Even though Senju Haruto had stopped the Hyūga clan from handing over Hizashi and had presented a workable solution to the Third Hokage,the "Sign-In Assistant" still hadn't confirmed his success or issued any mission rewards.
"Looks like the Third is still negotiating with Konoha's upper council… and hasn't convinced them yet."
Haruto glanced outside. The sun was already dipping toward the horizon.
He had confidence in his ability to resolve the conflict between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud,but this was still a dispute between two powerful shinobi villages.And geographically, Konoha's situation was nothing like the Cloud Village's.
In the original events, one reason the Cloud was able to remain so isolated in the later years was its geography —tucked into the far upper-right corner of the world map, surrounded by ocean,its only land border connecting to the Land of Fire.
The Land of Fire, however, was hemmed in not just by the Land of Lightning,but also by three other great powers: the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Water.
Still, Haruto didn't see this as an insurmountable problem.The Land of Water, for example, was tiny — barely more than an island nation —and without an industrial revolution, armies still moved mostly on foot.With the Land of Water's political instability at the time,it was entirely possible that Zabuza Momochi was right now plotting an assassination attempt on the Mizukage.Not worth worrying about.
The real threats were the Lands of Wind and Earth.
Haruto wasn't exactly a military strategist… but he possessed historical knowledge unmatched by anyone in the shinobi world.
The Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period,the Seven Warring States,the Chu–Han Contention,the Three Kingdoms era…
Pluck just one or two stratagems from those wars, drop them into this world,and they would count as S-rank tactics.
In shinobi warfare, the value of intelligence could be decisive.
"At this point in the timeline, no ordinary information specialist could outmatch me."
Haruto chuckled — not out of arrogance, but certainty.
Sure, he hadn't stepped outside the Land of Fire in five years.Sure, he hadn't been personally gathering intel.But he'd read the script.
For instance: between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth lay three small buffer nations — the Lands of Waterfalls, Grass, and Rain.
Both Waterfalls and Grass had long maintained alliances with Konoha,as evidenced during the Chūnin Exams.Right now, all he'd have to do was send word and offer them support.Secure the key passes and chokepoints — problem solved.
The Land of Earth, being a great power, wouldn't take the Land of Rain seriously.And since Rain was the one territory with no Konoha garrison,it was the perfect target for an ambush.
If they went for it…well, what awaited them would be—
A sack of rice, carried up many flights —a phrase Haruto muttered to himself with a grin,his own little private joke about the trap he had in mind.
As for the Land of Wind, this was a perfect chance to build a friendly relationship.Everyone knew the Land of Wind was mostly desert — barren land, scarce water.The Kazekage had even been willing to trade gold in exchange for water resources.So if Haruto offered to help them plant trees,stabilize the land, and shade their villages —ensuring the next generation of Sand shinobi could grow up without water shortages —how could they refuse?
In the Thirty-Six Stratagems, this was called ally with the distant, strike the near.
That was the reason Haruto had so much confidence in steering this crisis.Naruto was a fantastic story, full of thrilling battles.But the political maneuvering and strategic warfare?Let's just say… they left much to be desired.
Not that Haruto blamed the author —by his standards, the mangaka was brilliant.It was just that the country Haruto had lived in before crossing over had a far deeper and richer history of warfare.And in chaotic times, it always produced great talents —generals who commanded wolves at the frontiers,strategists who orchestrated victory from a thousand miles away.
And all Haruto had to do here was… copy.
"Alright. Time to meet that man."
With the next stage of his plan settled, Haruto rose from the tatami mat,changed into a different outfit, and left the compound.
Right now, the problem of the Uchiha clan had become a headache for Konoha's leadership.Uchiha Itachi — the double agent — spent most of his time helping the Third Hokage monitor every move the clan made.Finding him wasn't hard.
"I don't need Itachi to resolve things with the Cloud…but letting the Uchiha be wiped out would be a waste.They're one of Konoha's main sources of strength."
Decision made, Haruto headed straight for the outskirts of the Uchiha district.According to clues from the original timeline, Itachi liked to watch his clan's movements from a nearby forest.The Uchiha also often met at the Naka Shrine during the night.
Using that intel, Haruto eventually spotted the man he was looking for.It didn't take long for Itachi to notice him in return.After all, Haruto wasn't hiding — he was here specifically to find him.
"Who sent you?"
Itachi's eyes narrowed in the moonlight.
To make the approach easier, Haruto had put on an ANBU uniform and mask.As soon as Itachi spoke, Haruto removed the mask.
"Hello, Uchiha Itachi."
He came straight to the point — an open invitation.
But there was someone else nearby, concealed in the shadows —Hatake Kakashi, the Third Hokage's plant, assigned to keep an eye on Haruto.Kakashi never imagined Haruto would suddenly leave the Senju compound and seek out Itachi.A bad feeling crept over him.Still, he was confident Itachi wouldn't act against the village.
"I am Senju Haruto."
When Itachi remained silent, Haruto introduced himself.
"The Senju clan…"
Itachi frowned slightly.Everyone knew it was the Senju and Uchiha together who had founded Konoha.But times had changed —the Senju's glory had faded,the Uchiha were ostracized and on the verge of attempting a coup.
The Senju's decline, though, traced back to the First Hokage's ideals.Born in an age of war, he'd dreamed of a village bound by bonds,where children no longer killed each other,where strangers could open their hearts and become brothers.
To him, the very existence of tight-knit clans was a barrier to that dream.So Senju Hashirama had ordered his people not to be bound by the clan,to marry widely outside it,even to stop using the "Senju" surname and fully integrate into the village.
Even the legendary Sannin, Tsunade, was an example of this.
But individuals still had the right to choose —and some Senju families chose to keep the name alive.Haruto's family was among them.
Knowing this, Itachi felt a complicated pang.If the Uchiha had taken the same path long ago,perhaps things wouldn't have come to this.
"What do you want from me?"
Itachi crouched on a tree branch, looking down on Haruto.If this man was here to form an alliance with the Uchiha to launch a coup,Itachi would kill him where he stood.
"I came for the sake of the village."
Haruto's lips curved upward, already preparing to persuade the prodigy.