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"We're here."
Kakuzu looked at the small, plain house before them.
The bounty exchange that greeted them was utterly nondescript. It was no different from the concrete warehouses built in remote areas in her past life.
Qianyu and Kakuzu stepped inside.
Instantly, countless gazes locked onto Qianyu.
"?"
"?"
Both Qianyu and Kakuzu wore looks of utter confusion. Qianyu touched her cheek.
No way. Am I that cool-looking now?
A moment later, Kakuzu's confusion was answered by the portraits hanging on the wall. He pointed.
Qianyu followed his finger.
Number one on the bounty board: Hanataki.
"…"
Qianyu had completely forgotten about that.
The stares fixed on her were filled with excitement, agitation, and wariness.
"Looks like we'll be delayed a bit today," Kakuzu said. His tone made it clear he considered none of them a threat. The presence of the bounty board's top prize was enough to make these mission-hungry ninja risk their lives for the money.
"Isn't this perfect for restocking your hearts?" Qianyu's gaze swept over the group of ninja whose eyes were already gleaming with greed.
"You're right!" Kakuzu laughed.
[Ding! Affection from character Kakuzu: 95!]
"…"
This spike in affection left Qianyu speechless.
The air in the exchange house seemed to freeze solid.
"Get her!" a roar erupted from the crowd.
The stagnant air turned scorching in an instant. A bizarre array of attacks came flying at Qianyu and Kakuzu.
"Eclipse Blade!"
A golden, crescent-moon blade of light erupted from in front of Qianyu. The smell of blood spread rapidly.
Stimulated by the blood, the ninja grew more frenzied, surging forward one after another.
Half an hour later.
Blood seeped out from under the exchange house door. Qianyu averted her eyes from the piled corpses.
"Looks like we'll be collecting an even bigger reward this time."
[Ding! Affection from character Kakuzu: 98!]
"…"
Qianyu's eye twitched. While Kakuzu meticulously selected new hearts and severed heads for cash, she stepped outside for air.
Soon, Kakuzu emerged, beaming, carrying a large, heavy-looking case.
Back in the Hidden Rain Village.
Qianyu had just sat down when a figure appeared before her.
"Sasori. What is it?" Qianyu's expression stiffened slightly.
"I've just finished a new puppet. Would you like to come see it with me?" Sasori asked, full of enthusiasm.
"There's plenty of money here. Counting it with me is far more enjoyable!" Kakuzu, standing beside Qianyu, chimed in.
"…"
Qianyu looked at Sasori, then at Kakuzu.
Was it her imagination, or was the air crackling with tension?
"Since Hanataki seems so troubled, why not come to my laboratory with me instead?" Orochimaru's voice slithered from behind Qianyu.
"…"
Why did Sasori's and Kakuzu's expressions darken even more? Qianyu suppressed a sigh.
"Meeting."
Konan's figure materialized. Her eyes were like daggers, skewering the three people surrounding Hanataki. She walked up to Qianyu, her expression softening as she gently took her hand. "Let's go, Hanataki. It's time for the meeting."
"Alright." Qianyu breathed a sigh of relief. Konan, my savior.
Sasori constantly wanted to discuss art. Orochimaru was always scheming about her body and spinning conspiracy theories. Now Kakuzu was added to the mix. Qianyu felt her future life in the Akatsuki was destined to be… eventful.
…
Days passed.
Naruto was growing bigger, his babbling clearer. Life in the village was improving steadily.
"The New Year is almost here," Qianyu murmured, having just arrived at the Hokage's office. She saw the red lanterns being hung along the streets.
"Yes," Shisui said softly from behind her, a gentle look in his eyes. "This year will definitely be a good one."
Danzō, that old troublemaker, was busy outside the village, dedicated to agricultural and forestry development. The Third Hokage and the other two elders passed their days with afternoon tea. Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi spent most of his time at Qianyu's home, keeping the less-than-willing Hanzō company. Qianyu had seen Hanzō's fists clench, veins bulging on them more than once.
The major clans were now focused on amassing wealth, even neglecting internal clan affairs.
Qianyu's personal Hokage Guard Platoon was composed of three Uchiha: Shisui, Juri, and a girl named Masako Uchiha.
"Hokage-sama, a scroll has arrived from Iwagakure in the Land of Earth." Nara Sōsai, who had arrived earlier, handed her the scroll.
Qianyu sat down and slowly unrolled it.
"A peace treaty?" Her eyebrow rose.
