Chapter 87: Peace and Loyalty

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''The Uchiha Clan was known for three great loves:''

Showing off, drinking, and teasing Nara Shikaku.

Nara Shikaku, the long-serving strategist for the Hokage, often clashed with Uchiha Kento, who found him insufferable.

In the past, Kento had to be careful around Shikaku, but now, with the Uchiha clan's newfound strength, he felt free to speak his mind.

Sure enough, Nara Shikaku was trembling with anger.

His voice quivering, Shikaku shouted, "Someone, remove him from the premises!"

But no one moved. The Anbu, who would normally respond, were now mostly Uchiha themselves.

Seeing this, Kento's nostrils flared in triumph. He was relishing the power shift.

Suddenly, a flash of electricity surged toward Kento—Kakashi's Raikiri!

Kakashi grabbed Kento by the neck, the crackling energy just inches away from his skin. "Uchiha Kento, stop causing trouble!" Kakashi warned.

But Kento wasn't intimidated. In fact, he almost welcomed the idea of Kakashi killing him—it would give the Uchiha clan the perfect excuse to rebel.

With Sasuke's power backing them, the Uchiha were more than capable of staging a successful coup. Kento sneered at Kakashi, "What's the matter, Kakashi? You scared me!"

Kakashi's voice darkened, "This is not the place for your antics, Kento. Konoha is about to establish an Advanced Ninja Academy. Don't cause any more problems."

Kento shrugged and said, "Fine, fine, I'll stop."

Kakashi released him, but the tension in the air was palpable.

---

''Nara Shikaku felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.''

The Uchiha-controlled Guard now managed all security within Konoha, instilling fear in the hearts of the village's citizens—even among the ninjas themselves.

The Anbu, once loyal to the Hokage, now followed the Uchiha's lead. It felt as if Konoha's sky was falling.

Not long ago, Hidan of the Akatsuki had killed Asuma Sarutobi, and Kakuzu had Chiriku from the Fire Temple.

This could be seen as the first shot in a war against Konoha. Shikaku and Tsunade had immediately planned to mobilize the ninja forces.

But Fugaku had stopped them.

"What are you doing?" Fugaku had asked. "Do you want to start the Fourth Great Ninja War on your own?"

Shikaku had argued, "Fugaku, if someone from Amegakure dares to kill Asuma and Chiriku, what's to stop them from coming for the Hokage next? War has already begun!"

But Fugaku had countered, "What right does Asuma have to represent all of Konoha? Would you react the same way if Amegakure killed two ordinary villagers?"

Shikaku had been left speechless.

Fugaku continued, "As an advisor to the Hokage, you should treat everyone equally. If you're this biased toward Asuma, then you have no right to start a war with Amegakure. And let me be clear—if it comes to war, the Uchiha clan will not participate."

Shikaku had been furious. Most of Konoha's power, including the Anbu and the Guard, was now in Uchiha hands. If they chose to stay out of the conflict, it would cripple Konoha's response.

In his anger, Shikaku had muttered, "The Uchiha clan... Maybe the Third Hokage should have listened to the Second and driven them out!"

The room had gone silent as Shikaku realized his mistake. Fugaku had stopped writing and looked up, a dangerous smile playing on his lips.

"The Second Hokage didn't have the power to destroy the Uchiha because Madara left him with an indelible memory. And the First Hokage never allowed him to act against us," Fugaku had said calmly.

"But if I wanted to, I could make sure the Nara name is wiped from Konoha by tomorrow."

The weight of Fugaku's words had made Shikaku break into a cold sweat. Under Fugaku's intense gaze, Shikaku had finally given in. "I'm sorry, I misspoke."

Fugaku had left without another word.

---

''Reflecting on that encounter, Nara Shikaku felt a deep sense of dread.''

As loyal supporters of the Third Hokage, the Nara clan had never aligned with the Uchiha, and now, with the Uchiha's overwhelming power, the Nara clan was desperate to regain influence.

The only solution Shikaku could see was to establish the Advanced Ninja Academy as a counterbalance to Uchiha's dominance.

Taking a deep breath, Shikaku resolved to move forward with the plan.

Konoha's elite jonin would bring their students to the Advanced Ninja Academy to teach, preparing the next generation of shinobi to challenge the Uchiha's power.

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''In the Hokage's office, Nara Shikaku noticed how haggard Jiraiya had become.''

