After receiving the two hundred million Ryō from Jiraiya, Tsunade finally and decisively agreed to return to the Hidden Leaf Village to succeed as the Fifth Hokage. After a day of rest, the group—four people and one pig—embarked on the journey back to Konoha.
The New Recruits
In the Konoha Military Police Force building just outside the Uchiha clan grounds, Uchiha Raizen gazed calmly at the three men standing before him. Aside from Might Dai and Sakumo Hatake, there was now a third: Hizashi Hyuga.
"Seniors, these are the uniforms and masks I have prepared for you."
"From now on, in the Military Police Force, you will have only code names, no names."
"Sakumo-senpai, your code name is 001. Dai-senpai, yours is 002. Hizashi-senpai, you are 003."
"You three will form one squad. Sakumo-senpai, you are the squad leader; you will lead the team."
Sakumo Hatake took the uniform and mask and nodded. Might Dai and Hizashi Hyuga each took a set of clothes emblazoned with their respective numbers and their masks.
A short while later, the three stood before Raizen, fully dressed. Raizen looked at the spirited trio and nodded in satisfaction. He had designed the uniforms based on the style of security guards from his previous life. On the back, the numbers 001, 002, and 003 were clearly printed, representing their identities.
"Captain Raizen, isn't our number a bit small?" Sakumo asked. Konoha was vast; patrolling it with only three people would be a struggle.
"More will come in time," Raizen replied. "For now, there are only you three."
"Form a squad for the time being. As for patrolling the village... there's no need for that yet."
"Your primary mission is to protect my family. As for the village's general security, we will discuss that later. After all, our Police Force has only just been reconstructed. Everything requires time for preparation."
The group nodded.
Hizashi Hyuga looked at Raizen, hesitating before speaking. "Captain Raizen... I wish to see my son, Neji. Would that be possible?"
Hizashi had been resurrected by Raizen the previous night and brought straight here; he had not yet seen Neji.
Raizen nodded. "You may go. However, you must demand that Neji keep the news of your resurrection a secret from everyone for now—even from the village leadership."
Hizashi bowed slightly. "I understand, Captain."
Though Hizashi had died "voluntarily," the inaction and compromise of the village elders played a major role in his death. Consequently, he harbored a significant grudge against the village leadership. Had they been more firm, he wouldn't have had to sacrifice his life to appease the Hidden Cloud Village. Now that he was back, he would obey Raizen's orders and no one else's. His only wish was to see if his son had fared well during the years he was gone.
Hizashi put on his mask, took the identification documents Raizen had processed for him, nodded to the group, and vanished in a Body Flicker. With the ID, even with a mask, he could move freely through the village; if questioned by patrols, he simply had to present the documents.
After Hizashi left, Raizen smiled at Sakumo and Dai. "You two should take a stroll as well. You've been away from the village for many years; go and re-familiarize yourselves with it."
The two nodded.
"Alright, I have things to attend to. I'll take my leave." Raizen smiled and activated the Flying Thunder God, vanishing instantly.
"The Captain...?" Might Dai's eyes widened at the sudden disappearance.
"There's no mistake. That was the Flying Thunder God technique Minato used to use," Sakumo said, somewhat shocked.
Dai sighed. "Our Captain seems to be incredibly powerful."
"I could feel the vast power contained within his body just standing near him."
Sakumo mused, "If he weren't powerful, how would he dare resurrect us? And he's keeping it from the village. This shows he is wary of the Leaf's leadership. There is clearly a rift between the Uchiha and the high-ranking elders."
"Otherwise, Captain Raizen could have simply resurrected the previous Hokage."
Dai thought for a moment and whispered carefully, "Sakumo, do you think the Uchiha massacre had something to do with the village?"
Sakumo shook his head. "I don't know."
Dai continued, "Sakumo, if the Captain ever becomes an enemy of Konoha... who should we help?"
Hearing this, Sakumo's expression turned complex. "We don't have the luxury of choice."
"Why, Sakumo?"
"Because our lives are effectively in Captain Raizen's hands. With the power he wields, he could directly turn us into mindless puppets. We would end up following his orders regardless."
"Dai, from the moment we were resurrected, we ceased to have any connection with the village. To Konoha, we are dead. Our second lives were bestowed upon us by Captain Raizen. Therefore, we no longer belong to the village. Standing and falling with the Captain is our only path."
