101 99. Set in Motion

Tsunade calms down and stares at Izuna.

"Explain!"

"Then, Listen. Tsuande, you must be aware of the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku…"

Tsunade nods her head.

"He divined a prophecy for Jiraiya, a few years ago."

"Exactly, he summoned me to his abode and divined a prophecy for me.

Many powerful otherworldly invaders will attack the Shinobi world. He also prophesied about the Fourth Shinobi War. I am not sure of the exact time, but there will be a brutal war in the future.

So, in order to prepare for the future, I want you to grow stronger. I don't want any friends and family to lose their lives in the war. Tsunade you are one of the few people close to me, I don't want you to get hurt. That's why Tsunade you should train in Sage Mode.

Your Creation Rebirth Seal is imperfect. With the help of Sage Mode, you will be able to perfect it and avoid the side-effect."

Tsunade closes her eyes as memories of previous wars flashed in her mind. The image of Dan and Nawaki appeared in her mind, which overlapped with that of Izuna.

Tsunade clenched her fist and resolutely stood up.

"Fine, I will start my training in Sage Mode."

Izuna wraps his hand around Tsunade and teleports from the treetop. He appears in front of Katsuyu.

"Lady Katsuyu, I have convinced Tsunade. She will start her training from tomorrow onwards."

Katsuyu nods her optical tentacles.

"Thank you, Izuna-kun."

"Ok! Then Farewell." Izuna places his hand on Tsunade's shoulder and prepares to teleport to Konoha.

"I will reverse summon myself tomorrow," Tsunade informs Katsuyu before teleporting away.

Katsuyu looks at Izuna and Tsunade's pair.

"They would make a perfect couple if only Tsunade was a little younger." Katsuyu sighs and enters inside her cave.

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For the next few days, Izuna trains both Sasuke and Naruto. Shisui and Itachi are out on an Anbu mission in Land of Woods.

Hiruzen orders them to seek an alliance with the 'Prajna Group' an Anbu group of Land of Woods.

Izuna stares at Sasuke and Naruto, who are hanging upside down on a tree. He is training their chakra control. Izuna has tied their hands and legs.

They have to maintain their position without falling.

'Things are progressing way too faster. Since I have dealt with Danzo, there won't be any violent massacre…

… but the ambition of those old geezers of Clan. Sigh.'

Izuna remembers his previous clan meeting where he tried to talk the elders of Uchiha clan down.

'If they don't want to co-operate, then I can only let Shisui put them into a genjutsu and manipulate them.'

Izuna sighs and continues to provide tips to Naruto and Sasuke. Both of them continue to fall and climb back again.

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Inside the private room besides Hokage's office,

Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura sat around a table and discuss important matters.

"It has been a year since Danzo went missing. We assume that he is dead. Whoever did it, he did a clean job." Homura sighs and laments at Danzo's loss.

"But to think, Danzo had such dealings. He was involved in most of the schemes and plots against the village. We have been raising a serpent all along. His hunger for power was too intense." Koharu sighs and rests against the chair.

"Our era is over. It is time to pass our responsibilities to the next generation. What do you think about it?..." Hiruzen picks up his pipe and smokes.

"There is no suitable candidate for Hokage's position. However, I would like to make Sakumo Hatake as the new village elder. He will replace Danzo's position in the elder council. What are your thoughts on this matter?" Hiruzen continues.

Koharu and Homura contemplate before nodding in affirmation.

"We agree with your decision. Let us hold a council meeting tomorrow and declare it."

Hiruzen takes a deep puff from his pipe and places it on the table. He takes out a report and presents it to them.

"Now, let's talk about serious matter.

The elders of the Uchiha clan are planning something. Whatever it is, it is not favorable for the village…"

Homura picks up the report and reads it.

"We have no valid proof against them. We can't take any action recklessly. We need to increase surveillance of the Uchiha clan." He suggests.

"Yes, I will deploy another Anbu team to monitor them. Danzo's schemes have caused quite a problem for us. If we fail to deal with the situation effectively, then it may spell another Ninja war.

Konoha isn't ready for another war. The previous war and the nine-tails incident had exhausted our village." Hiruzen sighs again.

"I will think of a solution to this matter and inform you later. We can't allow another major incident in the village."

Hiruzen stands up and walks towards his office. Koharu and Homura depart shortly.

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A month passed in the blink of an eye. Izuna regularly visits Aunt Fumiko to check on her.

Aunt Fumiko is in the fourth month of her pregnancy. It will be awhile before the baby will be born.