Turning to Tsunade, he asked, "Tsunade-sama, I feel like we're losing ground against the Uchiha. Where is Jiraiya-sama?"

Tsunade sighed and replied, "That fool Jiraiya is never around when you need him. Who knows where he's gone off to? Probably writing his novels somewhere."

Shikaku then asked, "Who will be the dean of the Advanced Ninja Academy?"

Tsunade's expression hardened. "I'll take charge of it myself."

---

''Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound...''

The tailed beasts within the Uchiha's reach had been gathered. The group consisted of Gaara with Shukaku, Sasuke with Matatabi, Utakata with Saiken, and Naruto with Kurama.

This was also the first time Naruto and Gaara had met since the Chunin Exams.

Naruto, still a chunin, looked at Gaara with admiration and said, "Gaara, I'm so jealous of you. You're already a Kage, and I'm still a chunin."

Gaara replied, "Becoming a Kage wasn't something I wanted."

Utakata blew bubbles absentmindedly, and the group turned to Sasuke.

"How did you grow up so fast, Sasuke?" they asked.

Sasuke recounted his experience of traveling through time, explaining how he had spent three years witnessing the founding of Konoha and the epic battle at the Valley of the End, where he saw Madara and Hashirama in their full glory.

Naruto, full of excitement, asked, "Can I go back in time too?"

Sasuke hesitated. Knowing Naruto's impulsive nature, he imagined Naruto would try to save his father, Minato.

But Sasuke knew that tampering with the past could drastically change the course of history. If Naruto succeeded in saving Minato, everything might be altered beyond recognition.

Sasuke decided he couldn't let Naruto time-travel. "Naruto, let's not talk about that. But... there is a way to bring your father back."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Sasuke, are you serious?"

Sasuke nodded. "Yes, I am."

---

''Elsewhere in the ninja world, something unexpected was happening.''

The five chapters of the latest "Honji Rai" were released in rapid succession, spreading like wildfire throughout the ninja world.

These books, however, portrayed the powerful Fourth Raikage in a humiliating light, tarnishing his once-imposing reputation.

In the Hidden Cloud Village, the mighty Raikage buried his face in a pillow, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I'm the strong Raikage. I've lived my life with pride and dignity, but because of my darker skin, they've turned me into a caricature—a big black bull, a lecherous demon... Everything is ruined."

Raikage was a man who feared nothing—not even death.

But the widespread popularity of the "Honji Rai of the Land" series in the ninja world didn't kill him physically—it crushed his spirit.

Killer Bee lay comfortably on one of the Eight-Tails' tentacles, engrossed in reading the latest installment of "Honji Rai."

The book depicted the Raikage and the Eight-Tails with exaggerated bravado, much to Bee's amusement.

The more he read, the more excited he became.

"Yo, Eight-Tails, don't you think my bro's pretty cool in this?" Bee asked, grinning widely.

The Eight-Tails was not amused. With a flick of his tail, he sent Bee flying through the air. "Get lost!" the beast growled.

Meanwhile, the mysterious author of the "Honji Rai" series, known only as "Man Painter," stood on a cliff, gazing at the sky with a self-satisfied smirk.

The success of his series had made him wealthy and famous, but he dared not reveal his true identity.

If the Raikage discovered who was behind the books, Man Painter feared he would become a target for the Raikage's wrath.

And so, he chose to remain in the shadows, his true identity hidden from the world.

In the Land of Fire, Konoha Village.

The unexpected arrival of the Fourth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi, caught Tsunade off guard.

In the Hokage's office, Tsunade studied Kurotsuchi, who was young, fair-skinned, and undeniably beautiful with her long legs and confident demeanor.

It was hard for Tsunade to believe that the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, had handed over his position to someone so young.

"Isn't Onoki known for being a stubborn old man?" Tsunade thought to herself. "Why would he step down for Kurotsuchi?"

Despite her disbelief, Tsunade addressed Kurotsuchi with respect. "What brings the Fourth Tsuchikage to Konoha Village?" she asked.

Kurotsuchi responded with determination, "I've come on behalf of Iwagakure to sign a peace agreement with Konoha. I hope Hokage-sama will agree."

Tsunade frowned slightly. Another peace agreement? First, the Hidden Cloud signed one, and now Iwagakure? Tsunade knew that such agreements were often only as strong as the paper they were written on. If one side decided not to honor it, the treaty would become meaningless.

