Tsunade and Shizune stood at the gate, their gazes complex as they watched the scene in the courtyard.
Mikoto and Gaara also noticed the movement at the entrance and looked up simultaneously.
A flicker of timidity passed through Gaara's large eyes with dark circles. He instinctively and agilely jumped onto the engawa, hiding behind Mikoto, his small hands tightly clutching the hem of Mikoto's kimono, only half his head peeking out to secretly observe the unfamiliar visitors.
After recognizing the visitors, a gentle smile appeared on Mikoto's face. She put down the needle and thread in her hands, gently patted the back of Gaara's hand to reassure him, then stood up and gave a slight nod to Tsunade and Shizune. "Tsunade-sama, Shizune-san, are you here to see Kushina and Minato? They are busy with government affairs today and haven't returned yet. If you don't mind, please come in and wait for a while."
Her voice was soft and pleasant, her demeanor composed, as if she were merely receiving ordinary visitors.
Tsunade took a deep breath and strode in.
Shizune hurriedly followed with Tonton in her arms, not forgetting to bow politely. "Pardon the intrusion, Mikoto-sama."
Upon entering the courtyard, a fresh scent of grass and trees greeted them.
Tsunade looked around, her gaze finally settling on Mikoto and the red-haired little boy behind her.
Her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed as numerous clues and guesses flashed through her mind in an instant.
'As I thought...' Tsunade thought to herself.
'Kushina and Minato were probably involved in the Uchiha's plan long ago. They might have even orchestrated that 'defection' and took the opportunity to save Mikoto.'
Thinking of this, an indescribable anger and disappointment welled up in her heart, directed at Hiruzen, far away in Konoha.
The intelligence Shizune brought back from Konoha clearly stated that Konoha officially recognized Fugaku and his wife as tragically deceased.
'Just how much truth had the old man hidden?'
'To what desperate straits had the Uchiha Clan been pushed to choose a whole-clan defection, even joining forces with a new power like the Land of Stars?'
'Even a Ninja as loyal to the village as Uchiha Shisui had chosen to leave...'
'What exactly had the Konoha's higher-ups done?'
As these thoughts raced through her mind, Tsunade walked up to Mikoto.
Looking at the other's calm face, a thousand words ultimately turned into a complex sigh. "I never thought... I'd see you here, Mikoto."
Mikoto met her gaze, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She gave a slight bow. "Yes, Tsunade-sama. Originally... I should have gone with Fugaku. But Kushina said many things to me. She hoped I could... see the children grow up."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a sense of release and determination born from having experienced life and death.
"As I suspected." Tsunade nodded, her gaze turning to the red-haired boy who was still hiding behind Mikoto, looking at her with a mix of curiosity and wariness. Tsunade had seen this child before. as after Shura's battle with the One-Tail, he had brought this child back and said he was the One-Tail's Jinchuriki.
She couldn't help but ask, "Are you taking care of this child now?"
"Mmm." Mikoto turned slightly, gently stroking Gaara's head as she introduced him. "His name is Gaara. He is the Jinchuriki of the One-Tail's Shukaku, and also the youngest son of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, of Sunagakure."
"The Fourth Kazekage's son?" Shizune repeated subconsciously, not quite processing it at first. She had only known this little one was the One-Tail's Jinchuriki before.
But when she heard the latter part, her pupils abruptly contracted. Her arms holding Tonton unconsciously tightened, making the little pig let out protesting 'puu'.
She exclaimed in a startled voice, "The Fourth Kazekage turned his own son into a Jinchuriki..."
Tsunade's face also instantly darkened, her eyes becoming sharp.
"Jinchuriki..." She repeated in a low voice, her mind involuntarily recalling Naruto within Konoha Village, the child who had also become the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki right after birth.
According to news Shizune brought back from Konoha from her frequent trips to the village, she knew that child did not have a good life in the village. Malicious rumors like 'Nine-Tailed Demon Fox reincarnation' and 'killed the Fourth Hokage' never ceased.
And Tsunade knew very well who was behind fanning the flames. She just couldn't understand why Hiruzen would stand by and do nothing, even adopting an almost indulgent attitude, allowing the rumors to spread.
Suppressing the irritation in her heart, she looked at Mikoto, her tone carrying inquiry. "So, you're taking care of him now?"
