"What?! You didn't get it?!"
Chinatsu instantly exploded, slamming both hands onto Hiruzen's desk with enough force to nearly split it apart.
Chinatsu: I'm quitting! I'm defecting! I'll become a missing-nin!
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Wait! There is still room for discussion!
The Third Hokage hurriedly grabbed Chinatsu's sleeve before she could storm out of the office. Cold sweat streamed down his aged face.
Hiruzen had genuinely done everything he could. He had personally traveled to the Fire Daimyo's residence and spent an entire day negotiating, but unfortunately the land Chinatsu wanted was simply too valuable. It was one of the most important future development zones within the Land of Fire. Giving it away would cost the Daimyo an enormous amount of future revenue.
Fire Daimyo (righteously): I can give Konoha face, but I can't give away that land. Surely you don't want the Land of Fire's economy to fall behind the other nations?
Hiruzen Sarutobi (wiping sweat): Little brother, you don't want Konoha's shinobi to suddenly become unemployed, do you...?
In the end, Hiruzen lost the argument.
But not completely.
He pulled out a detailed map of the Land of Fire and pointed toward several regions.
Chinatsu: I can choose any place except these marked areas?
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Correct. Those locations are especially important. Everything else is negotiable.
Chinatsu: Then I'll personally go visit the Daimyo and ask him to give me face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: 〣( ºΔº )〣!!!
After a lengthy round of persuasion, Hiruzen finally convinced Chinatsu to sit down and look at the map properly.
It was a strategic map of the Land of Fire and portions of the surrounding countries. At first glance there was not much worth noticing. However, after scanning it several times, Chinatsu's gaze suddenly stopped on a small island nation located southeast of the mainland.
"This is... Uzushiogakure?"
"The Land of Whirlpools?" Hiruzen nodded. "That place has been abandoned for many years. Since the destruction of the Uzumaki clan, nobody has successfully rebuilt it."
The Third briefly explained the history.
The Land of Whirlpools had once been home to the Uzumaki Clan, distant blood relatives of the Senju. Their sealing techniques were feared throughout the ninja world. During the era before the Great Ninja Wars, multiple nations joined forces and attacked Uzushiogakure, eventually destroying it. The survivors scattered throughout the world, leaving only ruins behind.
Chinatsu already knew the story.
What surprised her was seeing the location with her own eyes.
Because of the difficult sea routes, dangerous waters, and lack of economic value, neither the Land of Fire nor any other nation had made serious attempts to reclaim it.
What a waste...
Chinatsu rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Perhaps Uzushiogakure could become the future headquarters of her organization.
Ruins were not a problem.
She possessed Wood Release.
If necessary, she could simply learn from Yamato and perform something like:
Wood Release: Three-Bedroom-One-Living-Room Technique!
Of course, making a decision immediately would be reckless.
She needed to inspect the place personally first.
Chinatsu rolled up the map and tucked it under her arm.
"Let's leave it like this for now. I'll think about it."
"Good... good..." Hiruzen sighed in relief while wiping sweat from his forehead. "When you've made your decision, I'll speak with the Daimyo again."
Chinatsu suddenly paused before waving her finger.
"No need. Why make you travel back and forth? Leave the negotiations to me."
At that very moment, deep within the Fire Daimyo's residence, the Daimyo suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"Achoo!!!"
The explosive sneeze echoed throughout the mansion.
Within seconds, dozens of guards rushed inside with weapons drawn.
"An assassin?!"
"Protect the Daimyo!"
"Search every room immediately!"
The guards looked around nervously.
The Fire Daimyo sat awkwardly in his chair.
It was only a sneeze...
Why was everyone overreacting?
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Chinatsu walked silently through Konoha's streets.
Her usually inactive brain finally began operating at full capacity.
The future headquarters.
The recruitment of members.
The Akatsuki.
The tailed beasts.
Everything required planning.
"It may be troublesome, but it's worth it."
Simply waiting for Naruto's original story to unfold would be unbearable.
If she had been reincarnated into this world only to watch history repeat itself, then what was the point?
After returning to the Uchiha Compound, she found that Naruto and Sasuke were still away on missions.
Ever since becoming chūnin, the two had been assigned increasingly difficult missions. Chinatsu had practically chased them out of the village to stop them from following her around every day.
Inside the mansion sat the current and future members of her organization.
Sasori and Deidara occupied one sofa.
Torune Aburame and Fū Yamanaka sat nearby.
The atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful.
Compared to the Akatsuki's gloomy hideouts and caves, the rebuilt Uchiha residence was practically a luxury hotel.
Chinatsu sat cross-legged on a sofa and looked toward Sasori.
The red-haired puppet master still appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
"Granny Chiyo is already on her way from Sunagakure," Chinatsu said calmly. "Considering the travel distance, she should arrive within a few days."
Sasori's expression stiffened slightly.
"Until then, stay here. Nobody will harm you."
"..."
He remained silent.
Chinatsu wasn't surprised.
Sasori's emotional knot could not be untied by a few conversations.
Only Chiyo, the grandmother who had raised him, had a real chance of reaching him.
Fortunately, a few more days made little difference.
"Torune."
"Yes."
"Fū."
"Yes."
"Investigate everything you can about the current state of the Land of Whirlpools."
"Understood."
The two immediately accepted the order without hesitation.
Seeing their professional attitude, Chinatsu silently gave them a thumbs-up.
Reliable subordinates were wonderful.
"Sasori, Deidara."
"Hm?"
"You two can stay here for now. There are plenty of empty rooms. Feel free to move around the compound."
After speaking, Chinatsu stood up and stretched.
Her shoulders cracked audibly.
The humid air of the Land of Water still seemed stuck to her skin.
First, a bath.
Second, sleep.
Everything else could wait.
As she approached the private bathhouse inside the compound, she suddenly heard a familiar tapping sound.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
A carrier pigeon was pecking against the window.
Chinatsu slowly turned her head.
The pigeon immediately stopped moving and stared back at her.
In that instant she somehow saw the faces of Hidan and Kakuzu superimposed over the bird.
The three stared at one another.
Five seconds.
Six seconds.
Seven seconds.
Then Chinatsu expressionlessly turned around and continued walking toward the bathhouse.
Chinatsu: I'll deal with whatever report that is after my bath! I've been covered in the Land of Water's humidity for days! I refuse to work another second before washing it off!!!
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