Minato's words left the daimyo of the Five Great Nations utterly shocked.
This proposal was something the Kage hadn't discussed with them beforehand.
Yet, there was no doubt the daimyo were intrigued.
Especially the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who already harbored ambitions to unify all nations.
Although this wasn't entirely in line with his original plans, starting with unifying smaller nations didn't seem like a bad idea.
As the daimyo considered their options, the Fourth Raikage laid out a map. The map displayed circles in five distinct colors, each representing one of the Five Great Nations—for example, red for the Land of Fire and black for the Land of Water.
The map divided all the smaller nations in the ninja world, allocating them to the major ones based on the alliance's arrangement.
For instance, the Land of Grass would fall under the Land of Fire, the Land of Rivers under the Land of Wind, and the Land of Rain also under the Land of Fire, while the Land of Birds would belong to the Land of Earth.
This new order left the daimyo feeling uneasy and, in some cases, outright displeased.
In the past, the relationship between the daimyo and their ninja villages was more cooperative, with the daimyo holding the upper hand as the employers of these mercenary-like forces. Wealth dictated power.
Now, the dynamic was shifting.
The daimyo keenly felt the increased assertiveness and dominance of the Ninja Alliance compared to the older ninja village system.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as they stared at the map.
Onoki and the others refrained from speaking immediately, signaling that the negotiation had already begun.
From this day forward, the balance of power between the daimyo and the ninja world would start to shift.
Apart from Minato Namikaze and Mei Terumi, even Onoki, the Fourth Raikage, and the Fourth Kazekage were slightly anxious.
Meanwhile, General Mifune observed the proceedings as a bystander, a witness and recorder of history.
"If this succeeds, Lord Shuichi will be the greatest ninja since the Sage of Six Paths!" thought General Mifune silently.
---
On a beach under a sunshade, Tsunade reclined with her eyes closed, enjoying Shuichi's gentle care. She asked lazily, "Aren't you even a bit concerned about what's happening with the Alliance?"
Shuichi replied confidently, "What other choice do the daimyo of the Five Great Nations have but to comply?"
"There's no need to remove them and replace them; we could simply use Shisui's Kotoamatsukami to alter their will."
With Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, there was no need for cooldown periods anymore.
In fact, there wasn't even a need for permanent changes; direct control would suffice.
Alternatively, using the Rinnegan's powers was also an option, allowing for the simultaneous control of all Five Nations' daimyo.
However, Shuichi preferred not to resort to such brute force unless necessary.
"Still, those daimyo better behave themselves."
"Alright, let's not dwell on mundane matters. Let Minato-sensei and the others handle it," Shuichi said with a chuckle, planting a kiss on Tsunade's cheek. "We'll just enjoy our vacation and wait for Nawaki to be born."
Tsunade opened her eyes briefly to glance at Shuichi, huffed lightly, and closed them again to savor the moment.
While Shuichi continued to massage Tsunade, his eyes wandered to Shizune and Asuka, who were playing in the water and laughing.
Their legs were long and pale, and even though he saw them daily, there was something uniquely alluring about the scene.
On another part of the beach, Pakura and Tenka walked hand in hand, wearing sun hats and enjoying a quiet stroll.
Life couldn't get any better than this.
---
At the Alliance Fortress, along the bustling commercial street, Rin Nohara dragged Kakashi around, excitedly exploring. She stopped to browse, trying out trinkets and accessories on Kakashi, who soon found himself adorned with several small items.
These were things they wouldn't have found in Konoha before.
The street had become a hub for the specialties of various ninja villages and nations, and with the third round of the Chūnin Exams open to the public, the area was thriving.
"Kakashi!"
A voice called out suddenly. Kakashi and Rin turned to see Might Guy waving enthusiastically, a skewer of dumplings in one hand.
Nearby sat several familiar faces—Ebisu, Genma Shiranui, Kurenai, Asuma, Aoba Yamashiro, Anko Mitarashi, and more.
Rin raised a hand to wave back before leading Kakashi into the shop to greet everyone.
After Kakashi took a seat, Aoba Yamashiro asked, "Kakashi, have you heard about the Chūnin Championship?"
Kakashi nodded and glanced at the group. "I'm guessing all of you are participating?"
Ebisu and the others nodded in agreement.
They were all still Chūnin and hadn't become Jōnin yet.
Kurenai speculated, "After the Chūnin Championship, there might be a Jōnin Championship too, right?"
"Anko, has Shuichi mentioned anything about it?"
Anko, chewing on a dumpling, mumbled, "Lord Shuichi hasn't said anything, but knowing his personality, there's bound to be one."
"Though coming up with suitable tasks for a large number of Jōnin might be tricky."
