Chapter 57 (Patreon)

The conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure had been escalating rapidly, yet the two sides suddenly entered peace negotiations and brought the fighting to an abrupt end.

The unexpected development left both the Tsuchikage and the Kazekage bewildered.

It did not take long for their respective intelligence networks to send detailed reports back to their villages.

Although neither village knew the exact terms of the ceasefire agreement, one piece of information was enough to shock them.

Konoha’s jinchūriki had fought three opponents at once and captured two jinchūriki alive.

Even more surprising was the fact that Kumogakure’s Two-Tails jinchūriki had been taken back to Konoha after the ceasefire. The Raikage had not protested, making it obvious that Yugito Nii had been left behind as a hostage.

Ōnoki even began to suspect that the report was false intelligence deliberately spread by Konoha.

Even if Konoha’s jinchūriki belonged to the Uzumaki clan, such an accomplishment was simply too extraordinary.

Throughout the history of the shinobi world, Ōnoki knew of only two people capable of achieving something like that.

“Damn it. Is Konoha truly impossible to bring down?”

Ōnoki’s expression darkened.

“Is another monster capable of suppressing the entire shinobi world about to emerge?”

The Kazekage of Sunagakure viewed the situation differently.

For many years, the Hidden Sand had remained at the bottom of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

The Land of Wind was covered almost entirely by desert, so the other villages rarely had any interest in invading it.

Wars were fought for territory and resources, but even if Sunagakure were handed over for free, few people would want it.

Because of that, Rasa was not particularly worried about Konoha growing stronger.

Furthermore, Sunagakure had signed an alliance agreement with Konoha after the end of the Third Shinobi World War.

Now that Konoha was prospering again, surely there was nothing wrong with helping its impoverished ally.

With that thought in mind, Rasa wrote a long and rambling letter before having it sent to Konoha.

By the time Hiruzen finished reading it, he was so furious that he nearly wished he could send Danzō to wreak havoc throughout Sunagakure.

Rasa’s message was shamelessly direct.

Since Konoha was wealthy, it should not forget its struggling neighbor.

Otherwise, should Konoha ever be invaded again, it should not blame Sunagakure for standing aside—or perhaps even taking advantage of its misfortune.

Although Rasa had not held the position of Kazekage for many years, he understood the Third Hokage’s personality quite well.

Konoha had only just ended its conflict with Kumogakure. As long as Hiruzen wished to avoid another war, he would inevitably compromise and offer Sunagakure some benefits to keep them satisfied.

Rasa was not concerned that Hiruzen might refuse.

If the Third Hokage were truly capable of taking a firm stance, Konoha would never have been pushed into its current situation.

Besides, even if Hiruzen rejected the demand, would Konoha actually launch an attack against Sunagakure?

The Hidden Sand had so little left that threats meant almost nothing to them. Someone with nothing to lose had no reason to fear someone with everything to protect.

In the past, Rasa’s attempt at extortion might actually have succeeded.

What he did not know was that Kushina’s overwhelming performance on the battlefield had changed Hiruzen’s outlook.

Konoha had once again produced a powerhouse capable of influencing the outcome of an entire war.

Why should a village with such strength allow itself to be threatened by Sunagakure?

Moreover, even Kumogakure had swallowed its pride and agreed to pay reparations.

Only then did Hiruzen realize how mistaken his previous willingness to submit and compromise had been.

Blindly yielding to an enemy would never bring lasting peace.

When firmness was necessary, Konoha had to stand its ground.

Hiruzen picked up his brush and wrote an equally lengthy letter in response.

Not only did he reject Rasa’s unreasonable demands, but he also reprimanded the Kazekage without the slightest restraint.

Hiruzen bluntly stated that if Sunagakure could no longer afford to support its Tailed Beast, then Konoha, as its ally, would not mind taking care of it on their behalf.

It was as though all the frustration he had accumulated over the past several years had been poured into that single letter.

After reading it over once more, Hiruzen felt as though a weight had finally been lifted from his chest.

“Someone, prepare a messenger hawk and deliver this to the Kazekage as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, after meeting with the Hokage, Kushina quickly moved into the Senju Compound with Kaorui and Yugito.