Izuna regularly reports to Tsunade, who is training Sage Mode in Shikkotsu Forest.

Her progress is relatively slow compared to Izuna. She has to use the 'Slug oil' to aid in the absorption of Nature energy.

Despite her efforts, she is still stuck at the first step of Sage Mode. It will take her a while to sense Nature energy effortlessly.

Izuna teleports back to the village. He stands on top of the Hokage Monument and stares at the village.

"Time to bid farewell. I will train for another four months and I will return before the birth of my sibling.

Mount Myoboku is still the ideal place to train in Nature transformations. I have progressed a lot in the Kekkai Tota release. Beside Dust Release and Power release, I will be able to use another kekkai Tota soon.

An icy blue flame appears in his hand. The flame flickers for a while before it extinguishes completely.

"This combination of Fire Release and Ice Release is still unstable. I have to figure out the correct chakra ratio and conditions to stabilize it. For now, I will name it as… Arctic release. Yes, Arctic release seems suitable."

Izuna clenches his fist and teleports from the village. He reappears inside Mount Myoboku.

Fukasaku hops towards him and greets him.

"You are back, Izuna-boy. Will you continue your Nature transformation training? You are quite close to attaining another Kekkai Tota.

I will help with your training."

Fukasaku claps his hands and enters Sage Mode.

"Izuna-boy! I will able to sense changes in your chakra more easily this way. Now start your training."

Izuna activates his Sharingan to observe the ratio of chakra. He infused Fire release from one hand and Ice release from another.

Blue flames forms in between his hands. Izuna infuses more chakra into the jutsu to make it bigger. This surge of chakra destabilized the jutsu, and it exploded on him.

Boom...

One of his hand froze, and another got charred. He quickly healed his hand and started again.

Boom…

"Again"

Boom…

"Again"

The training continues for another month. Izuna continues to practice the Arctic Release.

Many people spent their entire life to figure out a Nature transformation. The Second Tsuchikage developed the 'Dust Release' and passed it on to 'Third Tsuchikage'. It was his greatest achievement.

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Inside the Anbu headquarters,

Hiruzen summons Shisui and Itachi. Both of them flickers before him and bow to him. They await further orders from Hiruzen.

Hiruzen turns towards them and speaks,

"Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha. Both of you are an excellent member of Anbu. Your achievements in this past year marveled me.

Your capabilities only lie short to Izuna Uchiha."

Hiruzen looks towards Shisui and nods.

"Your grandfather Kagami Uchiha was a close-aide of Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. He was my senior and a close friend.

You have grown quite well, and I hope you follow Kagami's example. The Will of Fire burns brighter within both of you. I don't want the village to engulf in chaos and flames of hatred."

Itachi hesitates for a while before he speaks,

"Hokage-sama! I have something to report to you."

Hiruzen stares at Itachi and nods his head.

"Proceed."

"Hokage-sama! Fugaku Uchiha, the current leader of the Uchiha clan, and my father ordered me to join Anbu to seek information on the elder council.

This way, I am acting as a spy for the clan."

Hiruzen sighs and rubs his forehead.

"I can understand your sentiments. You are part of a clan, after all. But remember this, you are also a Konoha citizen.

This entire village is your family. You can't harm them for the sake of your close relatives. However, I am glad that you informed me about this.

I will issue a mission to you now. From today onwards, you will act as a spy for me and monitor the Uchiha clan. You will be a double agent this way."

"Yes, Hokage-sama. I understand. I won't disappoint you."

Itachi bows his head.

"Hokage-sama! Shall I consult with Izuna nii-san? He was the former anbu captain. Maybe, he could find a peaceful solution."

Hiruzen sighs and reminds Shisui.

"Izuna Uchiha is the genius of the Uchiha clan, but he isn't the son of Clan Leader. He is a disposable piece to elders. Izuna also understands this.

Sometimes, power isn't the only way to govern people. Power and politics go hand by hand. Izuna Uchiha has power, but he has no political say.

Or to be precise, he isn't interested in anything except training. This S-rank mission is just a disguise for him to train. It would be better if he isn't involved in this.

If he turned against the village, then Konoha will suffer quite a loss. I want to settle the matter peacefully. You two, keep updating me on the latest intel."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Both of them nods and flickers out from the headquarter.

Hiruzen sighs and stares at the moon.

'Things have turned quite complicated. I hope it will end peacefully.'

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A/N:- I randomly came up with Artic Release. If anyone has a better suggestion, comment it down below. I will change the name if I liked it.