Kakashi's thoughts turned to the simulated missions he had experienced in the past.
As the group enjoyed their snacks, they chatted casually, relishing a rare moment of relaxation.
---
Back in Konoha, after much back-and-forth, the daimyo of the Five Great Nations finally conceded.
The allure of unifying smaller nations was simply too great.
With the Ninja Alliance backing the effort, the costs would be minimal.
Even if they weren't entirely in control and found the situation distasteful, the enormous benefits compelled them to compromise.
Once the daimyo were sent off, the remaining Kage and officials relaxed.
Mei Terumi remarked lightly, "It seems the era truly begins to shift from this moment onward."
Despite his excitement, Onoki cautioned, "We must remain vigilant. The daimyo are not without means to resist us."
"They've trained their own ninja forces, and there are still numerous rogue organizations outside the Alliance."
The Fourth Raikage declared, "Then we'll simply subdue those rogue groups first!"
The Fourth Kazekage added, "The Chūnin Championship presents an excellent opportunity to showcase the Alliance's power."
"As for those criminals on the wanted list, let's eliminate as many as we can."
Minato presented his plan: "Let's begin forming an intelligence unit dedicated to gathering information on these rogue groups in preparation for the Chūnin Championship!"
The Kage all nodded in agreement.
General Mifune suddenly asked, "Chairman, the proposal also mentions the possibility of a Jōnin Championship. Is there already a concrete plan for it?"
Before Minato could respond, Onoki interjected, "Given the current situation, there aren't many missions suitable for Jōnin-level tasks."
"Or perhaps it would take a different form of competition?"
Minato smiled and explained, "You're all familiar with Shuichi's special training methods, aren't you?"
The Fourth Raikage said solemnly, "You mean an illusion similar to Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
"Is it even possible to bring so many people into a shared illusion?"
General Mifune speculated, "Lord Shuichi, possessing the Rinnegan, likely has the capability to cast such an ultimate illusion, akin to Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Onoki frowned; he didn't like the sound of that.
While he hadn't been trapped in Infinite Tsukuyomi during the last war, he had heard enough about it to know the experience was unsettling.
The idea of one's life and death being entirely in someone else's hands was unnerving.
Though Shuichi wouldn't need such elaborate methods to kill him, no one liked feeling so vulnerable.
Noticing Onoki's discomfort, Minato reassured him, "You needn't worry. The illusion would be easy to exit at will."
"Moreover, Infinite Tsukuyomi required the God Tree to function. Now that the God Tree is destroyed, Shuichi can only expand his illusion range using Wood Release. And even then, it wouldn't drain chakra from participants, except for Tailed Beast chakra."
Onoki relaxed slightly, and the Fourth Raikage nodded decisively. "Then it's settled."
Yugito Nii and Darui's training outcomes were impressive. While the Alliance was established, the bonds of individual ninja villages still lingered.
Erasing such imprints wouldn't happen overnight.
...
Time flew by, and before anyone realized it, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's son was born and named Konohamaru.
In September, the grand opening of the First Chūnin Championship Tournament took place.
Participants included Sarutobi Asuma, Yūhi Kurenai, Anko Mitarashi, Shiranui Genma, and many others.
However, the one who stole the spotlight was Shizune, a medical ninja—thanks to her flamboyant summoning beast.
Her white tiger, enhanced through modifications and bestowed with the Celestial Star Curse Mark by Shūichi Hoshita, displayed power surpassing even Gamabunta of Mount Myōboku.
Thus, despite being a medical ninja, Shizune dominated the tournament, defeating strong opponents left and right—all credit going to the white tiger, Shiro.
For Shūichi, however, the Chūnin Championship was nothing more than a minor footnote.
His interest lay in spending time with his wife or training closely with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
And so, these tranquil days passed by unnoticed.
---
April 3rd, Year 52 of Konoha.
At Konoha Hospital.
Tsunade finally gave birth to a baby boy, delivered by Nonō Yakushi herself.
With the Medical Eye, Shūichi had long known the baby's gender, but as someone reincarnated, this was his first child, and his emotions were indescribable.
"Tsunade, you've worked hard."
Shūichi cradled their son while comforting her.
Tsunade, however, barely looked at him, her gaze glued to the baby.
"He looks exactly like Nawaki!"
Shūichi: o(╯□╰)o!
Well, there was no fault in saying nephews resemble uncles.
Looking down at his son, Shūichi noted that the baby had inherited Tsunade's hair color and his eye color, indeed looking just like Nawaki.
Naturally, the child was also named Nawaki.
Hoshita Nawaki!
After a long while, Tsunade finally said, "Let Grandpa and the others see the baby too."
