"You don't need to worry about Sasuke's growth. If I'm not mistaken, he'll come to you tonight asking for extra training."
"When he does, train him into the ground. Don't go easy on him."
"Tsunade is here in the clan compound. As long as she's alive, nothing else is a major problem."
Itachi nodded. It was indeed time to put Sasuke through some truly rigorous training.
…..
These days, whenever Kawasaki left the compound, he made it a habit to leave a shadow clone behind to handle clan affairs. The moment he stepped into his office, he dispelled the clone.
Instantly, a massive flood of information rushed into his mind.
Kawasaki rubbed his temples. A single shadow clone was this busy. He honestly had no idea how Naruto managed to handle so many at once.
He picked up two critical documents from his desk.
The first was a report from the Uchiha operative sent to the Land of Demons. It stated that the priestess, Miroku, had passed away, leaving behind an orphan daughter named Shion.
Shion had not yet learned the Time-Sealing Formation.
Kawasaki pondered this for a moment. With Miroku gone, his plan to use the Time-Sealing Formation was a bust. He remembered that Shion's sealing power was immense, but it was useless for now; she would need to grow up first. By then, the ship would have sailed. It seemed he couldn't expect any help from the Land of Demons.
…..
The other document was a reply from Mei Terumi of the Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water. She stated that she could not attend the celebration due to other pressing matters.
Kawasaki paced back and forth, and a sudden realization struck him.
Yagura was dead!
It had to be. In the original story, that was his fate. If Yagura were still alive, Kawasaki would have no reason not to receive a system reward for changing his destiny. And if Yagura was dead, that meant the Three-Tails, Isobu, was also gone.
After all, this wouldn't be the first time the Three-Tails had died. It had perished once before when it was sealed inside Rin. It later revived in the wild, only to be captured by Yagura again. Now, with Yagura's death, Isobu would have naturally disappeared along with him.
The time it took for Isobu to revive wasn't long, as evidenced by the period between Rin's death and Yagura finding it again. Kawasaki didn't know the exact duration, but as long as the Three-Tails hadn't revived, Obito would likely remain quiet for a while.
Wait… this is bad!
Kawasaki considered the deeper implications. Yagura's death could set off a chain reaction. Mei Terumi was surely keeping the news of his death a top-level secret. However, because Kawasaki had publicly released information about Obito and mentioned that the Hidden Mist had also been targeted for retaliation, countless spies would now be flocking to the Land of Water to probe for information.
The news of Yagura's death might not stay hidden for long.
And if his death was exposed at this critical juncture, it would create a massive problem. The Hidden Cloud was currently at the height of its military power. Furthermore, the Cloud was geographically closer to the Mist than any other major village.
Most importantly, the Hidden Cloud was technologically advanced. They had ships. Not small wooden boats or sailboats, but large steam-powered vessels, and the Land of Lightning even had electric-powered ships.
If the Cloud learned that Yagura was dead right now, while also seeing Konoha and the Uchiha at daggers drawn, they would very likely set their sights on the Hidden Mist.
The Hidden Mist had a deep foundation with many Kekkei Genkai clans. Though their internal conflicts were fierce, their combat prowess was undeniable. Under the leadership of Yagura, a perfect Jinchuriki, the Mist had always maintained an aggressive stance, frequently expanding its influence. Konoha had often been harassed by them, which was how Ao had managed to acquire a Byakugan.
In recent years, the village had suddenly adopted a policy of isolationism, and Yagura had begun purging the Kekkei Genkai clans. To the outside world, this was just the Mist's old routine. It was the Blood Mist Village; was it even the Blood Mist if there wasn't internal strife? Outsiders didn't know the real story, and no one wanted to venture into the Mist to find out. The village's internal environment was like a crucible, with its own people killing each other. An outsider trying to gather intelligence there was on a suicide mission.
But now, things were different. Kawasaki had let the cat out of the bag. It was likely that many powers would risk sending agents to investigate. Once they discovered Yagura was dead and the Three-Tails was gone, war would be imminent.
Why would the Land of Water be attacked? Because the current Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, couldn't carry the village alone. Without the perfect Jinchuriki Yagura, the Hidden Mist was in disarray, its strength greatly diminished. In an attack by the Hidden Cloud, they would be completely outmatched in terms of high-level combat power.
