Reborn into Naruto World with Tenseigan

Hokage Office, Konohagakure

After the brief incident at the Nara Forests, Kuroto, a concerned Shizune, and Tsunade-hime, her face drained of color, convened at the Hokage Office. They summoned other key figures, including Elder Hiruzen, Elder Koharu, Sannin Jiraiya, and Hokage’s aide Hatake Kakashi.

With the essential members of the Hokage Faction gathered, Kuroto elucidated the details of the Nara Forest incident that transpired in the early morning. As Kuroto narrated the events, a range of emotions surfaced among those present.

Elder Hiruzen muttered, “As expected, they have refused to surrender Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, huh?” Kuroto affirmed, “Yes, and in response, they have reduced the reward by fifty million Ryō.”

Elder Koharu voiced her discontent, saying, “Firstly, they are reneging on their promises, and now they are demanding fifty million Ryō for the rescue of the Jinchūriki of Nine Tails. This is absurd!”

Elder Hiruzen sighed, “But we don’t really have any other choice. The events a few nights ago have once again proven that we are incapable of defending ourselves against the Akatsuki Organization. So, even if they are reneging on their words, we don’t really have any other choice but to accept the deal.”

Jiraiya chimed in, “Well, look on the bright side; at least they are not being unreasonable.” Jiraiya’s words held truth. Time and time again, they have shielded Konoha from the threat of Akatsuki, never asking for anything excessive. It has always been a matter of currency, and the amount has never been too burdensome for Konoha, avoiding any adverse effects on the village’s economy.

Regarding why Amatsukami consistently demands money for their assistance, the top management of Konoha has pondered various possibilities. One theory suggests that Amatsukami is a mercenary organization; however, this assumption has come under scrutiny in recent years. Members of Amatsukami have refrained from taking on any missions from the Black Market for several years.

They only manifest when Akatsuki initiates its maneuvers and then vanish afterward, akin to vigilantes. In fact, it wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to assert that Amatsukami’s members are more like vigilantes than mercenaries. The only distinction lies in their request for payment, a trait typically associated with mercenaries.

The notion that perhaps they do not want their benevolence taken for granted has been suggested, gaining traction among many. Some have come to believe that this might indeed be the case.

Regardless of the reasons behind Amatsukami’s actions, the undeniable fact is that they safeguard the Shinobi World and bring stability to the Akatsuki Organization. Due to this, Konoha found it imperative to form an alliance with them. Thus, even if their recent actions seemed somewhat reasonable and even if they reneged on their agreement, a unanimous decision was reached to pay the three hundred and fifty million Ryō as the agreed-upon compensation.

However, a new concern emerged. “The payment is acceptable, but they insist on the entire sum being paid in a single installment, and that too within a week. This is a bit…” Elder Hiruzen muttered with a frown.

Elder Hiruzen had initially intended to make the payment in installments of fifty million Ryō, allowing for a prolonged engagement with Amatsukami. However, it appears that Amatsukami has discerned his strategy and has different intentions.

Jiraiya inquired, “Can you verify the identity of the other party?” The recollection of Kuroto disguising himself and his Shadow Clones as Amatsukami members to deceive ‘Madara’ and Zetsu is still vivid in Jiraiya’s mind. Hence, he couldn’t resist posing this question.

In response to Jiraiya’s inquiry, Kuroto and Shizune turned their attention to Tsunade-hime. Observing their reactions, the others also directed their gaze towards Tsunade-hime, realizing that something was amiss with her.

Certainly, they had discerned that something was amiss with Tsunade-hime the moment she entered the Hokage Office. The fact that she remained silent throughout the conversation only deepened their suspicions. However, given the urgency of the matter regarding Amatsukami, they opted to set aside Tsunade-hime’s unusual demeanor temporarily, planning to address it after concluding discussions about Amatsukami. Yet, when Kuroto and Shizune directed their attention towards her while discussing the ‘authenticity of Homusubi’s identity,’ everyone present realized that Tsunade-hime’s peculiar state was intricately connected to this ongoing conversation.

