◉◉◉◉◉
Following Obito's assault, the Five Great Nations swiftly completed their alliance, forming a unified Shinobi Command Structure.
Each Kage was assigned a leadership role according to their strengths similar to the original chain of command, but with one key difference:
The Fourth Raikage was no longer the supreme commander.
That position now belonged to Fifth Hokage Tsunade, who spearheaded the formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
It made sense that Konoha had initiated the alliance, and the two remaining jinchūriki, Killer B and Naruto, were to be jointly protected within the Leaf Village.
---
War loomed.
Even the normally vibrant streets of Konoha carried a heavy stillness in the air.
Inside the Hokage's Office, Tsunade looked up as two familiar figures entered Naruto Uzumaki and Jiraiya, both radiating a new, sharpened aura.
Tsunade leaned back slightly, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
"So… your training paid off. Naruto, have you mastered that power?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
He and Jiraiya had spent the last several weeks in Mount Myōboku, training in Sage Mode a process filled with trials, pain, and more than a few insect-based meals.
"Uh… yeah," he admitted, grinning. "I think I've got it down now!"
A hand clapped onto his shoulder.
"Of course you did!" Jiraiya laughed proudly. "Who do you think your teacher is? Natural Energy bows before the Great Jiraiya!"
Tsunade's temple vein twitched. She took a slow breath to avoid punching him through the wall.
"Enough boasting," she said flatly. "We don't have time. The Allied Shinobi Forces are mobilizing to locate the Edo Tensei army's base.
The predicted start of the war, the next full moon night, is only ten days away."
She shifted her gaze to the window.
"Cloud will soon send Killer B here to join Naruto. Both jinchūriki will be under our protection."
Jiraiya's expression stiffened. "You're telling me… they actually pulled it off? The Five Nations working together?"
The shock in his tone earned him a deadly glare from Tsunade, and he immediately coughed and looked away, forcing a nervous smile.
But deep down, even he couldn't hide his astonishment.
Since the founding of the shinobi villages, war and rivalry had been constants. The idea of true unity had always been a fantasy.
Until now.
Naruto blinked, equally stunned. "Man… I was training so long I missed all this?"
He turned to Jiraiya, who shrugged.
"Don't look at me, kid. You were in your critical stage these last three days—I didn't exactly have time for news updates." He looked back at Tsunade. "So, what happened while we were gone? What could've possibly united every village this fast?"
Tsunade folded her hands beneath her chin and began to explain.
By the time she finished recounting Obito's ambush, the Kage Summit, and the founding of the Allied Forces, both Jiraiya and Naruto were silent.
---
"So the Fourth Great Ninja War is really happening…" Jiraiya muttered, his eyes distant.
He thought back to Pain, to Nagato's final words, and to the mysterious D-Organization and its masked leader.
What are they truly after?
He'd consulted the Elder Toads of Mount Myōboku, and the Great Toad Sage's prophecy had only deepened his unease.
When the nine Tailed Beasts are gathered, a calamity beyond comprehension will be born.
A disaster that could erase the shinobi world itself.
That warning had driven him to train Naruto even harder, alongside the Toad Sages themselves.
"Listen, Tsunade," he said seriously. "We can't allow Akatsuki or anyone to gather all nine Tailed Beasts. The Great Toad Sage's vision… It's not something we can ignore."
Tsunade frowned. "Another prophecy?"
"Not exactly," Jiraiya admitted. "Even the Sage couldn't see it clearly. But whatever it is, if the beasts unite, the world dies. That's reason enough for me."
Tsunade nodded grimly. "Then we share the same goal. We won't let them succeed."
Unbeknownst to them, the Ten-Tails' revival was already near completion needing only one final piece: the power of the Eight-Tails.
---
"By the way," Jiraiya added, "you mentioned the Eight-Tails will be sent here for protection?"
Tsunade nodded. "That's right. Why? Is there an issue?"
Jiraiya's brows furrowed. "Before we left, the Great Toad Sage told Naruto something specific… about finding an octopus."
Naruto stepped forward. "Yeah! He gave me the key to the Nine-Tails' seal and said I'd meet an octopus that would guide me."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly. "An octopus… then that must mean the Eight-Tails."
She crossed her arms, thoughtful. "Good. Once you meet, we'll know for sure."
---
Knock, knock, knock.
The office door opened, revealing a white-haired young man with calm eyes and a faint smile Neji.
"Lady Tsunade," he said respectfully. "The Cloud delegation has arrived. Killer B has been safely escorted and secured."
"Yo! Neji!" Naruto grinned widely. "Man, it's been forever since I saw you! Uh, not that I missed getting kicked around by you or anything!"
Neji chuckled softly. "Good to see you too, Naruto. Jiraiya-sensei."
Jiraiya waved lazily. "Still polite as ever, huh? Makes me itch just hearing it."
He sighed inwardly. The kid was too composed for his own good. Always respectful but always with that faint edge, as if he were secretly laughing at him.
Tsunade broke the moment. "If B's settled, take Naruto to meet him. It's time they got acquainted."
Neji nodded. "Understood."
He glanced at Naruto, tilting his head slightly. "Looking for a certain octopus, are you?"
Naruto blinked. "Uh… yeah! How'd you know?"
Neji smiled faintly. "Just a guess. Come on I'll take you to him."
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!