Konoha Center.
The battle was nearing its end.
Houses were toppled and severely damaged.
On the way from the battlefield, the wounded supported each other as they rushed to the medical department.
Such a degree of damage was, for Konoha, the most severe destruction since the Night of the Nine-Tails.
After Shiro returned to the Konoha Center, he looked at the surrounding scene and couldn't help but marvel that Pain's Super Shinra Tensei in the original story truly helped Naruto all the way.
Just think about the future Kazekage who is lying down in the back right now.
How restricted was he when facing Deidara's invasion?
He not only had to protect the villagers but also control his emotions to prevent Shukaku from taking over and rampaging.
If Naruto had arrived in a Konoha that hadn't been cleared by the Super Shinra Tensei, and unleashed Nine-Tails Chakra in such an environment, the destructive power would be unimaginable.
Even if he became the hero who saved Konoha, he would most likely face countless villagers' questions—'Look closely, what exactly did you protect?'
"Ouch."
Bang.
A blonde girl with a high ponytail ran out from around the corner in a panic, stumbled over Gaara on the ground, and fell.
"Ugh!"
Kankuro's eyes widened, wanting to shout something, but his mouth was sealed, so he couldn't say anything.
Shiro grabbed Temari's arm behind him and pulled her aside. The next second, a volley of senbon flew through the spot where she had been standing.
"Thanks. It seems that when the little girl tripped, she accidentally triggered the mechanism of the crow acting as a stretcher under Gaara."
After Temari thanked Shiro, she looked towards the source of the commotion.
The little girl was covering her red, scraped cheek, wobbling as she stood up.
However, she couldn't stand steadily and took a step back.
The crow mechanism was triggered again.
Gaara, who was lying on it, twitched a few times and then directly fainted.
"Oh no, the crow's attack is poisonous! Quickly unbind Kankuro and let him detoxify Gaara!"
Temari was extremely anxious.
Shiro walked over, unbound Kankuro, and then looked expressionlessly at the mischievous little girl.
"Gah-la!!"
Kankuro anxiously pounced, flipping Gaara over.
Gaara's butt was pricked like a hedgehog by the senbon, red and swollen.
Kankuro quickly pulled out the needles one by one, then took out an antidote from his pouch and applied it to Gaara.
"Big brother, I didn't mean to~"
Seeing Shiro staring at her like that, the little girl looked wronged, on the verge of tears.
"Hey, what are you doing? After bullying me, you wanted Chiyo-sama's swimsuit photos, and now you're looking at this little girl like that—are you not letting go of anyone from eight to eighty?"
Temari frowned, wanting to stop Shiro, but since her hands were tied, she could only lightly bump Shiro with her body.
When Temari mentioned "Chiyo-sama's swimsuit photos," a hint of shock flashed in the little girl's eyes.
"Nothing, I was just wondering if this child is from Konoha.
If she is from Konoha, then I'll take her along to see the Third Hokage, to prevent her from running off and encountering danger again..."
"I'm not from Konoha! I, I'm from Hidden Rain Village!"
"Huh?"
The little girl's surprising statement made Temari look at Shiro in astonishment.
Shiro, however, wasn't surprised.
He wasn't wearing a Hidden Rain Village forehead protector or Hidden Rain Village distinctive clothing, so the other party naturally didn't know where he was from.
Seeing him escorting three Sunagakure ninja, she probably thought he was from Konoha.
However, Shiro had already guessed her identity.
That's right, this blonde, high-ponytail little girl was Tsunade using the Transformation Technique!
Tsunade had been using the Transformation Technique for years, transforming into herself at various ages to evade gambling debts, which was already second nature to her.
This time returning to Konoha, she was both worried about Konoha's safety and didn't want to be discovered and forced to stay.
So, as usual, she transformed into the appearance of a little girl.
If Konoha truly reached a life-or-death crisis, it wouldn't be too late for her to act.
Now it seemed there was no need for that.
Moreover, she had just secretly gone to the location of the Four Violet Flames Formation and even heard Hiruzen Sarutobi say he wanted to pass the Hokage position to her or Jiraiya.
She was even more glad she hadn't exposed herself.
Just as she was about to recall Shizune, who she had sent to the medical department to help, and prepare to leave Konoha, she saw Shiro returning, escorting three Sunagakure prisoners.
Tsunade felt a bit displeased with Sunagakure for invading Konoha.
She decided to play a "prank" before leaving, to punish the Sunagakure invaders.
During the Second Ninja World War, having fought against Sunagakure puppeteers, Tsunade had some understanding of puppets, and her Medical Ninjutsu and monstrous strength were naturally the bane of puppets.
And so, the scene just now unfolded.
Tsunade deliberately triggered the puppet's mechanism twice.
The first attack on Temari was dodged when Shiro pulled her away.
The second directly attacked Gaara above, hitting him completely.
Then, hearing Shiro ask if she was from Konoha, and if so, he would take her to see Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade immediately became anxious.
Other people didn't recognize her childhood appearance, but Hiruzen Sarutobi definitely would!
She wouldn't be able to escape then.
Tsunade quickly denied it and then fabricated her identity as being from Hidden Rain Village, the site of her famous battle as one of the Sannin.
"Hidden Rain Village? Alright then, come with us. We'll take you to a safe place, and then you can go find your villagers yourself. We still have to go see the Third Hokage."
"Oh, okay~"
"..."
Temari saw that Shiro didn't expose the other party and was a bit curious, but she didn't think much of it.
The group waited for a moment, for Kankuro to finish detoxifying Gaara, then continued forward.
"By the way, you wanted Chiyo-sama's swimsuit photos, so why didn't you ask the Hokage for Princess Tsunade's swimsuit photos?"
Temari, free from the restraint on her mouth, chatted directly with Shiro as they walked.
"Didn't ask the Hokage"?
The little Tsunade following behind instantly frowned.
The way that was said, could it be that the other party wasn't a Konoha ninja?
But before she could think more, Shiro's answer almost made her lose control.
"I already said it wasn't me who wanted them. What would I want photos of two menopausal old women for? To ward off evil at the door, or for contraception by the bed?"
Crack—
"My goodness, an earthquake!!"
Kankuro looked at the ground that had suddenly split open beneath his feet and frantically pulled the crow carrying Gaara, rushing forward in a panic.
Shiro pulled Temari with his left hand, hesitated for a moment with his right, grabbed the "little girl's" collar, and also dodged the splitting ground.
"That was close."
Kankuro looked back at the ground that had split into a huge deep pit, with nearby houses also affected and collapsing. He patted his chest in relief, still shaken.
He was fine, but if Gaara got injured again on top of his existing injuries, he might not make it.
"Don't be scared, little sister, it's alright."
Temari looked at the "little girl" who was clinging to Shiro's leg and trembling, gently comforting her.
Scared?
Shiro was currently keeping his Epitaph active at all times, watching the future situation.
He was afraid that this "scared," trembling little girl would grab his demon core and crush it.
"Yo, young man, you're here. The old man wants you all to go to the Hokage Building."
Jiraiya heard the commotion, jumped down from a high place, and greeted Shiro.
"Alright. By the way, where's Orochimaru? Did he leave?"
Shiro nodded.
"Yes, he took advantage of our inattention, broke free of the Four Violet Flames Formation, and left. He should be looking for you all, right?"
Jiraiya sighed slightly, then looked suspiciously at the little girl hiding behind Shiro and clinging to his leg, "This is?"
....
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