[Naruto Grandfather] Chapter 126 - 130

Chapter 126

"By the way," Uzumaki Chito remarked with a sly smile as he turned to leave, "while I despise the Third Hokage, I must admit his idea wasn’t entirely bad. Using the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to unite the ninja world against Shin-Konoha... it’s clever."

He chuckled darkly. "I imagine Naruto would have quite the headache dealing with that."

Jiraiya, already reeling from the confrontation, felt a chill run down his spine. His voice was dry and shaky as he managed to ask, "Uzumaki Chito, are you planning to start the Fourth Ninja World War?"

"Do you even realize how many lives would be lost?" Jiraiya’s voice trembled with sorrow and desperation.

Though he appeared brash and resilient on the outside, Jiraiya’s heart had always been tender. The thought of plunging the world into another catastrophic war was more than he could bear.

Uzumaki Chito turned, his face calm but his words merciless.

"How many people die is of no concern to me."

And with that, he vanished, leaving Jiraiya to stare at the empty space where he had stood, paralyzed by a growing sense of despair.

Jiraiya sat heavily in the Hokage’s chair, his shoulders slumping as his mind swirled with Chito’s words. But after a long silence, a flicker of resolve ignited in his eyes.

He raised his voice, firm and commanding. "Someone, summon Nara Shikaku!"

A nearby ANBU operative darted away silently to carry out the order.

Moments later, Nara Shikaku entered the Hokage’s office, his sharp eyes immediately taking in Jiraiya’s unusually serious demeanor.

"Jiraiya-sama," Shikaku said with a sigh, sensing trouble, "what’s happened?"

Jiraiya recounted his conversation with Uzumaki Chito, his voice heavy with frustration and grief. When he finished, he leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Shikaku.

"Chito intends to drag the entire ninja world into a war against Shin-Konoha," he said. "Do you have any ideas, Shikaku? Anything at all?"

Shikaku rubbed his temples, his expression pained.

"Jiraiya-sama," he admitted, "you’re asking a lot. Uzumaki Chito is no ordinary opponent. He’s a force of nature. What kind of strategy can we devise against someone like him?"

He paused, his brow furrowing in thought.

"That said, based on his behavior, I don’t believe he’ll act directly unless Shin-Konoha is at a significant disadvantage. If this war happens, it will likely be a prolonged conflict—and one we’re doomed to lose."

Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, his face pale. "Doomed to lose," he repeated, the words heavy on his tongue.

Shikaku nodded grimly. "The best we can do is mitigate our losses and focus on survival."

Jiraiya slumped further, the weight of Shikaku’s words crushing him. "If Naruto retaliates... he’ll destroy Konoha completely," he whispered. "And I’ll be the Hokage who failed to protect my village."

Shikaku felt a pang of sympathy for Jiraiya. He understood the immense pressure the Fifth Hokage was under. The weight of leading Konoha through such an unprecedented crisis was enough to break anyone, even someone as strong as Jiraiya.

But Shikaku’s mind was always calculating, and as he sifted through the information at hand, an idea began to take shape.

"Jiraiya-sama," he said cautiously, "there may be one path forward. It’s risky and difficult, but it’s not impossible."

Jiraiya sat up, his eyes wide with hope. "What is it? Tell me!"

Shikaku hesitated for a moment before uttering a name that made Jiraiya’s blood run cold.

"Orochimaru."

Jiraiya’s expression darkened, disbelief flashing across his face.

"Orochimaru?" he repeated incredulously. "You can’t be serious, Shikaku. He’s one of the most hated men in Konoha. He’s responsible for the deaths of countless innocents, including the Third Hokage. How could he possibly help us?"

Shikaku met Jiraiya’s gaze evenly.

"Don’t forget," Shikaku said, "Orochimaru holds the key to the Edo Tensei. If there’s anyone capable of standing against Uzumaki Chito, it’s the collective strength of the greatest shinobi in history."

Jiraiya’s fists clenched, conflicting emotions swirling within him. He had spent his life chasing Orochimaru, hoping to redeem his old friend, only to watch him descend further into darkness.

The thought of turning to Orochimaru for help felt like an unbearable betrayal of everything Jiraiya stood for.

But the alternative...

"Are you saying we need to ally with Orochimaru to summon the dead and fight Uzumaki Chito?" Jiraiya asked, his voice heavy with doubt.

