"Hey, you two, isn't it time to keep your promise?"
As soon as Tsunade spoke, the Anbu ninjas beside her promptly tossed Mito Men'en and Koharu into the cesspool.
From now on, that stinking pit was their new home.
"Whoa, nice new digs, you two!"
Kazama arrived where Tsunade and the others were and immediately shot a mocking smirk at Mito Men'en and Koharu.
The two, seeing Kazama show up, scrambled to their knees, begging for mercy. They knew that in Konoha these days, Kazama's word carried more weight than even Tsunade's.
But what they didn't know was that Kazama had long despised them.
"Undermining morale is a crime punishable by death. If it weren't for your age and past contributions to Konoha, I'd have torn you to pieces already. Spare you? In your dreams. Take them away!"
At Kazama's command, several Anbu ninjas swiftly dragged Mito Men'en and Koharu off.
Though Kazama was technically just a Genin, in the hearts of Konoha's people, his status towered far above even the Hokage, Tsunade.
"Kazama, Konoha's out of danger for now, but our allied ninja villages in the other four great nations are under attack by enemy forces. What do we do?"
Tsunade was at a loss, pinning all her hopes on Kazama.
"Pick four messengers right now and send them to the four great ninja villages. Have them relay the enemy's identity and weaknesses so they can prepare."
"But the five great nations are so far apart! By the time the messengers get there, the other four nations might already be wiped out!"
"Don't worry. Just find the people. I've got a way to get them there in an instant."
"What?!"
Tsunade couldn't help but think Kazama was boasting. The five great nations were indeed separated by vast distances. Sure, Kazama could move a thousand miles in a flash, but others couldn't match that ability.
Still, Tsunade rounded up four ninjas, curious to see how Kazama would pull this off.
"Kazama, I know you can cover a thousand miles in a second, but these guys don't have your insane skills. Even if you tried teaching them now, they wouldn't get it."
Kazama just gave a faint smile.
In a flash, he unleashed Hakkō Hametsu En (Eight Desolations Annihilation Flame), conjuring fiery wings on the backs of all four ninjas.
"What the—?!"
Tsunade's jaw dropped at the sight of the flaming wings sprouting from the four.
She remembered Kazama using those same fiery wings to zip across distances with Shino when they went searching for Bikōchū.
"Kazama, you never cease to amaze me! I had no idea you could bestow those fiery wings on others!"
"Of course! They won't be as fast as when I use them myself, but it's more than enough to reach the four great ninja villages in a heartbeat!"
Kazama briefed the four on the weaknesses of Haku Zetsu and Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation), then sent them soaring toward the four nations with a flick of his technique.
"But we're still short on manpower!" Tsunade sighed again.
"The enemy has the advantage in numbers. We need to rally other forces in the shinobi world to help us. Oh, wait…"
Tsunade's eyes locked onto Kazama.
"Didn't you have a good relationship with Otogakure? They've got four Jinchūriki and some serious firepower. Could you convince Otogakure's leader to bring their ninjas to aid the five great nations?"
Tsunade had no idea that Kazama was, in fact, the true leader of Otogakure.