Becoming Hokage required three steps:
The Hokage's vote, the Jonin vote, and the Daimyo's approval.
Danzo Shimura felt his stomach twist as he watched the Jonin council. The sight of so many Jonin agreeing to Tsunade being named frontline commander looked less like strategy and more like a rehearsal for the Jonin vote itself.
The villagers' support? That was already assured. The Senju name alone carried immense weight in Konoha. As the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, Tsunade's prestige was unquestionable.
The Daimyo's approval? Hardly an obstacle. Tsunade was familiar with the Daimyo's household, and as a renowned medical ninja she had even treated their illnesses.
The more Danzo thought about it, the more suffocating it became. Against Tsunade, he had no advantage. Not with the villagers, not with the Jonin, not even with the Daimyo.
A complete defeat.
Should he concede?
No. Impossible.
Becoming Hokage had been his obsession for decades. He would not—could not—surrender while he still drew breath.
"The frontline commander will be Tsunade," Hiruzen declared in a low, steady voice. "And the strategist will be Shikaku Nara."
As tradition demanded, the Nara clan's brilliance was entrusted with strategy.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Shikaku said as he stood.
Tsunade gave only a small nod. She hadn't wanted the role of commander, but circumstances had boxed her in.
First, the war had begun because of Kitazawa, her student—her responsibility. She had also been in charge of the negotiations with the Hidden Mist.
Second, she could not allow Danzo to claw his way back to power. By taking the commander's mantle, she denied him that chance.
Third, there was Hiruzen. He was her sensei, old and weary, but still working tirelessly to clear her path forward.
Tsunade could resist almost anything—except Hiruzen playing the role of her sensei and tugging at her heart. She could never harden herself against that.
"Shikaku, explain the current situation," Hiruzen said.
"Though the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, has formally declared war, the Hidden Mist have not mobilized in force," Shikaku reported. "We suspect reconnaissance teams have already been dispatched. Our Anbu are delivering word to the outposts along the southeastern border as we speak."
The Land of Water lay southeast of the Land of Fire, across the sea. Any invasion from the Mist would land there first. Konoha had long maintained outposts along its borders, even in times of peace, but they were small—meant to raise alarms, not repel armies.
"Tsunade, your opinion?" Hiruzen asked.
"Send an advance force now," Tsunade answered. "Once the Mist's main forces move, we'll adjust accordingly."
Her approach was simple: adapt to the situation.
The war's cause was too strange to commit everything from the start. While Konoha was stronger, it had no desire for a prolonged, large-scale war. Wars among shinobi were like clashing shells—whoever fought hardest, the fisherman profited. If Konoha showed weakness, Kumogakure or another village would pounce, just as they had in past wars.
"Our course should be the opposite!" Danzo barked, slamming his hand on the table. "Strike first! Crush the Mist before they dare set foot on our shores!"
"The Mist's true state is unclear. Charging blindly would only invite other villages to exploit the chaos," Tsunade countered calmly.
"She's right," Hiruzen agreed without hesitation. "We'll proceed as Tsunade suggests."
"Hiruzen, you—" Danzo's fists clenched, but the Hokage had already turned away.
"Tsunade, who should lead the advance force?" Hiruzen asked.
"The Hyuga Clan," she said after a pause.
With the Byakugan, they were unmatched at handling sudden encounters and reconnaissance. And unlike pure scouts, the Hyuga possessed formidable combat ability.
Of course, Hiruzen's question wasn't about which clan to deploy, but who would command.
Hiashi's eyes widened in surprise. Traditionally, neither the Hyuga nor Uchiha were granted command. Hiruzen had always kept their influence in check. But Tsunade—Tsunade was different. Even without being Hokage yet, her decisions already shifted the balance.
"…Very well," Hiruzen said after a moment's hesitation. To go against Tsunade now would be to undermine his own appointment. "Hiashi, after this meeting you'll lead a thousand shinobi to the southeastern border."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Hiashi replied solemnly. A rare chance for the Hyuga to claim glory.