Shikaku nodded. "It’s the only chance we have," he said. "To defeat Chito, we’ll need more than just our current forces. We need the strongest shinobi who’ve ever lived. And Orochimaru is the only one who can make that happen."

Chapter 127

"The only chance?"

Jiraiya muttered the words to himself, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

Having endured the horrors of the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, he harbored a deep aversion to war. If given the choice, he would never be the one to ignite such a devastating conflict.

War was merciless, he knew. It didn’t matter who emerged victorious—casualties would pile up on all sides, leaving countless lives shattered.

But as he sat in silence, his mind racing, Jiraiya couldn’t help but confront the harsh reality.

Could Konoha, in its current state, survive against the growing strength of Shin-Konoha?

His bitter smile gave him all the answer he needed.

It was impossible.

Even without Uzumaki Chito’s direct intervention, Shin-Konoha’s roster of powerful ninja far outmatched anything the old village could muster.

There was Naruto, now a perfect jinchūriki who wielded the full power of the Nine-Tails. Then there was Tsunade, the last descendant of the Senju clan and a master of monstrous strength and medical ninjutsu. Both were unquestionably kage-level shinobi.

And that wasn’t all.

Might Guy, who could unleash the Eighth Gate and return from the brink of death, was comparable to any Kage. Kakashi Hatake, with his Sharingan and tactical brilliance, was another formidable force.

To make matters worse, Shin-Konoha had forged an alliance with Amegakure, now controlled by the mysterious and deadly Akatsuki organization.

The Akatsuki’s members were rumored to rival kage-level shinobi in power, with at least four or five known members operating from the shadows.

By comparison, the current Konoha had only two individuals who could truly be called kage-level: Jiraiya himself and Shimura Danzo.

But Danzo...

Jiraiya frowned deeply. The old war hawk had been utterly cowed by Uzumaki Chito’s overwhelming strength. In the event of war, Danzo might very well stab Jiraiya in the back and pledge allegiance to Shin-Konoha to save himself.

Konoha’s strength wasn’t just diminished—it was in shambles.

Even without Shin-Konoha’s rise, the village was a shadow of its former self. The days of producing generation after generation of geniuses had come to a halt.

The brightest talents of the younger generation—Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and Lee—had all defected to Shin-Konoha.

Other clans had suffered grievous losses. The Inuzuka family was nearly wiped out during the Konoha Crush, and the Aburame clan’s Shino had lost most of his insects, rendering him almost powerless.

What remained were a handful of capable but unexceptional shinobi like Tenten, Hinata, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji.

Realizing how far Konoha had fallen, Jiraiya felt a wave of dread wash over him.

This wasn’t just a crisis—it was a disaster waiting to happen.

His expression hardened, and he turned to Nara Shikaku.

"I’m leaving the affairs of the village in your hands for now," Jiraiya said firmly.

"I’m going to find Orochimaru. And this time... I’ll convince him to return to Konoha."

Shikaku’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he nodded in understanding.

As Jiraiya summoned a toad from Mount Myōboku and disappeared in a puff of smoke, Shikaku let out a weary sigh.

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Land of Fire, Tsunade was having a lively reunion with Hikaru, the young son of the former Daimyo.

"I can’t believe it!" Tsunade exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

"After all this time, the Senju Clan still has descendants! And it’s a boy, no less!"

She beamed at Hikaru, ruffling his hair affectionately.

"Listen, kid, my name’s Tsunade. From now on, you’re under my protection. Anyone who dares to bully you—just say my name, and I’ll beat them to a pulp!"

Hikaru, wide-eyed and overwhelmed, nodded cautiously. Tsunade’s boisterous personality was almost too much for the timid seven-year-old, but he sensed her good intentions.

Tsunade’s expression suddenly turned mischievous.

"And one more thing," she said with a wicked grin.

"It’s your responsibility to revive the Senju Clan!"

Hikaru blinked in confusion. "Revive the Senju Clan? What does that mean?"

Tsunade folded her arms across her chest and laughed. "It means you’ll have to get married, take lots of wives, and have plenty of kids! That’s how we’ll bring the Senju name back to glory!"

Hikaru’s face turned beet red. Though he was only seven, living in the Daimyo’s household had given him a basic understanding of adult relationships.

Hearing such things said so boldly and directly left him utterly flustered.

Meanwhile, Naruto, who was observing the exchange, managed to keep his composure. He had learned to handle such topics with a straight face during his time at the ninja academy.

But inside, he couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy.

Then, an idea struck him. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he turned to Tsunade.