More specifically, they moved into the residence where the First Hokage had once lived.

Although no one had occupied the house for many years, Hiruzen regularly arranged for people to clean and maintain it.

This was not entirely because he wished to honor the memory of the First Hokage.

Hiruzen had mainly hoped that, should Tsunade ever return, she would notice his thoughtfulness and perhaps decide to remain in Konoha instead of leaving again.

Because the residence had been carefully maintained, Kushina and the others only needed to bring spare clothing and their personal belongings.

Returning to the compound brought back memories Kushina had not thought about in years.

Back then, Grandma Mito had still been alive, and Kushina had lived there alongside Tsunade and Nawaki.

Now, everything had changed.

“What are you thinking about?”

Roy’s voice pulled her from her memories.

“Nothing.”

Kushina shook her head before turning toward him.

“Roy-kun, let’s begin today’s training.”

She still did not dare to unseal the remaining five tails of the Nine-Tails’ chakra.

She had mastered only three Kidō spells, and there was still the Rasengan, which Roy claimed could be developed into forms far more powerful than Minato’s original technique.

Every one of those paths could increase her strength.

And strength was what allowed someone to protect a peaceful and stable life.

Roy did not question her further.

Instead, he fell into deep thought.

At her current level, continuing to increase the weight of her training equipment would do little to draw out more of her physical potential.

They needed a more effective method of stimulating the activity of her cells.

That was precisely why Roy had asked Kumogakure for the training method behind the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Of course, Kushina herself did not possess a Lightning Release affinity.

Her chakra natures were Wind, Water, and Yin Release.

Because of that, rather than copying the Raikage’s technique directly, it would be more suitable to use its principles as a reference and develop either a Water Release–based chakra mode or a Wind Release–based chakra mode.

Roy had also considered senjutsu.

In the shinobi world, senjutsu referred to techniques performed using senjutsu chakra.

Senjutsu chakra was created by absorbing natural energy and balancing it with one’s physical and spiritual energies in the proper proportions.

It could greatly enhance the power of ninjutsu.

Sage Mode would also strengthen the user’s body to an extraordinary degree, making strength capable of lifting half a ton no longer seem impossible.

With Naruto’s future training as a reference, Kushina could simply follow the same path.

However, several conditions had to be met before someone could learn senjutsu.

The most important requirement was an enormous chakra reserve.

Natural energy was extremely dangerous. If someone possessed too little chakra, they could easily be overwhelmed and assimilated by it while attempting to create senjutsu chakra, resulting in death.

That was one of the main reasons why so few shinobi could learn senjutsu despite knowing how powerful it was.

Kushina, however, would not have that problem.

Another requirement was a proper training method and a suitable environment.

Natural energy existed everywhere, but throughout most of the shinobi world, its concentration was extremely low.

Only the three great unexplored regions possessed natural energy in abundance.

Thanks to her relationship with Jiraiya and Minato, arranging for Kushina to travel to Mount Myōboku and learn senjutsu should not be particularly difficult.

Unfortunately, Roy could not allow her to leave the village for that kind of training just yet.

Konoha had finally begun to change.

If Kushina left now, Roy feared that the village would gradually return to the way it had been before.

They would have to deal with Danzō, that unpredictable source of trouble, before considering a journey to Mount Myōboku.

“Kushina, do you know the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?”

Kushina was fastening her training weights when she heard his question.

She paused for a moment.

“I only learned the Shadow Clone Technique. The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is forbidden, and it never suited my usual fighting style, so I didn’t bother learning it.”

Then, as though a completely different thought had occurred to her, her cheeks suddenly turned red.

Roy stared at her in confusion.

Before he could ask what she was thinking, Kushina glanced around suspiciously and lowered her voice.

“I can create two solid shadow clones. With my real body included, that should make three of me.”

She leaned closer and whispered, “Wouldn’t that be enough? If I created any more, would Roy-kun’s body really be able to endure it?”

Roy’s eyes widened.

He reached out, pinched her reddened cheek, and pulled it gently.

“I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you. Is that really what you think the Shadow Clone Technique is for?”