While the Five Great Shinobi Villages had signed armistices, none had signed formal peace treaties. Without a treaty, the ceasefire was temporary; the next war could start at any time. A peace treaty meant a complete end to hostilities between the two nations. Qianyu hadn't expected the Tsuchikage to be the first to extend such an offer.
"It's a peace treaty proposal from Iwagakure," Qianyu said, handing the scroll to Sōsai.
Surprise flickered in Sōsai's eyes as he scanned the document. His gaze settled on the final section, and his brow furrowed. "This treaty… requires it to be signed in Iwagakure?" He looked at Qianyu.
Shisui, standing behind her, also frowned upon hearing this.
"If you go to Iwagakure, wouldn't you be at the Tsuchikage's mercy?" It was well-known that Iwagakure had a staggering number of ninja. Even with war losses, their numbers far exceeded Konoha's. If they used human wave tactics, even someone as powerful as Qianyu would struggle. Shisui's eyes darkened.
Qianyu wasn't afraid of numbers. She was just curious about the Tsuchikage's goal. That old schemer Ōnoki… she didn't believe for a second he genuinely wanted peace.
"Set it aside for now," Qianyu said, putting the scroll away.
The next day.
News that Konoha and Iwagakure were to sign a peace treaty instantly spread across the shinobi world.
Konoha's villagers were jubilant. They didn't think about the motives behind the treaty. They simply knew it meant peace. Even if it was just with one of the other great villages, one less treaty meant one less potential war. How could they not be happy?
Qianyu sat in her office.
Nara Sōsai's face was grim. "Iwagakure spread the news. They're pressuring us." By using Konoha's own people to apply pressure, they were forcing Qianyu to go to Iwagakure to sign. If Qianyu refused, both the shinobi world and Konoha's citizens would see her as the one who wanted to restart the war.
"Then there's only one choice," Qianyu said with a light smile.
If Ōnoki really wanted to make a move against her in his own village, who would suffer the consequences was another matter entirely.
"In that case, let's depart." Qianyu stood up. "We shouldn't disappoint the Tsuchikage's kind invitation."
Sōsai frowned. "Isn't this walking into the lion's den?" Once they were on the Tsuchikage's turf, all initiative would be his.
"Lion's den?" Qianyu shook her head. "No, it's more like a wolf walking into a flock of sheep."
Sōsai was momentarily taken aback, then smiled wryly and shook his head. If the Hokage was this confident, he could relax a little.
"I'll go too," Sōsai offered, but Qianyu vetoed it.
"Once I leave, Konoha needs you to hold the fort." Qianyu looked at him seriously.
Sōsai almost said that the Third was still in the village, but he quickly understood Qianyu's meaning. She had removed the elder council from power. Letting them take control again, even temporarily, could invite trouble. He nodded.
After making arrangements, Qianyu selected her escort. The Uchiha-led Hokage Guard Platoon was, of course, included. For the rest, she chose Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy.
"Hokage-sama, is this small group enough?" Masako Uchiha looked at the few people behind them with concern.
"More than enough," Qianyu smiled. Masako was one of the Uchiha clan's outstanding ninja of her generation. She was also a kunoichi, like the Fifth Hokage, Tsukimi Qianyu herself. This was likely why Fugaku had recommended her, though Qianyu felt it unnecessary.
The journey from Konoha to Iwagakure in the Land of Earth took four days. The Land of Earth, north of the Land of Fire, was much colder. Iwagakure, a barren place, was already blanketed in early snow.
A biting wind carried snowflakes. The cold seeped into the bones.
Towering, high-altitude peaks rose abruptly before Iwagakure's main gate. The path leading into the village was narrow.
"Ah… This is a perfect place for an ambush," Masako murmured, looking around.
"No need to worry," Qianyu said. The Tsuchikage wasn't that foolish. An ambush here would expose his true intentions to the entire shinobi world, making him the target of condemnation—the sole instigator of a new war.
The narrow gorge was bitterly cold, but thankfully, it wasn't long.
Qianyu's view suddenly opened up.
Snow and ice reflected the sunlight, a blinding white light illuminating Iwagakure for a moment.
In this frozen world, the character for "Fire" on Qianyu's hat was strikingly conspicuous. And she saw the Tsuchikage facing her.
Just like in the anime, Ōnoki was short and floated in mid-air.
"Hokage," Ōnoki said, all smiles.
"Tsuchikage." Qianyu nodded.