Moreover, the Cloud wouldn't have to worry about being attacked from multiple fronts. Konoha was tied down by the Uchiha. If Konoha deployed its forces, the Uchiha could seize power in an instant. Given the Third Hokage's cautious nature, he would never take such a risk.
The Hidden Stone wouldn't attack the Cloud either. The Land of Fire and Konoha stood between them, and Konoha would never grant them passage. Who would believe they weren't just using it as a pretext for an invasion? To go through smaller nations would be difficult; those nations wouldn't agree, and the newly established Otogakure in the Land of Rice Fields stood in the way. Onoki of the Stone was growing more cautious in his old age and wouldn't make a rash move before finding a suitable successor. As for the Hidden Sand, they were simply too far away. The Cloud had no reason to fear them.
As long as the other nations were slow to react, the Cloud could launch a swift invasion. They might even succeed in occupying the Land of Water.
In the previous timeline, the Cloud hadn't attacked the Mist for two reasons: Yagura's death was a closely guarded secret, and no one was investigating. By the time the news eventually spread, the Akatsuki had already begun their hunt, and Yugito Nii had been captured. The Cloud naturally wouldn't dare make a move then. But now, Yugito was still safe, Killer Bee was in his prime, and the Fourth Raikage A was at the peak of his strength. The Mist, without a Tailed Beast, would be unable to withstand their assault.
Kawasaki scratched his head. He hadn't expected his plan to push the Hidden Mist into the fire. But knowing the Cloud's temperament, they would never pass up such a golden opportunity. The only questions were whether they would opt for a precision strike or a full-scale invasion, and when they would make their move.
The situation was becoming reactive. If the Cloud made a deep push and occupied parts of the Land of Water, the other nations wouldn't sit idly by. The Hidden Stone, in particular, couldn't intervene immediately, but they would be watching. Once the Cloud secured a foothold, the Stone would no longer restrain itself. Their grudge against the Cloud ran deep as the sea. They would never watch the Cloud grow stronger. Even if it meant taking a detour or forming an alliance, the Stone would either join the fray in the Land of Water or launch a surprise attack on the Cloud's homeland.
This could easily trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War ahead of schedule. After all, a Cloud Village that had absorbed the Mist would become unprecedentedly powerful, a reality the other nations would never accept.
Obito would be ecstatic in such a chaotic world. Jinchuriki were most effective on the battlefield. With his methods, it would be all too easy for him to stir up trouble and capture them amidst the chaos.
The more Kawasaki thought about it, the more plausible these scenarios seemed.
No, he couldn't let things spiral out of control. He had to switch from being reactive to proactive. It was impossible for him to become allies with Konoha in such a short time. Rather than betting that Yagura's death could be kept secret, he might as well sell the information that the Fourth Mizukage was dead to the Hidden Cloud.
The Cloud would undoubtedly be unable to resist. Kawasaki could cooperate with them first, luring them into attacking the Mist. Then, he would find an opportunity to set an ambush and deal them a heavy blow, at least enough to keep them quiet for a while. If the Cloud had no intention of attacking the Mist, even better. Kawasaki would just have to play the villain for a bit.
Right now, Kawasaki felt like Yahiko's Akatsuki, striving for peace in the ninja world, albeit within a limited scope and timeframe. It was best if war could be avoided for the next few years…
After mulling it over several times and feeling confident in his calculations, Kawasaki first wrote a letter to Orochimaru. He instructed him to tell Kabuto that when he went to Konoha, he was to publicly confront the Third Hokage in front of all the village leaders. The Uchiha clan would then step up to strongly support him. This way, the Cloud's spies would learn that the Uchiha and Konoha were already at a breaking point, confirming that Konoha's forces were effectively neutralized.
Next, he wrote another letter to the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, in which he dropped a few subtle hints. He suggested that if the situation turned dire, the Uchiha were willing to take on work and intervene in any battlefield. It didn't matter if Mei fully understood; the key was to get the message across.
With all the arrangements made, Kawasaki finally allowed himself to relax, setting the matter aside for the time being.