Unaware of the scrutiny she was under, Tsunade-hime gazed out of the window with a distant expression. It was evident to everyone that although her physical presence was in the Hokage Office, her mind was elsewhere.

Observing her condition, Jiraiya turned to Shizune with a concerned expression and inquired, “Shizune-chan, what has happened to Tsunade?”

Shizune shook her head, “I don’t know, Jiraiya-sama. One moment she was fine, and then suddenly she attacked Homusubi to confirm his identity. However, her attack failed as Homusubi stopped her with the help of his Susano’o. He didn’t release her immediately, claiming he would punish her for her actions. Strangely, he didn’t carry out any punishment and released her shortly after making the statement. Since then, she has been in this state.”

“Could it be a Genjutsu?” Elder Hiruzen pondered with a thoughtful expression.

Kuroto affirmed, “I believe it is a Genjutsu…” He then turned to Kakashi and remarked, “You’ve experienced something similar, haven’t you?”

Kakashi nodded, his face pale, “Yes… it is undoubtedly Genjutsu, a formidable one that’s nearly impossible to resist once ensnared. This Genjutsu grants Homusubi control over all phenomena, including time, space, and the very ‘reality’ within it. While days may pass in the Genjutsu world, only a moment elapses in the real world. I vividly recall the twenty-four hours of torment I endured when subjected to this Genjutsu.”

It occurred during the War of the Best in the Land of Water a few years ago. At that time, Kakashi fell victim to Tsukuyomi wielded by Homusubi, enduring twenty-four hours of torment. Although this duration was shorter than the seventy-two hours of agony Kakashi faced in the canonical storyline, it was still a profoundly painful experience for him.

After elucidating the workings of Homusubi’s Genjutsu, Kakashi advised Tsunade-hime, “Tsunade-sama, you should probably rest.”

Upon hearing Kakashi’s words, Tsunade-hime emerged from her dazed state and sighed, “Unlike you, he didn’t torture me by tying me up on a cross.” She continued, her voice tinged with pain and emotion, “I had to witness the deaths of Nawaki, Dan, my father, mother, grandma Mito, grandfather, as well as the second grandfather and other people I knew and was close to from the Senju Clan. I witnessed their deaths repeatedly for several hours. It was such a torture that by the end of it, I became numb to their deaths.”

As Tsunade-hime recounted the horrors she witnessed under Homusubi’s Genjutsu, a chilling silence enveloped the room. Shizune, in shock, covered her mouth, and a palpable sense of discomfort settled over everyone. Tsunade-hime’s ordeal surpassed Kakashi’s, leaving everyone at a loss for words.

Tsunade-hime continued, “Homusubi stated that this punishment wasn’t just for attacking him. It was also meant for me to reflect on our contemplated actions a few nights ago. Making me witness those nightmarish scenes was his way of expressing dissatisfaction with our initial approach and issuing a warning for the future.”

The shock that gripped the occupants of the Hokage Office deepened into horror. Homusubi’s discontent with their initial approach hinted at a concern for the Uchiha Clan. This revelation meant that had they proceeded as planned, they could have made enemies out of Homusubi and, by extension, the entire Amatsukami.

It dawned on everyone that they could no longer handle the Uchiha Clan in the same manner as before, realizing the need for a reconsideration of their approach.

A solemn hush enveloped the Hokage Office as uncertainty lingered in the air.

Kuroto chose not to comment on the matter. The entire course of events was not orchestrated by him; it was a decision made by Itachi. However, upon reflection, Kuroto found no fault with the outcome. While their actions succeeded in reining in the Uchiha Clan and making them acknowledge their past mistakes, it also highlighted a glaring oversight—the lack of consequences for the Hokage Faction.