A gentle smile appeared on Mikoto's face as she explained, "Yes. Recently, Minato has been presiding over the overall situation of the Land of Stars, and Kushina is also busy coordinating war logistics and training reserve Ninja, especially the Sealing Team. They're both tied up. So I often come over to help look after Gaara."
Just as she finished speaking, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a slightly tired but still energetic red-haired figure walked in.
"I'm back! I'm exhausted today..." Kushina complained while rubbing her shoulders. When she saw Tsunade and Shizune in the yard, a surprised smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Aah! Tsunade-sama! Shizune! What brings you here? Please, come in, come in! Don't just stand in the yard!"
"Kushina-sama, pardon the intrusion." Shizune hurriedly bowed in greeting again.
"Kushina-obasan." Gaara also greeted in a small voice, seeming more familiar and closer to this red-haired aunt.
"Hey! Gaara is so well-behaved!" Kushina laughed and ruffled Gaara's hair.
The group moved from the courtyard to the spacious, bright living room.
Mikoto handed the mended teddy bear to Gaara. The little one took the bear, a pure, age-appropriate smile appearing on his face as he hugged the bear tightly and whispered, "Thank you, Mikoto-obasan."
Watching Gaara's well-behaved appearance, a trace of longing flashed in Mikoto's eyes. She wondered how Sasuke, far away in Konoha, was doing now...
Kushina deftly washed a plate of fruit and brought it over, then looked teasingly at the bored-looking Tsunade and asked with a mischievous smile, "So, how is it, Tsunade-sama? After spending these days in our 'healthy and uplifting' Star City, do you feel... especially 'quiet', especially 'health-preserving'?"
She deliberately emphasized the words 'healthy and uplifting' and 'quiet and health-preserving', clearly having long anticipated that Tsunade, a gambling addict, would be suffering.
Tsunade shot her an annoyed glance, picked up an apple, and took a fierce bite, complaining, "Hmph! The Land of Stars is good in every way, except for this gambling ban! It's practically anti-human! If this continues, my hands are going to waste!"
Hearing this, Kushina laughed even more heartily.
After the joking, Tsunade's expression turned serious as she got to the main point. "I came here mainly to ask about the specific situation of the western war. I heard Sunagakure and Iwagakure were both defeated? And... it only took seven days?"
Even with mental preparation, this speed still made it hard for her to believe.
Kushina also stopped smiling and nodded. "Yes, it's not a secret anymore. An official announcement should be made in a few days."
She organized her thoughts and briefly explained, "Regarding Sunagakure, their main force was completely routed by us at Shasansen Oasis. Elder Chiyo died in battle, and the Fourth Kazekage was severely injured and captured. Our forces have occupied Sunagakure and are gradually taking over the entire Land of Wind. The former Land of Wind's Daimyo and some of his close associates, after the news of the defeat came back, fled to the Land of Fire under the protection of Ninjas sent by Konoha."
She paused, then continued, "As for Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage personally led an army of over ten thousand to attack our eastern border. But outside Toriwari Mountain Castle, Uchiha Hikari single-handedly routed them. Onoki himself has surrendered and is currently in the Star City, where Minato is responsible for post-war negotiations with him."
Even though they had heard the rumors, hearing these facts confirmed firsthand from Kushina still left Tsunade and Shizune shocked.
'Destroying a country in seven days, Uchiha Hikari holding off an army of ten thousand alone...'
She had thought Shura's power was terrifying enough, but there was also Hikari, who single-handedly crushed ten thousand Iwagakure's Ninjas. Tsunade felt Hikari was probably even more terrifying than Madara back in the day!
'The strength displayed by the Land of Stars had surpassed that of the Five Great Nations. I'm afraid even Konoha couldn't...'
Tsunade lightly tapped the table with her fingertips and asked the most crucial question: "So, how do you plan to deal with the Land of Wind and Sunagakure? And the Land of Earth and Iwagakure?"
Just then, a gentle yet clear voice came from the doorway connecting the living room to the engawa:
"Regarding that, the preliminary plan is: the Land of Wind will be formally annexed by our country, and its territory will be established as new administrative divisions. As for the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, given their scale and actual circumstances, they will be reduced to our country's vassal state and vassal Ninja Village."
Everyone turned to look and saw Minato standing on the engawa, a faint smile on his face.
"Minato-ojisan." Gaara greeted obediently.
Minato walked into the living room, gently patted Gaara's head, and naturally sat down beside Kushina.