…..
In the Uchiha territory, Shizune, seeing Kawasaki's "money is no object" attitude, directly submitted a long list of high-end medical equipment to Haruto, the clan administrator.
Kawasaki looked over the list and signed off on it without a second thought. He was prepared for the equipment to be expensive, but seeing four hundred million ryo disappear in the blink of an eye still surprised him. According to Shizune, this was just the basic equipment for treating injuries. To reach a research-grade facility, the cost would be at least ten times higher.
Kawasaki now understood why Orochimaru was such a money pit. Back in the day, Orochimaru's mission completion rate in Konoha was consistently in the top three, usually second only to Jiraiya. If he hadn't become so engrossed in his research, he would have completed even more. Despite completing hundreds of S-rank missions, Orochimaru was always short on funds, which spoke volumes about how expensive research was. Fortunately for him, both the Uchiha food street and his chain stores in the Land of Rice Fields were continuously generating profit, allowing his research to continue.
…..
Today, in a rare occurrence, Naruto was eating a meal within the Uchiha compound. Kawasaki had planned to introduce the two youngsters to Tsunade and had specifically chosen mealtime to gather everyone.
When he brought Naruto over, Tsunade hadn't arrived yet. Upon learning that Fugaku was blind, Naruto burst into tears, snot and tears streaming down his face. He vividly remembered all the guidance Fugaku had given him over the years and was shocked to learn that Uncle Fugaku had also fought Obito during the attack on him.
"Don't worry, Uncle Fugaku, I'll definitely get revenge for you!" Naruto's hatred for Obito had reached its peak. To him, Obito had murdered his parents, caused the Nine-Tails Rampage that killed countless villagers and shrouded his childhood in darkness, and now, he had blinded Uncle Fugaku. With so many people close to him harmed by Obito, Naruto would never let him go.
Fugaku smiled with his eyes closed. "Alright, Naruto. You'll have to work hard then. Obito is no easy opponent."
"Don't worry, Uncle Fugaku, I'll do my best!"
Seeing his father praise Naruto, Sasuke couldn't help but interject, "Obito is my target. I'll be the one to avenge my father. You stay out of it."
"Even if Uncle Fugaku wasn't injured, I was going to go after Obito anyway…"
Just as the two were about to argue again, Kawasaki grabbed each of them by an ear. "Dinner's almost ready, what are you two fighting about? Do you really think Obito is some pushover you can just take down?"
He gave their ears a sharp twist. "The two of you combined aren't worth a single slap from him, and here you are, boasting."
Sasuke and Naruto clutched their heads. "Ow, ow, ow… Master/Senior Kawasaki, let go…"
"Are you done fighting?" Kawasaki asked impatiently.
"We're done… We're done…"
Just then, Tsunade walked in.
"Lady Tsunade, please, have a seat," Kawasaki said, quickly motioning for her to sit. He then made the introductions. "Lady Tsunade, this is Sasuke, and this is Naruto."
Tsunade's gaze fell on Naruto, and for a moment, her eyes seemed to drift into a distant memory before she snapped back to the present.
"So you're Naruto? Not bad, not bad at all…" It was unclear what aspect of him she was praising.
"Naruto, this is one of the Legendary Sannin, Lady Tsunade. You should call her…" Kawasaki's eyes darted thoughtfully. "Just call her 'sister'…"
Naruto was a bit stunned. While he didn't know the Sannin's exact age, he was sure they were older than Uncle Fugaku. But looking at Lady Tsunade, she appeared much younger. Naruto's emotional intelligence was quite high, and with Kawasaki's prompting, he immediately perked up and called out energetically, "Sister Tsunade!"
Sasuke shot Naruto a sideways glance before respectfully bowing to Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade waved a hand at Sasuke, but her eyes remained fixed on Naruto. *He looks so much like him… just like him…* A gentle smile unconsciously graced her lips.
"Ahem…" Tsunade composed herself, clearing her throat. "By rights, you shouldn't call me sister, but I like the sound of it. You can keep calling me that from now on."
Kawasaki kicked Naruto's leg under the table. Naruto immediately brightened. "Thank you, Sister Tsunade!"
