Tsunade shot Shinju an annoyed glare.
"I'm not finished yet! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)"
"Then please continue."
Shinju obediently closed his mouth, giving his teacher her due respect.
After a brief moment of thought, Tsunade continued.
"In the past few days, another kekkei genkai shinobi has gone missing in the Wheel Mountains of the Land of Earth."
"This time, the kekkei genkai was the Dark Release, which can absorb another person's chakra."
"So far, the Land of Earth, Land of Wind, Land of Water, and Land of Lightning have each had one shinobi disappear."
"I suspect the next target will be in the Land of Fire. That's why I had the Anbu investigate."
Shinju asked curiously, "And? Did they find anything?"
Tsunade shook her head.
"Yamato and the others didn't even catch sight of the enemy's leader."
"All we know so far is that they possess a strange forbidden technique that fuses human and beast together, unleashing extraordinary combat power."
"This method is bizarre. I'm worried their next target will be you—someone with Wood Release—so be on your guard…"
"Got it."
Shinju nodded, signaling Tsunade not to worry.
At that moment, a sudden and urgent knock came from the door!
Thump thump thump—
"Come in! What's the matter, barging in like this?!" Tsunade snapped.
Shizune rushed in, panting heavily as she called out to Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama, it's bad! Look outside the village!"
Frowning, Tsunade turned toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window of the Hokage's office.
Shinju also turned to look outside curiously.
Above Konohagakure's skies, a massive humanoid phantom had appeared.
The figure wore a white robe, his face wrapped in bandages. What little of his exposed face could be seen looked no older than eleven or twelve…
The instant Tsunade saw his face, her pupils trembled violently!
(⊙o⊙)
"Im… impossible! After all these years, why does he still look so young?!"
Shinju frowned, staring at the giant figure in the sky.
"Tsunade-sensei, who is that?"
With a grave expression, Tsunade answered.
"Hiruko. Once a Konoha shinobi, from the same class as me and Jiraiya."
"But for secretly developing forbidden jutsu, the Third Hokage ordered his execution. He escaped, and since then, his whereabouts have been unknown…"
Just as Tsunade finished explaining his identity, the giant shadow of Hiruko in the sky began to speak!
"Greetings, shinobi of the Five Great Nations. I am a shinobi of Konohagakure—Hiruko."
"Through the technique of Chimera, I have already absorbed the kekkei genkai of four villages."
"When I finish absorbing the fifth, I will gain power surpassing all others."
"At that time, I will launch the Fourth Great Shinobi War… and rule everything."
With those words, Hiruko's phantom body vanished from the sky.
Tsunade gritted her teeth.
"I don't know why he still looks like a child after all these years, but it must be connected to that Chimera Technique he mentioned! ヽ('⌒´メ)ノ"
"Those missing kekkei genkai shinobi from other nations… it's clear he captured them!"
Shizune frowned in puzzlement.
"If his goal is to collect kekkei genkai, why not keep acting in secret? Why declare it to the world right before finishing? Doesn't that just paint a target on his back… @_@"
Shinju stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"His very first words were to introduce himself as a Konoha shinobi."
"That was likely to create discord between Konoha and the other four villages—to make us distrusted and suspected."
Tsunade nodded.
"Shinju's right. He knows Konoha poses the greatest threat to him, so he deliberately framed us to invite pressure from the other nations…"
At that moment, the door to the Hokage's office opened again.
A shinobi entered, holding a letter.
"Hokage-sama, this is the latest message from the Land of Lightning."
Tsunade took the letter, tore it open, and read quickly. Then she let out a cold laugh.
"As expected… the Land of Lightning is already questioning me about Hiruko's true identity. They're even asking if Konoha intends to unilaterally break the peace treaty."
Moments later, an Anbu in a mask appeared inside the office, kneeling on one knee.
"Hokage-sama, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire has summoned you."
Tsunade nodded.
"Go inform the Daimyo I'll be there shortly."
Then she turned her head toward Shinju.
"You see? Because of Hiruko's words, Konoha has instantly become everyone's target."
Shinju thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. The Wheel Mountains of the Land of Earth, right? I'll head there now."
"Be careful," Tsunade warned.
"Hiruko's been away from the village for years. No doubt he's developed all kinds of twisted and dangerous techniques…"
"I'll be careful," Shinju replied.
With that, he vanished using Flying Thunder God.
...
A while later.
Tsunade left to meet the Daimyo. The door to the Hokage's office pushed open again—this time by Kakashi.
Stepping inside, Kakashi looked around, puzzled.
"Hokage-sama? I need to speak with her urgently."
Shizune answered, "The Daimyo has summoned her to a meeting."
"Then Kakashi-san, tell me. I'll report it to Tsunade-sama as soon as she returns."
"I'd rather tell the Hokage face-to-face."
Kakashi politely refused, then turned to leave.
Walking down the village streets, his head hung low.
He muttered under his breath.
"Hiruko… you've been planning all this from the start."
"Back then, when I met you… you planted a curse mark on me."
"You must have had your eye on the Sharingan Obito gave me all along."
"The next kekkei genkai target of your Chimera Technique… will probably be me."
"Tsunade-sama, hurry back. Without you, my plan can't move forward…"
...
Elsewhere.
Shinju had returned to Naruto's side.
Scratching his head, Naruto asked curiously, "What took you so long?"
He knew Shinju's speed—using Flying Thunder God, a round trip shouldn't take more than three seconds!
"Something came up in Konoha. We've got a new mission."
"Come on. We're heading to the Wheel Mountains in the Land of Earth."
"Why there? The village already sent word—kekkei genkai shinobi have been disappearing from there for a while now…"
Shinju conjured a steel plane with his Iron Art, taking the pilot's seat first. He waved Naruto over.
"No time to explain. I'll tell you on the way."
As they flew, Shinju recounted everything about Hiruko.
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise.
"Whoa… the Chimera Technique. Doesn't sound all that strong to me."
Shinju shook his head.
"Never underestimate your enemy."
Naruto grinned, suddenly interested.
"Then how about this? For this mission, Shinju, you don't step in. Leave it all to me."
"I'm strong now too!! ୧⍢⃝୨"