Chapter 241: Tobirama, What a Model Employee He Is~~~
"Calm yourself, Lord Raikage."
Just as Killer Bee was on the verge of erupting, a hand suddenly appeared on the screen, settling on his shoulder.
"How could the Raikage — leader of one of the Five Great Villages — possibly lower himself to grubbing in the dirt?"
"The Hokage's words go too far."
The newcomer's face appeared on the screen.
This was Tsuchidai, the Raikage's court minister — a man who had served through the Third Raikage, the Fourth, and now the Fifth in Killer Bee.
Sakura's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the weathered, middle-aged face on the screen, and her voice turned cold.
"Wants to eat, but won't farm."
"Why not just starve, then?"
Sakura's bluntness was enough to silence not just the other four Kage, but even Kakashi standing behind her.
This world ran on a rigid hierarchy — Daimyō, nobility, shinobi, commoners.
The Daimyō ruled the realm. The nobility governed the nations. The shinobi defended against enemies. The commoners fed and sustained the first three.
A thousand years of tradition, exactly like this.
So what happened when the commoners of the Land of Lightning could no longer sustain them?
Simple — you took what you needed. You seized it.
But ask a shinobi to actually clear land and farm it themselves?
Especially when the specific person Sakura was addressing was the Fifth Raikage.
Please. Spare everyone the trouble.
How could a noble figure like the Raikage possibly stoop to something like that?
"Eh, doesn't bother me personally, but there's really nowhere in the Land of Wind fit for farming."
Gaara was the first to break the silence.
Just as Ōnoki had assessed — the only genuinely honest one in the room.
Sakura said nothing to that. She'd already destroyed the dragon vein there; the oasis should already be radiating outward from that point.
Before long, vast stretches of green would spread across the Land of Wind.
Whether Gaara would still be around to see it, though, wasn't Sakura's concern.
"Everyone, please, a little less arguing..."
Ōnoki rubbed his temple with a sigh.
He'd expected exactly this. Barely any time had passed since the war — of course five Kage weren't going to suddenly find perfect harmony.
"A powerful enemy stands before us, and you all still have the leisure to squabble over old grudges?"
Ōnoki's worry ran deep.
The Five Great Villages had existed for over sixty years now, and aside from the brief window when Konoha's First Hokage still lived, it had been one long string of conflict.
Decades of hatred weren't going to dissolve because of a few words from him.
"I'm still young. I don't fully understand hatred, or self-interest."
Gaara spoke up now, and Ōnoki opened his mouth as if to interject — then simply sighed instead and let him continue.
"But the moment I first laid eyes on the Hokage, the feeling that surged up in me — I suppose that was hatred."
Far off in Sunagakure, Gaara stared hard at the pink-haired girl on his screen, watching him with that faintly amused smile, and sighed.
"Hatred really is such a hard thing to let go of, and such an ugly thing to hold onto."
"But facing an enemy capable of destroying the entire shinobi world..."
"One person's hatred starts to feel awfully small by comparison."
"On the matter of Mōryō, as the Tsuchikage has described it, I'll be the first to declare where I stand."
"If everyone here is willing to work together in good faith — I, the Fifth Kazekage, Gaara —"
"— am willing to set aside the hatred in my heart. And once Mōryō is dealt with, I will never again set foot outside Sunagakure for the rest of my life."
Gaara's gaze stayed fixed on the pink-haired girl, as if waiting for an answer.
"There's no need for that, Kazekage. The Hokage already agreed to the coalition beforehand."
Ōnoki wasn't moved by Gaara's words in the slightest — if anything, he only sighed harder.
This Kazekage was the same age as the Hokage, and yet somehow impossibly naive by comparison.
While the Hokage herself was, if anything, a little too pragmatic.
"No offense, but Sunagakure and Kumogakure are both running a credit balance well into the negative with me."
The pink-haired Hokage remained utterly unmoved by Gaara's earnest declaration — if anything, she looked almost dismissive.
A cold, impatient smirk crossed her face as she rose from her seat, planted one foot on the table, and with a flick of her wrist, drove a kunai straight into the wood by her own foot.
"Enough chattering. It's just a coalition. Three days from now, we gather and hash it out at the ruins of Kusagakure."
"Anyone who doesn't show — I'll pay them a personal visit."
The Hokage's face carried an unmistakable threat, and the rest of them couldn't help but tense at the sight.
"Old man."
Her gaze landed on the Tsuchikage.
