Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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At night, the Mizukage Building loomed like a ferocious beast, its atmosphere heavy with tension and danger.

Natsume activated Sage Mode, immediately sensing the presence of over thirty shinobi.

The Mizukage Guard Unit and the ANBU, he noted, his expression calm but focused. Their overall strength isn't bad.

Even without accounting for Terumi Mei, Kirigakure's forces were formidable. However, the shocking news that the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, was under control had left the village divided. Some still refused to believe it.

Terumi Mei and the elder, Genji, exchanged serious looks. They both knew hesitation would only worsen the situation. It was time to act.

"Fortunately, we still have the advantage," Natsume thought as he stood beside Terumi Mei. Their number of Jonin gave them the upper hand.

But there were two unknowns: the shadowy figure manipulating Yagura and Yagura himself.

Natsume's unfamiliar presence drew the attention of Ao and Genji, but neither voiced their concerns. Terumi Mei had already briefed them, introducing him as a hired shinobi from the black market. Despite their skepticism, Ao and Genji welcomed him. Black market mercenaries were known for their professionalism and adherence to contracts.

"Terumi Mei," Genji said with a sigh, his usual humor absent. "Let's begin. Avoid unnecessary casualties; Kirigakure can't handle more internal strife."

Terumi Mei nodded, her green eyes narrowing with resolve. With a sharp motion, she signaled her team. A dozen shadowy figures slipped silently into the Mizukage Building.

Moments later, the night exploded with the roar of jutsu. Water surged through the corridors as a powerful Water Release technique hurled one of their men out of the building.

"The battle has started," Terumi Mei murmured, her tone calm but wary.

Natsume observed the unfolding chaos, impressed. If the Mizukage Guard and ANBU were defeated so easily, they wouldn't deserve their reputation.

Meanwhile, in a hidden chamber beneath the village, a figure in a swirling orange mask watched the battle through White Zetsu's eyes.

"Terumi Mei and the others are attacking," White Zetsu reported, emerging from the ground. "It seems they've finally noticed something's wrong with Yagura."

"Fools," Obito Uchiha sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "It took them years to figure it out. Kirigakure truly lives up to its nickname as the Bloody Mist."

"What should we do?" White Zetsu asked, though he already anticipated the answer.

Obito's voice grew colder. "They've been a thorn in my side for too long. Let's give them a proper farewell. Have the Three-Tails explode."

White Zetsu hesitated. "Won't destroying the Three-Tails interfere with the Akatsuki's plans?"

Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan flared ominously. "No plan is more important than avenging Rin."

White Zetsu, unwilling to argue, shrugged. "As you wish." He sank back into the ground, leaving Obito alone.

Obito clenched his fists. "Watch closely, Rin. This is the price they'll pay."

Back on the battlefield, Natsume's sharp senses picked up a faint distortion in the air above. His expression darkened. Kamui.

He analyzed Obito's ability. The Mangekyō Sharingan allowed Obito to phase between dimensions, making him nearly untouchable. However, Natsume knew the limitations: Obito could only stay intangible for five minutes, and the moment he absorbed or released something, he became vulnerable.

He's powerful, but not invincible, Natsume thought. If I catch him off guard, I can kill him.

Still, Natsume decided against it. Killing Obito now would reveal too much about his own abilities and potentially jeopardize his position with Terumi Mei and the others.

Meanwhile, inside the Mizukage Building, the battle reached a critical point. The ANBU executed a synchronized assault.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" they shouted in unison, forming seals.

The massive dragon surged forward, crackling with electricity as the ANBU combined it with Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon. The resulting dragon illuminated the battlefield, roaring as it tore through everything in its path.

Terumi Mei reacted swiftly, forming seals. "Lava Release: Lava Monster Jutsu!"

A wave of molten lava surged forward, colliding with the electrified water dragon. The resulting explosion rocked the building, sending tremors through the village.

The ANBU captain shouted, "Fall back!" as the lava spread across the battlefield, melting everything in its path.

Terumi Mei staggered, her chakra reserves nearly depleted.

"Here," Natsume said, handing her a black pill. "It's a Soldier Pill."

"I have my own," she replied, though she hesitated.

"This one's custom-made," Natsume insisted.

After a moment, she accepted. Moments after swallowing it, her eyes widened in surprise.

"This... This is incredible," she muttered, feeling her chakra rapidly replenish.

Before she could thank him, the battlefield fell silent.

The remaining ANBU slowly stepped aside as a figure emerged from the shadows. Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, stood tall in his robes, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

"Do you intend to rebel?" Yagura's voice echoed, filled with authority.

At his words, doubt flickered in the eyes of the remaining Kirigakure shinobi.

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"Mizukage-sama."

Terumi Mei stepped forward from the crowd, her emerald eyes steady and her expression resolute. She moved with determination, her presence commanding attention from the gathered shinobi.

Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, watched her with an unsettling calm. A faint, almost pitying smile played on his lips. "Terumi Mei, I've always admired your resolve," he said. "As I suspected, after my death, it is you who will lead Kirigakure."