There remained the possibility that the Hokage Faction might revert to their previous behavior and unnecessarily suppress the Uchiha in the future because of their inherent fear and prejudice. They needed a lesson and a warning, underscoring that repeating such mistakes would incur the displeasure of Homusubi from Amatsukami.

The persistent issue between the Hokage Faction and the Uchiha Clan stemmed from poor communication on one side and a refusal to communicate fueled by inherent prejudice on the other. This pattern is perpetuated across generations. To address this deeply rooted problem, both sides needed to take steps forward. The Uchiha, led by Itachi and Shisui, seemed willing to do so. However, the willingness of the Hokage Faction except Kuroto and Kakashi remained uncertain.

Thus, despite the cruelty of subjecting Tsunade-hime to such an experience, it paled in comparison to the original intentions of the Hokage Faction toward the Uchiha Clan. In a way, it effectively conveyed a crucial message.

Elder Hiruzen in particular deeply understood. Eventually, he broke the silence, saying, “Tsunade, go and take a rest. Shizune, stay with her and take care of her.” Tsunade-hime accepted Elder Hiruzen’s directive without objection, rising from her seat and leaving the Hokage Office, with Shizune following closely behind.

Once Tsunade-hime departed, Elder Hiruzen turned to Kuroto and instructed, “Kuroto-kun, we will provide you with the three hundred fifty million Ryō. Please deliver the payment to Homusubi or any member of Amatsukami who appears.”

Kuroto nodded, affirming, “I understand.”

“Setting that aside,” Elder Hiruzen continued, addressing a pressing matter, “How did your conversation with Uchiha Fugaku go?” Homusubi’s warning had underscored the urgency of resolving the issues surrounding the Uchiha Clan. While Amatsukami demonstrated a readiness to eliminate Uchiha members, they also exhibited a protective stance toward the clan in their own way. Consequently, Elder Hiruzen recognized the imperative to promptly and delicately handle Uchiha affairs to avoid offending Homusubi and Amatsukami.

The thoughts of the others in the Hokage Office aligned with Elder Hiruzen’s concerns. Acknowledging the shared sentiments, Kuroto addressed them, saying, “I would say my conversation with Uchiha Fugaku was quite fruitful. Having lost his Sharingan, he seems to have recognized the errors in his past actions. Taking full responsibility for his deeds, he expressed a willingness to accept any punishment from the village, as long as the innocent members of the Uchiha Clan were spared.

Regarding punishment, I refrained from imposing any formal penalty. The loss of his eyes and the prospect of living the remainder of his life without the Sharingan would, in itself, serve as a significant punishment for him. Additionally, he had to resign from both the position of Uchiha Clan Patriarch and the Captaincy of the Konoha Military Police Force.”

“I see,” nodded Elder Hiruzen.

Kuroto continued, “Concerning the role of the Uchiha Clan Patriarch, it will be assumed by his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi. Meanwhile, the position of the Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force will be taken over by Uchiha Shisui.”

Elder Koharu expressed approval, stating, “This approach is commendable. Distributing power and influence evenly between Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi makes it challenging for them to form a united front.”

Elder Hiruzen concurred, saying, “It is indeed a well-thought-out arrangement, but…” His concern didn’t center around the Uchiha Clan but rather pertained to the Homusubi of Amatsukami.

Kuroto addressed this concern, “I also plan on having Uchiha Itachi inherit the position of the Principal of Konoha Ninja Academy.” Given Kuroto’s commitment to Fugaku regarding Itachi’s future as the Rokudaime Hokage, grooming him appropriately was crucial. Becoming the Principal of Konoha Ninja Academy offered the best platform for this purpose. It wouldn’t interfere with anyone’s interests, and Itachi’s reputation would flourish as the trainees excel in the future.

After careful consideration, Elder Hiruzen nodded, conceding, “Very well.” This way, the Uchiha Clan would retain its influence, and it seemed plausible to persuade Homusubi as well.