Yamanaka Fu's guess wasn't wrong.
Every member of Root was talented, and they knew how to speak to people. Both Naruto Uzumaki and Tobirama Senju found them to be excellent subordinates. Since the death of their leader, Danzo Shimura, the Root ninjas had been thriving. They no longer had to live like rats in the sewer. In the past, whenever they appeared before other Konoha ninja, they were usually met with insults.
Now? Every ninja in Konoha envied their positions.
The younger ones, like Torune Aburame, had even become the Fifth Hokage's personal guards. If it weren't for the rumor that this Fifth Hokage was difficult to serve and liked to dismiss his guard team, Yamanaka Fu might have been a little envious himself.
"Are those guards all from Root?"
Tobirama Senju looked at the group of young ninjas as if he were seeing the future of Konoha. A smile touched his lips, but it faded a moment later. "That fool Danzo… he really held you all back!"
These young ninjas were sharp and decisive. In his eyes, they should have always been the Hokage's direct troops. How could they have been wasted as Danzo's private subordinates?
"Second Hokage."
The white Hokage robe came into view. The young Hokage sized up the members present. The ones following Tobirama, as expected, were also Root ninjas.
It figures, Naruto thought. All the Hokages think alike.
"Fifth Hokage, you're slow," Tobirama said, patting Naruto's shoulder. He lowered his voice. "I heard you've also been collecting Jinchuriki. I've already captured the Six-Tails Jinchuriki from the Land of Water for you."
"Huh?"
Naruto's eyes lit up immediately.
Tobirama raised an eyebrow. "Go do what you need to do first. After you're finished, we'll have a proper talk."
"...Yeah."
Naruto's expression was a little complicated. Sometimes, the young Hokage felt that the Second Hokage could inexplicably keep up with his train of thought. Had he figured out his plan? Tobirama had definitely guessed part of it, at least.
A short while later, Naruto walked out from the depths of the secret base looking satisfied. Left behind was the listless Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata. Naruto had already taken the chakra of the Six-Tails, Saiken. Now, among the nine Tailed Beasts, he possessed the chakra of the One-Tail, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails.
Tobirama didn't ask for details. He simply brought up his own actions in the Land of Water, which included dispatching Root members to impersonate Mist ninjas and attack the rebel army, while also impersonating the rebels to attack Mist Village troops, thereby escalating the war.
"Next, you just need to focus on mediating and advocating for peace..." Tobirama tapped his fingers on his arm, looking as if he had everything under control. "Soon, the civilians of the Land of Water, exhausted by the war, will stop supporting either side. At that point, it will be Konoha's opportunity to occupy the country."
Naruto was silent. He had thought that what he did in the Hidden Waterfall Village—colluding with the Akatsuki—was dark enough. He never expected it was nothing compared to what the Second Hokage was capable of. He felt like he, the Fifth Hokage, was being completely overshadowed.
After a moment of thought, Naruto frowned and added softly, "Second Hokage, have you considered what happens if the Mist Village and Zabuza find out that someone provoked their conflict and forced them to keep fighting?"
"Hmph, isn't that simple?" Tobirama spread his palm, then clenched it into a fist. "The Akatsuki are notoriously evil. Besides them, who would do such a thing? Fifth Hokage, you're still too young."
Naruto was speechless. How is he so skilled at shifting blame? he wondered. The Akatsuki were thousands of miles away. Was it really okay to cause trouble for them like this? Although, the Akatsuki did first appear in the Mist Village, but that was because someone was controlling the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura...
The young Hokage sighed, a hint of admiration in his voice. "As expected of the Second Hokage. In that case, I'll find a way to make it a reality."
"Hmm?"
"The Akatsuki's goal has always been to collect the Tailed Beasts. As long as we leak the information about the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, they'll definitely swarm over here."
Naruto proposed his own plan. If he and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki appeared in the same area, the Akatsuki would have to send people. Otherwise, they'd risk another Tailed Beast falling into Naruto's hands.
Even if the Akatsuki gave up on capturing the Six-Tails because of him, Naruto believed Itachi Uchiha would understand his intentions and come to the Land of Water, helping to pin the blame on his organization. It was a plan that killed several birds with one stone.
After discussing the issue, Naruto smiled. "Next, it's time to see an old friend."
-----
Land of Water, Outside the Rebel Army's Main Camp
Zabuza Momochi really didn't want to see Naruto Uzumaki. He wasn't used to being in a position of weakness, especially since the little brat was now the Hokage of Konoha—practically the person with the highest status in the entire ninja world. But it wasn't something he could refuse.
According to the intelligence Zabuza received, before Naruto left the Mist Village, he had unleashed a powerful ninjutsu that had intimidated even Terumi Mei.
Haku placed a hand on his forehead, watching the Konoha ninjas approach from a distance. He spotted the white Hokage robe at the head of the group. "Lord Zabuza, the Fifth Hokage has arrived."
"Then let's go meet our old friend," Zabuza's voice was as grim as ever. His Executioner's Blade was slung over his back as he walked forward. "I never expected that after such a short time, the little genin brat would actually become the Hokage of Konoha."
"Yes!" Haku, who now understood how hard it was to become a Kage, had a face full of admiration. "Naruto-kun is truly amazing! He's still so young, and he's already the Fifth Hokage..."
Zabuza listened, feeling as if Haku was unintentionally mocking him. It was as if he had achieved nothing all these years, wasting half his life. His mood soured. The leader of the Mist rogue army decided he would take a subtle jab at Naruto.
The first thing Zabuza did when he saw Naruto was glance at his Hokage Guard Team. "...Lord Hokage, you don't need to bring so many guards to the Land of Water, do you?" he said with a smirk. "Hmph, for the sake of our past friendship, I can send some of my own men to protect you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, looking at the cold smile on Zabuza's face. Is this guy mocking me for being afraid of death? Is he trying to one-up me?
"I don't want to bring so many guards either," the young Hokage replied, patting his Hokage robe casually. "They're responsible for stopping me from doing whatever I want. I'm young, you see, and I tend to act on impulse. What if I accidentally destroy the entire Land of Water?"
-----
Bonus:
Zabuza: Are you afraid of death? Bringing so many people to protect you!
Naruto: They're here to protect you.
Zabuza: Hmm?
Naruto: The advisors are afraid I'll destroy a country on a whim. They sent all these people to stop me.
Zabuza: ...You really know how to brag. That's a new one on me.