Though the child didn't bear the Senju surname, he could undoubtedly be called a true descendant of the Senju bloodline.
Shūichi nodded, stood up, and left the room.
Outside, Uzumaki Kushina, Asuka, and the others immediately surrounded him.
"Kawaii! He's just as adorable as Naruto was as a baby!"
"Eh? He really does look a bit like Naruto!"
"Is it just because they're from the same clan?"
...
As everyone chatted excitedly, Jiraiya stood at the end of the hallway, smiling.
"Looks like I made it in time."
Kakashi walked up behind him.
"Jiraiya-sensei, congratulations on your new book being published!"
Jiraiya, pleasantly surprised, said, "You already know? Hahaha, it seems I'll soon become a literary legend!"
"But, by the way, what gift did you prepare?"
Kakashi raised his hand, revealing a silver bell.
Jiraiya glanced at it, feeling a sense of familiarity—it was the same type of bell used in the Hokage lineage's traditional training tests!
"Not bad," Jiraiya nodded approvingly.
"Now guess what I've prepared as a gift?"
Seeing Jiraiya's expression, Kakashi suddenly felt uneasy.
"Uh... you're not thinking of giving your new book, are you?"
Jiraiya grinned smugly.
"Exactly! Hahaha, it's my masterpiece!"
Kakashi sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
Having read Jiraiya's latest work, he doubted whether such a book was suitable as a gift for a newborn.
Wouldn't Tsunade beat him to a pulp for that?
Kakashi wondered if he should prepare for an emergency rescue, considering Tsunade's infamous lack of restraint in her punches.
Or perhaps he should suggest changing the gift?
But before he could come to a decision, Jiraiya was already striding forward.
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Lord Jiraiya!"
...
A group of people greeted each other warmly, and then Jiraiya looked at the baby and asked, "Shūichi, have you decided on a name yet?"
Shūichi Hoshita smiled and replied, "Nawaki. Hoshita Nawaki!"
Jiraiya's expression froze for a moment.
It was common in the ninja world for younger generations to carry the names of their predecessors. For instance, Uchiha Sasuke shared the same name as Sarutobi Hiruzen's father.
It was even more natural for a nephew to bear his uncle's name.
But Nawaki had died in battle at the age of 12—a life tragically cut short.
Recalling the events of that time, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
"That's an excellent name. He'll undoubtedly grow up to be an outstanding ninja."
Jiraiya smiled, masking his emotions.
Uzumaki Kushina chimed in, "Jiraiya-sensei, you didn't come back empty-handed, did you? You brought a gift, right?"
Jiraiya quickly replied, "Of course I did!"
He promptly took out the gift.
Kushina's face stiffened the moment she saw it, and Kakashi, following close behind, looked visibly awkward.
Unaware of the situation, Senju Hashirama cheerfully took the book and said, "Reading is a very important habit... Hmm?"
Hashirama looked at the cover with confusion. Make-Out Paradise?"
"This isn't meant to be an educational book, is it?"
Jiraiya's smile froze, and Kakashi swiftly stepped forward to snatch the book away. "Um, First Hokage-sama, Lord Jiraiya must have grabbed the wrong one."
With that, Kakashi used Flying Thunder God to teleport Jiraiya away.
Kushina held her forehead in exasperation. "Jiraiya-sensei is still as unreliable as ever!"
When Make-Out Paradise was first published, Minato had been among the first to support it, and of course, he had read the content with Kushina.
Shūichi could only shake his head with a helpless smile.
Jiraiya's carefree nature hadn't changed one bit—even attempting to gift Make-Out Paradise on such an occasion!
It seemed he'd have to assign Jiraiya some tasks to keep him busy.
---
While things were lively outside the maternity ward, far away in the Land of Bears…
In an abandoned town, Obito stood atop a crumbling stone wall. "This should be the place. No mistake about it."
Nagato surveyed the surroundings. "Can we enter directly?"
Obito shook his head. "No. Only when the alternate dimension opens can we resonate with it and enter."
Nagato glanced at the nearby mountain and said, "In that case, we'll have to wait for now."
Obito turned his head and immediately understood Nagato's intention. The two of them leaped onto the mountain.
Nagato formed a series of hand seals: Rain Tiger at Will Technique!
Dark clouds gathered high above, and soon, a steady rain began to fall.
The gentle rain blanketed the entire abandoned town below.
Obito and Nagato hid in a cave on the mountainside.
Watching the rain outside, Obito said, "Who knows how long we'll have to wait. Do you have enough chakra to sustain this?"
Nagato replied, "If we take turns monitoring, it shouldn't be an issue."
Obito nodded silently, saying no more.
The two then began taking turns keeping watch over the abandoned town below.
(End of Chapter)
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