"Granny Tsunade," he said, "if I’m not mistaken, Hikaru is the son of a Daimyo..."

Chapter 128

Hikaru, already embarrassed by Tsunade's bold declaration, tried to suppress his emotions when he heard Naruto’s comment.

Tsunade’s words had initially overwhelmed him with a mix of shyness and an unfamiliar warmth—a sense of family he hadn’t experienced before. But Naruto’s careless remark shattered that feeling.

Yes, he thought bitterly. I’m just the son of a Daimyo. Even if my mother is of the Senju Clan, how can I carry forward its legacy?

Naruto, unaware of the effect of his words, looked on curiously. Meanwhile, Tsunade, ever perceptive despite her brash demeanor, immediately noticed the shift in Hikaru’s mood.

Without hesitation, she raised a fist and gave Naruto a solid thump on the head, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"You clueless brat!" Tsunade said, her voice dripping with exasperation.

She then turned to Hikaru, her expression softening into a proud smile.

"Listen, Hikaru," she said, her tone more encouraging. "We Senju have the strongest physical traits of any clan. Even if one parent isn’t Senju, the blood of the clan will always dominate."

She paused, her voice firm and unwavering. "Your bloodline is pure, Hikaru. You carry the characteristics of the Senju Clan, the immortal body that defines us."

Naruto, rubbing the lump on his head, looked dazed but managed a half-hearted nod in agreement. "Got it, Granny Tsunade!"

Hikaru, seeing Naruto’s exaggerated reaction, couldn’t help but smile. The heavy cloud that had settled over him was lifted, and he beamed brightly.

"I understand!" Hikaru said confidently, his eyes sparkling with renewed determination. "I’ll do my best, Granny Tsunade—"

Tsunade immediately raised a hand to stop him, her expression turning serious.

"Wait!" she interrupted. "Not ‘granny.’ Call me Sister Tsunade!"

Hikaru froze, his face blank with confusion.

"But... Naruto calls you Granny Tsunade," he stammered.

"And Naruto," Tsunade said with a sharp glare, "is an insufferable brat. You’re different. You’re part of the Senju Clan. That makes you special, Hikaru!"

Hikaru nodded hesitantly, though his young mind was spinning. The generational logic here seemed impossibly tangled, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever make sense of it.

Naruto, seeing Hikaru’s bewildered expression, burst out laughing.

"Granny Tsunade, you’re unbelievable!" he teased. "You’re practically ancient, and yet you want to be called ‘sister?’ How embarrassing!"

Without waiting for a response, Naruto enveloped himself in a Nine-Tails chakra coat and dashed out of the room with a mischievous laugh.

Tsunade clenched her fists, her anger barely contained.

If I chase him down with my full power, she thought, the entire Land of Fire might be reduced to rubble.

Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Hikaru, her expression soft but insistent.

"Don’t listen to him," she said. "From now on, you call me Sister Tsunade. Got it?"

Hikaru nodded quickly, his instincts telling him that disobedience would not end well.

Tsunade smiled, satisfied. "Good! You’re a proper Senju after all—not like that knucklehead Naruto."

She ruffled Hikaru’s hair affectionately before adding, "I’ll be staying here at the Daimyo’s mansion for now. My job is to keep you safe from any Konoha or foreign ninja who might try to harm you."

She leaned closer, her tone serious. "Try not to leave the mansion unless it’s absolutely necessary. And if anything happens, call for me immediately."

Hikaru nodded again, absorbing her instructions.

Later, in a secluded corner of the Daimyo’s mansion, Tsunade pulled out a small talisman jade engraved with intricate symbols.

She pressed her index and middle fingers against it, rapping lightly as though knocking on a door.

"Grandpa Chito! Grandpa Chito!" she called out, grinning mischievously. "Come on out and chat with me! You’ve been away for two whole days, and I miss you already!"

The talisman remained silent for a moment before a familiar voice, tinged with resignation, answered.

"You again, Tsunade?" Uzumaki Chito’s voice echoed faintly through the talisman.

As one of his most powerful creations, the talisman jade could transmit sound and visuals over any distance. It was a feature rarely used, given Uzumaki Chito’s reclusive nature.

But Tsunade, ever the persistent, had discovered its communication abilities and used them relentlessly.

"Grandpa Chito," Tsunade said sweetly, ignoring the exasperation in his tone, "you have no idea how much I’ve been thinking about you!"