"Who will oversee intelligence?" Danzo interjected suddenly.
"Anbu," Hiruzen said.
"The Anbu are yours, Hiruzen, and you must remain in Konoha," Danzo pressed. "Why not leave it to me? I commanded Root for years. My experience—"
"Tsunade is the frontline commander," Hiruzen cut him off. "The Anbu will report directly to her."
Danzo's face stiffened. Rejected again. The message was clear: Hiruzen had chosen his successor, and it was not him.
Very well, Hiruzen. If you will not show mercy, then I will not show restraint.
Danzo bit back his words, falling into bitter silence until the council ended.
"For now, that is all," Hiruzen said, rising to his feet. "We'll convene again once the Mist moves. Prepare yourselves. Meeting adjourned."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the Jonin chorused.
As Hiruzen departed, Tsunade was immediately surrounded by shinobi eager to coordinate under her command.
"Lady Tsunade, I'll return to the Academy first," Kitazawa said.
"Handle the Academy, but don't forget—you're coming with me," she reminded him.
If he had been only a Chunin instructor, she might have let him stay behind. But his strength rivaled the best Jonin, and besides—this war had begun because of him. Not going would damage both his reputation and hers.
Kitazawa nodded firmly. "Understood."
He had to go. Because he was the only one who knew the truth—Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi was under someone's control.
And until that control was broken, the war could never end.
[The war that began because of you should end because of you.]
[Current Mission: Help Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi break free from control.]
[Mission Reward: 30% Senju Clan bloodline and 20% increase in Byakugan purity.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa's eyes widened.
The reward was absurdly generous.
He already held 70% of the Senju bloodline and 30% Byakugan purity. If he completed this mission, his Senju affinity would hit 100%, and his Byakugan purity would climb to 50%.
One hundred percent Senju—that had to unlock something extraordinary. Fifty percent Byakugan purity might also produce unique effects. Rumors fluttered through his mind: could 100% Byakugan purity somehow lead to the Tenseigan? No—that was too bold. The Tenseigan was Rinnegan-level power; the system would never hand that over so easily. More plausibly, he imagined an evolution akin to the Ōtsutsuki's moon Byakugan—potent, alien, and rare.
But there was no point indulging fantasies yet. A reward that generous demanded a grueling mission.
At first glance the task was simple: free Yagura from whoever controlled him. In practice, it was a nightmare. Yagura would not appear on the front lines. Kitazawa could either infiltrate the Hidden Mist—the enemy's heart—or force Yagura into the field. Both options were perilous. If he was discovered inside the Mist, he'd be finished. Forcing Yagura forward was marginally easier: continuous defeats might drive the Mizukage from the rear to the front. Still—difficult.
After accepting, Kitazawa left the council chamber with Kakashi at his side.
"Kakashi, will you be fighting in this war?" he asked.
"I'll follow Hokage-sama's orders," Kakashi said after a beat. "If I can choose… I'd rather teach." He sounded tired in a way the battlefield had carved into him—endless battles, senseless loss. Two months with the Genius Class had been a restful island; he clung to that routine.
"That's good," Kitazawa replied with a light chuckle. "If we all go, Kosuke-senpai will be swamped."
Kakashi paused—did that mean Kitazawa was going to war? Of course it did. The conflict circled back to him; avoiding it was impossible.
"I'll return to the Academy and arrange things," Kitazawa said. He thought it ironic: he had planned for the Genius Class students to act as assistants for the final month of term, and now those plans would be derailed. Training would stagnate—or worse, be interrupted for an unknown stretch.
They reached the Academy. The Jonin meeting had lasted over an hour; the practical exam had already concluded, and the training ground was empty. Students had gone home.
"I'll fetch Kosuke-senpai," Kakashi offered.
"Okay," Kitazawa nodded. "I'll call Iruka. Meet me in my office afterward."
Kakashi vanished. Kitazawa found Iruka compiling the Academy rankings.