"What is it?"
Ōnoki spoke, an indescribable tension in his voice.
That she could speak to him like this at all meant she had more than enough backing to do so.
Three years ago, this pink-haired brat had already been beyond anyone's ability to rein in. And now, three years later, she'd claimed the Hokage seat outright, and the one man in Konoha who could still make her listen — Hiruzen Sarutobi — was gone.
Ōnoki felt, for a moment, as if he were looking through her Hokage robes and seeing another man entirely.
Hashirama Senju.
Also someone no one could ever hope to control. Also a Hokage of Konoha.
But the one difference was — Hashirama Senju had genuinely wanted peace.
While this current Hokage...
To call her someone who wanted peace would be a joke.
"I'm leaving this to you. That's fine, isn't it?"
Her emerald eyes settled on Ōnoki, her tone carrying not the slightest hint of deference toward a fellow Kage.
"Of course."
Ōnoki gave a small nod.
"..."
Killer Bee's gaze fixed coldly on the pink-haired girl, his mind racing.
He didn't particularly want to go.
Even if he'd never admit it aloud, this girl had already been able to overpower the entire shinobi world three years ago — let alone now.
But to openly admit he feared the Hokage's strength would be far too humiliating.
"Lord Hokage, your methods are formidable, and I don't consider myself your equal. To avoid the risk of the Hokage acting rashly during the summit, I'll need to bring a contingent of my own men."
"Meanwhile, the Hokage may bring only her personal guard."
Just then, Utakata spoke up.
"Seconded."
Gaara chimed in.
He'd witnessed her violence firsthand — a single punch that had torn straight through Shukaku, and only his father Rasa's Golden Sand had barely saved his life.
And even then, she'd still put a single kunai clean through his body. If not for Elder Chiyo's willingness to sacrifice her own life, he'd have died three years ago.
He was honest. But he wasn't a fool.
The Hokage looked at Utakata's face on the screen, her eyes narrowing slightly.
This kid...
Mei Terumi's carefully built foundation — casually torn apart with a single sentence, right here, in front of everyone.
Heh. No wonder, in the original story, this one never ended up as Mizukage...
"Heh. Fine, I'll bring two."
"You lot can bring a full army of ten thousand to Kusagakure for all I care."
She gave a cold laugh, and with a flicker on the screen, the Hokage's feed cut out.
"..."
Ōnoki felt a knot of something unpleasant settle in his chest.
He gave Utakata a flat, unimpressed look, and logged off as well.
Idiot. Absolute idiot.
The Hokage had agreed to the coalition in the first place — did they really think she'd throw away her own credibility over something like this?
Can't handle it? Fine, count me out!
—
Kumogakure
Watching the faces on his screen wink out one by one, Killer Bee finally let out a breath of relief.
If he was allowed to bring a squad along, then at least he wouldn't have to worry about the Hokage lashing out unchecked.
"Lord Raikage, you said a bit too much this time."
Tsuchidai spoke calmly from behind him.
"..."
Killer Bee said nothing.
"Deal with the matter at hand. There's no need to drag other things into it — it only makes others think less of you."
"Even if there's hatred in your heart, that's a conversation for later. Right now, the priority is Mōryō, not a war that's already over."
Tsuchidai looked at Killer Bee's silence, his tone earnest, coaxing.
"And besides, the Hokage was willing to join the coalition — that's the best outcome we could've hoped for. You should have supported it without hesitation."
Listening to Tsuchidai's words, Killer Bee sighed and rubbed his temple.
"...Yeah. I know..."
Just then, a hand settled on his shoulder.
Killer Bee turned to meet Tsuchidai's steady, unwavering gaze.
"Lord Raikage!"
"You are the greatest fighting strength in the Land of Lightning! The leader of everyone in Kumogakure!"
"How can you afford to be so complacent!"
"Have you forgotten the Fourth?!"
Bringing up his brother, who'd died on the battlefield, made Killer Bee's body tremble faintly — but he calmed himself soon enough.
He rose to his full, imposing height and cracked a grin.
"Of course I haven't forgotten."
"It's just some Hokage. I'll go."
With that, he turned to head out and start gathering his men to leave for the Land of Grass, ready for the Five Kage Summit three days from now.
But right at the doorway, he stopped, and turned back to look at the man who'd guided him for the past three years.
"Uncle Tsuchidai..."
Tsuchidai's steady eyes fixed on him.