"Does Onoki know about this?" Tsunade inquired, testing Kurotsuchi's resolve.

Kurotsuchi frowned at the implication. "Hokage-sama, I am the Tsuchikage now. My grandfather knows, but this decision is mine."

Tsunade nodded, acknowledging Kurotsuchi's authority. She then reviewed the agreement, noticing a significant difference from the one with the Hidden Cloud. This agreement proposed canceling the border defenses between the two villages, allowing citizens to move freely between the two lands.

Tsunade was taken aback by the boldness of the proposal. This is a big move, she thought.

Allowing people to cross borders freely would essentially unify the two villages, creating a stronger bond than any paper treaty could.

The more Tsunade considered it, the more intrigued she became.

If this agreement was truly implemented, Konoha and Iwagakure would be intertwined in a way that made war between them unthinkable.

Ninjas from both villages would live, work, and even marry across borders, creating a deeply integrated community.

Of course, Tsunade knew there would be challenges. But with the Uchiha managing Konoha's security, she was confident that any issues could be handled.

With that in mind, Tsunade signed the unprecedented peace treaty, marking the beginning of a new era of cooperation between Konoha and Iwagakure.

On the journey back to Iwagakure, Sasuke accompanied Kurotsuchi.

As they traveled, Sasuke noticed Kurotsuchi seemed weary. "Aren't you tired from all this walking?" he asked.

Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes at him. "Not everyone has unlimited chakra like you, Sasuke. I'm good with the Light and Heavy Rock Technique, but I still have limits."

Sasuke smiled. "How about I summon us a ride?"

Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow. "A mount?"

Sasuke nodded, thinking of an old friend he hadn't seen in years. Biting his finger, he slammed his hand to the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

With a flash of white mist, a massive purple snake appeared before them.

Kurotsuchi looked at the enormous creature with a mix of surprise and skepticism. It was fierce-looking, but somehow... it seemed a little subdued.

Sasuke didn't seem concerned. "Don't worry. It looks cool, right?"

Manda, the snake, blinked in confusion as it recognized Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke? You've gotten a lot bigger since I last saw you!"

"Shut up and take us to Iwagakure," Sasuke ordered.

Manda bristled, "What do you think I am, a common beast of burden?"

But when Sasuke's Sky Blade flashed in the light, Manda quickly backed down. "Of course, Sasuke-kun. I'd be honored to carry you."

Satisfied, Sasuke nodded, and the two climbed onto Manda's back. Despite its intimidating appearance, Manda obeyed without complaint.

When they arrived at the Tsuchikage Building in Iwagakure, they were greeted by the village elders who had been waiting for Kurotsuchi.

Among them was Elder Tū, an elder even older than Onoki, who had trained under the Second Tsuchikage but had not mastered the Dust Release.

Despite his age, Elder Tū was a commanding presence.

As Kurotsuchi approached, Elder Tū asked sternly, "Did you really sign a peace treaty with Konoha?"

Kurotsuchi nodded confidently.

Elder Tū's face turned red with anger. "Why should Iwagakure submit to another village? Why should we compromise?!"

Kurotsuchi tried to explain, "This isn't about submission. It's about living in peace. It's about ensuring the survival and prosperity of our people!"

But Elder Tū wouldn't listen. "If you want to remain Tsuchikage, I suggest you tear up that treaty. If not, I will lead an effort to remove you!"

Before Kurotsuchi could respond, Sasuke stepped forward, placing himself between her and the elder.

Sasuke had no patience for such defiance, and he certainly didn't care about the elder's status.

"You're practically in the grave," Sasuke said coldly. "Why do you still care so much?"

Elder Tū glared at him. "I'm still strong, boy. I've got at least another ten or twenty years left!"

Sasuke smirked. "We'll see about that."

In a blur of movement, Sasuke's Kusanagi blade flashed, and Elder Tū suddenly found himself missing an arm.

For a moment, the elder was too shocked to react. Then the pain hit, and he fell to the ground, writhing in agony.

Sasuke turned to the other elders, his voice icy. "You have three minutes to decide whether you'll support Kurotsuchi or this old fool. Choose wisely, or I'll show you what true hell looks like."

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The tension in the room was palpable as Sasuke's ultimatum hung in the air. The elders exchanged worried glances, realizing that their choice would determine not just the future of Iwagakure, but their own survival as well.