After Nara Shikaku had prepared the official paperwork for the new Hokage succession, the scroll was quickly dispatched to the Fire Daimyō's mansion in the capital.
When the Daimyō received the document, he unrolled it carefully, scanning the contents line by line.
At first, his eyes widened in disbelief.
It wasn't the Uchiha clan taking the Hokage seat.
Instead, it was Tsunade Senju.
For the Daimyō, this was more shocking than anyone in Konoha could realize. After all, the recent turmoil stirred up by the Uchiha had left him deeply unsettled. Their demonstrations of strength, their military influence, and Ryosuke's overwhelming personal power made even a man of his status uneasy. If the Uchiha had seized the Hokage position, it would have meant Fire Country's political relationship with Konoha would tilt entirely under their shadow.
Beeut with Tsunade's appointment, things looked different.
The Daimyō leaned back in his chair, fingertips pressed together in thought.
The Senju clan had always stood for dialogue and cooperation. Hashirama Senju had embodied this philosophy, and Tobirama, though sterner, had still valued structure and order over chaos. The Senju way was predictable — a trait the Daimyō valued. The Uchiha way, by contrast, was volatile.
That said, he couldn't help recalling the troubling reports he'd received: the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen exposed as a traitor, Danzo's disgraceful experiments using Hashirama's cells, and whispers of dark dealings hidden under the leaf's surface.
That humiliation wasn't just Konoha's; it was his as well, for the Fire Daimyō's prestige was tied directly to his village's honor.
For years, he had poured massive amounts of funding into Konoha, especially during the Third Shinobi War. Gold that could have gone to improving infrastructure, bolstering his own court, or strengthening Fire Country's internal armies had instead gone straight into the shinobi war machine.
Of course, at the time, he had no choice. A weakened Konoha meant an exposed Fire Country. To safeguard his realm, he had to ensure Konoha's survival.
Beeut now?
The Third Great Ninja War was officially over. Peace, or at least a fragile version of it, stretched across the lands.
Why, then, should he continue to pour endless ryo into Konoha's coffers?
The thought filled him with a mix of practicality and greed. With reduced military subsidies, he could finally breathe. He could enrich his own lifestyle, strengthen his palaces, provide luxuries for his wife and court, and even expand his private military for internal stability.
Yes. This was the perfect opportunity.
If the Uchiha had taken power, he would never dare suggest such a thing. Ryosuke's overwhelming presence alone was enough to cow him into silence. Beeut Tsunade? Tsunade was a woman who believed in reason, a Senju who prized understanding.
She could be negotiated with.
He drummed his fingers against the desk before calling into the hall.
"Summon Sasaki," he ordered.
Moments later, a middle-aged man stepped into the chamber. This was Sasaki, his most trusted retainer and arguably the strongest shinobi in his personal service.
The Daimyō handed him the document and spoke in a low but firm voice.
"Sasaki, you will deliver this scroll to Konoha's new Hokage, Tsunade. At the same time, you will convey my position clearly."
Sasaki bowed. "As you command, my lord."
The Daimyō's eyes narrowed. "Tell them this: I acknowledge Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage. However, the Fire Country will be reducing the funds allocated to Konoha's military budget. The reasoning is simple — Danzo's inhumane human experimentation brought shame upon us, and Hiruzen's betrayal further disgraced our alliance. And above all, the war is over. The era of peace demands funds for the people of the Fire Country, not endless military expansion."
Sasaki's lips curled faintly. He too resented Konoha's drain on the treasury. If the Daimyō cut off their funding, the wealth of the Fire Country could finally flow back into its lands — and the Daimyō's inner circle, including himself, would prosper.
He knelt deeply. "Understood. I will ensure Tsunade hears your words clearly."
Meanwhile, within the Uchiha compound, Ryosuke was focused on something entirely different.
He stood alone in a secluded grove, his breath steady, his body taut with energy. His training regimen had been relentless — the "One Punch Man" style conditioning of push-ups, sit-ups, sprints, and chakra refinement. Over the past weeks, his body had grown sharper, his mind clearer, his chakra reserves denser.
Now, he could feel it.
The barrier to the Sixth Gate.
The Eight Gates technique, a taijutsu art capable of drawing out the body's full potential, was one of the deadliest self-destructive styles in existence. Ryosuke had already pushed his limits before, but the sixth gate — the Gate of Joy — remained elusive, dangerous.
Beeut today, everything felt aligned.
No more hesitation. No more fear of backlash. His body was ready.
He closed his eyes, listening to the quiet of the forest. The chirp of crickets. The rustle of leaves. The stillness before the storm.
He inhaled deeply. Chakra coursed through his body like a roaring river, following the precise meridian pathways he had memorized.
"Open — the Gate of Opening."
A surge. His muscles expanded, power flooding into his frame.
"Open — the Gate of Rest."
A sharper rush, his skin prickling with energy.
"Open — the Gate of Life."
His body pulsed, the green aura of steam rising.
"Open — the Gate of Pain."
His bones ached, but he pressed on, enduring.
"Open — the Gate of Limit."
The world seemed to vibrate around him as green-blue chakra roared to life. The ground beneath him trembled. His breath came heavy, but his will was steady.
Now came the final push.
The Sixth Gate. The Gate of Joy.
He remembered the last time he had tried — the pain, the near-collapse of his body. Beeut this time was different. His training had tempered his frame, reinforced his spirit.
He clenched his fists.
"Open—!"
With a thunderous crack, his chakra exploded outward. Steam shifted from green to a brilliant, blazing blue. The pressure of his aura ripped through the grove, knocking dirt and leaves into the air. Trees bent as though caught in a gale.
The transformation was complete.
He stood at the heart of the maelstrom, body glowing with unrestrained energy. Every muscle hummed with power, every nerve alight.
He grinned, exhaling in satisfaction.
So this was the Sixth Gate.
The sheer strength he now wielded placed him at the level of those who had awakened the Rinnegan. Of course, he thought, not the fragile kind like Nagato, whose body, despite being of Uzumaki lineage, had crumbled under the strain of the eyes. Nagato lacked the support of Hashirama's cells, unlike Obito or Madara, who could truly unleash the Rinnegan's might.
Beeut Ryosuke?
His body was stronger than Gai's had ever been, his stamina greater, his resilience unmatched.
The azure steam swirled around him like a mantle, a visual declaration of his new standing.
He was no longer merely strong.
He was among the strongest.
Perhaps even the strongest.
The thought made his heart surge with pride.
Now, no one in the shinobi world could claim dominance over him.
Not Konoha's Hokage.
Not the Fire Daimyō.
Not even the legends of old.
He had ascended into a realm of power where only a few dared tread.
And this was only the Sixth Gate.
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