"These past three years..."
"...thank you."
"If it weren't for you, I honestly don't know how I would've made it through..."
With that, before Tsuchidai could reply, he'd already walked out.
Tsuchidai stood there for a long moment, watching him go.
And then, that stubbled mouth curled into a smile that fit that face terribly.
Shadowed. Twisted. Faintly grotesque.
"How pitiful. Thanking the very man who killed him with his own hands."
A shape emerged from the corner of the room — pale white, its smile dripping with mockery.
"No — I spent three years teaching him. Genuinely, sincerely teaching him how to become a true ruler."
"He could call me a teacher, and it wouldn't even be an exaggeration."
Tsuchidai — Black Zetsu — spoke without any particular concern.
Heh heh.
Just a bunch of shinobi savages, the lot of them.
Show them strength, and they'll fall in line every time.
Show them power...
Heh...
Black Zetsu —
No. Tsuchidai — walked out, calm as ever.
The Raikage?
A toy in my hand, nothing more.
I spent three years teaching you. And when the time comes that I need you, I expect you to fall in line without complaint.
After all — I'm your teacher, aren't I, Bee?
—
Konoha
Her online summit finished, Sakura returned to her office. She was just about to summon Sasuke and Hikaru when Tobirama suddenly appeared.
"Take a look at this."
Tobirama set a silver, wristband-like device down in front of her.
"Weren't you supposed to be training Naruto?"
Sakura picked up the device and examined it closely.
"Eh..."
"Shadow clones exist for a reason."
Tobirama waved a hand, unconcerned.
As far as he was concerned, teaching the Nine-Tails jinchūriki wasn't urgent — this scientific ninja tool interested him far more right now.
"This is something Hōsuke Tōno and I built together. There are still some flaws to work out, but this is already a milestone step forward."
"I'm confident it won't be long before my own genius pushes this far enough to reshape the entire balance of power in the shinobi world."
Tobirama looked positively giddy.
Clearly, he had high hopes for this scientific ninja tool.
"Once every Konoha shinobi is equipped with something like this, our overall combat power will jump dramatically."
"At that point..."
The corner of Tobirama's mouth curled up, entirely against his will.
"This is actually pretty good."
Sakura strapped the silver device onto her wrist and noticed it was somewhat different from the one Boruto would eventually use.
But she didn't mind — that later version had obviously been Hōsuke Tōno's finished product.
While the one in her hands right now was clearly just the prototype.
And now that Hōsuke Tōno had Tobirama's involvement and her own backing, she was confident the design would iterate toward that eventual Boruto-era version soon enough.
Glancing at Tobirama's smug, self-satisfied posture, Sakura wondered — if Hashirama were sitting here instead, would he say something like "go write the manufacturing method down in the sealing archives, would you"?
Wait. Hold on...
Could this be exactly why every single one of Tobirama's forbidden techniques always ended up half-finished?
Because he'd finish some forbidden technique, go show off to his brother, and then Hashirama's face would darken and he'd forcibly seal it away on the spot?
"All right, hand this off to Hōsuke Tōno for now. Your main job is still teaching Naruto — once I clear my schedule I'll head to Turtle Island with you and him."
Sakura pulled the device off her wrist.
"Tch..."
Tobirama looked mildly annoyed.
He still had to teach that blond brat, huh.
Well, for the pink-haired one's sake, he'd let it slide.
"Fine. What's been going on lately, anyway?"
Tobirama asked, swallowing his irritation.
Sakura filled him in on the whole Mōryō situation.
"Mōryō, hm..."
Tobirama looked thoughtful.
"Go handle it, then. I'm staying out of that mess."
As far as Tobirama was concerned, there was nothing left in this shinobi world that could genuinely threaten the pink-haired girl in front of him.
Mōryō? Please.
Has he ever seen a hundred-percent Yang Release Superhuman Strength punch up close?
"Mm."
Sakura gave a small nod.
Tobirama's priority right now was using Minato's research notes to help get Naruto's Rasenshuriken working.
Everything else could wait.
Because honestly — what a great employee he was. What if he pushed himself too hard and collapsed?
Once the Rasenshuriken was done, there was still Turtle Island, and seeing whether Doto Kazahana's chakra armor could be pushed to another upgrade.
And after that there was still An Lushan's Konoha redevelopment proposal — the man had been drowning in that lately, and it wouldn't do to work him to death either, so Tobirama would need to lend a hand there too.
