NARUTO: THE STRONGEST UZUMAKI

"Enough! I've endured too much of your disrespect, you insolent brat!" The ninja from before, with black hair and obsidian eyes, exploded in fury.

The instant he tried to move, golden chains emerged from the ground around him, quickly slithering and wrapping around his body, slamming him to the ground with a dull thud.

"The insolent one here is you." Tanaka looked coldly at the ninja, now bound by his chains, as he said, "Don't meddle in conversations you weren't invited to. So irritating."

The other two ninjas grabbed a kunai and stood on guard.

Seeing this, Tanaka's eyes shifted to them, and chains pointed in their direction.

"Do you want to be tied up too? Not that I mind~" He sipped his tea while glancing at them from the corner of his eye.

"Will you stop!?" Mito raised her voice as she turned around.

She didn't blame Tanaka. She knew who was right and who was wrong.

Though his words hit where it hurt, she couldn't blame him for assessing things objectively. And when he asked if she was trying to deceive him with sweet words, she herself began to consider that possibility.

But she couldn't let the Kyubi roam free. Now, with so much hatred the Kyubi had accumulated, especially against Konoha, it would be risky in so many ways. Not to mention that without the Kyubi, Konoha would be in danger.

Of course, there was another point to consider: the importance of the alliance with Uzushio. Don't they realize the value of this boy? The fact that the Uzukage is accompanying them already shows how much he values this young man. How could they act so recklessly?

Moreover, she herself knew she had underestimated the young Uzumaki, thinking he would be like any other boy his age...

'It seems there's no way to convince him to become the Jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tails...' Mito murmured to herself: 'It's truly a shame... This boy's control over the adamantine sealing chains is something even I couldn't achieve at his age. He...'

Mito's thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly stood up, causing everyone around her to look at her in surprise. At that moment, she had just received the memories of a shadow clone she had left in Konoha.

"Konoha is in danger," she said suddenly, with a worried expression. "It seems they've found out I left, and with everything that happened in Konoha, the other four great nations have decided to attack full force."

The ninja from Konoha bound by the chains, along with the other two Konoha ninjas, were shocked.

Masashi, who had heard what Tanaka said earlier, sighed. He didn't know if the sigh was one of relief for not being the target or one of worry for Konoha being attacked and facing great danger.

After all, being attacked by the four great nations, even for Konoha, wouldn't be easy to defend against, especially if they used the Tailed Beasts in the attack.

It would be a bit ironic if Konoha were to fall precisely because of the Tailed Beasts...

Tanaka retracted the chains. The ninja on the ground stood up and cast only a resentful look of hatred but had bigger concerns than confronting him.

"Mito-sama, what should we do?" The Leaf kunoichi asked, distressed and full of worry.

"My shadow clone in Konoha will summon me directly to Konoha," she responded.

Tanaka suddenly spoke, drawing attention to himself: "I can help if you want. In fact, I have something on hand that could be of great help, but I'll want something in return."

Before Mito could ask, he pulled out an explosive spherical stone and handed it to her: "Look at this. I currently have 30,000 of these. I believe it would be quite helpful, right?"

Taking the stone in her hand, she was initially confused, but upon analyzing it, she was shocked: "Did you create this?"

"Yes, he made it – Dattekane~" The one who answered was none other than Akane. She puffed out her chest as she said it proudly.

Ignoring the fact that Akane said it so smugly, as if she herself had created it, Mito looked at Tanaka with new eyes: "This would indeed help a lot, but... what exactly do you want in exchange for this?"

"Boy, you shouldn't ask—"

"Stop!" Mito interrupted the Leaf ninja. She knew what the priority was right now and didn't want Tanaka to change his mind because of something said out of line.

"I only have two requests: the Flying Raijin technique and the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. I believe it's not too difficult a request, right?" Tanaka said, then quickly added, "Oh, and if you throw in the Wood Clone Jutsu, I can add this."

Tanaka pulled out a D-Rank Recovery Potion and handed it to her for evaluation.

"This is an elixir with healing power that I created and tested. Depending on the injury, it can heal someone instantly after ingesting it. I currently have 100 of these elixirs. What do you think, Mito-san?"

"May I test it?" she asked.

"Of course, go ahead." Tanaka offered generously.

Without hesitation, Mito made a cut on her arm.

Seeing this, Akane pursed her lips: 'My new rug...'

Unaware of Akane's concerns, Mito drank the potion. As she did so, even before she could heal herself, she saw the wound regenerate instantly.

"Tanaka-kun, you..." Masashi felt a bit resentful. He thought: 'If you can create something like this, why didn't you offer it to me earlier?'

Tanaka looked at Masashi and said, "Masashi-san, I didn't mention it before because it's not something I can easily create. I only revealed it now because the situation is urgent, and this can save lives, especially someone capable of turning the tide of battle in Konoha."

"I understand." Masashi's expression softened.

Mito, who had remained silent, seemed to have made up her mind. "I agree to all your requests. But you'll have to wait to receive the techniques, as I don't have them on hand."

As for whether she could deliver the techniques or not... Tanaka wasn't worried. With Mito's status and her word, he didn't believe she would go back on it. And even if she did... Well, then he couldn't be blamed for taking what was his.

Smiling, he extended his hand and shook Mito's: "A deal."

After that, Mito started talking with Masashi.

"Of course, we from Uzushio will support Konoha. I will send some of my best ninjas, along with a troop to sail toward the Land of Fire." Saying this, he turned to Shiori: "Shiori, take care of your sister."

After Masashi left, Mito waited for Tanaka, who went to 'fetch' the scrolls with the explosive stones...

Since he had to take them out of inventory and seal them in scrolls, it took a few minutes. When he returned, he handed over the scrolls, along with the one containing the 100 potions.

As for the fact that he was starting to become known for his mastery in creating something like explosive spherical stones and elixirs, that was the least of his concerns. After all, he didn't want Konoha to fall. If that happened, their next target would be them.

It would be better if Konoha survived and managed to weaken the forces of the other four nations, so they wouldn't have time to think about plotting against Uzushio.

As for Hanzo... He had some plans for him as he sent messages through the system to his clones stationed in the Rain Village.

"Thank you, Tanaka-kun, Konoha won't forget this favor," Mito said sincerely before being summoned. "As soon as I can, I will personally deliver the three techniques you requested. Though I am curious as to why you want the Wood Clone Jutsu..."

Before she could say more, she disappeared with a 'puff,' creating a cloud of white smoke that quickly vanished.

"We're leaving. Sorry for the trouble." The Leaf kunoichi said, pulling the black-haired, obsidian-eyed ninja by the ear, "Ow, ow, that hurts, Hinari!" dragging him out as he complained in pain, while the other ninja bowed before quickly leaving.