"You could think about me less," Chito muttered, his tone dry.

Tsunade ignored him, launching into a lively account of her time with Hikaru and Naruto, her enthusiasm pouring through every word.

Uzumaki Chito sighed, leaning back as he listened. Even the most powerful being in the world couldn’t escape Tsunade’s relentless chatter.

Chapter 129

"Grandpa Chito!!"

Tsunade lay sprawled on the pristine bed in the Daimyo's mansion, rolling back and forth with the carefree abandon of a child, her voice ringing with playful mischief.

If Hikaru had seen her at that moment, he would have wholeheartedly embraced the idea of calling her Sister Tsunade without hesitation.

Though her demeanor resembled that of a little girl, Tsunade was far from one. Decades old yet eternally youthful, the Yin Seal preserved her in the prime of womanhood, her body exuding a beauty that was both graceful and striking—like a perfectly ripened peach, brimming with charm.

As she rolled about, her robe shifted slightly, lending her an unintentional air of alluring elegance.

From miles away, Uzumaki Chito sighed heavily, his voice stern as it echoed through the talisman jade.

"You’re a grown woman, Tsunade!" he scolded. "Show some dignity! Sit up properly and stop acting like a lunatic!"

Tsunade barely flinched at his reprimand. Instead, she tilted her head in mock obedience, pouting like a child scolded for mischief. Still, she straightened herself, sitting upright with an exaggeratedly prim expression.

Her lips twitched, betraying the glimmer of pride in her eyes.

"See? I’m all proper now, Grandpa Chito," she teased, her voice dripping with faux innocence.

Chito rolled his eyes, though the corner of his lips threatened a faint smile. "Good," he muttered, feigning exasperation.

Unfazed, Tsunade grinned triumphantly. She kicked off her shoes, her bare feet—pale and delicate as porcelain—swaying lazily in the air.

"Grandpa Chito," she began, her tone softer, "I’m so happy today. And it’s all thanks to you."

Her grin widened as she continued, "I thought I was the last Senju left in the world. But then, finding Hikaru—it’s like a miracle! I owe you so much."

Her words were laced with genuine emotion, her eyes shimmering with gratitude.

If Orochimaru or Jiraiya had witnessed this moment, they would have been utterly stunned. The Tsunade they knew—the brash, strong-willed kunoichi—rarely displayed such unguarded joy.

This was a side of her unseen since childhood, back when she’d been sheltered under the protective shadow of her grandpa, Hashirama Senju. In those days, Tsunade’s laughter had been unburdened by war or loss, her innocence untouched.

Now, in the presence of Uzumaki Chito—her steadfast pillar—she felt that innocence return. With him, she could let go of the weight of her losses, finding comfort in the belief that someone was there to hold the world steady.

Chito remained silent for a moment, his gaze softening as he took in her unrestrained happiness through the talisman jade. The words of reprimand he had prepared dissolved like mist, replaced by a whisper too faint for anyone to hear.

"Forgive me, Tsunade," he murmured.

For Uzumaki Chito, two figures had etched themselves deepest into his heart over the long years of his life—Kushina and Tsunade.

Kushina, the last ray of light from his own Uzumaki Clan, had embodied his bloodline’s strength and spirit.

And Tsunade, with her boundless kindness and untainted smile, had represented the hope of a better world—a world Uzumaki Chito had once fought to create alongside Hashirama and Madara.

In those early days, Chito had believed that Konoha would bring peace to the ninja world, its children growing up free from the shadows of war. Tsunade, cheerful and carefree, had been the living proof of that dream.

But reality had been cruel. Peace had crumbled, wars had returned, and even Konoha had failed to uphold its ideals.

By the time Chito emerged from his second seclusion, his optimism had faded. The dreams he once shared with Hashirama seemed like distant illusions. He had no desire to rebuild what had been so easily shattered.

The years that followed were spent in quiet isolation, protecting Kushina and her family while silently mourning what he had lost.

And then, he awoke once more to find the cycle repeating itself—Kushina and Minato gone, Konoha in turmoil. Grief and anger consumed him, threatening to extinguish the last flickers of hope in his heart.

But now, as he gazed at Tsunade’s radiant smile, something stirred within him—a spark long thought extinguished.

Clenching his fist, Uzumaki Chito’s eyes glowed with renewed determination.

"This time," he vowed softly, "I have the power of a god. No one I care for will be lost again."

The weight of his conviction was palpable, his voice steady and resolute.

