Ninja were a strange existence.
They possessed extraordinary power—
Yet obeyed ordinary people.
Even someone like Senju Hashirama, who could move mountains and reshape landscapes, was no exception.
To a ninja, an ordinary person was like a six-year-old child facing a fully grown adult.
Fragile.
Powerless.
And yet—
They never thought to replace them.
Even when Hashirama founded Konoha, he remained, in name, a subordinate of the Fire Daimyo.
A blade in the hands of another.
Ninja fought and bled on the frontlines—
While nobles feasted in safety.
Even the title of "Kage" required the Daimyo's approval.
No matter how symbolic—
It was absurd.
Why should the strong obey the weak?
Especially when those "weak" only exploited the people.
If those in power were wise—
If they governed well—
Then perhaps the strong would willingly serve them.
But in this world—
Nobles were almost all the same.
—
Onoki knelt respectfully before the newly appointed Daimyo of the Land of Earth.
The young Daimyo, barely into adulthood, looked uneasy.
He had already heard about the events in the Land of Fire and Water.
Excitement at his new position—
Was gone.
Only fear remained.
Fear of ninja.
Fear that the Tsuchikage might follow Konoha's path.
"L-Lord Onoki…"
His voice trembled.
"What… what should we do?"
Onoki stood slowly, looking at him.
He knew the situation well.
At first—
He thought Konoha and Kirigakure had gone mad.
But after thinking—
Was it really wrong for ninja to rule?
Still—
His duty remained.
Protect the Daimyo.
Protect the nobles.
Protect the nation.
If he followed Konoha's path—
What had his life meant?
What had he been protecting all these years?
Was his Will of Stone meant to destroy what he had guarded?
Onoki was stubborn.
And old.
The oldest among the Five Kage.
The others had all entered a new generation—
Fourth Hokage, eighteen.
Fourth Mizukage, thirty.
Kazekage and Raikage, both in their twenties.
Only him—
Still the Third Tsuchikage.
Over fifty.
Half his hair gone white.
No successor.
His son—
Dead at Kyusei's hands.
Iwagakure had no one left to take over.
"Daimyo-sama… rest assured."
"I will not walk the same path as those rebels."
The Daimyo relaxed slightly.
"Then… when will you attack Konoha?"
Onoki froze.
If he could win—
He would have already acted.
"…Konoha's strength now rivals the era of Hashirama."
He sighed.
"But if we don't attack now…"
"They'll attack us later, won't they?"
The Daimyo blurted out.
Onoki went silent.
For so long—
Konoha had been peaceful.
But now—
Under Kaoru—
It was different.
Had he been naive?
A chill ran through him.
He suddenly realized—
Iwagakure might end with him.
The last Tsuchikage.
—
Konoha.
Hokage Tower.
The floors buzzed with activity.
Hundreds of workers calculated confiscated wealth.
After nearly a month—
The final report reached Kaoru.
She froze.
The numbers were astronomical.
And that didn't even include treasures.
Artifacts.
Paintings.
Converted—
It would multiply several times over.
She closed the ledger slowly.
"This…"
"…is insane."
A hundred years—
Konoha couldn't spend this much.
This was wealth hoarded for generations.
Rotting in storage—
While people starved.
"…Hopeless."
She looked out at the new Konoha.
"Call Homura and Koharu."
"Yes."
ANBU vanished.
They were old—
Rigid—
But upright.
They needed responsibility.
To prove their worth.
Kaoru assigned them roles—
With oversight from Mitarashi Shibi.
Three-way supervision.
Balance.
Control.
—
Jiraiya sat atop the Hokage Monument—
Drinking alone.
Only here—
He could remember the old Konoha.
Everything had changed.
He didn't know if it was good—
Or bad.
But it was stronger.
That much was certain.
"Heard you were looking for me."
A voice came from behind.
Kyusei.
Jiraiya stood unsteadily and grabbed his shoulder.
"Tell me!"
"Was this your idea?!"
"She's only eighteen!"
"You made her do this!"
"Do you know how history will judge her?!"
Kyusei pushed him away.
Jiraiya fell to the ground.
"History will write her as 'The Kaoru Chronicle.'"
"The first woman to ascend as Hokage."
"She crushed all rivals."
"Established new laws."
"Destroyed the old system."
"Under her rule, the people prospered."
"She harnessed the Dragon Vein."
"Built a multiversal Konoha."
"A legacy unmatched in history."
"Is that enough?"
Jiraiya froze.
Then burst into laughter.
"Unmatched?"
"You're delusional!"
"You think violence solves everything?!"
His eyes burned with anger.
"You removed the nobles—"
"Who governs now?!"
"Who manages the people?!"
"Who takes responsibility?!"
"This system has always worked!"
"Nobles govern!"
"Ninja fight!"
"What right do you have to change it?!"
Kyusei remained calm.
"Has it always been right?"
Jiraiya froze.
Then exploded.
"I knew it!"
"It was you!"
"You corrupted her!"
"I should have cut you off from her back then!"
He looked insane.
Kyusei simply watched.
Rigid.
Outdated.
Even Homura and Koharu could adapt better.
Jiraiya—
Couldn't.
"You're drunk."
"I'm not!"
"I've never been clearer!"
His killing intent leaked out.
Kyusei met his gaze calmly.
"Are you going to kill me?"
Silence.
Jiraiya lowered his head.
He couldn't.
And wouldn't.
"…I'm leaving Konoha."
He turned and disappeared.
Kyusei didn't stop him.
It was typical.
Running away.
Not from death—
But from responsibility.
Jiraiya wasn't a coward.
He just feared—
Failing others.
Hurting others.
Disappointing them.
Kyusei understood.
Jiraiya was complicated.
And simple.
His students were gone.
His beliefs clashed.
His love was lost.
His friends divided.
And now—
Even Konoha had changed.
He couldn't accept it.
A pair of arms wrapped around Kyusei from behind.
Kaoru.
She had watched everything.
When Jiraiya showed killing intent—
Her heart nearly stopped.
"…Sorry."
Her voice was soft.
"I kept my promise."
Kyusei said gently.
"And I'm sorry you had to bear this."
Kaoru shook her head.
"You held back."
"That's enough for me."
She knew him.
If it were before—
Jiraiya would have been beaten senseless.
Kyusei's kindness—
Was reserved for those close to him.
Jiraiya—
Was not one of them.
"Kaoru."
"When this is over…"
"Let's travel other worlds with Nao."
She hesitated.
"What about here?"
Kyusei grinned.
"Tsunade is Hokage in another world."
"She can handle it."
Kaoru laughed.
"She'll kill you if she hears that."
"Capable people should work more."
"And besides…"
"She has a child to raise."
Kaoru rolled her eyes.
"Did you even ask her?"
Kyusei smirked.
"We'll leave a letter for Dan."
"He'll convince her."
"You're terrible."
Kaoru laughed, shaking her head.
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