temples.
A headache was already beginning to form.
She could never understand what went through Seiryū's mind.
Eventually, she gave up.
"Forget it. Do whatever you want. I cannot be bothered to deal with you."
Seiryū frowned with exaggerated disapproval.
"You should show more respect to your elders."
He continued stroking his beard.
"I am Sage Seiryū now. What sort of ill-mannered young woman speaks to a venerable sage that way?"
Tsunade slowly cracked her knuckles.
The urge to strike him was becoming increasingly difficult to resist.
Just as she was about to lose her temper, Minato entered the office.
He first bowed toward Tsunade.
"Hokage-sama."
Then he turned toward Seiryū.
A strange expression appeared on his face.
"And who is this?"
Seiryū placed one hand behind his back.
"I am Sage Seiryū."
He gave Minato a dignified nod.
"Your junior."
Minato stared at him.
A brief silence followed.
"That is an impressive Transformation Jutsu," Minato finally said with a dry laugh. "Even I could not see through it."
He already knew Seiryū was behaving strangely again.
At this point, he was used to it.
There was no value in trying to understand the reasoning behind Seiryū's actions.
He was capable of almost anything.
Still, the fact that even Minato had failed to see through the disguise proved how thoroughly Seiryū had mastered the Transformation Jutsu.
No matter how basic a technique appeared, Seiryū could refine it to an extraordinary level.
Seiryū glanced at Tsunade in dissatisfaction.
She had already ruined his introduction.
"I am concealing my identity so I can catch the enemy off guard," he complained. "Do not expose me so casually."
Tsunade crossed her arms.
"Will that disguise accomplish anything?"
She looked him up and down.
"The moment you use one of your techniques, everyone will recognize you. No one else can use your Kidō or binding spells. They are far too distinctive."
Seiryū continued stroking his beard.
"That only shows how little you understand."
He gave her a superior look.
"I possess many techniques that I have never revealed. I can also use ordinary ninjutsu."
His voice became increasingly smug.
"You do not honestly believe Kidō is all I know, do you?"
He raised his chin.
"I am Sage Seiryū. Something this simple could never trouble me."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"When did you have time to develop new techniques?"
She frowned.
"From your perspective, only a few hours passed during those two missing years."
"Obviously, I created some of them beforehand," Seiryū replied. "I simply never had a reason to use them."
He smiled.
"And since returning, I have developed even stronger ones."
Tsunade gave a dismissive laugh.
"I think your identity will be exposed the moment you make your first move. The Transformation Jutsu is not flawless."
Seiryū remained completely confident.
"Then watch carefully."
He stroked his beard once more.
"How could an ordinary person hope to understand the methods of Sage Seiryū?"
While they argued, the remaining members of the operation gradually arrived.
Like Minato, each of them reacted strangely when they saw Seiryū disguised as an elderly sage.
No one bothered to ask for an explanation.
Anyone familiar with Seiryū already knew that, in addition to being extraordinarily powerful, he possessed a deeply unusual way of thinking.
That was hardly a secret.
Trying to guess what he intended to do would only waste time.
(To be continued.)