"I will recreate a world where those I love—Tsunade, Kushina, and all who matter—can live freely, without fear or sorrow. A world where Tsunade can remain this happy forever."

His hand hovered over the talisman jade, his gaze distant yet fierce.

"This time, I won’t fail."

Chapter 130

As Uzumaki Chito pondered his next move, Lee suddenly dashed in, his urgency evident.

"Lord Chito! Neji has returned!"

Chito's expression stiffened momentarily.

Neji?

Wasn’t he supposed to be with Orochimaru? What could have brought him back so soon?

A flicker of suspicion crossed his mind. Could something have happened on Orochimaru’s side? Chito had always been wary of the snake-like shinobi’s penchant for treachery.

Though Orochimaru had shown deference on the surface, Chito had never been naive enough to trust him completely. Orochimaru was the kind to bite the hand that fed him if it suited his ambitions.

Perhaps… this is another one of his schemes, Chito mused coldly.

Moments later, Neji entered the room, walking with a calm demeanor, his white eyes glinting faintly. Chito’s sharp gaze instantly caught something unusual—a faint black dot at the center of Neji’s otherwise pristine Byakugan.

Chito’s brows furrowed in surprise.

"Neji," he said, his voice measured. "Has Orochimaru progressed on his experiments with the Byakugan? Is he attempting to create the Tenseigan?"

Neji shook his head, his voice steady but tinged with restraint.

"Not yet, Lord Chito. Orochimaru has made some progress—he’s discovered a method to merge three Byakugan into one to enhance its power. But it’s still far from reaching the level of the Tenseigan."

Chito nodded thoughtfully, his expression softening ever so slightly.

"That’s to be expected. The Tenseigan rivals the Rinnegan, a power born of the Six Paths. For Orochimaru to have uncovered even the initial steps is remarkable."

He paused, his gaze narrowing.

"But if his experiments are still incomplete, why have you returned so abruptly? Did something happen?"

Neji bowed his head slightly, his demeanor exuding respect and calm despite the weight of his words.

"Yes, Lord Chito," Neji replied. "I believe Orochimaru has betrayed us."

Chito’s eyes sharpened instantly.

"I saw Jiraiya at Orochimaru’s base this morning," Neji continued. "The two spoke at length, though I could not discern all of what was said. I fear Orochimaru may have been swayed to side with Konoha.”

"If that’s true, he holds extensive knowledge about Shin-Konoha. If he defects, it could place us in grave danger."

Chito listened silently, his face unreadable, before letting out a quiet laugh.

"I see," he said, his tone laced with intrigue. "Orochimaru’s cunning knows no bounds. He clearly allowed you to discover this interaction with Jiraiya. It’s no accident you returned unscathed, bearing this news."

Both Neji and Lee stiffened, their instincts alert.

Chito’s expression softened into an amused smirk as he turned to Neji.

"Come closer, Neji," Chito instructed.

Though Neji hesitated briefly, he trusted Chito deeply. He stepped forward, and Chito extended a hand, dark blue chakra coiling around his fingers like living tendrils.

With precision, the chakra infiltrated Neji’s Byakugan, probing deeper until it forced a hidden object to the surface.

A small, black magatama emerged from Neji’s eye, suspended in midair. As Chito increased the chakra flow, the magatama expanded rapidly, growing to half the size of a person.

With a deafening bang, the magatama exploded, releasing a massive cyan scroll that unfurled before them.

"What is this?" Neji exclaimed, his stance instinctively shifting to a defensive posture.

Lee, already on high alert, opened the Fourth Gate, ready to counter any threat.

Chito, however, raised a hand, his calm demeanor diffusing the tension.

"Relax," he said, his tone light. "Orochimaru isn’t foolish enough to set traps for me. This scroll isn’t a danger—it’s his bargain for survival."

Chito unrolled the scroll with ease, scanning its contents. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Hah… clever snake," he murmured.

He tossed the scroll to Neji, who caught it with both hands.

"This contains Orochimaru’s plans and methods for developing the Tenseigan," Chito explained. "He’s offering you this knowledge as a token to buy his life."

Neji’s grip on the scroll tightened, his expression unreadable.

"Lord Chito," Neji said after a long silence, his voice steady but firm. "The Byakugan is more than sufficient for me. I don’t need the Tenseigan to prove my strength.

"Allow me to pursue Orochimaru. If we leave him unchecked, he will inevitably become a threat to Shin-Konoha."