To the untrained eye, Yagura's demeanor seemed sincere, but Terumi Mei knew better. Ordinary genjutsu manipulated the mind, turning its victims into puppets. However, the Mangekyō Sharingan allowed its user to control their targets while preserving their personalities, making the deception seamless.

Her eyes narrowed. "Mizukage-sama, are those your words—or the words of the one controlling you?"

Yagura's expression didn't falter. His voice, calm and composed, carried an edge of menace. "What are you suggesting, Terumi Mei? I am the Mizukage. Who could possibly control me?"

Her gaze didn't waver. "If you are truly Kirigakure's leader, what have you accomplished during your reign?" Her voice grew sharper, daring to voice what many feared. "Ao has used his Byakugan to examine your chakra flow. It is… abnormal."

A ripple of unease spread through the crowd. Her words echoed the doubts that had lingered in the hearts of Kirigakure's shinobi. Under Yagura's rule, the village had become a shadow of its former self—a weakened, isolated nation drowning in bloodshed.

Yagura's expression darkened, his voice cold. "Fine words, Terumi Mei. But they will not save you from today's treason. Seize her and the others! You will all be rewarded for your loyalty."

His command rang out, and the weaker-willed shinobi hesitated only briefly before advancing.

Terumi Mei exhaled slowly, her resolve solidifying. Today, blood will flow, she thought grimly. Kirigakure would be weaker after this battle, but some sacrifices were necessary for the future of the village.

Yagura wasted no time, chakra flaring as he began his Partial Transformation. The blood-red energy of the Three-Tails, Isobu, surged through him, altering his form. He loomed before her—a monstrous humanoid with three powerful tails thrashing behind him.

Without hesitation, Terumi Mei launched her first attack.

Water Release: Water Pillar Explosion!

A torrent of water erupted from her mouth, expanding into a towering column that crashed toward Yagura like a tidal wave. But Yagura didn't flinch. With a single strike of his tail, he shattered the water pillar, scattering droplets like rain.

Terumi Mei moved quickly, her water clone dissolving as she repositioned herself. Her heart pounded. Yagura's speed was terrifying in his transformed state.

Yagura roared, his voice echoing with the unbridled power of a Jinchūriki. The Three-Tails, Isobu, emerged fully, its massive form dwarfing the surrounding battlefield.

Terumi Mei formed a rapid string of seals.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

A colossal water dragon surged toward Isobu, its jaws snapping ferociously. Yagura swung one massive tail, smashing the dragon aside, though the impact forced the Bijū to stagger.

From a distance, Natsume observed the chaos, his sharp eyes analyzing every movement. He had seen Terumi Mei's strength—how she had stood against Madara Uchiha's Susano'o in the original timeline. Her bravery against a Bijū came as no surprise, but Yagura's overwhelming power posed a daunting challenge.

As the battle raged, Natsume noticed something unsettling: Uchiha Obito was nearby, ensuring his control over Yagura remained intact.

"This won't end well if I don't intervene," Natsume muttered, his decision made.

He dashed forward, his movements swift and precise.

Senjutsu: Water Release: Water Whip!

Ten tendrils of water shot from his hands, binding the Kirigakure shinobi nearest to him. They struggled, but the water whips, infused with senjutsu chakra, were unbreakable.

Genji, the elder, watched from a distance, astonished. "To immobilize ten shinobi at once… who is this boy?"

Natsume moved like a shadow, neutralizing the opposition with surgical precision. Yet he held back, ensuring he didn't kill anyone.

Terumi Mei noticed his actions, gratitude flickering briefly in her eyes. He's preserving Kirigakure's strength, not destroying it, she realized.

Her focus returned to Yagura, who was gathering chakra for a devastating attack. A swirling black sphere began to form—a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Terumi Mei's heart sank. If he launched the attack, Kirigakure would be reduced to ashes.

Before she could act, Natsume appeared beside her.

Senjutsu: Water Release: Water Severing Wave!

A razor-sharp jet of water shot from his mouth, slicing through the forming Tailed Beast Bomb. The unstable chakra detonated prematurely, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

Water Release: Water Wall!

Natsume formed another jutsu, creating a spiraling barrier of water that shielded the civilians and shinobi from the blast.

When the dust settled, much of the Mizukage Building lay in ruins, but the people were safe.

Terumi Mei's chest heaved as she took in the destruction. Her gaze lingered on Natsume's back, her thoughts racing. His strength, his precision—he was unlike any shinobi she had encountered before.

"Mizukage-sama," one of the ANBU shouted, his voice trembling. "Have you gone mad? You nearly destroyed Kirigakure!"

"He's not fit to lead us anymore! Terumi Mei-sama was right—he's under someone's control!"

The Mizukage's guards faltered, the will to fight draining from them as the scale of destruction sank in. Their weapons fell from trembling hands, and their anger turned toward Yagura.

Amid the wreckage of Kirigakure, Terumi Mei cast a glance at Natsume. Gratitude and a flicker of awe crossed her features. He had saved them, and now Yagura stood surrounded, his oppressive reign teetering on the brink of collapse.