And then there was still the Akatsuki, the nobility, and...
"Go home and get some rest. Eat something good, build your strength back up."
Sakura stood and, looking genuinely concerned, patted the white-haired man's shoulder.
Being this capable really does come with perks. A true jack of all trades.
If it were Hashirama instead, what would he even be good for besides grinning like an idiot and calling her his great-granddaughter all day?
Well — that, and head pats~~~
The next day
"I'm not going."
In the Hokage's office, a beautiful girl with long black hair glared at the Hokage in front of her, thoroughly unimpressed.
Sasuke stood quietly off to the side.
"I'm not even a Konoha shinobi. Why should I bother tagging along for this?"
Hikaru Uchiha stood with her arms crossed, glaring flatly at the pink-haired girl before her.
"I'm being completely serious right now."
The pink-haired Hokage looked back at Hikaru with an equally earnest expression.
"So am I!"
As if to prove just how serious she was, Hikaru leaned in closer, adopting what she clearly believed was an even more serious expression than Sakura's.
Staaare~~~
Staaare~~~
Pinky and Great-Grandma locked eyes, each apparently trying to out-serious the other.
Meanwhile, Sasuke simply took a seat on the couch and poured himself a glass of water.
He was used to this by now.
Not exactly the first time, after all.
In the fish tank, Isobu the Three-Tails paddled quietly along, cheering on the great-grandma with the Uchiha ping-pong paddle strapped to her back.
Beat that awful pink-haired menace!
Even if it's just a staring contest!
Staaare~~~
Hikaru forced her eyes open as wide as they'd go.
Ngh. Eyes are starting to sting...
That awful Pinky is holding out longer than I expected!
But I'm not made of clay either!
In the end, it was Sakura who blinked first.
Which, honestly, made sense. A staring contest against an Uchiha was never a fair fight to begin with.
"See!"
"I told you I was serious!"
Hikaru tilted her head slightly, chin held high, positively smug as she watched Sakura rub her eyes.
Then, taking advantage of Sakura's distraction, she quickly rubbed her own eyes too.
That one had nearly gotten away from her.
"Aah... fine..."
"That's a shame, really..."
Sakura put on a look of disappointment, then turned to Sasuke, still lounging idly on the couch.
"Sasuke, go get Karin, then."
Sasuke blinked, a little surprised.
Sakura was just... conceding? No teasing Hikaru today?
But before Sasuke could even reach the door, Sakura pulled a box of egg tarts out from under her desk, a look of theatrical regret on her face.
"I was going to eat these with someone on the trip. Guess they'll go to Karin instead..."
The moment the words left her mouth, a hand shot out toward Sakura.
"W-well, if that's how it is, I suppose I'll graciously accept, then..."
Hikaru's gaze drifted somewhere off to the side, fixed pointedly on absolutely nothing, a faint flush rising in her cheeks.
"Oh?"
"But didn't Hikaru say she didn't want to go?"
A hint of teasing amusement crept into Sakura's eyes as she needled the Uchiha great-grandma.
"S-shut up."
"Does that Uzumaki brat even know how to appreciate good food?"
Hikaru puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Sakura with open irritation.
Damn this pink-haired menace!
I said I wasn't going, and I meant it!
Couldn't you at least beg a little?
Beg me just a bit, and maybe I'd actually go!
Did you have to pull this move instead?!
"Well then, guess I'll have to count on you, Hikaru~~~"
Sakura, wearing a bright smile, placed the box of egg tarts directly into Hikaru's hands.
"Hmph. Good thing you know how to read the room..."
Hikaru grumbled, taking the box and immediately tearing into the packaging.
But she paused, looking at the egg tarts inside — clearly different from anything the Konoha sweet shops carried.
"Is this a new flavor?"
Hikaru pulled one out and examined it carefully.
Not just the color, but even the thickness was different from what the shops sold.
"I made these myself~~~"
Sakura beamed at her.
Egg tarts really weren't that hard to make — just tart shells, milk, condensed milk, egg yolks, sugar, and heavy cream.
As long as you weren't hopeless in the kitchen, anyone could manage it.
Mix the filling, bake at 180°C top heat and 200°C bottom heat for a little over ten minutes, and that was that.
"Eh?"
Hikaru stared at Sakura in open disbelief.
This one actually knows how to cook?!
Even Sasuke, who'd already turned to leave and then doubled back, looked at Sakura with mild surprise.