Ōnoki's eyes swept over the faces of the few people behind Qianyu, his smile widening. Beside him stood two Iwa-nin, a man and a woman.
"You've come a long way, Hokage. Rest for a day or two, allow me to play the host, and then we can discuss the peace treaty. What do you say?" Ōnoki asked, beaming.
As they walked into the village together, Qianyu replied, "That sounds perfect, as long as the Tsuchikage doesn't find me a bother." After all, I didn't come here just for the treaty.
Ninja stood guard on both sides of the street, their curious gazes fixed on the youngest Kage in shinobi history.
"How could you be a bother?" Ōnoki said immediately, his old face the picture of grandfatherly kindness. The longer Tsukimi Qianyu stays in the village, the better for shaping the narrative.
"Then I'll trouble you, Tsuchikage," Qianyu smiled.
Ōnoki extended a hand to Qianyu warmly. "I look forward to your stay, Hokage."
Looking at the offered hand, Qianyu shook it.
The next second.
Ōnoki's robe fluttered slightly. A powerful surge of chakra emanated from him, channeling into his hand.
Qianyu immediately felt immense pressure crushing her hand.
Her eyebrow lifted. If Ōnoki wants to test me, I shouldn't disappoint.
Boom!
An invisible shockwave rippled out from Qianyu.
Ōnoki's expression changed. He actually felt pain in his hand. His face flushed red, shock flashing in his eyes before he masked it.
Impossible! How can Tsukimi Qianyu possess such monstrous chakra? This… this far exceeds even a Tailed Beast!
Ōnoki released his grip first, clasping his hands behind his back. The hand hidden within his robe trembled faintly.
"Hahaha, the Hokage is truly a prodigy of the younger generation," Ōnoki laughed, the sound slightly strained. The two Iwa-nin behind him, having faced the pressure head-on, looked grim.
"And the Tsuchikage is as sharp as ever," Qianyu replied, her smile far more natural.
"Deidara, you can't go in there!"
"Deidara!"
"Wait!"
A child's figure suddenly appeared on the sealed-off street. The boy had long, golden hair tied in a high ponytail. He shot toward Qianyu like a tiny cannonball.
"…" Ōnoki's eye twitched. He moved a hand to block the child.
"Deidara, don't be rude in front of the Hokage," Ōnoki said, forcing a smile. He knew his little disciple's personality better than anyone. A complete livewire.
Deidara, short for his age, craned his neck to look up at Qianyu.
"So you're the Fifth Hokage. Don't look so tough to me!" His youthful face was full of scorn. The arrogance of his future self was already visible.
Ōnoki desperately wanted to tape the boy's mouth shut.
Qianyu, of course, wouldn't bother with a child. With her status, others would just think she was humoring him.
"Oh? You sound pretty strong yourself?" Qianyu raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I am!" Deidara declared, puffing out his chest. "I'm not just any kind of strong!"
"How can you prove it?" Qianyu continued.
Ōnoki's expression shifted. He glanced at Qianyu, then back at Deidara, his eyes holding a clear warning.
Deidara completely ignored it. His hand dove into the small pouch at his waist.
A white centipede silently crawled up Qianyu's body, tightening around her.
Deidara's eyes sparkled with excitement. This was his strongest technique right now!
"Katsu!"
The expected explosion never came.
Ice petals drifted slowly through the air. The white centipede disintegrated into countless falling snowflakes. Not a single sound was made.
"Huh?" Deidara stared, dumbfounded. He looked at the scene before him, then scrunched up his face in anger.
"Enough! Deidara!" Ōnoki warned sharply. They were in Iwagakure. Deidara's behavior was extremely discourteous. Basic decorum still mattered to Ōnoki.
"It's fine. He's just a child," Qianyu said to Ōnoki. She leaned closer to Deidara. Out of the corner of her eye, she clearly saw Ōnoki's vigilant gaze. He really cares about this little disciple.
"Kid," Qianyu said. "Want to see what a real explosion looks like?"
Deidara looked at her warily. "Don't tell me you know?"
"…" What an irritating brat. Qianyu's eyebrow twitched.
Under Deidara's watchful eye, she extended a hand, palm up.
Chakra churned, spun, compressed, and solidified…
Ōnoki's brow furrowed deeply. "Hokage—"
Qianyu's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Why so anxious, Tsuchikage? I'm just amusing a child."
At the same time, a lotus flower bloomed in her palm.
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