"Annexing the Land of Wind... vassal state for the Land of Earth..." Tsunade murmured, her expression grave.
Annexing the Land of Wind meant the Land of Stars would officially replace it as one of the Five Great Nations, and it was a newly emerged great nation with terrifying military strength.
Making the Land of Earth a vassal state was an even more sophisticated and far-reaching strategy.
It was far more complex and effective than direct occupation. It could avoid huge governance costs, social unrest, and direct intervention from the Land of Fire and Land of Lightning, while simultaneously gradually and thoroughly assimilating it through economic, political, cultural, and other forms of infiltration.
The ambition and methods of the Land of Stars made her heart shudder.
Minato continued, "Additionally, according to the treaty just signed with the Tsuchikage, the Land of Earth has ceded five eastern border provinces. We plan to lease the coastal city of Aomori on the Land of Earth's new border to establish a [Special Economic Zone], focusing on developing... the gambling and entertainment industry."
"Gambling industry? A casino city?" Tsunade was taken aback, looking at Minato in confusion. "Didn't the Land of Stars explicitly ban gambling?"
Minato calmly explained, "Blocking is not as good as dredging. An absolute ban will only give rise to underground black markets, bringing greater public security risks and social problems."
"So our strategy is to restrict activities like gambling to specific, controllable areas. By issuing special operating licenses, establishing strict industry regulations, levying high taxes, and implementing effective supervision, we bring it under regularized management. At the same time, locating this casino city within the Land of Earth's territory also helps attract capital flow from the Land of Earth and even the entire continent, boost local economic development, and subtly spread our country's management concepts and lifestyle."
Tsunade listened quietly, a glimmer of understanding flashing in her eyes.
She had heard about the successful case of the Land of Stars establishing an economic zone port in the northern Snow Province. Because of its special business environment and commercial tax rates, it attracted a large number of foreign merchants to venture there, making trade extremely prosperous.
Minato's words sounded reasonable, but her sharp political sense of smell made her detect a deeper intention.
She looked directly at Minato and got straight to the point: "Placing this 'casino city' within the Land of Earth's territory, rather than in the ceded land that is legally yours... Your real purpose probably isn't just making money and regulated management, is it? Do you want to use it as a forward base to do something to the Land of Earth?"
Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance, a smile of appreciation appearing on his face. "As expected, we can't hide it from you. But please rest assured, our goal is not aggression or destruction. Rather, we hope that through economic cooperation and cultural exchange, we can more smoothly introduce the Land of Stars' ideals of pursuing fairness, justice, and development into the Land of Earth."
"At the same time, this city with special legal status can also, when necessary, provide a relatively safe refuge for those who suffer unjust persecution within the Land of Earth."
His words were gentle, yet they revealed a grand strategic concept of using soft power to overcome hard power, changing a country from within.
Tsunade was silent for a moment, not pursuing the details further.
She understood that this inevitably involved the Land of Stars' deeper, long-term layout regarding social change in the Ninja World.
…
Meanwhile, deep within the Sea of Death inside the Land of Wind.
Menma, sitting cross-legged at the highest point of the sand city ruins, slowly opened his eyes.
In the distance, the colossal Ten-Tails was already on its last breath, like a candle in the wind. Its last trace of origin Chakra was being frantically devoured by the dark red Nine-Tails.
At this moment, Kokyu's size hadn't increased much, but the Chakra emanating from its body had undergone a qualitative change!
The dark red Chakra churned like boiling magma. Behind her, next to her original nine tails, a tenth tail had clearly condensed!
"Roar…!!!"
Kokyu threw her head back and let out a world-shaking roar. Where the sound wave passed, countless sand and dust flew up!
It had successfully absorbed the Ten-Tails' entire origin and completed its ultimate evolution!
Menma felt the vast Chakra, almost overflowing, tightly connected to Kokyu within his body, and frowned slightly.
Even with his Uzumaki Clan's robust physique, he now felt a sense of distension and pressure.
'Kyu-chan's Chakra amount and quality have already surpassed the scope of ordinary Tailed Beasts, reaching the level of the Ten-Tails... My body is starting to have some difficulty fully containing it.' Menma understood clearly, pondering to himself.
'I must complete the fusion of Hashirama's cells as soon as possible, fully develop the Sage Body, and then advance the fusion with Kyu-chan to the final stage! Only then can I bear this power and truly step into that legendary level… the Six Paths-level!'