Facing the colossal form of the Three-Tails, Isobu, most shinobi froze. Their techniques were futile against the beast's legendary defenses.

Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, stood motionless atop Isobu's head, his face devoid of emotion. His attempt to unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb had failed, but he betrayed no frustration. Instead, he waited, silent and foreboding.

"Who's that?" Mei's sharp eyes caught a figure descending from the sky. The man landed gracefully on Isobu's head, his black cloak rippling in the wind. The tiger-striped mask he wore concealed his face, save for a single Sharingan glowing through the right eyehole.

Mei's expression darkened. "Have you... controlled Mizukage-sama?" she demanded, suspicion hardening her voice. How else could anyone stand atop Isobu without being attacked?

The figure didn't hesitate. "It's me," he said simply, his voice low and calm.

The admission sent shockwaves through the ranks of Kirigakure's shinobi.

"This has to be a joke!"

"We followed Mizukage-sama's orders, only to discover we were pawns in someone else's game?"

"My comrades—my teammates—what did they die for?"

The realization tore through the ranks, igniting fury among the ninjas. Voices rose, accusing, grieving, and condemning.

"All those years of slaughter... the bloodline clans wiped out... our friends and families... it was all for nothing!"

A hollow laugh cut through the chaos, chilling and derisive. The masked man's mirthless chuckle echoed, sharp against the ruin of the battlefield.

"Enough!" Mei's composure cracked, anger flaring in her voice. But she tempered her rage, stepping forward. "Who are you? Why target Kirigakure? Answer me!"

The laughter ceased. The masked man's gaze swept over the battlefield, lingering briefly on Mei and Natsume. When he finally spoke, his tone was laced with disdain. "You're not suffering enough," he said coldly. "The pain you've endured is only the beginning."

Mei bristled. Negotiation was futile. Her fingers tensed, ready to signal an attack. But Natsume placed a firm hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"I'll handle him," he said quietly. "Focus on Yagura. Have Ao dispel the genjutsu."

Mei hesitated, her sharp eyes narrowing. "But—"

She didn't get to finish. The ground exploded around them as massive wooden spikes erupted skyward, twisting and branching with terrifying speed. Screams erupted as several shinobi were caught in the sudden growth, their blood staining the earth.

"Wood Release?!" Mei's voice trembled, her composure cracking. Around her, Kirigakure's shinobi stood frozen in shock. Wood Release—an ability thought lost to history—was being wielded by this masked man.

"Everyone, fall back!" Natsume barked. "I'll deal with him!"

Without waiting for a response, Natsume flashed through a series of hand signs.

"Sage Art: Water Release: Water Cutting Blade!"

A concentrated stream of water shot from Natsume's mouth, razor-sharp and precise. It sliced through the wooden spikes with ease, clearing a path. The masked man's Sharingan glinted as he analyzed the attack.

Before Natsume could press forward, the man vanished into a swirl of distortion, reappearing behind him.

"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!" Sharp wooden branches shot from the man's arm, twisting and growing with lethal intent. Mei gasped, but before the attack could land, Natsume's form dissolved into a splash of water.

"A water clone," the masked man muttered, his Sharingan swirling in frustration.

Natsume reappeared behind him, his right hand encased in a spinning water blade. "You're slower than I expected," he remarked, driving the blade toward his enemy.

The masked man phased out of existence, the attack passing harmlessly through him. When he reappeared, his Sharingan glowed with malevolence. "How did you avoid Kamui?" he demanded, his voice sharp with irritation.

"It's not as infallible as you think," Natsume replied calmly. "And I know more about the Sharingan than you might assume."

Mei's gaze darted between them, her suspicion growing. "The Sharingan? You're from Konoha? Are you trying to start a war?"

Obito stiffened, his fists clenching. "Don't talk to me about Konoha!" he roared. His hands blurred through seals, unleashing a massive wave of flame.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

The flames surged toward them, but Natsume was ready.

"Sage Art: Water Release: Water Wall!"

A towering wall of water rose, meeting the fire head-on. The resulting explosion of steam engulfed the battlefield.

"Go!" Natsume urged Mei through the haze. "Free Yagura. If we can break the genjutsu, the Three-Tails will turn on him."

Mei hesitated only a moment before nodding. She turned and sprinted toward Yagura, leaving Natsume to face the masked man alone.

As the steam began to clear, Obito reemerged, his frustration evident. "You're strong," he admitted, "but not strong enough."

He moved to activate Kamui again, intent on dragging Natsume into his dimension. But as space began to warp around them, Natsume acted.

"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"

Sharp wooden spikes shot from Natsume's arm, impaling Obito before the Kamui could complete. Blood sprayed from the wound, and Obito let out a cry of pain.

"Not bad," Obito hissed, phasing out of the attack at the last moment. His Mangekyō Sharingan glowed ominously as he retreated, his form fading into the distance.

Natsume stood amidst the dissipating steam, his breathing steady. "Coward," he muttered, before turning his attention to Mei and Yagura.

The battle was far from over.

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