If Sakura had made these herself... he wanted to try one too.
"What's with that face?"
"Is it really that surprising?"
Sakura lifted her chin, a smile playing at her lips.
Of course it was surprising — in a world this obsessively secretive about guarding recipes and techniques, getting your hands on someone else's signature method was practically a fantasy.
Watching Sakura's nose practically tilt skyward with pride, Hikaru pursed her lips, then popped one of the tarts into her mouth.
The crisp, flaky crust met the smooth, baked-firm custard filling, and the two melted together into a proper celebration of sweetness on her tongue...
It was...
Perfect.
Delicious~~~
Hikaru's face immediately melted into an expression of pure bliss.
Seeing this, Sasuke couldn't help himself either, stepping forward and popping one into his own mouth.
"Well, is it good?"
Hikaru looked at Sasuke, practically vibrating with anticipation.
Like a kid who'd found a fun new toy and immediately wanted to share it with a friend.
Because happiness shared, after all, was happiness doubled.
"Mm. It's good."
Sasuke gave a nod.
And it was the truth — even someone like Sasuke, who rarely touched sweets, couldn't deny it.
"Is it good?"
Sakura watched with a smile as Hikaru, having finished one, reached for another.
"It's good!"
Hikaru nodded rapidly.
"Does Hikaru want more next time?"
"I do!"
"So will Hikaru be good and listen from now on?"
"I'll listen... eh..."
Hikaru blinked, dazed, and suddenly the tart in her mouth didn't taste quite so sweet anymore.
D-damn this pink-haired menace!
Don't think you can win me over with a single snack!
I'm—
"And there's strawberry mousse, snow mochi, crepe cake, nougat, cookies..."
Sakura counted them off on her fingers, listing desserts Hikaru had never even heard of, one after another.
"I'll be SO good!"
Like hell she would!
Once she'd finished eating, she'd deny the whole thing — what was Sakura going to do about it then?
—
Two and a half days passed in a blink, and Sakura set out for the Land of Grass with her two Uchiha companions.
A ninja hawk let out a sharp, piercing cry overhead, streaking across the sky like a bolt of black lightning toward the horizon.
The Land of Grass bordered the Land of Fire, and with a flying summon at their disposal, it took only half a day to arrive.
Both Sakura and Sasuke knew the Land of Grass well.
They'd come here three years ago — when Konoha and Iwagakure, jointly led by the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki with eight hundred Konoha shinobi, had wiped Kusagakure out entirely.
Afterward, Konoha and Iwagakure had each stationed five hundred shinobi to hold the village.
The Dragon Life Reincarnation technique used to resurrect Tobirama had also been something the Konoha garrison stationed at Kusagakure had stumbled upon by chance.
Feeling the wind streaming past her as they flew, Hikaru — dressed in her clan's silver-trimmed robes — pulled her cloak tighter around herself.
Sasuke, noticing, removed his jōnin vest and draped it over her shoulders.
Ahead of them, Sakura noticed the movement behind her and gave the ninja hawk beneath her a gentle pat.
Understanding the signal, the hawk began to descend.
These two, honestly...
Noticing that the great-grandma hadn't so much as protested Sasuke's jacket, Sakura's mouth curved into a small, satisfied smile.
One down.
Even Hikaru, apparently, couldn't resist that face.
No surprise, really, for someone who'd been living under the same roof as him for three years now. Sasuke hadn't let her down.
As the hawk sped onward, Sakura could already make out the plains surrounding Kusagakure.
At the same time, she spotted the Konoha garrison waiting to receive her.
At the head of the group stood Suzaku Nara.
With a gust of wind, the hawk beat its wings and touched down on the ground.
The three of them landed with it.
"Lord Hokage."
Suzaku Nara and several of the garrison's officers bowed toward the Fifth Hokage.
"Mm."
"Have the other four villages arrived?"
Sakura ran a hand through her hair, surveying the village standing on the plain before her.
"The Raikage, Kazekage, and Tsuchikage have all arrived."
"The Mizukage hasn't yet."
Sakura strode forward toward the village, the others falling in behind her, and spoke evenly:
"That's fine. We'll give him tonight. Tomorrow, have the garrison pull back five kilometers from the meeting site."
Suzaku Nara's brow furrowed slightly at the order.
They'd agreed beforehand that the Hokage would bring only two attendants — but wasn't pulling the garrison back this far a little too... reckless?
(End of chapter)
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