Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Hidden Mist Village.

"interesting."

"Konoha's new Hokage is so domineering it's captivating."

Mei Terumi sat behind her desk.

She held the invitation between her long, slender fingers, and her red lips curved into a smile.

"Lord Mizukage."

"This is no joke!"

"Konoha's current strength is terrifying."

"What should we do if they cause trouble during the exam?"

Qing stood to the side, her face full of worry.

Kirigakure has just experienced the turmoil of the Blood Mist Village.

The shadow of the Fourth Mizukage being controlled has not completely dissipated, and domestic rebels remain active.

The current Fog Shadow is simply not up to the task.

"It is precisely because we are weak that we must go."

"Konoha is now a huge tree, its branches and leaves are flourishing, and it's ridiculously strong."

"If we can take this opportunity to establish a connection with Konoha."

"This is absolutely fantastic news for us in Mist Village."

Mei Terumi stood up and walked to the window.

The water-shadow robe outlined her graceful curves.

She saw it very clearly.

Those rebels in the country, if they knew that Kirigakure had sided with Konoha, would be terrified.

They wouldn't dare cause trouble again, even if they had ten times the courage.

"Go and prepare a generous gift."

"We want to show Konoha the sincerity of Kirigakure."

"If that Hokage is handsome enough, I wouldn't mind personally going to discuss the marriage."

Qing was speechless.

But he also had to admit that this might be the only way for the Hidden Mist to break the deadlock.

……

The Land of Wind.

Sunagakure, Kazekage's office.

"Konoha..."

Luo Sha muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming green.

He knows all too well the current prosperity of Konoha.

Since Chiba took over, Konoha's economy has practically taken off.

Various new policies have made Konoha incredibly wealthy.

In comparison, Sunagakure is like a beggar begging for food.

Even the daimyo of the Land of Wind is constantly cutting back on the Sunagakure's funding.

"Kazekage-sama."

"This is too humiliating!"

"Konoha is treating us like subordinates, giving us orders!"

Maki stood to the side, indignant, his fists clenched tightly.

"Can humiliation feed you?"

"The village ninjas can't even get enough to eat, what right do they have to maintain their dignity!"

"Konoha is so rich now, even a little bit of their money could feed us for three years!"

"Since the Hokage wants to put on a show, let's go and support him!"

"I'd be willing to be Chiba's dog if I could just squeeze some benefits out of Konoha!"

"..."

Luo Sha turned his head and glared fiercely at Ma Ji.

All he can think about now is making money.

What's wrong with clinging to someone's leg?

As long as Sunagakure can survive, it doesn't matter whose leg they cling to.

"Select the best newcomers from the village."

"Bring Gaara along too!"

"This time when we go to Konoha, we must make sure Konoha is satisfied."

"..."

Hearing what Luo Sha said.

Maki opened his mouth, but in the end could only sigh helplessly.

Because he knew very well that Luo Sha's idea was correct.

Right now, Sunagakure only has this one option.

……

It's not just the four major ninja villages.

Hidden by grass, hidden by water, hidden by sound, hidden by rain.

All the ninja villages, large and small, received letters from Konoha.

Not a single leader dared to utter a single word of dissent.

Senju Chiba's fearsome reputation had already spread throughout the ninja world after that battle with Kumogakure.

Even the Raikage was beaten to a pulp.

Who among these small fry would dare to provoke them?

The entire ninja world was in an uproar because of an invitation.

Amidst the undercurrents, everyone was preparing to head to the most powerful center of power in the ninja world.

……

The land of rain.

A dark underground base.

The demonic statue of the heretic stood in the darkness, like a dead ancient demon god.

Obito Uchiha, wearing a spiral mask, stood on the golem's finger.

Like a pitcher plant, it emerged from the ground.

"Obito, something terrible has happened."

Bai Jue's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"The Hokage of Konoha, Chiba, sent an invitation to the entire ninja world."

"All Kage are required to personally go to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams."

Obito suddenly turned his head.

The single eye beneath the mask gleamed with an icy light.

"The entire ninja world?"

"What exactly is he trying to do?"

Obito's voice was terrifyingly deep.

Bai Jue chuckled, his tone flippant.

"Who knows?"

"Perhaps they want to gather all those shadows together and wipe them out in one fell swoop?"

Obito clenched his fist.

The fingernails dug deeply into the palm.

Chiba's appearance completely disrupted his Eye of the Moon plan.

This suddenly appearing descendant of the Thousand Hands is ridiculously strong.

Even Nagato, who possesses the Rinnegan, is filled with apprehension towards Chiba.

"Chiba's chakra makes me feel very uncomfortable."

"He has mastered Wood Release, and may even have touched upon the essence of Sage Mode."

"If he really did unify the entire ninja world."

"The difficulty of collecting the Tailed Beasts will increase exponentially."

"At that time, the entire ninja world will become our enemy."

Black Zetsu's hoarse voice then rang out.

Obito snorted coldly.

The crimson three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated in the darkness.

"Unify the ninja world?"

"It's not that easy."

"Those Kage of the ninja villages are not obedient sheep."

"Konoha's actions are far too arrogant."

"It will only force other ninja villages to unite against him."

"As long as they start fighting, we'll have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

"Zetsu, keep a close eye on Konoha."

"I need to know their every move."

"..."

……

a few days later.

An izakaya (Japanese pub) on the border of the Land of Fire.

Tsunade was holding up her sake bowl with great gusto, gulping down large mouthfuls of sake.

The table in front of her was piled high with empty wine bottles.

"Lady Tsunade, you can't drink anymore."

Jingyin stood to the side, holding her pet pig Tuntun, looking utterly helpless.

Tsunade hiccuped and rolled her eyes at Shizune.

"So verbose!"

"My luck was absolutely terrible today, I lost all my money."

"Can't I even have a drink to cheer myself up?!"

Just then.

The curtain of the izakaya was lifted.

A tall figure walked in.

Long white hair, and a signature headband.

It was Jiraiya who had been ordered to find Tsunade.

Tsunade glanced at the newcomer.

The movement abruptly stopped, the wine bowl hovering in mid-air.

"Jiraiya?"

Tsunade frowned.

"Why aren't you out there looking for your prophetic child? What are you doing here looking for me?"

Jiraiya gave a wry smile.

He sat down opposite Tsunade, picked up a clean sake bowl, filled it, and drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy liquor flowed down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the sorrow in his heart.

"Don't mention the prodigy."

"I am here on orders to bring you back to Konoha."

Jiraiya sighed.

"On orders?"

"On whose orders?"

"The old man stepped down a long time ago."

"Could it be that brat?"

Tsunade sneered and slammed the wine bowl down.

Of course she knew that the current Hokage was Chiba.

She was very proud of this.

After all, Chiba is of the Senju clan bloodline.

"Chiba is about to start a war."

Jiraiya nodded.

That one short sentence made the air in the izakaya freeze instantly.

Silent was so frightened that she covered her mouth.

Tsunade's drunkenness also sobered up considerably in an instant.

"war?"

"What is he trying to do!"

Tsunade grabbed Jiraiya by the collar and questioned him sharply.

Jiraiya did not resist and let Tsunade hold him.

"He wants to unify the ninja world."

"After the Chunin Exams, he will take action against the Four Great Ninja Villages."

He sent me to find you because he needs you.

"War kills people."

"He needs your medical ninjutsu to reduce casualties among Konoha ninja."

"..."