"Besides," Sakumo added, his voice darkening as he recalled the insults and the lack of support from the elders after he saved his teammates, "do you think the village elders are truly worthy of our loyalty again?"
Dai fell silent for a long time before taking a heavy breath. "You're right. Our past lives were dedicated to the village. This life belongs to the Captain. If it comes down to fighting the village... then so be it."
Sakumo softened. "Actually, it may not come to that. Captain Raizen seems reasonable and even-tempered. I doubt he'd seek conflict with the village without reason. Come, Dai. Let's look at the village. It's been so long."
The Return of the Sannin
As Hizashi watched Neji from the shadows and Sakumo and Dai strolled through the streets, a group arrived at the main gates of Konoha.
Tsunade looked at the emblem on the gate with a complicated expression. After so many years, she was finally back.
"Hey, no way! Is that...?" Kotetsu Hagane's eyes went wide as he nudged Izumo Kamizuki.
"Yellow hair, twin ponytails, green cloak with the kanji for 'Gamble'... there's no mistake. It's Lady Tsunade of the Sannin!"
"Lord Jiraiya actually brought her back!"
"Rumor has it he left to find the Fifth Hokage. That means Lady Tsunade is our new Hokage!"
Excitement rippled through the guards. With Tsunade back, the village finally had its backbone again.
"Still the same old scenery," Tsunade remarked, looking around. "Let's head to the Uchiha district first."
Jiraiya blinked. "Why? Shouldn't we go to the Hokage building first?"
"I have business to settle!" Tsunade said, leading Shizune toward the Uchiha grounds. Jiraiya and Naruto followed closely—Jiraiya had paid two hundred million for this, and he wasn't about to let her slip away again.
They soon arrived at the Uchiha entrance. Gazing at the barrier, Tsunade frowned. "Setting up a barrier in broad daylight?"
Naruto reached out to touch it. "Stop, Naruto! You might trigger a backlash!" Jiraiya warned.
"Brat, some barriers are offensive. They'll attack anyone who touches them," Tsunade added, throwing a branch at the barrier. It simply hit the shimmering wall and fell to the ground. "It seems it's purely defensive."
She pressed her hand against the surface; it felt like touching a smooth, firm membrane.
Inside his bedroom, the scabbard of the Tenseiga began to throb like a heartbeat. On his waist, the blade itself glowed and vibrated. Raizen understood the signal instantly: someone was tampering with the barrier.
Using the Flying Thunder God, Raizen appeared outside the gates.
He looked at the group and let out a knowing smirk. "Yo! If it isn't our legendary 'Deadbeat' Sister Tsunade?"
Tsunade's face flashed with embarrassment. Years ago, unable to pay her debts, she and Shizune had left Raizen hanging at a gambling den and fled in the night.
"Hahaha!" Tsunade laughed awkwardly. "Long time no see, Raizen-kun! Your sister missed you!" She reached out to give him a hug.
Jiraiya watched, dumbfounded. Since when was Tsunade this proactive with men?
Raizen deftly sidestepped her. "Sister Tsunade, men and women shouldn't be so physical. I wouldn't want people to misunderstand our relationship." He shot a meaningful glance at Jiraiya, who looked utterly confused.
Tsunade feigned a heartbroken sob. "Waaah! My heart is broken! Only a few years and you've forgotten your sister? You heartless boy! Sob sob..."
Raizen: "..."
"Sister Tsunade, stop the waterworks. A three-year-old could see through that fake crying. Just tell me why you're here."
"I'm here to pay my debt," Tsunade said, dropping the act instantly.
"Paying your debt? Well, that changes things!" Raizen smiled and opened a rift in the barrier. "Come in, then. Let's head inside and run the numbers."
He led the group—Jiraiya, Naruto, Shizune, and Tonton included—into the grounds.
"Raizen-kun, what kind of barrier is this? You didn't even use hand seals," Tsunade asked as they walked.
Raizen gave a half-truthful smile. "The barrier and I are of one mind. I just have to think it, and it understands."
"Liar!" Tsunade rolled her eyes, knowing he was just dodging the question.
Raizen didn't take them to the main house but led them instead to the bamboo pavilion in the center of the lake.
"Have a seat, Sister Tsunade. Jiraiya, you guys too."
_______________________________________________________
Read Advanced chapters on → patreon.com/Bagga_10
• Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus chapter...
• Push this Story forward with your [Power Stones]