A wide smile blossomed on Tsunade's face.
Fugaku and Mikoto naturally understood the reason behind it all, and Mikoto even shot Kawasaki a playful, chiding look. That Kawasaki… he was always so impulsive. Itachi and Sasuke were less aware of the history and remained quiet. Itachi's expression was calm, while Sasuke's was complicated.
"Let's not just stand around. We should get together like this more often. Let's eat," Kawasaki announced. He wasn't one for formalities and began to eat and drink heartily. Tsunade was equally informal, and besides, the food prepared by the Kawasaki family's chef was truly excellent.
As they ate, Kawasaki said to Tsunade, "The Third has already thrown Danzo in prison. The trial will be held soon." He casually placed a piece of braised pork in Naruto's bowl as he spoke.
Tsunade nodded upon hearing this, her resentment toward the Third Hokage finally lessening somewhat. "Let's just eat. Don't talk about him." She ate with a smile, occasionally placing food in Naruto's bowl.
"Here, Naruto, have some of this." Tsunade picked up a chicken leg and placed it in his bowl.
Naruto cherished every bit of food. He had already started on the piece Kawasaki gave him. When Tsunade added the chicken leg, he eagerly stuffed it into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out as he ate with pure joy. "Sister… mmmph… you eat too…"
Hearing Naruto's address, Tsunade's expression softened even more.
Over the years, Naruto had rarely had the chance to eat with so many people. At most, it would be with a few classmates from the Academy or eating out with Sasuke. He had seldom experienced the atmosphere of a family dinner. The treatment he was receiving now, with Kawasaki and Tsunade taking turns putting food on his plate, was a first in his entire life.
As he ate, his eyes began to well up.
Tsunade took a napkin and gently wiped his face. "What's wrong, Naruto? Is it too spicy?"
Naruto rubbed his eyes. "No. It's just… I always used to eat alone."
Kawasaki shook his head. Such was the life of an orphan. "If you like eating here, you can come every day."
A look of surprise flashed in Naruto's eyes. "Really? Can I, Senior Kawasaki?"
Kawasaki laughed heartily. "Your sister is right here. Why couldn't you come over to eat?"
Naruto looked at Tsunade with hopeful eyes.
Seeing his star-struck expression, Tsunade smiled dotingly. "I'm here. You can come over for a meal whenever you want. You're always welcome."
"That's awesome! You're the best, sister!" Naruto cheered, jumping for joy.
Sasuke muttered under his breath, "So disrespectful. Lady Tsunade is not just anybody…"
"Hiss…!" Sasuke suddenly felt a sharp pain in his side. He turned to see his mother, Mikoto, pinching the flesh at his waist and twisting it gently. With a serene smile on her face, she whispered, "Sasuke, dear, nobody will think you're mute if you don't speak."
Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath of pain and didn't dare say another word, obediently shutting his mouth. Itachi sat quietly beside them, eating his meal with perfect etiquette, not saying a word more than necessary.
Kawasaki narrowed his eyes, glancing at Sasuke and Itachi with a faint smile playing on his lips.
…..
After the meal, Fugaku went to rest. Tsunade got busy with matters related to the Uchiha hospital, while Sasuke pestered Itachi to train with him, and the two headed off to the training grounds.
Kawasaki's absence of several years had made Naruto miss him terribly. To him, Senior Kawasaki was one of the closest people in the world. It was only after his arrival that light had truly entered his life.
Naruto couldn't wait to share everything that had happened over the years. "I walked Sasuke home every day and then stayed here to practice with my shadow clones. You're so amazing, Senior Kawasaki! I'm not fast at learning other jutsu, but I mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu right away!"
"And the Rasengan, too…"
Naruto chattered on endlessly, talking about everything from tree climbing to water walking. He described how Uncle Fugaku taught him to use his shadow clones for training, which led to him starting on the Rasengan.
Thanks to his Uzumaki constitution, Naruto's early progress had been remarkably fast. His incredible stamina and vast chakra reserves boosted his training speed immensely, especially when he used a multitude of shadow clones to train simultaneously. His current skill level had long surpassed that of an ordinary genin, and in every aspect, he was far ahead of his peers.