"Kitazawa-senpai," Iruka greeted. "By the way, the test was the same as last time—the Genius Class won entirely."
"Predictable," Kitazawa smiled. "Wait here. Once Kakashi and Kosuke arrive, we'll meet."
A knock announced their return: Kakashi and Kosuke entered and took seats.
"Kakashi and I just attended the Jonin meeting," Kitazawa said without preamble. "The Hidden Mist has declared war. It's unavoidable."
Iruka went pale. "What?"
"War costs lives," Kosuke sighed.
"You are teachers—you don't have to go to the front for now," Kitazawa continued. "But I must. I'll need you both to teach while I'm gone."
"I can't let you—" Iruka began, worry written plain on his face. Blades have no eyes; even great shinobi die without warning.
"I'm going with Lady Tsunade," Kitazawa assured him. "I'll be safe enough."
He then outlined the arrangements.
First: a trial of the teaching-assistant system for the Genius Class. Starting next week, top students—Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji, Shino Aburame, and others—would act as assistants. Once they'd established a reliable model, the rest of the Genius Class would rotate through.
Second: special training. Some students would continue existing programs—Yakumo Kurama, Hyuga Hinata, Hyuga Neji, and Yamanaka Ino among them. Others would begin new regimens: Akimichi Chōji working the Human Bullet Tank, Uzumaki Naruto starting Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. Sasuke and Sakura were left to Kakashi and Kosuke; Kitazawa trusted them.
"That's all," he finished.
"I will carry out the teaching as instructed," Iruka promised.
"We will too," Kosuke echoed.
"One more thing," Kitazawa said, voice steady. "This war may not end soon. If I don't return in time, you two will be responsible for the final exam."
They all understood the weight behind that simple sentence. The training schedule was no longer just pedagogy—it was a thread stretching into an uncertain future.
Fortunately, the upcoming final exam—next month's test—hadn't triggered any system task. Even if he didn't participate, Kitazawa would suffer no loss.
"Any other questions?" Kitazawa asked once he had finished his explanation.
"No," Iruka and the others answered together, shaking their heads.
"Then, everyone can go home." Kitazawa rose to his feet.
"Kitazawa-senpai, please take care," Iruka said in a low, serious voice.
"On the battlefield, don't be reckless. Follow Lady Tsunade's orders," Kosuke added. The warning came from his own scars—his teammates had once died because of his own rashness.
Kakashi said nothing, only giving Kitazawa a silent nod.
Once the three departed, Kitazawa slipped away to a quiet corner of the academy grounds. Though the students had long gone, his personal squad was still training.
This time, he would definitely bring Kabuto, Torune, and Izumi to the battlefield. Partly for their growth, partly to complete missions, and perhaps most importantly—to trigger new system tasks.
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Kabuto and the other two stopped their drills the moment they noticed him.
"Go home and prepare," Kitazawa instructed calmly. "You'll be coming with me to the southeastern border of the Land of Fire." He told them of the Mist's declaration of war.
"Another war…" Kabuto murmured, adjusting his glasses. For him, it wasn't unfamiliar. He was a child of war, an orphan adopted during the chaos of the Third Great Ninja War.
For Torune and Izumi, however, the news hit heavier. Especially Izumi—though she tried to hide it, her unease was plain. She had never stepped onto a battlefield, yet she understood its cruelty.
"Don't be afraid," Kitazawa said, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Trust your strength."
"Yes, Sensei." Izumi's nerves eased slightly at his words. With teammates and a teacher this strong, she was far luckier than most.
[Current Mission: Make your squad famous in this war.]
[Mission Reward: A Bloodline Limit and its corresponding Ninjutsu.]
[Accept?]
[Note: The exact reward depends on the fame you achieve.]
Kitazawa's brow rose. Another variable mission.
He accepted without hesitation. Any Bloodline Limit was valuable—as long as it wasn't something useless like Hayate's Hiding in Camouflage. He had no desire to end up coughing blood in the shadows.
The promise of ninjutsu tied to the bloodline made it even better.
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