**Chapter 26: The Will of Fire and the Uchiha's Dissonance**

Reijin's Mangekyō Sharingan's Kamui granted him an unparalleled advantage. Although these eyes didn't possess the overwhelming power of techniques like Kotoamatsukami or other powerful dōjutsu, their balanced offense and defense allowed Reijin to handle any early-stage adversary with ease. This was the first time he had revealed Kamui's power. **Kamui really was useful.** These eyes were wasted on Obito.

"Tsunade, what's your goal?" 

The sight of blood caused Tsunade to curl up, her face pale, unable even to use her own healing abilities.

Meanwhile, Shizune, outside the smoke, remained unaware of what was happening inside.

"I told you, I plan to invite you to join me in a new world."

Reijin's tone softened as he looked down at Tsunade.

"What do you mean?" Tsunade didn't understand Reijin's words. His talk seemed like the ramblings of a street mystic. Did he plan to take her to the afterlife? That would be quite a dark joke.

"Tsunade-hime, you're the princess of Konoha. You probably still think of Konoha as the village it once was."

"You don't understand Konoha at all. You probably don't know that the Uchiha clan is on the brink of extinction."

"Right now, the Uchiha are despised in Konoha. They don't even have a single voice of support."

"They've been completely ostracized by the higher-ups in Konoha, and they're on the edge of being wiped out."

"You must have some idea of what's going to happen next."

Reijin didn't directly answer Tsunade's question but sighed as he spoke.

Tsunade remained silent, fully aware of Konoha's situation. It was because of Konoha's darkness, and the deaths of her brother and lover, that she had left. And now, even Kushina had died in the Nine-Tails attack. All the people she had known in Konoha were slowly disappearing.

If she returned to Konoha now, there wouldn't even be a place for her to have a warm drink.

Reijin's words reflected a reality Tsunade knew all too well. She had sensed it long ago—Hiruzen and the Konoha leadership were clearly targeting the Uchiha.

"It seems I was wrong. You probably understand Konoha's darkness very well."

"The Uchiha clan and the Senju clan founded Konoha together, but the Senju merged into Konoha itself."

"Now there are only a handful of their bloodline left, and soon the Uchiha will be wiped out too. It's truly tragic."

"So… how about we join forces again? The Uchiha and Senju, to carve out a new world?"

Reijin crouched down, gently wiping the blood from Tsunade's face as he softly asked her.

If Tsunade could be persuaded to join, it would be the best outcome. If not, Reijin was ready to take her by force. He had never held out much hope for Tsunade's cooperation.

Tsunade's status was extremely special. In the Land of Fire, she was someone who could rally countless shinobi to her side with just a word. After all, she was the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju. Convincing her to give up this advantageous position and start from scratch in a pirate world seemed impossible, so Reijin had already prepared ropes.

"What's this new world you're talking about?"

Tsunade's trembling began to subside as her abdominal wound quickly healed. Her chakra had returned to normal, but she still didn't act recklessly. Reijin's mysterious powers were too unpredictable. She wouldn't make a move without reliable information.

"I've discovered a new world, a world rich in resources."

"It's filled with countless nations, and even a being that claims to be a god who rules over it."

"I plan to lead the Uchiha clan into that world and carve out a territory."

"And Tsunade, your medical ninjutsu would be incredibly valuable."

"Our Uchiha clan loves to fight, but we have very few medical ninjas."

"That's why I sought you out!"

Reijin briefly explained the situation in the pirate world to Tsunade.

The pirate world isn't much less dangerous than the ninja world.

It's full of dangers, and Reijin needs to prepare carefully.

He's worried that he might end up right in the territory of one of the Four Emperors.

If he faces a Thunder Bagua or a Gura Gura no Mi attack, even with Kamui, he would be forced to live a life of hiding and frustration in the pirate world.

So, it's either he doesn't go, or he fully prepares and goes in to claim a territory.

He could use Susanoo to knock one of the Four Emperors off their throne.

"You want to lead the Uchiha clan away from Konoha?"

Tsunade looked at Reijin in shock, not expecting such a thing.

Another world!

Full of various rich resources.

Even Tsunade was tempted the moment she heard about it.

"If Konoha can't accept us, then why stay?"

"Are we supposed to wait until those people put a knife to my throat?"

What's the point of staying in such a Konoha? Better to run away quickly.

Recently, he's felt the friction between the Uchiha and Konoha growing.

Oh!

So, it was me fanning the flames.

Well, that's fine then.

"With such power, no wonder you're so fearless."

"But after what I've learned about you, I doubt you would leave Konoha so easily."

"You'll probably disrupt Konoha's peace first. Konoha was founded by my grandfather; I can't let you destroy it."

Tsunade sensed Reijin's presence and grabbed his arm, pulling him close.

Without saying a word, she tightened her fist and punched forward.

But when she looked up, she was met with a pair of blood-red eyes.

Before Tsunade could react, the Sharingan's tomoe spun rapidly.

"Tsukuyomi!"

With a single word, Tsunade froze in place, her pupils dilating.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

Tsukuyomi shows the victim their deepest fears.

And Tsunade couldn't quickly resist this technique.

The greater the fear, the stronger the power of the technique.

Tsunade, suffering from hemophobia due to the deaths of her lover and brother—could this fear be any greater?

"Surrender now!"

Reijin placed a hand on Tsunade's abdomen.

A series of runes spread across Tsunade's upper body.

This was a contract seal!

It could temporarily sever Tsunade's connection with her summoned beasts.

This would prevent Tsunade from relaying their conversation back to Konoha.

Reijin put his hand on Tsunade's shoulder.

A vortex swirled, and Tsunade was placed in a separate dimension.

He knew reasoning with her wouldn't work.

How could someone steeped in the Will of Fire accept his nonsense?

And besides, Tsunade's status as Konoha's princess was undeniable.

How could she side with someone like him, who was planning a rebellion?

If he had known, he would have captured her outright instead of wasting his breath.

Reijin drew his Gunbai and gently waved it.

The surrounding smoke dissipated instantly.

Everyone's vision cleared, revealing Reijin standing on the shattered ground.

But the Konoha's Tsunade-hime was nowhere to be seen.

"Lady Tsunade! Lady Tsunade!"

Shizune hurried over, holding Tonton, only to find Tsunade gone.

Before she could retreat, several people had surrounded her.

"Don't worry, Tsunade is still alive."

"Take care of his injuries, and I'll take you to see Tsunade!"

Reijin waved his hand, and Uchiha Setsuna was brought over.

Although Uchiha Setsuna had suffered, he wasn't about to die so easily.

It seemed he had a strong will to live.

"Alright!"

Shizune looked at the surrounding ninja, feeling she had no choice but to comply.

She put down Tonton and crouched beside Elder Setsuna.

After a quick check of his injuries, she told Reijin they needed a quiet environment to proceed.

(End of the Chapter)